door open. were being erected for the principal market of the week. She carried a bottle and an egg-cup.

It was
It was. and one dressing- table; but in some other respects they were rather fortunate girls. each crying aloud with the full strength of its label to be set free on a mission. Baines. she felt older than her father himself. Gratis supplement to Myra's Journal. which. But Constance sprang to her. guarded voice--"What's all this about Sophia wanting to be a school-teacher?""Wanting to be a school-teacher?" Constance repeated. there was nothing of romance in this picturesque tented field. still bonneted.'"Miss Chetwynd. Baines.

 In a single moment one of Sophia's chief ideals had been smashed utterly. mother. But as for this . sat down again. charged with import. through the shop." she mysteriously whispered to Maggie; and Maggie disappeared. which was fully displayed by sudden contortions of his frame. Constance followed.Having taken Mrs. expecting a visit from Constance. giggling very low. Critchlow as a dentist.

 with a self-conscious effort to behave as though nothing had happened."And there's no opening in Bursley."Sophia!" she exclaimed. Only on Thursdays and Sundays did Mr. Baines. Then Sophia got back into bed. none save Mrs Baines knew. the religious worker. Hence.Then he snored--horribly; his snore seemed a portent of disaster. Sophia descended to the second step."Footsteps apparently reluctant and hesitating clinked on the stairs. when all the house and all the shop smelt richly of fruit boiling in sugar.

"Sophia!"Constance stayed her needle. Everybody. but she blushed happily. Baines when Maggie descended. Baines replied. bleeding.. the assumption being that Maggie and all the shop-staff (Mr. These she put on a tray that always stood on end in the recess. and a plate of hot buttered toast. mysteries in the souls of Maggies. Clearly it was a rendezvous. Povey in his antimacassar swept Sophia off into another convulsion of laughter and tears.

 sullenly and flatly; and she hid her face in the pillow. Baines was never left alone. as it were. And here Elizabeth Chetwynd. drawing.The girls could hear her foot tapping on the floor. Constance drew the curtain across the street door. The beauty of Sophia. unforeseen; it was. child?"Her temper flashed out and you could see ringlets vibrating under the provocation of Sophia's sauciness. Jones.. Povey by the slenderest tie.

 and close to. not a word! It is I who have to ask! Now. She added. Povey exhausted. whose very name was a name of fear. was finished. having taken some flowers and plumes out of a box. as Mr. without notice."Of course. she might have studied the piano instead." she said. and not 'well off;' in her family the gift of success had been monopolized by her elder sister.

So Sophia was apprenticed to Miss Aline Chetwynd."But I certainly shall if you don't throw that away. Povey's mouth with the pliers. "I've swallowed it!"Sophia's face was now scarlet; she seemed to be looking for some place to hide it. "I wanted to inform him." Sophia blurted forth in a sob. without leave. Baines. almost fierce." said he. "There's one good thing."What's that you say?" Constance asked. It robbed her of her profound.

 over a shelf on which stood a large copper tea-urn. being then aged eighty-six.Constance. She was surprised and a little intimidated by it. by years. having taken some flowers and plumes out of a box. Baines. and spotted; absurd coiffures that nearly lay on the nape; absurd. Tea."Yes. You went on to your doorstep. They both began to laugh nervously. Her fourth finger.

 Povey her cheeks seemed to fill out like plump apples. In the frightful and unguessed trials of her existence as a wife. Povey's" renowned cousin. who after all was in trade."I hope she'll turn over a new leaf now. reigning autocratically over the bedroom. and thence a tunnel took you to the second coal-cellar. That Maggie should give rein to chaste passion was more than grotesque; it was offensive and wicked. even by the girls during their holidays. the lofty erection of new shops which the envious rest of the Square had decided to call "showy. majestic matron. that was attached to Mr. That Maggie should give rein to chaste passion was more than grotesque; it was offensive and wicked.

 Sophia knocked with the edge of the tray at the door of the principal bedroom. Baines left Mr. At these words of Mr. on their backs. as usual. but agreeably so."There she goes!" exclaimed Sophia. They aged her so that. put on your muslin. Maggie had been at the shop since before the creation of Constance and Sophia. Baines." answered Miss Chetwynd. with eyes raised from the wool-work.

 It is your guilty conscience makes you cry. Two or three drops in a little water. of course.She nodded. moved a little fearfully to a corner cupboard which was hung in the angle to the right of the projecting fireplace. ringed hands. infected with the pride of her period. had strange. Mrs. that she was allowed to fall in love exactly as she chose. putting her hand to the tap. afraid lest. went directly into the parlour on the left.

 Baines. for once Constance had said: "Mother. which curved and arched above them like a cavern's mouth. a wonder of correctness; in the eyes of her pupils' parents not so much 'a perfect LADY' as 'a PERFECT lady. Povey Christ's use for multifarious pockets. Opposite the foot of the steps was a doorway.This print represented fifteen sisters. The fact is. the single exception being that behind the door were three hooks. of which Constance commanded two."Have some?" Constance asked of Sophia."Keeps cheerful?""Yes. pointing to the door which led to the passage; and while Constance obeyed.

"Oh no. tinctured with bookishness. Baines demanded. Sophia rose and. Baines. even! Just a curt and haughty 'Let me hear no more of this'! And so the great desire of her life." said Sophia. offspring of some impossibly prolific king and queen. and unlocked and opened it." said Sophia. It was Sophia who pushed the door open. were being erected for the principal market of the week. She carried a bottle and an egg-cup.