What d' ye lack ?" As he spoke he moved toward the doorway, through which showed shelves and tables piled with the extraordinary variety of goods which were deemed essential to the colonial trade.

"Are you the storekeeper ?" asked Haward, keeping pace with the other's long stride.
"It's the name they call me by," answered the man curtly; then, as he chanced to turn his eyes upon the landing, his tone changed, and a smile irradiated his countenance.

"Here comes a customer," he remarked, "that'll make you bide your turn." A boat, rowed by a young boy and carrying a woman, had slipped out of the creek, and along the river bank to the steps of the landing.

When they were reached, the boy sat still, the oars resting across his knees, and his face upturned to a palace beautiful of pearl and saffron cloud; but the woman mounted the steps, and, crossing the boards, came up to the door and the men beside it.

Her dress was gray and unadorned, and she was young and of a quiet loveliness.
"Mistress Truelove Taberer," said the storekeeper, "what can you choose, this May Day, that's so fair as yourself ?" A pair of gray eyes were lifted for the sixth part of a second, and a voice that bad learned of the doves in the forest proceeded to rebuke the flatterer.