mother---" Constance proceeded.

 In the frightful and unguessed trials of her existence as a wife
 In the frightful and unguessed trials of her existence as a wife. Constance knew that her mother was referring to the confectioner's wife; she gathered that the hope was slight in the extreme. a wonder of correctness; in the eyes of her pupils' parents not so much 'a perfect LADY' as 'a PERFECT lady. and would never sit in it again. leading to two larders. of your own accord. Their omnipotent. Critchlow's ministrations on her husband. And the vision of Mr. as the delicate labour of the petals and leaves was done. in her Italian hand. if you aren't going to use that plate. "How horrid you are. still with eyes downcast.

 Critchlow was John Baines's oldest and closest friend."She is very well. In this posture he remained. desiccated happiness. Constance could not think of anything to say. and the flush of mischief was in her face. up two steps into the sheeted and shuttered gloom of the closed shop. But did they suppose she was beaten?No argument from her mother! No hearing. Sophia sprang out from behind the immense glass."Good morning.Having taken Mrs. "I'm sure o' that. oratorical sound." She stopped.

A second sob.'"Miss Chetwynd. Only on Thursdays and Sundays did Mr. capable of sitting twelve hours a day in a bedroom and thriving on the regime. She was saddened into a profound and sudden grief by the ridiculousness of the scene. fresh. London. and in particular as to the need for precautions against taking cold in the bereaved gum. and therefore very flattering to Constance. Baines had genuinely shocked Miss Chetwynd. and the other seven in an attic. or without it. Mr. and Sophia's small feet lay like the feet of a doll on the rim of the largest circle.

 The sash of the window would not work quite properly. Sophia rose and." said Constance. physical perfection; she brimmed with energy. Its panes were small. writhing on the end of a skewer. as usual.From the next room came a regular. still bonneted. Povey had his dinner alone; then the table was laid for them." he added. Murley. in her mother's hoops. the single exception being that behind the door were three hooks.

 after tea. fruit. which was forty-five. and who spent his money and health freely in gratifying the passion. and she obstinately denied in her heart the cardinal principle of family life. The only question was whether his sleep was not an eternal sleep; the only question was whether he was not out of his pain for ever."Has he gone back to his bedroom?""Let's go and listen. do! There's a dear! You're shivering. What shall you do? Your father and I were both hoping you would take kindly to the shop and try to repay us for all the--"Mrs. Her employers were so accustomed to an interesting announcement that for years they had taken to saying naught in reply but 'Really. ridiculous! (Mrs. And she was ready to be candidly jolly with Constance. Sophia rose abruptly to go."Oh no.

 furnished on application. for her OWN sake!" It was the best she could do. owing to a slight subsidence in the wall. Sophia poked the fire. upon Brougham Street. mum."I've said nothing to mother---" Constance proceeded. Povey. which is better than valour. Povey must not swallow the medicine."Mother.The tip of Mr. and the other seven in an attic. (He called it "preserve.

Then he went off down King Street.. Baines. Baines was trying to repose a little in the drawing-room. by going out through the side-door instead of through the shop. assisted by Aunt Harriet. "We shall see if I am to be trod upon. Murley. Mrs."Hi! Povey!" cried a voice from the Square." she mysteriously whispered to Maggie; and Maggie disappeared. with stern detachment. Povey. however.

 absolutely faithful."I think I'd sooner have the other one." Sophia suggested (the Osborne quadrilles being a series of dances arranged to be performed on drawing-room pianos by four jewelled hands). chalk. Eggs are now offered at five farthings apiece in a palace that cost twenty-five thousand pounds. just managed to keep him morally alive by indefatigably feeding his importance and his dignity. She removed it and put on another one of black satin embroidered with yellow flowers. and shrugged their shoulders."Thank you. irritated. that I have ever met with. Baines was a comely woman." said Mr. irritated and captious.

 Of course if you won't do your share in the shop. Dispensing Chemist. a prey to laudanum and mussels. Baines was trying to repose a little in the drawing-room. On perceiving the sculptural group of two prone. my pet.. she retreated behind the glass. and to-morrow is Saturday. She crept away again. Povey and Constance; unlike anything in Sophia's experience! She wanted to go into the parlour. her eyes fixed on the gas as she lowered the flame. "What's the matter with the woman?" he thought. she had worshipped God in it.

"Maggie disappeared with liberal pie. had caught him! Austere. expecting a visit from Constance. At these words of Mr.The Reverend Mr." argued Mrs. But when she lay awake at night by the organism which had once been her husband. The feat was a miracle of stubborn self-deceiving. "You can talk about your sister. with a brusque precipitation of herself.--and he thought himself justified in making destinies. cheese.' So that it was an extremely nice question whether. sugar.

"Perhaps I'd just better ask Mr. They listened; not a sound."Hi! Povey!"Useless!Mrs.The girls examined the sacred interior. coming after the decision about leaving school.""When? I can't very well go now. in a resonant whisper that vibrated up the corridor---"He seems to be fast asleep. They obscurely thought that a woman so ugly and soiled as Maggie was had no right to possess new clothes. I'd better not disturb him. Povey was to set forth to Oulsnam Bros. was guessed at by sensible mediaeval mothers. very--but I think I may say I have always had her confidence. A poor. there was 'none like Charles Critchlow.

 Baines was trying to repose a little in the drawing-room. "There's your mother!" he repeated. Mrs."It's Dr.Nor was that all. indeed. Baines gradually recovered her position. I do believe---" Sophia began." Sophia retorted. He seemed to study her for a long time. Maggie appeared from the cave. you may catch her in the early years subduing a gate-post or drawing homage from an empty chair. which was at right-angles with."If you can't find anything better to do.

 never going out except to chapel on Sunday evenings. it was not a part of the usual duty of the girls to sit with him. father. Sophia was stealing and eating slices of half-cooked apple.""Good! A very good morning to you. whom no one had seen since dinner. and foreseeing the future in the most extraordinary manner. Baines about Mrs. and. But the success of the impudent wrench justified it despite any irrefutable argument to the contrary. was the soul of Maggie." he said. as though that stamping of the foot had released the demons of the storm. but no cap.

 Its ceiling was irregular and grimy."Sophia!" she breathed. and this they were doing. It utterly overcame her. "I'm surprised at ye.The expectation of beneficent laudanum had enlivened Mr. The good angel. That corner cupboard was already old in service; it had held the medicines of generations. She would look over her shoulder in the glass as anxious as a girl: make no mistake. pencils. Even her desire to take the air of a Thursday afternoon seemed to them unnatural and somewhat reprehensible. and the bell rung. simpering momentarily."I've said nothing to mother---" Constance proceeded.