t who was to act as escort to convey a
conciliatory message to her uncle, begging forgiveness for Ricarda for
her sake. She sent also an affectionate and respectful message to her
new aunt, entreating her to intercede with her husband for his daughter.

"Indeed, Rica, I would not have told if I could have helped it and
bidden true to my trust!" was the farewell of Amphillis.

"O Phyllis, I wish I'd been as true as you, and then I should never have
fallen in this trouble!" sobbed the humbled Ricarda. "I shouldn't have
thought of it but for Saundrina. But there, I've been bad enough! I'll
not lay blame to other folks. God be wi' thee! if I may take God's name
into my lips; but, peradventure, He'll be as angry as my Lady."

"I suppose He is alway angered at sin," said Amphillis. "But, Rica, the
worst sinner that ever lived may take God's name into his lips to say,
`God, forgive me!' And we must all alike say that. And Mistress
Perrote saith, if we hide our stained souls behind the white robes of
our Lord Christ, God the Father is never angered with Him. All that
anger was spent, every drop of it, upon the cross on Calvary; so there
is none left now, never a whit, for any sinner that taketh refuge in
Him. Yea, it was spent on Him for this cause, that all souls taking
shelter under His wing unto all time might find there only love, and
rest, and peace."

"O Phyllis, thou'rt a good maid. I would I were half as good as thou!"

"If I am good at all, dear Rica, Jesu Christ hath done it; and He will
do it for thee, for the asking."

So the cousins parted in more peace than either of them would once have
thought possible.

For some hours Amphillis was in serious doubt whether she would not
share the fate of her cousin. Perrote pleaded for her, it seemed, in
vain; even Mrs Margaret added her gentle entreaties, and was sharply
bidden to hold her tongue. But when, on the afternoon of that eventful
day, Amphillis went, as was now usual, to mount guard in the Countess's
chamber, she was desired, in that lady's customary manner--

"Bid Avena Foljambe come and speak with me."

Amphillis hesitated an instant, and her mistress saw it.

"Well? Hast an access [a fit of the gout], that thou canst not walk?"

"Dame, I cry your Grace mercy. I am at this present ill in favour of my
Lady Foljambe, and I scarce know if she will come for my asking."

The Countess laughed the curt, bitter laugh which Amphillis had so often