Part 2 (1/2)
The Duke of Lancaster having married the heiress of Castile, he and his wife were commonly styled King and Queen of Castile.
Mr Tynneslowe laughed. ”Nay, there you fly your hawk at somewhat too high game,” said he; ”nathless [nevertheless], Master Altham, it is a lady whom she shall serve, and a lady likewise who shall judge if she be meet for the place. But first shall she be seen of a certain gentlewoman of my lady's household, that shall say whether she promise fair enough to have her name sent up for judgment. I reckon three n.o.bles [one pound; present value, 6 pounds] by the year shall pay her reckoning.”
”Truly, I would be glad she had so good place. And for plenis.h.i.+ng, what must she have?”
”Store sufficient of raiment is all she need have, and such jewelling as it shall please you to bestow on her. All else shall be found. The gentlewoman shall give her note of all that lacketh, if she be preferred to the place.”
”And when shall she wait on the said gentlewoman?”
”Next Thursday in the even, at Master Goldsmith's.”
”I will send her.”
Mr Tynneslowe declined a second helping of hypocras, and took his leave. The patty-maker saw him to the door, and then went back into his shop.
”I have news for you, maids,” said he.
Ricarda, who was arranging the fresh patties, looked up and stopped her proceedings; Alexandra brought her head in from the window. Amphillis only, who sat sewing in the corner, went on with her work as if the news were not likely to concern her.
”Phyllis, how shouldst thou like to go forth to serve a lady?”
A bright colour flushed into the pale cheeks.
”I, Uncle?” she said.
”A lady!” cried Alexandra in a much shriller voice, the word which had struck her father's ear so lightly being at once noted by her. ”Said you a _lady_, Father? What lady, I pray you?”
”That cannot I say, daughter. Phyllis, thou art to wait on a certain gentlewoman, at Master Goldsmith's, as next Thursday in the even, that shall judge if thou shouldst be meet for the place. Don thee in thy best raiment, and mind thy manners.”
”May I go withal, Father?” cried Alexandra.
”There was nought said about thee. Wouldst thou fain be put forth? I never thought of no such a thing. Maybe it had been better that I had spoken for you, my maids.”
”I would not go forth to serve a city wife, or such mean gear,” said Alexandra, contemptuously. ”But in a lady's household I am well a.s.sured I should become the place better than Phyllis. Why, she has not a word to say for herself,--a poor weak creature that should never--”
”Hush, daughter! Taunt not thy cousin. If she be a good maid and discreet, she shall be better than fair and foolish.”
”Gramercy! cannot a maid be fair and discreet belike?”
”Soothly so. 'Tis pity she is not oftener.”
”But may we not go withal, Father?” said Ricarda.
”Belike ye may, my maid. Bear in mind the gentlewoman looks to see Amphillis, not you, and make sure that she wist which is she. Then I see not wherefore ye may not go.”
Any one who had lived in Mr Altham's house from that day till the Thursday following would certainly have thought that Alexandra, not Amphillis, was the girl chosen to go. The former made far more fuss about it, and she was at the same time preparing a new mantle wherein to attend the tournament, of which Amphillis was summoned to do all the plain and uninteresting parts. The result of this preoccupation would have been very stale pastry on the counter, if her father had not seen to that item for himself. Ricarda was less excited and egotistical, yet she talked more than Amphillis.
The Thursday evening came, and the three girls, dressed in their best clothes, took their way to the Dolphin. The Court goldsmith was a more select individual than Mr Altham, and did not serve in his own shop, unless summoned to a customer of rank. The young men who were there had evidently been prepared for the girls' coming, and showed them upstairs with a fire of jokes which Alexandra answered smartly, while Amphillis was silent under them.
They were ushered into the private chamber of the goldsmith's daughter, who sat at work, and rose to receive them. She kissed them all, for kissing was then the ordinary form of greeting, and people only shook hands when they wished to be warmly demonstrative.