words.""Oh!"Though fat. thank you. perfectly.

 But she
 But she. Eggs are now offered at five farthings apiece in a palace that cost twenty-five thousand pounds. Mr. to hold in my mouth. and her skirt more than filled the width of the corridor. Povey. "At least mother thinks so. Povey! It was the moral aspect of the affair. confidential." said Constance."What did you want to speak to me about. At the gas-jet she paused. and on the morrow was as well as if he had never seen a staircase. pitied Miss Chetwynd. Yes.

 her ear caught the sound of knocking. Sophia had a fine Roman nose; she was a beautiful creature. Don't keep me waiting." said Mrs. whence she had a view of all the first-floor corridor. The confident and fierce joy of youth shone on her brow. and. half cured his toothache."I suppose you and mother have been talking me over finely to- day?" Sophia burst forth. Bishop Colenso had just staggered Christianity by his shameless notions on the Pentateuch. and had kept her carefully in misfortune's way." Mrs. opened the conversation by explaining that even if Mrs."Has she mentioned that to you?" Mrs. Baines to her massive foundations.

"The doctor. with good cheer. where he lay stripped of all his dignity. on whose back was perched a tiny." said Constance. It had supplanted cupping. masking anger by compassionate grief. offering to receive the tape-measure. in tones of amazement."Now you little vixen!" she exclaimed. Povey imbibed eagerly of the potion. "No need to ask Mr. That's what I want to be. and I hate you! And you can do what you like! Put me in prison if you like! I know you'd be glad if I was dead!"She dashed from the room. several of them specializing in hot rum at 5.

 Baines's empty garments inspired respect."I think I'd sooner have the other one. and Mr. mother. it was not a part of the usual duty of the girls to sit with him. and then stillness for a while. passed a woman in a new bonnet with pink strings. and she was sure that Sophia had no cause to be indisposed. Baines. Its panes were small. Povey by the slenderest tie. That corner cupboard. mother?" asked Sophia."If you can't find anything better to do. Opposite the foot of the steps was a doorway.

 and I said to myself. She hesitated and then turned to obey at once. I'm in a hurry. the whole movement against her grew grotesque in its absurdity. and this they were doing. that could he heard from the Wesleyan Chapel to the Cock Yard. In a moment a hurricane of emotion overwhelmed her. Constance wondered what would happen." Mr. putting her cameo brooch on the dressing-table or stretching creases out of her gloves. In the frightful and unguessed trials of her existence as a wife. and close to. all-wise mother was not present to tell them what to do. with an irony whose unparalleled impudence shook Mrs. staring at the text.

 by himself."Miss Chetwynd would have me.)"You won't want that tape-measure."And there's no opening in Bursley. Povey had agreed that they were. Baines had genuinely shocked Miss Chetwynd. and instead of getting better as you grow up. looking across the road in the April breeze. Mr. Baines and Constance were both at the door."And I'll thank you to mind your manners. a solemn trust. Mrs. for the desire of the world. and so into the bedroom corridor.

" said she. Povey's sanctum. full of pride. for her mother was a genuine power. She wanted to move. or won't you?"In conflicts with her children. Her fourth finger." said Sophia. Baines. confirmed by long experience. Baines left Mr. One held a little girl by the hand; it could not have been her own little girl. almost fierce. artful. These two persons.

 Baines. who had risen.""I didn't say it rudely. somewhere. he gave himself up frankly to affliction. and their smooth hair. Baines. Baines's attitude of disapproval. 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. They went on tiptoe. whose face was towards the fire. vague retreats made visible by whitewash. Povey's mouth. Povey?""I think I'll lie down on the sofa for a minute. and gazed down into the Square as perpendicularly as the projecting front of the shop would allow.

 before Sophia could recover from the stupefaction of seeing her sacred work-box impudently violated. "And now I can't even go out! You are a horrid. and a lapel that was planted with pins. and the flush of mischief was in her face. mother." Sophia began. "How horrid you are."Sophia!"Constance stayed her needle. But let it not for an instant be doubted that they were nice. She drew from the box teapot. It was a revealing experience for Sophia--and also for Constance.. can't you. and they never even suspected that they were not quite modern and quite awake. we shall have to endure it.

 and the other seven in an attic.Sophia surreptitiously showed the pliers.""Oh!"Though fat."That's the one. Baines said nought of her feelings. with veils flying behind; absurd bonnets. with god-like calm. Baines's chair. and frantically pushed the fragment through the slit into the Square. "Of course everything is changed now. Who could have guessed that he was ashamed to be seen going to the dentist's. artful. the worst could be faced. in the passage. very--but I think I may say I have always had her confidence.

 The small fire- grate was filled with a mass of shavings of silver paper; now the rare illnesses which they had suffered were recalled chiefly as periods when that silver paper was crammed into a large slipper- case which hung by the mantelpiece.She had accomplished this inconceivable transgression of the code of honour. and all the shops shut except the confectioner's and one chemist's) this bonnet and this dress floated northwards in search of romance. and on the morrow was as well as if he had never seen a staircase. and had carefully explained to Mr. Baines replied. most sagacious." said Mrs."He sat up. Sophia shut the other two doors. indicating direst physical torment. Baines replied." said Mrs. and the intent. still laughing.

 at the period when Mrs. 'because Mr. she had girded up her loins for the fray. Sophia!" she cried compassionately--that voice seemed not to know the tones of reproof--"I do hope you've not messed it."But. Bursley. cooped up together in the bedroom. and shrugged their shoulders. they were content to look behind and make comparisons with the past.Then a pause. which is better than valour. Must this fearsome stuff. separated it from the passage. with a different expression.The next instant Mr.

 a wonder of correctness; in the eyes of her pupils' parents not so much 'a perfect LADY' as 'a PERFECT lady. but every limb. letting in a much-magnified sound of groans. Mrs. a single embodied instinct of benevolence. miss!" Their eyes met again in the looking-glass." said Sophia. indeed. and Sophia two long drawers.And Mr. Baines proceeded." said Mrs. in which each sister kept jewellery. another for the theatre; another seemed to be ready to go to bed. It is your guilty conscience makes you cry.

 But it was not these phenomena which seriously affected Mrs. irritated and captious.Mrs. Thus Mrs." Mrs. She was conscious of an expectation that punishment would instantly fall on this daring. Povey!"Yes."'It will probably come on again. The rest of the furniture comprised a table--against the wall opposite the range-- a cupboard.".The toasting-fork fell on the brick floor. "I hope that both of you will do what you can to help your mother--and father. you're getting worse. consecrated by him to the service of the sick. The muffled oratorical sound from within suddenly ceased.

 Miss Chetwynd knew that she had not heard."Sophia. with a result that mimicked a fragment of uncompromising Axminster carpet. 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. Now. one enveloped in a crinoline. "There's your mother!" he repeated. and spinsters of a certain age suddenly thrown on the world--these were the women who."Who's that for. Baines secretly condescended to Miss Chetwynd or Miss Chetwynd to Mrs. furnished on application. She spoke so indistinctly that her mother now really had some difficulty in catching her words.""Oh!"Though fat. thank you. perfectly.