On this hot midsummer day the mistress of Chad was making her usual
morning round of the kitchens and adjoining offices--her simple
though graceful morning robe, and the plain coif covering her hair,
showing that she was not yet dressed for the duties which would
engross her later in the day. She had a great bunch of keys
dangling at her girdle, and her tablets were in her hands, where
from time to time she jotted down some brief note to be entered
later in those household books which she kept herself with
scrupulous care, so that every season she knew exactly how many
gallons or hogsheads of mead or wine had been brewed, what had been
the yield of every crop in the garden or meadow, what stores of
conserves had been made from each fruit as its season came in, and
whether that quantity had proved sufficient for the year's
consumption.

The cherry crop was being gathered in today. Huge baskets of the
delicious fruit were ranged along one wall of the still room, and
busy hands were already preparing the bright berries for the
preserving pan or the rows of jars that were likewise placed in
readiness to receive them. The cherry trees of Chad were famous for
their splendid crop, and the mistress had many wonderful recipes
and preparations by which the fruit was preserved and made into all
manner of dainty conserves that delighted all who partook of them.

"I will come anon, and help you with your task," said the lady to
the busy wenches in the still room, who were hard at work preparing
the fruit. "I will return as soon as I have made my round, and see
that all is going well."

The girls smiled, and dropped their rustic courtesies. Some amongst
them were not the regular serving maids of the place, but were the
daughters of the humbler retainers living round and about, who were
glad to come to assist at the great house when there was any press
of work--a thing that frequently happened from April to November.

None who assisted at Chad at such times ever went away empty
handed. Besides the small wage given for the work done, there was
always a basket of fruit, or a piece of meat, or a flagon of wine,
according to the nature of the task, set aside for each assistant
who did not dwell beneath the roof of Chad. And if there was
sickness in any cottage from which a worker came, there was certain
to be some little delicacy put into a basket by the hands of the
mistress, and sent with a kindly word of goodwill and sympathy t