The Old Wives' Tale

ing lost two teeth in two days, was being fed on 'slops'-bread and milk, to wit; he sat near the fire. The others had cold pork, half a cold apple-pie, and cheese; but Sophia only pret

nglets dominated the

-day," observed Mrs. Baines, critica

appeared from the cave. She wore a p

ll you have

u can spare

customary answer

mistress, as usual. "Sophia, if you aren'

peared with

he was a brave and determined woman; from start to finish she behaved as though nothing whatever in the household except her pastry and Mr. Povey had

s tactics as the girls undressed in their room. She thought s

quite finished, and s

said she,

ice, and then began to sob at intervals. She did not mean this threat, but its utterance gave her relief. Co

sobs from Sophia shook the bed, a

her have been talking

to Constance's surpr

ce soothingly. "Mo

you

anted to be

, too!" said S

thought Constance; but sh

And then, such is the astonishing ta

apiece in a palace that cost twenty-five thousand pounds. Yet you will find people in Bursley ready to assert that things generally are not what they were, and that in particular the romance of life has gone. But until it has gone it is never romance. To Sophia, though she was in a mood which usually stimulates the sense of the romantic, there was nothing of romance in this picturesque tented field. It was just the market. Holl's, the leading grocer's, was already open, at the extre

our death of cold stan

ight by the side of the paralytic, was already up and neatly dressed. She c

, do! There's a dea

g. Constance awoke. Mrs. Baines went to the dressi

mother?" Constanc

eer. "Now, Sophia!" and she advanced with the egg

" asked Sophia, who

ear," said Mrs. B

at the period when Mrs. Baines represented modernity, castor-oil was still the remedy of remedies. It had supplanted cupping. And, if part of its vogue was due to its extreme unpleasantness, it had at least proved its qualities in many a contest with disease. Less than two years previously old Dr. Harrop (father

r," said Sophia, in deje

nes. And she added, "Come!" As if to say, "There's always

" said Sophia, irr

eemed very thin and fragile in comparison with the sol

s together, meaning: "T

o be angry in

said s

ear her foot tapp

fought. "I suppose I ought to know wheth

take this medici

phrase was cast. The girls knew, when things had arrived at the pitch of 'or won't you' spo

was a

to mind your manners

a, sullenly and flatly; and s

s thought the last day had come. But still she held her

b evenness, masking anger by compassionate grief. "You're a b

e admission, Mrs

nce tr

sy and populous, and Sophia was only visible behind a foreground of restless, chattering figures. But she was unmistakably seen. She had been beyond the Square and was returning. Constance could scarcely believe her eyes. Mrs. Baines's heart jumped. For let it be said that the girls never under any circumstances went

portions of what they had bought during an hour of buying. They went into the house by the King Street door; and the first thing they heard was the sound of the piano upstairs. Nothing happened. Mr. Povey had his dinner alone; then the

phi

, mo

ho had meant to flee. Constance was therefore destined to be present at th

shut the door. There is no reason why everybody in the house should hear. Come right in

r left shoulder, at first smiling vaguely. She said nothing, but every limb, every glance, every curve, was speaking. Mrs. Baines sat firmly in her o

Mrs. Baines. "What were you doi

at length, still with eyes downca

t. I heard Constance ask you if you were coming with us to

it rudely," So

I'll thank you n

stance?" Sophia's head turned sharply to he

ted sternly. "And don't try to drag Co

ed Sophia, with an irony whose unparalleled impud

to have to sma

ovocation of Sophia's sauciness. Then Sophia's lower lip began to fall a

with restraint. ("I've got her," said Mrs. Baines

ttle child. She bore no trace of the young maiden sedatel

to cry," said Mrs. Ba

," said Mrs.

nes manufactured patie

swer back, and then yo

lubbered

f you talk like that?" (But Mrs. Baines failed to h

was weeping now, and tears were ricocheting off her lovely

ines enjoined, with a touch of r

me a great baby!" And sobs ran through her frame like waves one after another. She spo

o make you cry. It is your guilty conscience makes you cry. I h

ophia checked the sobs

ve you t

t went

me? If you had told me afterwards, when I came in, of your own accord, it might have been d

girl," Mrs. Baines said in her own

now," Soph

u mean-you

't know. I just went out." Her voice rose; it was no

ke this. If you think because you're leavi

emons of the storm. Her face was transfigured by uncontrollable passion. "You all want to make me miserable!" she shrieked with terrible violence. "And now I ca

she might have been heard in the shop, and even in the kitchen. It was a startling experience for Mrs. Baines. Mrs. B

that the wind has snatched off. "I never dreamed that poor girl had such a dre

from the room. She got halfway upstairs to the second floor, and then, hearing the loud

in herself. She had thought she knew everything in her house and could do everything there. And lo! she had suddenly stumbled against an unsuspected personal