DAME (_bowing_). Yes, your Majesty.
QUEEN (_going_). To-morrow, mind you.
DAME (_bowing_). Yes, your Majesty.
[_All bow to the Queen, who goes._]
ISABEL. Mother, how could you tell the Queen I love to spin?
DAME. Think you I'd let the truth be known? I'd not shame myself so!
ISABEL. I could not spin three rooms of flax in three hundred years.
DAME. Alas! alas! What shall we do?
FLAT-FOOT (_to Hanging-lip and Broad-thumb_). Sisters, let us speak
together.
[_The three Great-Aunts whisper together for a moment._]
HANGING-LIP. Isabel, we will help you--
FLAT-FOOT (_interrupting_). On one condition!
BROAD-THUMB (_nodding_). Aye,--on a certain condition!
ISABEL. What do you mean?
HANGING-LIP. We'll spin the flax for you--
FLAT-FOOT (_interrupting_). On one condition.
BROAD-THUMB (_nodding_). Aye,--on a certain condition!
DAME. You speak in riddles, sisters.
HANGING-LIP. 'T is this--if Isabel will invite us to her wedding, we'll
spin the flax.
FLAT-FOOT. That's the condition.
BROAD-THUMB (_nodding_). Aye,--that's the certain condition.
ISABEL. 'T will be deceiving the Queen and the Prince, both.
DAME. There's no other way to mend things.
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