"There will be years for you to learn," said her father. "Meanwhile the ghost of old Miles Standish may come back."
"What would he do?" asked Doris, big-eyed.
Warren laughed. "What he did in the flesh was this: The Royalists—you see, they were not all Puritans that came over—were going to keep an old-time festival at a place called Merry Mount. They erected a May pole and were going to dance around it."
"That is what they do at home. And they have a merry time. Miss Arabella took me. And didn't Miles Standish like it?"
"I guess not. He sent a force of men to tear it down, and marched Morton and his party into Plymouth, where they were severely reprimanded—fined as well, some people say."
"We do not rule our neighbors quite as strictly now. But one must admire those stanch old fellows, after all."
"I am glad the world has grown wider," said Warren. But he wished its wideness had taken in his mother, who had a great fear of the evils lying in wait for unwary youth. Still he would not go against her wishes while he was yet under age. Young people were considered children in their subjection to their parents until this period. And girls who stayed at home were often in subjection all their lives. There were men who ruled their families with a sort of iron sway, but Mr. Leverett had always been considered rather easy.
Doris begged to come out and dry the dishes, but they said tables instead of talking of the seductive party. Mr. Leverett had to go out for an hour. Betty sat down and took up her knitting. She felt rather tired and sleepy, for she had gone on with the party the night before, after she was in bed. A modern girl would be just getting ready to go to her party at ten. But then she would not have to get up at half-past five the next morning, make a fire, and cook breakfast. Suddenly Betty found herself nodding.
"Put up your book, Doris. I'll mix the cakes and we will go to bed. You can dream on the lessons."
The party had demoralized Doris as well.