eyes, which made her face attractive and interesting when you looked at it closely, though at first sight it was too small and pale to catch one’s attention.  She stood there quietly and very grave, her eyes fixed on Alie Vane’s lovely and sweet face, yet without the slightest shadow of forwardness or freedom in her gaze.  An expression of great surprise, mingled with a little pity, flitted across her when she heard the elder girl’s words—­’What a pity, Biddy, you don’t care for dolls!’ and it was with intense interest she listened to Bridget’s reply.

’I would care for them, Alie, if I had any one to play at them with me.  But you think you’re too big—­I think you’ve always thought yourself too big—­and Rough’s a boy.  So how could I care for dolls all alone?’

Bride’s voice had taken the peculiar little whine it always did when she was at all put out.  It was comical and yet a little irritating; but just now neither Rosalys nor Randolph was inclined to be irritated.  Alie only laughed.

‘Well, I’m not forcing you to play with dolls, nor to buy them,’ she said.  ‘Only these little tiny chairs are so funny.’

A voice behind her made her start.  Yet it was a very soft, rather timid little voice.

’You can play much nicer with little dolls alone—­a good many little dolls—­than with one or two big ones,’ it said.

Biddy turned round and stared at the small maiden.  She did not mean to be rude; she was only surprised and curious; but her rosy cheeks and round eyes looked much less sweet and gentle than Alie’s pretty face and soft long-lashed blue eyes, which had always a rather appealing expression.  Biddy opened her mouth but did not speak.  The little stranger grew very red.  Rosalys spoke to her gently.

‘Yes,’ she said, ’I should think little dolls would be much more amusing to play with alone.  You could make them act things, and you could make houses for them.  Biddy, wouldn’t you like to furnish our old doll-house fresh?’

‘I don’t know,’ said Biddy rather surlily.  ‘You’d call me a baby.’

‘Indeed I wouldn’t,’ said Alie eagerly.  ’It would be such a nice play for you.  You might buy two or three of those sweet little chairs as a beginning.’

‘They are particular nice,’ put in the shopwoman.  ’It isn’t often they’re made so small, not so cheap.  And what were you wanting this morning, my dear?’ she went on to the little newcomer.

‘If you please, I want two of them—­of the chairs,’ the child replied, holding out two pennies.  Her face was still rather red, but she glanced with admiration mingled with gratitude at Rosalys.

The shopwoman handed her the two little chairs, but she did not seem quite satisfied.

‘Would you like to choose for yourself?’ said the woman with a smile.  She seemed used to the ways and manners of small customers—­of this small customer especially, perhaps—­and she made way for her as the little girl, well pleased, came close to the counter.  Then for a minute or two the child stood absorbed, weighing the comparative merits of blue and pink cotton chair seats, and of dark and light coloured wood.  At last, with a little sigh of mingled anxiety and satisfaction, she held out two to the woman.