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th, very quiet-- "It was a gentleman in _Oxford_ town, Cousin _Lettice_, that I was wont to hear of from our _Nell_ when she dwelt yonder." "Oh, so?" saith _Mother_: and thus the matter ended. But at after, in the even, when _Father_ and Aunt _Joyce_ and I were by ourselves a little season in the hall, I heard Aunt _Joyce_ say, very soft-- "_Aubrey_, didst thou give her the name?" Methought _Father_ shook his head. "I dared not, _Joyce_," saith he. "She was so sore troubled touching-- the other matter." "I thought so," quoth _Aunt_. "Then I will beware that I utter it not." "But _Edith_ knows," answereth _Father_ in a low voice. "The maids all know," saith she. "I did not reckon thou wouldest keep it from her." "I should not, but,"--and _Father_ paused. "Thou wist, _Joyce_, how she setteth her heart on all things." "I am afeared, _Aubrey_, she shall have to know sooner or later. Mistress _Lewthwaite_ did all but utter it to her this morning, only I thank God her memory failed her just at the right minute." "We were better to tell her than that," saith _Father_, and leaned his head upon his hand as though he took thought. Then _Mother_ and _Helen_ came in, and no more was said. SELWICK HALL, DECEMBER THE FOURTH. I had no time to write yestereven, for we were late abed, it being nigh nine o' the clock ere we came up; and all the day too busy. My Lady _Stafford_ and Sir _Robert_ and Mistress _Martin_ did return with _Father_--the which I set not down in his right place at my last writing,--and yesterday we gat acquaint and showed them the vicinage and such like. As to-morrow, _Mother_ shall carry them to wait on my Lord _Dilston_. Sir _Robert Stafford_ is a personable gentleman, much of _Father's_ years; his nose something high, yet not greatly so, and his hair and beard now turning grey, but have been dark. Mistress _Martin_ his sister (that when _Mother_ wist her was Mistress _Grissel Stafford_) is much like to him in her face, but some years the younger of the twain, though her hair be the greyer. My Lady _Stafford_, howbeit, hath not a grey hair of her head, and hath more ruddiness of her face than Mistress _Martin_, being to my thought the comelier dame of the twain. _Mother_, nathless, saith that Mistress _Grissel_ was wont to be the fairer when all were maids, and that she hath wist much trouble, the which hath thus consumed her early l
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