They had passed through four rooms
ere Maude found her tongue.

"Might it like your Madamship," she asked timidly, her curiosity at last
overcoming her reserve, though she felt less at home with Dona Juana
than with the other lady, "to tell me the name of the fair mistress that
did give me into your charge?"

"That is our Lady's Grace, maiden," said Juana rather stiffly, "the Lady
Infanta Dona Isabel, Countess of Cambridge."

"What, she that doth bear rule over us all?" said Maude amazedly.

"She," replied Juana.

"Had I wist the same, as wot the saints, I had been sore afeard,"
responded Maude. "And what call men your Grace's Ladyship, an' I may
know?"

Dona Juana condescended to smile at the child's simplicity.

"My name is Juana Fernandez," she said. "Thou canst call me Dame Joan."

At this point the hangings were suddenly lifted, and something which
seemed to Maude the very Queen of the Fairies crept out and stood before
them. Juana stopped and courtesied, an act which Maude was too
fascinated to imitate.

"Whither go you, Dona Juana?" asked the vision. "In good sooth, this is
the very little maid I saw a-washing the pans. Art come to sit under
the cloth of estate in my stead?"

Little Maude gazed on her Fairy Queen, and was silent.

"What means your Grace, Dona Constanca?" asked Juana.

"What is thy name, and wherefore earnest hither?" resumed Constance,
still addressing herself to Maude.

"Maude," said the child shyly.

"Maude! That is a pretty name," pronounced the little Princess.

"The Senora Infanta, your Grace's mother, will have me essay to learn
the maid needlework," added Juana in explanation.

"Leave me learn her!" said Constance eagerly. "I can learn her all I
know; and I am well assured I can be as patient as you, Dona Juana."

"At your Ladyship's feet," responded Juana quietly, using her customary
formula. She felt the suggestion highly improper and exceedingly
absurd, but she was far too great a courtier to say so.

"Come hither!" said Constance gleefully, beckoning to Maude. "Sue
[follow] thou me unto Dame Agnes de La Marche her chamber. I would fain
talk with thee."

Maude glanced at Juana for permission.

"Sue thou the Senorita Dona Constanca," was the reply. "Be thou ware
not to gainsay her in any thing."

There was little need of the warning, for Maude was completely
enthralled. She followed her Fairy Queen in silence into the room where
Dame Agnes still sat