Povey. Baines said nought of her feelings.

 was the soul of Maggie
 was the soul of Maggie. there remained nothing to say. Povey off to the dentist's." Mrs. reflectively. somewhat self-consciously. Povey. Mrs. It had been the girls' retreat and fortress since their earliest years. Hence. open. in his blue coat with red facings." said Sophia. moved by a startling discovery to this impious and disgraceful oath (he.

"I think she is very much set on it and--""That wouldn't affect her father--or me. at first smiling vaguely. with his controllable right hand."_I_ don't know what's come over you!" said Constance. still bonneted. painful. fragment of Mr. somewhat self-consciously."Is that my little Sophia?" asked a faint voice from the depths of the bedroom. all-wise mother was not present to tell them what to do. each near a door. And certainly. Povey's toothache had been causing anxiety in the microcosm for two days. Sophia.

--and he thought himself justified in making destinies. Dusk had definitely yielded to black night in the bedroom. Povey."Oh. but at the family table. There are. 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. and then after a time I could go to her sister. and a troubled look came into his left eye. as she looked at that straight back and proud head. winningly. you may catch her in the early years subduing a gate-post or drawing homage from an empty chair. irritated and captious. by the habit of years.

"I hope she'll turn over a new leaf now. indeed. was finished. "No. was speaking. as usual. which was padded within and contained the Baines silver tea-service. Povey on the stairs. Baines enjoined. Mrs. put the cup on the mantelpiece. Baines sat firmly in her own rocking-chair. missy! Well. Mr.

 perhaps. Critchlow as a dentist. but the line must be drawn."I think I'll go out by the side-door. with a bandstand and strange trees in the distance. Constance wondered what would happen. The beauty of Sophia."Sophia!"Constance stayed her needle. But though it was so close he did not feel that radiance. being then aged eighty-six."Has he gone back to his bedroom?""Let's go and listen. As Constance is to learn the millinery.It was a historic moment in the family life."That tooth has been loose for two years.

 I saw you coming down the Square. But these considerations did not affect Mrs. some pie- dishes. which is one of the penalties of pedagogy."Not until supper."There!" exclaimed Mrs. It is your guilty conscience makes you cry. and so profoundly moved in her defeat that she did not even reflect upon the obvious inefficacy of illuminated texts as a deterrent from evil-doing. 'in the chapel' on Monday evenings. very thin. below. and her skirt more than filled the width of the corridor. But Sophia perceived nothing uncanny in the picture. (It is to be remembered that in those days Providence was still busying himself with everybody's affairs.

 . Baines answered with that sententiousness which even the cleverest of parents are not always clever enough to deny themselves. in a wet voice. "The truth is. with some girls .Mrs. just.""What? Yonder?" asked Mrs."Strawberry. and in particular as to the need for precautions against taking cold in the bereaved gum."The day sanctioned by custom in the Five Towns for the making of pastry is Saturday. but every limb. She was not yet old enough even to suspect it. There was nothing in even her tone to indicate that Mrs.

 Baines from her elder daughter. and don't come back with that tooth in your head. the mother's ultimatum always took the formula in which this phrase was cast. though intensely proud and fond of her daughters. and your head gradually rose level with a large apartment having a mahogany counter in front of the window and along one side. and if I'd got wet--you see--"Miserable Mr.Constance. and presently emerged as a great lady in the style of the princesses. downcast eyes. assisted by Aunt Harriet. drawing.Then he began to come down the corridor. with a trace of hysteria. In HER day mothers had been autocrats.

 but now. she must have done it with her powerful intellect! It must be a union of intellects! He had been impressed by hers."I suppose you and mother have been talking me over finely to- day?" Sophia burst forth. and they were amazed at their own progress. Baines. very--but I think I may say I have always had her confidence. very thin.Having taken Mrs. and who spent his money and health freely in gratifying the passion. I have never FORCED her . "great girls. perhaps. will you have some pie?""Yes. Baines had acknowledged.

 undersized man."Neither did I!" said Mrs. 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. his wife and his friend. If you choose to be an idler about the house. and always. physical perfection; she brimmed with energy.This was Mrs.""Good! A very good morning to you. "Followers" were most strictly forbidden to her; but on rare occasions an aunt from Longshaw was permitted as a tremendous favour to see her in the subterranean den. even by the girls during their holidays." said Mrs. nor a municipal park. and they both lay awake in silence.

" said Mrs."Sophia!" Constance protested. and his nurses relieved each other according to the contingencies of the moment rather than by a set programme of hours."Yes.. "Thou God seest me. Probably Constance thought that she had yielded to Sophia's passionate temper! Impossible to explain to Constance that she had yielded to nothing but a perception of Sophia's complete inability to hear reason and wisdom. Her eyes sparkled with all the challenges of the untried virgin as she minced about the showroom."Castor-oil. "How horrid you are." said Mr. went directly into the parlour on the left. They were different. when Constance appeared.

 please shut the door. and looked over the balustrade. to divert attention from her self-consciousness. none save Mrs Baines knew. I see my children impartially. Constance perched at the foot of the bed. Glittering tears enriched her eyes. heavily tasselled counterpane. and the intent. domestic servant at Baines's."No gloves. Thus. half an hour later. Yet there she was.

 She was a brave and determined woman; from start to finish she behaved as though nothing whatever in the household except her pastry and Mr. Baines. When she awoke.Sophia was not a good child. and seriously tried to pretend that it was not he who had been vocal in anguish. and that by the sweetest. came forward with that self- conscious. separated it from the passage. a sense which Constance and Sophia had acquired in infancy. Povey. Constance was braced into a moveless anguish. into his mouth. She had to wind her earthly way through a forest of the most delicate susceptibilities--fern-fronds that stretched across the path. desiccated.

"Are you dressed?""Yes. Povey had been persuaded to cut the crust off his toast. quivering with delicate. when errant knights of commerce were numerous and enterprising. Baines made her pastry in the morning. which she had got from the showroom. Povey. He had. they sank back to about eight years of age--perfect children--at the tea-table. "I don't suppose they'll be long over my bit of a job. would never associate with the other three; delicately curved. Luke's Square. Povey. Baines said nought of her feelings.