ady's
inspection, let it fall--the principal jewel-band caught in a hook, and
was scattered in fragments upon the ground. This was more than Lady
Frances could bear, and she turned both women out of the room,
commanding them to send Barbara in their stead. The little Puritan had
been weeping plentifully, but when she came, Lady Frances appeared to
have forgotten her wrath, and greeted her with much gentleness.

"Your mistress, my pretty maid--is she dressed?"

"No, my lady."

"See what havoc these girls have wrought with my stomacher! Pick me up
the jewels, Barbara, if your mistress can spare you such brief time."

"I was not with her, my lady: she said she would call when I was wanted.
I can hear her in this chamber."

While Barbara was gathering the jewels, her tears fell fast upon them.
Lady Frances observed it, and smiling said,--

"You are gemming my ornaments, setting them in crystal instead of
gold."

"I can't help my tears, dear lady, when I think how she weeps. Oh, it is
a mournful thing to see an oak bend like a willow, or a stately rose low
as a little wild flower! Something has crushed her heart, and I cannot
help her. I would lay down my life to make her happy, if I knew but how!
The very dogs hang their tails, and steal across the rooms they used to
gambol in! Ah, madam, she has wealth, and rank, and all that a poor girl
would call great glory. Yet her step is like the step of an aged woman,
and her head is bent, though not with the weight of years. I think of a
little poem I knew when I was a child. I believe I heard it before I
could speak the words thereof, yet it is so perfect on my mind. Did you
ever hear it, madam? it is called 'The Lady of Castile.'"

"Never; but I should like to hear it, Barbara, while you hook on the
diamonds those careless minxes scattered so heedlessly. What tune is it
to?"

"I know not the tune, madam; nor could I sing it now if I did. I often
wonder how the birds can sing when they lose their mates; though their
notes are not, as at other times, cheery; and no wonder. It's very cruel
to kill poor innocent birds."

"Let me hear the ballad, Barbara."

"I fear me, it has gone out of my head; but, madam, it began thus,
something after a popish fashion; but no harm, no great harm in it:--

"'The lady was of noble birth,
And fairest in Castile,
And many suitors came to her----'

And many suitors came to her," repeated Barbara. "I forget
the last line,