Like many other people, Lady Foljambe would have preferred smuggled goods, if they were cheaper than the honest article. Her conscience was very elastic about taxes. It was no great wonder that this spirit prevailed in days when the Crown could ruthlessly squeeze its subjects whenever it wanted extra money, as Henry the Third had done a hundred years before; and though his successors had not imitated his example, the memory of it remained as a horror and a suspicion. Dishonest people, whether they are kings or coal-heavers, always make a place more difficult to fill for those who come after them. "Well! then set aside the blue," said Lady Foljambe, with a slight pout. "Margaret, what lackest thou?" Mrs Margaret looked wistfully at the fourteen-shilling crimson, and then manfully chose the six-and-eightpenny green. "Now let us see thy samitelles," said her Ladyship. Samitelle, as its name implies, was doubtless a commoner quality of the rich and precious samite, which ranked in costliness and beauty with baldekin and cloth of gold, and above satin and velvet. Samite was a silk material, of which no more is known than that it was very expensive, and had a glossy sheen, like satin. Some antiquaries have supposed it to be an old name for satin; but as several Wardrobe Rolls contain entries relating to both in immediate sequence, this supposition is untenable. The mercer exhibited three pieces of samitelle. "Perse, Dame, four marks the piece," said he, holding up a very pale blue; "ash-colour, thirty shillings; apple-bloom, forty shillings." "No," said Lady Foljambe; "I would have white." "Forty-five shillings the piece, Dame." "Hast no cheaper?" "Not in white, Dame." "Well! lay it aside; likewise three ells of the red. I would have moreover a cendall of bean-flower colour, and a piece or twain of say-- murrey or sop-in-wine." Cendall was a very fine, thin silk fit for summer wear, resembling what is now called foulard; say was the coarsest and cheapest sort of silk, and was used for upholstery as well as clothing. "I have a full fair bean-flower cendall, Dame, one shilling the ell; and a good sop-in-wine say at twopence." The mercer, as he spoke, held up the piece of say, of a nondescript colour, not unlike what is now termed crushed strawberry. "That shall serve for the chamberers," said Lady Foljambe; "but the cendall is for myself; I would have it good." "Dame, it is principal; you shall not see better." "Good. Measure me off six ells of the cendall, and nine of the say. Then lay by each piece skeins of thread of silk, an ounce to the piece, each to his colour; two ounces of violet, and two of gold twist. Enough for this morrow." The mercer bowed, with deft quickness executed the order, and proceeded to pack up the remainder of his goods. When the forms were denuded of their rich coverings, he retired into the corner, and the jeweller came forward.