"Be not too much cast down, dear maid," resumed Master Davis, marking my emotion. "I hope all will yet prosper with your uncle, and that you will be able to join him. I have written again by a sure hand to a mutual friend in Antwerp, and, besides, any day may bring a letter from your kinsman. Meantime, rest assured that you are most welcome to a daughter's place in this house. My good wife's heart is large enough to hold a dozen more like you, besides our own brood, and all our grandchildren; and my own, believe me, is not less spacious. Is not that true, dame?" he added, appealing to his wife, who had just entered. "Can not your wings spread wide enough to brood another chick?"
"Yes, indeed; half a dozen, if they will but be peaceable and not peck one another," answered the good mistress, whose smooth brow seemed a little ruffled, I thought. "I am sure if Mistress Corbet does but turn out half as towardly as she seems, it will be a pleasure to have her in the house. But we must take some order for her clothes. Canst sew, sweet heart?"
"Oh, yes, madam; I can both sew and knit," I answered.
"That is more than I can—the knitting, I mean," said Mistress Davis. "My sister, who is a waiting gentlewoman to the Duchess of Suffolk, says her lady knows the art, but I have never even seen it. Then, I dare say, you will not mind making your own linen."
"Oh, no, madam; indeed, I shall like it, only—"
"Well, only what, chick?"
"Only I have none to make," said I, with the outspoken bluntness natural to me, and which I had never unlearned, even in the convent. "I have no money to buy any, either, and it seems hard that you, madam, should provide it for me, when you have such a flock of your own."
"Care not for that, sweet heart," said Master Davis. "Heaven hath, as you say, given us a flock, but it hath also given us abundance wherewith to maintain it."
"And I dare say, you will be able to give me help about the ordering of the household and the children," added his wife, with that quick consideration which distinguished her.
"I should like that," said I. "I might teach the children music, if you would. I can play both upon the lute and the little and great organ, and I can read both French and Latin."