r,
for Master Oldham and Master Hatherly both carry the king's patent as
justices; and this Master Lyford who cometh in Oldham's train is
preacher in the Church of England."

"Ha! Say you so, Will? One of the 'hireling priests' of such noisome
odour in the nostrils of thy friends of the stricter sort at Leyden!"

"Nay, Captain, but you will remember that Pastor Robinson did receive
members of England's Church to the Lord's Table, and did counsel us to
live in brotherly love and communion with them."

"And so fell into disfavor with his old friends the Brownists," remarked
Standish carelessly. "Well, 't is all one to me, who am no church
member, and deny not due respect to the old faith of mine house. And you
will be wed anon, Will?"

"Ay, and we will have your Barbara to stay with us until she finds
another home, if you and she consent. Dame Alice loves her passing
well."

"'T is a good wench and a comfortable one," replied Standish well
pleased. "Had Rose lived, or had Priscilla said me yea, I had taken
Barbara under mine own roof; but now I must wait until she makes her
choice of the swains that soon will come a-wooing, and then she and her
husband shall come to me."

"Ay," returned Bradford musingly, and checking upon his lips the smile
that danced in his eyes. "Thy plans are ever wisely laid, Myles."

Turning into his own house Bradford found Alice with her wimple and
scarf on just about to leave it.

"Whither away, mistress?" asked he gayly.

"Only to breathe a mouthful of fresh air, Master Governor. I have been
so long ashipboard that four walls seem a prison to me. Mayhap I'll take
passage back again with good Master Pierce."

"Mayhap thou 'lt do naught of the sort. I have thee now, and I'll not
let thee go, as I did sometime in Leyden."

"Thou didst anger me sore, Will, when thou 'dst not close with that good
man's offer of half his business, though it was but a merchant's. And my
father crying up Edward Southworth"--

"Nay, Alice, we'll not go pulling open old wounds to see if they be
healed. I would not, I could not do violence to my English name and
blood and become a Dutch trader though it were to gain thy hand, nor did
I think thou wouldst in thine anger go so far--but there, sweetheart,
we'll say no more on 't, now or ever. God has been exceeding gracious in
bringing us once more together, and we will not be ungrateful. Thy boys
shall find a father in me, Alice, and should Elder May give me