e
a handsome fellow, going to the 'menial halter with my mistress!" she
added, tossing her head.

"The danger is past, Prudence," said Eveline, "for Miles tells me she
has run away from the Governor's, and was last seen in the woods with
one of her brother's Paniese, as the savages call their greatest
warriors, Town--, Town--, I forget his name, but they were going in
the direction of their own country."

"Toweringantic was the salvage's name," said Prudence. "I remember it
very well, because it sounds so like English."

"That is it not precisely," said the young lady, with a smile; "but it
matters not about the name. Our little Princess has fled to her home,
and I am left without a bridesmaid."

"The ungrateful heathen!" exclaimed the dame. "Only to think of her
deserting the comfortable house of our right worshipful Governor, and
instruction in the Christian graces by godly Master Phillips, for the
smoky wigwams and powawing of the Indians. The girl, I am sure, will
come to no good, and I will never trust one of these Canaanites
again."

"Nay; but dame," said Eveline, "I rejoice that she escaped. I did much
pity her in her captivity, for she seemed to me like a wild bird, that
hath all its life been accustomed to fly in the air, which had been
caught and put into a cage, where it sits constantly with moping head
and drooping wings, forgetful of the songs which made its woodland
home so sweet."

"I did never like to disagree in opinion with thee, Eveline," said the
dame, "and leastwise would I do so, of all days in the year, on thy
wedding-day; so have it as thou wilt. For thy sweet sake, whom I am so
soon to lose, I could find it in my heart to be pleased at anything
the little savage might do, were she twenty times a heathen Amalakite
or Jebusite."

"Dame," said Eveline, kissing her comely cheek, "how shall I ever be
able to repay thy motherly kindness? O, wherever I may be, and
whatever my lot, I will ever think of thee as my second mother."

"Dear child," replied the dame, moved to tears, which flowed with
womanly facility, "never had mother a sweeter and more loving daughter
than thou hast been to me. Hast thou not done more than most
daughters, in giving me all the property that remains to thee here?"

"Speak not of it, dame," answered Eveline, "though it is Miles' gift,
for he desired me to give it thee."

"Oh! dame, do not disturb my young lady more, for if you get her
crying, think how her eyes w