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.”
“Mistress Perrote, I pray you counsel me. I am sore put to it to baffle my cousin’s inquirations touching our Lady. How she cometh to know there is any such cannot I say; but I may lightly guess that Agatha hath let it ’scape: and in old days mine uncle was wont to say, none never could keep hidlis (secrets) from Ricarda. Truly, might I have known aforehand my Lady Foljambe’s pleasure, I could have found to mine hand to pray her not to advance Ricarda hither: not for that I would stand in her way, but for my Lady’s sake herself.”
“I know. Nay, as well not, Phyllis. It should tend rather to thine own disease, for folk might lightly say thou wert jealous and unkindly to thy kin. The Lord knoweth wherefore such things do hap. At times I think it be to prevent us from being here in earth more blissful than it were good for us to be. As for her inquirations, parry them as best thou mayest; and if thou canst not, then say apertly (openly) that thou art forbidden to hold discourse thereanentis.”
Amphillis shook her head. She pretty well knew that such an assertion would whet Ricarda’s curiosity, and increase her inquisitive queries.
“Mistress Perrote, are you ill at ease?”