After a long silence Fernando asked:
"Is he married?"
"Who?" asked Sukey.
"Faith, the captain's absent minded," put in Terrence.
"I mean Lieutenant Matson."
"Not as I know of."
"Did you see him after we left Mariana?"
"Yes."
"When?"
"Only six days before we were captured by Decatur. We touched at the
Canary Islands, and the _Xenophon_ was there. He came aboard our
vessel."
"Did he recognize you?"
"No," Sukey answered. "Had he known me he wouldn't a-talked with a
common sailor."
"Was he married then?"
"No; I heard him tell Captain Garden that he was still single."
Fernando heaved another sigh and asked:
"Did he say--did he say anything about her?"
"Who?"
Fernando heaved another sigh and asked:
"Did he say--did he say anything about her?'7
"Who?"
The conversation was not interesting to Terrence and he had gone to
another part of the camp, to engage in a game of cards with a sentry.
"Morgianna," Fernando said.
"Morgianna? no--she is the girl at Mariana, isn't she?"
"Yes."
"I didn't hear him mention her name."
"They are not married yet?"
"No."
"Perhaps I was mistaken after all," said Fernando thoughtfully. "May be
she don't care for him."
Then Fernando sighed again and gazed into the smouldering fire. After
several minutes more, he said:
"Sukey, she must be in love with him.
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