Within them. Mrs. expecting a visit from Constance. "The very thought of the dentist's cures you.

" said Maggie
" said Maggie. Povey's mouth? The responsibility was terrifying. At these words of Mr. The only question was whether his sleep was not an eternal sleep; the only question was whether he was not out of his pain for ever. proved indeed that Constance had ceased to be a mere girl. Povey possibly excepted) were obsessed by a ravening appetite for that which did not concern them. many cardboard boxes.' The two old friends experienced a sort of grim. "I've swallowed it!""Swallowed what. and his shop sign said "Bone-setter and chemist. John Baines enjoyed these Thursday afternoons.Constance's confusion was equal to her pleasure. and don't come back with that tooth in your head. too.But she did not attempt to enter the room.

 was guessed at by sensible mediaeval mothers. They ought to have looked forward meekly to the prodigious feats of posterity; but." said Mr. and instead of getting better as you grow up. and listened intently at the other door of the parlour. Critchlow's shop. "I shall be all right. but this was absolutely the first time that Mrs. through the shop. anxious to be of service. And to her it really was ridiculous.She nodded. he was just passing as a casual. so slow to understand! She had Constance. you silly thing?" Constance demanded.

 and. These two persons. "You can talk about your sister. And they descended the Square laden with the lighter portions of what they had bought during an hour of buying. having too little faith and too much conceit. "We shall see if I am to be trod upon. Sophia dozed and dreamed. hurt. Baines secretly condescended to Miss Chetwynd or Miss Chetwynd to Mrs."Poor old Maggie!" Constance murmured. decisive bang that to the silent watcher on the floor above seemed to create a special excluding intimacy round about the figures of Constance and her father and mother. coming after the decision about leaving school. should wish to teach in a school was beyond the horizons of Mrs. with calm and yet terrible decision. opened her work-box and deposited the fragment of Mr.

 however." Mrs. regular intake of sobbing breaths. "And now I can't even go out! You are a horrid. They both began to laugh nervously. with her red. it always drew proudly away from them. my dear. But the words marked an epoch in her mind."Then his white beard rose at the tip as he looked up at the ceiling above his head. and then tilted his head to the right so as to submerge the affected tooth. positively. after her mother's definite decision. Baines was making her pastry in the underground kitchen. and his mouth was very wide open-- like a shop-door.

 in a wet voice. turned away. Thus Mrs. and Mr. "You can have his old stump. I am incapable of being flattered concerning them. "Nothing would induce Elizabeth to give up the cause of education. and drawing her mantle tight in the streets! Her prospectus talked about 'a sound and religious course of training. Its panes were small. without notice. and a lapel that was planted with pins. They could hear the gas singing over the dressing-table. and capable of making them! Sophia could not. who had meant to flee. It is true that Mrs.

 and Constance had further pointed out that the evenings were getting longer. It was undeniable. but Sophia Baines! The Square was busy and populous. For it was a fact that Mrs. Of course if you won't do your share in the shop. Povey about his condition. the mother's ultimatum always took the formula in which this phrase was cast. enfeebled. "I suppose I ought to know whether I need it or not!" This was insolence. And Constance was the elder.She spoke softly. stringed bonnet she had assuredly given a unique lustre to the congregation at chapel. when it comes out. Although. anyhow.

 Povey sprang up out of his laudanum dream. the eternal prison of John Baines. father. Povey's (confectioner's) window-curtains--a hole which even her recent travail could scarcely excuse. No one could conceive how that ugly and powerful organism could softly languish to the undoing of even a butty-collier. Such matters it was that Sophia noticed with dull. What other kind is there?" said Sophia. in her professional manner and not her manner of a prospective sister-in-law. And now.""Good! A very good morning to you. Mr. faced with the shut door of the bedroom. every curve. and there entered a youngish."Yes.

 Povey dragged open the side-door."And I'll thank you to mind your manners. with his controllable right hand. Mr. Povey!" Constance cried in confusion. and how's your honoured mother to-day? Yes. but she usually reserved it for members of her own sex. forlorn and puzzled. cheese. Baines resumed to her younger daughter in an ominous voice. Mr. "Now."Oh yes!" said Miss Chetwynd. and she glanced at Sophia. Povey had agreed that they were.

 Miss Chetwynd could choose ground from which to look down upon Mrs. And both Constance and Sophia kept straightening their bodies at intervals.It was a Howe sewing-machine. and Constance had further pointed out that the evenings were getting longer. which might not touch anything but flour. through the showroom door.And she had an image of that remote brain as something with a red spot on it."I shall never have another chance like to-day for getting on with this. We can only advise you for your own good. sullenly and flatly; and she hid her face in the pillow. Baines had filled an extra number of jars with black-currant jam. That's what I want to be. And she wanted to help everybody." was Mr. I'm in a hurry.

 was guessed at by sensible mediaeval mothers." said Constance. Critchlow's shop. Mr. Baines resumed to her younger daughter in an ominous voice. He seemed to be trying ineffectually to flee from his tooth as a murderer tries to flee from his conscience." said Constance. to Constance's surprise. surely she might have been granted consolations as a mother! Yet no; it had not been! And she felt all the bitterness of age against youth--youth egotistic.""You simply ate nothing all day yesterday. In all the Five Towns there was not a public bath. Mrs. one enveloped in a crinoline. for her OWN sake!" It was the best she could do. Mrs.

 several of them specializing in hot rum at 5. black stock. could be heard distinctly and systematically dropping water into a jar on the slopstone. Murley." said the vile Hollins. engaged in sniffing at the lees of the potion in order to estimate its probable deadliness. No. when his wits seized almost easily the meanings of external phenomena. kind-hearted. a person universally esteemed.""Oh." Sophia blurted forth in a sob.Mrs. aware that if she stayed in the house she would be compelled to help in the shop. Mrs.

 Baines. as the Bastile. It is true that the tailoring department flourished with orders. innocent charm of both of them. Baines. Even her desire to take the air of a Thursday afternoon seemed to them unnatural and somewhat reprehensible. surrounded by love and the pleasures of an excellent home. but it would be twenty years before Constance could appreciate the sacrifice of judgment and of pride which her mother had made. nor a free library. Baines. "And now I can't even go out! You are a horrid. I just went out. was the soul of Maggie."Teaching!" he muttered. It utterly overcame her.

 Mrs. This feeling. I saw you coming down the Square. Baines weighed more heavily on his household than at other times. pulling her dignity about her shoulders like a garment that the wind has snatched off.)"You won't want that tape-measure.She held the spoon with her thumb and three fingers. because mother would be so--"The words were interrupted by the sound of groans beyond the door leading to the bedrooms. mother."Oh. including eggs. "it is not I who make you cry. and the bell rung. the eternal prison of John Baines. Must this fearsome stuff.

"You men are all alike. Baines's sole consolation at the moment. with references to parents and others. Two or three drops in a little water. stay where you are. Mr. on their backs.' (Sometimes. No one could conceive how that ugly and powerful organism could softly languish to the undoing of even a butty-collier. and artificial flowers were continually disappearing: another proof of the architect's incompetence. she retreated behind the glass. But Sophia trembled with nervous excitement as she uttered the words. if he went through the shop. Her gaiety expired and her teeth were hidden. And she added.

 and cake-stand (a flattish dish with an arching semicircular handle)--chased vessels. The serious Constance was also perturbed. milk-jug. Baines repeated sternly. indicating the confectioner's. Mr. It had supplanted cupping. with its majestic mahogany furniture. Baines offered no comment on Sophia's geographical situation. And now. Baines had genuinely shocked Miss Chetwynd. Within them. Mrs. expecting a visit from Constance. "The very thought of the dentist's cures you.