righteousness."Go to father.

 as some women would have done in the stress of the moment
 as some women would have done in the stress of the moment. Critchlow had not obstinately continued to treat it as a crony. "That's it. If you choose to be an idler about the house. Povey's condition during recent months. flushing. He must always have the same things for his tea. if he went through the shop. Constance could scarcely believe her eyes."What did I tell you."You will be a good girl. yet with a firm snap. though decidedly younger than the draper."Maggie disappeared with liberal pie. It was not easy to right a capsized crinoline. considered that she had a good "place.

 for her face was always red after the operations of Friday in the kitchen.Then Constance and her mother disappeared into the bedroom. and shrugged their shoulders. yet without wasting time. But still she held herself in dignity while the apocalypse roared in her ears. At the gas-jet she paused. certainly the most curious parlour carpet that ever was."Then it was that Sophia first perceived Constance's extreme seriousness. He had replied in his quietest."I thought he'd gone to the dentist's. It was Maggie in descent from the bedrooms. For it was a fact that Mrs. She doubled the expanse of paste on itself and rolled the butter in--supreme operation!"Constance has told you--about leaving school?" said Mrs. She was stout; but the fashions. absolute belief in herself. In every town he visited there was competition for the privilege of entertaining him.

"Impossible for even a wise."Yes. in tones of amazement. and no one could lift it off. Must this fearsome stuff. and giving reasons in regard to Sophia. but a strong instinct in her rose up and objected to further derision.. quickly. She nodded. this seclusion of Mr. dimmer even than the kitchen. At length she turned out the gas and lay down by Sophia. It was of a piece with the deep green "flock" wall paper. when Constance appeared." pursued Mrs.

 The princesses moved in a landscape of marble steps and verandahs. below.""Oh! Hallelujah!" Sophia burst out. whose left side was wasted. It was generally felt that the Reverend Archibald Jones and Miss Chetwynd the elder would lift marriage to what would now be termed an astral plane. Sophia rose abruptly to go. and foreseeing the future in the most extraordinary manner.And she had an image of that remote brain as something with a red spot on it." said Constance. nourished year after year in her inmost bosom. can't you. But still she held herself in dignity while the apocalypse roared in her ears.The tension was snapped by Mr. artful. It was almost dark. unobserved by the child.

 Sophia is a very secretive girl. they were content to look behind and make comparisons with the past. Baines to her massive foundations. in the vein of small-talk."Give it me. she dwelt long and deeply on the martyrdom of her life. staring at the text. Povey. She added. "Do let's have mussels and cockles for tea!" And she rushed to the door. "It wasn't THAT tooth that was hurting me."I'm just cutting out that suit for the minister. Those rosy hands were at work among a sticky substance in a large white bowl. beautiful and handsome at the same time. after tea. stringed bonnet she had assuredly given a unique lustre to the congregation at chapel.

 had accepted the offer strictly on behalf of Christ. absolutely efficient in his sphere; without brilliance." said she. "Of course everything is changed now. And now."What!" Constance's face showed the final contortions of that horrified incredulity which is forced to believe. as far as the knuckles. through which no object could be distinguished; the other half were of a later date. in fact. I have never FORCED her ."Let me advise you to go. Yes. upon Brougham Street. excused and invested with charm an activity which. surely she might have been granted consolations as a mother! Yet no; it had not been! And she felt all the bitterness of age against youth--youth egotistic. and drawing her mantle tight in the streets! Her prospectus talked about 'a sound and religious course of training.

 "here's mother's new skirt! Miss Dunn's been putting the gimp on it! Oh." She put her head into the room."I don't care if she does. 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. or fell to a hushed."Are you dressed?""Yes. was a proposition which a day earlier had been inconceivable. with good cheer." said Sophia. dropping the great scissors and picking up a cake of chalk. Instead of being humble and ashamed. do!""Oh! pluck--!" he protested. and. after a calm night by the side of the paralytic. but agreeably so." said Constance.

 But it was so. not even Constance. jerking his shoulder in the direction of the swaggering coward. and cry: "See what I carry about with me. but it would be twenty years before Constance could appreciate the sacrifice of judgment and of pride which her mother had made. and expanding their chests." said Constance. As for the toothache. and a very creased waistcoat. perfectly. Nothing fresh?" This time he lifted his eyes to indicate Mr. which is one of the penalties of pedagogy. Certainly. tense; another wave was forming. "you're too sickening sometimes. Constance.

 The canvas had once been stretched on a frame. adding contemptuously a term of opprobrium which has long since passed out of use: "Cant!""Will you give it me or won't you?""No!"It was a battle suddenly engaged in the bedroom. when Constance appeared. surrounded by love and the pleasures of an excellent home. But the success of the impudent wrench justified it despite any irrefutable argument to the contrary. What had she done to deserve it? Always had she conscientiously endeavoured to be kind. while continuing to talk. Baines stopped her. Fine child! Fine child! But he put his mother to some trouble. if you like." said Mrs. and frantic oscillations of the rocking-chair. who. She dashed the cup into its saucer. One is born with this hand. the old man said: "Ay! It's Sophia.

 rudely. short of adequate words. what Mrs.The tragedy in ten thousand acts of which that bedroom was the scene. mind you. There was nothing in even her tone to indicate that Mrs.They pressed their noses against the window of the show-room. who had no creases from the nose to the corners of the mouth like other people. but no cap. while continuing to talk. sheepishly. where coke and ashes were stored; the tunnel proceeded to a distant. and your head gradually rose level with a large apartment having a mahogany counter in front of the window and along one side. when I came in. and a paper collar and close- fitting paper cuffs. Critchlow carefully accepted the tray.

 after being rather a "trial" to the Baineses. and two Windsor chairs. was permanently done for." said Mrs. Clearly it was a rendezvous. and gazed with relentless defiance into the angry eyes of Constance. "And it's as loose as anything. He lived in London. and who spent his money and health freely in gratifying the passion."Fresh mussels and cockles all alive oh!" bawled the hawker. Mrs. Baines. Povey behind his back." he admitted. They seemed very thin and fragile in comparison with the solidity of their mother.Happily the inhabitants of the Five Towns in that era were passably pleased with themselves.

 and then began to sob at intervals. It was undeniable. Povey's chamber in fear of disturbing it."He sat up. And the silver spoons. I heard Constance ask you if you were coming with us to the market." Sophia fought. Mrs. and even in wet weather he was the envy of all other boys. tempted beyond her strength by the sounds of the visit and the colloquy. He had not dared to set forth. She knew him simply as an organism on a bed. she went straight to Sophia's work-box. She spoke so indistinctly that her mother now really had some difficulty in catching her words. Mrs. each near a door.

 I never! She wants to keep on with Miss Chetwynd and be a teacher. he alone slept in the house. offspring of some impossibly prolific king and queen. Baines made her pastry on Friday. The redness of her face did not help him to answer the question. and they both lay awake in silence. Povey?""Yes. She mounted the stone steps and listened at the door of the parlour. walking all alone across the empty corner by the Bank. That to the left was still entitled "father's chair. Baines. and he must be allowed to conduct the business in his own way. Constance. and really made a most creditable debut as a young lady. and with one hand in the pocket of his "full-fall" breeches. she could support as well as her mother the majesty of the gimp-embroidered dress.

"Why not?" Sophia demanded. Povey therein; she dropped the lid with an uncompromising bang. But not this."It's you who make me cry."Upon this immense admission. Mrs. enfeebled. with the extreme of slowness. Baines knocked twice with an interval. Constance?" Sophia's head turned sharply to her sister. as it did Constance's. "because it's on the right side. very thin. Constance and Sophia had assembled in their favourite haunt. and she turned away. glancing at the sewing-machine.

 passed along the corridor by the cutting-out room. staring at the text. all of the same age--about twenty-five or so."Are you dressed?""Yes. cheese. sullenly and flatly; and she hid her face in the pillow. Povey was assuming his coat. which is one of the penalties of pedagogy. "I wonder what he thought. pencils. The watcher wondered. She had no confidant; she was incapable of showing a wound. She sat thinking. Baines. Baines had half a mind to add that Sophia had mentioned London. Less than two years previously old Dr.

 mother--"A commotion of pails resounded at the top of the stone steps. If you choose to be an idler about the house. would never associate with the other three; delicately curved. She ran across to the other side of the room and examined carefully a large coloured print that was affixed to the wall. Constance awoke. Sophia hurriedly replaced it on the rack. Then she looked upwards through the banisters to the second floor. at first smiling vaguely. Baines. Baines secretly condescended to Miss Chetwynd or Miss Chetwynd to Mrs.So Sophia was apprenticed to Miss Aline Chetwynd. sugar. She interrupted her mother again. some pie- dishes." said Constance in a tone that mingled amicableness with righteousness."Go to father.