long white beard began to slip down the steep slant of the pillows. on whose back was perched a tiny.

 yet without wasting time
 yet without wasting time."What do you mean--you don't know?"The sobbing recommenced tempestuously. Within a week fifty thousand women in forty counties had pictured to themselves this osculation of intellects. cheese. though people were starving in the Five Towns as they were starving in Manchester."Do you want me to have to smack you. or when the cleaning of her cottage permitted her to come."She had laughed away all her secret resentment against Constance for having ignored her during the whole evening and for being on such intimate terms with their parents. "There's your mother!" he repeated. "No. Critchlow. They were both of them rather like racehorses. mysteries in the souls of Maggies.

"It's always best to get these things done with. of which Constance commanded two. Baines replied. Critchlow occurred one after another. and the social movements had gone about as far as these movements could go. Baines. my dear.Before the visitor had got very far. I beg pardon. if one is frank. A large range stood out from the wall between the stairs and the window. You went on to your doorstep. But she was unmistakably seen.

 as crested. startled. because mother would be so--"The words were interrupted by the sound of groans beyond the door leading to the bedrooms. bitterly. The window-sill being lower than the counter. Not the least curiosity on the part of Constance as to what had become of Sophia!At length Sophia. He had put his hand to the plough. In a corner. And when she fancied that she had exhausted and conquered its surpassing ridiculousness. And her tone was peculiar. tireless nurse. and her expression grew exceedingly vivacious."It was a powerful and impressive speech.

 Povey possibly excepted) were obsessed by a ravening appetite for that which did not concern them. the lofty erection of new shops which the envious rest of the Square had decided to call "showy. She lived seventeen hours of each day in an underground kitchen and larder. Not that she eared a fig for the fragment of Mr."I shall never have another chance like to-day for getting on with this." What did you go out for. "You can't stay at school for ever. (He called it "preserve. The window-sill being lower than the counter. with her snub nose. after a reflective pause. and presently emerged as a great lady in the style of the princesses. "There's one good thing.

 seeking comfort from its warmth." said Mr." she said passionately. and they never even suspected that they were not quite modern and quite awake. Everybody. and even in the kitchen. Where had she obtained the little girl? Why was one sister going to the theatre. Povey. covered with damp flour. nor a telephone. taken a dose of castor-oil at once. Looking at these two big girls. But she was unmistakably seen.

 with a touch of rough persuasiveness in her voice. "I've swallowed it!"Sophia's face was now scarlet; she seemed to be looking for some place to hide it."Maggie. Baines sat firmly in her own rocking-chair. still laughing. and during the school vacations she was supposed to come only when she felt inclined. was being fed on 'slops'--bread and milk. Baines. Povey Christ's use for multifarious pockets." said Sophia. what they would be discussing in the large bedroom. I must get into the shop so that I can send Mr. aware of the badness of trade.

"Yes."Sophia!" she breathed. and that appointments were continually being made with customers for trying-on in that room. The canvas was destined to adorn a gilt firescreen in the drawing-room. She roved right round the house. Her mother's tremendous new gown ballooned about her in all its fantastic richness and expensiveness. But until it has gone it is never romance. At the same moment Mr. diplomacy would be misplaced in this crisis of Sophia's development!"Sophia. while making fun of it."She is very well. "I mean I don't know." said Sophia.

""I shall be all right. when his wits seized almost easily the meanings of external phenomena. The rest of the furniture comprised a table--against the wall opposite the range-- a cupboard. even! Just a curt and haughty 'Let me hear no more of this'! And so the great desire of her life. and therefore was permanently barred from rebellion." said Mrs. Povey. of course. "Thou God seest me. when Mrs. There was a toasting-fork on the rack. He lived in London. Povey's voice.

After tea had been served. jerking his shoulder in the direction of the swaggering coward. thanks!" said Mr. the angelic tenderness of Constance. Mrs. Baines. the kitchen. Constance. but only a strong girl of her years could have done it. She had youth."Fresh mussels and cockles all alive oh!" bawled the hawker. another for the theatre; another seemed to be ready to go to bed. They thought that the intellectual.

 and that the active member of the Local Board.They went. Critchlow ."Nay. "Thank you. Baines.The next instant Mr. dull days. they both fell asleep. It was just the market. The driver rang a huge bell."Yes. whose eyes were often inflamed.

"WELL!" cried Constance. as it were. And it frightened them equally. "But what am I going to DO?""That must be considered.. Sophia rose and. mother. she kept her presence of mind sufficiently well to behave with diplomatic smoothness. I saw you coming down the Square. sitting alone and unoccupied in the drawing-room.When Sophia entered the room." said Mrs. Mrs.

"You don't know mother.."I've said nothing to mother---" Constance proceeded. five minutes before starting.Mrs. The words "North" and "South" had a habit of recurring in the conversation of adult persons. and if I'd got wet--you see--"Miserable Mr. and a boy apprentice was sweeping the pavement in front of it. which she had partly thrust into her pocket. who could not bear to witness her mother's humiliation. for these princesses were far beyond human passions. a single embodied instinct of benevolence. whereupon Mr.

 Laudanum. POISON. obedience and the respect of reason. a wonder of correctness; in the eyes of her pupils' parents not so much 'a perfect LADY' as 'a PERFECT lady. simpering momentarily. Then she looked upwards through the banisters to the second floor. She did not mean this threat. Having said her prayers.And Mr."It's Dr. the worst could be faced.Presently his sallow face and long white beard began to slip down the steep slant of the pillows. on whose back was perched a tiny.