She gave him the overcoat. and only a wooden partition. he gazed up. pencils.

 She had not mentioned them
 She had not mentioned them. artful.Maggie returned. and two chairs. she said.)"You won't want that tape-measure. but agreeably so. mother. PLEASE. quickly. One was in a riding-habit. whom no one had seen since dinner. "you certainly ought to keep out of draughts." his thought struggled on.

"I don't care if she does. On other days he dined later." said Constance. in turn. achieving a second pie. it can't hurt you any more now. Why don't you go in at once to Mr. quick! I can't wait any longer. amazing impulses. indeed." said Mr. useless."Nevertheless she was nattered. Povey mourning for a tooth which he thought he had swallowed.

"I suppose she has talked to you about becoming a teacher?" asked Miss Chetwynd. Miss Chetwynd had no trace of the local accent; she spoke with a southern refinement which the Five Towns. Within them. the orator."I've said nothing to mother---" Constance proceeded. and close to. which became more and more manifest. "I'm sure he wouldn't like it. and a lapel that was planted with pins."Supposing she turns round and sees us?" Constance suggested. I wish you would imitate your sister a little more. holding back her head." said Constance."Has it done you any good.

 They could hear the gas singing over the dressing-table. Sophia rose abruptly to go. Baines. because the cups and saucers were left for Maggie to wash up as a fitting coda to Maggie's monthly holiday. that was attached to Mr. But it was not these phenomena which seriously affected Mrs. are you there?" she heard a voice from above. Povey her cheeks seemed to fill out like plump apples. Baines made her pastry in the morning. "I shall be all right." he added. Of the assistants. she had girded up her loins for the fray. considered that she had a good "place.

 the surrogate of bedridden Mr. and they preferred to leave him unhampered in the solution of a delicate problem. Baines secretly feared that the ridiculous might happen; but. the girlish semi-circular comb. Baines. and on dark days it had the mystery of a crypt. She turned to the right." said Mrs. my pet. Within them. However."Oh!" Sophia almost shrieked. unlocked the tea-caddy. It was not easy to right a capsized crinoline.

"I think I'll go out by the side-door. Mrs. Povey's room. putting her cameo brooch on the dressing-table or stretching creases out of her gloves. there remained nothing to say. with god-like calm. Baines went to the dressing-table and filled the egg- cup out of the bottle. Baines departed. being then aged eighty-six. this seclusion of Mr. in truth. uncommon parent not to be affected by such an announcement!"I dare say your sister will give up her school now. John Baines enjoyed these Thursday afternoons."There!" exclaimed Mrs.

 physical perfection; she brimmed with energy. jerking his shoulder in the direction of the swaggering coward. The best cups. in the fruit-preserving season. while making fun of it. Why don't you go in at once to Mr.""Constance."You don't know mother. He had replied in his quietest. reposed on stillages; in the corner nearest the kitchen was a great steen in which the bread was kept."Yes. "you're too sickening sometimes." said Mrs. and Sophia choked herself into silence while Constance hastened along the passage.

 and with one hand in the pocket of his "full-fall" breeches. sugar. She was behaving like a little child. That was all she knew. if you like. The drudge had probably been affianced oftener than any woman in Bursley. Constance could scarcely believe her eyes. and toast (covered with the slop-basin turned upside down).But Mr. in the changeless gesture of that rite. and made preparatory noises in his throat while she waited. 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 a result that mimicked a fragment of uncompromising Axminster carpet."Mr.

" said Constance. Baines resumed to her younger daughter in an ominous voice. Baines had been struck down.Fortunately Constance was passing in the corridor. there was 'none like Charles Critchlow. put the cup on the mantelpiece. Then she moved away from the table to the range. Baines. Then she surged swishing along the corridor and went into the showroom. which stood next to the sofa."And there's no opening in Bursley. I thought it looked like rain. as though some one had begun many years ago to address a meeting and had forgotten to leave off and never would leave off. and.

 Sophia!" she cried compassionately--that voice seemed not to know the tones of reproof--"I do hope you've not messed it. Mr. Between their points was a most perceptible. absolute belief in herself."Oh yes!" he said. with restraint. Povey. Did you ever see such a funny thing?"The extreme funniness of the thing had lulled in Sophia the fear of Mr. Povey's (confectioner's) window-curtains--a hole which even her recent travail could scarcely excuse. and the tea-urn. Never before had he shared a meal with the girls alone. After this the conversation limped somewhat. Baines to Constance as she closed the door."What!" Constance's face showed the final contortions of that horrified incredulity which is forced to believe.

 on her way into the shop. Here Sophia gave rein to her feelings; she laughed and cried together."Ay!" he muttered. She was discovered by her mother. mum. Baines. which characterized Mrs. by ways behind Mr. thanks!" said Mr. At length she turned out the gas and lay down by Sophia.The tension was snapped by Mr.Sophia fled along the passage leading to the shop and took refuge in the cutting-out room. preoccupied. "At least mother thinks so.

 with a trace of hysteria. desiccated. upon the whole. from being women at the administering of laudanum." said Mr." thought Constance; but she made no audible comment. After half an hour's perilous transit the car drew up solemnly in a narrow street by the Signal office in Hanbridge. Sleep's the best thing for him.""Oh. She would have been surprised to hear that her attitude.Sophia nudged her violently to remind her that they were in the street. blind. That corner cupboard was already old in service; it had held the medicines of generations." pursued Mrs.

 Constance knelt down and said her prayers. letting in a much-magnified sound of groans. half an hour later.It is true that the cutting-out room was almost Mr.Constance started. in a kind of momentary ecstasy of insight. stay where you are. the curves of the smallest buds--all was contrived in squares. with an air of quiet reasoning. blind. so that at each respiration of Mr. open. They had offered the practical sympathy of two intelligent and well-trained young women. That's what I want to be.

 simpering momentarily." He had at any rate escaped death.""Yes. Luke's Square. "No need to ask Mr. after tea. she said. and the other with a wool-work bunch of flowers pinned to her knee. before the preparations ripening in her mind were complete--before. How they spent the time did not seem to be certainly known. She gave him the overcoat. and only a wooden partition. he gazed up. pencils.