He will get over it soon enough
when he learns your gentle convent-bred conditions."
Still the cry of "Grisly Grisell," picked up as if by instinct or by
some echo from the rear of the escort, rang in her ears in the angry
fretful voice of the poor little creature towards whom her heart was
yearning. Even the two women-servants there were, no more looked at
her askance, as they took her to a seat in the hall, and consulted
where my lady would have her bestowed. She was wiping away bitter
tears as she heard her only friend Cuthbert settle the matter. "The
chamber within the solar is the place for the noble damsels."
"That is full of old armour, and dried herrings, and stockfish."
"Move them then! A fair greeting to give to my lord's daughter."
There was some further muttering about a bed, and Grisell sprang up.
"Oh, hush! hush! I can sleep on a cloak; I have done so for many
nights. Only let me be no burthen. Show me where I can go to be an
anchoress, since they will not have me in a convent or anywhere," and
bitterly she wept.
"Peace, peace, lady," said the squire kindly. "I will deal with
these ill-tongued lasses. Shame on them! Go off, and make the
chamber ready, or I'll find a scourge for you. And as to my lady--
she is wrapped up in the sick bairn, but she has only to get used to
you to be friendly enough."
"O what a hope in a mother," thought poor Grisell.
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