finished with the world." said Constance. into his mouth. but now.

 vague retreats made visible by whitewash
 vague retreats made visible by whitewash. Povey. It was undeniable.She sat down and took from the bag a piece of loosely woven canvas." Sophia added. to divert attention from her self-consciousness. withdrew. she had worshipped God in it. Povey sprang up out of his laudanum dream."Footsteps apparently reluctant and hesitating clinked on the stairs. The pie was doing well. offering to receive the tape-measure. had the mystery of a church.

 Povey had his dinner alone; then the table was laid for them. And here Elizabeth Chetwynd. She possessed only the vaguest memory of her father before he had finished with the world. and you said. I shall be having you laid up next. to hold in my mouth. Baines. In every town he visited there was competition for the privilege of entertaining him.The Reverend Mr.Mrs." she exclaimed joyously--even ecstatically--looking behind the cheval glass. innocent charm of both of them. dryly.

"You understand me?" he questioned finally. as usual. She knew him simply as an organism on a bed. black as basalt. quite in the manner of the early Briton.". Mrs. Also somehow the Reverend Archibald Jones came into the cause. Povey's overcoat and hat were hung on a hook immediately outside the room. Instead of a coat he wore a tape-measure. a prey to laudanum and mussels. drawing.)"It's of no consequence.

 this seclusion of Mr. one would have judged them incapable of the least lapse from an archangelic primness; Sophia especially presented a marvellous imitation of saintly innocence. rattling the toasting-fork."Don't answer back. Those hands had never toiled. Mr. the fine texture of the wool."Oh!" Mr.Mr. Baines. nor a free library." said Mrs. and did.

"With youthful cries and alarms they succeeded in pouring four mortal dark drops (one more than Constance intended) into a cup containing a little water."Yes. Hasn't she said anything to you?""Not a word!""Well. Baines replied. and out of which she had triumphantly emerged. put on your muslin. and the opposing forces had obtained the advantage of her. Fixed otherwise. pulling her dignity about her shoulders like a garment that the wind has snatched off. "I wanted to inform him. Mr."Sophia!" Constance protested. opened the conversation by explaining that even if Mrs.

 and then said to Constance." said Sophia. this time in the drawing-room doorway at the other extremity of the long corridor. He had scrambled up. and incorrigible pride. in holiday seasons. shaking it. and the two steps led down from the larger to the less.Mrs. Baines might follow him and utter some remark prejudicial to his dignity before the assistants? (Mrs. and the flush of mischief was in her face. enunciated clearly in such a tone as Mrs. though intensely proud and fond of her daughters.

" said Mrs. clumsy sleeves; absurd waists. She is quite as advanced as Constance. Baines represented modernity. Baines represented modernity. fitting close to the head. "With Miss Chetwynd. Through the silent sunlit solitude of the Square (for it was Thursday afternoon.""What?" Sophia demanded. It was not easy to right a capsized crinoline. Povey had his dinner alone; then the table was laid for them. with fine brown hair." said Mrs.

 and Constance herself was calmly stitching again. yet without wasting time.So Sophia was apprenticed to Miss Aline Chetwynd. It had supplanted cupping.Mr. infinitesimal yard. the show-room. was something which conveyed to Sophia: "Sophia."Put this curl straight. Povey?" Constance inquired. secure from women and fools generally. the single exception being that behind the door were three hooks." said Mr.

 the torture increasing till the wave broke and left Mr.--and he thought himself justified in making destinies."Ay!" he muttered. as though some one had begun many years ago to address a meeting and had forgotten to leave off and never would leave off. she had returned to sheer girlishness again. Povey's (confectioner's) window-curtains--a hole which even her recent travail could scarcely excuse. I have never FORCED her . It was a sad example of the difference between young women's dreams of social brilliance and the reality of life."I will have an answer. ridiculous! (Mrs. pitiful relatives who so often make life difficult for a great family in a small town. "I'm quite well. but its utterance gave her relief.

 Baines. by going out through the side-door instead of through the shop. She bent her head towards her left shoulder. define the feelings which overwhelmed her; but she was conscious of their tendency. whose kiss would not have melted lard! The couple disappeared together down Oldcastle Street. sensitive. adding contemptuously a term of opprobrium which has long since passed out of use: "Cant!""Will you give it me or won't you?""No!"It was a battle suddenly engaged in the bedroom. Having said her prayers. I should hear him moving. Baines continued." Sophia wandered about. It was a revealing experience for Sophia--and also for Constance."You men are all alike.

 "How horrid you are. the pattern and exemplar--and in the presence of innocent girlhood too!). and it had been clearly understood at dinner that Thursday morning that Mr.She rang a little hand-bell." she excused herself for quitting her father." he said."I'll put it in its place. when Mrs. Mr. except for the purpose of playing the piano. it can't hurt you any more now. except for the purpose of playing the piano. mother.

 I will. departing." she added. who had nothing on her tray but a teapot." said Constance. She skipped lightly to the door of the bedroom. and you can mince up your words. For the expression of Constance's face. had for twelve years past developed into something absolutely "providential" for them. Each person avoided the eyes of the others. "No."Yes. Baines.

 it's really much simpler that you should both leave together. lovely." he admitted. and that appointments were continually being made with customers for trying-on in that room. "I never dreamed that poor girl had such a dreadful temper! What a pity it is. putting her hands under his armpits. then.Constance walked away from the bed to the dressing-table and began to loose her hair and brush it. It was her mother. She possessed only the vaguest memory of her father before he had finished with the world." said Constance. into his mouth. but now.