dost thou know, cousin, I would not trifle with any man, and
I begged the governor to enforce out of his own mouth the no-say that I
worded gently, for truly there is no reason for me to flout the
gentleman. How could he honor me more than to ask me to wife?"

"Well, well, so long as thou hast said No and will stick to No, all is
well; but I like not this man Allerton; he is too shrewd a trader for a
simple gentleman to cope with. He sold me corn and gave scant measure,
and I told him of it too. He likes me not better than I like him."

"Rest easy, Myles, I'll never make him thy cousin. I care not if I never
wed."

"Nay, that's too far on t' other side the hedge. A comely and a winsome
lass like thee is sure to wed, but what runs in my head, Barbara, is
that there is none left here fit for thee. I would that Bradford had not
been so constant to his old-time sweetheart. I would have given thee to
him, for though his folk were but yeomen of the better sort there at
home, here he is the Governor and playeth his part as well as any Howard
or Percy of them all. Winslow cometh of good lineage and carrieth his
coat-armor; but he and now his brother John are wed, and Gilbert will
leave us anon, so that verily I see no man left with whom a Standish
might fitly wed."

A peal of merry laughter broke in upon the captain's meditative pause,
and his indignant and astonished regard only seemed to aggravate the
matter, until at last Barbara breathlessly exclaimed,--

"Nay Myles, for sweet pity's sake look not so glum, nor devour me all
at one mouthful. Dost remember how I used to tell thee to beware, for 'a
little pot is soon hot,' and thine own wrath will choke thee some day?"

"Glad am I to amuse you so pleasantly Mistress Standish, but may I ask
the exact provocation to mirth I have just now offered?"

"Oh Myles, I meant not to chafe thy temper so sorely, and I pray thee
hold me excused for untimely laughter; but in good sooth it so tickled
my fancy to hear thee airing thine old world quips and quiddities about
coat-armor, and one with whom a Standish might fitly wed, and yeomen
snatched from oblivion by the saving grace of a governor's title! And
look upon these rocks and wild woods and swart savages and thine own
rude labors--nay then, but I must laugh or burst!"

And giving way to her humor the girl trolled out peal after peal of
delicious laughter, while her cousin folding his arms sat regarding her
with an iron visage,