Amphillis louted, and modestly assented, after which the lady took no further notice of the two who were the more anxious to attract her attention.
“And what canst thou do?” she said.
“What I am told, Mistress,” said Amphillis.
“Ach!” murmured Regina; “you den can much do.”
“Ay, thou canst do much,” quietly repeated Mistress Chaucer. “Canst dress hair?”
Amphillis thought she could. She might well, for her cousins made her their maid, and were not easily pleased mistresses.
“Thou canst cook, I cast no doubt, being bred at a patty-shop?”
“Mistress, I have only dwelt there these six months past. My father was a poor gentleman that died when I was but a babe, and was held to demean himself by wedlock with my mother, that was sister unto mine uncle, Master Altham. Mine uncle was so kindly as to take on him the charge of breeding me up after my father died, and he set my mother and me in a little farm that ’longeth to him in the country: and at after she departed likewise, he took me into his house. I know somewhat of cookery, an’ it like you, but not to even my good cousins here.”
“Oh, Phyllis is a metely fair cook, when she will give her mind thereto,” said Alexandra with a patronising air, and a little toss of her head—a gesture to which that young lady was much addicted.
A very slight look of amusement passed across Mistress Chaucer’s face, but she did not reply to the remark.