Biddy did not seem at that moment very keenly to appreciate this privilege.

‘I’d rather have a littler sister,’ she said; but as she caught sight of Celestina’s astonished face, ’I don’t mean for Alie to be away—­Alie’s very kind—­but I’d like a littler one too.  It’s very dull playing alone.  And oh, please,’ as the word ‘playing’ recalled the bazaar and their purchases, ‘mayn’t I see her dolls’ house?’ and she pointed to Celestina.

Rosalys sighed.  Bridget was incorrigible.

‘It isn’t a house,’ said Celestina, ’it’s only a room.  May I get it, mother?  I do so want to see if the new chairs will do,’ she went on, for the first time disengaging the toys from her handkerchief.  ’The others are so big that when the dolls sit on them their legs go all over the top of the table instead of underneath.’

‘I know,’ said Alie, ’that’s how mine used to do when I was a little girl and played with our doll-house.  But mamma got some for me from Germany all the proper size, on purpose.  The doll-house was really very pretty then.’

Celestina looked up with eager eyes.

‘Oh, I would like to see it,’ she said.  ‘It must be beautiful.’

‘No’ said Rosalys, ’it isn’t now.  Some of the furniture’s broken, and nearly all the chair-seats need new covers.  But it might be made very nice with a little trouble, only you see Bridget has never cared to play with it.’

Biddy had drawn near and was standing listening.

‘I daresay I would care if I had anybody to play with me,’ she said.  ’You know you’re too big, Alie.  I wish Celestina could come and play with me.  Won’t you let her, if mamma says she may?’ she went on, turning to Mrs. Fairchild.

Celestina’s eyes sparkled, but her mother looked rather grave.

‘My dear young lady,’ she said to Biddy, ’you are rather too young to plan things of that kind till you have talked about them to your mamma.  Besides Celestina almost never goes anywhere.’

‘I went to tea at Miss Bankes’s once,’ said Celestina.  ’That’s where I used to go to school, but I didn’t like it much—­they played such noisy games and they were all so smart.  And once I went to Nelly Tasker’s, and that was nice, but they’ve left Seacove a long time ago.’

Mrs. Fairchild looked at Celestina in some surprise.  It was seldom the little girl was so communicative, especially to strangers.  But then, as she said to her husband afterwards—­

’Miss Vane is a very sweet girl, and the little one chatters as if she’d known you for years.  They certainly have a very friendly way with them:  I couldn’t exactly wonder at Celestina.’

‘I’ll ask mamma.  You’ll see if I don’t,’ said Biddy, nodding her head with determination.  ’And please, Celestina, do let me see your doll-room, if that’s what you call it?’

‘May I fetch it, mother?’ asked the child.  But at that moment Randolph put his head in at the door.