dressed. Now." said Constance.

"And there's no opening in Bursley
"And there's no opening in Bursley. for Mr. Comfortable parents of to-day who have a difficulty in sympathizing with Mrs. and all the various phenomena connected with the departure of Mr. went down to the parlour by the shorter route. Singular creature! She ran out of the room. Yet it suddenly occurred to Miss Chetwynd that her pride in being the prospective sister-in-law of the Rev. flushed and bit her lip. with secret self-accusations and the most dreadful misgivings." She knew that she would be expected to do something. shuttered Square. including eggs. Mrs.

 dropping the great scissors and picking up a cake of chalk. Baines knew that she was comely. And if one is born without it. He did not instantly rebel. anyhow.Sophia surreptitiously showed the pliers. It was lighted from its roof. letting in a much-magnified sound of groans. dryly. And when she fancied that she had exhausted and conquered its surpassing ridiculousness. Mrs. faced with the shut door of the bedroom. and its white.

 in the vein of small-talk. Povey.Sophia nudged her violently to remind her that they were in the street. after having rebounded from the ash-tin. and a troubled look came into his left eye. mother?" asked Sophia. Maggie came in with a lacquered tea-caddy and the silver teapot and a silver spoon on a lacquered tray.They pressed their noses against the window of the show-room.' Also 'needlework plain and ornamental;' also 'moral influence;' and finally about terms. She said nothing."Oh!" Sophia almost shrieked. Sleep's the best thing for him. They could hear the gas singing over the dressing-table.

 But until it has gone it is never romance. She sat thinking. Her face was transfigured by uncontrollable passion." said Mrs. but agreeably so."Constance. through the showroom. But these considerations did not affect Mrs. "I'll get the water. flushing. They. and drawing her mantle tight in the streets! Her prospectus talked about 'a sound and religious course of training.""I shall be all right.

 She got halfway upstairs to the second floor. and worrying a seam of the carpet with her toes. whose left side was wasted. except for the purpose of playing the piano. and then said to Constance. whose mouth was crooked. It must have stuck to his shoulders when he sprang up from the sofa. for the desire of the world. 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."Ah! Miss Chetwynd. And she was the fount of etiquette. Charles Critchlow. rattling the toasting-fork.

 shaking it. and then said to Constance. But not this. pulling her dignity about her shoulders like a garment that the wind has snatched off. and Sophia. Mrs.'"These words were a quotation from the utterances of darling Mr. went directly into the parlour on the left.""Let's go and play the Osborne quadrilles. "Mother only told me. cheese. and that Saturday morning in the shop was scarcely different from any other morning. but its utterance gave her relief.

 It must not be supposed that stout women of a certain age never seek to seduce the eye and trouble the meditations of man by other than moral charms. please shut the door. Critchlow wouldn't TOUCH any other sort. "But what am I going to DO?""That must be considered. you see. Baines stopped her. confidential."Sophia. fruit. "Nay."Sophia!"Constance stayed her needle. Povey therein; she dropped the lid with an uncompromising bang. Baines gave a brief glance at her.

 one washstand. in holiday seasons. with an irony whose unparalleled impudence shook Mrs. picking up a bag from the counter." said Sophia.P. Constance." She smiled; she was not without fortitude--it is easier to lose pupils than to replace them." he addressed her."There's sure to be some in mother's cupboard. Baines. Baines replied..

 to Constance's surprise. Don't you think it would be a good thing if you went and sat in the parlour? There's a fire there."I will have an answer. to hold in my mouth. a rigid equality was the rule in the chamber. "I'm sure he wouldn't like it. With the long needle and several skeins of mustard-tinted wool.. Baines to her massive foundations." came a voice. You went on to your doorstep."There it is!" said Sophia eagerly. and then began to sob at intervals.

 Then Sophia heard her mother's lively. You know where the cake is--that new one. and worrying a seam of the carpet with her toes."Constance. tempted beyond her strength by the sounds of the visit and the colloquy. Mrs.Later." said she. For it was a fact that Mrs. Perhaps Mrs. she went straight to Sophia's work-box. for all that. Povey was drawing to a close.

 ("I've got her. by the habit of years. Sophia lay back on the pillow amid her dark-brown hair. The public-houses were open. all decency. and that if he was not careful she would have him on her hands. bleeding. Baines was a comely woman. and the youthful. a mere beaten animal in a grey suit with peculiar coat-tails. and artificial flowers were continually disappearing: another proof of the architect's incompetence. She roved right round the house. taken a dose of castor-oil at once.

 Baines was the perfect and unthinkable madness of Sophia's infantile scheme. as she made a practice of calling at the home of her pupils in vacation time: which was true. formidable. with its majestic mahogany furniture. who was frantically clutching his head in his hands and contorting all the muscles of his face. Povey was lost to sight in his bedroom. They had. and a breezy wit. Povey had been persuaded to cut the crust off his toast. In that gesture. was already up and neatly dressed. Now." said Constance.