"Hope's poor fare, Aunt. But I tell you, these folks are after no good. Why, only think! five of them got taken in by those rascals of Jews-- three in Benefei's house, and two at Jurnet's. _They'd_ never have taken them in, depend on it, if they hadn't known they weren't so much better than they should be." Agnes and Ermine understood none of these words, though they saw readily enough that the looks Anania cast upon them were not friendly. But Derette spoke up for her friends. "They're much better than you, Cousin Anania!" said that downright young woman. "Keep a civil tongue in your head," replied Anania sharply. "I'd rather have a true one," was the child's answer; "and I'm not sure they always go together." "Osbert says," pursued Anania, ignoring Derette, "that he expects there'll be a stir when my Lord comes to hear of them. Much if they don't get turned out, bag and baggage. Serve 'em right, too!" "They haven't got any bags," said literal Derette. "I don't think they've any of them any clothes but what they wear. Only Gerard's got a book." "A book! What is it about?" cried Anania. "Is he a priest?--surely not!" Only a priest or monk, in her eyes, could have any business with a book. "Oh no, he's no priest; he's a weaver." "Then what on earth is he doing with a book? You get hold of it, Aunt! I'll warrant you it's some sort of wickedness--safe to be! Black spells to turn you all into ugly toads, or some such naughty stuff--take my word for it!" "I'd rather not, Cousin Anania, for you haven't seen it, so your word isn't much good," said Derette calmly. "It's not like to do us much good when we do see it," observed Isel, "because it will be in their own language, no doubt." "But if it's a witch-book, it's like to have horoscopes and all manner of things in it!" said Anania, returning to the charge. "Then it is not, for I have seen it," said Flemild. "It is in a foreign language; but all in it beside words is only red lines ruled round the pages." "He read me a piece out of it," added Derette; "and it was a pretty story about our Lady, and how she carried our Lord away when He was a baby, that the wicked King should not get hold of Him. It wasn't bad at all, Cousin Anania. You are bad, to say such things when you don't know they are true." "Hush, child!" said her mother. "I'll hush," responded Derette, marching off to Agnes and the baby: "but it's true, for all that." "That girl wants teaching manners," commented Anania. "I really think it my duty, Aunt, to tell you that nearly every body that knows you is talking of that child's forward manners and want of respect for her betters. You don't hear such remarks made, but I do. She will be insufferable if the thing is not stopped." "Oh, well, stop it, then!" said Isel wearily, "only leave me in peace. I'm just that tired!--" "I beg your pardon, Aunt! Derette is not my child. I have no right to correct her. If I had--"