may tell my news more fully."

I wis not whether I shut the casement or no, for ere man might count ten
was I in the Queen's antechamber, and shaking of Dame Elizabeth by the
shoulders. But, good lack, she took it as easy as might be. She was
alway one to take matters easy, Dame Elizabeth de Mohun.

"Oh, let be till daylight," quoth she, as she turned on her pillow.
"'Tis but one of Robin Lethegreve's fumes and frets, I'll be bound. He
is for ever a-reckoning that the Scots be at hand or the house o' fire,
and he looks for man to vault out of his warm bed that instant minute
when his fearsome news be spoken. Go to sleep, Cicely, and let folks
be."

And round turned she, and, I warrant, was asleep ere I could bring forth
another word. So then I fell to shaking Joan de Vilers, that lay at
tother end of the chamber. But she was right as bad, though of another
fashion.

"Wherefore rouse me?" saith she. "I can do nought. 'Tis not my place.
If Dame Elizabeth arise not, I cannot. Thou wert best go back abed,
dear heart. Thou shalt but set thyself in trouble."

Well, there was no time to reason with such a goose; but I longed to
shake her yet again. Howbeit, I tarried no longer in the antechamber,
but burst into the Queen's own chamber where she lay abed, with Dame
Tiffany in the pallet--taking no heed that Joan called after me--

"Cicely! Cicely! how darest thou? Come back, or thou shall be mispaid
or tint!" [Held in displeasure or ruined.]

But I cared not at that moment, whether for mispayment or tinsel. I had
my duty to do, and I did it. If the news were true, the Queen was
little like to snyb [blame] me when she found it so: and if no, well, I
had but done as I should. And I knew that Dame Tiffany, which tended
her like a hen with one chicken, should hear my tidings of another
fashion from the rest. Had Dame Elizabeth lain that night in the
pallet, and Dame Tiffany in the antechamber, my work had been the
lighter. But afore I might win to the pallet--which to do I had need to
cross the chamber,--Queen Isabel's own voice saith from the state
bed--"Who is there?"

"Dame," said I,--forgetting to kneel, in such a fluster was I--"my
brother hath now brought tidings that the Scots come in force by the
Aire Valley, with all speed, and are nearhand at the very gate;
wherefore--"

The Queen heard me no further. She was out of her bed, and herself
donning her raiment, ere I might win thus far.

"Send