spinning.

"Sit thou down on yonder stool," said Constance. "My gracious Ladyship
will take this giant's chair. (I have learned my lesson, Dame Agnes.)
Now--where is thy mother?"

"A fathom underground."

"Poor Maude! hast no mother?--And thy father?"

"Never had I."

"And thy brethren and sustren?" [Sisters.]

"Ne had I never none."

"Maiden!" interjected Dame Agnes, "wist not how to speak unto a damosel
of high degree? Thou shalt say `Lady' or `Madam.'"

"`Lady' or `Madam,'" repeated Maude obediently.

"How long hast washed yonder pans?" asked Constance, leaning her head on
the arm of the chair.

"`Lady' or `Madam,'" answered Maude, remembering her lesson, "by the
space of ten months."

"The sely hilding!" [sely=simple, hilding=young person of either sex]
exclaimed Agnes; while Constance flung herself into another attitude,
and laughed with great enjoyment.

"Flyte [scold] her not, Dame Agnes. I do foresee she and I shall be
great friends."

"Lady Custance! The dirt under your feet is no meet friend ne fellow
[companion] for the like of you."

"Truly, no, saving to make pies thereof," laughed the little Princess.
"Nathless, take my word for it, Maude and I shall be good friends."

Was there a recording angel hovering near to note the words? For the
two lives, which had that day come in contact, were to run thenceforth
side by side so long as both should last in this world.

But the little Princess was soon tired of questioning her new
acquaintance. She sauntered away ere long in search of some more novel
amusement, and Dame Agnes desired Maude to change her dress, and then to
return to the ante-chamber, there to await the orders of Dame Joan, as
Dona Juana was termed by all but the Royal Family. Maude obeyed, and in
the ante-chamber she found, not Juana, but Alvena [a fictitious person],
and another younger woman, whom she subsequently heard addressed as
Mistress Sybil [a fictitious person].

"So thou shalt be learned?" [you have to be taught] said Alvena, as her
welcome to Maude. "Come, look hither on this gown. What is it?"

"'Tis somewhat marvellous shene!" [bright] said Maude, timidly stroking
the glossy material.

Alvena only laughed, apparently enjoying the child's ignorance; but
Sybil said gently, "'Tis satin, little maid."

"Is it for our Lady's Grace?" asked Maude.

"Ay, when 'tis purfiled," replied Alvena.

"Pray you, Mistress Alvena, what is `purfiled?'"

"Why,