s's eyes caught sight of an older woman whom Rolfe was
escorting towards her. There was something about her appearance that was
very pleasing. She was a little above medium height, with hair silvered
in front and with cheeks as full of color as the roses she carried in
her hands. Pocahontas felt at once that here was a woman whom she could
love. Her manner was as dignified as that of any lady in the
assemblage, but there was a heartiness in her voice and in her glance
which made Pocahontas feel at home as she had not before felt in
England.

"This is Lady De La Ware, whose husband, thou knowest, Rebecca, was
Governor of our Colony," said Rolfe, "and she hath brought these English
roses to thee." Then he strolled off, leaving the two women together.

"They are very beautiful, thy flowers," said Pocahontas, smiling at them
and at their giver, "and sweeter than the blossoms that grow in my
land."

"Yet those are wonderful, too. I have heard of many glorious trees and
vines which grow there and I would that I might see them."

"If thou wilt cross the ocean with us when we return, I will show thee
many things that would be as strange to thee as thy land is to me. I
would take thee to my father, Powhatan, and he would give dances in
thine honour that would not be"--and she laughed again at the
thought--"like the ball my Lord Bishop giveth me."

Lady De La Ware smiled, too. She had been told something about the
Indian customs.

"Perhaps some day thou shalt take me to thy father's court; but now I am
come to take thee to that of our Queen. She hath expressed her desire to
see thee shortly. A letter which was written her by Captain John Smith
about thee hath made her all the more eager to do honour to one who hath
ever befriended the English."

"Captain John Smith hath written to the Queen about me?" said
Pocahontas, marvelling.

"In truth, and since his words seemed to me worthy of remembrance, I
have kept them in my mind." He begins:

"'If ingratitude be a deadly poyson to all honest vertues, I must be
guiltie of that crime if I should omit any meanes to be thankfull. So it
is that some ten years ago being in Virginia, and taken prisoner by the
power of Powhatan, their chief King, I received from this great savage
exceeding great courtesy, especially from his son, Nautauquas, the most
manliest, comeliest, boldest spirit I ever saw in a savage, and his
sister, Pocahontas, the King's most dear and well beloved daughte