“Ha, chétife!” cried I. “Must I have firstly, secondly, thirdly, yea, up to thirty-seventhly, like old Father Edison’s homilies?”
“Better so,” saith he, “than to course three hares together and catch none.”
“I’ll catch mine hare yet, as thou shall see,” saith I.
“Be it done. Gee up!” saith he. (Note 9).
Well, up came I into the Queen’s antechamber, where were sat Dame Elizabeth, and Dame Isabel de Lapyoun, and Dame Joan de Vaux, and little Meliora. And right as I came in at the door, Dame Joan dropped her sewing off her knee, and saith—
“Lack-a-day! I am aweary of living in this world!”
“Well, if so,” saith Dame Elizabeth, peacefully waxing her thread, “you had best look about for a better.”
“Nay!” quoth she, “how to get there?”
“Ask my Lord of Winchester,” saith Dame Isabel.
“I shall lack the knowledge ill ere I trouble him,” she made answer. “Is it he with the Queen this even?”