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Note 1. At this time, shaking hands indicated warmer cordiality than
the kiss, which last was the common form of greeting amongst all
classes.

Note 2. Four-hours answered to afternoon tea, and was usually served,
as its name denotes, at four o'clock.

Note 3. Millicent has really no connection with Melissa, though many
persons have supposed so. It comes, through Milisent and Melisende,
from the Gothic _Amala-suinde_, which signifies Heavenly wisdom.

Note 4. Bade is the imperfect, and bidden the participle, of bid, to
invite, as well as of bid, to command.

Note 5. The reader who wishes for more light on this point than was
allowed to Milisent, will find it in "Lettice Eden."

Note 6. At this time "pleasant" meant humorous, and "witty" meant
intellectual. This curious child's play termed Euphuism, to which grave
men and sedate women did not hesitate to lower themselves, was peculiar
to the age of Elizabeth, than whom never was a human creature at once so
great and so small.

CHAPTER FOUR.

IN BY-PATH MEADOW.

"I thought that I was strong, Lord,
And did not need Thine arm;
Though dangers thronged around me,
My heart felt no alarm:
I thought I nothing needed--
Riches, nor dress, nor sight:
And on I walked in darkness,
And still I thought it light."

SELWICK HALL, NOVEMBER YE XV.
I have but now read o'er what I writ these last few days, and have
meditated much whether I should go on to tell of Sir _Edwin_, for it
shall ne'er serve to have folk read the same. And methinketh it best
for to go straight on, and at the end, if need be, tear out the leaves.
For it doth me a mighty pleasure to write and think upon the same: and I
can make some excuse when I come to it.

Though Mistress _Nell_,
I guess right well,
Of neatness should be heedful:
Yet I will tear
The leaves out fair,
If it shall so be needful.

There! who saith I cannot write poesy?

This morrow again (I being but just without the garden gate), I met with
my _Protection_, who doffed his plumed bonnet and saluted me as his most
fair _Amiability_. I do see him most days, though but for a minute: and
in truth I think long from one time to another. Coming back, I
meditated what I should say to Mistress _Nell_ (that loveth somewhat too
much to meddle) should she have caught sight o