things very good, to the day when some convulsion of nature, whatso it
were, by His commandment engulfed that fair isle in the waters.
`Whatsoever the Lord pleased, that did He,--in heaven, and in earth, and
in the sea, and in all deep places.' Not one hair from the head of
those unknown _Christians_, that were _Christians_ in truth, perished in
those North waters. We shall know it when we meet them in the Land that
is very far off."

SELWICK HALL, OCTOBER YE XXXI.
Mine hand was so weary when I was come to the last sentence afore this,
that I set down no more. Truly, there was little at after that
demerited the same.

And now I be come to the end of my month, I have been a-reading over
what I writ, to see how much I must needs pay. There be but two blots,
the which shall be so many pence: and two blank spaces of one week or
over, the which at two pence each brings the account to sixpence. I
cannot perceive that I have at any time writ disrespectfully of my
betters--which, I take it, be _Father_, and _Mother_, and Aunt _Joyce_,
and Cousin _Bess_, and Mynheer _Stuyvesant_, But for speaking unkindly
of other, I fear I am not blameless. I can count six two-pences, which
shall be one shilling and sixpence. I must try and do better when my
month cometh round again. Verily, I had not thought that I should speak
unkindly six times in one month! 'Tis well to find out a body's faults.

So now I pass my book over to _Milly_--and do right earnestly desire
that she may be less faultful than I. What poor infirm things be we, in
very sooth!

Note 1. Francois Duke of Anjou, who visited the Queen in September,
1579, to urge his suit. Elizabeth hesitated for some time before she
gave a decided negative.

CHAPTER THREE.

MILISENT MAKES A FRIEND.

"The inward depths of that deceitful fount
Where many a sin lies sleeping, but not dead."

(_In Milisent's handwriting_.)

SELWICK HALL, NOVEMBER YE FIRST.
Things be alway going awry with me. Elsewise, this jolly book should
ne'er have come into my hands first of a _Sunday_. I would love dearly
to read o'er what my philosophical sister hath writ, and comment on the
same: but I reckon I must tarry till to-morrow.

Now, _Mother_ said I was to write what I thought, and I mean to do the
same. As to the pennies and the two-pences, they may count up
themselves, for all I care. They'll