er, and yet sadder [graver], than she
hath done of many days: and that both _Father_ and _Mother_ be very
tender unto her, as to one that had been lost and is found.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Note 1. Helen guessed rightly. As the readers of "Lettice Eden" will
know, the "Mary" of the tale was her mother.

CHAPTER SIX.

CHRISTMAS CHEER.

"Then opened wide the baron's hall
To vassal, tenant, serf, and all;
All hailed with uncontrolled delight,
And general voice, the happy night
That to the cottage, as the crown,
Brought tidings of salvation down."

Scott.

(_In Edith's handwriting_.)

SELWICK HALL, DECEMBER YE X.
Here have I been a-thinking I should scantly write a word when my month
was come, and already, with but ten days thereof, have I filled half as
much paper as either _Helen_ or _Milisent_. But in good sooth, I do
trust the next ten days shall not be so full of things happening as
these last. Nathless, I do love to have things happen, after a fashion:
but I would have them to be alway pleasant things. And when things
happen, they be so oft unpleasant.

Now, if one might order one's own life, methinks it should be a right
pleasant thing. For I reckon I should not go a-fooling, like as some
lasses do. Mine head is not all stuffed with gallants, nor yet with
velvet and gold. But I would love to be great. Not great like a
duchess, just a name and no more: but to make a name for myself, and to
have folks talk of me, how good and how clever I were. That is what I
would fain be thought--good and clever. I take no care to be thought
fair, nor in high place; howbeit, I desire not to be ugly nor no lower
down than I am. But I am quite content with mine own place, only I feel
within me that I could do great things.

And how can a woman do great things, without she be rare high in place,
such like as the Queen's Majesty, or my Lady Duchess of _Suffolk_? Or
how could I ever look to do great things, here in _Derwent_ dale? Oh, I
do envy our _Wat_ and _Ned_, by reason they can go about the world and
o'er the seas, and make themselves famous.

And, somehow, in a woman's life everything seems so little. 'Tis just
cooking and eating; washing linen and soiling of it; going to bed and
rising again. Always doing things and then undoing them, and alway the
same things over and over again. It see