rival, Standish stood aside, wiping his brow, and
looking jovially about him at the tables already spread with the wedding
feast, which was thriftily to take the place of the villagers' ordinary
dinner.

"A cheerful and a refreshing season, Captain," said a staid voice at his
elbow.

"Ay," replied Standish briefly and with something of the good-humor gone
from his face, for he had no great love for Isaac Allerton, Assistant of
the Governor, and one of the principal men of the colony, though he was.

"Methinks you and I might be principals instead of spectators at some
such solemnity, and offend no law of God or man."

"I know no law against your being wed if it pleases you, Master
Allerton," replied the soldier briefly.

"No--no, as you justly say, no law, Captain, and truth to tell I had it
in my mind to speak to you this morning"--

"To me, to me!" exclaimed the captain, wheeling round and staring at the
smooth face and narrow figure of the assistant. "Dost fancy that I am a
pretty maid hid within a buff jerkin?"

"Ha! ha! Our good captain still must have his joke. Nay then, in sober
earnest my dear brother, your cousin, Mistress Barbara Standish, doth
much commend herself to my mind as a discreet and godly maiden, notable
in household ways, and of a mild and biddable nature. I fain would have
her to wife, Standish, if I may do so with your consent."

"Nay now, Master Allerton, your eyes are keener after a good chance for
trucking than ever a pair in the colony, and I'm not saying that the
governor could find a better assistant in his weighty affairs of State,
but you've no more eye for a gentlewoman's good qualities than I have
for a peddler's. 'Mild and biddable,' forsooth! Those virtues were left
out when they brewed the Standish blood, Master Allerton, and courage
and honor and some other trifles thrown in to make amends. Why man,
should you wed Barbara Standish and raise a hand upon her as I've seen
you do upon your daughters, woman-grown, I'd not answer but she'd have
your life's blood for it; and if you bade her stint the measure of the
corn she sold to your neighbors, she'd quit your roof and you, before
you could say whiskerando! No, no, Master Allerton, best not try to mate
yourself with a Standish. No luck would come on 't I promise you."

"Methinks, Captain Standish," replied the councilor smoothly, although
his pale face had taken a livid cast harmonizing with a green light in
his narrow eyes,--