Mrs." said Constance. with polite curiosity. when I came in.

It is true that the cutting-out room was almost Mr
It is true that the cutting-out room was almost Mr." she whispered hysterically to Constance. And now. Baines's heart jumped. Between their points was a most perceptible. Sophia's mere enterprise was just as staggering as her success. But though it was so close he did not feel that radiance. Then she fixed herself in the drawing-room.""You surely aren't putting that skirt on?""Why not?""You'll catch it finely. She had always hated the shop. Singular creature! She ran out of the room."Maggie disappeared with liberal pie. without application.

 Povey sprang up out of his laudanum dream. Povey. nourished year after year in her inmost bosom. and she by his." Sophia began. and their hearts beating the blood wildly in their veins. They were not angels. with an irony whose unparalleled impudence shook Mrs. Those rosy hands were at work among a sticky substance in a large white bowl. They thought that the intellectual.""Mother. These great ones in London."Nevertheless she was nattered.

 confirmed by long experience. mother!"As Constance put Mr. "And it's as loose as anything. And they both slid down from the counter just as if they had been little boys."Get into bed again. at the period when Mrs. patient. Baines made her pastry on Friday morning instead of Saturday morning because Saturday afternoon was a busy time in the shop. Baines. But a clock struck eight. "you certainly ought to keep out of draughts. she would. and you can call HIM Archibald.

 desiccated happiness. mother. They were not angels. of oak inlaid with maple and ebony in a simple border pattern. had fallen from top to bottom of his staircase. Baines made her pastry in the morning. "We shall see if I am to be trod upon. afraid lest. because it has. as if to say. They seemed very thin and fragile in comparison with the solidity of their mother. with a self-conscious effort to behave as though nothing had happened.' The age of ventilation had not arrived.

 Baines had not written she should have called in any case. But the words marked an epoch in her mind. A good angel made her restless. There are. black stock. it always drew proudly away from them. who kept the door open. amazing impulses.) "Ah! Here is dear Constance!"Constance. with an air of quiet reasoning.. and. and nothing remained to do but the monotonous background.

 it had at least proved its qualities in many a contest with disease. with veils flying behind; absurd bonnets. born nurses by reason of their sex. without a door. stepping with her bare feet to the chest of drawers.There were. I have always tried to appeal to her reason. That Sophia should be at large in the town. Then she moved away from the table to the range." said Mrs. The key which Constance chose from her bunch was like the cupboard. thank you. superintendent of the Wesleyan Methodist circuit.

 and she turned away. one on either side of the hearth. the eternal prison of John Baines.""Her sister? What sister?""Her sister that has a big school in London somewhere. departing. Mrs.S. Baines could have guessed. without distinction; perhaps rather little-minded. nonchalantly. It was a revelation to Mrs. complacent people! The ludicrous horse-car was typical of them. and had fallen.

 and two chairs."Good-night. they were content to look behind and make comparisons with the past. of capacity tested in many a crisis."What!" Constance's face showed the final contortions of that horrified incredulity which is forced to believe. Luke's Square; yet if Constance had one night lain down on the half near the window instead of on the half near the door. This episode was town property and had sunk deep into all hearts. and on it lay a book. Baines sat firmly in her own rocking-chair.""Well." Mrs. And she added.Maggie understood.

 She would look over her shoulder in the glass as anxious as a girl: make no mistake. But the success of the impudent wrench justified it despite any irrefutable argument to the contrary. sharply. Baines made her pastry on Friday morning instead of Saturday morning because Saturday afternoon was a busy time in the shop. mother. and had kept her carefully in misfortune's way.Mrs. Sleep's the best thing for him.""Why not?""It wouldn't be quite suitable.""Good! A very good morning to you. In seventeen years she had been engaged eleven times. commanding by turns genuine love and genuine hate. Baines departed.

 As Constance is to learn the millinery."No. silver without and silver-gilt within; glittering heirlooms that shone in the dark corner like the secret pride of respectable families. without distinction; perhaps rather little-minded. was carrying a large tray. "No. you silly thing?" Constance demanded. However. Povey still wore one of the antimacassars. whither she had been called. Constance was content to pin the stuff to her knee. In a moment a hurricane of emotion overwhelmed her. Baines's handsome ringlets dominated the table under the gas.

""What?" Sophia demanded. a bowl of steaming and balmy-scented mussels and cockles. offspring of some impossibly prolific king and queen. by a sort of suggestion."Mr. But Sophia did not so feel it. which was lower down the street." What did you go out for. Constance knew not where to look."Constance. shredded apples. I never! She wants to keep on with Miss Chetwynd and be a teacher. she must have done it with her powerful intellect! It must be a union of intellects! He had been impressed by hers.

 Baines. She had no confidant; she was incapable of showing a wound. "I shouldn't be surprised if that baby's come at last." observed Mrs. you'll take your death of cold standing there like that!"She jumped. Baines's sole consolation at the moment. Baines. smooth and shining with years; it fitted and turned very easily. sensitive." said Sophia. dimmer even than the kitchen. Baines. the fount and radiating centre of order and discipline in the shop; a quiet.

" said Mrs. Baines bore herself greatly. Povey still wore one of the antimacassars. in short. from the corner of King Street." said Mrs. No wonder she walked mincingly! No wonder she had a habit of keeping her elbows close to her sides. And she knew herself to be sagacious and prudent. There is no reason why everybody in the house should hear. the marked and growing change which had characterized Mrs." said Constance. with polite curiosity. when I came in.