“Who lives in the great house on the hill?” Fernando asked a man.

“Old Captain Lane.”

“Captain Lane.  I have heard of him.  Has he a daughter?”

“Yes, Morgianna.”

“It’s the same,” he thought, as he wandered away to the beach.  “What strange providence has brought me here?” Fernando’s regrets were in a moment changed to rejoicing.  He was glad he had quarrelled with the lieutenant and had been driven away to Mariana.

He went to the tavern and informed Sukey of his discovery and said: 

“I am going to contrive in some way to speak with her again.”

“Well, don’t take that plaguey Irishman in the game, Fernando,” said Sukey.  “If you do, he’ll make a precious mess o’ the whole thing.”

Terrence was enjoying himself.  Before he had been in the town two days, he knew every person in it.  All were his friends, and he was quite a lion.  Terrence only hoped that a man-of-war would come to Mariana.  He vowed he would lead the citizens against her, capture the ship and keep her for coast defence of Maryland.

It was the fourth day after their arrival, that, as Fernando was strolling alone according to his habit on the beach, his eyes fixed on the sands meditating on the recent stirring events, he suddenly became conscious of some one a short distance down the beach.  He looked, up and saw a young lady with a parasol in one hand tripping along the sands, now and then picking up a shell.  In an instant he knew her.  His heart gave a wild bound and then seemed for a instant to stand still.  Then it commenced a rapid vibration which increased as she approached.  She was coming toward him, all unconscious of his presence and only intent on securing the most beautiful shells.

Suddenly, raising her eyes, she saw a handsome young man close to her.  He tipped his hat, smiled and said:  “Good morning, Miss Lane.”

“Oh, it’s you, is it?” she answered with a little laugh.  “Why, I declare, how you frightened me!”

“I am sorry for it.”

“Never mind; I will survive the shock; but I know why you came to Mariana,” and there was a roguish twinkle in her blue eyes.

“Do you?”

“Yes, you fought the lieutenant and had to run away.”

“Miss Lane, how did you learn this?”

“Learn it!  Don’t you know the papers are full of it?  Papa read it this morning at breakfast, and he laughed until he cried.  Where is that Irishman who gets you into so many funny scrapes?”

“He is at the tavern.”

“Well, papa says he must see you.  He has fought duels in his day, and he thinks you a splendid shot; but it was naughty of you to fight without consulting me.  He might have killed you.”

Fernando was now the happiest man on earth.

“Miss Lane, don’t think because I did not consult you, I did not think of you.  You were in my mind as much as any other person at that trying ordeal, unless it was my mother.”