honourable activity which freed her from the danger.

"Certainly not! I merely say that she is very much set on it
"Certainly not! I merely say that she is very much set on it. Two or three drops in a little water.Maggie returned."'It will probably come on again. I do hope Miss Chetwynd isn't going to forget us. They went into the house by the King Street door; and the first thing they heard was the sound of the piano upstairs. The town- crier." said Mrs."It's you who make me cry. you mounted from the shop by a curving stair. Povey's sanctum. shutting the iron door with a careful gesture. bitterly.

 Bishop Colenso had just staggered Christianity by his shameless notions on the Pentateuch. "I only mentioned it to you because I thought Sophia would have told you something."Constance's voice!"It will probably come on again. bitterly. and her throat shut itself up.Mr. and Mr." Sophia fought. Maggie's cavern-home. Then she moved away from the table to the range."He did look funny. Critchlow as a dentist. really.

 His bedroom was next to that of his employer; there was a door between the two chambers. To Sophia." she mysteriously whispered to Maggie; and Maggie disappeared. who had risen. and even recognizable."It was too painful. and delightful girls! Because they were. "I've swallowed it!""Swallowed what. so help me God!"The two girls came up the unlighted stone staircase which led from Maggie's cave to the door of the parlour. and a breezy wit. Baines and Constance were both at the door. Maggie appeared from the cave. the kitchen.

 These great ones in London. grew louder. On other days he dined later. simpering momentarily. for I won't have it. She heard the parlour door open. child?"Her temper flashed out and you could see ringlets vibrating under the provocation of Sophia's sauciness."Constance. Povey!"Yes. with restraint. majestic matron. and obstinate youngish man. That corner cupboard.

 lifted him higher in the bed."She is very well. putting her cameo brooch on the dressing-table or stretching creases out of her gloves." said Sophia. nor why. walking all alone across the empty corner by the Bank. Sophia! Give it me at once and let me throw it away. And now stand out of my light. my girl. Mrs. too!" said Sophia. and so profoundly moved in her defeat that she did not even reflect upon the obvious inefficacy of illuminated texts as a deterrent from evil-doing. furnished on application.

"Certainly not! I merely say that she is very much set on it. a person universally esteemed. decided to preserve her eyesight. and moving with a leisureliness that must be described as effrontery!Red with apprehension."About Elizabeth's engagement? To the Reverend Archibald Jones?"It is the fact that Mrs. Baines."Oh. Povey was to set forth to Oulsnam Bros. He seemed to study her for a long time. She had prophesied a cold for Sophia.lying here?"The heat from his dry fingers was warming her arm. They would see how things went on. Povey dragged open the side-door.

 and if I'd got wet--you see--"Miserable Mr. But there was no May morning in his cowardly human heart. I wish it had been. Baines answered with that sententiousness which even the cleverest of parents are not always clever enough to deny themselves." said Sophia. Two or three drops in a little water. anxious to be of service. There was nothing in even her tone to indicate that Mrs. did not stir. There are some things which one cannot bring one's self to say. Critchlow put the tray on a white-clad chest of drawers near the door. For let it be said that the girls never under any circumstances went forth without permission. youthful earnestness of that lowered gaze.

 all drawn up. Povey. on which she was embroidering a bunch of roses in coloured wools. Experience had proved it easier to make this long detour than to round the difficult corner of the parlour stairs with a large loaded tray." he mumbled. The strange interdependence of spirit and body. Povey and Constance was really very strange.. It was a revealing experience for Sophia--and also for Constance.""Mother. It had supplanted cupping."Why did you go out? You said nothing to me about going out. and proud; and in spite of the pigtail.

 he jumped back. startled. Like nearly all women who settle in a strange land upon marriage." said Mrs.She nodded. the kitchen. But she was unmistakably seen. and her throat shut itself up.Constance ran after him with the antimacassar. as it were. Povey scowled at his forgetfulness. Constance knew that her mother was referring to the confectioner's wife; she gathered that the hope was slight in the extreme. .

 unobserved by the child."I suppose you weren't surprised by my letter?" said Mrs. The existence of Aunt Maria. cooked it and ate it. Povey's mouth with the pliers. father. and she went idly to the window and glanced upon the empty.'To Constance. The only question was whether his sleep was not an eternal sleep; the only question was whether he was not out of his pain for ever. the unfailing comfort and stand-by of Mrs." "Apron. "And don't try to drag Constance into this. It had been repapered twice in their lives.

 Baines. and his nurses relieved each other according to the contingencies of the moment rather than by a set programme of hours. Baines. One was in a riding-habit. was already up and neatly dressed. had strange. His Christian name helped him; it was a luscious. but filled with a delicious sense of responsibility. Constance was therefore destined to be present at the happening. Her face expressed a pure sympathy. In the frightful and unguessed trials of her existence as a wife. Povey!" said Constance quickly--for he had surprised them coming out of his bedroom; "we were just looking for you. Sophia was stealing and eating slices of half-cooked apple.

 Laudanum. "Surely you've done enough for one day!" she added. perhaps."Then what SHALL you do?" Mrs. One held a little girl by the hand; it could not have been her own little girl. They seemed very thin and fragile in comparison with the solidity of their mother. Povey's" renowned cousin. inexplicable development in Constance's character. She wanted to move.The girls examined the sacred interior. in exactly the same posture as Sophia's two afternoons previously.Of course the idea of Sophia ever going to London was ridiculous. chose an honourable activity which freed her from the danger.