"And Bradford?"
"I fain would stay here."
"And thou, Doctor?"
"I' faith I see better hope of practice here than in the old countries. I'll stay."
"And I have come here to live and to die," said Carver in conclusion. "So you see good Master Jones, that while kindly grateful for your offer and your heartiness, we cannot accept the first, but will requite the last with equal good will."
"Ay, I want your good will, and perhaps you'll give me a prayer or two just for luck, dominie?"
"Surely we will pray for thee, Master Jones," replied Brewster with fine reticence of tone.
"But before we say more, brethren," resumed the governor, "we must not forget that, as the master hath said, this question concerns every man, woman, and child in the colony; and while we would not send unprotected women or children upon a long voyage with such a crew as man the Mayflower,"—
"Nay, they're not psalm singers," muttered Jones half exultant half ashamed,
—"every man in the company has a right to decide for himself and those belonging to him," calmly concluded the governor, "and I will ask our captain, as equal in authority to myself, to bid the attendance of every man over twenty years old in the company, here at once."