he, `the spalpeen has
left this part of the country, and, what is more, has taken Ella and
her mother with him; and, what is still worse, no one could find out
where they were gone; but it was believed that they had all been sent
over the water.' So you see, Peter, that this is a bad job in one
point, which is, that we have no chance of getting the truth out of
the old woman; for now that we have war with France, who is to follow
them? On the other hand, it is good news; for it prevents me from
decoying that poor young girl, and making her believe what will never
come to pass; and I am not a little glad on that score, for Father
McGrath was told by those who were about her, that she did nothing but
weep and moan for two days before she went away, scolded as she was by
her mother, and threatened by that blackguard O'Toole. It appears to
me, that all our hopes now are in finding out the soldier, and his
wife the wet-nurse, who were sent to India--no doubt with the hope
that the climate and the fevers may carry them off. That uncle of
yours is a great blackguard, every bit of him. I shall leave here in
three days, and you must join me at Plymouth. Make my compliments to
your father, and my regards to your sister, whom may all the saints
preserve! God bless her, for ever and ever. Amen.

"Yours ever,

"Terence O'Brien."

I put this letter into my father's bands when he came out of his room.
"This is a deep-laid plot," said he, "and I think we must immediately do
as O'Brien states--look after the nurse who was sent to India. Do you
know the regiment to which her husband belongs?"

"Yes, sir," replied I; "it is the 33rd, and she sailed for India about
three months back."

"The name, you say, I think, is O'Sullivan," said he, pulling out his
tablets. "Well, I will write immediately to Captain Fielding, and beg
him to make the minutest inquiries. I will also write to your sister
Lucy, for women are much keener than men in affairs of this sort. If
the regiment is ordered to Ceylon, all the better: if not, he must
obtain furlough to prosecute his inquiries. When that is done, I will
go myself to Ireland, and try if we cannot trace the other parties."

My father then left the room, and I retired with Ellen to make
preparations for joining my ship at Plymouth. A letter announcing my
appointment had come down, and I had written to request my commission to
be forwarded t