“The ‘all sorts of things’ did not amount to much, Miss Regan.  I made myself as useful as I could, and picked up French; and at last when the privateer sailed away I walked down to the shore and met our sailors when they landed.  There was, I can assure you, nothing in any way heroic about the part I had to play.”

“Still it was an adventure.”

“Oh! yes, it was that; and upon the whole I think I liked it, except when there was a chance of having a fight with our own people.”

“That would have been dreadful.  What would you have done?”

“Well, I certainly wouldn’t have fought; but what I should have done would, I suppose, have depended upon circumstances.  I suppose I should have jumped overboard if I had the chance.”

“And is it true what Captain O’Connor was saying, that you had to do like the other pirates on the island?”

“I don’t know that there was anything particular they did, except to get drunk, and I didn’t do that.”

“He hinted that the rule was that each man had to take a wife from the people they captured.”

“What nonsense!” Ralph exclaimed indignantly.  “The idea of my taking a wife.  You mustn’t believe what Captain O’Connor says, Miss Regan; except, of course,” he added slyly, “when he is saying pretty things to you.”

“I think you will do, Mr. Conway,” the girl laughed, “Six months in Ireland and you will be able to give Captain O’Connor points if you go on as well as you are doing.  You have paid two very nicely-turned compliments in ten minutes.  But there, our dance is finished.”

“May I have another later on, Miss Regan?”

“Yes.  Let me see; I am engaged for the next five.  You can have the sixth if you like, if you haven’t secured my aunt for that.”

“You are getting on, Conway,” Captain O’Connor said as they drove away from the Regans.  “I have had my eye upon you.  Three dances with Polly Regan, beside taking her down to supper.”

“It was too bad of you putting me on to her aunt in that way.”

O’Connor laughed.  “It was a capital thing for you, youngster, and paved the way for you with Polly; who, by the way, is not such a respectful niece as she might be.  But she is a very nice little girl.  I had thought of making up in that quarter myself, but I see it’s no use now.”

“None at all,” Ralph said seriously.  “We are not actually engaged, you, know, but I think we understand each other.”

“What!” Captain O’Connor exclaimed in a changed voice.  “You are not such a young ass as to get engaged before you have joined three months?”

Ralph burst into a laugh.  “That’s good,” he said.  It is not often I get a rise out of you, O’Connor.”

“Well, you did there fairly,” the captain admitted, joining in the laugh.  “I thought for a moment you were serious.”

“No,” Ralph said.  “I may make a fool of myself in other directions; but I don’t think I am likely to in that sort of way.”