t of her young, ingenuous heart to his
gaze. He was too frank a sailor--unskilled in etiquette and formality.
He only knew then--he could think of nothing else--that he loved the
fair girl before him very dearly; that she was weeping bitterly for his
sake; and that, but for untoward fate, she might have been his. Who,
then, can be surprised that one hand should rest lightly upon the soft,
handsome neck, crushing, as it did so, the massive braids of her
glorious dark hair; that that head should, in obedience to Love's
command, bend lower and lower, without thought of resistance flashing
across the gentle girl's mind, until, for the first time in her life,
her lips were pressed in a long, sweet kiss, that to her seemed given in
token of farewell?

"I must have you now, Isa," said Brace, sadly, as with a deep blush she
shrank from his embrace, though her hand was still tightly clasped in
his. "I bind you by no promises, I ask nothing, but I go away
contented, for the day shall come when all these sad obstacles shall be
swept away, and--There, I can say no more," he exclaimed passionately.
"Go now; I am cruel to you in keeping you like this, placing you at the
mercy of even your groom's tattling tongue. I shall make you in your
calmer moments almost to think meanly of me for this clandestine
meeting; but what can I do, Isa, when my appearance at the Castle would
only be the signal for rude expulsion? Once more Good-bye!"

He gave the mare's head a caress, and then shook the bridle as he spoke,
forcing the interview to an end, as the graceful animal softly bounded
forward in answer to his touch, its mistress's head turned back till a
bend of the lane hid her from Brace's longing gaze, when, placing his
hand in his pocket, he prepared to purchase the groom's silence, but, to
his surprise, that individual dashed past him at a smart canter, and on
turning to seek the explanation of his strange conduct, Brace Norton's
eyes fell upon the fierce, wrinkled countenance of Sir Murray Gernon.

He could not doubt for a moment that the baronet had witnessed, at
least, the latter part of the interview, and Brace's brow flushed as he
recalled the scene so sweet to him, and full of solace to his aching
heart. What should he do: turn and avoid the angry father? No, he
could not do that; he would meet him boldly, and listen to all he had to
say, giving for answer the sole reply that he loved Isa, and that the
meeting was unpremedita