"Belay, there, will you!" cried Brace. "How can I go on with my story? Not quite so fast as that. But there, sir, we can spare you for the present. I'm talking to some one here who can sympathise. Really, you know," he continued, passing his arm round his mother's waist, as she gazed at him fondly, and drawing her to the window, "she was about the sweetest girl I ever set eyes on. Quite an adventure: chaises passing; theirs overset; sweet girl's temple cut; insensible; offering aid; received very haughtily by the old gentleman--quite a Spanish grandee!" Ada Norton started, as those words seemed to carry her back five-and-twenty years, and the smile upon her lips slowly faded away. "Well," continued Brace, lightly, "I spoiled my cap by fetching water in it from a pool, like a true knight-errant would have done with his casque, and bound up the bleeding temple with my handkerchief. Then, after a great deal of snubbing from the old gentleman, I was rewarded by a sweet smile of thanks from the lady as I prevailed upon the Don to take my chaise and come on. Got them in at last, after a great deal of ceremonious fencing, and they drove off, but only to stop directly. Old gentleman leaps out, drags sweet girl after him, and goes raging off; and all, I suppose, because he had seen my name upon my leather writing-case; while, for explanation, I have the young lady's handkerchief, bearing the sweet name of Isa Gernon. But, good heavens, my dear mother, how pale you look! Father, what is the matter?" Captain Norton had risen from his seat and advanced to his wife, who, pale as death, stood gazing at him with a terrified expression upon her countenance. "My dear father, what does all this mean?" exclaimed Brace, with real anxiety in his tones. "What mystery is there here? Of course I concluded that the elderly gentleman was Sir Murray Gernon; and I have some misty recollections of an old family quarrel, and Lady Gernon running away. There, I have arrived at my cable's end. What is it all? I trust nothing wrong." "Speak to him, Ada!" cried Captain Norton, hoarsely. "There must be no more of this!" And without another word he hurried from the room; while, perfectly astounded, Brace turned to his mother for some explanation of what was to him a profound mystery. Book 2, Chapter V. ON THE BYGONE. "And where had my father been at the time?" said Brace Norton, after sitting with knitted brows listening to his mother's narrative of the past. "France--abroad--to avoid arrest; for his affairs in connection with the mine were then in a sad state. It was his absence which made matters wear so suspicious an aspect." "Suspicious? Yes," said Brace, angrily, "suspicious enough to base minds! How long was he away?" "Five, nearly six, months," said Mrs Norton. "But you never believed this charge, mother? You never thought my father guilty?"