ensure thy obedience and loyalty; wherefore have a care that what I shall now tell thee reach the ears of none but him to whom I shall bid thee impart it.  Thou seest, Lusca, that I am in the prime of my youth and lustihead, and have neither lack nor stint of all such things as folk desire, save only, to be brief, that I have one cause to repine, to wit, that my husband’s years so far outnumber my own.  Wherefore with that wherein young ladies take most pleasure I am but ill provided, and, as my desire is no less than theirs, ’tis now some while since I determined that, if Fortune has shewn herself so little friendly to me by giving me a husband so advanced in years, at least I will not be mine own enemy by sparing to devise the means whereby my happiness and health may be assured; and that herein, as in all other matters, my joy may be complete, I have chosen, thereto to minister by his embraces, our Pyrrhus, deeming him more worthy than any other man, and have so set my heart upon him that I am ever ill at ease save when he is present either to my sight or to my mind, insomuch that, unless I forgather with him without delay, I doubt not that ’twill be the death of me.  And so, if thou holdest my life dear, thou wilt shew him my love on such wise as thou mayst deem best, and make my suit to him that he be pleased to come to me, when thou shalt go to fetch him.”  “That gladly will I,” replied the chambermaid; and as soon as she found convenient time and place, she drew Pyrrhus apart, and, as best she knew how, conveyed her lady’s message to him.  Which Pyrrhus found passing strange to hear, for ’twas in truth a complete surprise to him, and he doubted the lady did but mean to try him.  Wherefore he presently, and with some asperity, answered thus:—­“Lusca, believe I cannot that this message comes from my lady:  have a care, therefore, what thou sayst, and if, perchance, it does come from her, I doubt she does not mean it; and if perchance, she does mean it, why, then I am honoured by my lord above what I deserve, and I would not for my life do him such a wrong:  so have a care never to speak of such matters to me again.”  Lusca, nowise disconcerted by his uncompliant tone, rejoined:—­“I shall speak to thee, Pyrrhus, of these and all other matters, wherewith I may be commissioned by my lady, as often as she shall bid me, whether it pleases or irks thee; but thou art a blockhead.”

So, somewhat chafed, Lusca bore Pyrrhus’ answer back to her lady, who would fain have died, when she heard it, and some days afterwards resumed the topic, saying:—­“Thou knowest, Lusca, that ’tis not the first stroke that fells the oak; wherefore, methinks, thou wert best go back to this strange man, who is minded to evince his loyalty at my expense, and choosing a convenient time, declare to him all my passion, and do thy best endeavour that the affair be carried through; for if it should thus lapse, ’twould be the death of me; besides which, he would think we had but trifled with him, and, whereas