In the morning, he had a long talk with her.  He suggested that she and her daughter should accompany him into Limerick, and be sent, with a flag of truce, across the bridge to join her husband in William’s camp.  This, however, she positively declined to accede to.

“In the first place,” she said, “I consider that it is my duty to nurse the men who suffered for our sake.  In the next place, after what we went through last night, I refuse absolutely to place myself and my daughter in the hands of the ruffians who disgrace the cause of William.  Hitherto, as a Protestant, I have been an adherent of that cause, as has my husband.  Henceforth, I am an Irishwoman, and as such abhor a cause which can employ such instruments, and inflict such atrocities upon Ireland.  I will write a letter to my husband, telling him exactly what has happened, and how we have been preserved, and say that nothing will induce me to trust myself and Claire among William’s troops, but that I shall remain on this side of the Shannon.  If, as I trust will not be the case, the English force their way across the river, I shall make for Galway, and thence take ship to England, where we can join him.  I intend to remain here as long as I can be useful as a nurse, and I shall then retire, with Claire, to Galway, where I have some relations, with whom I can stay until matters are decided.”

Mrs. Conyers at once wrote the letter, which Captain Davenant carried himself into Limerick, as he was going in to report the occurrences of the preceding night.  The governor immediately sent the letter across, with a flag of truce.  General Sarsfield, who was in command of the cavalry, expressed himself highly pleased with the result of the raid across the Shannon, and appointed three officers to raise another troop of horse with the captured animals, which had arrived before morning at Ballygan, and to place themselves under Captain Davenant’s command.

“Your son must be a lad after your own heart,” he said to Captain Davenant.  “It was indeed a most gallant action, thus, with twenty-five dismounted men only, to attack a strong troop of Hessians.  I hope that, as soon as he is well enough to mount a horse again, you will introduce him to me.  Keep your troop in readiness for a move, for I mean to beat them up before long.”

“Can’t I see Walter today, mamma?” Claire asked, after Captain Davenant had ridden off.  “It seems so unkind, my being in the house with him, and not going in to tell him how sorry I am that he was wounded.”

“Not today, Claire.  He is very flushed and feverish this morning, and I must not have him excited at all.”

“But I would not excite him, mother.  I would only go in and speak to him quietly.”

“Even that would excite him, my dear.  I will tell him that you want to come in and see him; but that I think you had better not do so, for a day or two.”