Part 7 (1/2)
”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 a.s.sured I can be as patient as you, Dona Juana.”
”At your Ladys.h.i.+p'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 spinning.
”Sit thou down on yonder stool,” said Constance. ”My gracious Ladys.h.i.+p will take this giant's chair. (I have learned my lesson, Dame Agnes.) Now--where is thy mother?”
”A fathom underground.”
”Poor Maude! hast no mother?--And thy father?”
”Never had I.”
”And thy brethren and sustren?” [Sisters.]
”Ne had I never none.”
”Maiden!” interjected Dame Agnes, ”wist not how to speak unto a damosel of high degree? Thou shalt say 'Lady' or 'Madam.'”
”'Lady' or 'Madam,'” repeated Maude obediently.
”How long hast washed yonder pans?” asked Constance, leaning her head on the arm of the chair.
”'Lady' or 'Madam,'” answered Maude, remembering her lesson, ”by the s.p.a.ce of ten months.”
”The sely hilding!” [sely=simple, hilding=young person of either s.e.x]
exclaimed Agnes; while Constance flung herself into another att.i.tude, and laughed with great enjoyment.
”Flyte [scold] her not, Dame Agnes. I do foresee she and I shall be great friends.”
”Lady Custance! The dirt under your feet is no meet friend ne fellow [companion] for the like of you.”
”Truly, no, saving to make pies thereof,” laughed the little Princess.
”Nathless, take my word for it, Maude and I shall be good friends.”
Was there a recording angel hovering near to note the words? For the two lives, which had that day come in contact, were to run thenceforth side by side so long as both should last in this world.
But the little Princess was soon tired of questioning her new acquaintance. She sauntered away ere long in search of some more novel amus.e.m.e.nt, and Dame Agnes desired Maude to change her dress, and then to return to the ante-chamber, there to await the orders of Dame Joan, as Dona Juana was termed by all but the Royal Family. Maude obeyed, and in the ante-chamber she found, not Juana, but Alvena [a fict.i.tious person], and another younger woman, whom she subsequently heard addressed as Mistress Sybil [a fict.i.tious person].
”So thou shalt be learned?” [you have to be taught] said Alvena, as her welcome to Maude. ”Come, look hither on this gown. What is it?”