The weekly letters which crossed each other with unfailing regularity
were in each case a diary of daily happenings, enlivened by such
moralisings, grave and gay, as were natural between the friends, who
were deeply in each other's confidence. Dorothea's latest letter was no
exception to the rule, except as regards one startling item of news,
given, woman-like, in the postscript.

"By the way, Jim Blair discovered a charming old box in the bazaar this
week, and is sending it home to you as the latest addition to your
collection. Be sure to answer his letter nicely, and be properly
pleased! He is a dear, and I have read (edited) extracts from your
letters to him weekly, for years past, so that he knows you quite well
by repute. He is lonely, poor man. You wouldn't grudge him that small
distraction!"

Katrine's cheeks flushed to an unusual pink as she digested that
postscript. Jim Blair! Jim Blair was a bachelor, and the _ami intime_
of the Middleton _menage_. Katrine searched her memory for further
details, and had an impression of a tall, thin man, who had had a rough
time in life, and had come through his trials with flying colours.
Whence had the impression arisen? She could not tell, but determined to
re-read old letters to find out exactly what had been said. Meantime
the present announcement caused a distinct stirring of the quiet waters
of life...

A strange man had written to her, had sent her a gift, in the shape of a
brass box, to add to the collection of antiques which lay before her,
their polished surfaces gleaming brightly against a background of old
oak. Katrine had a passion for antique brasses, and through Dorothea's
agency had acquired an interesting collection during the last few years.
An addition to her collection was always a triumph, but in this special
case her expectations were engaged more with the message itself, than
with the treasure which it introduced. The letter had not arrived by
the ordinary post, although Dorothea had spoken of it as already
despatched. Probably then it was enclosed in the box, and would arrive
by the later parcel delivery!

A letter! How extraordinary that a man should take upon himself to send
a letter to an unknown girl at the other end of the world! As for the
brass itself, he had probably seen other specimens which Dorothea had
forwarded from time to time, both as commissions and gifts; had been
consulted as to their value, possibly even taken