Biddy stared at Celestina.  The little girl’s face was quite flushed with excitement.

‘Go on,’ said Biddy.  ‘Tell me some more.  I never heard about it.’

‘It’s what they call the arctic regions,’ said Celestina.  ’The old sailor at the lighthouse has been there.  Once he was there in a ship that got fastened into the ice, and they thought they’d never get out again, and they’d scarcely nothing to eat.  Oh, it was dreadful; but I did so like to hear about it.  And fancy, in the summer it never gets night up there—­the sun never goes away; and in the winter it never gets day, the sun doesn’t come up at all.’

‘How very funny!’ said Biddy.  ’What makes it like that?  Is it the same sun as ours?’

‘Oh yes, but I can’t quite explain,’ said Celestina, looking rather puzzled.  ’Father showed it me with the candle and a little round globe we’ve got, but I’m afraid I couldn’t tell you.’

‘Could the old man tell it?’ asked Biddy.  ’I would so like to go to see him.  Don’t you think we might some day?’

‘Perhaps,’ said Celestina.  ’When the summer comes perhaps your papa would take you in a boat.  Lots of ladies go out to the lighthouse in the summer.  It’s too cold in a boat in winter.’

‘But I don’t mean in a boat,’ said Bridget; ’I mean walking.  I’m quite sure we could jump over the little bit of water if we gave a great big jump.  I once jumped over a whole brook at grandmamma’s—­I did really.’

‘It’s much bigger than that—­it is indeed.  You don’t understand,’ said Celestina.  ’If you’d ask your papa he’d tell you, I daresay.  But I think we must be going home now.  I’m sure it’s time.’

‘I’m sure it isn’t,’ said Biddy crossly.  ’We haven’t talked about the dolls at all yet, and I want you to tell me more about that funny place where the snow is.’

’I’ll try to think of more to tell you if your mamma will let you go out with me another time, and I’d like dearly to show you my dolls’ room if you could come to our house one day,’ said Celestina.  ’But we must go home now, Miss Biddy.’

Bridget flounced about, looking very much put out.

‘I’m not going yet.  I don’t want to go in,’ she said.

Celestina began to look troubled.  Then her face cleared.

‘I must go home,’ she said, ’whether you do or not.  I wouldn’t for anything have mother worrying about me.  You wouldn’t like your mamma to be worrying about you, would you, Miss Biddy?’

’I daresay she wouldn’t care; I’d only get a scolding, and I don’t mind much,’ said Biddy, who had got on to a very high horse by this time.

Celestina stopped short and looked at her.  She could not understand Biddy at all.

’Mother never scolds me, but I’m very unhappy when she’s not pleased with me,’ she said gently; ’and I’m sure your mamma’s very kind and good.  I’m sure she does care about you a great deal.’