"Good morrow to you, Mistress Davis," said a sweet voice; "so, my good Curtis tells me, you have purveyed me a gentlewoman who is quite a paragon."
"No paragon, an' it please your Grace, but a well-bred and discreet young lady," answered Mistress Davis, modestly yet without servility.
"So much the better; I shall not be afraid of her. Look up, maiden, and let me see you."
I raised my eyes to the lady's face as I spoke, and it is no exaggeration to say that I was dazzled. She was always lovely to the last day of her life, but at that time, her beauty was simply wonderful. Knowing her mother to have been a Spanish lady, I had expected to see some one with black hair and an olive skin. Instead of that, the Duchess was most brilliantly fair, with a complexion of such clearness as to show the delicate blue veins about her temples, while her hair, which was straight and surprisingly abundant, was of the loveliest paly gold. I have since learned that this brilliant fairness belongs to certain very noble families in Spain, and they are extremely proud of it as showing their pure Gothic descent. The eyes were of a violet blue, large and well opened; the mouth firm in outline, with a host of dimples dancing in and out whenever she smiled.
She was very kind and even playful in her manner, yet not so as to invite any unbecoming freedom. She questioned me about my accomplishments, but said kindly that she would not ask me to sing, as it would hardly be a fair trial. Then she asked me why I wished to leave my present home, and I told her—because I would fain earn my own living instead of hanging on the hands of Master Davis.
"I am afraid you are a phœnix, after all," said she, laughing merrily, "and yet I could wish there were more of your kind. How is it, Mistress Davis, that you have not found a husband for this child."
"So please your grace, Loveday might have had a husband had she so chosen, but her mind was not to take him, and beside that, we had no authority to do so; neither my husband nor myself would force a young maid's inclinations in such a matter. I have seen too much of that in my day."
(This was true, though I forgot to mention it in the proper place. A good merchant with quite a family of children had proposed for me, but I had no mind for him. Marry, an' I could have taken the children and the house, without the man, I would have liked it well enough!)
"I think you are right," said the Duchess. "As you say, it is done far too often. Well, my maiden, I am well pleased with your appearance and with all that I hear of you. When can you come to me?"
I told her I knew of nothing to hinder my coming at once.