poor and
tawdry. I have placed it on a little pinnacle of its own, where it
shines afar, leaving the lesser lights undimmed.

"Miss Beverley returns warm thanks to Captain Blair for his kindness in
remembering her collection, and adding to it so valuable and antique a
specimen.

"But--there remains Katrine, and Katrine's duty is so much more
complicated! She has written, as you prophesied, four separate letters,
all well spelt, and punctuated, and admirably composed, the sentences
rounded to a marvel, but alas! each separate one said a different thing,
and was afterwards torn up for a different reason.

"Number one was haughty and firm: firm, without a quaver of doubt.
`Miss Beverley was surprised that Captain Blair could suppose for a
moment, that etc., etc.. Miss Beverley could certainly not consent to
sacrifice the dignity and self-respect so dear to the heart of every
true etc.'

"So far, so good, but Katrine here came to the conclusion that Miss
Beverley was a hopeless prig, and effort number one was destroyed
forthwith. Number two was also firm, but more affable in tone.

"Miss Beverley had been duly amused by the perusal of Captain Blair's
letter. She realised that it had been written on the spur of an
impulse, and that he had not intended his suggestion to be taken
seriously. She would proceed to banish it from her mind, as she felt
sure he would now wish her to do.

"Here again Katrine interfered, rated Miss Beverley as a hypocrite,
declared that she believed nothing of the sort, and sent the second
missive packing after the first.

"The third and fourth attempts were destroyed for--er--_other_ reasons!
One flies at times from one extreme to another. Here now beginning the
fifth.

"If you are sure; if you are _quite_ sure that my letters would be a
help, I should like to say yes, but conscience pricks.--the Cranford
conscience which sees not only straight ahead, but round every
conceivable niche and corner.

"Take first your own point of view! Suppose a moment that I _did_
write, you might be horribly disappointed with my letters! You have
enjoyed my weekly effusions to Dorothea, but you must remember that she
and I are the friends of years, who have shared together all the big
experiences of our lives, so that we have a thousand mutual links and
interests. Also,--and the importance of this there is no denying--we
are both women! When writing to Dorothea I can be just as frivolous, as
m