t was for good; when
one day, when he had regained his strength, his heart leaped
tumultuously, for he saw Isa approaching him, on her favourite mare,
attended as usual by Peter Barlow.

It might be wrong, but he could not help it, and he hurried forward to
meet her, his hands outstretched, and face bright and eager, but to his
utter despair she touched the mare with her whip, averted her head, and
cantered by, leaving him, almost giddy with misery, by the road-side.

Book 2, Chapter XXVI.

WHY ISA GERNON AVOIDED BRACE.

Lord Maudlaine had indeed left the Castle, but not for the reason Brace
Norton had hoped. The time was getting on, and a hint or two to that
effect from his friend in London had induced him to seek an opportunity
for speaking to Isa alone.

The opportunity was soon afforded him, for Sir Murray, guessing his
wish, and himself anxious that the marriage should take place, left them
one evening together in the drawing-room, while he sought his study,
where, a quarter of an hour after, the Viscount came to him.

"What! so soon?" said Sir Murray.

"Utter refusal--appeal to my feelings--impossible to accept me--and all
that sort of thing," said the Viscount, angrily. "I'm being played
with, Sir Murray Gernon," he exclaimed, bitterly--"led on and trifled
with!"

"Are you willing to take her as she is--to risk all?" said Sir Murray,
quietly.

"Quite--yes, of course," said his lordship.

"Stay here, then, till I return," said Sir Murray.

He went to the drawing-room, where he found Isa, vainly striving to keep
back her tears.

"Come here and sit down, Isa," he said, in quiet, measured tones.
"There, don't tremble," he said, as he took her hand. "I'm not very
angry with you, and I'm not going to scold and play the tyrant. You
have just refused Lord Maudlaine, when you know that for months past it
has been an understood thing that he was to be your husband. I do not
ask you why you have done this, because I know. While we were in Italy
there was no opposition shown upon your side; since we have returned you
have often made me blush for the coldness--almost rudeness--with which
you have treated him."

"Oh, papa!" exclaimed Isa, appealingly.

"You must hear me out," he said sternly. "I will tell you why you are
cold to him: it is because you think that you love this Brace Norton;
and, irrespective of the feeling between our houses, were he a man of
honour, he would, after my words to him, ha