by her birthday. It'll come in a month, you know, mother, and the
doll-house is almost quite ready. Mrs. Vane has begun working at it
again the last few days, and Rosalys and I and Miss Neale have all been
helping. It _will_ be so lovely, mother,' and Celestina's face lighted
up with pleasure quite as great as if it was all for herself.

Truly, selfish people have _no_ idea what happiness they miss!




CHAPTER XII

ANOTHER BIRTHDAY

'Rare as is true love, true friendship is still rarer.'
LA ROCHEFOUCAULD.


Bridget's birthday came in May--the middle of May. From the time I have
told you about in the last chapter Mr. Vane went on getting slowly
better; at least he got no worse. But it did seem very slow. At last
there came a day on which the doctor gave him leave to go downstairs.

'I want to see what he can do,' the doctor explained. 'At this rate we
might go on for months and gain little ground. Perhaps he is stronger
than he seems.'

They were all very eager and excited about this great step. It was an
'afternoon' day, as the little girls called those days on which