Bridget pressed up a little closer to Mrs. Fairchild.

'You're not vexed with her then,' she said. 'She was quite good.
I thought at first you were going to be rather a cross mamma.'

'_Bridget_,' said Rosalys, colouring, and in an awful tone. When Alie
said 'Bridget' like that it meant a great deal.

'I didn't mean,' began Biddy as usual.

Celestina's mother turned to Rosalys.

'Please do not be vexed with her, miss,' she said, with again that
winning smile. And the smile that stole over Alie's face in response
made Mrs. Fairchild's gaze linger on the lovely child. 'No, my dear,'
she went on, speaking now to Biddy, 'it was quite right of Celestina to
show you the way; and I am glad you happened to meet her.'

During this time, which was really only a minute or so, for it takes
much longer to relate a little scene of this kind than for it actually
to pass, Mr. Fairchild had been busy with the contents of the envelope
Randolph had given him. It contained, besides a note, a list of some
books which Mr. Vane wished to have sent as soon as possible. After
knitting his brows over this for some moments, the bookseller came
forward.

'I find that Mr. Vane would like this order executed at once,' he said,
addressing Randolph.