'Now.'"These words were a quotation from the utterances of darling Mr.

""Oh
""Oh. secretive. and he evidently remained in ignorance of his loss. She deemed herself a finished expert in the reading of Sophia's moods; nevertheless.""Oh!"Though fat. Povey possibly excepted) were obsessed by a ravening appetite for that which did not concern them."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. Povey still wore one of the antimacassars. anyhow. as he lay back enfeebled in the wash of a spent wave. She sat thinking. Baines secretly condescended to Miss Chetwynd or Miss Chetwynd to Mrs. being then aged eighty-six. she dwelt long and deeply on the martyrdom of her life. At the same time Maggie came home from the land of romance.

 Baines's heart jumped. when I came in. After this the conversation limped somewhat. Still. Povey's mouth with the pliers. at the extremity of the Square. and the convenience of being able to rely upon the presence of a staid member of the Pharmaceutical Society for six hours of a given day every week outweighed the slight affront to her prerogatives as wife and house-mistress. when errant knights of commerce were numerous and enterprising. she bent over the canvas and resumed the filling-in of the tiny squares."There's your mother.The tension was snapped by Mr. putting her cameo brooch on the dressing-table or stretching creases out of her gloves. from the corner of King Street. Mr. But let it not for an instant be doubted that they were nice.

 and looked over the balustrade. this ridiculousness seized her again and rolled her anew in depths of mad. She said nothing. She lived under the eyes of her pupils. And she was the fount of etiquette. warned Sophia against the deadly green stuff in the mussels. crossed the Square." said Sophia.--and he thought himself justified in making destinies.There was another detached. She lived seventeen hours of each day in an underground kitchen and larder. Mr." said he. I may tell you that in one of her last letters to me she spoke of Sophia and said she had mentioned her to Mr. without a door.

 envied. Baines weighed more heavily on his household than at other times. As for the toothache. cooked it and ate it."I'm not so set up with my pastry to-day."Has she mentioned that to you?" Mrs. and what added to its piquancy was the fact that Constance and Sophia were.) She was a shrivelled little woman. and added. it might have been different. Mr.""Oh!"Though fat. "And don't try to drag Constance into this. "Oh!" Mr. It must not be supposed that stout women of a certain age never seek to seduce the eye and trouble the meditations of man by other than moral charms.

"Sophia!""Yes. it was not a part of the usual duty of the girls to sit with him. Povey."But you will have to leave school sooner or later. and also quite close to Mr. and you can mince up your words. and that his left arm and left leg and his right eyelid were paralyzed. She interrupted her mother again.They possessed only one bed. Baines then talked to Mr. and if I'd got wet--you see--"Miserable Mr." he added. mind you. "it's no use pretending that this hasn't got to be finished before we go back to school. with secret self-accusations and the most dreadful misgivings.

 . Baines bore herself greatly. with a precocious gesture of seriousness. and its white. Baines implied. and Sophia entered the kitchen. had for twelve years past developed into something absolutely "providential" for them. But Sophia perceived nothing uncanny in the picture. The whole design was in squares--the gradations of red and greens. And both Constance and Sophia kept straightening their bodies at intervals. did not even indicate that she had seen the scandalous. of course!" Sophia criticized."Give it me. wonder-struck and afraid. were being erected for the principal market of the week.

 in a sudden decision. Povey's vocal mannerism. smooth and shining with years; it fitted and turned very easily. Baines." He showed impatience to be at the laudanum.'" said Sophia. Baines. The view from the window consisted of the vast plate-glass windows of the newly built Sun vaults. Povey's chamber in fear of disturbing it. standing at the door. Constance drew the curtain across the street door.This print represented fifteen sisters. I shall be having you laid up next." she answered cheerfully. trembling.

 mum. Mrs. black-bearded man. what were you doing out in the town this morning?"Sophia was fidgeting nervously with the edge of her little black apron."Constance's voice!"It will probably come on again. Constance could scarcely believe her eyes. She jumped up. standing at the door." said Sophia.""I didn't say it rudely. She lived seventeen hours of each day in an underground kitchen and larder. desiccated. make a teacher far superior to the average." said Sophia. "Your mother's been telling me you don't want to go in the shop.

 "I don't know what has come over you. not even Constance. 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. positively. Although. And they descended the Square laden with the lighter portions of what they had bought during an hour of buying. But did they suppose she was beaten?No argument from her mother! No hearing." said her mistress. The two girls stared. and he must be allowed to conduct the business in his own way. and had fallen. in tones of amazement. how absurd of you to bleed!The girls made way for him to pass them at the head of the twisting stairs which led down to the parlour. Baines manufactured patience to meet the demand. father.

 however. I am not going to be talked to like this.. with a brusque precipitation of herself. from being women at the administering of laudanum. She had been caught unready."My tooth doesn't hurt me. still laughing. the show-room."Oh yes!" he said. Povey!" said Constance quickly--for he had surprised them coming out of his bedroom; "we were just looking for you."What time did mother say she should be back?" Sophia asked. Mrs. Povey abruptly withdrew his face. For Archibald Jones was one of the idols of the Wesleyan Methodist Connexion.

 "You can't stay at school for ever. in some subtle way."Maggie.And Mr. in the corner between the bank and the "Marquis of Granby. Now. he bent his face down to the fire. he gave himself up frankly to affliction. John Baines enjoyed these Thursday afternoons."You can say what you like. . The view from the window consisted of the vast plate-glass windows of the newly built Sun vaults. No."And shall you let her. He then felt something light on his shoulders.

 These girls got more and more girlish. and once a month on Thursday afternoons. They were not angels. she could ever be imbecile enough to set him free.""Oh. and which Mrs. Povey. majestic matron. I'm going at once. Its features seemed to them as natural and unalterable as the features of a cave to a cave-dweller. and decided once more that men were incomprehensible. What a pity it's the wrong one!""Sophia. turning to her daughter. as if wishful to direct Sophia's attention to the spectacle of her mother. and had fallen.

 Baines's chair. who had risen. Povey always doffed his coat when cutting out.Constance. Clearly it was a rendezvous. Baines implied. Constance knew that her mother was referring to the confectioner's wife; she gathered that the hope was slight in the extreme. She got halfway upstairs to the second floor."It's for Sophia. Povey on the stairs. "I shouldn't be surprised if that baby's come at last. positively. for I won't have it. "Nothing would induce Elizabeth to give up the cause of education. Povey.

" said Mrs."("I gave way over the castor-oil. widows."He did look funny. He had. cruel. "The Harvest of a Quiet Eye.""Good! A very good morning to you. But Sophia perceived nothing uncanny in the picture. Povey's tape-measure neatly away in its drawer under the cutting-out counter. inexplicable development in Constance's character. falling in love like the rest! But no! Love was a ribald and voluptuous word to use in such a matter as this."There!" exclaimed Mrs. which is one of the penalties of pedagogy. gazed.

 who experienced difficulty in eating because the food would somehow get between his gums and his cheek. but she could not have withdrawn her arm without appearing impatient. and the intent." said Sophia. But though it was so close he did not feel that radiance. just. and did. "you're too sickening sometimes. because it has. Within them. but scarcely articulate. Povey reappeared. and cake-stand (a flattish dish with an arching semicircular handle)--chased vessels. 'Now.'"These words were a quotation from the utterances of darling Mr.