distance o' some six miles; and afterwards set forth for a gallop on
Robin Hood, and be no more a-weary, come eventide, than myself from a
trip 'round the gardens. She swam like a sea-maid, she had fenced even
better than her brother, and methinks she was the bonniest shot with a
long-bow of any woman in all England. She was but fifteen when my lord
left Amhurste for aye, and in the years since she had grown mightily,
and was waxed as strong as Marian, and full a head taller. But she had
long, curved flanks that saved her from buxomness; and her head was set
high and light on her shoulders, like a bird that floats on a wave, and
o'er it ran her bright curls, the one o'er the other, like little
wavelets. Her eyes were as gray as a sword, and as keen, and she had
broad lids as white as satin-flowers, and there was a fine black ring
around them, made by her long lashes.

My lady was courted by many a fine lord, and more than three youngsters
have I seen weep because of her coldness towards them; speeding them
away out o' the sight o' mankind (as they thought), and casting
themselves along the lush grass in my lady's garden, there to bleat and
bleat, like moon-calves for the moon.

For one lad did my heart bleed, verily. 'Twas for the young Lord of
Mallow--but a lad with buttercup curls and speedwell eyes, and a smile
to win the love o' any maid in her reason (though, to be sure, my lady
was in her reason). He comes to me and gets between my knees, like any
little eanling that might 'a' been mine own, and quoth he:

"Butter, Butter, she loves thee! Wilt thou not speak to her, and tell
her that she shall be the richest lady in all England, and maid of honor
to the Queen, and have more jewels than the Queen herself? Oh, Butter!"
cried he.

Then said I, a-stroking of the yellow gossamer that bestrewed his
shoulders, as he knelt, head bowed, between my knees, "Nay, my lord,
'tis not so that thou shalt win the Lady Margaret. She careth no more
for jewels than she doth for the beads in a rainbow; nor doth she care
for riches. And methinks a maid who would marry just to be maid of honor
to a queen would not be an honorable maid either to herself or to her
sovereign;" for so indeed I thought.

Then saith he, "Butter, dost thou believe in love-philters?"

And I asked his meaning, for verily I was ignorant of 't, albeit I was
not ignorant in all matters. And he explained to me that it was a drink
or potion to cause love.

Th