door in the corner behind the counter--opened, just a
little, enough to admit Mrs. Fairchild, who came in quietly. She had
heard voices in the shop, and thought she was probably needed there,
though at this time of the morning, especially when Celestina was out,
she had to be sometimes in the kitchen.

'Celestina,' she exclaimed, surprised and not quite sure if she should
be pleased, 'what are you doing? You should have come in at once. I have
been expecting you.'

Then her eyes fell on the three--or four--three and a half, one might
say, to be very correct--strangers in the shop, for Jane was still
wavering on the doorstep, one foot on the pavement outside and one
inside.

'Won't you come in?' said Mrs. Fairchild to her civilly; 'it is a cold
morning--and then I could shut the door.'

Jane moved inwards, though without speaking, and Rough darted forward
and shut the door carefully.

'Thank you, sir,' said Mrs. Fairchild, with a little smile that lighted
up her whole face. She gave a half unconscious glance at her
delicate-looking husband, which explained her anxiety. Bridget drew near
her and looked up in her face. Somehow since Mrs. Fairchild had come in
every one seemed more friendly and at ease.

'Are you Ce--Cel--the little-girl-in-the-bazaar's mamma?' asked Biddy.

Mrs. Fairchild smiled again.

'Yes,' she said, touching Celestina on the shoulder, 'I am _her_ mother.
Did you see her at the bazaar?'

'She was buying chairs, and that made me buy one too,' replied Biddy
rather vaguely.

'The young ladies met me after that in the street and asked me the way
here. I showed them. That was why I was in the shop,' explained
Celestina, on whose brow a little wrinkle of uneasiness had remained
till she could tell her mother the reason of her moment's lingering.

'I see,' said Mrs. Fairchild, who would indeed have found it difficult
to believe that Celestina had been careless or disobedient; and at the
words Celestina's face recovered its usual quiet, thoughtful, but
peaceful expression.

Bridget pressed up a little closer to Mrs. Fairchild.

'You're not vexed with her then,' she said. 'She was quite good.
I thought at first you were going to be rather a cross mamma.'

'_Bridget_,' said Rosalys, colouring, and in an awful tone. When Alie
said 'Bridget' like that it meant a great deal.

'I didn't mean,' began Biddy as usual.

Celestina's mother turned to Rosalys.

'Please do not be vexed with her, miss,'