The lady seemed inclined to take it, but the gentleman demurred at the hundred marks--66 pounds, 13 shillings and 4 pence, which, reduced to modern value, would be nearly eleven hundred pounds; and the girls, who had lingered as long as they reasonably could in their passage through the attractive shop, were obliged to pass out while the bargain was still unconcluded. "I'd have had that chaplet for myself, if I'd been that lady!" said Alexandra as they went forward. "I'd never have cast that away for a christening gift." "Nay, but her lord would not find the money," answered Ricarda. "I'd have had it, some way," said her sister. "It was fair enough for a queen. Amphillis, I do marvel who is the lady thou shalt serve. There's ever so much ado ere the matter be settled. 'Tis one grander than Mistress Chaucer, trow, thou shalt see to-morrow even." "Ay, so it seems," was the quiet answer. "Nathless, I would not change with thee. I've no such fancy for silence and patience. Good lack! but if a maid can work, and dress hair, and the like, what would they of such weary gear as that?" "Maids be not of much worth without they be discreet," said Amphillis. "Well, be as discreet as thou wilt; I'll none of it," was the flippant reply of her cousin. The young ladies, however, did not neglect to accompany Amphillis on her subsequent visit. Regina met them at the door. "She is great lady, dis one, I am sure," said she. "Pray you, mind your respects." The great lady carried on her conversation in French, which in 1372 was the usual language of the English nobles. Its use was a survival from the Norman Conquest, but the Norman-French was very far from pure, being derided by the real French, and not seldom by Englishmen themselves. Chaucer says of his prioress:-- "And French she spake full fair and fetously [cleverly], After the scole of Stratford-atte-Bow, For French of Paris was to hire [her] unknow." This lady, the girls noticed, spoke the French of Paris, and was rather less intelligible in consequence. She put her queries in a short, quick style, which a little disconcerted Amphillis; and she had a weary, irritated manner. At last she said shortly-- "Very well! Consider yourself engaged. You must set out from London on Lammas Day [August 1st], and Mistress Regina here, who is accustomed to such matters, will tell you what you need take. A varlet will come to fetch you; take care you are ready. Be discreet, and do not get into any foolish entanglements of any sort." Amphillis asked only one question--Would the lady be pleased to tell her the name and address of her future mistress? "Your mistress lives in Derbyshire. You will hear her name on the way." And with a patronising nod to the girls, and another to Regina, the lady left the room. "Lammas Day!" cried Alexandra, almost before the door was closed. "Gramercy, but we can never be a-ready!" "_Ach! ja_, but you will if you hard work," said Regina.