st lawn of Cambray (whence comes "cambric"), and the purest sheeting
of Rennes, formed a background on which were exhibited rich diapered
stuffs from Damascus, crape of all colours from Cyprus, golden baudekyns
from Constantinople, fine sendal from India, with satins, velvets,
silks, taffetas, linen and woollen stuffs, in bewildering profusion.
Over these again were laid rich furs,--sable, ermine, miniver, black
fox, squirrel, marten, and lamb; and trimmings of gold and silver, gimp
and beads, delicate embroidery, and heavy tinsel.

"Here, Lady, is a lovely thing in changeable sendal," said the old man,
hunting for it among his silks: "it would be charming for the
fair-haired damsel--(lift off that fox fur, Cress),--blue and gold. Or
here,--a striped tartaryn, which would suit the dark young lady,--orange
and green. Then--(Cress, give me the silver frieze),--this, Lady, would
be well for the little maid, for somewhat cooler weather. And will my
Lady see the Cyprus? (Hand the pink one, Cress.) This would make up
enchantingly for the damsel that was in my Lady's chamber."

"Where is Doucebelle?" asked the Countess, looking round. "I thought
she had come. Marie, run and fetch her.--Hast thou any broidery-work of
the East Country, good man?"

"One or two small things, Lady.--Cress, give me thy sister's scarves."

The young man unfolded a woollen wrapper, and then a lawn one inside it,
and handed to his father three silken scarves, of superlatively fine
texture, and covered with most exquisite embroidery. Even the Countess,
accustomed as her eyes were to beautiful things, was not able to
suppress an admiring ejaculation.

"This _is_ lovely!" she said.

"Those are samples," remarked the pedlar, with a gleam of pleasure in
his eyes. "I have more, of various patterns, if my Lady would wish to
see them. She has only to speak her commands."

"Yes. But--these are all imported, I suppose?"

"All imported, such as I have shown to my Lady."

"I presume no broideress is to be found in England, who can do such work
as this?" said the Countess in a regretful tone.

"Did my Lady wish to find one?"

"I wished to have a scarf in my possession copied, with a few variations
which I would order. But I fear it cannot be done--it would be almost
necessary that I should see the broideress myself, to avoid mistakes;
and I would fain, if it were possible, have had the work done under my
own eye."

"That might be done, per