"Guilty? No!" exclaimed Mrs Norton, proudly. "Your father, Brace, is the soul of honour, and above suspicion; but matters shaped themselves most cruelly against him." "That Gurdon must have had the cross," said Brace, after a thoughtful pause; "and you say that he obtained his deserts--transported?" Mrs Norton nodded her head. "But Lady Gernon's disappearance--what could have become of her? Was it possible that she was deluded away out of revenge--perhaps with the cross for a bait--by some one or other of Gurdon's associates, so that she fell into some trap?" "My son--my dear boy, pray do not talk of it any more," said Mrs Norton, sadly. "It is a rock upon which our happiness was nearly wrecked; but avoid it now. It was right that you should know all after the strange meeting of to-day; but you see now the reason for your father's--for my agitation, and for the strong emotion displayed by Sir Murray Gernon. It is quite impossible, as you must see, that the old intimacy should be renewed. Your fathers--my peace of mind depends upon our keeping at a distance--upon the past, Brace, being deeply buried. You see that I am speaking freely--that I am keeping nothing back, in order that you may be upon your guard, and do nothing to endanger the happiness of what, my child, has been these many years a happy home." "But," exclaimed Brace, impetuously, "if the mystery could be cleared up! I do not like that, even with Sir Murray Gernon, there should be a doubt of my father's honour." "Brace, my dear boy," said Mrs Norton, laying her hand upon the young man's arm, "let the past rest; it is a subject that has brought white hairs into more than one head. It has been thought upon till left in despair. I pray to be forgiven if I am unjust, but I do not think that Sir Murray Gernon entertains a single suspicion against your father, whatever he may once have felt. Time must have removed old impressions; but for his own black conduct--There, I dare not say what I think, even to you, Brace!"