THE SMUGGLER. 77 



from the ears of those around. Young Radford had in the 

 mean time been making up for the loss of time occasioned by 

 his absence at the commencement of dinner, and he seemed 

 undoubtedly to have a prodigious appetite. Not a word had 

 passed from father to son, t>r son to father ; and a stranger 

 might have supposed them in no degree related to each other. 

 Indeed, the young gentleman had hitherto spoken to nobody 

 but the servant ; and while his mouth was employed in eating, 

 his quick, large eyes were directed to every face round the 

 table in succession, making several more tours than the first 

 investigating glance, which I have already mentioned, and 

 every time stopping longer at the countenance of Sir Edward 

 Digby than anywhere else. He now, however, seemed in- 

 clined to take part in that officer's conversation with the 

 youngest Miss Croyland, and did not appear quite pleased to 

 find her attention so completely engrossed by a stranger. To 

 Edith he vouchsafed not a single word; but hearing the fair 

 lady next to him reply to something which Sir Edward Digby 

 had said, "Oh! we go out once or twice almost every day; 

 sometimes on horseback, but more frequently to take a walk," 

 he exclaimed, " Do you, indeed, Miss Zara ? Why, I never meet 

 you, and I am always running about the country. How is 

 that, I wonder?" 



Zara smiled, and replied, with an arch look, " Because for- 

 tune befriends us, I suppose, Mr. Radford;" but then, well 

 knowing that he was not one likely to take a jest in good part, 

 she added, " we don't go out to meet anybody, and therefore 

 always take those paths where we are least likely to do so." 



Still young Radford did not seem half to like her reply; but, 

 nevertheless, he went on in the same tone, continually inter- 

 rupting her conversation with Sir Edward Digby, and endea- 

 vouring, after a fashion not at all uncommon, to make himself 

 agreeable by preventing people from following the course they 

 are inclined to pursue. The young baronet rather humoured 

 him than otherwise, for he wished to see as deeply as possible 

 into his character. He asked him to drink wine with him; he 

 spoke to him once or twice without being called upon to do 

 so; and he was somewhat amused to see that the fair Zara 

 was a good deal annoyed at the encouragement ho gave to her 

 companion on the left to join in their conversation. 



He was soon satisfied, however, in regard to the young 



