scanned the broad chest and muscular limbs of his son.

"I Well? Ay! father, never better," was the reply. "And I don't know
that I ever saw you look better."

"Oh! I'm well enough," said Captain Norton. "But, my dear boy, what a
pity it is that you did not join our service! With that build of yours,
you would have drilled as upright as a dart."

"And broken my heart over the pipe-clay, eh, father?" laughed the young
man. "I'm right enough--make a tolerable sailor, perhaps, but I should
have been a poor soldier. But, I say," said Brace, after half-an-hour's
questioning and answering, "I have had quite an adventure coming over:
came across a fine, fierce, grey old fellow, with--oh! mamma, the most
lovely girl you ever saw in your life!"

"Pooh!" laughed the Captain, "the sailor's Poll. What asses you boys do
make of yourselves!"

"All right, father; only let me bray in peace."

"Fell in love at first sight, and would have eloped, only the fierce,
grey old fellow was watchful as a dragon, eh, Brace?" said Captain
Norton, smiling.

"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
handkerc