“Governor Andros was appointed by King James. Massachusetts has accepted that.”

“Well, here in Connecticut we will never accept it!”

“You are wrong, Matthew!” cried Gershom Bulkeley. “If you do not live to see the evil results of it, your children or their children will. Such views can lead only to revolution and war!”

The two men sat staring at each other across the table. Tears filled Rachel’s eyes. Then Mercy spoke. “Reverend Bulkeley, would you read to us this evening?” she asked gently.

Dr. Bulkeley smiled. “I need some rest, but my young pupil here is a very good reader.”

Matthew Wood put the heavy Bible in front of John Holbrook, and Rachel moved the candlestick nearer. John had been silent all evening, and now he seemed pleased to be in the center of attention. Now he looked at the Bible in his hands and asked his teacher, “What would you like me to read, sir?”

“I would suggest Proverbs 24:21,” said the old minister.

John began to read: “My son, fear the Lord and the King…”

Matthew Wood was about to say something when his wife stopped him gently. When the reading was finished, Reverend Bulkeley began the evening prayer. At one time Kit opened her eyes and saw that Judith was studying John Holbrook. Then one phrase of Dr. Bulkeley’s prayer caught Kit’s attention. “And bless our sister in her weakness.” Was he talking about Mercy? After a few days in this house Kit had stopped noticing Mercy’s lameness. No one ever mentioned it. Mercy certainly wasn’t weak. She did a full day’s work and more. Also Kit saw that Mercy was the central figure of this family. She softened her father when he was in his bad moods, supported her gentle mother, preached her younger sister, and had helped Kit to join their family circle.

When the prayer ended, the thanks and the goodnights said, Rachel spoke to John Holbrook. “I hope you will come again,” she said kindly. “We would like you to feel welcome in our house.”

John looked back at Judith. “Thank you,” he answered. “I would be very happy to come again.”

As the door finally closed behind the guests, Matthew Wood turned angrily to his wife. “That is the last time,” he said, “that I will have Gershom Bulkeley under my roof!”

“Very well, Matthew,” answered Rachel. “But do not be too hard on him. Gershom is a good man.”

“No, he is not. He is a hypocrite! I’ll have no more texts read at me in my own house! But there is one more thing I forgot,” he added. “Today young William Ashby asked my permission to see my niece.”

There was silence in the room as everyone turned to look at Kit. “You mean to see Katherine?” asked Rachel.

“That is what I said.”

Kit’s cheeks turned red. Judith opened her mouth to say something, looked at her father and closed it again.

“I suppose we can agree,” said Rachel. “He is a good member of the Society.”

“His father is another King’s man,” said her husband. “He proposed the council to join with Massachusetts. But what can we expect, now that we have a Royalist under our own roof?”

“Well, I told you so!” Judith finally said later when the girls were in their room getting ready for bed. “I knew by the way he was looking at you after the Meeting.”

Kit was curios now. “Do you know him well?”

“Who doesn’t know about him?” said Judith. “His father has the best land on which he will build the house for Master William when he decides to get married. He was almost ready to do it, but then you came along.”

Suddenly Kit remembered. That first morning, when she was trying on the dress, Judith had said…

“Oh, dear,” Kit exclaimed, “I don’t want this William to come and see me. I’ve only met him once, and I don’t have a word to say to him. I’ll tell Uncle Matthew in the morning.”

“Don’t you say anything to Father!” Judith cried. “William never asked to see me. But, as a matter of fact, Kit, you can have William. I’ve changed my mind. I’m going to marry John Holbrook.”

What could she say next? Kit sat looking at her hands while William Ashby sat opposite her across the wide table. She knew that if she looked up she would find the young man’s eyes fixed on her. For the last half an hour they had sat like this. When a young man came to see a girl, what did they talk about? Kit had tried her best, but William seemed happy just to sit. Was it Kit’s duty to lead the conversation? From the kitchen across the hall Kit could hear the voices of the family. Tonight she wanted to be with them. She would welcome even the Bible reading at this moment. She sighed and tried again, “Is it always so cold in New England, even in May?”