What happened there I learned afterward from her and from
others--that is, what I did not see for myself.
After leaving Whitehall, Frances had made her way directly to the Old
Swan, where she soon found Betty. At first the girl did not seem inclined
to be at all cordial, but when Frances told her that she was in trouble
and wanted help, Betty's kind heart responded at once. "Trouble" was the
password to Betty's good graces.
"Let us go to a room where we may be by ourselves," suggested Frances. "I
want to talk to you freely where we shall not be overheard."
Betty led the way to her own little parlor on the second floor and placed
a chair for her guest near a window opening on the court. Frances sat
down and asked Betty, who evidently intended to remain standing, to bring
a chair and sit beside her.
"I would not think of sitting in your Grace's presence," answered Betty,
courtesying respectfully.
"Sit down, Betty, please, and let us be friends," said Frances,
coaxingly. "I am not a duchess. I am only a girl like yourself. My name
is Mistress Jennings--Frances. Nelly Gwynn was jesting when she spoke of
me as a duchess, and only wanted to tease you when she objected to the
table linen. She is good and kind--no one can be more so."
"Yes," returned Betty. "She came back and said that the linen was
beautiful and offered me money for myself, but I refused. You see I
am not--well, I am not a servant.
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