‘Yes,’ she said, ’I miss M’Creagh, but my real trouble just now, Bernard, is Biddy.  I am afraid I don’t take the right way with her, somehow.  She is so tiresomely heedless and provoking, and sometimes I really wonder if she has any heart.’

Mr. Vane looked up in surprise, in which there was a little touch of indignation, at this.  Fresh from Bridget’s loving hugs and the sight of the tears in her eyes, he could hardly be expected to agree with this opinion of her.

‘My dear,’ he said, ’I think you are not fair upon her.  I really can’t help saying so.  The poor child is heedless and provoking to a degree, but she is very affectionate.’

Mrs. Vane did not seem annoyed; she was, on the contrary, rather glad of what Mr. Vane said.

’Yes, she seems so sometimes, and I hope it is only her childishness—­but it is so impossible to make any lasting impression on her.  And I don’t see how things are to improve with her.  Rosalys was a perfect little woman at her age.  Bridget thinks of nothing—­I have seen it so much since we came here and during the bustle of the removal from London.  She lives like a complete baby—­perhaps it is partly that Alie is so unusually thoughtful and helpful, a real right-hand to me, and Rough too for a boy is very sensible.  So Biddy goes her own way, nothing is expected of her, and she certainly fulfils the expectation,’ she wound up with a half smile.

Mr. Vane sat silent.

‘She might be better with some companionship of her own age,’ he said in a few minutes.  ’The give-and-take of even childish companionship is a kind of training and discipline.  As it is, she is almost like an only child.  Now, if Alie were away for a while, Bridget would have to try to take her place.’

‘I could not do without Alie, not just now certainly,’ said Mrs. Vane decidedly.  ‘We must just hope that somehow time will improve Bridget.’

‘And don’t be too hard on her,’ said her father.  ’I feel sure she means well.’

‘When she means anything,’ replied Mrs. Vane; ’but she seldom thinks enough for that.’

‘I don’t know about that,’ said Mr. Vane doubtfully, ‘still——­’

But then something in the arrangement of the book-shelves caught his eye, and no more was said of Biddy for the time.

Papa did not forget.  Bridget got her fourpence the next day, a penny from mamma and threepence from papa.  And all troubles were thrown to the winds, torn frocks and everything disagreeable forgotten, when she set off with Rosalys and Randolph, under their maid’s charge, for a visit to Seacove, the wonderful bazaar being the real object of the walk.

Only a very slight misgiving came over her as papa stooped to kiss her in the doorway; they met him on their way out.

‘Be a sensible little woman to-day, my Biddy,’ he said, ’and don’t get into any scrapes to worry your mamma.’