On this she mustered up resolution to prefer the requests she had been counselled to make; and Sir Francis, who was in no mood to refuse her anything, at once acceded to them.

He laughed at the notion of the veil--said it was a delicate fancy, and quite charmed him--but as to the ten thousand marks, they were utterly unworthy of her acceptance, and she should have thrice the amount delivered to her in a silver coffer before the ceremony.

With these, and a great many other professions, he released her from his presence, which had become well-nigh insupportable.
After a while, a magnificent bridal-dress of white satin, richly trimmed with lace, together with a thick white veil of the largest size, calculated to envelope her whole person, were brought her by a young damsel, who told her she was engaged to serve her as tire-woman; adding, that "she hoped she would be able to satisfy her ladyship, as she had already served the Countess of Exeter in that capacity." "Why do you call me 'ladyship' child ?" said Aveline, without looking at her.

"I have no right to any such title." "But you soon will have," replied the young tire-woman; "as the bride of Sir Francis, you must needs be my Lady Mitchell." Checking the rejoinder that rose to her lips, Aveline cast her eyes, for the first time, on the speaker; and then, to her great surprise, perceived it to be her village acquaintance, Gillian Greenford.

A significant glance from the blue eyes of the pretty damsel impressed her with the necessity of caution, and seemed to intimate that Gillian herself was likewise in the plot.