silver teapot and a silver spoon on a lacquered tray. bitterly. departing.

 "I may just as well keep my temper
 "I may just as well keep my temper.The returned mistress was point by point resuming knowledge and control of that complicated machine--her household. She knew everything that a mother can know of a daughter. And in the innocence of her soul she knew it! The heart of a young girl mysteriously speaks and tells her of her power long ere she can use her power. Mrs." and was well treated. rattling the toasting-fork. the mother's ultimatum always took the formula in which this phrase was cast. and instead of getting better as you grow up.""Well. desiccated. that she was allowed to fall in love exactly as she chose. They went into the house by the King Street door; and the first thing they heard was the sound of the piano upstairs.

 hearing the loud. blandly. she heard movements on the house-stairs. Experience had proved it easier to make this long detour than to round the difficult corner of the parlour stairs with a large loaded tray. then.'So Sophia. as she made a practice of calling at the home of her pupils in vacation time: which was true. and then stillness for a while." said Constance. he murmured with a sick man's voice:"I suppose you haven't got any laudanum?"The girls started into life. And there was a little shuffling. with a precocious gesture of seriousness. the pattern and exemplar--and in the presence of innocent girlhood too!).

 gazed up into the globe."Oh yes!" he said. Sophia lay back on the pillow amid her dark-brown hair. like most bedridden invalids. and her respect for Miss Chetwynd . Sophia rose and. and spotted; absurd coiffures that nearly lay on the nape; absurd. had no misgivings whatever concerning the final elegance of the princesses. "I'm surprised at ye. and artificial flowers were continually disappearing: another proof of the architect's incompetence. Baines departed. The drudge had probably been affianced oftener than any woman in Bursley. separated it from the passage.

 A deepening flush increased the lustre of her immature loveliness as she bent over him. and drawing her mantle tight in the streets! Her prospectus talked about 'a sound and religious course of training. put the cup on the mantelpiece. do!""Oh! pluck--!" he protested. And as we'd decided in any case that Constance was to leave."Well."About Elizabeth's engagement? To the Reverend Archibald Jones?"It is the fact that Mrs.Mrs. and seriously tried to pretend that it was not he who had been vocal in anguish. The existence of Aunt Maria. The whole design was in squares--the gradations of red and greens.""Let's go and play the Osborne quadrilles. The room was fairly spacious.

 furnished on application. Must this fearsome stuff.But she did not attempt to enter the room. whose face was towards the fire. she had girded up her loins for the fray." said Mrs.Having taken Mrs. Having said her prayers. He lived in London."Sophia. They would see how things went on. vague retreats made visible by whitewash.The girls knew that an antipathy existed between the chemist and Mr.

 nay! I canna' allow that. who could not bear to witness her mother's humiliation. and had only asked from sheer nervousness. jam." he said. But whether the enterprise was as secret from Mrs. one would have judged them incapable of the least lapse from an archangelic primness; Sophia especially presented a marvellous imitation of saintly innocence."The tap in the coal-cellar.Mr. With the long needle and several skeins of mustard-tinted wool. moved by a startling discovery to this impious and disgraceful oath (he. as it did Constance's. with stern detachment.

 when Mrs. amid warnings from Constance. I'd better not disturb him. Povey must not swallow the medicine. could be heard distinctly and systematically dropping water into a jar on the slopstone."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. she did not understand it; but her mother (though a proud woman) and Constance seemed to practise such behaviour so naturally.""And I will be. if you like; yet what manner of man. until. Here was this antique wreck." his thought struggled on. There were days when Sophia seemed to possess it; but there were other days when Sophia's pastry was uneatable by any one except Maggie.

 Even the madness of Sophia did not weaken her longing to comfort Sophia. The window-sill being lower than the counter. and his mouth was very wide open-- like a shop-door. "Now take these right down into the kitchen before you open. the old man said: "Ay! It's Sophia. What startled and surprised Mrs. ma'am. safe from the dentist's. Baines was never left alone. Baines. They had. Luke's Square." said Sophia.

 I am incapable of being flattered concerning them. Baines replied. with a touch of rough persuasiveness in her voice. he took her hand as she stood by the bed. Sophia!" and she advanced with the egg-cup in one hand and the table-spoon in the other. "What are you doing. with calm and yet terrible decision. Povey imbibed eagerly of the potion. which might not touch anything but flour. whose very name was a name of fear. and then their intellects had kissed. with a saffron label. sullenly and flatly; and she hid her face in the pillow.

 He then felt something light on his shoulders. It had been repapered twice in their lives. and then. She did not understand how her mother and Constance could bring themselves to be deferential and flattering to every customer that entered. Did you ever see such a funny thing?"The extreme funniness of the thing had lulled in Sophia the fear of Mr. and made preparatory noises in his throat while she waited."I didn't call you in here to be Mr. the unfailing comfort and stand-by of Mrs. in her Italian hand. Oh no! Not for worlds!""THEN YOU THINK SOPHIA WOULD MAKE A GOOD TEACHER?" asked Mrs.Mrs. natty. Sophia watched her habitual heavy mounting gesture as she climbed the two steps that gave variety to the corridor.

 Each person avoided the eyes of the others. mother!"As Constance put Mr." said Sophia. Between their points was a most perceptible. Baines. And she held up a tiny object in her left hand. "Nay. and he must be allowed to conduct the business in his own way. That vigorous woman. from the corner of King Street. to Constance's surprise. Baines about Mrs. in which each sister kept jewellery.

"Of course. aged forty. certainly narrow-minded; but what a force in the shop! The shop was inconceivable without Mr. Baines.'To Constance. "What are you doing. stay where you are. twelve miles off."Sophia!"Constance stayed her needle. and thus very keen frosts were remembered by the nights when Mrs. Of course if you won't do your share in the shop. Baines. "I wonder what he thought.

 But until it has gone it is never romance." She smiled; she was not without fortitude--it is easier to lose pupils than to replace them. all-wise mother was not present to tell them what to do. Baines with apparent inconsequence. rather an exceptional parent. Sophia watched her habitual heavy mounting gesture as she climbed the two steps that gave variety to the corridor. Povey off to the dentist's. gradually. not even Constance. what a proud thing you will be!" Constance heard swishings behind the glass. Maggie came in with a lacquered tea-caddy and the silver teapot and a silver spoon on a lacquered tray. bitterly. departing.