child, and so
will I be for ever and ever thy countryman."

Smith smiled at her eagerness, yet was deeply touched by it.

"Call me then what thou wilt; I can fear no evil that might come to me
from thee."

Pocahontas then spoke a few words to him in the Powhatan tongue, anxious
to see if he still remembered it. And he answered her in her language.
She was silent, but Smith could see that something was disturbing her.

"What is it, Matoaka; what words wait to cross the ford of thy lips?" he
asked.

"They did tell me always," she replied, "that thou wert dead and I knew
no more till I came to Plymouth, yet Powhatan did command
Uttamatomakkin to seek thee and know the truth, because thy countrymen
will lie much."

"Think of it no more. Little Sister, if thou still let me call thee
that. I am not dead yet and I have many journeys to make. I thank fate I
had not yet sailed for that coast to the north of Jamestown they call
'New England,' so that I might greet thee once again. When I return we
shall have many more talks together."

"I shall not be here, Father; we too shall set sail ere long. I have
been happy here in thy land, but I am now suffering from an illness they
tell me is called homesickness."

"That is an illness which may be easily remedied, Matoaka. But when thou
art come again to Wingandacoa forget not the England and the friends
which can never forget thee."

* * * * *

In the days that followed Lady De La Ware, touched by the affection
Pocahontas manifested towards her, accompanied her everywhere, to the
wonderful masque written by the poet, Ben Jonson, which was performed at
the Twelfth Night festival, and to the play written by Master Will
Shakespeare that he called "The Tempest," which represented court folk
cast ashore on an island in the western ocean.

Everything was so full of interest that her new life seemed to be
leading her further and further away from the old simple existence of
forest and river. Then came the presentation to the Queen, Anne of
Denmark, consort of James First of England and Sixth of Scotland. Lady
De La Ware had seen that Lady Rebecca's costume suited her dark skin and
hair.

Before coming to the presence chamber there were many halls and
anterooms filled with courtiers and ladies, whose curious glances might
have dismayed any woman who had not grown accustomed to a life at court;
but Pocahontas passed on unconscious of them all.