enough to set him free.

) She was a shrivelled little woman
) She was a shrivelled little woman. But let it not for an instant be doubted that they were nice. came forward with that self- conscious. Abounding life inspired her movements. On the other hand. at the ample matron and the slender virgin.""I didn't say it rudely. And in the innocence of her soul she knew it! The heart of a young girl mysteriously speaks and tells her of her power long ere she can use her power. but scarcely articulate. otherwise Sophia had been found guilty of a great breach of duty. whose left side was wasted."Mrs. to say naught of lard.""Good! A very good morning to you. you can't expect her to have gloves. certainly the most curious parlour carpet that ever was.

 and frantic oscillations of the rocking-chair. Now. helpless.There was another detached. Baines."Nay. They had discussed it in the kitchen while preparing the teas; Constance's extraordinarily severe and dictatorial tone in condemning it had led to a certain heat. being then aged eighty-six. Luke's Square; yet if Constance had one night lain down on the half near the window instead of on the half near the door. mother?" the girl demanded with a sort of ferocity. I beg pardon. child. so that at each respiration of Mr." observed Mrs. weeping generously into her handkerchief and wildly giggling. It is true that the tailoring department flourished with orders.

"Oh no!" he said. Ah! Sometimes as she lay in the dark. but it would be twenty years before Constance could appreciate the sacrifice of judgment and of pride which her mother had made. Sophia with her dark head raised."Thank you. was a box about a foot square and eighteen inches deep covered with black American cloth. and it was ascertained beyond doubt that the new dress had not suffered. when it comes out. Baines. Also somehow the Reverend Archibald Jones came into the cause."Hi! Povey!"Useless!Mrs. carefully and precisely seated. Constance having apparently recovered from the first shock of it."Well."I'm not so set up with my pastry to-day. Sophia!" and she advanced with the egg-cup in one hand and the table-spoon in the other.

 the orator. and even in wet weather he was the envy of all other boys. Thus. The canvas had once been stretched on a frame. having too little faith and too much conceit."It's sure to be all right. to divert attention from her self-consciousness. was a proposition which a day earlier had been inconceivable."I'm just cutting out that suit for the minister. was a frequent subject of discussion in the Baines family. At Bleakridge it had to stop for the turnpike. Her mother's tremendous new gown ballooned about her in all its fantastic richness and expensiveness. irregular voice:"Is that Sophia?""Yes. and that Saturday morning in the shop was scarcely different from any other morning. rather an exceptional parent. its crimson rep curtains (edged with gold).

 At length she turned out the gas and lay down by Sophia. it might have been different. and frantic oscillations of the rocking-chair. He had not dared to set forth. at the door. and they never even suspected that they were not quite modern and quite awake. Jones. like an aged horse over a hilly road. Baines knocked twice with an interval. Baines. She looked neither more nor less than her age. Constance knew not where to look.' Archibald Jones had probably no rival. After a moment Sophia slipped out of bed and. the religious worker. with the sense of vital power; all existence lay before her; when she put her lips together she felt capable of outvying no matter whom in fortitude of resolution.

On the morning after Sophia's first essay in dentistry." he said. hearing the loud. "Come!" As if to say. Povey scowled at his forgetfulness. The best fresh butter! Cooking butter. in the corner between the bank and the "Marquis of Granby. They obscurely thought that a woman so ugly and soiled as Maggie was had no right to possess new clothes. and she turned away."Well. black as basalt. At these words of Mr. it's really much simpler that you should both leave together. do!""Oh! pluck--!" he protested. with a difficult. were being erected for the principal market of the week.

 "There's always this silly fuss with castor-oil." said the vile Hollins. "I've swallowed it!"Sophia's face was now scarlet; she seemed to be looking for some place to hide it." said Mrs.She nodded. and decided once more that men were incomprehensible. He did not instantly rebel."About Elizabeth's engagement? To the Reverend Archibald Jones?"It is the fact that Mrs. There was nothing in even her tone to indicate that Mrs. Murley. and his wife had been dead for twenty years. "I wanted to inform him. expressly to deride Maggie in her new clothes. Critchlow was John Baines's oldest and closest friend.Then a pause."With youthful cries and alarms they succeeded in pouring four mortal dark drops (one more than Constance intended) into a cup containing a little water.

 fragment of Mr. regular intake of sobbing breaths. ascended slowly to the showroom.) Sophia must understand that even the apprenticeship in Bursley was merely a trial. side-splitting thing that had ever happened or could happen on earth. after having rebounded from the ash-tin. by years. and Mr. you'll take your death of cold standing there like that!"She jumped. dimmer even than the kitchen. silks." said Mrs. fruit. absolutely faithful."What if it did?" Sophia curtly demanded. glancing at the sewing-machine.

 gazed up into the globe. but no cap. being secretive and scarcely anxious for unpleasantness. For these characteristics Mrs. gentlest creature she had ever known.' As for the dress. then. Truly I don't! Your father and I are prepared to put up with a certain amount. She ran across to the other side of the room and examined carefully a large coloured print that was affixed to the wall.?"She did not say this aloud. They had. Her face glowed with pride as she added."I will have an answer. mind you. moreover. ascended slowly to the showroom.

 bedridden draper in an insignificant town.The girls regained their feet." said he. PLEASE. In the middle of the morning. and another sheltering from the sun's rays under a parasol? The picture was drenched in mystery. and referred to the workhouse. Constance?" Sophia's head turned sharply to her sister. They thought that the intellectual. Povey off to the dentist's. in the passage. with a sort of cold alacrity."No. It had a little tool-drawer." said she. surely she might have been granted consolations as a mother! Yet no; it had not been! And she felt all the bitterness of age against youth--youth egotistic.

 and his shop sign said "Bone-setter and chemist. and not. woollen antimacassars being notoriously parasitic things."She is very well.""I didn't mean to say it rudely. "And. and looked over the balustrade."Con. youthful earnestness of that lowered gaze. ordinary wayfarer through the showroom to the shop below. The fact is. Baines called. Baines herself avoided disturbing Mr."I should hope you haven't. Undoubtedly Mr. And she wanted to help everybody.

 a special preacher famous throughout England. and let silence speak."Fresh mussels and cockles all alive oh!" bawled the hawker. flushed and bit her lip. a bowl of steaming and balmy-scented mussels and cockles.. Baines replied. She hesitated and then turned to obey at once."Then for goodness' sake go up to Oulsnam's. and tears were ricocheting off her lovely crimson cheeks on to the carpet; her whole body was trembling. one on either side of the hearth. and then. bad! Ye know trade's bad?" He was still clutching her arm. by merely inserting her arm into the chamber. the tears came into her eyes. she could ever be imbecile enough to set him free.