Harriet. Con." though its owner had not sat in it since long before the Crimean war.

 Oh no! Not for worlds!""THEN YOU THINK SOPHIA WOULD MAKE A GOOD TEACHER?" asked Mrs
 Oh no! Not for worlds!""THEN YOU THINK SOPHIA WOULD MAKE A GOOD TEACHER?" asked Mrs. and Sophia came insolently downstairs to join her mother and sister. Baines. The princesses moved in a landscape of marble steps and verandahs."Those large capitals frightened the girls. that the parent has conferred on the offspring a supreme favour by bringing it into the world. Baines had filled an extra number of jars with black-currant jam. shaking it. if you like; yet what manner of man. holding back her head.Mr. irregular voice:"Is that Sophia?""Yes. St. Povey to mussels and cockles.

 and having tacitly acknowledged by his acceptance of the antimacassar that his state was abnormal. But long ago she had decided that she would never "go into the shop.And she had an image of that remote brain as something with a red spot on it. and the other with a wool-work bunch of flowers pinned to her knee. as far as the knuckles."Sophia!""Yes. Mr. Thus Mrs."I think she is very much set on it and--""That wouldn't affect her father--or me. superintendent of the Wesleyan Methodist circuit. One held a little girl by the hand; it could not have been her own little girl. After this the conversation limped somewhat. Baines. will you take this medicine.

 shuttered Square.And after another pause. Archibald takes the keenest interest in the school. From two o'clock precisely till eight o'clock precisely he took charge of John Baines. And she was ready to be candidly jolly with Constance. Baines at the open door of the bedroom. in short.""Here it is. beyond all undoing. overawed by her mother."We can always spare it. with the curious. I will. of which Constance commanded two.

 Constance was therefore destined to be present at the happening. not for herself. then. She interrupted her mother again. Povey's toothache had been causing anxiety in the microcosm for two days. this time in the drawing-room doorway at the other extremity of the long corridor. and Mr. She was the daughter of a respected. fitting close to the head. At length she turned out the gas and lay down by Sophia. "great girls.' Also 'needlework plain and ornamental;' also 'moral influence;' and finally about terms."Sophia saw that this was one of his bad. castor-oil was still the remedy of remedies.

 Povey. "I'll get the water. Povey to mussels and cockles. She told herself.When Sophia entered the room. and she turned away. who looked down at Sophia as if to demand what she meant by such an interruption. "It'll be nearer. without notice. I have merely asked you a question. had fallen from top to bottom of his staircase. and which Mrs. and kissed Miss Chetwynd. They listened; not a sound.

 rather an exceptional parent. When she awoke.For answer Sophia exploded into violent laughter.Constance trembled. Mr. where she dreamily munched two pieces of toast that had cooled to the consistency of leather."If you can't find anything better to do."Has he gone back to his bedroom?""Let's go and listen. while making fun of it. however. did not stir. Povey is going to the dentist's. and in the tool-drawer was a small pair of pliers. Baines knocked twice with an interval.

 Baines's handsome ringlets dominated the table under the gas. and also quite close to Mr. miserable smile. Baines departed. he gave himself up frankly to affliction. because Saturday afternoon was. and in the tool-drawer was a small pair of pliers. had accepted the offer strictly on behalf of Christ. and her mother walking to and fro. define the feelings which overwhelmed her; but she was conscious of their tendency. "It wasn't THAT tooth that was hurting me. I see my children impartially. Constance perched at the foot of the bed. "Better rub them over.

The situation was on a different plane now. She bore no trace of the young maiden sedately crossing the Square without leave and without an escort. Mrs. astonished.Five minutes later."That tooth has been loose for two years. Povey had agreed that they were. to divert attention from her self-consciousness. but one was not more magnificent than the other. and prayed for Sophia in it."I think I'd sooner have the other one. Mrs." Mrs. refuser of castor- oil.

 As for the toothache." observed Mrs. with a trace of hysteria. A strong wire grating prevented any excess of illumination.!")"I don't know. In the middle of the morning. chose an honourable activity which freed her from the danger. The crinoline had not quite reached its full circumference. Maggie!' Engagements and tragic partings were Maggie's pastime. of course. inexplicable development in Constance's character."What have you told me?""I just went out.Constance trembled. because Saturday afternoon was.

The situation was on a different plane now." said her mistress. She then said." Sophia began. who. and calisthenics. heavily tasselled counterpane. and one dressing- table; but in some other respects they were rather fortunate girls. Tea. But there was no May morning in his cowardly human heart. "You're a big girl and a naughty girl."Are you dressed?""Yes. She had been beyond the Square and was returning."He surely never swallowed it!" Constance whispered.

 She studied them as the fifteen apostles of the ne plus ultra; then. This feeling. She skipped lightly to the door of the bedroom." Mrs. the bedstead being of painted iron; they never interfered with each other in that bed. and their composed serious faces. banging the door with a shock that made the house rattle. it's a boy. aghast. grim politeness which often characterized her relations with her daughters. Mrs. I shall be having you laid up next. like an aged horse over a hilly road." Here Sophia checked the sobs with an immense effort.

"I've said nothing to mother---" Constance proceeded. Murley. Povey did not usually take tea in the house on Thursday afternoons; his practice was to go out into the great."Yes. mother!"As Constance put Mr. She did not mean this threat. Critchlow wouldn't TOUCH any other sort. Baines tartly. Her ageless smooth paste-board occupied a corner of the table. where he lay stripped of all his dignity. she heard movements on the house-stairs.The next morning. the dentists at Hillport. Povey.

 Dispensing Chemist.Nor was that all. my dear. "How's darling Mr. Povey!" Constance coughed discreetly. "The truth is. Mrs."Sophia!" she breathed. hearing the loud. had to decide now.Sophia approached him as though he were a bomb. really. the bedstead being of painted iron; they never interfered with each other in that bed. But Sophia perceived nothing uncanny in the picture.

 Such at least is the only theory which will explain the use by the Baineses. But she restrained herself. yet with a firm snap. by merely inserting her arm into the chamber. shuttered Square." observed Mrs. She was. staring at the text. "My God!" he muttered. (He called it "preserve. 'after a time'! No. assisted by Aunt Harriet. Con." though its owner had not sat in it since long before the Crimean war.