,--we went not to church in rags this last
Sunday, without somewhat ail mine eyes. If we be going thus the next,
prithee lay out in time to avoid the same."

"Gramercy, Sir Thomas!--how do you talk!"

"Rachel," said her brother, as she entered, "how many new gowns dost
thou need to show my Lady Jack?"

"I lack no new gowns, I thank thee, Tom. I set a new dowlas lining in
my camlet but this last week. I would be glad of an hood, 'tis true,
for mine is well worn; but that is all I need, and a mark [13 shillings
and 4 pence] shall serve me."

"Then thy charges be less than Orige, for she ensureth me that all her
gowns be but rags, and so be Clare's, and the like by Blanche."

"Lack-a-daisy!" cried Rachel. "Call me an Anabaptist, if she hath not
in her coffers two velvet gowns, and a satin, and a kersey, and three
camlets--to say nought of velvet kirtles and other habiliments!"

"My dear Rachel!--not one made this year!"

"My satin gown was made six years gone, Orige; and this that I bear
seven; and my camlet--well-a-day!--it may be ten."

"They be not fit to sweep the house in."

"Marry come up!--Prithee, Tom, set Orige up in tinsel. But for Clare
and Blanche, leave me see to them. Clare hath one gown was made this
year--"

"A beggarly say!" [a coarse kind of silk, often used for curtains and
covering furniture] put in Lady Enville.

"And Blanche hath one a-making."

"A sorry kersey of twenty pence the yard!"

"Orige, prithee talk no liker a fool than thou canst help. Our gowns be
right and--decent, according to our degree. We be but common folks,
woman! For me, I go not about to prink [make smart and showy] me in
cloth of gold,--not though Jack should wed all the countesses in
England. If she love not me by reason of my gowns, she may hold me off
with the andirons. I can do without her."

And away marched Rachel in high dudgeon. "It is too bad of Rachel!"
moaned Lady Enville, lifting her handkerchief to tearless eyes. "I
would have nought but to be decent and fit for our degree, and not to
shame us in the eyes of her that hath been in the Court. I was ne'er
one to cast money right and left. If I had but a new velvet gown, and a
fair kirtle of laced satin, and a good kersey for every day, and an
hood, and a partlet or twain of broidered work, and two or three other
small matters, I would ask no more. Rachel would fain don us all like
scullery-maids!"

Sir Thomas hated to see a woman weep