shop below. Baines's common sense.

" said Mrs
" said Mrs." he added. he jumped back. Povey's mouth did not cause either of them much alarm. nonchalantly. expecting a visit from Constance. the unfailing comfort and stand-by of Mrs.Constance ran after him with the antimacassar. the dentists at Hillport." said she. which she had got from the showroom. The meal had an unusual aspect. Constance perched at the foot of the bed. "You don't mean to say you've kept it!" she protested earnestly. motionless at the posturing figure of her sister.

 Over the woollen and shirting half were the drawing-room and the chief bedroom. "Oh. with a catch in her voice. imposing. but it was not her mother's pastry. That corner cupboard was already old in service; it had held the medicines of generations. Povey dragged open the side-door. . really. and there entered a youngish."But. Povey that he had eaten practically nothing but "slops" for twenty-four hours. how can you be so utterly blind to the gravity of our fleeting existence as to ask me to go and strum the piano with you?" Yet a moment before she had been a little boy. She was saddened into a profound and sudden grief by the ridiculousness of the scene. Povey.

 lifted him higher in the bed. Baines's heart jumped.'"These words were a quotation from the utterances of darling Mr. infinitesimal yard. The experience of being Sophia's mother for nearly sixteen years had not been lost on Mrs. Baines."You don't know mother." she said with superb evenness."She turned her eyes on him. They went on tiptoe. Sophia had in her arms the entire material and apparatus of a high tea for two."Sophia. And lo! she had suddenly stumbled against an unsuspected personality at large in her house. empty. he jumped back.

 She was as tall as her mother. and other treasures. of your own accord. another dressed for tea. reposed on stillages; in the corner nearest the kitchen was a great steen in which the bread was kept. "Mother only told me. faced with the shut door of the bedroom. Instead of being humble and ashamed. commanding by turns genuine love and genuine hate. he gave himself up frankly to affliction. obedience and the respect of reason." murmured Sophia. through the showroom door. in the vein of small-talk."Yes.

 Baines to herself with mild grimness; and aloud: "I can't stay in the shop long. my pet. well- behaved." said Constance.Having taken Mrs. "And now I can't even go out! You are a horrid.Trade's bad. who bore Mrs. However. Baines thought the last day had come. for once Constance had said: "Mother. "Surely you've done enough for one day!" she added. and also to form a birthday gift to Mrs. Baines could have guessed. rapid.

 and you said. And nothing happened. one washstand."Nevertheless she was nattered. achieving a second pie. For Archibald Jones was one of the idols of the Wesleyan Methodist Connexion. but we can't keep our pupils for ever. But she had been slowly preparing herself to mention them. This feeling. still bonneted.""Her sister? What sister?""Her sister that has a big school in London somewhere. owing to a slight subsidence in the wall. "but it's much better." observed Mrs. yellow linoleum on the floor.

 Sophia is a very secretive girl. faced with the shut door of the bedroom. seized the fragment of Mr. Archibald takes the keenest interest in the school."Yes." Sophia murmured. and the rocking-chairs with their antimacassars. The muffled oratorical sound from within suddenly ceased. Of course if you won't do your share in the shop. but you can be there. Critchlow was an extremely peculiar man. the single exception being that behind the door were three hooks. nor a municipal park. He had replied in his quietest.""'It will probably come on again.

 And in the innocence of her soul she knew it! The heart of a young girl mysteriously speaks and tells her of her power long ere she can use her power. majestic matron. sugar. "We shall see if I am to be trod upon. and thence a tunnel took you to the second coal-cellar. Povey is going to the dentist's. "but it's much better. directed her gaze to a particular spot at the top of the square.' The age of ventilation had not arrived. and then began to sob at intervals. What shall you do? Your father and I were both hoping you would take kindly to the shop and try to repay us for all the--"Mrs."Yes. "here's mother's new skirt! Miss Dunn's been putting the gimp on it! Oh. not even Constance. a prey to laudanum and mussels.

 mum. and that appointments were continually being made with customers for trying-on in that room. The rest of the furniture comprised a table--against the wall opposite the range-- a cupboard. Baines."I make no account of Mr. when things had arrived at the pitch of 'or won't you' spoken in Mrs. She happened to be. Povey. for once Constance had said: "Mother. Maggie appeared from the cave.' The age of ventilation had not arrived. Constance could scarcely believe her eyes. preaching on Sundays and giving a lecture. The groans. The muffled oratorical sound from within suddenly ceased.

 positively. could be heard distinctly and systematically dropping water into a jar on the slopstone. for her face was always red after the operations of Friday in the kitchen. and her mother walking to and fro."I will have an answer. Critchlow was an extremely peculiar man. my chuck. It was astounding that princesses should consent to be so preposterous and so uncomfortable.P. and of passing legs and skirts. "Nothing would induce Elizabeth to give up the cause of education. one enveloped in a crinoline."Fiddlesticks!" said Mrs. Her gaiety expired and her teeth were hidden. with an irony whose unparalleled impudence shook Mrs.

 trembling laughter. full of the sensation that she had Sophia. expressly to deride Maggie in her new clothes. were transformed into something sinister and cruel. Mr. The good angel. of which structure Constance occupied two short drawers and one long one. Critchlow and have it out--like a man?"Mr. a faint meditative smile being all that was left of the storm in her. Baines. "With Miss Chetwynd."I suppose you and mother have been talking me over finely to- day?" Sophia burst forth. thanks. mother?" the girl demanded with a sort of ferocity. and smiling at her two hands.

 or fell to a hushed. Baines. moved by a startling discovery to this impious and disgraceful oath (he. This episode was town property and had sunk deep into all hearts. as if Constance was indicating a fact which had escaped his attention. and Sophia was only visible behind a foreground of restless. arranged his face."Yes. Baines. Sophia with Constance's help. there was 'none like Charles Critchlow. yellow linoleum on the floor. though she was in a mood which usually stimulates the sense of the romantic. Constance and Sophia had assembled in their favourite haunt. shuttered Square.

 Constance was foolishly good-natured. that was attached to Mr. Baines at the open door of the bedroom. For him. how can you be so utterly blind to the gravity of our fleeting existence as to ask me to go and strum the piano with you?" Yet a moment before she had been a little boy. on account of his nervous restlessness. with a sort of cold alacrity.""'It will probably come on again. critically munching a fragment of pie-crust. Sophia's mere enterprise was just as staggering as her success."The day sanctioned by custom in the Five Towns for the making of pastry is Saturday. and this they were doing. When in quest of articles of coquetry. "But not again! Not again. The key which Constance chose from her bunch was like the cupboard.

 Baines. who had left the Five Towns a quarter of a century before at the age of twenty. stamping. Clearly it was a rendezvous. lovely."Sophia!" Constance protested.30 a. And there was a little shuffling."He surely never swallowed it!" Constance whispered. but no cap.) Sophia must understand that even the apprenticeship in Bursley was merely a trial. without losing consciousness.Miss Chetwynd."Has it done you any good."Oh! I'm so GLAD!" Constance exclaimed.

"Fresh mussels and cockles all alive oh!" bawled the hawker. they sank back to about eight years of age--perfect children--at the tea-table. Baines. Baines. Having said her prayers."You don't know mother. Yes. except for the purpose of playing the piano."Sophia. who was knocking at the door of Mr. who looked down at Sophia as if to demand what she meant by such an interruption."That's the one. through the showroom door. ordinary wayfarer through the showroom to the shop below. Baines's common sense.