y, which was
Proud garment of the soul,
And briefly drugs the soul,
Whose ruin is her goal--_

"_And means by this thereafter
A subtler mirth to get,
And mock with bitterer laughter
Her helpless dupes' regret,
Their swinish dull regret
For what they half forget._"

And within the hour came Hubert Frayne to Ordish, on a foam-specked
horse, as he rode to announce to the King's men the King's barbaric
murder overnight, at Berkeley Castle, by Queen Ysabeau's order.

"Ride southward," said Lord Berners, and panted as they buckled on his
disused armor; "but harkee, Frayne! if you pass the Countess of
Farrington's company, speak no syllable of your news, since it is not
convenient that a lady so thoroughly and so praiseworthily--Lord, Lord,
how I have fattened!--so intent on holy things, in fine, should have
her meditations disturbed by any such unsettling tidings. Hey,
son-in-law?"

Sir Gregory Darrell laughed, and very bitterly. "He that is without
blemish among you--" he said. Then they armed completely.

THE END OF THE FOURTH NOVEL

V

The Story of the Housewife

"_Selh que m blasma vostr' amor ni m defen
Non podon far en re mon cor mellor,
Ni'l dous dezir qu'ieu ai de vos major,
Ni l'enveya' ni'l dezir, ni'l talen._"

THE FIFTH NOVEL.--PHILIPPA OF HAINAULT DARES TO
LOVE UNTHRIFTILY, AND BY THE PRODIGALITY OF HER
AFFECTION SHAMES TREACHERY, AND COMMON-SENSE,
AND HIGH ROMANCE, QUITE STOLIDLY; BUT, AS LOVING
GOES, IS OVERTOPPED BY HER MORE STOLID SQUIRE.

The Story of the Housewife

In the year of grace 1326, upon Walburga's Eve, some three hours after
sunset (thus Nicolas begins), had you visited a certain garden on the
outskirts of Valenciennes, you might there have stumbled upon a big,
handsome boy, prone on the turf, where by turns he groaned and vented
himself in sullen curses. The profanity had its poor palliation. Heir
to England though he was, you must know that his father in the flesh
had hounded him from England, as more recently his uncle Charles the
Handsome had driven him from France. Now had this boy's mother and he
come as suppliants to the court of that stalwart nobleman Sire William
(Count of Hainault, Holland, and Zealand, and Lord of Friesland), where
their arrival had evoked the suggestion that they depart at their
earliest convenience. To-morrow, then, these footsore royalties, the
Queen of England and the P