THE SMUGGLER. 3 1 



proofs of his guest's opulence and importance, was proceeding 

 to assure him that all manner of conveniences, both for horse 

 and man, were to be found at his inn, when the door of the 

 room opened, and a third person was added to the party within. 

 The moment the eye of the traveller by the coach fell upon 

 him, his face lighted up with a well pleased smile, and he ex- 

 claimed, "Ah, my good friend, is that you? I little expected 

 to find you in this part of Kent. What brought you hither 

 after our long voyage?" 



"The same that brought you," answered the other: "old 

 memories and loved associations." 



But before we proceed to notice what was Osborn's reply, 

 we must, though very unwilling to give long descriptions 

 either of personal appearance or of dress, pause to notice briefly 

 those of the stranger who had just entered. 



He had originally been a tall man, and probably a powerful 

 one, but he now stooped considerably, and was extremely thin. 

 His face had no colour in it, arid even the lips were pale, but 

 yet the hue was not cadaverous, or even what could be called 

 sickly. The features were generally small and fine, except 

 the eyes, which were large and bright, with a sort of brilliant 

 but unsafe fire in them, and that peculiar searching and in- 

 tense gaze when speaking to any one, which is common to 

 people of strong imaginations, who try to convey to others more 

 than they actually say. His forehead, too, was high and grand, 

 but wrinkled over with the furrows of thought and care ; and 

 on the right side was a deep indentation, with a gash across 

 it, as if the skull had been driven in by a blow. His hair, 

 which was long and thin, was milk-white, and though his 

 teeth were fine, yet the wrinkles of his skin, the peculiar 

 roughness of the ear, and the shrivelled hand, all bore testi- 

 mony of an advanced age. Yet, perhaps, he might be younger 

 than he looked, for the light in that eager eye plainly spoke 

 one of those quick, anxious, ever labouring spirits which wear 

 the frame by the internal emotions, infinitely more rapidly and 

 more destructively than any of the external events and cir- 

 cumstances of life. One thing was very peculiar about him, 

 at least in this country, for on another continent such a pecu- 

 liarity might have called for no attention. On either cheek, 

 beginning just behind the external corner of the eye, and pro- 

 ceeding in a graceful wave all along the cheek bone, turning 



