ve not the skill to hide my mind as
Priscilla hath. But I'll help thee, John, for I do believe thou 'lt make
the dear maid happy if she will but stay in one mind long enough to wed
thee."

And in a few moments when the setting sun warned Priscilla that it was
time to turn homeward, and the two parties came together, Mary showed
Philip De la Noye the strawberry plants of which he had asked, and so
detained him for a moment, while John walking on with Priscilla
impatiently began,--

"Wilt answer me one little question in good faith, mistress?"

"In good faith if at all, John."

"Then, what bond is there betwixt thee and this lad's brother Jacques?"

"None save good will and old acquaintance."

"But there was."

"Was there?"

"Nay now, Priscilla, I speak to thee in sober sadness, and I ask such
reply as honest maid should give to honest man who woos her for his
wife. If we fall to quips and cranks and wordy play, thou 'rt so far out
of my reach that I know not if I ever come near thee, for I'm but a
plain simple fellow, Priscilla, and I love thee more than I love aught
else but God and the truth. Give me now a plain answer and have pity of
my misery. Has aught of this lad's news changed thy will or thy intent
toward me?"

And Priscilla moving slowly along beside her wooer shot a rapid sidelong
glance at his white face, and for the first time in their acquaintance
felt a thrill of respect akin to fear, sweep in his direction across her
gay self-assertive nature.

"Yes, John, I will answer thee truly and soberly," replied she in a
voice he had never heard from her before. "Philip De la Noye hath
brought news that sets me free from a teasing obligation of which no man
knows. Marie and Jeanne, his sisters, are my dear friends and gossips,
and their brother Jacques would fain have been my bachelor in Leyden,
but I was too young my father said to listen to such talk, and he cared
not greatly for Jacques, who was to tell truth somewhat gay and debonair
of temper, and no church member, no, not he. So when we parted from
Leyden to come hither, and I went to bid good-by to my friends, James,
as you call him in English, would fain have me promise to wed no man but
him, and he would come hither so soon as he was his own master."

"And didst promise, Priscilla?"

"Well, nay and yea, John. I said I knew not what might meet me here,
and--but at long and at last I promised to wait until the first ship had
followed us, and