She set herself to persuade
her husband to let her go down to one of his mother's Wiltshire
houses to consult the nun, but Warwick had business in the north, nor
would he allow her to be separated from him, lest she might be
detained as a hostage.
Dame Gresford continued to be Grisell's protector, and let the girl
sit and spin or embroider beside her, while the other ladies of the
house played at ball in the court, or watched the exercises of the
pages and squires. The dame's presence and authority prevented
Grisell's being beset with uncivil remarks, but she knew she was like
a toad among the butterflies, as she overheard some saucy youth
calling her, while a laugh answered him, and she longed for her
convent.
CHAPTER VIII--OLD PLAYFELLOWS
Alone thou goest forth,
Thy face unto the north,
Moor and pleasance all around thee and beneath thee.
E. BARRETT BROWNING, A Valediction.
One great pleasure fell to Grisell's share, but only too brief. The
family of the Duke of York on their way to Baynard's Castle halted at
Warwick House, and the Duchess Cecily, tall, fair, and stately,
sailed into the hall, followed by three fair daughters, while
Warwick, her nephew, though nearly of the same age, advanced with his
wife to meet and receive her.
In the midst of the exchange of affectionate but formal greetings a
cry of joy was heard, "My Grisell! yes, it is my Grisell!" and
springing from the midst of her mother's suite, Margaret Plantagenet,
a tall, lovely, dark-haired girl, threw her arms round the thin
slight maiden with the scarred face, which excited the scorn and
surprise of her two sisters.
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