Hæc.—"But what put it into thy head, child, to serve her as a maid?"
Illa.—"When I last entreated my cousin Sidonia to help my poor father, she said, 'Get me a good maid who will do my business well, and then I shall see what can be done to help him. Now, as no one will take service with her, what else can I do, but play the trencher-woman myself, and thus save my poor father's life?"
Hæc.—"Thou hast saved it once before, as I have heard."
Illa is silent.
Hæc.—"How was it? Tell me, that I may see if they told me the story truly."
Illa.—"Ah, good mother, speak no more of it. It was as you have heard, no doubt."
Hæc.—"People say that a horse threw your father, dragged him along, and attempted to kick him, upon which, while all the men-folk stood and gaped, you flew like the wind, seized the bridle of the animal, and held him fast till your father was up again."
Illa.—"Well, mother, there was nothing very wonderful in that."
Hæc.—"Also, they tell that one day at the hunt you came upon a part of the wood where two robbers were beating a noble almost to death, after having plundered him. You sprang forward, menaced them, and finally made them take to their heels, after which you helped the poor wounded man upon your own palfrey, like a good Samaritan indeed, and without thought of the danger or fatigue, walked beside him, leading the horse by the bridle until clear out of the wood, and thus——"
Illa.—"Ah, good mother, do not make me more red than I am; for know, the poor wounded noble thought so much of what I had done, that he must needs ask me for his bride, though truly I would have done the like for a beggar."