splendid creature, who, while of her own flesh and blood, had never
seemed to regard her as being more than a poor superfluous underling? But
strangely enough, there was no anger in Clorinda's eyes; she but laughed,
as though what she had seen had made her merry.

"You here, Anne," she said, "and looking with light-mindedness after
gallant gentlemen! Mistress Margery should see to this and watch more
closely, or we shall have unseemly stories told. _You_, sister, with
your modest face and bashfulness! I had not thought it of you."

Suddenly she crossed the room to where her sister stood drooping, and
seized her by the shoulder, so that she could look her well in the face.

"What," she said, with a mocking not quite harsh--"What is this? Does a
glance at a fine gallant, even taken from behind an oriel window, make
such change indeed? I never before saw this look, nor this colour,
forsooth; it hath improved thee wondrously, Anne--wondrously."

"Sister," faltered Anne, "I so desired to see your birth-night ball-gown,
of which Mistress Margery hath much spoken--I so desired--I thought it
would not matter if, the door being open and it spread forth upon the
bed--I--I stole a look at it. And then I was tempted--and came in."

"And then was tempted more," Clorinda laughed, still regarding her
downcast countenance shrewdly, "by a thing far less to be resisted--a
fine gentleman from town, with love-locks falling on his shoulders and
ladies' hearts strung at his saddle-bow by scores. Which found you the
most beautiful?"

"Your gown is splendid, sister," said Anne, with modest shyness. "There