"Ay, my gracious lady," said Janet; "but my father?"
"He is not my father, Janet, nor I hope my master," answered the lady.
"I say, call the man hither--I want some things."
"Nay," replied Janet, "your ladyship has but to say so in the next
packet, and if England can furnish them they will be sent. There will
come mischief on't--pray, dearest lady, let me bid the man begone!"
"I will have thee bid him come hither," said the Countess;--"or stay,
thou terrified fool, I will bid him myself, and spare thee a chiding."
"Ah! well-a-day, dearest lady, if that were the worst," said Janet
sadly; while the lady called to the pedlar, "Good fellow, step
forward--undo thy pack; if thou hast good wares, chance has sent thee
hither for my convenience and thy profit."
"What may your ladyship please to lack?" said Wayland, unstrapping his
pack, and displaying its contents with as much dexterity as if he had
been bred to the trade. Indeed he had occasionally pursued it in the
course of his roving life, and now commended his wares with all the
volubility of a trader, and showed some skill in the main art of placing
prices upon them.
"What do I please to lack?" said the lady, "why, considering I have not
for six long months bought one yard of lawn or cambric, or one trinket,
the most inconsiderable, for my own use, and at my own choice, the
better question is, What hast thou got to sell? Lay aside for me that
cambric partlet and pair of sleeves--and those roundells of gold fringe,
drawn out with cyprus--and that short cloak of cherry-coloured fine
cloth, garnished with gold buttons and loops;--is it not of an absolute
fancy, Janet?"
"Nay, my lady," replied Janet, "if you consult my poor judgment, it is,
methinks, over-gaudy for a graceful habit."
"Now, out upon thy judgment, if it be no brighter, wench," said the
Countess. "Thou shalt wear it thyself for penance' sake; and I promise
thee the gold buttons, being somewhat massive, will comfort thy father,
and reconcile him to the cherry-coloured body. See that he snap them not
away, Janet, and send them to bear company with the imprisoned angels
which he keeps captive in his strong-box."
"May I pray your ladyship to spare my poor father?" said Janet.
"Nay, but why should any one spare him that is so sparing of his own
nature?" replied the lady.--"Well, but to our gear. That head garniture
for myself, and that silver bodkin mounted with pearl; and take off two
gowns of that russet cloth for Dorcas and Alison, Janet, to keep the old
wretches warm against winter comes.--And stay--hast thou no perfumes and
sweet bags, or any handsome casting bottles of the newest mode?"