The good woman had begun to expect and to hope for the return of Dickory, but later she had blessed her stars that he was not there.

He was a fiery boy, her brave son, but it would have been a terrible thing for him to become involved with an officer in the navy, a man with a long, keen sword.
Now that the captain had raged himself away from the Delaplaine house her spirits rose, and her great fear was that the corvette might not leave port before the brig came in.

If Dickory should hear of the things that captain had said--but she banished such thoughts from her mind, she could not bear them.
After some days the corvette sailed, and the Governor spoke well of the diligence and ardour which had urged Captain Vince to so quickly set out upon his path of duty.
"When Dickory comes back," said Dame Charter to Kate, "he may bring some news to cheer your poor heart, things get so twisted in the telling." Kate shook her head.

"Dickory cannot tell me anything now," she said, "that I care to know, knowing so much.

My father is a pirate, and a king's ship has gone out to destroy him, and what could Dickory tell me that would cheer me ?" But Dame Charter's optimism was beginning to take heart again and to spread its wings.
"Ah, my dear, you don't know what good things do in this life continually crop up.