anish. She wishes to be friends. With pretty pleading she holds out to
them her basket of shell-fish. Places it on the ground and then steps
back, bowing, with arms wide and outstretched palms.

PRISCILLA.
She means we should accept it. Is that not truly generous!

DIANTHA
(reassured).
It must be Star-of-Spring, the little Indian maid of whom Squanto has
so often told us.

[Diantha takes up basket. Pantomime of delight on part of
Star-of-Spring. She draws near to Anne, and with a quaint grace touches
Anne's cap and kerchief. Tries on Anne's cap, and looks at herself in a
barbaric bit of looking-glass that dangles from one of her many chains
of beads. Then laughs, gives back the cap, and is in turn fascinated at
the sight of Priscilla when she begins spinning. Star-of-Spring
approaches the wheel with pantomime indicating awe and delighted
curiosity. She first inspects it, and then begins to talk in dumbshow
with quick, animated gestures. The Pilgrim maidens are somewhat
bewildered.

DIANTHA
(as the meaning of the scene dawns on her).
Priscilla! She wishes to spin!

ANNE.
Thou hast done many strange things in this new land, Priscilla; but I
doubt not that the strangest of all is to give an Indian maiden her
first lesson in spinning!

[Priscilla rises. Star-of-Spring seats herself. Business of Priscilla's
teaching her to spin. Haltingly and somewhat fumblingly she does at
length manage to compass the first rudiments of her lesson. The Pilgrim
maidens stand grouped about her. Tableau.
DEGORY
(from background).
The shadows of the pines lengthen across your door-sill, Priscilla!

[At sound of the new voice Star-of-Spring rises, and hastily retreats,
right. Degory Martin and John Billington enter from background.

DIANTHA.
Only think, Degory, Star-of-Spring, an Indian maid, hath had a spinning
lesson!

DEGORY.
The shadows are lengthening. Twilight comes apace here in the forest.
'Tis time you all came home.

[The maidens of Plymouth follow him as he and John Billington take the
spinning-wheel and spinning-stool with them. They make their exit at
center background. Star-of-Spring, who has lingered at edge of trees,
right, steals out to look after her departing playmates. Stands at
place where spinning-wheel was. Again shakes her head, as if in
perplexity over the strange arts of the palefaces. Finds on grass part
of a skein of flax. Tosses it lightly in the air. Catches it again as
it falls. Begins a charac