Most of the girls Catherine spent time with were aware of their graces and often vain about it too. They took compliments with civility and often returned them, but that was it. To see this young girl glow under a simple compliment was oddly satisfying.

Catherine moved to put the book back on the pile. "I love Anderson. Our nurse used to read them to us." She turned back to the girl. "I've never read Tom Brown's School Days. I thought it was for boys. Is it any good?"

"Oh yes. Poor Tom and George," Ellie used the character's christian names, despite the utterly foreign setting of a rich boy's school. Tom and George were also normal names. "They were young like me. I 'ated that bully Flashman. I was glad that he got in trouble." At the question if the book was only for boys... Ellie's brow arched. Was it? "Well, it might be just for boys, but Miss Christine said I could to practice."

Was it a sudden spirit of rebellion, so seldom stirring in the young lady? Or was it the younger girl's light chatter that invited her into a mindset seemingly less complicated than her own? Whichever it was, some small spark lit Catherine's usually dull eyes. "Do you know what? I might just try that book. Would you have another copy in stock?"

"Sorry Miss, no." Ellie answered in a formal business-like manner. It was the prepared response to an often asked question. It dashed hope in the politest way possible "At Pennyweather's, we sell special, one -of -a -kind books. Unless requested by special order."

They had lots of Dickens, Anderson, and if a private library was sold they would almost end up with multiple copies.

"Obviously, ye'll be buying this one. Would you like us to find another copy? Ellie asked in an upbeat and helpful tone. Ellie liked to speculate why the books were being bought. Perhaps it was a gift for a sister or friend? Or was it to have a house of books to look educated, but that were never read.

Catherine was a little taken aback and her face fell, though she quickly managed to return to a polite smile. She wasn't used to hearing 'no'. “Oh no, I would not want to take the book you are reading at the moment. You must finish it and tell me what you think of it, next time I visit. I will try another book for now. Would you have anything by Jane Austen?”

"Jane Austin," Ellie repeated. "Ooh, yes. She's famous. Over 'here," Ellie stepped around the customer and disappeared down an aisle. She stopped in front of a navy blue leather bound set with fancy gold lettering.

"This is Jane Austen. Is this what ye lookin' for?" Ellie asked. They were just a little too advanced for her.

Catherine was a little offended that the kindness she bestowed on the fishergirl was not acknowledged with praise and gratitude. But she put it down to how unenlightened the poor child probably was about the world and her place in it.

Catherine followed her. "Oh how beautifully bound!" she commented. She pulled one of the books out and observed it. She had already read Persuasion but decided she'd buy the whole set, just because they'd look well in her room.

"Oh they are, Miss. I like how the titles on the spines glitter in the light.. Will you be wanting them, then? Do ye have lots of books at 'ome?"

Catherine let her fingers run over the leather spine admiringly. "Yes, I'll take them," she decided. She didn't ask about the price. She had a greater allowance than could be spent on what was worth buying in Whitby. She handed the book she was holding over to the girl to take them to the counter. "Oh yes. We have a library. But it is mostly old books and my father's purchases. They don't interest me. These will be for my own collection." The question had been rather forward, but Catherine realized that she herself had of course encouraged it, by striking up a conversation with the young girl in the first place. She didn't mind it. Here was someone genuinely interested, rather than asking just to compete with her. These days even daughters of doctors and lawyers pretended to be a match.

At the girl's decision, Ellie nodded and her slender fingers began to nimbly pull the books from the shelf until her arms were fully loaded with literature. Though not so much that she couldn't see.

Gingerly leading the way over to the counter, Ellie placed the volumes on brown paper. Being of rigid shape wrapping them was straightforward, the leather and gold temporarily hidden by boring brown and trussd up with twine. Ellie's tongue poked out everso as she wrestled the paper and twine

"That's three pound, Miss" Ellie announced simply. Months of hard labour for a girl like her spent in an instant.

"Will ye be takin these books now, or would want me to deliver them shortly?" Ellie inquired. Where the rich allowed to carry parcels? Some didn't like to.