Eveline as
well as upon thyself. Nay, never bite your sweet lips till they bleed,
nor dart the sparks out of thine eyes, or you may singe my doublet, I
do suspect this from the equal desire he hath shown to remove Master
Miles Arundel from the colony. He did threaten him, as I have heard,
with some law they have here forbidding a man to pay his court to a
maid without license from the worshipful magistrates."

"Did ever mortal hear the like!" exclaimed Prudence. "O, the weary
magistrates and elders! what is the world coming to?"

"To nothing but Indians in these parts, if they go on in this way, and
not let young folk court, unless they keep sending people from England
to replenish the stock, and they will get tired of coming when they
hear how things are going on. But, Prudence, banish or no banish, law
or no law, they shall not, if thou art agreed, prevent my seeing
thee."

The girl looked affectionately at her lover, and gently returned the
pressure of his hand.

"I will hie me to the knight," continued Philip. "I happened once to
be of use to him, and he is not a man to forget a favor, though he is
somewhat changed since the time I first saw him. He was then a fiery
youth, for all he can look so grave at times now. He hath some credit,
for it was by his intercession with the Governor that my imprisonment
was shortened. I will hie me to him, and hear what he advises, more
especially as he hath sent for me. And I bethink me, Prudence, it were
no bad thing, if he can do so much, to get him to speak a word for
mistress Eveline."

"An' thou couldest, it were a good deed, and heaven will reward thee
therefor."

"I will look to thee, instead of heaven, for my reward," said the
soldier. "Meanwhile do thou have thine eyes like those in a peacock's
tail, all around thee, for this Master Spikeman is cunninger than all
the foxes whose tails Samson tied together."

"Trust me, Philip, and be thou discreet. And now must I be going back,
for I would not abuse the liberty the kind heart of dame Spikeman
gives me by loitering too long; so good-bye."

"And is this the way you take leave, when perhaps you may not see me
again for a month? Not one salute?"

"Methinks thou hast been firing salutes enough already to welcome a
ship from England. Be content, Sir Malapert, with their discharges;"
and Prudence began tripping it away.

"I'll not be content with such a discharge," muttered the soldier;
then raising his voice, he