since I mired in a swamp, coming from Henricus the week before;
then shrugged my shoulders.

"You will go begging," he continued, wiping his eyes. "Not a one
of them will so much as look at you."

"Then will they miss seeing a man, and not a popinjay," I retorted.
"I shall not break my heart."

A cheer arose from the crowd, followed by a crashing peal of the
bells and a louder roll of the drum. The doors of the houses around
and to right and left of the square swung open, and the company
which had been quartered overnight upon the citizens began to
emerge. By twos and threes, some with hurried steps and downcast
eyes, others more slowly and with free glances at the staring men,
they gathered to the centre of the square, where, in surplice and
band, there awaited them godly Master Bucke and Master
Wickham of Henricus. I stared with the rest, though I did not add
my voice to theirs.

Before the arrival of yesterday's ship there had been in this natural
Eden (leaving the savages out of the reckoning) several thousand
Adams, and but some threescore Eves. And for the most part, the
Eves were either portly and bustling or withered and shrewish
housewives, of age and experience to defy the serpent. These were
different. Ninety slender figures decked in all the bravery they
could assume; ninety comely faces, pink and white, or clear brown
with the rich blood showing through; ninety pair of eyes, laughing
and alluring, or downcast with long fringes sweeping rounded
cheeks; ninety pair of ripe red lips, - the crowd shouted itself