The Lady of Fort St. John

urtly man presented himself in the hall. Some of the best blood of the Dutch Republic had evidently gone to his making. He had the vital

ed favor even with Lady Dorinda, as a man bearing around him in the New World the atmosphere of Europe.

d travel so many hundred leagues out of his way to visit this poor fort. I have heard

rested openly on Ant

rect route is the one th

ery welcome to this fort. We have c

he seemed a scared Dutch child, bending all her strength and all her inherited quiet on main

pectation of seeing Aren

r," whisper

come have you noth

ee you well

reproached Van Corlaer, "

eyes and drop

has given you a wa

, catching at any scrap. Van Corlaer stared, and answered that Teun

rom the Mohawks," added Antonia without coh

d as he looked around his eyes fell on

was but waiting fit opportunity to recall my

look changed to inst

Father

d stood head and shoulders taller whi

ues, and not here, where in my dim fashion I c

and my hiding and fever. And what pains you took to put me on board the ship in the night! It would be

t Fort Orange again, without pa

who so much enjoyed di

arty greeting to that very learned scholar Fathe

the donné's shoulder and leaned

the donné of this present

s' mouths henceforth. They have really no stomach for religion, though they

our own," said th

hether it be received or

aer, turning back to the priest, "I am glad to find you

for a missionary. Our guides deserted us, and we have wandered off our course and been obliged to

all gone northward. We passed thr

y will c

man at Penobscot would

imprisonment he could bear serenely as incidents of his journey. But t

hift to follow

t supplies, and without knowing

wait for them at Penobsc

your religion when I urge you to journey with me back to Montreal.

st shook

way will be shown to me, or w

y as a guest. The supper grew cold while he parleyed. So he turned quic

cuse. "We brought a half-starved baby home from our last expedition, and it lies dead upstairs. Women hav

had held infants in his hands for baptism, and not only the children of

men into the fort,

falls. We are well provisioned. And there w

ing I hope you wil

eady too bounteous;

or of this fort are left in my hands. And he has hims

well know

ing up the spirits of Van Corlaer. Antonia did not return to the table. The servingmen went and came betwixt hall and cook-house. Every time on

ing with the habitual self-denial of men who must inure themselves to hunger, still spoke wi

a well heaped silver platter on her knees; and she watched Van Corlaer's d