'For that, the worshipful your father had him to master,' he said ironically. 'No, for that he was a ruined man, and taught for his victuals. We welly starved at home, my sisters and I.' He said slowly: 'The better need that you should grow beloved here.' Standing there, before the bushes where no ears could overhear, he put to her more questions. She had some Greek, more than a little French, she could judge a good song, she could turn a verse in Latin or the vulgar tongue. She professed to be able to ride well, to be conversant with the terms of venery, to shoot with the bow, and to have studied the Fathers of the Church. 'These things are well liked in high places,' he said. 'His Highness' self speaks five tongues, loveth a nimble answer, and is a noble huntsman.' He surveyed her as if she were a horse he were pricing. 'But I doubt not you have appraised yourself passing well,' he uttered. 'I have had some to make me pleasant speeches,' she answered, 'but too many cannot be had.' 'See you,' he said slowly, 'these tuckets that they blow from the gate signify that the new Queen cometh with a great state.' He bit his under lip and looked at her meaningly. 'But a great state ensueth a great heaviness to the head of the State. _Principis hymen, principium gravitatis_.... 'Tis a small matter to me; you may make it a great one to your ladyship's light fortunes.' She knew that he awaited her saying: 'I do not take your lordship,' and she pulled the hood further over her face because it was cold, and uttered the words with her eyes on the ground. 'Why,' he said readily, 'you are a lady having gifts that are much in favour in these days. Be careful to use those gifts and no others. Meddle in nothing that does not concern you. So you may make a great marriage with some lord in favour. But meddle in naught else!' She would find many to set her an evil example. The other ladies amongst whom she was going were a mutinous knot. Let her be careful! If by her good behaviour she earned it, he would put the King in mind to advance her. If by good speeches and good example--since she had great store of learning--she could turn the hearts of these wicked ladies; if she could report to him evil designs or plots, he would speak to the King in such wise that His Highness should give her a great dower and any lord would marry her. Or he would advance her cousin so that he should become marriageable. She said submissively: 'Your lordship would have me become a spy upon the ladies who shall be my fellows?' He waved his hand with a large and calming gesture. 'I would have you work for the good of the State as you find it,' he said gravely. 'That, too, is a doctrine of the Ancients.' He cited the case of Seneca, who supported the government of Nero, and she noted that he twisted to suit his purpose Tacitus' account of the soldiers of that same Prince.