The girls smiled, and dropped their rustic courtesies. Some amongst
them were not the regular serving maids of the place, but were the
daughters of the humbler retainers living round and about, who were
glad to come to assist at the great house when there was any press
of work--a thing that frequently happened from April to November.

None who assisted at Chad at such times ever went away empty
handed. Besides the small wage given for the work done, there was
always a basket of fruit, or a piece of meat, or a flagon of wine,
according to the nature of the task, set aside for each assistant
who did not dwell beneath the roof of Chad. And if there was
sickness in any cottage from which a worker came, there was certain
to be some little delicacy put into a basket by the hands of the
mistress, and sent with a kindly word of goodwill and sympathy to
the sufferer.

It was small wonder, then, that the household and community of Chad
was a happy and peaceable one, or that the knight and his lady were
beloved of all around.

The morning's round was no sinecure, even though the mistress was
today as quick as possible in her visit of inspection. Three fat
bucks had been brought in from the forest yester-eve, when the
knight and his sons had returned from hunting. The venison had to
be prepared, and a part of it dried and salted down for winter use;
whilst of course a great batch of pies and pasties must be put in
hand, so that the most should be made of the meat whilst it was
still fresh.

When that matter had been settled, there were the live creatures to