'And she asked us to step in so nicely. And there were no chairs in the shop, 'cept only one. And I did so want to see a parlour,' added Biddy, reviving under Alie's support. 'No, you did quite right,' said Mrs. Vane to the elder ones. 'But Biddy must not begin making friends with every child she comes across and inviting them to come here. You are not a baby now; you should have more sense.' The tears collected in Bridget's eyes; they were very obedient to her summons, it must be allowed. Rosalys felt sorry for her. 'Mamma,' she said, 'of course Biddy shouldn't invite anybody without your leave first, but still this little Celestina isn't _at all_ a common child. She's so neat and quiet, and she speaks so nicely. And her mother is _nearly_ as pretty as you, not quite of course.' 'She's awfully jolly,' put in Rough. Mrs. Vane smiled. 'What an uncommon name,' she said. '"Celestine," did you say? It is French.' 'No, mamma, not "Celestine,"' said Alie, '"Celestina." I suppose it's the English of the other.' 'I never heard it in English before,' said Mrs. Vane, 'though I once had a dear old friend in France called "Celestine"--you remember Madame d'Ermont, Bernard? I've not heard from her for ever so long.' 'Celestina was going to tell us about her name, but something interrupted her and then she forgot,' said Alie. 'Perhaps they've got some French relations, mamma.' 'It isn't likely,' her mother replied. 'But some day when I am in the village, or town--should we call it "town," Bernard?' 'It is a seaport, so it must be a town, I suppose,' said Mr. Vane. 'I should like to see the little girl and her mother,' Mrs. Vane continued. 'And oh, mamma,' cried Biddy, jumping up and down in her chair as her spirits rose again, 'when you do, _mayn't_ I go with you, and then Celestina would show me her dolls' room?' 'We shall see, my dear,' her mother replied. Biddy was not at all fond of the reply, 'We shall see.' 'It's only a perlite way of saying "no,"' she once said, but she dared not tease her mother any more. 'Nobody cares about what I like,' she said to herself disconsolately. Perhaps she would not have thought so if she had heard what her mother and Rosalys were talking about later that afternoon. CHAPTER VII ON THE SEASHORE 'The sands of the sea stretch far and fine, The rocks start out of them sharp and slim.' _A Legend of the Sea._ 'Oh dear,' exclaimed Mrs. Vane one morning at breakfast two or three days after the children's walk in to Seacove. Everybody looked up--the two girls and Rough were at table with their father and mother. Mrs. Vane had just opened and begun to read a letter. What could be the matter?