y the greater light from the hearth.

With a long, heavy sigh, which ended in a quiet half-hearted laugh,
Katherine flung herself back in a huge chair and said,--

"Art not afraid to lash tongues with a trusted servant of my Lord
Cedric? She may give thee an ill name."

"Nay, rather, if I had boxed' er hears' 'twould have been better.
Indeed, if thou hadst been absent I should have brawled it with her.
'Ludship'--'tis the cant of a pot house wench,--'is Ludship' to me,
who has been consorting with Sister Agnes and Phelia and Drusah and
the Mother Superior of the Ursuline. Wilt let me dress thee now?"

"Nay, Janet, I will cleanse my face and hands, have my supper--for I'm
nearly famished, and jump into yonder bed that hath a lid--"

"Why, Lambkin, that is a tester, 'tis the first thou hast seen! But,
Lambkin, I would have thee don thy pretty white dress and go down to
more cheerful surroundings."

"Nay, Janet, I could not raise courage. Have my supper brought up!"

"My blessed Lambkin, I will take thee down and see that they give thee
proper food for thy coach-jostled stomach. Thou shalt have a room and
table to thyself. I'll see to it. I thought upon it coming up to this
sky-begotten chamber. The toddy would freeze stiff and the pheasants
grow to clamminess on so long and frigid a journey. I will dress thee
and then will find my way down and make things ready for thy comfort
and privacy."

'Twas a soft, white, clinging gown, high-necked and long-sleeved, with
the perfume of incense in its folds, Janet vested her mistress in. The
thick rolls of hair framing her face glinted with bronze and amber
sheen. Her warm youthful blood coloured her countenance with the tints
of the peach blossom. Thus she stood gloriously beautiful; ready for
conquest.

Janet went below, nor was she gone long ere she came again to her
mistress' side.

"Didst see any signs of petticoats. Janet?"

"Nay, mistress," and her voice was sober and intense. "I tried to find
a servants' stairway, but it seemed all were grand and confusing. And
every moment lackeys rushed by me bearing trays of smoking viands,
and not even so much as looking my way. At last I found one I thought
would take the time to answer a question and I asked him the way
below. He answered me civilly and conducted me saying the while, that
'twas a grand party his Lord Cedric was having; members of the Royal
family being present; he even mentioned the Dukes of Buckingham and