er. I wonder who there is, now--Are you afraid of folks that
speak crossly?"

"No," said Derette. "I only want to shake them." Cumina laughed.
"You'll do!" she said. "Come, then, I'll take you to Hagena. She's not
very pleasant-spoken, but if any body can help you, she can. The only
doubt is whether she will."

Derette followed Cumina through what seemed to her endless corridors
opening into further and further corridors, till at last she asked in a
tone of astonishment--

"How can you ever find your way?"

"Oh, you learn to do that very soon," said Cumina, laughing, as she
opened the door of a long, low chamber. "Now, you must tread softly
here, and speak very respectfully."

Derette nodded acquiescence, and they went in.

The room was lined with presses from floor to ceiling. On benches which
stood back to back in its midst, several lengths of rich silken stuffs
were spread out; and on other benches near the windows sat two or three
girls busily at work. Several elder ladies were moving about the room,
and one of them, a rather stout, hard-featured woman, was examining the
girls' work. Cumina went up to her.

"If you please, Hagena," she said, "is there any where an old gown which
it would please you to bestow on this girl, who has asked the boon?"

Hagena straightened herself up and looked at Derette.

"Is she the child of one of my Lord's tenants?"

"No," answered Derette. "My mother's house is her own."

"Well, if ever I heard such assurance! Perchance, Madam, you would like
a golden necklace to go with it?"

If Derette had not been on her good behaviour, Hagena would have
received as much as she gave. But knowing that her only chance of
success lay in civil and submissive manners, she shut her lips tight and
made no answer.

"Who sent you?" pursued Hagena, who was the Countess's mistress of the
household, and next in authority to her.

"Nobody. I came of myself."

"_Ha, chetife_! I do wonder what the world's coming to! The impudence
of the creature! How on earth did she get in? Just get out again as
fast as you can, and come on such an errand again if you dare! Be off
with you!"

Derette's voice trembled, but not with fear, as she turned back to
Cumina. To Hagena she vouchsafed no further word.

"I did not know I was offending any body," she said, in a manner not
devoid of childish dignity. "I was trying to do a little bit of good.
I think, if you please, I had better go