"Why, truth to tell, sir, and my dear Dame, I thought not of Desire as
my wife"--

"Didst thou not speak to her of marriage?"

"Surely not,--or--there was some idle jest between us, I mind not what,
and I never thought on 't again."

"But she did, thou seest," said the Governor sternly. "Thou knowest how
'idle jesting that is not convenient' is condemned in Holy Writ, and now
is the saying proven. The maid believed thee in earnest, and hath set
her mind upon thee"--

But of a sudden Bradford remembering Desire's plainly expressed
preference for the Captain, if he might be had, paused abruptly, and
Dame Carver took up the word,--

"It would much comfort my mind, John, if thou wouldst consent to this
thing. The maiden's future is a fardel upon my shoulders now, and they
are not over strong. 'T is a good wench, John, if not over brilliant."

"Say no more, dame, say no more. If it will be a pleasure and a comfort
to thee, it is enough."

"But hast thou any other choice, John? Wouldst thou have chosen
Priscilla, like thy friend Alden?"

"Nay, Dame."

"But thou hast something in thy mind, good John. Tell it out, I pray
thee."

"Well, then, to speak all my mind, Mistress, there is no maid among us
so fair in my eyes, and so sweet, and pure, and true, as Elizabeth
Tilley, and I had"--

"Why, she is scarce turned sixteen, dear boy," exclaimed the widow.

"I had thought to wait a year or two for her," faltered Howland, but
Bradford interposed,--

"Nay, nay, John, we cannot have our sturdy men waiting for little maids
to grow up. There are boys enow coming on for them, and as for thee, why
man, thou 'rt five-and-twenty, art not?"

"Seven-and-twenty, sir. But all this is beside the matter. If my dear
mistress asks me to marry Desire Minter as a comfort to her, I will do
it to-day."

"I thank thee heartily, John." And in the affectionate glance and smile
his lily-like dame turned upon him Howland felt more than repaid for his
sacrifice.

"And yet," continued she, "I will not let thee marry to-day, nor for a
year. But if thou wilt call thyself betrothed to her, and promise me on
thy faith to deal truly by her, and at the year's end marry her if you
both are still so minded, I will be content. I shall leave her in thy
care, even as he who is gone left me in thy care, and a good and
faithful guardian hast thou been, dear friend."

"I pledged my life to him that I would do my best, and now I pledge it
in your h