nguage--"I wonder not
at thine astonishment; but when these thoughts possess me, I am
oblivious of everything else. I will be more heedful henceforth, nor
allow splendid imaginations to prick thine innocent sides."

The flexible ears of Mourad moved backward and forward while his rider
was speaking, his dilated eyes glanced repeatedly back at him, and he
shook his head as if not half satisfied with the apology.

And now the stranger, leisurely advancing, soon reached the little
collection of houses. Guiding his horse carefully through the unpaved
streets, and avoiding the stumps of trees which were occasionally to
be met, he stopped at a house of somewhat more imposing appearance
than the rest. It was of wood, like most of the other dwellings, and
differed from them principally in being larger. It could not be said
to belong to any order or style of architecture, but bore a general
resemblance to buildings erected in England at the time. It stood with
its gable-ends, three in number, to the street, the roof rising up
steeply, and making a considerable garret, the side of the gable-ends
projecting over the second story, as did also that over the first. The
windows were of a square form, with small diamond-shaped panes,
opening by hinges at the sides, and there was but one entrance in
front, to protect which a small verandah or porch was thrown across
the building. Two men, in the ordinary dress and equipments of
soldiers of the period, their clumsy muskets leaning against the side,
were seated on a bench near the entrance, and by their presence
indicated the residence of Governor Winthrop.

"Is the right worshipful Governor at home so that he may be seen?"
inquired the stranger, as he dismounted from the horse, whose bridle
was held by one of the soldiers.

"He is at home, and may be seen, Sir Christopher," replied one of the
men, "I will conduct you to his presence."

So saying, the soldier opened the door, and preceding the visitor,
ushered him into a hall some ten feet wide, and thence into a small
ante-room, or room of reception, where he was entreated to be seated,
while his arrival should be announced. It required but a moment, which
was the whole time of the soldier's absence, for the stranger to take
a survey of the room wherein he sat.

It was not more than twelve or fifteen feet square, and destitute of
paper or hangings, and the floor, like that of the hall, was bare, and
made of coarsely-planed boards.