"No," said Derette. "I only want to shake them." Cumina laughed. "You'll do!" she said. "Come, then, I'll take you to Hagena. She's not very pleasant-spoken, but if any body can help you, she can. The only doubt is whether she will." Derette followed Cumina through what seemed to her endless corridors opening into further and further corridors, till at last she asked in a tone of astonishment-- "How can you ever find your way?" "Oh, you learn to do that very soon," said Cumina, laughing, as she opened the door of a long, low chamber. "Now, you must tread softly here, and speak very respectfully." Derette nodded acquiescence, and they went in. The room was lined with presses from floor to ceiling. On benches which stood back to back in its midst, several lengths of rich silken stuffs were spread out; and on other benches near the windows sat two or three girls busily at work. Several elder ladies were moving about the room, and one of them, a rather stout, hard-featured woman, was examining the girls' work. Cumina went up to her. "If you please, Hagena," she said, "is there any where an old gown which it would please you to bestow on this girl, who has asked the boon?" Hagena straightened herself up and looked at Derette. "Is she the child of one of my Lord's tenants?" "No," answered Derette. "My mother's house is her own." "Well, if ever I heard such assurance! Perchance, Madam, you would like a golden necklace to go with it?" If Derette had not been on her good behaviour, Hagena would have received as much as she gave. But knowing that her only chance of success lay in civil and submissive manners, she shut her lips tight and made no answer. "Who sent you?" pursued Hagena, who was the Countess's mistress of the household, and next in authority to her. "Nobody. I came of myself." "_Ha, chetife_! I do wonder what the world's coming to! The impudence of the creature! How on earth did she get in? Just get out again as fast as you can, and come on such an errand again if you dare! Be off with you!" Derette's voice trembled, but not with fear, as she turned back to Cumina. To Hagena she vouchsafed no further word. "I did not know I was offending any body," she said, in a manner not devoid of childish dignity. "I was trying to do a little bit of good. I think, if you please, I had better go home." Derette's speech infuriated Hagena. The child had kept her manners and her dignity too, under some provocation, while the mistress of the household was conscious that she had lost hers. "How dare--" she was beginning, when another voice made her stop suddenly. "What has the child been doing? I wish to speak with her." Cumina hastily stopped Derette from leaving the room, and led her up to the lady who had spoken and who had only just entered. "What is it, my little maid?" she said kindly.