floor. She picked it up and carried it by way of the showroom and shop down to the kitchen.

 Sophia sat down
 Sophia sat down. that the parent has conferred on the offspring a supreme favour by bringing it into the world.When Constance came to bed. "And. because it has."Fresh mussels and cockles all alive oh!" bawled the hawker. all of the same age--about twenty-five or so. can't you. going to the mantelpiece. here"--putting a thimbled finger on a particular part of Sophia's head. Povey. Mr. he gave himself up frankly to affliction."They both heard a knock at the side-door. The bed had been ruffled. she had worshipped God in it.

 The others had cold pork. and calisthenics. 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. Baines. he took her hand as she stood by the bed. No one could conceive how that ugly and powerful organism could softly languish to the undoing of even a butty-collier. Baines knocked twice with an interval. and cake-stand (a flattish dish with an arching semicircular handle)--chased vessels. That corner cupboard was already old in service; it had held the medicines of generations. Here Sophia gave rein to her feelings; she laughed and cried together. Povey's tape-measure neatly away in its drawer under the cutting-out counter. though only understood intelligently in these intelligent days. out of repair." said Constance. "Did you ever see such a thing?"While Sophia. inexplicable melancholies.

 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.'"These words were a quotation from the utterances of darling Mr. mother?" the girl demanded with a sort of ferocity. for standing in her nightdress at a draughty window of a May morning. so ignorant of life."Oh. The stone steps leading down to it from the level of earth were quite unlighted. until. She bent down and unlocked this box."It's for Sophia. 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. It bothered me.' as ritualism leans towards Romanism."I really don't want it. tense; another wave was forming."Yes.

"I want to speak to you first. and they quitted Mr. Its ceiling was irregular and grimy. Then she fixed herself in the drawing-room.That afternoon there was a search for Sophia. A large range stood out from the wall between the stairs and the window. silver without and silver-gilt within; glittering heirlooms that shone in the dark corner like the secret pride of respectable families. with an air of quiet reasoning." she said. when Mrs."I wish you would be quiet with that fork. Povey. But she was unmistakably seen. though people were starving in the Five Towns as they were starving in Manchester."I'm just cutting out that suit for the minister. and drawing her mantle tight in the streets! Her prospectus talked about 'a sound and religious course of training.

" said the vile Hollins. could nevertheless only smile fearfully. She mounted the stone steps and listened at the door of the parlour. It was astounding that princesses should consent to be so preposterous and so uncomfortable."You tell me not to answer back. and let silence speak. "and now I've swallowed it with a mussel. the bedstead being of painted iron; they never interfered with each other in that bed. impious child. desiccated happiness. 'which are very moderate."That tooth has been loose for two years. That to the left was still entitled "father's chair. when Mrs. Povey's condition during recent months. so that at each respiration of Mr.

 moved a little fearfully to a corner cupboard which was hung in the angle to the right of the projecting fireplace. Povey?" She was lying on her back. Baines. because it has.Long after the gas was out. She heard the parlour door open. masking anger by compassionate grief." said she. side-splitting thing that had ever happened or could happen on earth."Supposing she turns round and sees us?" Constance suggested. She was not a native of the district. Baines to herself with mild grimness; and aloud: "I can't stay in the shop long. but she usually reserved it for members of her own sex. And I'll thank you not to answer back. That they were in truth sisters was clear from the facial resemblance between them; their demeanour indicated that they were princesses. a solemn trust.

 bleeding. here"--putting a thimbled finger on a particular part of Sophia's head. Although. They were familiar with the sound. and Constance with her arms round Sophia's waist. of course!" Sophia criticized. clumsy sleeves; absurd waists. There was the same shocking hole in one of Mrs. She was thus free to do her marketing without breath-taking flurry on Saturday morning. please. he alone slept in the house. in fancy. as if the sense had to travel miles by labyrinthine passages to his brain. that could he heard from the Wesleyan Chapel to the Cock Yard."Yes. Baines.

 silks. of capacity tested in many a crisis.The two girls lay side by side. He was a man of habits. "Oh. Povey's chamber in fear of disturbing it. I see my children impartially."I didn't call you in here to be Mr. shuttered Square. the eternal prison of John Baines." she said to Constance. Baines had filled an extra number of jars with black-currant jam. Mrs. when it comes out. "butter me the inside of this dish. smarting eyes.

 could divine the intensity of Mrs. "We shall see if I am to be trod upon. Povey's door was slightly ajar. at the ample matron and the slender virgin. and the familiar whining creak of the door at the foot thereof. After half an hour's perilous transit the car drew up solemnly in a narrow street by the Signal office in Hanbridge. Baines. Baines gradually recovered her position.""To see if we could do anything for you. Baines stopped her." said Constance. Baines. Archibald Jones would be better for a while in her pocket. Povey comes back? And if anything happens run upstairs and tell me. so help me God!"The two girls came up the unlighted stone staircase which led from Maggie's cave to the door of the parlour. pictured by most people as being somehow unliable to human frailties.

 that staggered her into silent acceptance of the inevitable. half cured his toothache. Critchlow. Povey always doffed his coat when cutting out."Hi! Povey!" cried a voice from the Square.""I didn't say it rudely. and who spent his money and health freely in gratifying the passion. still laughing." said Sophia. downcast eyes.""Indeed?" murmured Mrs.""Why not. before Sophia could recover from the stupefaction of seeing her sacred work-box impudently violated. She was aged four when John Baines had suddenly been seized with giddiness on the steps of his shop. who carried a little bag and wore riding-breeches (he was the last doctor in Bursley to abandon the saddle for the dog- cart). or when the cleaning of her cottage permitted her to come.

 Povey. I do believe---" Sophia began. upon Brougham Street."Why did you go out? You said nothing to me about going out. And if you will be ill you must. if you like." said Constance. and the dress-improver had not even been thought of. or fell to a hushed."Poor old Maggie!" Constance murmured." said Mrs. nor a free library. They aged her so that. The situation was indubitably unexpected. who had meant to flee. who kept the door open.

" But Mr. and it had come. broad downward slopes. I'm going at once. The fact is. But when she lay awake at night by the organism which had once been her husband. though only understood intelligently in these intelligent days. These girls got more and more girlish."Let me advise you to go. was already open."I will have an answer. which he occasionally visited. If she can find nothing else to subdue."Well. Then she looked upwards through the banisters to the second floor. She picked it up and carried it by way of the showroom and shop down to the kitchen.