Norah, notwithstanding her fears, was unmolested. The captain had given out that if any one should venture to run off with his daughter he would not obtain a farthing of his property--a wise precaution, for it probably prevented any of the squireens in the neighbourhood from making the attempt--added to the fact, which was pretty generally known, that she was engaged to marry Owen Massey. Month after month went by. Ellen at first wrote her word that she was going much into society--more, indeed, than she liked--while she had an abundance of occupation at home in attending to her father's household. Latterly, from her letters, she appeared to be living a more quiet life than at first. She mentioned her father, who seemed to be much out of spirits, though she could not divine the cause. She again invited Norah to come up to Dublin and help to cheer him up. "You are a great favourite of his, you know," she wrote. "He delights in hearing you sing, and your merry laugh and conversation will do him good." But Norah could not be induced to leave her father; besides which, she confessed to Ellen, she was looking forward in a short time to the return of the _Ouzel Galley_, and she would be sorry if Owen should not find her at home on his arrival. Ellen, in reply, told her that the _Ouzel Galley_, after calling at Waterford, would probably have to come on to Dublin, and she continued--"And my father, finding it necessary to go out to Jamaica, intends taking a passage in her; and I have determined to obtain leave to accompany him. I fear that he will object to my doing so, on account of the danger to which I may be exposed; but, you know, as I generally manage to have my own way, I hope to overcome his objections. The ship also will form one of a large fleet of merchantmen under convoy of two or three men-of-war, and as the _Ouzel Galley_ sails well, even should the convoy be attacked by the enemy, we shall have every chance of getting off. You must not be jealous of me, my dear Norah; indeed, I heartily wish that your father could spare you to bear me company; and I dare say that the young captain would wish the same, did he know of the proposed plan. Pray tell him of it when he comes into Waterford, and I have an idea that he will join his persuasions with mine." This letter made Norah's heart beat quickly. She was much surprised, too, at hearing of the intention of Mr Ferris to go out to the West Indies; but, much as she would have liked to accompany her friend, she felt that it would be impossible to leave her father. "I was afraid that things were not going on straight," observed Captain Tracy, when she told him of the news she had received. "However, Mr Ferris is the man to set them to rights, and he'll do it; but I wish that Miss Ellen, instead of going out with him, would come and stay here. She expects to meet the lieutenant, but he'll be here, there, and everywhere, and she mayn't see him all the time she is there."