port；　and　of　the　tall　ship　which　had　brought　in　those　doves　for　sale。　The　river　with　its　dancing　freight；　the　blue　heavens　and　bright　sunshine；　the　green　trees　waving　in　the　wind；　the　stir　and　bustle　in　the　street　and　market　place　thronged　with　gayly　dressed　gallants；　made　　a　fair　and　pleasant　scene。　As　I　drove　my　boat　in　between　the　sloop　of　the　commander　of　Shirley　Hundred　and　the　canoe　of　the　Nansemond　werowance；　the　two　bells　then　newly　hung　in　the　church　began　to　peal　and　the　drum　to　beat。　Stepping　ashore；　I　had　a　rear　view　only　of　the　folk　who　had　clustered　along　the　banks　and　in　the　street；　their　faces　and　footsteps　being　with　one　accord　directed　toward　the　market　place。　I　went　with　the　throng；　jostled　alike　by　velvet　and　dowlas；　by　youths　with　their　estates　upon　their　backs　and　naked　fantastically　painted　savages；　and　trampling　the　tobacco　with　which　the　greedy　citizens　had　planted　the　very　street。　In　the　square　I　brought　up　before　the　Governor's　house；　and　found　myself　cheek　by　jowl　with　Master　Pory；　our　Secretary；　and　Speaker　of　the　Assembly。
  〃Ha；　Ralph　Percy！〃　he　cried；　wagging　his　gray　head；　〃we　two　be　the　only　sane　younkers　in　the　plantations！　All　the　others　are　horn…mad！〃
  〃I　have　caught　the　infection；〃　I　said；　〃and　am　one　of　the　bedlamites。〃
  He　stared；　then　broke　into　a　roar　of　laughter。　〃Art　in　earnest？〃　he　asked；　holding　his　fat　sides。　〃Is　Saul　among　the　prophets？〃
  〃Yes；〃　I　answered。　〃I　diced　last　night；　…　yea　or　no；　and　the　'yea'　…　plague　on　't　…　had　it。〃
  He　broke　into　another　roar。　〃And　thou　callest　that　bridal　attire；　man！　Why；　our　cow…keeper　goes　in　flaming　silk　to…day！〃
  I　looked　down　upon　my　suit　of　buff；　which　had　in　truth　seen　some　service；　and　at　my　great　boots；　which　I　had　not　thought　to　clean　since　I　mired　in　a　swamp；　coming　from　Henricus　the　week　before；　then　shrugged　my　shoulders。
  〃You　will　go　begging；〃　he　continued；　wiping　his　eyes。　〃Not　a　one　of　them　will　so　much　as　look　at　you。〃
  〃Then　will　they　miss　seeing　a　man；　and　not　a　popinjay；〃　I　retorted。　〃I　shall　not　break　my　heart。〃
  A　cheer　arose　from　the　crowd；　followed　by　a　crashing　peal　of　the　bells　and　a　louder　roll　of　the　drum。　The　doors　of　the　houses　around　and　to　right　and　left　of　the　square　swung　open；　and　the　company　which　had　been　quartered　overnight　upon　the　citizens　began　to　emerge。　By　twos　and　threes；　some　with　hurried　steps　and　downcast　eyes；　others　more　slowly　and　with　free　glances　at　the　staring　men；　they　gathered　to　the　centre　of　the　square；　where；　in　surplice　and　band；　there　awaited　them　godly　Master　Bucke　and　Master　Wickham　of　Henricus。　I　stared　with　the　rest；　though　I　did　not　add　my　voice　to　theirs。
  Before　the　arrival　of　yesterday's　ship　there　had　been　in　this　natural　Eden　（leaving　the　savages　out　of　the　reckoning）　several　thousand　Adams；　and　but　some　threescore　Eves。　And　for　the　most　part；　the　Eves　were　either　portly　and　bustling　or　withered　and　shrewish　housewives；　of　age　and　experience　to　defy　the　serpent。　These　were　different。　Ninety　slender　figures　decked　in　all　the　bravery　they　could　assume；　ninety　comely　faces；　pink　and　white；　or　clear　brown　with　the　rich　blood　showing　through；　ninety　pair　of　eyes；　laughing　and　alluring；　or　downcast　with　long　fringes　sweeping　rounded　cheeks；　ninety　pair　of　ripe　red　lips；　…　the　crowd　shouted　itself　hoarse　and　would　not　be　restrained；　brushing　aside　like　straws　the　staves　of　the　marshal　and　his　men；　and　surging　in　upon　the　line　of　adventurous　damsels。　I　saw　young　men；　panting；　seize　hand　or　arm　and　strive　to　pull　toward　them　　some　reluctant　fair；　others　snatched　kisses；　or　fell　on　their　knees　and　began　speeches　out　of　Euphues；　others　commenced　an　inventory　of　their　possessions；　…　acres；　tobacco；　servants；　household　plenishing。　All　was　hubbub；　protestation；　frightened　cries；　and　hysterical　laughter。　The　officers　ran　to　and　fro；　threatening　and　commanding；　Master　Pory　alternately　cried　〃Shame！〃　and　laughed　his　loudest；　and　I　plucked　away　a　jackanapes　of　sixteen　who　had　his　hand　upon　a　girl's　ruff；　and　shook　him　until　the　breath　was　well…nigh　out　of　him。　The　clamor　did　but　increase。
  〃Way　for　the　Governor！〃　cried　the　marshal。　〃Shame　on　you；　my　masters！　Way　for　his　Honor　and　the　worshipful　Council！〃
  The　three　wooden　steps　leading　down　from　the　door　of　the　Governor's　house　suddenly　blossomed　into　crimson　and　gold；　as　his　Honor　with　the　attendant　Councilors　emerged　from　the　hall　and　stood　staring　at　the　mob　below。
  The　Governor's　honest　moon　face　was　quite　pale　with　passion。　〃What　a　devil　is　this？〃　he　cried　wrathfully。　〃Did　you　never　see　a　woman　before？　Where's　the　marshal？　I'll　imprison　the　last　one　of　you　for　rioters！〃
  Upon　the　platform　of　the　pillory；　which　stood　in　the　centre　of　the　market　place；　suddenly　appeared　a　man　of　a　gigantic　frame；　with　a　strong　face　deeply　lined　and　a　great　shock　of　grizzled　hair；　…　a　strange　thing；　for　he　was　not　old。　I　knew　him　to　be　one　Master　Jeremy　Sparrow；　a　minister　brought　by　the　Southampton　a　month　before；　and　as　yet　without　a　charge；　but　at　that　time　I　had　not　spoken　with　him。　Without　word　of　warning　he　thundered　into　a　psalm　　of　thanksgiving；　singing　it　at　the　top　of　a　powerful　and　yet　sweet　and　tender　voice；　and　with　a　fervor　and　exaltation　that　caught　the　heart　of　the　riotous　crowd。　The　two　ministers　in　the　throng　beneath　took　up　the　strain；　Master　Pory　added　a　husky　tenor；　eloquent　of　much　sack；　presently　we　were　all　singing。　The　audacious　suitors；　charmed　into　rationality；　fell　back；　and　the　broken　line　re…formed。　The　Governor　and　the　Council　descended；　and　with　pomp　and　solemnity　took　their　places　between　the　maids　and　the　two　ministers　who　were　to　head　the　column。　The　psalm　ended；　the　drum　beat　a　thundering　roll；　and　the　procession　moved　forward　in　the　direction　of　the　church。
  Master　Pory　having　left　me；　to　take　his　place　among　his　brethren　of　the　Council；　and　the　mob　of　those　who　had　come　to　purchase　and　of　the　curious　idle　having　streamed　away　at　the　heels　of　the　marshal　and　his　officers；　I　found　myself　alone　in　the　square；　save　for　the　singer；　who　now　descended　from　the　pillory　and　came　up　to　me。
  〃Captain　Ralph　Percy；　if　I　mistake　not？〃　he　said；　in　a　voice　as　deep　and　rich　as　the　bass　of　an　organ。
  〃The　same；〃　I　answered。　〃And　you　are　Master　Jeremy　Sparrow？〃
  〃Yea；　a　silly　preacher；　…　the　poorest；　meekest；　and　lowliest　of　the　Lord's　servitors。〃
  His　deep　voice；　magnificent　frame；　and　bold　and　free　address　so　gave　the　lie　to　the　humility　of　his　words　that　I　had　much　ado　to　keep　from　laughing。　He　saw；　and　his　face；　which　was　of　a　cast　most　martial；　flashed　into　a　smile；　like　sunshine　on　a　scarred　cliff。
  〃You　laugh　in　your　sleeve；〃　he　said　good…humoredly；　〃and　yet　I　am　but　what　I　profess　to　be。　　In　spirit　I　am　a　very　Job；　though　nature　hath　fit　to　dress　me　as　a　Samson。　I　assure　you；　I　am　worse　misfitted　than　is　Master　Yardstick　yonder　in　those　Falstaffian　hose。　But；　good　sir；　will　you　not　go　to　church？〃
  〃If　the　church　were　Paul's；　I　might；〃　I　answered。　〃As　it　is；　we　could　not　get　within　fifty　feet　of　the　door。〃
  〃Of　the　great　door；　ay；　but　the　ministers　may　pass　through　the　side　door。　If　you　please；　I　will　take　you　in　with　me。　The　pretty　fools　yonder　march　slowly；　if　we　turn　down　this　lane；　we　will　outstrip　them　quite。〃
  〃Agreed；〃　I　said；　and　we　turned　into　a　lane　thick　planted　with　tobacco；　made　a　detour　of　the　Governor's　house；　and　outflanked　the　procession；　arriving　at　the　small　door　before　it　had　entered　the　churchyard。　Here　we　found　the　sexton　mounting　guard。
  〃I　am　Master　Sparrow；　the　minister　that　came　in　the　Southampton；〃　my　new　acquaintance　explained。　〃I　am　to　sit　in　the　choir。　Let　us　pass；　good　fellow。〃
  The　sexton　squared　himself　before　the　narrow　opening；　and　swelled　with　importance。
  〃You；　reverend　sir；　I　will　admit；　such　being　my　duty。　But　this　gentleman　is　no　preacher；　I　may　not　allow　him　to　pass。〃
  〃You　mistake；　friend；〃　said　my　companion　gravely。　〃This　gentleman；　my　worthy　colleague；　has　but　just　come　from　the　island　of　St。　Brandon；　where　he　preaches　on　the　witches'　Sabbath：　hence　the　disorder　of　his　apparel。　His　admittance　be　on　my　head：　wherefore　let　us　by。〃
  〃None　to　enter　at　the　west　door　save　Councilors；　commander；　and　ministers。　Any　attempting　to　force　　an　entrance　to　be　arrested　and　laid　by　the　heels　if　they　be　of　the　generality；　or；　if　they　be　of　quality；　to　be　duly　fined　and　debarred　from　the　purchase　of　any　maid　whatsoever；〃　chanted　the　sexton。
  〃Then；　in　God's　name；　let's　on！〃　I　exclaimed　〃Here；　try　this！〃　and　I　drew　from　my　purse；　which　was　something　of　the　leanest；　a　shilling。
  〃Try　this；〃　quoth　Master　Jeremy　Sparrow；　and　knocked　the　sexton　down。
  We　left　the　fellow　sprawling　in　the　doorway；　sputtering　threats　to　the　air　without；　but　with　one　covetous　hand　clutching　at　the　shilling　which　I　threw　behind　me；　and　entered　the　church；　which　we　found　yet　empty；　though　through　the　open　great　door　we　heard　the　drum　beat　loudly　and　a　deepening　sound　of　footsteps。
  〃I　have　choice　of　position；〃　I　said。　〃Yonder　window　seems　a　good　station。　You　remain　here　in　the　choir？〃
  〃Ay；〃　he　answered；　with　a　sigh；　〃the　dignity　of　my　calling　must　be　upheld：　wherefore　I　sit　in　high　places；　rubbing　elbows　with　gold　lace；　when　of　the　very　truth　the　humility　of　my　spirit　is　such　that