But, come, my dear, you are very hard upon me, and very anxious to take your sister's part.

And what is it all about?
I've just written to her as civil a letter as one woman ever wrote to another.

And if I had chosen, I could have,--could have,--h--m--m." Miss Stanbury, as she hesitated for words in which to complete her sentence, revelled in the strength of the vituperation which she could have poured upon her niece's head, had she chosen to write her last letter about Colonel Osborne in her severe strain.
"If you have written kindly to her, I am so much obliged to you," said Dorothy.
"The truth is, Priscilla has meant to be right.

Meaning won't go for much when the account is taken, unless the meaning comes from a proper source.

But the poor girl has done as well as she has known how.