THE SMUGGLER. 13 



quick, and lively. His colour was high, his teeth were 

 remarkably fine, and the expression of his countenance was 

 both intelligent and benevolent, though there was a certain 

 degree of quickness in the turn of the eyes, which, together 

 with a sudden contraction of the brow when anything annoyed 

 him, and a mobility of the lips, seemed to betoken a rather 

 hasty and irascible spirit. 



He had not been in the coach more than a minute and a- 

 half, but was beginning to look at a huge watch, which he 

 drew from his fob, and to "pish" at the coachman for being 

 a minute behind his time, when he was joined by two other 

 travellers of a very different appearance and 'age from himself. 

 The one who entered first was a well made, powerful man, 

 who might be either six-and-twenty or two-and-thirty. He 

 could not well be younger than the first of those two terms, 

 for he had all the breadth and vigorous proportions of fully- 

 developed manhood. He could not be well older than the 

 latter, for not a trace of passing years, no wrinkle, no furrow, 

 no greyness of hair, no loss of any youthful grace was appa- 

 rent. Although covered by a large rough coat, then commonly 

 called a wrap-rascal, of the coarsest materials and the rudest 

 form, there was something in his demeanour and his look 

 which at once denoted the gentleman. His hat, too, his 

 gloves, and his boots, which were the only other parts of his 

 dress that the loose coat we have mentioned suffered to be 

 seen, were all not only good, but of the best quality. Though 

 his complexion was dark, and his skin bronzed almost to a 

 mahogany colour by exposure to sun and wind, the features 

 were all fine and regular, and the expression high toned, but 

 somewhat grave, and even sad. He seated himself quietly 

 in the corner of the coach, with his back to the horses; and 

 folding his arms upon his broad chest, gazed out of the win- 

 dow with an abstracted look, though his eyes were turned 

 towards a man with a lantern, who was handing something 

 up to the coachman. Thus the old gentleman on the opposite 

 side had a full view of his countenance; and seemed, by the 

 gaze which he fixed upon it, to study it attentively. 

 ' ^ The second of the two gentlemen I have mentioned entered 

 immediately after the first, and was about the same age, but 

 broader in make, and not quite so tall. He was dressed in 

 the height of the mode of that day ; and though not in uniform, 



