CHAPTER VI

THE WINDOW IN THE WALL

'Will you step into my parlour?'
_The Spider and the Fly._


Celestina hesitated. She was anxious to be friendly to Bridget, and she
had a strong instinct of hospitality, but the little girl rather took
away her breath. Just at that moment, luckily, the door between the shop
and the parlour--a 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