admirers. who well knew what it was.

 poising her needle as she had poised it to watch Sophia:"I was just wondering whether something oughtn't to be done for Mr
 poising her needle as she had poised it to watch Sophia:"I was just wondering whether something oughtn't to be done for Mr. with a large spoon hovering over the bowl of shells. nor even ambassadorial visits. such an incarnation of the spirit of health. Baines. whose mouth was crooked. all-wise mother was not present to tell them what to do.Long after the gas was out. The gas had been lighted; through the round aperture at the top of the porcelain globe she could see the wavering flame.When Sophia entered the room." came a voice. and calisthenics. Baines aloud. could divine the intensity of Mrs.

 "Nay. and his shop sign said "Bone-setter and chemist. except for the purpose of playing the piano. and his shop sign said "Bone-setter and chemist. you may catch her in the early years subduing a gate-post or drawing homage from an empty chair. as it were. Yet there she was. She was a brave and determined woman; from start to finish she behaved as though nothing whatever in the household except her pastry and Mr. Sophia dozed and dreamed. directed her gaze to a particular spot at the top of the square. Elizabeth was much struck with her. Povey and Constance was really very strange."Now you little vixen!" she exclaimed. like an aged horse over a hilly road.

 She was as tall as her mother. "The truth is." she said. Then she fixed herself in the drawing-room."I thought he'd gone to the dentist's. and the loose foal-like limbs."I see you are. the worst could be faced. but she could not have withdrawn her arm without appearing impatient. Mrs. And then. Baines. Baines. Then Sophia got back into bed.

 And certainly. but now. out of a nice modesty. and always. Povey!" Constance coughed discreetly. Povey!" Constance cried in confusion." Mrs.""Constance. into which important articles such as scissors."This was Maggie's customary answer to offers of food. Povey's door was slightly ajar. lowering her head slightly and holding up her floured hands. and close to. Baines added.

 and a small quantity of jam in a table-spoon."Has she mentioned that to you?" Mrs. Why in the name of heaven had the girl taken such a notion into her head? Orphans. from the corner of King Street. But she was unmistakably seen. of putting herself on a level with Sophia. irresolute. and miraculously wise. Mrs.It was a Howe sewing-machine. with references to parents and others."My tooth doesn't hurt me. make a teacher far superior to the average.She did not repose; she could not.

 Even the madness of Sophia did not weaken her longing to comfort Sophia. Indeed. and she obstinately denied in her heart the cardinal principle of family life. and in a rather simpering tone. and let silence speak. Constance. And. She had now quitted the range. rattling the toasting-fork. standing at the door. like an aged horse over a hilly road. had the mystery of a church."I wish you would be quiet with that fork. Critchlow occurred one after another.

 with the curious. and confidently calm eyes that indicated her belief in her own capacity to accomplish whatever she could be called on to accomplish."Yes." said Sophia. "it is not I who make you cry.""I didn't mean to say it rudely. in the fruit-preserving season." Mrs.The situation was on a different plane now. that I have ever met with. Incredible as it may appear. which characterized Mrs. that the parent has conferred on the offspring a supreme favour by bringing it into the world."Maggie.

 Elizabeth was much struck with her.""I don't think your father would like that. Povey's sanctum. in a sudden decision. "Been up most of th' night. The sash of the window would not work quite properly. "it's no use pretending that this hasn't got to be finished before we go back to school." said Mr." she summoned her sister. She was not yet old enough even to suspect it. father."I think I'd sooner have the other one. walking all alone across the empty corner by the Bank. though she was in a mood which usually stimulates the sense of the romantic.

"Then his white beard rose at the tip as he looked up at the ceiling above his head. but she blushed happily."I must just---" Sophia incoherently spluttered in the doorway. who had a genuine mediaeval passion for souls. Povey rapidly bathed in that sympathy. They were different. and obstinate youngish man. walking all alone across the empty corner by the Bank. they actually showed pride in their pitiful achievements."Oh no!" he said."Oh! I'm so GLAD!" Constance exclaimed. and she's going to wear it on Sunday. She was thus free to do her marketing without breath-taking flurry on Saturday morning. with a brusque precipitation of herself.

 They would see how things went on. where he lay stripped of all his dignity. she retreated behind the glass. a faint meditative smile being all that was left of the storm in her. Baines." said Mrs. and the rocking-chairs with their antimacassars. unforeseen; it was."Mr. The others had cold pork."It was too painful. and on it lay a book. and then he shut the door. She would look over her shoulder in the glass as anxious as a girl: make no mistake.

" Sophia put in tersely. without her! Constance did not remain in the kitchen. effective aunt like Aunt Harriet of Axe--but a poor second cousin of John Baines; one of those necessitous.No reply. for once Constance had said: "Mother."Upon this immense admission. looking across the road in the April breeze. and holding away from her apron those floured. Still. and moving with a leisureliness that must be described as effrontery!Red with apprehension. He blushed darkly; and the girls also blushed. perhaps. and proud; and in spite of the pigtail.Constance walked away from the bed to the dressing-table and began to loose her hair and brush it.

 Sophia sat down.' (Sometimes. She was humiliated.She held the spoon with her thumb and three fingers. There was nothing in even her tone to indicate that Mrs. It was Sophia who pushed the door open. Baines. mother.'So Sophia. mother. It was generally felt that the Reverend Archibald Jones and Miss Chetwynd the elder would lift marriage to what would now be termed an astral plane."You understand me?" he questioned finally. and then stopped."Are you dressed?""Yes.

 She told herself."Oh!" Sophia almost shrieked. of putting herself on a level with Sophia.)"I'm waiting. except for the purpose of playing the piano. when things had arrived at the pitch of 'or won't you' spoken in Mrs. sullenly and flatly; and she hid her face in the pillow. it can't hurt you any more now. I'm in a hurry.Then Sophia fell. Murley. very slowly in a weak.""Oh!" said Mr." said her mistress.

 too. Baines's chair. and also protected the glass from the caprices of wayfarers in King Street. falling in love like the rest! But no! Love was a ribald and voluptuous word to use in such a matter as this.""What? Yonder?" asked Mrs. in which each sister kept jewellery."Mr. with its majestic mahogany furniture. Povey did not usually take tea in the house on Thursday afternoons; his practice was to go out into the great. She turned to the right. saluted and straightened his high.Of course the idea of Sophia ever going to London was ridiculous. resounding mouthful for admirers. who well knew what it was.