it?" carelessly responded the Countess, turning
back to Clarice. "Vivian Barkeworth."

She paused an instant for the courtesy and thanks which she expected.
But she got a good deal more than she expected. With a passionate sob
that came from her very heart, Clarice fell at the feet of the Lady
Margaret.

"What is all this fuss about?" exclaimed her displeased mistress. "I
never heard such ado about nothing."

Her displeasure, usually feared above all things, was nothing to Clarice
in that terrible instant. She sobbed forth that she loved elsewhere--
she was already troth-plight.

"Nonsense!" said the Countess, sharply. "What business hadst thou with
such foolery, unknown to me? All maidens are wed by orders from their
superiors. Why shouldst thou be an exception?"

"Oh, have you no compassion?" cried poor Clarice, in her agony. "Lady,
did you never love?"

All present were intently watching the face of the Countess, in the hope
of seeing some sign of relenting. But when this question was asked, the
stern lips grew more set and stern than ever, and something like fire
flashed out of the usually cold blue-grey eyes.

"Who--I?" she exclaimed. "Thanks be to all the saints right verily,
nay. I never had ado with any such disgraceful folly. From mine
earliest years I have ever desired to be an holy sister, and never to
see a man's face. Get up, girl; it is of no use to kneel to me. There
was no kindness shown to me; my wishes were never considered; why should
thine be? I was made to array myself for my bridal, to the very
uprooting and destruction of all that I most loved and desired. Ah! if
my Lord and father had lived, it would not have been so; he always
encouraged my vocation. He said love was unhappy, and I thought it was
scandalous. No, Clarice; I have no compassion upon lovers. There never
ought to be any such thing. Let it be as I have said."

And away stalked the Countess, looking more grey, square, and angular
than ever.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Note 1. De La Moor is the only chronicler in whose pages it is possible
to recognise the Edward of the letter-book, in which all his letters are
copied for the thirty-third year of his father's reign--1304-5.

Note 2. Barnes's Edward the Third. I must in honesty confess that I
have taken the liberty of smoothing Dr Barnes's somewhat rugged
translation.

Note 3. A carpet-knight was one w