“Ah, then it were other matter. I would stand to it gladly if so were.”
“Well, for how much look you? Amphillis should bring you a portion of ten pound beside her wedding gear, and an horse.”
“Say you so? Methinks we were made, then, could we win into some great house to serve the lord and lady thereof.”
“I cast no doubt, if he had the opportunity, my Lord’s Grace of York should help you at that pinch. He seems full ready to do his young kinswoman all the good he may.”
“May I but see my way afore me, Master Altham, nought should make me gladder than to fulfil this your behest.”
Mr Altham laid the case before the Archbishop.
“Tell Master Hylton he need give himself not so much thought thereon as a bee should pack in his honey-bag,” was the smiling reply. “I will warrant, so soon as it is known in the Court that I lack place for a newly-wedded cousin and her husband, there shall be so many warm nests laid afore me, that I shall have but to pick and choose. If that be all the bar to my cousin’s wedding, I may bless it to-morrow.”
It was evident that there was no other difficulty, from the glad light in Norman Hylton’s eyes when he was told the Archbishop’s answer. The matter was settled at once. Only one small item was left out, considered of no moment—the bride-elect knew nothing about the transaction. That was a pleasure to come. That it would, should, might, or could, be anything but a pleasure, never occurred either to the Archbishop or to Mr Altham. They would not have belonged to their century if it had done so.
It was the afternoon of the ninth of March. No answer had been received from the Duke, and Perrote had almost lost hope. The Countess petulantly declined to allow any religious conversation in her chamber. She was restless and evidently miserable, Perrote thought more so than merely from the longing desire to see her son; but some strange and unusual reserve seemed to have come over her. Physically, she sank day by day: it would soon be hour by hour.
Amphillis was off duty for the moment, and had seated herself with her work at the window of her own room, which looked into the outer court, and over the walls towards Derby. She kept upstairs a good deal at this time. There were several reasons for this. She wished to be close at hand if her services were needed; she had no fancy for Agatha’s rattle; and—she had not asked herself why—she instinctively kept away from the company of Norman Hylton. Amphillis was not one of those girls who wear their hearts upon their sleeves; who exhibit their injuries, bodily or mental, and chatter freely over them to every comer. Her instinct was rather that of the wounded hart, to plunge into the deepest covert, away from every eye but the Omniscient.