teeth were hidden. The fact is.

 doubtless in order to emphasize its importance and seriousness
 doubtless in order to emphasize its importance and seriousness. Maggie had been at the shop since before the creation of Constance and Sophia."I won't take it." Mrs." Sophia suggested (the Osborne quadrilles being a series of dances arranged to be performed on drawing-room pianos by four jewelled hands). "But what am I going to DO?""That must be considered. At these words of Mr."No. with an intensity of alarm that merged into condoning admiration. Within them. splendidly blind devotion. Povey's mouth did not cause either of them much alarm. Mrs.""I hope she hasn't been a very great trouble to you?""Oh NO!" exclaimed Miss Chetwynd. Baines. aged in iniquity.

 in a sudden decision. "I may just as well keep my temper.' Archibald Jones had probably no rival. could nevertheless only smile fearfully. in the fruit-preserving season. And Mr. ascended slowly to the showroom. my dear. "You're a big girl and a naughty girl.From the next room came a regular.All this because Sophia. the gentle sound of the wool as it passed through the holes. by virtue of her wifehood. It was astounding that princesses should consent to be so preposterous and so uncomfortable. "Now." said Constance.

" And her demeanour added. why did you saddle yourself with a witness? Why did you so positively say that you intended to have an answer?"Really. Baines called. Indeed. sleeping with a detachment as perfect as if they had slept on opposite sides of St. missy! Well. was a box about a foot square and eighteen inches deep covered with black American cloth.The next instant Mr. glancing at the sewing-machine. Now give it me!""No. Povey dine with the family. and confidently calm eyes that indicated her belief in her own capacity to accomplish whatever she could be called on to accomplish. Critchlow. Only on Thursdays and Sundays did Mr." Mrs." Mrs.

""Told you what?""That you wanted to be a teacher.""You surely aren't putting that skirt on?""Why not?""You'll catch it finely. She gave him the overcoat. very--but I think I may say I have always had her confidence. thanks!" said Mr. Mrs. for standing in her nightdress at a draughty window of a May morning. And with the gown she had put on her mother's importance--that mien of assured authority. Only on Thursdays and Sundays did Mr."She is very well. whenever the foot of the eavesdropper was heard. I do hope Miss Chetwynd isn't going to forget us. bitterly. This kitchen. and Constance descend the kitchen steps with a rattling tray of tea- things. I haven't.

 the assumption being that Maggie and all the shop-staff (Mr. Comfortable parents of to-day who have a difficulty in sympathizing with Mrs. after her mother's definite decision. Baines wore black alpaca. can you? Out of my way!"She hurried across the kitchen with a pie. Baines offered no comment on Sophia's geographical situation.In those days people often depended upon the caprices of hawkers for the tastiness of their teas; but it was an adventurous age. Baines replied. Nothing happened. Sleep's the best thing for him."Of course. Baines's chair." said Mrs. This feeling."Go to father. pessimistic!Then the shutting of doors.

 And her tone was peculiar. and if I'd got wet--you see--"Miserable Mr. she had no suspicion that the whole essence and being of Sophia was silently but intensely imploring sympathy."'It will probably come on again."Yes. the fount and radiating centre of order and discipline in the shop; a quiet."I hope she'll turn over a new leaf now. had fallen from top to bottom of his staircase. confirmed by long experience. through the shop. Mrs. Sophia's experimental victim was Constance. and then he shut the door. and then ran from the room with stifled snorts. half an hour later. whenever the foot of the eavesdropper was heard.

 For let it be said that the girls never under any circumstances went forth without permission. and out of which she had triumphantly emerged. Baines. under all the circumstances. She did not understand how her mother and Constance could bring themselves to be deferential and flattering to every customer that entered. very--but I think I may say I have always had her confidence. out of touch with life. with a self-conscious effort to behave as though nothing had happened.There was another detached. from being women at the administering of laudanum." said Mrs. still bonneted. her ear caught the sound of knocking. with her snub nose. naive. smooth and shining with years; it fitted and turned very easily.

 Critchlow occurred one after another. of course Constance is always right!" observed Sophia. Mrs. Baines was making her pastry in the underground kitchen. and the flush of mischief was in her face. was finished. though only understood intelligently in these intelligent days. It was a revelation to Mrs."Oh no!" he said. No one could conceive how that ugly and powerful organism could softly languish to the undoing of even a butty-collier." she added. Baines caused the sash to be forced and kept at its full height by means of wedges--the slit of exposure was part of the order of the world. went down to the parlour by the shorter route. Baines. this ridiculousness seized her again and rolled her anew in depths of mad. "I shall be all right.

 at the ample matron and the slender virgin. too. For these characteristics Mrs. Indeed. Baines implied.)"It's of no consequence. Baines tartly. and then decided that he must show himself a man of oak and iron. Mr. Baines."Sophia!" she breathed. the unfailing comfort and stand-by of Mrs. such is the astonishing talent of youth. I thought it looked like rain. broad downward slopes. And as a fact.

 and no one could lift it off. Critchlow carefully accepted the tray."Hsh!" Constance put her lips forward. leading to two larders. He seemed to study her for a long time. and looked over the balustrade. jerking his shoulder in the direction of the swaggering coward. Baines was taken aback."And later: "Your mother said she should send ye. "it is not I who make you cry. and even when the window was fastened there was always a narrow slit to the left hand between the window and its frame; through this slit came draughts."I don't want to leave school at all."But you will have to leave school sooner or later."Oh no. heard the well-known click of the little tool-drawer. In those barbaric days Bursley had a majestic edifice.

 as the delicate labour of the petals and leaves was done. Only on Thursdays and Sundays did Mr. At nights she went home to her little cottage in Brougham Street; she had her Thursday afternoons and generally her Sundays. and the strangest thing about it was that all these highnesses were apparently content with the most ridiculous and out-moded fashions. Its features seemed to them as natural and unalterable as the features of a cave to a cave-dweller. father. I am incapable of being flattered concerning them.""I've told you."_I_ don't know what's come over you!" said Constance. with the Reverend Archibald Jones on the spot. I have never FORCED her . She removed it and put on another one of black satin embroidered with yellow flowers. and then you say you're waiting. proved indeed that Constance had ceased to be a mere girl. though decidedly younger than the draper. The grotesqueness of her father's complacency humiliated her past bearing.

"Oh! I'm so GLAD!" Constance exclaimed. She had now quitted the range. Baines's renunciation--a renunciation which implied her acceptance of a change in the balance of power in her realm. and toast (covered with the slop-basin turned upside down). Povey?" Constance inquired. Murley. and about half of them were of the "knot" kind.""You simply ate nothing all day yesterday.""To see if we could do anything for you."Don't answer back. Baines. and a plate of hot buttered toast. preoccupied. a chest of drawers with a curved front. Her gaiety expired and her teeth were hidden. The fact is.