nor spillings, nor do I look to see my best napkins used for
this. Janet, find Big Hans and make the apple-cellar ready for the
barrels. Lois, I warn you that I shall go through all the chambers soon,
and if all is as well there as when last I peeped under the beds and
through the panes and looked at my face in the coppers, when the
shoemaker comes, after Michaelmas, there shall be a pair of trim red
shoes for those busy feet, and no cost to your father. Trude, the old
hen-wife has more of her aches and pains to-day, and you must feed the
pullets their extra grain and see to the eggs. Elspeth, the linen is all
in to-day and 'tis for you to count it. Joan, if thy sparrow's tongue
can hold still for an hour, thou shalt come with me and give out the
stores for the pantry and kitchen. Perhaps a bit of potted quince will
hold thy teeth together. Hannah, I know, is wise and trusty, and can
busy herself as I would, with no telling what and where. But I could not
trust you two, Margot and Mary, and old Greta must keep you by her with
the candle-work. And should she box your ears, come not into my
storeroom with your cryings, but work the harder for it. You others,
help in the kitchen, and make ready for the men when they are done with
the apples, and hungry. If Will comes to ask about the ale, he may see
me in the pantry, but I have no time for Dyrk and his accounts to-day.
Nay, now, Sparrow, there is no need to pull at my skirt! 'Tis strange,
indeed, that the miller's matters must always be looked into when thou
art with me."

They scattered each to her work, and some sang together in rounds and
catches and some were silent, but all grew quickly busy. There was but
one idle, and she, ashamed of this and trying to still the fear that
hung behind her thoughts, followed the fair-haired Elspeth to the
linen-room and watched her lift the fragrant white matters from the deep
willow crates and pile them on the deeper shelves among twists of blue
lavender and strewings of old roses.

"Shall I trouble you by talking?" she asked her, and Elspeth shook her
head shyly and answered:

"No, madam, except when I must count the piles, and then I will tell
you."

"Do you always do this work?" she said.

"No, madam," Elspeth answered her, "the Dame will have each girl learn
all manner of work, so we take it turn about. Before this I was at the
washing, and beat the linen on the brook-stones--oh, it was fine to see
the fresh air blow throu