Thee on the cross, pierced
with bloody wounds, and on the following day, according to Thy warning,
I spared Thy image and worshipped it: and now Thou hast, in Thy favour,
repaid me for so doing, in a lucky moment.'"

It did not strike either Marjory or Margaret, as perhaps it may the
reader, that this speech presented a very curious medley of devotion,
thankfulness, barefaced idolatry, and belief in dreams and lucky
moments. To their minds the mixture was perfectly natural. So much so,
that Marjory's response was--

"Doubtless it was so, Magot. It is always very unlucky to neglect a
dream."

At this juncture Eva de Braose presented herself. She was one of three
maidens who were alike--as was then customary--wards of the Earl, and
waiting-maids of the Countess. They were all young ladies of high birth
and good fortune, orphan heirs or co-heirs, whose usual lot it was,
throughout the Middle Ages, to be given in wardship to some nobleman,
and educated with his daughters. Eva de Braose, Marie de Lusignan, and
Doucebelle de Vaux, [Eva and Marie (but not Doucebelle) are historical
persons,] were therefore the social equals and constant companions of
Margaret. Eva was a rather pretty, fair-haired girl, about two years
older than our heroine.

"The pedlar is coming now, Margaret."

"_Ha, jolife_!" cried Margaret. [Note 4.] "Is my Lady and mother
coming?"

"Yes, and both Hawise and Marie."

Hawise de Lanvalay was the young wife of Margaret's eldest brother.
Earl Hubert's family consisted, beside his daughter, of two sons of his
first marriage, John and Hubert, who were respectively about eighteen
and fifteen years older than their sister.

The Countess entered in a moment, bringing with her the young Lady
Hawise,--a quiet-looking, dark-eyed girl of some eighteen years; and
Marie, the little Countess of Eu, who was only a child of eleven. After
them came Levina, one of the Countess's dressers, and two sturdy
varlets, carrying the pedlar's heavy pack between them. The pedlar
himself followed in the rear. He was a very respectable-looking old
man, with strongly-marked aquiline features and long white beard; and he
brought with him a lithe, olive-complexioned youth of about eighteen
years of age.

The varlets set down the pack on the floor, and departed. The old man
unstrapped it, and opening it out with the youth's help, proceeded to
display his goods. Very rich, costly, and beautiful they were. The
fine