The most careful and disinterested observer could not have discovered any preference on the part of Morgianna.  When they came to the table, she had the lieutenant on one side and Fernando on the other.  The old captain at the head engrossed much of Lieutenant Matson’s time talking about his father, greatly to the annoyance of the officer.  When Matson came to take his seat at the table, Terrence, who sat on the opposite side of the lieutenant, whispered: 

“Aisy!”

The lieutenant bit his lips and his face flushed angrily, while Sukey, who sat on the opposite side of the Irishman, snickered, and Morgianna bit her pretty lip most cruelly in trying to conceal the merriment which her roguish eyes expressed.

This was the only break made by the Irishman that evening.  He played his part with consummate grace and had such a way of winning the favor of people, that, before the evening was over, the Englishman actually came to like him.  He praised the country about Mariana, and talked of the harbors and islands, declaring he knew them all from Duck Island to the Chesapeake.  He found Lieutenant Matson somewhat of a sport, and soon interested him in stories of duck shooting, all of which were inventions of his own ingenious brain.  Miss Morgianna praised the wild ducks of Maryland and thought their flesh equal to English Capons.  The lieutenant, in his gallantry, vowed she should have half a dozen brace of fowls before he left, and Terrence volunteered to assist him.

Fernando was amazed at the course of his friend.  The man-of-war was to sail the same day their schooner did, and he had just determined, by the aid of Terrence, to bag five dozen brace of ducks for the belle of Mariana, when his friend went boldly over to the enemy.

“I’ll give it to him, when I get a chance,” he thought.

There was only one more night in which they could shoot ducks, and Terrence was engaged for that occasion.  Fernando sighed and ground his teeth in rage and disappointment, while Morgianna, with Sukey on one side and Ensign Post on the other, went to a large Broadwood piano, where she soon entertained all with her music.

As they went to their tavern that night, Fernando said: 

“A nice way you have treated me, Terrence, you who profess to be my friend.”

“What the divil ails the boy?” asked Terrence.

“You have volunteered to aid the lieutenant go ducking—­”

“Aisy me boy!  While the lieutenant is after ducks, lose no time with the girl.  Don’t ye see I’m getting him out of yer way?”

Fernando had not thought of it in that light.  On the next evening, the last they were to spend at Mariana, the lieutenant was rowed ashore attired for sporting, with top-boots and a double-barrelled fowling piece.  Terrence, who claimed to be an experienced hunter, advised him to “kape their intintions sacrit,” as too many might want to go, and that would spoil the sport.  Ducks could best be hunted after night.  He would show him how it was done.