uld be the hour which
should, in spite of her efforts, sweep away the impression of all
warnings and forbidding words, and that she should yield up the heart
only partly hers?

Book 2, Chapter XII.

RIVALRY.

Dr Challen's permission at last, and after many formal, courteous
thanks, Sir Murray Gernon had come over to the Hall to fetch his child.

"You will often come over and see us," whispered Isa, as she clung to
Mrs Norton; and then she trembled as she saw the tear in her hostess's
face and the slight shake of her head.

"Come, Isa!" exclaimed Sir Murray, almost harshly; for the sight of the
affectionate parting was bitterness to him.

At the same moment Lord Maudlaine, hitherto an unnoticed member of the
party, had advanced to hand Isa to the carriage.

"The Castle has been like a dungeon ever since you left us," he
whispered; and Mrs Norton noted the parting of his lips. She also
observed, too, that Isa did not touch his hand, but stepped unaided into
the carriage; and the mother's heart gave a throb of joy. But only for
an instant: the gleam of sunshine that had seemed in those trifles to
shine forth for her son was shrouded directly after by the clouds of the
past, and she re-entered the house, tearful and sad, as the sound of the
departing carriage seemed to fade away in the distance.

For the house seemed sad now and desolate. It was as though a sweet
spirit that had pervaded the place had passed away; and it was only by
an effort that she composed herself so as to write to Captain Norton,
and inform him that there was no longer need for his absence.

There were no long conversations between Mr and Mrs Norton on the
former's return to Merland Hall; but they read each others thoughts, and
avoided all reference to their son's acts. At times Captain Norton was
for expostulating with Brace, but he always came to the conclusion that
matters must take their course, and that he would leave all speaking to
his wife, trusting to her to point out to Brace the folly of his hopes,
and then looking forward to the time for his return to sea, when, long
before the cruise had come to an end, Isa Gernon would, without doubt,
have become Lady Maudlaine.

Brace, upon his return, was restless and excitable; his father ready to
plunge into business to drown his thoughts; while the mother anxiously
watched the actions of her son, longing, in her indulgent love, to
whisper hope, but feeling all the while that it was a