"Welcome to Rosemead, your Excellency." "I greet you well, pretty Mistress Betty," said the Governor, and took a governor’s privilege. Mr. Peyton looked as though he would have liked to follow his Excellency’s example, but was fain to content himself with the lady’s hand, resigned to the respectful pressure of his lips with a charming blush and a dropping of long-fringed eyelids. "Where is your father, sweetheart?" demanded the Governor. "Ah! your Excellency, he is unfortunate. The vestry hath appointed this day for the examination of boundaries in this parish, and as his Majesty’s Surveyor-General he leads the procession. But will not your Excellency await his return? He will be here anon, and with him Colonel Verney." "Then will I wait, pretty one; for I have weighty matters to discuss both with him and with Dick Verney." Betty ushered them into the great room, cool, dark, and fragrant of roses. "If your Excellency will permit me to withdraw, I will order some refreshment for you after your long ride." The Governor sank into an armchair, and smiled graciously. "Faith! a bit of pasty comes not amiss after a morning canter. And prithee see to the sack thyself, Mistress Betty. And a dish of pippins and cheese," continued the Governor, meditatively, "and a rasher of bacon." "There was a fine comb taken from the hive this morning. Will your Excellency choose a bit? And there are dates, sent my father by the captain of the Barbary vessel, and a quince tart—" "We will taste of it all," said his Excellency, graciously, "and afterwards a pipe and a saucer of sweet scented, and your company, my love. Mr. Peyton, the lady may find the honeycomb too heavy for her lifting. We will excuse you to her assistance." "I am your Excellency’s most obedient servant," quoth Mr. Peyton with due submission, and hastened after his blushing mistress. The Governor, left alone, strolled to the window and looked out upon the Chesapeake, lying blue and unruffled beneath the dazzling sunshine; to the mantel-piece, and smelt of the roses in the blue china bowl; to the spinet, and picked out "Here ’s to Royal Charles" with one finger;—and finally brought up before a corner cupboard, found the key in the door, turned it, and came upon the Surveyor-General’s library.