aker's bread, that many of her guests sighed at the
remembrance of their womanless households; and those who had wives
behind in England determined to send for them without further delay.

"But what I have to say, your Worships," she continued when she had
ceased serving and had settled down in a highbacked chair to rest, "is
that the Lady Rebecca will never wed another while she harboureth the
thought of Captain Smith's return."

"What! did he teach her to love him?" exclaimed one who would gladly
have listened to any ill of Smith.

"Nay, if ye should even question her thus she would not know how to
reply. She thinketh and speaketh of him constantly and in her thoughts
he standeth midway between a god and an elder brother, even as she doth
call him. All the knowledge she acquireth is learned because she
believeth he would wish it and will be glad to know that she is no
longer the ignorant child of the woods as he first saw her. She wished
even to delay her baptism because she expecteth him by every ship, and
this I know full well--she will marry no man until she hath speech with
Captain Smith or," here she paused significantly, "she believeth him to
be dead."

She paused again to let her words sink in. Mistress Lettice wished no
harm to Pocahontas. Indeed she loved her dearly and desired above all
things to see her happy. And she believed that Rolfe as her husband
would make her happy. Smith, if not indeed dead, was not likely to
return to Jamestown, and therefore he might better be dead as far as
Pocahontas was concerned, she thought. The worthy dame had picked her
audience, which was composed chiefly of men who were well known to be
enemies of Smith, who would not hold back from a slight untruth when
they felt sure that it would help to secure safety from Indian attacks,
which were proving so disastrous to their small community.

"We are mightily amazed at thy words. Mistress Lettice," said one of
her guests at last; "and in truth it hath taken thy woman's eyes to see
what was going on under our very noses and thy woman's tongue to show us
the importance of Master Rolfe's courtship to the welfare of the Colony.
If so small a thing as what thou hast suggested is all that stands
between us and the confirmation of this marriage, why, that is as easily
disposed of as this flagon of thy brother's sack which I drink to thy
health."

He put the emptied cup upon the table and the company rose to go, now
that both busi