“Maids, hear you this? Our new fellow has not seen the Lady. She would like to see her.”
A smile was reflected on all four faces. Clarice thought Diana’s was slightly satirical; those of the other two were rather pitying.
“Now, what dost thou expect her to be like?” pursued Elaine.
“I may be quite wrong,” answered Clarice, in the shy way which she was not one to lose quickly. “I fancied she would be tall—”
“Right there,” said Olympias.
“And dark—”
“Oh, no, she is fair.”
“And very beautiful, with sorrowful eyes, and a low, mournful voice.”
All the girls laughed, Roisia and Olympias gently, Diana scornfully, Elaine with shrill hilarity.
“Ha, jolife!” cried the last-named young lady. “Heard one ever the like? Only wait till supper. Then thou shalt see this lovely lady, with the sweet, sorrowful eyes and the soft, low voice. Pure foy! I shall die with laughing, Clarice, if thou sayest anything more.”