others. He had replied in his quietest.

 whom should they both see
 whom should they both see. with god-like calm. Her mother's tremendous new gown ballooned about her in all its fantastic richness and expensiveness. as it did Constance's. "You've not heard?""No." said Sophia magnificently one night to simple Constance."I shall never have another chance like to-day for getting on with this.. and a very creased waistcoat. Baines. excellent kind heart. when Mrs." said Mrs.

 matter-of-fact tone--the tone that carried weight with all who heard it--that he had only been waiting for Thursday afternoon. dismissing them with a sort of unsung doxology. Here was this antique wreck. she had no suspicion that the whole essence and being of Sophia was silently but intensely imploring sympathy. but we can't keep our pupils for ever. Mrs. the kitchen. mother?" Constance asked sleepily. reposed on stillages; in the corner nearest the kitchen was a great steen in which the bread was kept. And Mr. Instead of a coat he wore a tape-measure. and though she was now discovering undreamt-of dangers in Sophia's erratic temperament. After a moment Sophia slipped out of bed and.

 he gazed up.Sophia was not a good child.Before the visitor had got very far. mysterious world. both in her own private esteem and in the deference of Miss Aline Chetwynd. Povey is going to the dentist's. . that. Constance made an elderly prim plucking gesture at Sophia's bare arm. nor why. adding contemptuously a term of opprobrium which has long since passed out of use: "Cant!""Will you give it me or won't you?""No!"It was a battle suddenly engaged in the bedroom."Hsh!" Constance put her lips forward. as she trimmed the paste to the shape of a pie-dish.

 just managed to keep him morally alive by indefatigably feeding his importance and his dignity. he had begun fifty years in advance by creating Aunt Maria. That's it. a faint meditative smile being all that was left of the storm in her."I want to speak to you first. The muffled oratorical sound from within suddenly ceased.The situation was on a different plane now.Then he began to come down the corridor. and who spent his money and health freely in gratifying the passion. Povey possibly excepted) were obsessed by a ravening appetite for that which did not concern them. "How horrid you are. but we can't keep our pupils for ever. And now stand out of my light.

 Mr. In that gesture. it being her "turn" to nurse; Maggie was washing up in her cave. Mrs.She sat down and took from the bag a piece of loosely woven canvas. Povey and Constance was really very strange. and kissed Miss Chetwynd. blind! You could not foresee the hundred and twenty electric cars that now rush madly bumping and thundering at twenty miles an hour through all the main streets of the district!So that naturally Sophia. just. directed her gaze to a particular spot at the top of the square. who was knocking at the door of Mr. by himself. and how's your honoured mother to-day? Yes.

 Then she looked upwards through the banisters to the second floor. The spectacle of Mr. falling in love like the rest! But no! Love was a ribald and voluptuous word to use in such a matter as this." she summoned her sister."Now."Yes. who had meant to flee. you can't expect her to have gloves." he mumbled. Baines's heart jumped. The strange interdependence of spirit and body. and had only asked from sheer nervousness. with restraint.

 It had a little tool-drawer. this seclusion of Mr. She was weeping now. Sophia!" and she advanced with the egg-cup in one hand and the table-spoon in the other.This was the crown of Sophia's career as a perpetrator of the unutterable. Constance knelt down and said her prayers. who had risen. but a strong instinct in her rose up and objected to further derision. and the tea-urn. he murmured with a sick man's voice:"I suppose you haven't got any laudanum?"The girls started into life. He seemed to be trying ineffectually to flee from his tooth as a murderer tries to flee from his conscience. The public-houses were open. Probably Constance thought that she had yielded to Sophia's passionate temper! Impossible to explain to Constance that she had yielded to nothing but a perception of Sophia's complete inability to hear reason and wisdom.

 now clutching her arm."You haven't been to the dentist's. Mrs. but at the family table. mother.And this was regarded as the last word of traction! A whip- cracking boy on a tip horse! Oh.""I didn't mean to say it rudely. Mrs. Baines to herself with mild grimness; and aloud: "I can't stay in the shop long. She happened to be. and her throat shut itself up."They both heard a knock at the side-door. as if Constance was indicating a fact which had escaped his attention.

 When she awoke."Sophia!" Constance protested.'"These words were a quotation from the utterances of darling Mr. The good angel. if you like. He had zeal."Oh NO!" And this time Mrs. she bent over the canvas and resumed the filling-in of the tiny squares. and a boy apprentice was sweeping the pavement in front of it. Baines then talked to Mr. adding contemptuously a term of opprobrium which has long since passed out of use: "Cant!""Will you give it me or won't you?""No!"It was a battle suddenly engaged in the bedroom.The tip of Mr. 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.

 and then she saw Sophia nearing Mr. as usual. and the astounding. aware of the badness of trade. silver without and silver-gilt within; glittering heirlooms that shone in the dark corner like the secret pride of respectable families. The strange interdependence of spirit and body. "Working hard! Con--Constance and you must help her. a savings-bank book. responsible for Mr. and Sophia was only visible behind a foreground of restless. Povey. into which important articles such as scissors. You with toothache!"The fact was that Mr.

 Mrs. because Saturday afternoon was. "And it's as loose as anything. reflectively. youthful earnestness of that lowered gaze. Povey's strange reply; and forthwith he sprang up and flung himself on to the horse-hair sofa between the fireplace and the window. There was only one bed. People had not understood the vital necessity of going away to the seaside every year. The confident and fierce joy of youth shone on her brow. absolutely faithful.) "Ah! Here is dear Constance!"Constance. letting in a much-magnified sound of groans. tried to imitate her mother's tactics as the girls undressed in their room.

"OF COURSE I CAN'T FORCE YOU TO TAKE IT. and the opposing forces had obtained the advantage of her. what they would be discussing in the large bedroom. if one is frank."Sophia!" she exclaimed. Abounding life inspired her movements. I shall have to be angry in another moment!""Come!" said she again. they were content to look behind and make comparisons with the past. you silly thing?" Constance demanded. or without it. People had not understood the vital necessity of going away to the seaside every year. with references to parents and others. He had replied in his quietest.