side--"and Marabel,"--
indicating by another gesture the one who was gathering flowers.
"Remember, in your leisure times, when you are talking together, no
mention of _your_ Lady must ever be made. If you hear it, rebuke it.
If you make it, you may not like that which shall follow. Be wise and
discreet, and you shall find it for your good. Chatter and be giddy,
and you shall find it far otherwise. Now, follow Mistress Perrote."

Amphillis louted silently, and as silently followed.

The elderly woman, who was tall, slim, and precise-looking, led her into
the house, and up the stairs.

When two-thirds of them were mounted, she turned to the left along a
passage, lifted a heavy curtain which concealed its end, and let it drop
again behind them. They stood in a small square tower, on a little
landing which gave access to three doors. The door on the right hand
stood ajar; the middle one was closed; but the left was not only closed,
but locked and barred heavily. Mistress Perrote led the way into the
room on the right, a pleasant chamber, which looked out into the larger
garden.

At the further end of the room stood a large bed of blue camlet, with a
canopy, worked with fighting griffins in yellow. A large chest of
carved oak stood at the foot. Along the wall ran a settle, or long
bench, furnished with blue cushions; and over the back was thrown a
dorsor of black worsted, worked with the figures of David and Goliath,
in strict fourteenth-century costume. The fireplace was supplied with
andirons, a shovel, and a fire-fork, which served the place of a poker.
A small leaf table hung down by the wall at one end of the settle, and
over it was fixed a round mirror, so high up as to give little
encouragement to vanity. On hooks round the walls were hangings of blue
tapestry, presenting a black diamond pattern, within a border of red
roses.

"Will you sit?" said Mistress Perrote, speaking in a voice not exactly
sharp, but short and staccato, as if she were--what more voluble persons
often profess to be--unaccustomed to public speaking, and not very
talkative at any time. "Your name, I think, is Amphillis Neville?"

Amphillis acknowledged her name.

"You have father and mother?"

"I have nothing in the world," said Amphillis, with a shake of her head,
"save an uncle and cousins, which dwell in London town."

"Ha!" said Mistress Perrote, in a significant tone. "That is wherefore
you were chosen."

"Because I