the nation."

"There is happily no murder in the case. Praise be to the saints,"
said Countess Alice, "your little maid--"

"Aye, that's what they said as to the poor good Duke Humfrey,"
returned the irate lady; "but that you, madam, the good-sister of the
noble York, should stand up for the enemies of him, and the friends
of France, is more than a plain North Country woman like me can
understand. And there--there, turning round upon the steep steps,
there is my Lord Earl hand and glove with that minion fellow of
Somerset, who was no doubt at the bottom of the plot! None would
believe it at Raby."

"None at Raby would believe that my lord could be lacking in courtesy
to a guest," returned Lady Salisbury with dignity, "nor that a North
Country dame could expect it of him. Those who are under his roof
must respect it by fitting demeanour towards one another."

The Lady of Whitburn was quenched for the time, and the Countess
asked whether she did not wish to see her daughter, leading the way
to a chamber hung with tapestry, and with a great curtained bed
nearly filling it up, for the patient had been installed in one of
the best guest-chambers of the Castle. Lady Whitburn was surprised,
but was too proud to show herself gratified by what she thought was
the due of the dignity of the Dacres. An old woman in a hood sat by
the bed, where there was a heap of clothes, and a dark-haired little
girl stood by the window, whence she had been describing the arrivals
in the Castle court.