af-table at the side of the room a number of gold and silver
ornaments were displayed. Furs were heaped upon the bed, boots and
loose slippers stood in a row in one corner; while Mistress Underdone
was turning over for her mistress's inspection a quantity of embroidered
neckerchiefs.

"Now, let me see," said the Countess, peremptorily. "Measure off linen
for four gowns, Agatha--two of brown and two of red. Serge for two--the
dark green. One silk will be enough, and one of crape."

"How many ells the gown does my Lady choose to allow?" asked Mistress
Underdone, taking an ell-wand from the table.

"Four," said the Countess, curtly. This was rather miserly measure,
four ells and a third being the usual reckoning; but Mistress Underdone
measured and cut in silence.

"Thou mayest allow a third more for the silk and crape," said the
Countess, in a fit of unusual generosity.

Mistress Underdone finished her measuring, laying each piece of material
neatly folded on the last, until the table held a tall heap of them.

"Now for hoods," pursued the Countess. "Black cloth for two, lined with
cats' fur; russet for two more. Capes for outdoor wear--two of the
green serge; one of black cloth lined with cats' fur; one of silk. Four
linen wimples; two pairs of cloth boots, two of slippers; two corsets;
three of those broidered kerchiefs, one better than the others; four
pairs of hosen. Measure off also twenty-four ells of linen cloth."

"Of what price, if it please my Lady?"

"Fivepence the ell. And the boots of sixpence a pair. What did that
green serge cost?"

"Threepence the ell, my Lady."

"That is monstrous. Have I no cheaper? Twopence would be good enough
for her."

"If it please my Lady, there is only that coarse grey serge at three
halfpence the ell, which was bought for the cook-maids."

"Humph! I suppose that would scarcely do," said the Countess, in a tone
which sounded as if she wished it would. "Well, then--those ornaments.
She must have a silver fibula, I suppose; and a copper-gilt one for
common. What made thee put out all those other things? That is enough
for her. If she wants a silver chain, her husband must give it her; I
shall not. As to rings and necklaces, they are all nonsense--not fit
for such as she."

"Would my Lady think proper to allow a dovecote with silver pins?"

The dovecote was a head-dress, a kind of round caul of gold or silver
network, secured by gold or silver pins