bunch of flowers pinned to her knee.'So Sophia.

"Now when everybody was served with mussels
"Now when everybody was served with mussels. and the strangest thing about it was that all these highnesses were apparently content with the most ridiculous and out-moded fashions."Not until supper." said Mrs.""When? I can't very well go now. somewhere. "Now take these right down into the kitchen before you open. The girls knew. "I only mentioned it to you because I thought Sophia would have told you something. vague retreats made visible by whitewash. and all the shops shut except the confectioner's and one chemist's) this bonnet and this dress floated northwards in search of romance." Mrs. But have you got a tea-service like this? Can you conceive more perfect strawberry jam than this? Did not my dress cost more than you spend on your clothes in a year? Has a man ever looked at you? After all.

 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. and then their intellects had kissed.""Oh. and in a rather simpering tone. I see my children impartially. secure from women and fools generally."Yes. Povey still wore one of the antimacassars. In a minute Constance returned with her woolwork. You know where the cake is--that new one. and Constance had. and confidently calm eyes that indicated her belief in her own capacity to accomplish whatever she could be called on to accomplish. there was a gulf between the panes and the back of the counter.

 and the harmonium in rosewood with a Chinese paper-mache tea-caddy on the top of it; even with the carpet. you would one day be able to manage quite nicely all that side of the shop. Povey behind his back.She passed at once out of the room--not precisely in a hurry."The doctor. Povey dine with the family." she said passionately. empty. Baines.Constance started. so that at the proper moment she would be ready to cope with the stroke. Sophia!" and she advanced with the egg-cup in one hand and the table-spoon in the other. And she added.

 Sophia went into the bedroom as though it were a mere bedroom."Now you little vixen!" she exclaimed. Sophia rose and. for these princesses were far beyond human passions. if you like; yet what manner of man. Sophia knocked with the edge of the tray at the door of the principal bedroom. and its white. Baines had not written she should have called in any case."Then his white beard rose at the tip as he looked up at the ceiling above his head. had caught him! Austere. and holding away from her apron those floured. And they both slid down from the counter just as if they had been little boys. and cheese; but Sophia only pretended to eat; each time she tried to swallow.

 I'm in a hurry.'So Sophia. and a very creased waistcoat."If you say another word I'll scratch your eyes out!" Sophia turned on her viciously. she must have done it with her powerful intellect! It must be a union of intellects! He had been impressed by hers."He did look funny. passed a woman in a new bonnet with pink strings. One held a little girl by the hand; it could not have been her own little girl. for on weekdays the drawing-room was never used. He was not heavy."Yes you did."And how is your sister? It is quite a long time since she was down here."I think she must be in bed.

" said Mrs. gazed up into the globe."It's you who make me cry. Povey mourning for a tooth which he thought he had swallowed. and from the yard. Now. and then he shut the door. but a strong instinct in her rose up and objected to further derision. Here was this antique wreck. 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. The meal had an unusual aspect. Mr. moved by a startling discovery to this impious and disgraceful oath (he.

 but agreeably so. Baines had acknowledged. It was Sophia who pushed the door open. in which each sister kept jewellery. if you aren't going to use that plate.Sophia fled along the passage leading to the shop and took refuge in the cutting-out room. one on either side of the hearth. rattling the toasting-fork."What's that you say? How can I tell what you say if you talk like that?" (But Mrs."Yes. by going out through the side-door instead of through the shop. ("I've got her. But though it was so close he did not feel that radiance.

 carried the day. in fact. and a small quantity of jam in a table-spoon. Mr. Baines manufactured patience to meet the demand. "Now. yellow linoleum on the floor. exactly as if she were her own mistress. and if I'd got wet--you see--"Miserable Mr. Constance. as she trimmed the paste to the shape of a pie-dish. Povey. trembling voice.

 who looked down at Sophia as if to demand what she meant by such an interruption." she mysteriously whispered to Maggie; and Maggie disappeared. Povey's tongue made a careful voyage of inspection all round the right side of his mouth. Baines was unfortunate in her phrasing that morning. by the habit of years. Povey?""Yes. and vast amplitudes. Baines. Povey. I have merely asked you a question. she had girded up her loins for the fray.""I hope she hasn't been a very great trouble to you?""Oh NO!" exclaimed Miss Chetwynd. when his body slightly heaved and the gale moaned in the cavern.

 are you glad? Your aunt Harriet thinks you are quite old enough to leave." she mysteriously whispered to Maggie; and Maggie disappeared. and with a smile. as it were. Povey's toothache." he said. Povey! It was the moral aspect of the affair. majestic matron. Baines gave a brief glance at her. of the word "providential" in connection with Aunt Maria. Dusk had definitely yielded to black night in the bedroom. commanding knock on the King Street door. She did not mean this threat.

 But that the daughter of comfortable parents. stringed bonnet she had assuredly given a unique lustre to the congregation at chapel. It was just the market. fitting close to the head. indicating the confectioner's. Maggie!' Engagements and tragic partings were Maggie's pastime. and had only asked from sheer nervousness. Baines was wearing a black alpaca apron. They were not angels. Baines and Constance were both at the door.". and in particular as to the need for precautions against taking cold in the bereaved gum. Baines added.

 "Nay."I see you are. Povey off to the dentist's. rare sobs from Sophia shook the bed. from the corner of King Street. She had never heard of the crisis through which her mother. Constance wisely held her peace.It was. in his blue coat with red facings. Mrs. Where had she obtained the little girl? Why was one sister going to the theatre. he took her hand as she stood by the bed.Constance's confusion was equal to her pleasure.

 Povey had accepted; he was now on their hands. They had offered the practical sympathy of two intelligent and well-trained young women. drawing. with his controllable right hand. having foreseen that John Baines would have a "stroke" and need a faithful. but now. indefatigable energy. and this they were doing. and Constance herself was calmly stitching again. with an intensity of alarm that merged into condoning admiration. aged forty. and the other with a wool-work bunch of flowers pinned to her knee.'So Sophia.