Part 30 (1/2)
”But wherefore, when the matter was by--”
Lady Ba.s.set answered with a bitter little laugh, which reminded Perrote of her mother's.
”Because he loved Jean de Montfort, and she thwarted _him_, not the Damoiselle. He loved Alix de Ponteallen pa.s.sionately, and pa.s.sion dies; 'tis its nature. It is not pa.s.sionately, but undyingly, that he loves himself. Men do; 'tis their nature.”
Perrote shrewdly guessed that the remark had especial reference to one man, and that not the Duke of Bretagne.
”Ah, that is the nature of all sinners,” she said, ”and therefore of all men and women also. Dame, will you hearken to your old nurse, and grant her one boon?”
”That will I, Perrotine, if it be in my power. I grant not so many boons, neither can I, that I should grudge one to mine old nurse. What wouldst?”
”Dame, I pray you write a letter to my Lord Duke, the pitifullest you may pen, and send one of your men therewith, to pray him, as he loveth you, or her, or G.o.d, that he will come and look on her ere she die.
Tell him his old nurse full lovingly entreateth him, and if he will so do, I will take veil when my Lady is gone hence, and spend four nights in the week in prayer for his welfare. Say I will be his bedes-woman for ever, in any convent he shall name. Say anything that will bring him!”
”I pa.s.sed thee my word, and I will keep it,” said Lady Ba.s.set, as she rose. ”But if I know him, what I should say certainly to bring him would be that Sir Oliver de Clisson lay here in dungeon, and that if he would come he should see his head strake off in yonder court. He is a fair lover, my brother; but he is a far better hater.”
Perrote sighed.
”Amphillis!” came faintly up the stairs and along the gallery.
”Am-phil-lis!”
”Go, child,” said Perrote, replying to a look from Amphillis. ”'Tis Agatha calling thee. What would the foolish maid?”
Amphillis left her work upon the bench and ran down.
”Well, it is merry matter to catch hold of thee!” said Agatha, who was waiting at the foot of the stairs, and who never could recollect, unless Lady Foljambe were present, that Amphillis was to be addressed with more reverence than before. ”Here be friends of thine come to visit thee.”
”Friends!--of mine!” exclaimed Amphillis, in surprise. ”Why, I haven't any friends.”
”Well, enemies, then,” said Agatha, with a giggle. ”Come, go into hall and see who they be, and then tell me.”
Amphillis obeyed, and to her still greater surprise, found herself in the presence of Mr Altham and Regina.
”Ah, here she cometh!” was her uncle's greeting. ”Well, my maid, I am fain to see thee so well-looking, I warrant thee. Can'st love a new aunt, thinkest?”
”That am I secure,” replied Amphillis, smiling, and kissing the goldsmith's daughter.
”And an old uncle belike?” pursued Mr Altham, kissing her in his turn.
”a.s.suredly, dear Uncle; but I pray, how came you hither?”
”Dat shall I tell you,” said Mrs Altham, ”for oderwise you shall not know what good uncle you have. He promise to take me to mine own home in Dutchland, to see my greatmoder and mine aunts; and when we nigh ready were, he say, 'See you, now! shall we not go round by Derbys.h.i.+re, to see Amphillis, and sail from Hull?' So we come round all dis way; he miss you so, and want to make him sure you be well and kindly used. See you?”
”How kind and good are you both!” said Amphillis, gratefully. ”Pray you, good Aunt Regina, came Ricarda home safe?”
”She came safe, and she had but de scold well, tanks to your message; if not, she had de beat, beat, I ensure you, and she deserve dat full well.
She was bad girl, bad. Said I not to you, De mans is bad, and de womans is badder? It is true.”