thus spoke to her,--"Griselda, thou must have guessed that for many
years I have bewailed the caprice which led me to take thee, low-born,
and rude in manners, as my wife. At last my people's discontent, and
my own heart, have told me that I must take a bride who can share fitly
my state, and bring me a noble heir. Even now from Pavia, my sister's
court, my young bride, surpassing beautiful, is on her way hither.
Canst though be content to go back to thy father, and leave me free to
marry her?"

"My dear lord," answered Griselda, meekly, "in all things I have kept
my vow. I should have been most happy if love for me had brought thy
heart to forget my low station. But in all things I am content. Only
one last favor I ask of thee. Thy new wife will be young, high-bred,
impatient of restraint, tender to rude sorrow. Do not put on her faith
such trials as I have borne, lest her heart bend not under them, but
break at once."

When she had done speaking, she turned to her closet, where all these
years she had kept the simple russet gown which she had worn on the day
Duke Walter wooed her, and laying aside her velvet robes, her laces,
and jewels, she put it on, went before the duke again, ready to depart
from the palace forever. But he had one request to make of her. It
was that she would stay to superintend the bride's coming, to see that
the feast was prepared, the wedding chamber ready, and the guests made
welcome, because none so well as she knew the management of the affairs
in the palace.

Then Griselda went among the servants and saw that the feast was made,
and all things were in order, concealing her aching heart under a face
which tried to smile. When at evening she heard the fickle people