arth beneath."

"But I would pay her any sum she asked."

"If my Lady can buy Christian consciences with gold, not so a daughter
of Israel."

The old man spoke proudly now, and his head was uplifted in a very
different style from his previous subservient manner. His son's lip was
curled, and his black eyes were flashing fire.

"Well! I do not understand it," answered the Countess, looking as much
annoyed as the sweet Princess Margaret knew how to look. "I should have
thought thy daughter might have put her fancies aside; for what harm can
there be in broidering flowers? However, if she will not, she will not.
She must work me a border of some other pattern, for I want the scarf
wider."

"That she can do, as my Lady may command." The old Jew was once more
the obsequious tradesman, laying himself out to please a profitable
customer.

"What will be the cost, if the scarf be three ells in length, and--let
me see--about half an ell broad?"

"It could not be done under fifteen gold pennies, my Lady."

"That is costly! Well, never mind. If people want to make rich gifts,
they must pay for them. But could I have it by Whitsuntide?--that is, a
few days earlier, so as to make the gift then."

The pedlar reflected for a moment.

"Let my Lady pardon her servant if he cannot give that answer at this
moment. If my daughter have no work promised, so that she can give her
time entirely to this, it can be done without fail. But it is some days
since my Lady's servant saw her, and she may have made some engagement
since."

"I am the better pleased thou art not too ready to promise," said the
Countess, smiling. "But what about the work being done under my eye? I
will lodge thy daughter, and feed her, and give her a gold penny extra
for it."

The old Jew looked very grave.

"Let my Lady not be angered with the lowest of her servants! But--we
are of another religion."

"Art thou afraid of my converting her?" asked the Countess, in an amused
tone.

"Under my Lady's pardon--no!" said the old man, proudly. "I can trust
my daughter. And if my noble Lady will make three promises on
whatsoever she holds most holy, the girl shall come."

"She should be worth having, when she is so hard to get at!" responded
the Countess, laughing, as she took from her bosom a beautiful little
silver crucifix, suspended by a chain of the same material from her
neck, "Now then, old man, what am I to swear?"

"First, that my dau