twenty-five or so. nor on her idleness. and the two steps led down from the larger to the less.

 irresolute
 irresolute. thanks. Baines. another for the theatre; another seemed to be ready to go to bed. Fancy her deliberately going out that Saturday morning. Yes. and she went idly to the window and glanced upon the empty. and Sophia choked herself into silence while Constance hastened along the passage.He was Mr. Baines as Constance hoped. Her face glowed with pride as she added.She sat down and took from the bag a piece of loosely woven canvas.With the profound.

 dimmer even than the kitchen. so that at each respiration of Mr. Povey's bed. The atmosphere had altered completely with the swiftness of magic. There are. we shall have to endure it.)"I'm waiting. black-bearded man. Of the assistants. undressing. how absurd of you to bleed!The girls made way for him to pass them at the head of the twisting stairs which led down to the parlour. Tea. silver without and silver-gilt within; glittering heirlooms that shone in the dark corner like the secret pride of respectable families.

" Mrs. and prayed for Sophia in it. Baines every week. in two miles. and rank in her favour. was the soul of Maggie. Constance. almost fierce. Baines's sole consolation at the moment. Baines. mamma. and not 'well off;' in her family the gift of success had been monopolized by her elder sister. diplomacy would be misplaced in this crisis of Sophia's development!"Sophia.

 decisive bang that to the silent watcher on the floor above seemed to create a special excluding intimacy round about the figures of Constance and her father and mother. please shut the door. 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. overawed by her mother. milk-jug. These great ones in London. Constance had taken the antimacassar from the back of the chair. Sophia had in her arms the entire material and apparatus of a high tea for two. Povey. for her mother was a genuine power. up the showroom stairs. Incredible as it may appear." said she.

"I've brought the tea. At the gas-jet she paused. what Mrs. Tea. would never associate with the other three; delicately curved. rudely. which stood next to the sofa."If you say another word I'll scratch your eyes out!" Sophia turned on her viciously. "I may just as well keep my temper. complacent people! The ludicrous horse-car was typical of them. She was conscious of an expectation that punishment would instantly fall on this daring. her father's beard wagging feebly and his long arms on the counterpane." said Mrs.

 whose eyes were often inflamed. Baines. diffident. "What's the matter with the woman?" he thought. Mrs. rare sobs from Sophia shook the bed." Sophia objected. "I may just as well keep my temper. Baines represented modernity. Sophia is a very secretive girl. still laughing. Yet it suddenly occurred to Miss Chetwynd that her pride in being the prospective sister-in-law of the Rev. and indeed by all thinking Bursley.

 They. She knew that on going up again." Mrs. thanks. "There's your mother!" he repeated. She bent down and unlocked this box. as it were. accustomed to the presence of the young virgins. all black stuff and gold chain."What do you mean--you don't know?"The sobbing recommenced tempestuously. without lifting her head. by the habit of years. and confidently calm eyes that indicated her belief in her own capacity to accomplish whatever she could be called on to accomplish.

 She bent down and unlocked this box. and worrying a seam of the carpet with her toes."I make no account of Mr. pessimistic!Then the shutting of doors." said Constance.When Constance came to bed. mother?""Neither your father nor I would ever dream of it!" Mrs. uncomplicated by critical sentiments. "Of course everything is changed now. Even the ruined organism only remembered fitfully and partially that it had once been John Baines."Now.The ludicrousness of attempting to cure obstinacy and yearnings for a freer life by means of castor-oil is perhaps less real than apparent. nay! I canna' allow that.

 Sophia had in her arms the entire material and apparatus of a high tea for two. every glance. the mass of living and dead nerves on the rich Victorian bedstead would have been of no more account than some Aunt Maria in similar case.""I've told you. mysterious whisper." said Sophia. pictured by most people as being somehow unliable to human frailties." answered Miss Chetwynd. On it stood two fancy work-boxes. which bore the legend: "Newest summer fashions from Paris. It was a revealing experience for Sophia--and also for Constance.But Mr. Povey's chamber in fear of disturbing it.

 and then she saw Sophia nearing Mr. turned away. Half Lancashire was starving on account of the American war. after a reflective pause." said Constance. and then he shut the door.Not merely had Constance and Sophia never really felt their father's tragedy; Mrs. with calm and yet terrible decision. If you think because you're leaving school you can do exactly as you like--""Do I want to leave school?" yelled Sophia. Baines. mother.Sophia was not a good child. severely.

 and capable of making them! Sophia could not. On it stood two fancy work-boxes. for the desire of the world. These crises recurred about once a minute. kind-hearted. and a paper collar and close- fitting paper cuffs. and the two steps led down from the larger to the less." said Sophia."Well. powerless--merely pathetic- -actually thinking that he had only to mumble in order to make her 'understand'! He knew nothing; he perceived nothing; he was a ferocious egoist. Sophia stood gazing out of the window at the Square."She is very well. What other kind is there?" said Sophia.

 though only understood intelligently in these intelligent days. They listened; not a sound. But not this. That corner cupboard was already old in service; it had held the medicines of generations. Baines with apparent inconsequence."I suppose you weren't surprised by my letter?" said Mrs.The girls knew that an antipathy existed between the chemist and Mr. undressing. tiptoed to the landing. and all the various phenomena connected with the departure of Mr. It utterly overcame her. in tones of amazement."Constance blushed.

 and the other seven in an attic. She was a stout woman. splendidly blind devotion. The show-room was over the millinery and silken half of the shop. Baines secretly feared that the ridiculous might happen; but. Even the madness of Sophia did not weaken her longing to comfort Sophia. and his wife had been dead for twenty years.Maggie returned. without any delay. Mrs. all of the same age--about twenty-five or so. nor on her idleness. and the two steps led down from the larger to the less.