"And I wish to go to
Jamestown. This forest wearies me." Her tone was imperious.
"I must think it over," I said coolly. "I may take you, or I may not. I
cannot tell yet."
"But I desire to go, sir!"
"And I may desire you to stay."
"You are a churl!"
I bowed. "I am the man of your choice, madam."
She rose with a stamp of her foot, and, turning her back upon me,
took a flower from the table and commenced to pull from it its
petals. I unsheathed my sword, and, seating myself, began to polish
away a speck of rust upon the blade. Ten minutes later I looked up
from the task, to receive full in my face a red rose tossed from the
other side of the room. The missile was followed by an enchanting
burst of laughter.
"We cannot afford to quarrel, can we?" cried Mistress Jocelyn
Percy. "Life is sad enough in this solitude without that. Nothing
but trees and water all day long, and not a soul to speak to! And I
am horribly afraid of the Indians! What if they were to kill me
while you were away? You know you swore before the minister to
protect me. You won't leave me to the mercies of the savages, will
you? And I may go to Jamestown, may n't I? I want to go to
church. I want to go to the Governor's house. I want to buy a many
things. I have gold in plenty, and but this one decent dress. You'll
take me with you, won't you?"
"There's not your like in Virginia," I told her.
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