"I'll help her up the hill, Captain," interposed Peter Browne hastily,
and as he carefully aided the Widow Ford to climb the steep ascent some
sprite might have whispered in his ear that this was his own future
wife. That night was born Martha Ford, who should from similarity of
history have married Peregrine White, but who instead wedded William
Nelson.

Not until the last bale or packet unloaded from the Fortune had been
disposed of in the Common storehouse, or in some one of the houses all
hospitably thrown open to the new-comers, did John Alden cease his
labors or exchange more than a brief word with those about him, until at
last Bradford cheerily declared labor over for the day and added,--

"Come friends to my house, and hear what Master Cushman will have to
tell us of affairs in the old home. Come Alden, and reward thy labors
with a good flagon of beer."

Muttering some reply, the young man followed the rest up Leyden Street,
but as they reached the governor's house, a somewhat larger and more
important cabin than the rest, he passed quickly on and up the hill.
Pausing but a moment at the Fort, he struck down the steep southerly
side to the brook, and having performed his simple toilet strode moodily
on toward the forest, but had only gone a few rods when a familiar voice
called his name, and turning he saw Priscilla with Mary Chilton and the
young Frenchman, to whom they seemed to be showing the brook and its
springs of "delicate water."

Very reluctantly Alden turned and moved toward them.

"Did you speak, Mistress Mary?" inquired he as the party approached.

"I--I," stammered Mary blushing vividly.

"It was I who bade her do so," interposed Priscilla with an impatient
glance at the English girl whose honesty had spoiled her little finesse.
"We thought you looked but dull, and I would fain bring my new-arrived
friend Philip De la Noye to your acquaintance."

The two men exchanged salutations, Philip with the ready grace of a
Latin, John with that distinguishing a Saxon, especially if displeased.

"We are strolling about a bit before making ready for supper," added
Priscilla. "Philip is curious as to our manner of life in these wilds."

"'T is but ill suited to slender folk," replied Alden glancing
superciliously at the slight stripling, who, for his part, surveyed with
a sort of amused wonder the thews and stature of the young giant
striding sullenly at Priscilla's other hand.

"Nay, we do not p