80 THE SMUGGLER. 



possible to escape excess without giving mortal offence to your 

 entertainer; but it was by no means either his habit or his 

 inclination so to indulge, and for this evening especially he 

 was anxious to escape. He looked, therefore, across the table 

 to Mr. Croyland for relief; and that gentleman, clearly un- 

 derstanding what he meant, gave him a slight nod, and 

 finished his first glass of wine after dinner. The bottles passed 

 round again, and Mr. Croyland took his second glass; but 

 after that he rose without calling much attention, a proceeding 

 which was habitual with him. When, however, Sir Edward 

 Digby followed his example, there was a general outcry. 

 Every one declared it was too bad, and Sir Robert said, in a 

 somewhat mortified tone, that he feared his wine was' not so 

 good as that to which his guest had been accustomed. 



" It is only too good, my dear sir," replied the young 

 baronet, determined to cut the matter short, at once and for 

 ever. " So good, indeed, that I have been induced to take 

 t\vo more glasses than I usually indulge in, and I consequently 

 feel somewhat heated and uncomfortable. I shall go and re- 

 fresh myself by a walk through your woods." 



Several more efforts were made to induce him to stay, but 

 he was resolute in his course; and Mr. Croyland also came to 

 his aid, exclaiming, "Pooh, nonsense, Robert! let every man 

 do as he likes. Have not I heard you, a thousand times, call 

 your house Liberty Hall? A pretty sort of liberty, indeed, if 

 a man must get beastly drunk because you choose to do so !" 



" I do not intend to do any such thing, brother," replied 

 Sir Robert, somewhat sharply; and in the meanwhile, during 

 this discussion, Sir Edward Digby made his escape from the 

 room. 



CHAPTER VIII. 



ON entering the drawing-room, towards which Sir Edward 

 Digby immediately turned his steps, he found it tenanted alone 

 by Mrs. Barbara Croyland, who sat in the window with her 

 back towards the door, knitting most diligently, with some- 

 thing pinned to her knee. As it was quite beyond the good 

 lady's conception that anybody would ever think of quitting 

 the dining-room so early but her younger brother, no sooner 



