."

"Will she say them for me?"

The child crossed her arms upon her bosom, after having first made the
sign of the cross upon her brow, her lips, and breast; and then,
letting fall the long, black lashes of her eye-lids, commenced
repeating the "pater-noster." At the sign of the cross, Dudley
started; but, as if recollecting himself, sunk back with a groan.
After finishing the pater-noster, the little girl began the "Ave
Maria;" but this was more than the scandalized deputy could endure.

"I may not," he cried, starting up, "listen without sin to this
idolatry. Better to smite--"

"I pray thee to have a little patience," said Winthrop, interrupting
him. "None of its guilt attaches itself to us."

"I know not that," replied Dudley. "I will not, like Naaman the
Syrian, bow myself down in the house of Rimmon, even although my
master leaneth on my hand. I do bear my testimony against these popish
incantations."

The face of Winthrop flushed at the taunt conveyed, both in the manner
and in the language; but, as his custom was, he paused before
replying, which gave opportunity to Endicott to say:

"My teeth, also, as well as those of Master Dudley, are set on edge;
and I think that any farther inquiry on this branch of the subject may
well be pretermitted."

"In my judgment," said Sir Richard Saltonstall, "it were well,
inasmuch as, though not partaking to the degree of their delicacy of
the scruples of the Deputy-Governor and of Master Endicott, yet do I
respect them, considering the fountain whence they flow. I also highly
approve of and thank the Governor for his judicious questions, whereby
the truth hath been brought to light, and what was a little dark
before hath been made plain. But the end being sufficiently attained,
it were better, perhaps, not to press in this way after further
knowledge, seeing we neither need nor desire it."

"I accede to your wishes, gentlemen," said Winthrop, "though I hardly
approve of this cutting short the answer of a witness. Ye shall have,
however, your will."

"What!" exclaimed Dudley; "not when the answer is blasphemous, or
idolatrous, or otherwise impious?"

"We will have no argument thereupon, Master Dudley," said Winthrop.
"Your desire is granted, and that, methinks, should satisfy you."

The door now opened, and Sassacus entered between two soldiers,
clanking the fetters on his wrists as he moved. Alas! confinement,
though short, had not been without baleful effect