"He must needs go into Cambridgeshire to that damp, unhealthy castle," sighed a mournful voice. "I knew what would come of it. I foretold an ague from the start. Dear Nicholas, give you good den." Nicholas turned to greet my Lady Beauvallet, kissed her hand right dutifully, and so came to her lips. "Do I see you well, sister?" "Nick!" She blushed faintly and shook her finger at him. "Ever the same swift way! Nay, the hard winter--harder than any I remember, was it not, my lord?--tried me sorely. At the New Year I had the sweating-sickness. Then, at Candlemas, an ague seized me, and was like to have carried me off, methought." "But the spring comes, and you grow strong with it," suggested Nicholas. She looked doubtful. "Indeed, Nicholas, I trust it may be found so, but I have the frailest health, as you know." Gerard broke in upon this lamentation. "I see you bring home that ruffler," he said, and nodded to where Joshua stood in parley with the lackeys. "Have ye schooled him yet?" "Devil a bit, brother. Joshua! Here, rogue, come pay your duty to my lord!" He put an arm round my lady's waist and swept her into the house. "Have in with you, Kate. The snip of the wind is like to lay you low of a second ague." My lady went with him protesting. "Nick, Nick, so hardy still? Not a second ague, I assure you, but more like the seventh, for, indeed, no sooner am I raised from one than another comes to strike me down. Come into the hall, brother. There should be a fire there, and they will bring wine for you. Or there is some March beer of two years tunning. Dawson! Dawson, bring--oh, he is gone! Well, come in, Nicholas; you will be chilled from your ride." They went through the screens to the Great Hall. This was a noble apartment with the roof high over their heads crossed and re-crossed with oaken timbers. Tall windows were set all round the walls at a height above a man's head. Between them the walls were covered with panels of linen-fold. A dais was set at one end, in the bay of the front windows, with a long table upon it and benches around. A great fireplace stood in one wall, with logs burning in it. Above the lofty mantelpiece, supported by pilasters, my lord's quarterings hung. Rushes, with rosemary strewed amongst them, covered the floor; there was a settle on either side of the fireplace, and some carved and panel-backed chairs ranged neatly along the wall. My lady sat down on one side of the fire, and since her monstrous farthingale seemed to occupy most of the settle, Sir Nicholas went to the other. "Yes, sit down, dear Nicholas," she said. "Dawson will be here anon, and my lord too, I dare swear."