The Old Wives' Tale

d Mrs. Baines, who, on her way into the shop, had d

ailoring department. It is true that the tailoring department flourished with orders, employing several tailors who crossed legs in their own homes, and that ap

that suit for the mini

geing into green, and had commanded that a new suit should be built and presented to Mr. Murley. Mr. Murley, who had a genuine mediaeval passion for souls, and who spent his mone

hat's no reason why you should be without a coat

Povey always doffed hi

coat he wore

sheepishly, dropping the great scis

ks!" said M

ex. Mr. Povey could not recall that she had ever applied it to any statement of his. "What's the matter with the woman?" he thought. Th

ry thought of the dentist's cures you. Why don't you go

is shop sign said "Bone-setter and c

of Mr. Critchlow as

ess' sake go up

well go now, and to-

n't you

e, I COULD go n

back with that tooth in your head. I shall be

!" he prote

stance came down t

y pet!" Mrs.

ead into the room. "Oh!" Mr.

s going to t

at once," Mr.

, uncomplicated by critical sentiments. Mr. Povey rapidly bathed in that s

done with," said he, with stern detach

d hat were hung on a hook immediately outside the room, in the

ld grimness; and aloud: "I can't stay in the shop long, Constance, but you can be there,

ly consented. She hesitated an

ped her. And her tone was peculiar, charged with import,

the side-door," said Mr.

could have guessed that he was ashamed to be seen going to the dentist's, afraid lest, if he went through the shop, Mrs. Baines m

as Mr. Povey dragged open the side-door. The ends of the fo

scowled at his

said Constance, offering t

suppose they'll be long over my bit of a job,

ay briskness and dignified joy in the fine May morning.

ried a voice f

eals. He had put his hand to the

Pov

el

from Boulton Terrace, the lofty erection of new shops which the envious rest of the Squ

I shouldn't be surprised if that baby's com

in the Baines family, but this was absolutely the first time that Mrs. Baines had acknowledged, in presence of Constance, the marked and growing change which had characterized Mrs. Pov

orning,

(he was the last doctor in Bursley to abandon the saddle for

ing, missy! We

Mrs. Baines, indicat

him," said he, jerking his shoulder in

stance?" said Mrs. Baines

foot of the two steps, and with one hand in the pocket of his "full-fall" breeches,

up most of th' night.

l RIGHT,

to some trouble, for all that. Nothing fresh?" This t

aines, with a dif

s che

es

ry good mor

his house, which was

as she closed the door. Constance knew that her mother was referring to th

about, mother?" she asked, as a

led to the passage; and while Constance obeyed, Mrs. Baines hersel

ut Sophia wanting to

eacher?" Constance repeat

she said anyt

a w

lf a mind to add that Sophia had mentioned London. But she restrained herself. There are some

ured brokenly, in the excess of her astonishmen

d I!" said

you let h

replied, with calm and yet terrible decision. "I only mentioned

mot

hias. She was very proud of her mother's confidence in her; this simple pride filled her ardent breast with a most agreeable commotion. And she wanted to he