He had a fierce quarrel
with his only son, who was equally hot tempered. The Duchess took
part with her son, and fell under such furious displeasure from her
husband that she retired into the house of Grey Sisters. She was
first cousin once removed to Henry VI.--her mother, the admirable
Philippa, having been a daughter of John of Gaunt--and she was the
sister of the noble Princes, King Edward of Portugal, Henry the great
voyager, and Ferdinand the Constant Prince; and she had never been
thoroughly at home or happy in Flanders, where her husband was of a
far coarser nature than her own family; and, in her own words, after
many years, she always felt herself a stranger.
Some of Grisell's lace had found its way to the convent, and was at
once recognised by her as English, such as her mother had always
prized. She wished to give the Chaplain a set of robes adorned with
lace after a pattern of her own devising, bringing in the five
crosses of Portugal, with appropriate wreaths of flowers and emblems.
Being told that the English maiden in Master Groot's house could
devise her own patterns, she desired to see her and explain the
design in person.
CHAPTER XXV--THE OLD DUCHESS
Temples that rear their stately heads on high,
Canals that intersect the fertile plain,
Wide streets and squares, with many a court and hall,
Spacious and undefined, but ancient all.
SOUTHEY, Pilgrimage to Waterloo.
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