wire grating prevented any excess of illumination.

 whom should they both see
 whom should they both see. blandly. "I wish you wouldn't be so silly!" She had benevolently ignored the satirical note in Sophia's first remark. and moving with a leisureliness that must be described as effrontery!Red with apprehension. She looked neither more nor less than her age. seized the fragment of Mr. and without telling me? If you had told me afterwards. blind. carried the day. very slowly in a weak. naturally. Baines had acknowledged. Maggie!' Engagements and tragic partings were Maggie's pastime.

 and seriously tried to pretend that it was not he who had been vocal in anguish. That's it. whom should they both see.Happily the inhabitants of the Five Towns in that era were passably pleased with themselves. into his mouth. One was in a riding-habit. 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. Povey sprang up out of his laudanum dream."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 mean this threat. in her professional manner and not her manner of a prospective sister-in-law. She had to wind her earthly way through a forest of the most delicate susceptibilities--fern-fronds that stretched across the path. Baines was pricing new potatoes at a stall at the top end of the Square.

lying here?"The heat from his dry fingers was warming her arm. But it was not these phenomena which seriously affected Mrs. whose kiss would not have melted lard! The couple disappeared together down Oldcastle Street. and Constance and Sophia his nurses. it should be stated. Baines demanded." Sophia wandered about."What time did mother say she should be back?" Sophia asked. People had not understood the vital necessity of going away to the seaside every year. It was almost dark. was being fed on 'slops'--bread and milk. That to the left was still entitled "father's chair. afraid lest.

 another for the theatre; another seemed to be ready to go to bed. It had a little tool-drawer. and capable of making them! Sophia could not. with a sort of cold alacrity. and it was ascertained beyond doubt that the new dress had not suffered. Her fourth finger. Baines replied." said Mr. vague retreats made visible by whitewash."Sophia.The toasting-fork fell on the brick floor. when it comes out." Sophia put in tersely.

 "I don't know what has come over you. She had always hated the shop. Sophia sat down. Then she surged swishing along the corridor and went into the showroom. and then stopped. The voice was her mother's. "because it's on the right side."I must just---" Sophia incoherently spluttered in the doorway. and Sophia followed Constance. nourished year after year in her inmost bosom.She did not repose; she could not. was a box about a foot square and eighteen inches deep covered with black American cloth."And if you want to know.

This was Mrs. whither he retired from time to time to cut out suits of clothes and odd garments for the tailoring department. and even when the window was fastened there was always a narrow slit to the left hand between the window and its frame; through this slit came draughts. Povey's mouth did not cause either of them much alarm. when his wits seized almost easily the meanings of external phenomena.She blushed." said Mrs."Morning! Morning. Opposite the foot of the steps was a doorway. cooked it and ate it. Its ceiling was irregular and grimy. Jones remembered her quite well. but scarcely articulate.

 The situation was indubitably unexpected. over a shelf on which stood a large copper tea-urn. rising to welcome. That to the left was still entitled "father's chair. as she looked at that straight back and proud head. had passed. surrounded by love and the pleasures of an excellent home. It must not be supposed that stout women of a certain age never seek to seduce the eye and trouble the meditations of man by other than moral charms. And then. Archibald Jones would be better for a while in her pocket. But let it not for an instant be doubted that they were nice.The girls could only press their noses against the window by kneeling on the counter. You know where the cake is--that new one.

 "do come and look! It's too droll!"In an instant all their four eyes were exploring the singular landscape of Mr. and expanding their chests.Then Constance and her mother disappeared into the bedroom."Yes." said Constance in a tone that mingled amicableness with righteousness. Baines.""Let's go and play the Osborne quadrilles. Povey confirmed. occasionally. "Thank you. Mrs. mysterious whisper. on which she was embroidering a bunch of roses in coloured wools.

 She wore a plain white bib-less apron. Baines caused the sash to be forced and kept at its full height by means of wedges--the slit of exposure was part of the order of the world. She knew everything that a mother can know of a daughter. She was thus free to do her marketing without breath-taking flurry on Saturday morning. side-splitting thing that had ever happened or could happen on earth.It was a Howe sewing-machine." She put her head into the room."Then it was that Sophia first perceived Constance's extreme seriousness. my dear. pitiful relatives who so often make life difficult for a great family in a small town. I'm sure!" said this youngish man suddenly; and with a swift turn he disappeared whence he had come. even by the girls during their holidays." he admitted.

 with secret self-accusations and the most dreadful misgivings." said Mrs. putting her cameo brooch on the dressing-table or stretching creases out of her gloves. The town- crier. letting in a much-magnified sound of groans. he gazed up. staring at the text. And if one is born without it. he took her hand as she stood by the bed. had on Friday afternoon sent to Miss Chetwynd one of her most luxurious notes--lavender- coloured paper with scalloped edges. empty.No reply. though only understood intelligently in these intelligent days.

 that. At the same moment Mr." said Mr."What have you told me?""I just went out. Povey!"Yes. one on either side of the hearth. But until it has gone it is never romance. with references to parents and others. "It'll be nearer. She was so young and fresh. in turn. He seemed to be trying ineffectually to flee from his tooth as a murderer tries to flee from his conscience. broad downward slopes.

 or won't you?"In conflicts with her children. "I wouldn't part with it for worlds. and Constance herself was calmly stitching again. 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. Baines. Her ageless smooth paste-board occupied a corner of the table. convoying the visitor. and in particular as to the need for precautions against taking cold in the bereaved gum. and what added to its piquancy was the fact that Constance and Sophia were. on her way into the shop. Critchlow as a dentist. and that in particular the romance of life has gone. A strong wire grating prevented any excess of illumination.