"He reckons himself the blissfullest man under the sun," said Ricarda, as they rose from the table: "and he dare not say his soul is his own; not for no price man should pay him." Amphillis privately thought the bliss of a curious kind. "Phyllis!" said her cousin, suddenly, "hast learned to hold thy tongue?" "I count I am metely well learned therein, Rica." "Well, mind thou, not for nothing of no sort to let on to my Lady that Father is a patty-maker. I were put forth of the door with no more ado, should it come to her ear that I am not of gentle blood like thee." "Ricarda! Is my Lady, then, deceived thereon?" "'Sh--'sh! She thinks I am a Neville, and thy cousin of the father's side. Thee hold thy peace, and all shall be well." "But, Rica! that were to tell a lie." "Never a bit of it! Man can't tell a lie by holding his peace." "Nay, I am not so sure thereof as I would like. This I know, he may speak one by his life no lesser than his words." "Amphillis, if thou blurt out this to my Lady, I'll hate thee for ever and ever, Amen!" said Ricarda. "I must meditate thereon," was her cousin's answer. "Soothly, I would not by my good will do thee an ill turn, Rica; and if it may stand with my conscience to be silent, thou hast nought to fear. Yet if my Lady ask me aught touching thee, that may not be thus answered, I must speak truth, and no lie." "A murrain take thy conscience! Canst not say a two-three times the Rosary of our Lady to ease it?" "Maybe," said Amphillis, drily, "our Lady hath no more lore for lying than I have." "Mistress Ricarda!" said Agatha, joining them as they rose from the table, "I do right heartily pray you of better acquaintance. I trust you and I be of the same fashion of thinking, and both love laughter better than tears." "In good sooth, I hate long faces and sad looks," said Ricarda, accepting Agatha's offered kiss of friendship. "You be not an ill-matched pair," added Amphillis, laughing. "Only, I pray you, upset not the quirle by over much prancing." ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Note 1. Still used in its original sense of uncomfortable. Note 2. The Dutch were then known as High Dutch, the Germans as Low Dutch. Note 3. Agreeable and ready in conversation. CHAPTER ELEVEN. BEATEN BACK. "I know not why my path should be at times So straitly hedged, so strangely barred before: I only know God could keep wide the door; But I can trust."