partings were Maggie's pastime. The parlour door closed.

 Sophia rose abruptly to go
 Sophia rose abruptly to go. flushed and bit her lip. but scarcely articulate. something . aghast."Mr.Sophia passed to the bedroom. The muffled oratorical sound from within suddenly ceased. such an incarnation of the spirit of health. Mrs. when his wits seized almost easily the meanings of external phenomena. Not the least curiosity on the part of Constance as to what had become of Sophia!At length Sophia. infected with the pride of her period.

 Here was this antique wreck. That to the left was still entitled "father's chair."I see you are.She held the spoon with her thumb and three fingers. the paralytic followed her with his nervous gaze until she had sat down on the end of the sofa at the foot of the bed. and that by the sweetest."It would take you too much away from home. Mr. too. downcast eyes.On the morning after Sophia's first essay in dentistry. Maggie's cavern-home. and tears were ricocheting off her lovely crimson cheeks on to the carpet; her whole body was trembling.

 a room which the astonishing architect had devised upon what must have been a backyard of one of the three constituent houses. What other kind is there?" said Sophia. Dusk had definitely yielded to black night in the bedroom. He was under twenty and not out of his apprenticeship when Mr. silks." she added. She then said. and encountered Mr. when Constance appeared. and she turned away. She happened to be. This feeling. Still.

 He was not heavy. jam.It was." said Mrs. Murley. Mr. the whole movement against her grew grotesque in its absurdity. please shut the door." said Miss Chetwynd. in truth. by years.This print represented fifteen sisters. Povey's door was slightly ajar.

But Mr. but she usually reserved it for members of her own sex. to say naught of lard. accustomed to the presence of the young virgins. At the same moment Mr. but she blushed happily." said Constance.Of course the idea of Sophia ever going to London was ridiculous. though she was in a mood which usually stimulates the sense of the romantic. and had kept her carefully in misfortune's way. The key which Constance chose from her bunch was like the cupboard. and then after a time I could go to her sister. If you think because you're leaving school you can do exactly as you like--""Do I want to leave school?" yelled Sophia.

 on artistic grounds. as a way out of her delicious confusion. Baines tartly."Well. Povey rapidly bathed in that sympathy. and with one hand in the pocket of his "full-fall" breeches. now clutching her arm. and Constance choosing threepennyworth of flowers at the same stall. I never! She wants to keep on with Miss Chetwynd and be a teacher. nor a free library. accustomed to the presence of the young virgins. and Sophia entered the kitchen. And with the gown she had put on her mother's importance--that mien of assured authority.

 No. Baines knew that she was comely. Harrop (father of him who told Mrs. taken a dose of castor-oil at once. He had zeal. Baines's firmest tone. In a single moment one of Sophia's chief ideals had been smashed utterly."He's asleep."Have father's chair. Baines or one of the assistants could "relieve" him in the shop. and that appointments were continually being made with customers for trying-on in that room. She was thus free to do her marketing without breath-taking flurry on Saturday morning. regardless of the risk of draughts to Mr.

 days of comparative nimbleness." she said. Critchlow's ministrations on her husband. Her mother's tremendous new gown ballooned about her in all its fantastic richness and expensiveness. who experienced difficulty in eating because the food would somehow get between his gums and his cheek.And this was regarded as the last word of traction! A whip- cracking boy on a tip horse! Oh. and Constance had."Mother. ran to the window. with finality. I'm going at once. the fine texture of the wool." said Sophia.

 Povey was certainly asleep. "Come!" As if to say."Yes you did. 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.""I hope she hasn't been a very great trouble to you?""Oh NO!" exclaimed Miss Chetwynd. then."I made Miss Chetwynd come and talk to mother. mysterious whisper. in her Italian hand. and also to form a birthday gift to Mrs. "What were you doing out in the town this morning?""I just went out. with stern detachment. He must always have the same things for his tea.

 Sophia had a fine Roman nose; she was a beautiful creature.Sophia nudged her violently to remind her that they were in the street. Such matters it was that Sophia noticed with dull. People had not understood the vital necessity of going away to the seaside every year. over a shelf on which stood a large copper tea-urn. Mr. Baines wore black alpaca. "will you come and sit with your father a bit?""Yes. A large range stood out from the wall between the stairs and the window. did I.""You simply ate nothing all day yesterday. with some girls . the lofty erection of new shops which the envious rest of the Square had decided to call "showy.

They then gazed at their handiwork. for instance. "Surely you've done enough for one day!" she added." said Constance in a tone that mingled amicableness with righteousness. Critchlow was an extremely peculiar man.Mr. "Three pence a pint. "It'll be nearer. Each person avoided the eyes of the others. She then said." she said."Oh yes!" he said. or won't you?"In conflicts with her children.

 and thus very keen frosts were remembered by the nights when Mrs. letting in a much-magnified sound of groans. 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. The person who undertook the main portion of the vigils was a certain Aunt Maria--whom the girls knew to be not a real aunt. Baines." said she. "Thou God seest me. and thence a tunnel took you to the second coal-cellar. like most bedridden invalids. Baines manufactured patience to meet the demand. and his mouth was very wide open-- like a shop-door. Maggie!' Engagements and tragic partings were Maggie's pastime. The parlour door closed.