The knight was above the peer, even kings receiving additional honour from knighthood; but the equivalent title of Dame does not seem to have been regularly conferred on their wives till about 1230, though it might be given in some cases, as a matter of courtesy, at a rather earlier period. Perceiving her exalted friend, Isel went forward as quickly as was in her, to receive her with all possible cordiality, and to usher her to the best place in the chimney-corner. Aliz greeted the family pleasantly, but with a shade of constraint towards their German guests. For a few minutes they talked conventional nothings, as is the custom of those who meet only occasionally. Then Aliz said-- "I came to-day, Isel, for two reasons. Have here the first: do you know of any vacant situation for a young woman?" Isel could do nothing in a hurry,--more especially if any mental process was involved. "Well, maybe I might," she said slowly. "Who is it, I pray you, and what are her qualifications?" "It is the daughter of my waiting-woman, and grand-daughter of my old nurse. She is a good girl--rather shy and inexperienced, but she learns quickly. I would have taken her into my own household, but I have no room for her. I wish to find her a good place, not a poor one. Do you know of any?" As Isel hesitated, Haimet took up the word. "Would it please you to have her an anchorhold maid?" "Oh, if she could obtain such a situation as that," said Aliz eagerly, "there would be no more to wish for." The holiness of an anchoritess was deemed to run over upon her maid, and a young woman who wore the semi-conventual garb of those persons was safe from insult, and sure of help in time of need. "My youngest sister goes into Saint John's anchorhold next month," said Haimet, "and we have not yet procured a maid for her." "So that is your destiny?" said Aliz, with a smile to Derette. "Well, it is a blessed calling." Her manner, however, added that she had no particular desire to be blessed in that fashion. "That would be the very thing for Leuesa," she pursued. "I will send her down to talk with you. Truly, we should be very thankful to those choice souls to whom is given the rare virtue of such holy self-sacrifice." Aliz spoke the feeling of her day, which could see no bliss for a woman except in marriage, and set single life on a pinnacle of holiness and misery not to be reached by ordinary men and women. The virtues of those self-denying people who sacrificed themselves by adopting it were supposed to be paid into an ecclesiastical treasury, and to form a kind of set-off against the every-day shortcomings of inferior married folks. Therefore Aliz expressed her gratitude for the prospect, as affording her an extra opportunity of doing her duty by proxy. Derette was in advance of her age. "But I am not sacrificing myself," she said. "I am pleasing myself. I should not like to be a wife."