Part 3 (1/2)

”With G.o.d's grace, Mistress, I so trust.” Alexandra's face wore an expression of dismay. It had never occurred to her that silence and patience were qualities required in a bower-maiden, as the maid or companion to a lady was then called; for the maid was the companion then, and was usually much better educated than now--as education was understood at that time. In Alexandra's eyes the position was simply one which gave unbounded facilities for flirting, laughing, and giddiness in general. She began to think that Amphillis was less to be envied than she had supposed.

”And thou wouldst endeavour thyself to be meek and buxom [humble and submissive] in all things to them that should be set over thee?”

”I would so, my mistress.”

”What fas.h.i.+ons of needlework canst do?”

”Mistress, I can sew, and work tapestry, and embroider somewhat if the pattern be not too busy [elaborate, difficult]. I would be glad to learn the same more perfectly.”

Mistress Chaucer rose. ”I think thou wilt serve,” said she. ”But I can but report the same--the deciding lieth not with me. Mistress Regina, I pray you to allow of another to speak with this maid in your chamber to-morrow in the even, and this time it shall be the lady that must make choice. Not she that shall be thy mistress, my maid; she dwelleth not hereaway, but far hence.”

Amphillis cared very little where her future duties were to lie. She was grateful to her uncle, but she could hardly be said to love him; and her cousins had behaved to her in such a style, that the sensation called forth towards them was a long way from love. She felt alone in the world; and it did not much signify in what part of that lonely place she was set down to work. The only point about which she cared at all was, that she was rather glad to hear she was not to stay in London; for, like old Earl Douglas, she ”would rather hear the lark sing than the mouse cheep.”

The girls louted to Mistress Chaucer, kissed Regina, and went down into the shop, which they found filled with customers, and Master Herman himself waiting on them, they being of sufficient consequence for the notice of that distinguished gentleman. On the table set in the midst of the shop--which, like most tables at that day, was merely a couple of boards laid across trestles--was spread a blue cloth, whereon rested various glittering articles--a silver basin, a silver-gilt bottle, a cup of gold, and another of a fine sh.e.l.l set in gold, a set of silver apostle spoons, so-called because the handle of each represented one of the apostles, and another spoon of beryl ornamented with gold; but none of them seemed to suit the customers, who were looking for a suitable christening gift.

”_Ach_! dey vill not do!” e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Master Herman, spreading out his fat fingers and beringed thumbs. ”Then belike we must de jewels try.

It is a young lady, de s.h.i.+ld? _Gut_! den look you here. Here is de botoner of perry [b.u.t.ton-hook of goldsmith's work], and de bottons-- twelf--wrought wid garters, wid lilies, wid bears, wid leetle bells, or wid a reason [motto]--you can haf what reason you like. Look you here again, Madam--de ouches [brooches]--an eagle of gold and enamel, Saint George and de dragon, de white hart, de triangle of diamonds; look you again, de paternosters [rosaries], dey are _lieblich_! gold and coral, gold and pearls, gold and rubies; de rings, sapphire and ruby and diamond and smaragdus [emerald]--_ach_! I have it. Look you here!”

And from an iron chest, locked with several keys, Master Herman produced something wrapped carefully in white satin, and took off the cover as if he were handling a baby.

”Dere!” he cried, holding up a golden chaplet, or wreath for the head, of ruby flowers and leaves wrought in gold, a large pearl at the base of every leaf--”dere! You shall not see a better sight in all de city--_ach_! not in Nuremburg nor Coln. Dat is what you want--it is _schon, schon_! and dirt sheap it is--only von hundert marks. You take it?”

The lady seemed inclined to take it, but the gentleman demurred at the hundred marks--66 pounds, 13 s.h.i.+llings and 4 pence, which, reduced to modern value, would be nearly eleven hundred pounds; and the girls, who had lingered as long as they reasonably could in their pa.s.sage through the attractive shop, were obliged to pa.s.s out while the bargain was still unconcluded.

”I'd have had that chaplet for myself, if I'd been that lady!” said Alexandra as they went forward. ”I'd never have cast that away for a christening gift.”

”Nay, but her lord would not find the money,” answered Ricarda.

”I'd have had it, some way,” said her sister. ”It was fair enough for a queen. Amphillis, I do marvel who is the lady thou shalt serve.

There's ever so much ado ere the matter be settled. 'Tis one grander than Mistress Chaucer, trow, thou shalt see to-morrow even.”

”Ay, so it seems,” was the quiet answer.

”Nathless, I would not change with thee. I've no such fancy for silence and patience. Good lack! but if a maid can work, and dress hair, and the like, what would they of such weary gear as that?”

”Maids be not of much worth without they be discreet,” said Amphillis.

”Well, be as discreet as thou wilt; I'll none of it,” was the flippant reply of her cousin.

The young ladies, however, did not neglect to accompany Amphillis on her subsequent visit. Regina met them at the door.

”She is great lady, dis one, I am sure,” said she. ”Pray you, mind your respects.”

The great lady carried on her conversation in French, which in 1372 was the usual language of the English n.o.bles. Its use was a survival from the Norman Conquest, but the Norman-French was very far from pure, being derided by the real French, and not seldom by Englishmen themselves.

Chaucer says of his prioress:--

”And French she spake full fair and fetously [cleverly], After the scole of Stratford-atte-Bow, For French of Paris was to hire [her] unknow.”

This lady, the girls noticed, spoke the French of Paris, and was rather less intelligible in consequence. She put her queries in a short, quick style, which a little disconcerted Amphillis; and she had a weary, irritated manner. At last she said shortly--