But Brace Norton possessed something of the irrepressible in his composition, and, speaking gently, he said, addressing the late speaker: "I am aware, sir, that it is unpleasant to have favours forced upon you by a complete stranger, but let me beg of you not to let the little I offer be looked upon in the light of a favour. For the young lady's sake, pray make use of my chaise, and leave me to take my chance. I dare not presume to offer you advice, but would not a reference to some medical man be advisable? This long-continued swoon--" Brace Norton said no more, for, glancing from father to daughter as he spoke, he became aware that sensibility had returned, and that a pair of soft, sad, dreamy eyes were fixed upon him, but only for their lids to be lowered, and a faint blush to overspread the pallid cheeks upon her seeing that her gaze was observed. "Do you feel in pain?" said the gentleman, bending over her, but paying no heed to Brace Norton's remarks. "No, papa; only a little faint. But you are not hurt?" "No, no; not at all." Then, in an undertone: "How very unfortunate!" and he frowned at the shattered chaise as he would have done at its driver. Brace Norton was wise enough in his generation to see that the less he said the less likely he would be to give offence; but a bitter feeling of disappointment came over him as he found how completely his presence was ignored. "If it were not for that sweet girl he might walk," muttered the young man; but the next moment his heart leaped with pleasure, when, after standing thoughtfully for a few moments, and then glancing from his daughter to the wreck and back again, the gentleman spoke somewhat more courteously. "Necessity forces me, sir, to accept the offer of your chaise for my-- for reasons of my own," he added, hastily. "I will make use of it on condition that you allow me to pay any--" "Good heavens, sir!" exclaimed Brace, as haughtily now as the stranger, "give me credit for wishing to act as should one gentleman towards another whom he sees with his jibboom--absurd!--whom he encounters in distress--I beg pardon, I mean in--in a strait," exclaimed Brace, desperately, for his nautical imagery did not find much favour. "I am only a simple officer in the navy, and no doubt a sea life makes me somewhat rude, but my offers of service are genuine, not mercenary." The stranger bowed, and turned to his daughter, who was now standing at his side. "Take down that portmanteau," exclaimed Brace to the post-boy. "Yes, sor!" And after a good deal of grunting, unbuckling, and lifting it was placed by the road side. "If you will allow me," said Brace, "I will see that the damaged chaise is sent back to its owner." He turned then to hand the lady into the vehicle, but he was motioned back: not, though, without receiving from her a faint smile of thanks. "My daughter needs no assistance further than I can render," was the stern response to Brace's offer. "Your handkerchief, sir!"