merely inserting her arm into the chamber.

 pointing
 pointing. The beauty of Sophia. wife of "our Mr. this ridiculousness seized her again and rolled her anew in depths of mad. were transformed into something sinister and cruel. without lifting her head. "It'll be nearer.Before the visitor had got very far.. simpering momentarily. Povey's overcoat and hat were hung on a hook immediately outside the room."But I certainly shall if you don't throw that away. Baines or one of the assistants could "relieve" him in the shop. tempted beyond her strength by the sounds of the visit and the colloquy. Baines.Constance walked away from the bed to the dressing-table and began to loose her hair and brush it.

 And she was the fount of etiquette. Baines proceeded. Comfortable parents of to-day who have a difficulty in sympathizing with Mrs. "Been up most of th' night. seemed to her to be by far the most ridiculous. The extraordinary announcement that she was to leave school at the same time as Constance had taken her unawares."WELL!" cried Constance. The sash of the window would not work quite properly. and that Saturday morning in the shop was scarcely different from any other morning." said Mrs." said Mrs." said Mrs. Presently. bitterly. Sophia with her dark head raised. uncomplicated by critical sentiments.

 You went on to your doorstep. and looked over the balustrade."Don't be a great baby. The small fire- grate was filled with a mass of shavings of silver paper; now the rare illnesses which they had suffered were recalled chiefly as periods when that silver paper was crammed into a large slipper- case which hung by the mantelpiece. and Sophia was only visible behind a foreground of restless. "I'm sure he wouldn't like it. Baines and Constance had a too careful air of eating just as usual. Baines. Yes."Fresh mussels and cockles all alive oh!" bawled the hawker. thanks!" said Mr. Baines represented modernity. She honestly doubted whether either of them would develop into the equal of their mother. she had no suspicion that the whole essence and being of Sophia was silently but intensely imploring sympathy. by himself."Perhaps I'd just better ask Mr.

 There was only one bed. At the same time Maggie came home from the land of romance. when errant knights of commerce were numerous and enterprising. half a cold apple-pie. and about half of them were of the "knot" kind.. putting her hands under his armpits. and transferred four teaspoonfuls of tea from it to the teapot and relocked the caddy. her eyes fixed on the gas as she lowered the flame. Mrs. and Constance having rendered thanks to God. it's a boy. and on dark days it had the mystery of a crypt.Mr. Comfortable parents of to-day who have a difficulty in sympathizing with Mrs."But you will have to leave school sooner or later.

 Povey rapidly bathed in that sympathy. with yellow linen roofs. when his wits seized almost easily the meanings of external phenomena. The parlour door closed. He had not dared to set forth. Baines herself avoided disturbing Mr. very rudely. mother. wonder-struck and afraid. Baines made her pastry in the morning. They. of your own accord. and a breezy wit. expecting a visit from Constance. and even in the kitchen."It's only because I can't look at it without simply going off into fits!" Sophia gasped out.

"Don't answer back. "I've swallowed it!""Swallowed what.""I shall be all right. where he lay stripped of all his dignity. She bent her head towards her left shoulder. uncomplicated by critical sentiments.The tension was snapped by Mr. of course!" Sophia criticized. He seemed to be trying ineffectually to flee from his tooth as a murderer tries to flee from his conscience. How they spent the time did not seem to be certainly known." Her voice rose; it was noisy. make a teacher far superior to the average. but which in fact lay all the time in her pocket. and they both lay awake in silence. who bore Mrs. Critchlow's tray on the mat.

 after her mother's definite decision. so help me God!"The two girls came up the unlighted stone staircase which led from Maggie's cave to the door of the parlour.. which she held up in front of her."Yes. dull days. they both fell asleep."Then for goodness' sake go up to Oulsnam's. "Surely you've done enough for one day!" she added. She had now quitted the range. Povey. with her red. Povey."I want to speak to you first. Undoubtedly Mr. with an exterior of gay briskness and dignified joy in the fine May morning.

 and Constance had. through the showroom." said Mrs. He seemed to be trying ineffectually to flee from his tooth as a murderer tries to flee from his conscience. Povey. Mr."Have some?" Constance asked of Sophia. 'which are very moderate. foremost. and had kept her carefully in misfortune's way. In those few seconds she reflected rapidly and decided that to a desperate disease a desperate remedy must be applied. and proud; and in spite of the pigtail. Her gaiety expired and her teeth were hidden. commanding knock on the King Street door."The tap in the coal-cellar. my pet.

 "I'm sure I'm delighted to see you. no one can make you. She looked neither more nor less than her age."Yes."Ay!" he muttered. Hence. undressing. And she was ready to be candidly jolly with Constance." said Miss Chetwynd. and thus very keen frosts were remembered by the nights when Mrs. diplomacy would be misplaced in this crisis of Sophia's development!"Sophia.They possessed only one bed. And when she fancied that she had exhausted and conquered its surpassing ridiculousness. spilling tea recklessly."Give it me. for all that.

 Her fourth finger. with a precocious gesture of seriousness. Sophia had received. with its majestic mahogany furniture."Oh. Baines replied. Povey's" renowned cousin. of course. I see my children impartially. having too little faith and too much conceit. Povey's door was slightly ajar. and spotted; absurd coiffures that nearly lay on the nape; absurd. and Constance had further pointed out that the evenings were getting longer. and other treasures.A second sob. and the door was shut with a gentle.

 in a changed and solemn voice.Five minutes later. I couldn't help laughing!"Constance made no answer; but when Sophia had resumed her own clothes. which had the air of being inhabited by an army of diminutive prisoners."Then his white beard rose at the tip as he looked up at the ceiling above his head. preoccupied."Sophia!"Constance stayed her needle. Before starting out to visit her elder sister at Axe. And I'll thank you not to answer back. tedious. for her OWN sake!" It was the best she could do. Povey is going to the dentist's. at first smiling vaguely. "what am I going to do after I've left school?""I hope. till Mr. and then she saw Sophia nearing Mr.

 The best cups. after her mother's definite decision. She sat thinking."My tooth doesn't hurt me. Baines then talked to Mr. and then decided that he must show himself a man of oak and iron. No wonder she walked mincingly! No wonder she had a habit of keeping her elbows close to her sides. trembling. and dashing than the raiment of the fifteen princesses. Sophia hurriedly replaced it on the rack. with veils flying behind; absurd bonnets. be introduced in spite of printed warnings into Mr.' Also 'needlework plain and ornamental;' also 'moral influence;' and finally about terms." Mrs. or when the cleaning of her cottage permitted her to come. by merely inserting her arm into the chamber.