grant not so many
boons, neither can I, that I should grudge one to mine old nurse. What
wouldst?"

"Dame, I pray you write a letter to my Lord Duke, the pitifullest you
may pen, and send one of your men therewith, to pray him, as he loveth
you, or her, or God, that he will come and look on her ere she die.
Tell him his old nurse full lovingly entreateth him, and if he will so
do, I will take veil when my Lady is gone hence, and spend four nights
in the week in prayer for his welfare. Say I will be his bedes-woman
for ever, in any convent he shall name. Say anything that will bring
him!"

"I passed thee my word, and I will keep it," said Lady Basset, as she
rose. "But if I know him, what I should say certainly to bring him
would be that Sir Oliver de Clisson lay here in dungeon, and that if he
would come he should see his head strake off in yonder court. He is a
fair lover, my brother; but he is a far better hater."

Perrote sighed.

"Amphillis!" came faintly up the stairs and along the gallery.
"Am-phil-lis!"

"Go, child," said Perrote, replying to a look from Amphillis. "'Tis
Agatha calling thee. What would the foolish maid?"

Amphillis left her work upon the bench and ran down.

"Well, it is merry matter to catch hold of thee!" said Agatha, who was
waiting at the foot of the stairs, and who never could recollect, unless
Lady Foljambe were present, that Amphillis was to be addressed with more
reverence than before. "Here be friends of thine come to visit thee."

"Friends!--of mine!" exclaimed Amphillis, in surprise. "Why, I haven't
any friends."

"Well, enemies, then," said Agatha, with a giggle. "Come, go into hall
and see who they be, and then tell me."

Amphillis obeyed, and to her still greater surprise, found herself in
the presence of Mr Altham and Regina.

"Ah, here she cometh!" was her uncle's greeting. "Well, my maid, I am
fain to see thee so well-looking, I warrant thee. Can'st love a new
aunt, thinkest?"

"That am I secure," replied Amphillis, smiling, and kissing the
goldsmith's daughter.

"And an old uncle belike?" pursued Mr Altham, kissing her in his turn.

"Assuredly, dear Uncle; but I pray, how came you hither?"

"Dat shall I tell you," said Mrs Altham, "for oderwise you shall not
know what good uncle you have. He promise to take me to mine own home
in Dutchland, to see my greatmoder and mine aunts; and when we nigh
ready were, he say, `See you, now! shall we not go ro