I
shall never forget the sight of her standing on the scaffold with
the ruff round her pretty neck, all done up with the yellow starch
which I had so often helped her to make, and that was so soon to give
place to a rough hempen cord. Such a sight, sweetheart, will make one
loath to meddle with matters that are too hot or heavy for their
handling."
"Out, you fool!" answered Mistress Margaret; "am I one to speak to you
about such criminal practices as that wretch died for? All I desire of
you is, to get me precise knowledge of what affair brings this young
nobleman to Court."
"And when you have his secret," said Ursula, "what will it avail you,
sweetheart?--and yet I would do your errand, if you could do as much
for me."
"And what is it you would have of me?" said Mistress Margaret.
"What you have been angry with me for asking before," answered Dame
Ursula. "I want to have some light about the story of your godfather's
ghost, that is only seen at prayers."
"Not for the world," said Mistress Margaret, "will I be a spy on my
kind godfather's secrets--No, Ursula--that I will never pry into,
which he desires to keep hidden. But thou knowest that I have a
fortune, of my own, which must at no distant day come under my own
management--think of some other recompense."
"Ay, that I well know," said the counsellor--"it is that two hundred
per year, with your father's indulgence, that makes you so wilful,
sweetheart.
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