After Tom’s return from New Orleans, he continued to go to the cottage as usual, and so long as no questions were asked, he said nothing; but when his master inquired how they were getting on there, he answered that Missy Rosy was better.  When a fortnight had elapsed, he thought the fugitives must be out of harm’s way, and he feared Mr. Bruteman might be coming soon to claim his purchase.  Accordingly he one day informed his master, with a great appearance of astonishment and alarm, that the cottage was shut up, and all the inmates gone.

Fitzgerald’s first feeling was joy; for he was glad to be relieved from the picture of Rosa’s horror and despair, which had oppressed him like the nightmare.  But he foresaw that Bruteman would suspect him of having forewarned her, though he had solemnly pledged himself not to do so.  He immediately wrote him the tidings, with expressions of surprise and regret.  The answer he received led to a duel, in which he received a wound in the shoulder, that his wife always supposed was occasioned by a fall from his horse.

When Mr. Bruteman ascertained that Madame and the Signor had left the country, he at once conjectured that the fugitive was with them.  Having heard that Mr. Duroy was a relative, he waited upon him, at his place of business, and was informed that Rosabella Royal had sailed for France, with his cousin, in the ship Mermaid.  Not long after, it was stated in the ship news that the Mermaid had foundered at sea, and all on board were lost.

CHAPTER XVII.

While Rosabella had been passing through these dark experiences, Flora was becoming more and more accustomed to her new situation.  She strove bravely to conceal the homesickness which she could not always conquer; but several times, in the course of their travels, Mrs. Delano noticed moisture gathering on her long black eyelashes when she saw the stars and stripes floating from the mast of a vessel.  Once, when a rose was given her, she wept outright; but she soon wiped her eyes, and apologized by saying:  “I wonder whether a Pensee-Vivace makes Rosa feel as I do when I see a rose?  But what an ungrateful child I am, when I have such a dear, kind, new Mamita!” And a loving smile again lighted up her swimming eyes,—­those beautiful April eyes of tears and sunshine, that made rainbows in the heart.

Mrs. Delano wisely kept her occupied with a succession of teachers and daily excursions.  Having a natural genius for music and drawing, she made rapid progress in both during a residence of six months in England, six months in France, and three months in Switzerland.  And as Mr. and Mrs. Percival were usually with them, she picked up, in her quick way, a good degree of culture from the daily tone of conversation.  The one drawback to the pleasure of new acquisitions was that she could not share them with Rosa.

One day, when she was saying this, Mrs. Delano replied:  “We will go to Italy for a short time, and then we will return to live in Boston.  I have talked the matter over a good deal with Mr. Percival, and I think I should know how to guard against any contingency that may occur.  And as you are so anxious about your sister, I have been revolving plans for taking you back to the island, to see whether we can ascertain what is going on in that mysterious cottage.”