And to his wyf he tolde his pryvetee,
And she was war, and knew it bet than he,
What al this queynte cast was for to seye.
But nathelees she ferde as she wolde deye.
– Geoffrey Chaucer
The Canterbury Tales, The Miller’s Tale. John confides in his wife Alison about Nicholas’s flood warning and the precautions he suggested they take to save themselves. Alison, who is in on the deception with Nicholas, pretends to be all worried and acts as if she might die.