But here Rosalys, who seemed to be turning all of a sudden into a regular chatterbox, was interrupted by more huggings and squeezings, as Rough rather objected to much of this sort of thing, and Biddy had still a great deal to spare even after she had bestowed a full share upon Celestina.  She quieted down, however, when Miss Millet suggested that unless they set to work to go all over the house and admire all its numberless treasures, it would be getting too late for the nice walk they wanted to have before dinner.  But in the midst of the showing everything Celestina made them all laugh by calmly taking a little parcel from her pocket, from which she drew out three or four little dolls, announcing that they were Eleanor and Amy and one or two new ones, all in grand clothes for the occasion, who had come to spend the day with the Rectory doll party.

‘You did invite them, Alie, you remember, don’t you?’ she said, looking a little bit aggrieved.  ’They would never have come without being invited.’

‘Oh yes, I know I did,’ Rosalys replied.  ’It was only the funny way you pulled them out of your pocket.’

’And some day, Biddy, mother says, perhaps you’ll bring yours to drink tea with mine,’ said Celestina, quite pleased again.  ’We might pretend that mine were some cousins they had in the country who were not very rich, you know,’ she went on simply.  ’And I’d make their parlour as smart as I could.  I’d try to dress it up with flowers and green, so that it would be like an arbour.’

‘Yes,’ said Biddy, ’that would be nice.  And we might have tea as well as the dolls, mightn’t we, Celestina?  You know once you told me about some little cups you have that we might have tea out of.’

‘Oh yes,’ Celestina replied hospitably, ’of course we’d have real tea too.  Mother would make some cakes and——­’

‘My dears,’ said Miss Millet, ’I think we must be going out.  You will have all the rest of the day to play with the doll-house, but it is such a lovely morning, and I think it’s always so nice to have a good walk on a holiday.’

The little girls were quite of their governess’s opinion, only sorry that Randolph could not make one of the party.  He came home, however, in good time in the afternoon, and they all had a very merry tea together.

‘What a nice birthday it’s been!’ said Bride, as she and Alie kissed Celestina, whose mother managed to spare an hour to come to fetch her and at the same time to wish Biddy ‘many happy returns.’  ’How good of you to dress the dolls for me, Mrs. Fairchild!’ she went on.  ’I think I shall love the doll-house more and more every day, for, you see, it’s full of kind things you’ve all done for me.  And I’m going to keep it so neat.  Mamma will be quite surprised when she comes home to find how neat I’ve learnt to be.’

‘And only think, Mrs. Fairchild,’ added Rosalys; ’do you know that papa and mamma will most likely be home in one month?  Just fancy, how nice!’