I do not quite see what difference the abdication will make. Guy must still remain Regent for several years, and the only change is that he will govern for his step-son instead of his brother-in-law. And I feel a little jealous that Lady Sybil should be passed by. She, not her son, is the next heir of the crown. Why must she be the subject of her own child, who ought to be hers? I really feel vexed about it; and so does Guy, I am sure, though he says nothing—at least to me. As to Lady Sybil herself, she is so meek and gentle, that if a beggar in the street were put over her head, I believe she would kneel to do her homage without a cloud on her sweet face. However, I felt at liberty to say what I thought to Amaury, though I seldom do it without being annoyed by his answer. And certainly I was now. "She! She’s a woman," said Messire Amaury. "What does a woman know about governing?" "What does a baby know?" said I. "Oh, but he will be a man some day," answered Amaury. "But Guy will govern in either case," I replied, trying not to be angry with him. He is so silly, and he thinks himself so supremely wise! I do believe, the more foolish people are, the wiser they think themselves. "Ha!" said he. "Saving your presence, Damoiselle Elaine, I am not so sure that Guy knows much about it." "Amaury, thou art an idiot!" cried I, quite unable to bear any longer. "I believe thou hast told me that before," he returned with provoking coolness. I dashed away, for I knew I might as well talk to Damoiselle Melisende’s pet weasel. I do not like the Count of Tripoli. The more I see of him, the less I like him. And I do not like his fawning professions of friendship for Guy. Guy does not see through it a bit. I believe he only means to use Guy as a ladder by which to climb himself, and as soon as he is at the top, he will kick the ladder down behind him. Did I not say that Amaury was an idiot? And is it not true? Here is our sister Eschine the mother of a pretty little baby, and instead of being thankful that Eschine and the infant are doing well, there goes Amaury growling and grumbling about the house because his child is a girl. Nay, he does more, for he snarls at Eschine, as if it were her fault, poor thing! "She knows I wanted a boy!" he said this morning. Men are such selfish simpletons! To see how coolly Eschine takes it is the strangest thing of all. "I was afraid he would be disappointed," she said calmly. "You see, men don’t think much of girls." "Men are all donkeys," said I, "and Amaury deserves to be king of the donkeys." Eschine seemed to think that very funny. "Come, Elaine, I cannot let thee say that of my lord, and sit silent. And I think Messire Homfroy de Tours quite as well qualified for the position." "Ah," said I, "but Lady Isabel keeps her curb much tighter than thou. I really feel almost sorry for him sometimes, when she treats him like a baby before all the world."