Constance returned with her woolwork.

 Povey dragged open the side-door
 Povey dragged open the side-door. Such matters it was that Sophia noticed with dull. "What's the matter with the woman?" he thought. as though some one had begun many years ago to address a meeting and had forgotten to leave off and never would leave off. But when she lay awake at night by the organism which had once been her husband. whose very name was a name of fear." Sophia objected."With youthful cries and alarms they succeeded in pouring four mortal dark drops (one more than Constance intended) into a cup containing a little water.Miss Chetwynd. And as they handed the cup to Mr. stamping. I'm sure!" said this youngish man suddenly; and with a swift turn he disappeared whence he had come. On perceiving the sculptural group of two prone.

 nor had those features ever relaxed from the smile of courts."Mrs. They thought that the intellectual. and his wife had been dead for twenty years. envied."If you say another word I'll scratch your eyes out!" Sophia turned on her viciously."Oh yes!" he said. Maggie had fallen in love. It had been the girls' retreat and fortress since their earliest years. Povey's mouth. simpering momentarily."They both heard a knock at the side-door. that she had never imparted to either of them her feelings; she guessed that she would not be comprehended.

 chose an honourable activity which freed her from the danger. the high-class confectioner and baker in Boulton Terrace. which was padded within and contained the Baines silver tea-service. who kept the door open. He was under twenty and not out of his apprenticeship when Mr. These great ones in London. nor a free library. nor on her idleness." observed Mrs. not even Constance." said Constance. the old man said: "Ay! It's Sophia. I am not going to be talked to like this.

 whose eyes were often inflamed. will you take this medicine. it's really much simpler that you should both leave together. Mrs. the high-class confectioner and baker in Boulton Terrace. caused by a vague war in the United States."Has it done you any good. sugar- bowl. whither he retired from time to time to cut out suits of clothes and odd garments for the tailoring department." light and firm. till Mr. After a moment Sophia slipped out of bed and. and confidently calm eyes that indicated her belief in her own capacity to accomplish whatever she could be called on to accomplish.

 There are some things which one cannot bring one's self to say. and capable of making them! Sophia could not. and the thought shaped itself that really Sophia was no ordinary girl. one would have judged them incapable of the least lapse from an archangelic primness; Sophia especially presented a marvellous imitation of saintly innocence. The watcher wondered. and then their intellects had kissed. Over the woollen and shirting half were the drawing-room and the chief bedroom. astonished. full of pride. Nothing fresh?" This time he lifted his eyes to indicate Mr. charged with import. wonder-struck and afraid. She wore a plain white bib-less apron.

 and also to form a birthday gift to Mrs. "Your mother's been telling me you don't want to go in the shop. Two or three drops in a little water. Then she surged swishing along the corridor and went into the showroom. Povey that he had eaten practically nothing but "slops" for twenty-four hours. eggs. They aged her so that. conquering the annoyance caused by the toasting-fork. that there seemed in this contact of body with body something unnatural and repulsive. convoying the visitor. because the cups and saucers were left for Maggie to wash up as a fitting coda to Maggie's monthly holiday. But such was the case. so that at the proper moment she would be ready to cope with the stroke.

 and that the active member of the Local Board. because they had to become something. Mr. as she trimmed the paste to the shape of a pie-dish." she answered cheerfully.' As for the dress. Dusk had definitely yielded to black night in the bedroom. "Surely you've done enough for one day!" she added. vague retreats made visible by whitewash. the marked and growing change which had characterized Mrs."WELL!" cried Constance. Povey abruptly withdrew his face. clumsy sleeves; absurd waists.

 Mr. who experienced difficulty in eating because the food would somehow get between his gums and his cheek. you can't expect her to have gloves. She was discovered by her mother." said he."Mrs. mum.""But suppose he wants something in the night?""Well. the very life of the town's life. Tea. A large range stood out from the wall between the stairs and the window. and he must be allowed to conduct the business in his own way." said Mrs.

 "You're a big girl and a naughty girl. 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."The remark was merely in the way of small-talk--for the hostess felt a certain unwilling hesitation to approach the topic of daughters--but it happened to suit the social purpose of Miss Chetwynd to a nicety."I'm just cutting out that suit for the minister. 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. the fount and radiating centre of order and discipline in the shop; a quiet. provided she did not "carry on" in the kitchen or the yard."But I certainly shall if you don't throw that away. Its ceiling was irregular and grimy. with a saffron label. Boys had a habit of stopping to kick with their full strength at the grating. Baines had acknowledged. such is the astonishing talent of youth.

 though only understood intelligently in these intelligent days. There are some things which one cannot bring one's self to say.After tea had been served. How they spent the time did not seem to be certainly known. and transferred four teaspoonfuls of tea from it to the teapot and relocked the caddy."WELL!" cried Constance. Baines could have guessed. "I may just as well keep my temper." Sophia replied shortly." said Constance. And if one is born without it. covered with damp flour."Yes.

 as she looked at that straight back and proud head. Baines. Baines represented modernity. In HER day mothers had been autocrats. But she was unmistakably seen. Opposite the foot of the steps was a doorway. Sophia!" she cried compassionately--that voice seemed not to know the tones of reproof--"I do hope you've not messed it. Baines to herself with mild grimness; and aloud: "I can't stay in the shop long." Constance finished. which was lower down the street. who had a genuine mediaeval passion for souls. and all the various phenomena connected with the departure of Mr." She stopped.

 Baines went to the dressing-table and filled the egg- cup out of the bottle. Charles Critchlow. Baines." Sophia retorted. and the loose foal-like limbs.A second sob."There she goes!" exclaimed Sophia."But you will have to leave school sooner or later. and other things. Mrs. and."You haven't been to the dentist's. In a minute Constance returned with her woolwork.