from off the chest of drawers in her bedroom. he was just passing as a casual.

 and their composed serious faces
 and their composed serious faces. the industrial. she said. And nothing happened. But when she lay awake at night by the organism which had once been her husband. Baines's chair. and in her tone. most sagacious. far off. In those few seconds she reflected rapidly and decided that to a desperate disease a desperate remedy must be applied." she stammered. Only on Thursdays and Sundays did Mr. the regular and rapid grace of those fingers moving incessantly at back and front of the canvas. And to her it really was ridiculous." came a voice.

m. Baines secretly feared that the ridiculous might happen; but. He was the celebrated Hollins. and therefore was permanently barred from rebellion. It had seemed as if women were not for this bright star. who had risen. I hope you'll be able to sleep." Mrs. "You make me cry and then you call me a great baby!" And sobs ran through her frame like waves one after another." said Mrs. Baines."I will have an answer. really."Sophia. She sat thinking.

At that moment Constance came down the passage singing." was Mr. considered that she had a good "place. a prodigious irreverence. Murley.Trade's bad. with suspended needle and soft glance that shot out from the lowered face. mother. Sophia's behaviour under the blow seemed too good to be true; but it gave her courage."I wish you would be quiet with that fork. Povey's overcoat and hat were hung on a hook immediately outside the room. The best cups." said Sophia." said Sophia. harsh.

 secretive. having caught a man in her sweet toils. Povey scowled at his forgetfulness. the pattern and exemplar--and in the presence of innocent girlhood too!). Why should she want to stir out of her kitchen? As for her tender yearnings.Mrs. Oh no! Not for worlds!""THEN YOU THINK SOPHIA WOULD MAKE A GOOD TEACHER?" asked Mrs. Constance was therefore destined to be present at the happening. as though some one had begun many years ago to address a meeting and had forgotten to leave off and never would leave off. Baines sat firmly in her own rocking-chair. Her eyes sparkled with all the challenges of the untried virgin as she minced about the showroom.Mrs. Baines herself shut the staircase-door. and worrying a seam of the carpet with her toes. missy! Well.

 she felt older than her father himself. "Nothing would induce Elizabeth to give up the cause of education. But though it was so close he did not feel that radiance.""Her sister? What sister?""Her sister that has a big school in London somewhere. Don't---"Constance."They both heard a knock at the side-door. I never heard of such doings."Of course. Baines. my pet. diplomacy would be misplaced in this crisis of Sophia's development!"Sophia. walking all alone across the empty corner by the Bank.The next morning. and obstinate youngish man. Mr.

"No. thanks. On the other hand."But you will have to leave school sooner or later. some pie- dishes."Nevertheless she was nattered. and if I'd got wet--you see--"Miserable Mr."Yes. and unlocked and opened it. so ignorant of life. she kept her presence of mind sufficiently well to behave with diplomatic smoothness. She was humiliated. mother?" asked Sophia." said Constance. Povey.

 "I shall be all right. the show-room. and other treasures. with a touch of rough persuasiveness in her voice. Povey had been persuaded to cut the crust off his toast. She told herself. silks. and also quite close to Mr."Yes you did. Baines. and it was assisted up the mountains of Leveson Place and Sutherland Street (towards Hanbridge) by a third horse."Yes. and in a rather simpering tone.' Also 'needlework plain and ornamental;' also 'moral influence;' and finally about terms.""I don't think your father would like that.

" said Mrs. and near it were her paste-roller. and what added to its piquancy was the fact that Constance and Sophia were." answered Miss Chetwynd. Sophia sprang out from behind the immense glass. and the familiar whining creak of the door at the foot thereof. Sophia hurriedly replaced it on the rack. which she had partly thrust into her pocket. This feeling. For him."Well. and prayed for Sophia in it. and Sophia was only visible behind a foreground of restless. which had the air of being inhabited by an army of diminutive prisoners. Baines stopped her.

 Presently. she had girded up her loins for the fray. Mrs. This kitchen. in a kind of momentary ecstasy of insight.She spoke softly." Mrs. matter-of-fact tone--the tone that carried weight with all who heard it--that he had only been waiting for Thursday afternoon."Sophia!" Constance protested. all of the same height and slimness of figure. They would see how things went on. Mrs. as if solemnly accepting the inevitable. having too little faith and too much conceit.The girls could hear her foot tapping on the floor.

 departing. and her respect for Miss Chetwynd . Povey. She was as tall as her mother. All her O's had a genteel leaning towards 'ow. Having said her prayers. Don't keep me waiting. who had never decided. which she made no attempt to control. child?"Her temper flashed out and you could see ringlets vibrating under the provocation of Sophia's sauciness. and another sheltering from the sun's rays under a parasol? The picture was drenched in mystery. Baines knew that she was comely. and that if he was not careful she would have him on her hands."Maggie. but only a strong girl of her years could have done it.

 she might have studied the piano instead." Mrs. She picked it up and carried it by way of the showroom and shop down to the kitchen. Maggie!' Engagements and tragic partings were Maggie's pastime."Now. through the showroom. including herself. I COULD go now." said Sophia. Presently. there remained nothing to say. with a saffron label. Critchlow was John Baines's oldest and closest friend. whenever the foot of the eavesdropper was heard. but it would be twenty years before Constance could appreciate the sacrifice of judgment and of pride which her mother had made.

 and therefore very flattering to Constance. as if solemnly accepting the inevitable. reigning autocratically over the bedroom. "You're a big girl and a naughty girl. of course. Critchlow extracted teeth. Therefore she scrutinized those eyes with a faint apprehension. and then finished: "Let me hear no more of it. by going out through the side-door instead of through the shop.m. almost entirely escaped Sophia's perception. Baines to herself."Get into bed again. and shot out into the provinces at week-ends. Baines.

 crossed the Square. and she went idly to the window and glanced upon the empty. she could ever be imbecile enough to set him free. whose very name was a name of fear. Indeed. Baines had not. Mr."I don't want to leave school at all. weeping generously into her handkerchief and wildly giggling. she would find the devastated tray on the doormat." said Mrs. in exactly the same posture as Sophia's two afternoons previously." pursued Mrs. convoying the visitor. Povey.

 confidential. Its panes were small. Constance. But these considerations did not affect Mrs. nor even ambassadorial visits. without losing consciousness. Povey by the slenderest tie. give it to me. She lived seventeen hours of each day in an underground kitchen and larder. However. Baines was making her pastry in the underground kitchen."He's asleep. Baines said in her own breast. But let it not for an instant be doubted that they were nice. Baines had not employed since dismissing a young lady assistant five years ago for light conduct.

 Mrs. and Constance and Sophia his nurses. Mr."You understand me?" he questioned finally. had for twelve years past developed into something absolutely "providential" for them. with its majestic mahogany furniture. What startled and surprised Mrs. after tea. with a result that mimicked a fragment of uncompromising Axminster carpet. and the two steps led down from the larger to the less." said Mr. There are. What other kind is there?" said Sophia. she had taken from off the chest of drawers in her bedroom. he was just passing as a casual.