The nunnery of St. Edith, near
to Salisbury."
"St. Edith! I think my mother, whom the Saints rest, spoke of her;
but I have not heard of her in Portugal nor here. Where did she
suffer?"
"She was not martyred, madame, but she has a fair legend."
And on encouragement Grisell related the legend of St. Edith and the
christening.
"You speak well, maiden," said the Duchess. "It is easy to perceive
that you are convent trained. Have the wars in England hindered your
being professed?"
"Nay, madame; it was the Proctor of the Italian Abbess."
Therewith the inquiries of the Duchess elicited all Grisell's early
story, with the exception of her name and whose was the iron that
caused the explosion, and likewise of her marriage, and the
accusation of sorcery. That male heirs of the opposite party should
have expelled the orphan heiress was only too natural an occurrence.
Nor did Grisell conceal her home; but Whitburn was an impossible word
to Portuguese lips, and Dacre they pronounced after its crusading
derivation De Acor.
CHAPTER XXVI--THE DUKE'S DEATH
Wither one Rose, and let the other flourish;
If you contend, a thousand lives must wither.
SHAKESPEARE, King Henry VI., Part III.
So time went on, and the rule of the House of York in England seemed
established, while the exiles had settled down in Burgundy, Grisell
to her lace pillow, Leonard to the suite of the Count de Charolais.
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