"And the jousting!" said Ricarda. "What for the jousting?" asked Regina. "You are not knights, dat you joust?" "We should have seen it, though: a friend had passed his word to take us, that wist how to get us in." "We'll go yet, never fear!" said her sister. "Phyllis must work double." "Den she will lose de sight," objected Regina. "Oh, _she_ won't go!" said Alexandra, contemptuously. "Much she knows about tilting!" "What! you go, and not your cousin? I marvel if you about it know more dan she. And to see a pretty sight asks not much knowing." "I'm not going to slave myself, I can tell you!" replied Alexandra. "Phyllis must work. What else is she good for?" Regina left the question unanswered. "Well, you leave Phyllis wid me; I have something to say to her--to tell her what she shall take, and how she must order herself. Den she come home and work her share--no more." The sisters saw that she meant it, and they obeyed, having no desire to make an enemy of the wealthy goldsmith's daughter. CHAPTER THREE. WHO CAN SHE BE? "O thou child of many prayers! Life hath quicksands--life hath snares." Longfellow. "Now, sit you down on de bench," said Regina, kindly. "Poor maid! you tremble, you are white. _Ach_! when folks shall do as dey should, dey shall not do as dey do no more. Now we shall have von pleasant talking togeder, you and I. You know de duties of de bower-woman? or I tell dem you?" "Would you tell me, an' it please you?" answered Amphillis, modestly. "I do not know much, I dare say." "_Gut_! Now, listen. In de morning, you are ready before your lady calls; you keep not her awaiting. Maybe you sleep in de truckle-bed in her chamber; if so, you dress more quieter as mouse, you wake not her up. She wakes, she calls--you hand her garments, you dress her hair. If she be wedded lady, you not to her chamber go ere her lord be away. Mind you be neat in your dress, and lace you well, and keep your hair tidy, wash your face, and your hands and feet, and cut short your nails. Every morning you shall your teeth clean. Take care, take much care what you do. You walk gravely, modestly; you talk low, quiet; you carry you sad [Note 1] and becomingly. Mix water plenty with your wine at dinner: you take not much wine, dat should shocking be! You carve de dishes, but you press not nobody to eat--dat is not good manners. You wash hands after your lady, and you look see there be two seats betwixt her and you--no nearer you go [Note 2]. You be quiet, quiet! sad, sober always--no chatter fast, no scamper, no loud laugh. You see?" "I see, and I thank you," said Amphillis. "I hope I am not a giglot." "You are not--no, no! Dere be dat are. Not you. Only mind you not so become. Young maids can be too careful never, never! You lose your good name in one hour, but in one year you win it not back." And Regina's plump round face went very sad, as if she remembered some such instance of one who was dear to her.