“Certainly, we will start next time you come to see me. See if you can find some Greek books in the library. Good-bye.” Aline departed and sat at the wheel till supper and then went up with Audry to their room. What was her surprise as she looked at her bed to see it covered with neatly folded little piles of beautiful linen. Child as she was she knew at once that both the linen and lace upon it were of exceptional quality. “O Audry dear! what is all this?” she exclaimed. “Well, you will never guess, will she, Elspeth?” said Audry, turning to the old nurse who had stolen in to see how the gift would be received. “Nobody could bear that you should wear dowlas, hinnie,” said the old dame, “and so practically every one in the neighbourhood has had a hand in what you see there. Janet Arnside made this camise, and Martha, the laundry-maid, made that nightrobe. Joseph, the stableman, and Silas bought the bit of lace on this. Edward bought this larger piece of _punto in aria_ here. I made these with the _tela tirata_ work with my own hands and I do hope you will like them.” “Indeed I do,” said Aline, bewildered as much by the demonstration of widespread affection as by the altogether unexpected acquisition. “Elspeth, you are a dear, and, oh, it is good of them, but what will Mistress Mowbray say?” “Mistress Mowbray is not to know, that’s what they all said; if she did, marry, she would say that we were all doited, and you would not let her think that, would you, dearie?” said the old woman slyly. “You will be careful not to get us into trouble, for we meant it kindly.” Aline was quite overcome and they went through every piece and learnt its history. “I cannot help liking nice things,” said Aline. “And why should you not?” exclaimed the old woman; “it is only vulgar when you put dress before other things or think about it every day. Old Mistress Mowbray,--your grandmother, my dear,” turning to Audry, “used often to say that it was the mark of a lady to dress well but simply and not to think much about it.” “I should much prefer simple clothes except for great occasions,” said Aline, “if only for the sake of making the great occasion more special; but even then I like the rich broad effects that father used to talk about with long lines and big masses and full drapery rather than elaborate things. Some of these newer styles I do not like at all.” “Yes, I agree with you,” Audry chimed in, “but I should like to wear velvet other than black, and I have always longed to have some ermine.” “Well, unless they alter the laws of the land for your benefit, childie, you will have to marry a baron; but you should be thankful for what you have got. I should soon be tried in the court[14] if I started wearing black velvet,” said Elspeth. [14] The sumptuary laws regulated what each rank was allowed to wear. “Does your ambition soar to diamonds and pearls, Audry?” asked Aline, laughing.