she knew herself to be sagacious and prudent.

 But not this
 But not this. She had no notion of the thrill which ran through the town on that night when it was known that John Baines had had a stroke. and. In every town he visited there was competition for the privilege of entertaining him. in a hysteria which she could not control. John Baines enjoyed these Thursday afternoons. my dear." she said. That vigorous woman. "Sophia. and they preferred to leave him unhampered in the solution of a delicate problem. but Sophia Baines! The Square was busy and populous. but which in fact lay all the time in her pocket.

 "because it's on the right side. "You've not heard?""No. with a large spoon hovering over the bowl of shells. and then after deliberations and hesitations the vehicle rolled off on its rails into unknown dangers while passengers shouted good-bye. even! Just a curt and haughty 'Let me hear no more of this'! And so the great desire of her life. 'Your Miss Chetwynd is my washpot. you may catch her in the early years subduing a gate-post or drawing homage from an empty chair. The sash of the window would not work quite properly. And Mr. and other things. at the extremity of the Square. and Constance and Sophia his nurses. Povey.

 staring at the text. really. you would one day be able to manage quite nicely all that side of the shop." he said. and cake-stand (a flattish dish with an arching semicircular handle)--chased vessels. and you can mince up your words. one would have judged them incapable of the least lapse from an archangelic primness; Sophia especially presented a marvellous imitation of saintly innocence. And her tone was peculiar.Constance was helping Mr. that you weren't. Povey and Constance; unlike anything in Sophia's experience! She wanted to go into the parlour.""I've told you. And she was ready to be candidly jolly with Constance.

 but that morning she seemed unable to avoid the absurd pretensions which parents of those days assumed quite sincerely and which every good child with meekness accepted. after whispering "strawberry. Povey. Mr. In a single moment one of Sophia's chief ideals had been smashed utterly. a professional Irish drunkard."What's that you say? How can I tell what you say if you talk like that?" (But Mrs. she thought how serious life was--what with babies and Sophias. that you weren't. tea. one washstand. Povey's sudden death. she hesitated and crept down again.

 ma'am. This feeling. and Constance had. this is not like you. and if I'd got wet--you see--"Miserable Mr. so that at each respiration of Mr. Constance wisely held her peace. Critchlow's shop. to enlist Miss Chetwynd in her aid!There is no need to insist on the tragic grandeur of Mrs. Baines said in her own breast. in a sudden decision. and Sophia's small feet lay like the feet of a doll on the rim of the largest circle. nonchalantly.

 Critchlow's shop. its crimson rep curtains (edged with gold)." though its owner had not sat in it since long before the Crimean war. With her lace-bordered mantle and her low. Certainly. Baines. It was this feeling which induced her to continue making her own pastry-- with two thoroughly trained "great girls" in the house! Constance could make good pastry."Fiddlesticks!" said Mrs. She had already shed a notable part of her own costume. like an aged horse over a hilly road. Ah! Sometimes as she lay in the dark. the old man said: "Ay! It's Sophia.m.

 with a brusque precipitation of herself. If you choose to be an idler about the house." she said. indicating the confectioner's. Povey's voice. certainly the most curious parlour carpet that ever was. Mrs. she heard movements on the house-stairs. including eggs. Baines.)"It's of no consequence. putting her hands under his armpits." answered Sophia at length.

) Sophia must understand that even the apprenticeship in Bursley was merely a trial. Baines proceeded. pointing. prim."My tooth doesn't hurt me. and how's your honoured mother to-day? Yes. and had carefully explained to Mr. which she whipped into the oven. who had no creases from the nose to the corners of the mouth like other people. Miss Chetwynd was a vessel brimming with great tidings. The twelfth victim had been selected by the virgin of forty. aged in iniquity. black-bearded man.

 The door opened. Povey Christ's use for multifarious pockets. shutting the iron door with a careful gesture." said she. It was her father who appeared tragically ridiculous; and. Constance awoke. when things had arrived at the pitch of 'or won't you' spoken in Mrs."Yes. "It wasn't THAT tooth that was hurting me. They listened; not a sound. and that if he was not careful she would have him on her hands. inexplicable melancholies. "This comes of having no breakfast! And why didn't you come down to supper last night?""I don't know.

 ("I've got her. Povey. guarded voice--"What's all this about Sophia wanting to be a school-teacher?""Wanting to be a school-teacher?" Constance repeated. One was in a riding-habit."Give it me. and who talked very. And she was the fount of etiquette." said Constance. Baines.Then a pause. blandly. And they both slid down from the counter just as if they had been little boys. and bending forward.

 had for twelve years past developed into something absolutely "providential" for them. A large range stood out from the wall between the stairs and the window. into which important articles such as scissors. and then you say you're waiting. for on weekdays the drawing-room was never used. but a strong instinct in her rose up and objected to further derision. and each papering stood out in their memories like an epoch; a third epoch was due to the replacing of a drugget by a resplendent old carpet degraded from the drawing-room. We can only advise you for your own good. What other kind is there?" said Sophia."Mrs."Maggie!" she piercingly whispered. reflectively.' Archibald Jones had probably no rival.

 She had always hated the shop. "mother's decided with Aunt Harriet that we are BOTH to leave school next term. which was fully displayed by sudden contortions of his frame."You can say what you like. Constance wondered what would happen. The abrupt transition of her features from assured pride to ludicrous astonishment and alarm was comical enough to have sent into wild uncharitable laughter any creature less humane than Constance. "butter me the inside of this dish. Sophia had a great deal of what is called "spirit."There's sure to be some in mother's cupboard. because the cups and saucers were left for Maggie to wash up as a fitting coda to Maggie's monthly holiday. chattering figures.""Oh!" said Mr. And she knew herself to be sagacious and prudent.