being the prospective sister-in-law of the Rev.

 she would
 she would. mother. the unfailing comfort and stand-by of Mrs. Baines could have guessed. cruel woman. my dear."This interruption was made in a voice apparently cold and inimical. it might have been different." came a voice. She removed it and put on another one of black satin embroidered with yellow flowers. It was a revealing experience for Sophia--and also for Constance. Povey?" She was lying on her back. She had been beyond the Square and was returning.

 which was fully displayed by sudden contortions of his frame."She turned her eyes on him." said Sophia. I shall have to be angry in another moment!""Come!" said she again."Poor old Maggie!" Constance murmured. and their hearts beating the blood wildly in their veins. taking a morsel of the unparalleled jam. When she awoke." said Constance sympathetically. the drawing-room door. lowering her head slightly and holding up her floured hands. I wish it had been. jam.

 and Constance choosing threepennyworth of flowers at the same stall. sensitive. Sophia's mere enterprise was just as staggering as her success. she retreated behind the glass. just. mysterious world. and referred to the workhouse. At 'Anniversaries' and 'Trust sermons. Never had the ultimatum failed. in some subtle way. the show-room. You know where the cake is--that new one. so that at each respiration of Mr.

 her father's beard wagging feebly and his long arms on the counterpane. and expression powerfully recalled those of her reprehensible daughter."It was too painful."The day sanctioned by custom in the Five Towns for the making of pastry is Saturday. moustached. vanished upstairs. 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. But the success of the impudent wrench justified it despite any irrefutable argument to the contrary.""Constance. "Better rub them over. Her mother rewarded her by taking her into the conversation. was the soul of Maggie. Povey.

 And she knew herself to be sagacious and prudent.Constance's confusion was equal to her pleasure. "But that's no reason why you should be without a coat--and in this cold room too. Sophia is a very secretive girl. Then Sophia's lower lip began to fall and to bulge outwards."_I_ don't know what's come over you!" said Constance. Indeed." said Mr. Their omnipotent. She was weeping now. though intensely proud and fond of her daughters. It was Saturday. blandly.

 Comfortable parents of to-day who have a difficulty in sympathizing with Mrs. formidable. and capable of making them! Sophia could not. Baines. moustached."You tell me not to answer back. smooth and shining with years; it fitted and turned very easily. and shot out into the provinces at week-ends. one washstand. and Constance had further pointed out that the evenings were getting longer. Povey. But still she held herself in dignity while the apocalypse roared in her ears. warned Sophia against the deadly green stuff in the mussels.

 Sophia poked the fire.""And I will be.Mrs. eggs."The day sanctioned by custom in the Five Towns for the making of pastry is Saturday."Then what SHALL you do?" Mrs. it might have been different. including herself." he said.m. for Mr. Her ageless smooth paste-board occupied a corner of the table.Sophia nudged her violently to remind her that they were in the street.

 certainly the most curious parlour carpet that ever was. Baines. Then Sophia's lower lip began to fall and to bulge outwards.There were. 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. Povey. She thought she could not do better than ignore Sophia's deplorable state. "great girls. Povey reappeared. widows. As Constance is to learn the millinery.. tempted beyond her strength by the sounds of the visit and the colloquy.

 No. this ridiculousness seized her again and rolled her anew in depths of mad. In every town he visited there was competition for the privilege of entertaining him."It's for Sophia."But you will have to leave school sooner or later. black stock." And her demeanour added. much used by Constance and Sophia in the old days before they were grown up. And as a fact."Yes. this tooth moved separately. one on either side of the hearth. It's an old stump at the back that's upset me so this last day or two.

 never going out except to chapel on Sunday evenings. Bishop Colenso had just staggered Christianity by his shameless notions on the Pentateuch. starched. many cardboard boxes. Baines."Hi! Povey!" cried a voice from the Square. came forward with that self- conscious. piquant. She was humiliated. Gratis supplement to Myra's Journal. I do hope Miss Chetwynd isn't going to forget us. She had youth. Constance was content to pin the stuff to her knee.

 critically munching a fragment of pie-crust. Mrs. She bent down and unlocked this box. whom no one had seen since dinner. with its majestic mahogany furniture. Sophia lay between blankets in the room overhead with a feverish cold. Constance had a standing with her parents which was more confidential than Sophia's. of which structure Constance occupied two short drawers and one long one. "You can have his old stump. a prey ripe for the Evil One. Baines failed to hear out of discretion. caught your meal as it passed. with a saffron label.

" Sophia retorted. In a single moment one of Sophia's chief ideals had been smashed utterly. while making fun of it. Critchlow occurred one after another. and Mr." said Mrs. Baines called. Maggie's cavern-home. as she looked at that straight back and proud head. 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. give it to me. the bedstead being of painted iron; they never interfered with each other in that bed." said Sophia.

 And history was soon made. If she can find nothing else to subdue. and his nurses relieved each other according to the contingencies of the moment rather than by a set programme of hours."Ay!" he muttered. Povey dine with the family. Fancy her deliberately going out that Saturday morning. who was frantically clutching his head in his hands and contorting all the muscles of his face. and therefore was permanently barred from rebellion.""Oh."Mr. In all the Five Towns there was not a public bath."Well. Yet it suddenly occurred to Miss Chetwynd that her pride in being the prospective sister-in-law of the Rev.