d have finished his noon-meat.
The Captain came at once, and after a few friendly words the governor
calmly inquired,--

"Dost wish to wed with Desire Minter, Myles?"

"Desire Minter! Has thy fever come back and turned thy brain, Bradford?"

"Nay, but wilt thou wed with her?"

"Not if there was no other woman upon earth. Dost catch my meaning,
Will?"

"Ay, I fear me that I do."

"Fearest! Why, dost thou desire so monstrous a sacrifice to the common
weal, as Winslow words it? If the wench must be wed there are men enow
who are not of thy nearest friends, Bradford. And, besides, thou knowest
I am to marry Priscilla Molines, and now I think on 't, 't is time to
arrange it. I did but wait for the brig to be gone, but then the
governor's death put all thought of marriage gear out of my head."

"Oh ay, I mind me now that thou didst speak of Priscilla. Hast ever
spoken to her?"

"Not I. I have no skill in such matters, nor time, nor thought. I'll
write her a cartel, I mean a letter of proposals"--

"But can she read? Not many of our women are so deeply learned."

"I know not, I hope not. The only woman I ever cared to speak to of love
could do no more than sign her name and 't was enough."

"Well, then, settle it thine own way, only let it be soon, for I fain
would see thee with a home and children about thy hearth, old friend."

"Ay, I suppose 't is a duty,--a man who hath given all beside, may well
give his own way into the bargain. I'll marry before your new old love
can reach here, Governor."

"Nay, when thou sayest 'Governor,' I note that thou art ill pleased with
somewhat, Myles. Is it with me?"

"Nay, Will, 't is with thy words."

And laughing in his own grim way the Captain left the house, and strode
up the hill to solace his spirit by examining and petting his big guns.

That same evening Bradford walked painfully across the little space
dividing Hopkins's house from that where Katharine Carver sat alone
beside the little fire still comfortable to an invalid, and after some
conversation said,--

"Dame, hast any plan for marrying thy kinswoman Desire Minter to any of
our young fellows?"

"I am glad you have spoken of it, Governor Bradford," replied the widow
eagerly. "For it is a matter largely in my thoughts. I do not think I am
to tarry very long behind my dear lord,--nay, do not speak of that I
beseech you, kind sir,--but it hath dwelt painfully on my mind that the
poor silly maid would be lef