ce,
indignantly; and taking the sheriff's officer by the arm, he swung him
away.

"Don't resist the law, sir," exclaimed the man, in the well-known words;
and the next minute the two officers had hurried their capture to a fly
waiting at the door; and the next morning Viscount Maudlaine was on his
way to durance vile.

Book 2, Chapter XXX.

AT LAST.

Brace Norton, on his return from the marsh, had been wandering about in
a strange, restless fashion; which troubled those who, unknown to
himself, had been watching him keenly day after day. For the eyes of
father and mother had met, for each to read the other's thoughts, as
they recalled a scene which took place in a pine wood directly after a
wedding, many years ago.

"I don't fear it of him," said Captain Norton, quietly; "but if you wish
it--"

"How can you read my thought so well?" said Mrs Norton, sadly. "It is
indeed my wish. He has now just taken the direction of the marsh
again."

"I will not leave him again until he seems calm and resigned to his
fate," said Captain Norton.

"Calm--resigned," said Mrs Norton, mournfully. "Then there is no hope
for him, poor boy?"

"Hope? Not in that direction, I fear," said the Captain; and he strode
after his son.

It required no great exertion to overtake the young man; and, ready to
suspect danger, Captain Norton viewed with anxious heart the strange,
vacant look in his son's face.

"Off for another walk, Brace?" he said, cheerfully, as he clapped him on
the shoulder.

"Yes," said Brace, drearily.

"Be a man, Brace," said his father, in a low, earnest voice; and he
stood for a few moments clasping his son's hands in his own. "I, too,
have suffered, Brace!"

"I know it--I know it!" said Brace, in the same sad, listless way, "and
I'll try and bear it; but oh! father, my heart feels desolate!"

"Come, I'm going to see how the works progress. You'll go with me:
to-morrow we'll start early, and go away for a few days."

Brace allowed his father to take his arm, and he walked with him mile
after mile, listening, apparently, to his descriptions of the progress
of the drain, till, evening drawing on, they came round by the old pine
grove, crossed it at one end, where the evening breeze was sighing with
a low, murmuring noise amidst the boughs over head--a sound as of waters
breaking upon a distant shore.

In spite of Captain Norton's efforts to be cheerful, he felt now that he
had made a grievous mistak