long lecture, warning her, among other things,
never to leave the door unlocked nor the prisoner alone. Either Perrote
or Amphillis must sleep in the pallet bed in her chamber during the
whole time of Lady Foljambe's absence, so that she should never be left
unguarded for a single moment. Matthew received another harangue, to
which he paid little attention in reality, though in outward seeming he
received it with due deference. Father Jordan languidly washed his
hands with invisible soap, and assured his patrons that no harm could
possibly come to the prisoner through their absence.

The Tuesday evening was near its close. The sun had just sunk behind
the western hills; the day had been bright and beautiful in the extreme.
Amphillis was going slowly upstairs to her turret, carrying her little
work-basket, which was covered with brown velvet and adorned with silver
cord, when she saw Kate standing in the window of the landing, as if she
were waiting for something or some person. It struck Amphillis that
Kate looked unhappy.

"Kate, what aileth thee?" she asked, pausing ere ere she mounted the
last steps. "Dost await here for man to pass?"

"Nay, Mistress--leastwise--O Mistress Amphillis, I wis not what to do!"

"Anentis what, my maid?"

"Nay, I'd fain tell you, but--Lack-a-day, I'm all in a tumblement!"

"What manner of tumblement?" asked Amphillis, sitting down in the
window-seat. "Hast brake some pottery, Kate, or torn somewhat, that
thou fearest thy dame's anger?"

"Nay, I've brake nought saving my word; and I've not done that _yet_."

"It were evil to break thy word, Kate."

"Were it so?" Kate looked up eagerly.

"Surely, without thou hadst passed word to do somewhat thou shouldst
not."

Kate's face fell. She had thought she saw a way out of her difficulty;
and it was closing round her again.

"It's none so easy to tell what man shouldn't," she said, in a troubled
tone.

"What hast thou done, Kate?"

"Nay, I've done nought yet. I've only passed word to do."

"To do what?"

Before Kate could answer, Agatha whisked into the corner.

"Thank goodness they're all gone, the whole lot of them! Won't we have
some fun now! Kate, run down stairs, and bring me up a cork; and I want
a long white sheet and a mop. Now haste thee, do! for I would fain
cause Father Jordan to skrike out at me, and I have scarce time to get
my work done ere the old drone shall come buzzing up this gait. Be
sharp, ma