"Ay, old woman, I know. Thou wouldst fain ask, Whither should I go? I know little, verily, and care less. Only let me lie down and sleep for ever, and forget everything--I ask but so much. I think God might let me have that. One has to wake ever, here, to another dreary day. If man might but sleep and not wake! or--ah, if man could blot out thirty years, and I sit once more in my mail on my Feraunt at the gate of Hennebon! Dreams, dreams, all empty dreams! Come, child, and lay by this wimple. 'Tis man's duty to hie him abed now. Let's do our duty. 'Tis all man has left to me--leave to do as I am bidden. What was that bruit I heard without, an half-hour gone?" Amphillis, in answer, for Perrote was unable to speak, told the story of Agatha's mischievous trick. The Countess laughed. "'Tis right the thing I should have done myself, as a young maid," said she. "Ay, I loved dearly to make lordly, sober folks look foolish. Poor Father Jordan, howbeit, was scarce fit game for her crossbow. If she had brought Avena Foljambe down, I'd have given her a clap on the back. Now, maid, let us see how thou canst braid up this old white hair for the pillow. It was jet black once, and fell right to my feet. I little thought, then--I little thought!" The _coucher_ accomplished, the Countess lay down in her bed; Perrote took leave of her, and put out the light, admonishing Amphillis to be quick. Then she left the room, locking the door after her. "There!" said the voice of the Countess through the darkness. "Now then we are prisoners, thou and I. How doth it like thee?" "It liketh me well, Dame, if so I may serve your Grace." "Well said! Thou shalt be meet for the Court ere long. But, child, thou hast not borne years of it, as I have: sixteen years with a hope of release, and eight with none. Tell me thy history: I have no list to sleep, and it shall pass the time." "If it may please your Grace, I reckon I have had none." "Thou wert best thank the saints for that. Yet I count 'tis scarce thus. Didst grow like a mushroom?" "Truly, no, Dame," said Amphillis, with a little laugh. "But I fear it should ill repay your Grace to hear that I fed chickens and milked cows, and baked patties of divers sorts." "It should well repay me. It were a change from blue silk and yellow twist, and one endless view from the window. Fare forth!" Thus bidden, Amphillis told her story as she lay in the pallet, uninterrupted save now and then by a laugh or a word of comment. It was not much of a story, as she had said; but she was glad if it amused the royal prisoner, even for an hour. "Good maid!" said her mistress, when she saw that the tale was finished. "Now sleep thou, for I would not cut off a young maid from her rest. I can sleep belike, or lie awake, as it please the saints."