'How pretty it must be up in the lighthouse to-day,' said Celestina as they were turning away.
This was the signal for Bridget's quarrelsomeness again.
'Miss Neale,' she said, shading her eyes from the sun, as she gazed out towards the sea, 'Celestina does talk such nonsense. She says you can't walk over the sands to the lighthouse. Now can't you? I can see sand all the way.'
Miss Neale was anxious not to contradict Biddy just as she seemed to be coming round again, and she was really not quite sure on the point.
'I can't say, my dear,' she replied. 'It does look as if you could—but still——'
'There now,' said Biddy to Celestina contemptuously, 'Miss Neale's bigger than you, and she thinks you can; don't you, Miss Neale?'
'Yes, yes, my dear,' Miss Neale, who was on some little way in front with Alie, replied hastily; 'but come on—what does it matter?'
But Biddy's tone had roused Celestina, gentle as she was.
'I know you can't,' she said, 'and whether a big or a little person says you can, I just know you can't,' and she turned from Biddy and walked on fast to join the others. Seeing her coming, Rosalys called to her.
'Celestina, I want to ask you something,' and in a moment the two were talking together busily.