xplained about meeting Mr.
Redding, it was not long before his father and mother understood the
real facts clearly.

'We couldn't have refused to go into the parlour when Mrs. Fairchild
asked us like that--could we, mamma?' Rosalys wound up.

'And she asked us to step in so nicely. And there were no chairs in the
shop, 'cept only one. And I did so want to see a parlour,' added Biddy,
reviving under Alie's support.

'No, you did quite right,' said Mrs. Vane to the elder ones. 'But Biddy
must not begin making friends with every child she comes across and
inviting them to come here. You are not a baby now; you should have more
sense.'

The tears collected in Bridget's eyes; they were very obedient to her
summons, it must be allowed. Rosalys felt sorry for her.

'Mamma,' she said, 'of course Biddy shouldn't invite anybody without
your leave first, but still this little Celestina isn't _at all_ a
common child. She's so neat and quiet, and she speaks so nicely. And her
mother is _nearly_ as pretty as you, not quite of course.'

'She's awfully jolly,' put in Rough.

Mrs. Vane smiled.

'What an uncommon name,' she said. '"Celestine," did you say? It is
French.'

'No, mamma, not "Celestine,"' said Alie, '"Celestina." I suppose it's
the English of the other.'

'I never heard it in English before,' said Mrs. Vane, 'though I once had
a dear old friend in France called "Celestine"--you remember Madame
d'Ermont, Bernard? I've not heard from her for ever so long.'

'Celestina was going to tell us about her name, but something
interrupted her and then she forgot,' said Alie. 'Perhaps they've got
some French relations, mamma.'

'It isn't likely,' her mother replied. 'But some day when I am in the
village, or town--should we call it "town," Bernard?'

'It is a seaport, so it must be a town, I suppose,' said Mr. Vane.

'I should like to see the little girl and her mother,' Mrs. Vane
continued.

'And oh, mamma,' cried Biddy, jumping up and down in her chair as her
spirits rose again, 'when you do, _mayn't_ I go with you, and then
Celestina would show me her dolls' room?'

'We shall see, my dear,' her mother replied.

Biddy was not at all fond of the reply, 'We shall see.' 'It's only a
perlite way of saying "no,"' she once said, but she dared not tease her
mother any more.

'Nobody cares about what I like,' she said to herself disconsolately.

Perhaps she would not have thought so if she had heard what her mother
a