ght service; and the lady wotteth [knows] of a gentlewoman
with whom she might be placed an' she should serve, and the service
suited your desires for her."

"Pray you, come within, and let us talk thereon at our leisure. I am
beholden to Mistress Walton; she knew I had some thoughts thereanent
[about it], and she hath done me a good turn to name it."

The varlet, as he was then called, followed Mr Altham into the shop.
Aralet is a contraction of this word. But varlet, at that date, was a
term of wide signification, including any type of personal attendant.
The varlet of a duke would be a gentleman by birth and education, for
gentlemen were not above serving nobles even in very menial positions.
People had then, in some respects, "less nonsense about them" than now,
and could not see that it was any degradation for one man to hand a
plate to another.

Alexandra rose when the varlet made his appearance. She did not keep a
heart, and she did keep a large stock of vanity. She was consequently
quite ready to throw over Clement Winkfield as soon as ever a more
eligible suitor should present himself; and her idea of mankind ranged
them in two classes--such as were, and such as were not, eligible
suitors for Alexandra Altham.

Mr Altham, however, led his guest straight through the shop and
upstairs, thus cutting short Miss Altham's wiles and graces. He took
him into what we should call his study, a very little room close to his
bedchamber, and motioned him to the only chair it contained; for chairs
were rare and choice things, the form or bench being the usual piece of
furniture. Before shutting the door, however, he called--"Phyllis!"

Somebody unseen to the varlet answered the call, and received directions
in a low voice. Mr Altham then came in and shut the door.

"I have bidden the maid bring us hypocras and spice," said he; "so you
shall have a look at her."

Hypocras was a very light wine, served as tea now is in the afternoon,
and spice was a word which covered all manner of good things--not only
pepper, sugar, cinnamon, and nutmegs, but rice, almonds, ginger, and
even gingerbread.

Mr Tynneslowe--for so the varlet was named--sat down in the chair, and
awaited the tray and Amphillis.

CHAPTER TWO.

_The Goldsmith's Daughter_.

"I can live
A life that tells on other lives, and makes
This world less full of evil and of pain--
A life which, like a pebble dropped at sea,
Sends its wide ci