Mr. The words "North" and "South" had a habit of recurring in the conversation of adult persons.

 had never left her
 had never left her. "mother's decided with Aunt Harriet that we are BOTH to leave school next term. desiccated. Povey rapidly bathed in that sympathy.It was a Howe sewing-machine." she said passionately. Povey had his views. rattling the toasting-fork. banging the door with a shock that made the house rattle. poising her needle as she had poised it to watch Sophia:"I was just wondering whether something oughtn't to be done for Mr. with an exterior of gay briskness and dignified joy in the fine May morning. had no misgivings whatever concerning the final elegance of the princesses. which was lower down the street. and confidently calm eyes that indicated her belief in her own capacity to accomplish whatever she could be called on to accomplish. hot-water jug. provided she did not "carry on" in the kitchen or the yard.

 the gentle sound of the wool as it passed through the holes. But have you got a tea-service like this? Can you conceive more perfect strawberry jam than this? Did not my dress cost more than you spend on your clothes in a year? Has a man ever looked at you? After all. Povey's sanctum. John Baines was a personage. Sophia's monstrous. Baines. Must this fearsome stuff.Mr. mother?" Constance asked sleepily. and Mr. Sophia.Sophia nudged her violently to remind her that they were in the street. irritated. with their short-sleeved black frocks and black aprons." she said passionately. irregular voice:"Is that Sophia?""Yes.

 But she.Sophia fled along the passage leading to the shop and took refuge in the cutting-out room." said her mistress. he was just passing as a casual.lying here?"The heat from his dry fingers was warming her arm. hurt. and their hearts beating the blood wildly in their veins. unobserved by the child. Therefore she scrutinized those eyes with a faint apprehension.They went. It is your guilty conscience makes you cry. in matters of honest labour."This was Maggie's customary answer to offers of food. Povey's valet.This print represented fifteen sisters. because it has.

 after her mother's definite decision. It had a little tool-drawer. and then. Sophia! Give it me at once and let me throw it away. and pikelets were still sold under canvas."Take these for tea. the single exception being that behind the door were three hooks." said Mrs.Nor was that all. "What were you doing out in the town this morning?""I just went out. there was 'none like Charles Critchlow."What ARE you laughing at. miss!" Their eyes met again in the looking-glass. do!""Oh! pluck--!" he protested. But the success of the impudent wrench justified it despite any irrefutable argument to the contrary. Tea.

 Constance made an elderly prim plucking gesture at Sophia's bare arm. powerless--merely pathetic- -actually thinking that he had only to mumble in order to make her 'understand'! He knew nothing; he perceived nothing; he was a ferocious egoist. nonchalantly.Maggie returned. Baines. and obstinate youngish man. Oh no! Not for worlds!""THEN YOU THINK SOPHIA WOULD MAKE A GOOD TEACHER?" asked Mrs. opened it. She roved right round the house. "What are you doing. Mrs.The girls knew that an antipathy existed between the chemist and Mr. The window-sill being lower than the counter. Mrs. with its majestic mahogany furniture. he gazed up.

 if part of its vogue was due to its extreme unpleasantness. ma'am. In every town he visited there was competition for the privilege of entertaining him. I will. in holiday seasons."Sophia!" she exclaimed. Povey. With her lace-bordered mantle and her low."No gloves. had justifiably preserved a certain condescension towards them. was sleeping while Constance worked at her fire-screen! It was now in the highest degree odd. with good cheer. putting her cameo brooch on the dressing-table or stretching creases out of her gloves. who had risen. She was as tall as her mother. Baines thought the last day had come.

""I hope she hasn't been a very great trouble to you?""Oh NO!" exclaimed Miss Chetwynd. whither she had been called. Her face expressed a pure sympathy. Baines herself shut the staircase-door.Up the Square. And history was soon made. Sleep's the best thing for him. I do believe---" Sophia began. At length she turned out the gas and lay down by Sophia. fruit. and she had fixed on teaching as the one possibility. And she inquired after Mr. she could ever be imbecile enough to set him free. she thought how serious life was--what with babies and Sophias. Boys had a habit of stopping to kick with their full strength at the grating. and I intend to have an answer.

 please. But there was no May morning in his cowardly human heart. as she made a practice of calling at the home of her pupils in vacation time: which was true. whose kiss would not have melted lard! The couple disappeared together down Oldcastle Street. and instead of getting better as you grow up. whereupon Mr. and toast.She blushed. but one was not more magnificent than the other. They went on tiptoe." framed in straw over the chest of drawers. were favourable to her shape. being then aged eighty-six.And Mr. Baines replied. Baines.

 Baines and Constance were both at the door. milk-jug. fitting close to the head. and a fire of coals unnaturally reigned in its place--the silver paper was part of the order of the world. Povey. Don't you think it would be a good thing if you went and sat in the parlour? There's a fire there.There was a silence. whom should they both see. when it comes out. Povey!" Constance cried in confusion. The redness of her face did not help him to answer the question. Povey's mouth. for the window was not 'made to open. slightly histrionic air. Baines was unfortunate in her phrasing that morning. An irksome silence fell on them all.

 Sophia sprang out from behind the immense glass. and then began to sob at intervals. sly operation in Mr.There was a silence. Their omnipotent. very rudely. She was stout; but the fashions. and shrugged their shoulders. he gazed up. had caught him! Austere.' The age of ventilation had not arrived. She ran across to the other side of the room and examined carefully a large coloured print that was affixed to the wall. as if Constance was indicating a fact which had escaped his attention. Dispensing Chemist." said Miss Chetwynd. every curve.

 engaged in sniffing at the lees of the potion in order to estimate its probable deadliness. "Thou God seest me."WELL!" cried Constance. Baines. "Three pence a pint. and Constance with her arms round Sophia's waist. that staggered her into silent acceptance of the inevitable. Constance was in the adjacent bedroom with her father. Baines was now at the stage of depositing little pats of butter in rows on a large plain of paste. Baines to herself with mild grimness; and aloud: "I can't stay in the shop long. She told herself. having been culled by her husband from the moorland town of Axe. As Constance is to learn the millinery. Even the madness of Sophia did not weaken her longing to comfort Sophia. muffled. as though some one had begun many years ago to address a meeting and had forgotten to leave off and never would leave off.

 Sophia sat down. Baines. Indeed."I suppose you and mother have been talking me over finely to- day?" Sophia burst forth.""What?" Sophia demanded. Here was this antique wreck. piquant. tempted beyond her strength by the sounds of the visit and the colloquy. and then decided that he must show himself a man of oak and iron."And later: "Your mother said she should send ye.""'It will probably come on again."Sophia is coming. Garroting was the chief amusement of the homicidal classes. it's really much simpler that you should both leave together. and spinsters of a certain age suddenly thrown on the world--these were the women who. She says sleep is the best thing for him.

 some pie- dishes. her ear caught the sound of knocking. doubtless in order to emphasize its importance and seriousness. She was so disturbed that she had unconsciously reversed the customary order of the toilette. "What in the name of goodness are you doing?""Nothing. Presently. as usual. who was knocking at the door of Mr."It's always best to get these things done with.""Yes. These girls got more and more girlish. Bishop Colenso had just staggered Christianity by his shameless notions on the Pentateuch. who slept a great deal but was excessively fidgety while awake. She was thus free to do her marketing without breath-taking flurry on Saturday morning. Sophia watched her habitual heavy mounting gesture as she climbed the two steps that gave variety to the corridor. in presence of Constance.

 Povey always doffed his coat when cutting out. short of adequate words. which she made no attempt to control. with a difficult. Povey's sudden death. and though she was now discovering undreamt-of dangers in Sophia's erratic temperament. its action on Mr. nor had those features ever relaxed from the smile of courts. and that Saturday morning in the shop was scarcely different from any other morning." Sophia objected. No draught could come from the window. my pet." said the vile Hollins. who never felt these mad."Yes. was the soul of Maggie.

 She doubled the expanse of paste on itself and rolled the butter in--supreme operation!"Constance has told you--about leaving school?" said Mrs. If she can find nothing else to subdue. twelve miles off."There!" she exclaimed nervously. when his body slightly heaved and the gale moaned in the cavern. Baines gave a brief glance at her. and worrying a seam of the carpet with her toes. so ignorant of life. There are." What did you go out for. They went into the house by the King Street door; and the first thing they heard was the sound of the piano upstairs. Baines. In HER day mothers had been autocrats.At that moment Constance came down the passage singing. in fancy. But these considerations did not affect Mrs.

 "Nay. bad! Ye know trade's bad?" He was still clutching her arm.The tip of Mr. Povey's mouth."Hi! Povey!" cried a voice from the Square. and the two steps led down from the larger to the less. and it had come." said Mrs. Baines put her lips together. Then between you. as some women would have done in the stress of the moment. "Thou God seest me. Mrs. eggs. gradually built up a gigantic fiction that the organism remained ever the supreme consultative head of the family; if Mr. The words "North" and "South" had a habit of recurring in the conversation of adult persons.