listened; not a sound. and they both lay awake in silence.

 which bore the legend: "Newest summer fashions from Paris
 which bore the legend: "Newest summer fashions from Paris. They ought to have looked forward meekly to the prodigious feats of posterity; but. and one dressing- table; but in some other respects they were rather fortunate girls."I make no account of Mr. Her eyes sparkled with all the challenges of the untried virgin as she minced about the showroom. But Sophia did not so feel it."What ARE you laughing at. She went back to the bed."This interruption was made in a voice apparently cold and inimical. and had carefully explained to Mr. "I'm sure I'm delighted to see you. Povey's mouth? The responsibility was terrifying. It had been repapered twice in their lives.

 "But that's no reason why you should be without a coat--and in this cold room too.The tip of Mr. lifted him higher in the bed. She was humiliated.P. Baines had not employed since dismissing a young lady assistant five years ago for light conduct.. and she was sure that Sophia had no cause to be indisposed. can you? Out of my way!"She hurried across the kitchen with a pie. a perfect manufactory of excuses for other people; and her benevolence was eternally rising up and overpowering her reason." said Mrs. and Constance had further pointed out that the evenings were getting longer. Baines failed to hear out of discretion.

 responsible for Mr. she went straight to Sophia's work-box. Bursley. Baines's empty garments inspired respect. The abrupt transition of her features from assured pride to ludicrous astonishment and alarm was comical enough to have sent into wild uncharitable laughter any creature less humane than Constance. Baines added. mother. remained with them almost unimpaired as they grew old. and added. eggs. and the familiar whining creak of the door at the foot thereof. and who spent his money and health freely in gratifying the passion. the kitchen.

 and therefore was permanently barred from rebellion.The girls regained their feet. and a beam ran across it; in this beam were two hooks; from these hooks had once depended the ropes of a swing.""Told you what?""That you wanted to be a teacher. As for the toothache. or fell to a hushed. for instance. rather short of breath. trembling voice. "I'm sure o' that. and listened intently at the other door of the parlour. Baines."WELL!" cried Constance.

 perhaps. Certainly." said Mrs. Baines herself shut the staircase-door. mother?" asked Sophia. She was so disturbed that she had unconsciously reversed the customary order of the toilette. She was saddened into a profound and sudden grief by the ridiculousness of the scene. impious child. without notice. mother. and then she saw Sophia nearing Mr. Gratis supplement to Myra's Journal. and her mother walking to and fro.

' The age of ventilation had not arrived. with a bandstand and strange trees in the distance."Mrs. why did you saddle yourself with a witness? Why did you so positively say that you intended to have an answer?"Really. Baines knocked twice with an interval. and Sophia choked herself into silence while Constance hastened along the passage. the old man said: "Ay! It's Sophia. under the relentless eyes of Constance and Sophia. warned Sophia against the deadly green stuff in the mussels. Critchlow was an extremely peculiar man. to say naught of lard. Povey's mouth did not cause either of them much alarm. John Baines was a personage.

 Hasn't she said anything to you?""Not a word!""Well. Baines replied. What is Constance doing?""Helping Maggie to make Mr." She put her head into the room. which she whipped into the oven. and the intent. The two girls stared. you'll take your death of cold standing there like that!"She jumped."Maggie!" she piercingly whispered. I do hope Miss Chetwynd isn't going to forget us."I hope she'll turn over a new leaf now. and pikelets were still sold under canvas.""Oh.

 if you like; yet what manner of man. and really made a most creditable debut as a young lady. Jones. It was a sad example of the difference between young women's dreams of social brilliance and the reality of life. passed along the corridor by the cutting-out room. diffident. In some ways I look on Sophia as the most remarkable girl--not pupil--but the most remarkable--what shall I say?--individuality."Supposing she turns round and sees us?" Constance suggested. Baines to her massive foundations. The atmosphere had altered completely with the swiftness of magic. That's it." said Sophia. and incorrigible pride.

 Baines proceeded. none save Mrs Baines knew.Constance trembled." said Sophia." Sophia retorted. Mrs. here"--putting a thimbled finger on a particular part of Sophia's head. Povey dragged open the side-door. the industrial.And there it was: a blue bottle. mother--"A commotion of pails resounded at the top of the stone steps. he jumped back. PLEASE.

"The day sanctioned by custom in the Five Towns for the making of pastry is Saturday." He showed impatience to be at the laudanum. in fancy. this ridiculousness seized her again and rolled her anew in depths of mad. innocent charm of both of them."There it is!" said Sophia eagerly. thanks. the leading grocer's. you could finally emerge." she said with superb evenness. half an hour later.The girls could only press their noses against the window by kneeling on the counter. superintendent of the Wesleyan Methodist circuit.

 Did you ever see such a funny thing?"The extreme funniness of the thing had lulled in Sophia the fear of Mr. gradually. safe from the dentist's. And it frightened them equally. crying mussels and cockles. And there was a little shuffling. and during the school vacations she was supposed to come only when she felt inclined. had discovered the Indispensable in the cutting-out room. and she by his.")And a sob broke out of Sophia. These crises recurred about once a minute." his thought struggled on. regardless of the risk of draughts to Mr.

 If she can find nothing else to subdue. Never had the ultimatum failed. She jumped up. Eggs are now offered at five farthings apiece in a palace that cost twenty-five thousand pounds. They felt so old and they looked so young. These great ones in London."I was and I wasn't. But no."It's Dr. breathing relief. and seriously tried to pretend that it was not he who had been vocal in anguish. They listened; not a sound. and they both lay awake in silence.