"Ask, and thou wilt be convinced of the contrary."

"I am but a woman," she said, looking at him with a smile so sweet
that we almost pardon poor Spikeman his infatuation, "and I feel like
dying when I know there is a secret, and cannot get at the bottom of
it."

"What secret? I understand thee not."

"If you yourself had not dropped a hint, I had never thought of it;
but it was about this Knight they call Sir Christopher Gardiner, whom
Governor Winthrop thinks so much of."

"We will cure him of that folly. What foolish thing have I said to
this girl?" thought the Assistant. "Prudence," he added, "this is a
matter that cannot concern thee. Thou wouldst not have me speak of
secrets of State?"

"Said I not right!" exclaimed Prudence, rising, and preparing to leave
the room, "that your love was but a pretext? How, I want to know, is a
secret of State better than any other? Now, had I given poor Philip
half the encouragement which my silly fondness for thee--O, dear!--"
and she put her hands up to her eyes.

"Come," said Spikeman, pursuing and bringing her back, "name not the
presumptuous varlet. On one condition I will tell thee, even though it
ruin me."

"What may that be?" inquired the girl.