"Will you go with me as one of my maids, or as a tirewoman
perchance?" asked the Duchess kindly.
Grisell fell on her knee and thanked her, but begged to be permitted
to remain where she was until the bride should have some leisure.
And indeed her doubts and suspense grew more overwhelming. As she
freshly trimmed and broidered Leonard's surcoat and sword-belt, she
heard one of the many gossips who delighted to recount the members of
the English suite as picked up from the subordinates of the heralds
and pursuivants who had to marshal the procession and order the
banquet. "Fair ladies too," he said, "from England. There is the
Lord Audley's daughter with her father. They say she is the very
pearl of beauties. We shall see whether our fair dames do not
surpass her."
"The Lord Audley's daughter did you say?" asked Grisell.
"His daughter, yea; but she is a widow, bearing in her lozenge, per
pale with Audley, gules three herrings haurient argent, for
Heringham. She is one of the Duchess Margaret's dames-of-honour."
To Grisell it sounded like her doom on one side, the crisis of her
self-sacrifice, and the opening of Leonard's happiness on the other.
CHAPTER XXVIII--THE PAGEANT
When I may read of tilts in days of old,
And tourneys graced by chieftains of renown,
Fair dames, grave citoyens, and warriors bold -
If fancy would pourtray some stately town,
Which for such pomp fit theatre would be,
Fair Bruges, I shall then remember thee.
Pages:
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219