Was there a recording angel hovering near to note the words? For the two lives, which had that day come in contact, were to run thenceforth side by side so long as both should last in this world. But the little Princess was soon tired of questioning her new acquaintance. She sauntered away ere long in search of some more novel amusement, and Dame Agnes desired Maude to change her dress, and then to return to the ante-chamber, there to await the orders of Dame Joan, as Dona Juana was termed by all but the Royal Family. Maude obeyed, and in the ante-chamber she found, not Juana, but Alvena [a fictitious person], and another younger woman, whom she subsequently heard addressed as Mistress Sybil [a fictitious person]. "So thou shalt be learned?" [you have to be taught] said Alvena, as her welcome to Maude. "Come, look hither on this gown. What is it?" "'Tis somewhat marvellous shene!" [bright] said Maude, timidly stroking the glossy material. Alvena only laughed, apparently enjoying the child's ignorance; but Sybil said gently, "'Tis satin, little maid." "Is it for our Lady's Grace?" asked Maude. "Ay, when 'tis purfiled," replied Alvena. "Pray you, Mistress Alvena, what is `purfiled?'" "Why, maid! Where hast dwelt all thy life? `Purfiled' signifieth guarded with peltry." "But under your good allowance, Mistress Alvena, what is `peltry'?" "By my Lady Saint Mary! heard one ever the like?" "Peltry," quietly explained Sybil, "is the skin of beast with the dressed fur thereon--such like as minever, and gris [marten], and the like." "Thurstan," said Alvena suddenly, turning to a little errand boy [a fictitious person] who sat on a stool in the window, and whose especial business it was to do the bidding of the Countess's waiting-women, "Hie thee down to Adam [a fictitious person] the peltier [furrier. Ladies of high rank kept a private furrier in the household], and do him to wit that the Lady would have four ells of peltry of beasts ermines for the bordure of her gown of blue satin that is in making. The peltry shall be of the breadth of thine hand, and no lesser; and say unto him that it shall be of the best sort, and none other. An' he send me up such evil gear as he did of gris for the cloak of velvet, he may look to see it back with a fardel [parcel] of flyting lapped [wrapped] therein. Haste, lad! and be back ere my scissors meet." Thurstan disappeared, and Alvena threw herself down on the settle while she waited for her messenger. "Ay me! I am sore aweary of all this gear--snipping, and sewing, and fitting. If I would not as lief as forty shillings have done with broidery and peltry, then the moon is made of green cheese. Is that strange unto thee, child?" "Verily, Mistress Alvena, methinks you be aweary of Fairy Land," said little Maude in surprise. "Callest this Fairy Land?" laughed Alvena. "If so be, child, I were fain to dwell a season on middle earth."