Consider yourself engaged. You must set out from London on
Lammas Day [August 1st], and Mistress Regina here, who is accustomed to
such matters, will tell you what you need take. A varlet will come to
fetch you; take care you are ready. Be discreet, and do not get into
any foolish entanglements of any sort."

Amphillis asked only one question--Would the lady be pleased to tell her
the name and address of her future mistress?

"Your mistress lives in Derbyshire. You will hear her name on the way."

And with a patronising nod to the girls, and another to Regina, the lady
left the room.

"Lammas Day!" cried Alexandra, almost before the door was closed.
"Gramercy, but we can never be a-ready!"

"_Ach! ja_, but you will if you hard work," said Regina.

"And the jousting!" said Ricarda.

"What for the jousting?" asked Regina. "You are not knights, dat you
joust?"

"We should have seen it, though: a friend had passed his word to take
us, that wist how to get us in."

"We'll go yet, never fear!" said her sister. "Phyllis must work
double."

"Den she will lose de sight," objected Regina.

"Oh, _she_ won't go!" said Alexandra, contemptuously. "Much she knows
about tilting!"

"What! you go, and not your cousin? I marvel if you about it know more
dan she. And to see a pretty sight asks not much knowing."

"I'm not going to slave myself, I can tell you!" replied Alexandra.
"Phyllis must work. What else is she good for?"

Regina left the question unanswered. "Well, you leave Phyllis wid me; I
have something to say to her--to tell her what she shall take, and how
she must order herself. Den she come home and work her share--no more."

The sisters saw that she meant it, and they obeyed, having no desire to
make an enemy of the wealthy goldsmith's daughter.

CHAPTER THREE.

WHO CAN SHE BE?

"O thou child of many prayers!
Life hath quicksands--life hath snares."

Longfellow.

"Now, sit you down on de bench," said Regina, kindly. "Poor maid! you
tremble, you are white. _Ach_! when folks shall do as dey should, dey
shall not do as dey do no more. Now we shall have von pleasant talking
togeder, you and I. You know de duties of de bower-woman? or I tell dem
you?"

"Would you tell me, an' it please you?" answered Amphillis, modestly.
"I do not know much, I dare say."

"_Gut_! Now, listen. In de morning, you are ready before your lady
calls; you keep not her awaiting. Maybe you sleep