'Up where the world grows cold,
Under the sharp north star.'
A North Pole Story.
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.'[118]
'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 brook1 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.'[119]
'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.'
Her words reminded Bridget of what had [120]happened that very afternoon. Perhaps what Celestina said was true: mamma had pressed her hand when she said she was sorry. With one of the quick changes of mood which seemed so strange to Celestina she turned suddenly.
'I'll go home,' she said. 'Come on, Celestina, before I get naughty again. But it isn't all for being good. It's a great deal that I want to come out with you again, and perhaps I mightn't if I was late to-day.'
'No. Very likely your mamma would think I made you disobedient,' Celestina replied; 'and I shouldn't like her to think so.'
'If I might go into the kitchen and get the tea ready for papa and mamma like you do, I'd never want to stay out late,' said Bridget thoughtfully.
Celestina considered.
'You don't need to do that,' she said. 'It wouldn't be any good to your mamma, for she's got servants to do it. But there must be other things you could do if you want to help her.'
'No,' said Biddy, shaking her head, 'there's nothing. And I don't think I want very much; it's just sometimes. Alie helps mamma because she's the eldest2.'
Celestina scarcely knew how to answer this, [121]though she felt there was something wrong about her little companion's way of looking at things. But Celestina had not much power of putting her thoughts and feelings into words. Her solitary3 life had made her a very silent child, not intentionally4, but by habit. She found it difficult to express her meaning even to herself. Just now she gazed at Biddy without speaking, so that Biddy began to laugh.
'What are you looking at me so for?' asked the younger child.
'I don't know,' said Celestina. 'I was only thinking.'
'What?' asked Biddy again.
'You should help too, even though you're the youngest,' said Celestina bluntly.
'Oh, bother,' was all Biddy's reply.
They were at the Rectory gate by this time.
'Good-bye, Miss Biddy,' said Celestina. 'I must run home fast. But I don't think it's late.'
'Good-bye,' said Biddy. 'I've got my shells; have you got yours? Oh yes,' as Celestina held up a tiny little basket she was carrying. 'How dreadfully careful you are! Good-night. I'll ask mamma to let me come and see you very soon.'[122]
On her way up the short drive to the house Bridget came face to face with Randolph.
'Oh, you're there, are you?' he said. 'Mamma was just asking if you'd come in, so I came to look out for you.'
Biddy was silent. This did not seem very like mamma's 'not caring,' as she had been saying to Celestina.
'It isn't late,' she remarked at last. 'Mamma said I might stay half an hour.'
'She was beginning to worry about you a little, all the same,' said Rough. 'Were you with the little Fairchild girl?'
'Yes,' said Biddy.
'Is she a nice little girl?' asked Rough.
'Yes,' said Biddy again.
'Then why don't you like her? Why are you so cross?' asked her brother.
'I'm not cross, and I never said I didn't like her,' replied Bridget impatiently.
Rough began to whistle.
'I can't say I agree with you,' he said. 'Well, I'll run on and tell mamma you're all right;' and off he set.
'I didn't mean to be cross,' she said to herself in [123]her usual way, though she really did feel what she said this time. 'It was kind of Roughie to come to meet me. They're all good 'acept me. Celestina's good too. I'm made all the wrong way,' and she sighed deeply.
She brightened up again, however, when she met her mother at the door.
'That's right, Biddy dear,' said Mrs. Vane. 'You've not stayed too late.'
Rough was there too; he had not told about her being cross evidently, and Biddy felt grateful to him. It was very nice when mamma spoke6 like that; it reminded her of the way her hand had been pressed that afternoon. But a sudden thought rather chilled her satisfaction. Biddy was beginning to be troubled with thoughts, and thoughts too that would not be driven away and forgotten, as she had been accustomed to drive away and forget anything that made her feel at all uncomfortable. This thought teased and pricked7 her for a few seconds, and though she wriggled8 herself about and stamped her feet down with hard thumps9 on the gravel10, it would not go.
'Biddy,' it said, 'Biddy, you know what you should do.'[124]
'Mamma,' she said, 'it was her that made me not stay longer than you'd said. I wanted to. I wasn't very good, but she's good.'
Mrs. Vane turned with real pleasure in her face.
'I'm very glad you've told me, Biddy,' she said. 'Yes, it was nice and good of Celestina to remind you. I think she must really be a very conscientious13 child.'
'I don't know what that is,' said Bridget. 'At least, p'raps I do know, but it's such a trouble to think. But Celestina is good. I almost think she's a little too good.'
Her tone was very melancholy14. Rough burst out laughing, but Mrs. Vane looked rather disappointed.
'It will be so vexing15 if Biddy takes a dislike to her just when I was hoping it would be a good thing,' she thought to herself.
Still, the remembrance of the little talk with Mrs. Fairchild was in her mind. She took no notice of Biddy's remark, only telling her cheerfully to run in quickly and get ready for tea, as it was almost ready.
The children's mother went to Seacove again the [125]next day, but this time she did not take either of them with her. She went straight to Pier16 Street, and as soon as Mrs. Fairchild saw her coming into the shop she came forward with a smile and showed her into the parlour. There Celestina was sitting quietly working at some new clothes for her little dolls: she wanted them to be very smart indeed, in case the Rectory young ladies came to see them. She rose from her seat at once when Mrs. Vane came in, but a shadow of disappointment crossed her face when she saw that the lady was alone.
'I have not brought Biddy this time,' said Mrs. Vane kindly17. 'I have come to see Mrs. Fairchild myself. But Biddy shall come some day soon. I want you to show her your doll-house, for I should be glad for her to get into the way of playing with one. She has always been a difficult child to amuse,' she went on; 'she is so restless, and never seems to get interested in her toys or games.'
Celestina opened her lips as if she were going to speak, but said nothing.
'What is it, my dear?' said Mrs. Vane, seeing the look in the little girl's eyes. Celestina grew pink.
'It was only,' she began. 'It's not so nice to play alone.'[126]
'No, that is true,' said Biddy's mother, 'and true of other things as well as play.' Then she turned to Mrs. Fairchild: 'Have you been able to——' she was beginning, but with a little gesture of apology Mrs. Fairchild glanced at her daughter.
'Go upstairs, Celestina, for a few minutes,' and in a moment Celestina gathered together her small concerns and noiselessly left the room.
'How obedient she is,' said Mrs. Vane with a little sigh. 'I should have had quite an argument with Biddy, or at least cross looks.'
'Children are very different,' said Mrs. Fairchild. 'Still there is not much you can do with them without obedience18. And if they get the habit of it quite young, it costs them so much less; they obey almost without thinking about it.'
'And have you seen Miss Neale?' asked Mrs. Vane after a little pause.
'She came to see me yesterday, and I think it can be nicely arranged. She is a very good girl: I feel sure you will be pleased with her. The only difficulty would have been her promise about Celestina, which she would not have liked to give up; but what you have so kindly proposed puts this all right of course. It will be a great pleasure and interest to Celestina [127]to learn with a companion. I feel that I cannot thank you enough.'
'On the contrary,' said Mrs. Vane, 'I have to thank you. I am in hopes that your little daughter's companionship will be of great good to Bridget.'
Mrs. Fairchild's gentle face grew a little red.
'I think I may at least assure you of this,' she said, 'little Miss Bridget will learn no harm from Celestina.'
'I am sure of it,' said Mrs. Vane warmly. 'By the bye,' she added, 'Celestina is a very uncommon19 name. I have never heard it except in its French form of "Célestine."'
'Celestina was named after a French lady,' said Mrs. Fairchild—'a lady who was very kind to my sisters and me when we were young. She happened to be living near the town where our home was for some years. Her husband had an appointment there. They had only one child, a daughter named Célestine like her mother, who died, and my mother helped to nurse her in her last illness, which made Madame d'Ermont very fond of her. Indeed, I think she was very fond of us all,' she added with a little smile, 'and I think I was a special pet of hers. Through her kindness I had many advantages in my education.[128] But when she and Monsieur, as we always called him, went back to France troublous times came on. We lost sight of them altogether. Still, I have never forgotten the dear lady, and I determined20 to give my little girl her name.'
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 Célestine 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 motive21 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 [129]nor I can boast of very strong health—but still——'
'Oh, I beg your pardon,' interrupted Mrs. Vane impulsively22; '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 peevish23 'I didn't mean,' quite ready to trot24 out on the smallest provocation25.[130]
'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 Millet26 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.
Mrs. Vane took no notice—'And besides, at your age it is most important to be very regular. So I have engaged a daily governess for you, my dear Biddy—that means a governess who will come every morning for three hours, just to teach you. But she won't live in the house with us as Miss Millet does.'
'Won't she take us walks?' demanded Biddy.
'Not every day, for some days she is engaged in the afternoons. But twice a week she will come back in the afternoons and take you a walk and stay [131]to have tea with you. Her name is Miss Neale; she is very nice, though she is younger and—less experienced than Miss Millet. I hope you will be very good with her, Bride.'
Bride gave herself a little shake.
'No, mamma,' she said. 'I don't want to be naughty, but I can't help it. I'm sure I shall be very naughty with her.'
Mrs. Vane kept her patience. She looked at Biddy quietly.
'Why, Biddy?' she asked. 'You are old enough to understand that I have taken a good deal of trouble about this for you.'
'I needn't have lessons till Miss Millet comes back; I'd be quite good without. I don't like having lessons quite alone without Alie or nobody,' said Biddy.
'Would you like it better if you had some one to learn with you—some one nearer your age than Alie, who would do the very same lessons?' asked her mother.
Biddy's eyes sparkled.
'I should think I would,' she said, 'but there isn't nobody'—then she gave a sort of gasp27. 'Oh, if only—if Celestina could do lessons with me,' she [132]exclaimed. 'She knows lots, mamma, all about up at the top of the world, where there isn't really that stick I thought there was, but lots of snow and always light—no, always dark, I forget which. I'll ask her—the old lighthouse man told her. I'm sure she'd help me with my jography, mamma, and she'd teach me to dress dolls and——' Biddy stopped, quite out of breath.
Mrs. Vane smiled; she looked very pleased.
'I am very glad you have thought of it yourself, Biddy,' she said, 'for it is the very thing I have planned. Celestina is going to have lessons with you. Her mother had already settled for Miss Neale to give her lessons, as they don't care about Celestina going to school, so it would not have been fair for Miss Neale to give her up to come to us. And besides, both papa and I thought it would make our little girl happier to have a companion—eh, Biddy?'
Mrs. Vane had hardly time to finish her sentence before she felt her breath nearly taken away by a pair of fat little arms hugging her so tightly that she could scarcely free her head.
'Mamma, mamma,' cried Biddy, 'I love you, I do really love you now. I never thought I did so much. Oh, I am so glad. Thank you, dear mamma.'[133]
Never in her life had Biddy been so affectionate; never, at least, had she shown her affection so much. Mrs. Vane kissed her warmly.
'I am very pleased too, dear,' she said. 'I do think you will be a good and happy little girl now.'
'I'll try to be good, mamma, I will really. But it would take me a dreadfully long time to be as good as Celestina, I'm afraid.'
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1
brook
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| n.小河，溪；v.忍受，容让 | |
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2
eldest
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| adj.最年长的，最年老的 | |
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3
solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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4
intentionally
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| ad.故意地，有意地 | |
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5
depressed
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| adj.沮丧的，抑郁的，不景气的，萧条的 | |
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6
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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7
pricked
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| 刺，扎，戳( prick的过去式和过去分词 )； 刺伤； 刺痛； 使剧痛 | |
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8
wriggled
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| v.扭动，蠕动，蜿蜒行进( wriggle的过去式和过去分词 )；（使身体某一部位）扭动；耍滑不做，逃避（应做的事等） | |
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9
thumps
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| n.猪肺病；砰的重击声( thump的名词复数 )v.重击， （指心脏）急速跳动( thump的第三人称单数 ) | |
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10
gravel
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| n.砂跞；砂砾层；结石 | |
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11
impatience
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| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
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12
tug
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| v.用力拖(或拉)；苦干；n.拖；苦干；拖船 | |
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13
conscientious
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| adj.审慎正直的，认真的，本着良心的 | |
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melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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15
vexing
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| adj.使人烦恼的，使人恼火的v.使烦恼( vex的现在分词 )；使苦恼；使生气；详细讨论 | |
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16
pier
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| n.码头；桥墩，桥柱；[建]窗间壁，支柱 | |
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17
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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18
obedience
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| n.服从，顺从 | |
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19
uncommon
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| adj.罕见的，非凡的，不平常的 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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21
motive
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| n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的 | |
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impulsively
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| adv.冲动地 | |
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peevish
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| adj.易怒的，坏脾气的 | |
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24
trot
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| n.疾走，慢跑；n.老太婆；现成译本；(复数）trots:腹泻（与the 连用）；v.小跑，快步走，赶紧 | |
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25
provocation
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| n.激怒，刺激，挑拨，挑衅的事物，激怒的原因 | |
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26
millet
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| n.小米，谷子 | |
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gasp
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| n.喘息，气喘；v.喘息；气吁吁他说 | |
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