Mrs. Vane listened with the greatest interest.

‘"Madame d’Ermont,” did you say?’ she asked eagerly, and on Mrs. Fairchild’s answering ‘Yes’—­’It must be the same,’ she went on; ’our Madame d’Ermont’s name was Celestine too.  She was, or is, for I hope she is still living, a great friend of ours too, Mrs. Fairchild.  We spent two winters in the south of France near her home, and we saw a great deal of her.  It is a pity for you not to have kept up writing to her; she is very kind and very rich and childless—­she might be a good friend to her little name-daughter.’

Mrs. Fairchild’s face flushed again:  I rather think Biddy had inherited something of her habit of hasty speech from her mother, kind-hearted and good as Mrs. Vane was.

’It would not be from any motive of that kind I should like to hear from Madame d’Ermont again,’ said Celestina’s mother.  ’It is true our child has no one to look to but ourselves, and neither her father nor I can boast of very strong health—­but still——­’

‘Oh, I beg your pardon,’ interrupted Mrs. Vane impulsively; ’I quite understand your feeling, and I did not mean to say anything you could dislike.  But still I will look out Madame d’Ermont’s address, or get it from my mother, and when I write to her I may tell her of you, may I not?’

‘I should be very grateful if you would do so,’ Mrs. Fairchild replied.

Then they went on to speak of the details of the arrangement they had been making, and soon after Mrs. Vane left.

That afternoon she called Bridget to her.

‘Bride,’ she said, ‘I have something to say to you.’

‘Yes, mamma,’ Biddy replied, but without giving much attention.  It was probably, she thought, only to reprove her for her way of sitting at table, or for having been cross to Jane, or for one of the hundred and one little misdemeanours she was always being guilty of.  And Biddy was in a queerish mood just now:  there was a good deal of battling and pulling two ways going on in her baby heart.  Was the lazy little soul beginning to grow, I wonder?

‘Yes, mamma,’ she said indifferently, with her peevish ‘I didn’t mean,’ quite ready to trot out on the smallest provocation.

‘You must give your attention, my dear,’ said Mrs. Vane; ’it is something rather particular I want to tell you about.’

‘I am giving my attention,’ said Biddy, though it did not look very like it.

‘Well, then,’ her mother went on, determined not to notice Bride’s evident wish to pick a quarrel, ’listen.  You know that Miss Millet cannot come back to us for a good long while.  Alie’s lessons do not matter so much as yours, for she is very well on for her age and a little rest will do her no harm; besides, she will have some lessons with papa and some with me.  But we have not time for you too.’

‘And you couldn’t manage me if you had,’ said Biddy gloomily.