"Thou countest, then, that he which had been false to a thousand maids should be true to the one over?" saith Aunt _Joyce_, with a pitying smile. "Well, such a thing may be possible,--once in a thousand times. Hardly oftener, methinks, my child. But none is so blind as she that will not see. I must leave the Lord to open thine eyes,--for I wis He had to do it for me." And Aunt _Joyce_ rose up and went away. "I marvel who it were she called _Mary_," said I. "Essay not to guess, dear heart," saith _Helen_ quickly. "'Tis plain Aunt _Joyce_ would not have us know." "Why, she told us, or as good," quoth _Milisent_, in that bitter fashion she hath had to-day and yesterday. "Said she not, at the first, that `it were well to get the tale o'er ere _Dulcie_ should come'? 'Tis my Lady _Stafford_, of course." "I am not so sure of that," saith _Helen_, in a low voice: and methought she had guessed at some other, but would not say out [Note 1]. "I think we were better to go down now." So down went we all to the great chamber, and there found, with _Mother_, Mistress _Lewthwaite_, that was, as was plain to see, in a mighty taking [much agitated]. "Dear heart, Lady _Lettice_, but I never looked for this!" she crieth, wiping of her eyes with her kerchief. "I wis we have been less stricter than you in breeding up our maids: but to think that one of them should bring this like of a misfortune on us! For _Blanche_ is gone to be undone, of that am I sure. Truth to tell, yonder Sir _Francis Everett_ so took me with his fine ways and goodly looks and comely apparel and well-chosen words,--ay, and my master too--that we never thought to caution the maids against him. Now, it turns out that _Alice_ had some glint of what were passing: but she never betrayed _Blanche_, thinking it should not be to her honour; and me,--why, I ne'er so much as dreamed of any ill in store." "What name said you?" quoth _Mother_, that was trying to comfort her. "_Everett_," saith she; "Sir _Francis Everett_, he said his name were, of _Woodbridge_, in the county of _Suffolk_, where he hath a great estate, and spendeth a thousand pound by the year. And a well-looked man he was, not o'er young, belike, but rare goodly his hair fair and his eyen shining grey,--somewhat like to yours, my Lady." _Helen_ and I looked on each other, and I saw the same thought was in both our minds. And looking then upon _Mother_, I reckoned it had come to her likewise. At _Milisent_ I dared not look, though I saw _Helen_ glance at her.