This didn't go as Catherine had anticipated. She had expected the girl to hang on her every word, grateful that Catherine would stoop down to teach a simple shop girl good manners. Catherine hadn't expected to have said manners questioned. She was at a complete loss. She had never questioned a thing in her life. This was alien territory.

But she hid her discontent behind a polite smile, as she herself had been taught so well. Never cause discomfort.

"Of course. And I imagine your parents are very proud of you. I imagine that's more than enough for working in a shop. I only meant that I feel you could amount to so much more. Now..." She had grown weary of the topic. "Let me show you some of the books I had picked out."

She put her cup and saucer back on the table. When she had gotten up, she stood still for a moment to ensure she felt steady on her feet. Then she slowly walked over to a desk, picked up the three books that lay waiting, and returned to her window seat, happy to sit down again without incident. "This was my favourite as a child. Do you know it?" She handed Ellie the first book. The title read "Little Women".