en an extra stimulant to that
interest in her ladyship which was ever great enough to need none.
Thereunto was added the piquancy of the stories of the noticeable
demeanour of Sir John Oxon, of what had seemed to be so plain a rebellion
against his fate, and also of my lady's open and cold displeasure at the
manner of his bearing himself as a disappointed man who presumed to show
anger against that to which he should gallantly have been resigned, as
one who is conquered by the chance of war. Those who had beheld the two
ride homeward together in the morning, were full of curiousness, and one
and another, mentioning the matter, exchanged glances, speaking plainly
of desire to know more of what had passed, and of hope that chance might
throw the two together again in public, where more of interest might be
gathered. It seemed indeed not unlikely that Sir John might appear among
the tea-bibbers, and perchance 'twas for this lively reason that my
lady's room was this afternoon more than usually full of gay spirits and
gossip-loving ones.

They found, however, only her ladyship's self and her sister, Mistress
Anne, who, of truth, did not often join her tea-parties, finding them so
given up to fashionable chatter and worldly witticisms that she felt
herself somewhat out of place. The world knew Mistress Anne but as a
dull, plain gentlewoman, whom her more brilliant and fortunate sister
gave gracious protection to, and none missed her when she was absent, or
observed her greatly when she appeared upon the scene. To-day she was
perchance more observed than usual, because her pallor was so great a
contrast to her ladyship's splendour of beauty and colour. The contrast
between them was ever a great one; but this afternoon Mistress Anne's
always pale countenance seemed almost livid, there were rings of pain or
illness round her eyes, and her features looked drawn and pinched. My
Lady Dunstanwolde, clad in a great rich petticoat of crimson flowered
satin, with wondrous yellow Mechlin for her ruffles, and with her
glorious hair dressed like a tower, looked taller, more goddess-like and
full of splendid fire than ever she had been before beheld, or so her
visitors said to her and to each other; though, to tell the truth, this
was no new story, she being one of those women having the curious power
of inspiring the beholder with the feeling each time he encountered them
that he had never before seen them in such beauty and bloom.