had no kin?" said Amphillis, looking up.

"That, and also that you were counted discreet. And discreet you had
need be for this charge."

"What charge?" she asked, blankly.

"You know not?"

"I know nothing. Nobody would tell me anything."

Mistress Perrote's set features softened a little.

"Poor child!" she said. "You are young--too young--to be given a charge
like this. You will need all your discretion, and more."

Amphillis felt more puzzled than ever.

"You may make a friend of Marabel, if you choose; but beware how you
trust Agatha. But remember, as her Ladyship told you, no word that you
hear, no thing that you see, must be suffered to go forth of these
chambers. You may repeat _nothing_! Can you do this?"

"I will bear it in mind," was the reply. "But, pray you, if I may ask--
seeing I know nothing--is this lady that I shall serve an evil woman,
that you caution me thus?"

"No!" answered Mistress Perrote, emphatically. "She is a most terribly
injured--What say I? Forget my words. They were not discreet. Mary,
Mother! there be times when a woman's heart gets the better of her
brains. There be more brains than hearts in this world. Lay by your
hood and mantle, child, on one of those hooks, and smooth your hair, and
repose you until supper-time. To-morrow you shall see your Lady."

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Note 1. Sad, at this time, did not mean sorrowful, but serious.

Note 2. These are the duties of a bower-woman, laid down in the Books
of Courtesy at that time.

Note 3. Then a very expressive word, including both morals and manners.

Note 4. A private sitting-room for ladies.

CHAPTER FOUR.

THE WHITE LADY.

"The future is all dark,
And the past a troubled sea,
And Memory sits in the heart,
Wailing where Hope should be."

Supper was ready in the hall at four o'clock, and Amphillis found
herself seated next below Agatha, the younger of Lady Foljambe's
damsels. It was a feast-day, so that meat was served--a boar's head,
stewed beef, minced mutton, squirrel, and hedgehog. The last dainty is
now restricted to gypsies, and no one eats our little russet friend of
the bushy tail; but our forefathers indulged in both. There were also
roast capons, a heron, and chickens dressed in various ways. Near
Amphillis stood a dish of beef jelly, a chowet or liver-pie, a flampoynt
or pork-pie, and a dish of sops in fennel