I am not so good as you, Betty, I'm sure, though I do the best I can not to be bad." "Oh, you are too beautiful not to be good," returned Betty, warming up to my cousin.
"Whether I am beautiful or not I care little, for I am in great trouble and have come to you for help," said Frances.

"My cousin, Baron Clyde, who is as dear to me as a brother, is full of your praises, and only the other day said that there was no woman or girl in England purer or better than you, and that he knew none in the world whom he deemed more beautiful." The red came to Betty's cheeks, and she answered, smiling and dimpling: "Ah, did he say that of me?
I deem him my very good friend indeed.

Is he really your cousin ?" "Yes, he is more a brother than a cousin," returned Frances.
Immediately Betty softened and, drawing a chair close to Frances's side, sat down.

After a long pause, she murmured: "Then if I may, I, too, would be your friend." "I knew you would," answered Frances.

"Now give me your hand, so that we may feel as well as see and hear each other.