THE SMUGGLER. 8 1 



did she hear a step than, jumping at conclusions as she usually 

 did, she exclaimed aloud, " Isn't he a nice young man, brother 

 Zachary? I think it will do quite well, if that " 



Sir Edward Digby would have given a great deal to hear 

 the conclusion of the sentence; but his honour was as bright 

 as his sword, and he never took advantage of a mistake. 

 "It is not your brother, Mrs. Croyland,'' he said; and then 

 Mrs. Barbara starting up with a face like scarlet, tearing her 

 gown at the same time by the tug she gave to the pin which 

 attached her work to her knee, he added, with the most bene- 

 volent intentions, "I think he might have been made a very 

 nice young man, if he had been properly treated in his youth. 

 But I should imagine he was very wild and headstrong now." 

 Mrs. Barbara stared at him with a face full of wonder and 

 confusion ; for her own mind was so completely impressed with 

 the subject on which she had begun to speak, that she by no 

 means comprehended the turn that he intended to give it, but 

 thought that he also was talking of himself, and not of young 

 Radford. How it would have ended no mere mortal can tell; 

 for when once Mrs. Barbara got into a scrape, she floundered 

 most awfully. Luckily, however, her brother was close 

 enough behind Sir Edward Digby to hear all that passed, and 

 he entered the room while the consternation was still fresh 

 upon his worthy sister's countenance. 



After gazing at her for a moment, with a look of sour mer- 

 riment, Mr. Croyland exclaimed, " There! hold your tongue, 

 Bab ; you can't get your fish out of the kettle without burn- 

 ing your fingers! Now, my young friend," he continued, 

 taking Sir Edward Digby by the arm, and drawing him aside, 

 "if you choose to be a great fool, and run the risk of falling 

 in love with a pretty girl, whom my sister Barbara has deter- 

 mined you shall marry, whether you like it or not, and who 

 herself, dear little soul, has no intention in the world but of 

 playing you like a fish till you are caught, and then laughing 

 at you, you will find the two girls walking in the wood behind 

 the house, as they do every day. But if you don't like such 

 amusement, you can stay here with me and Bab, and be in- 

 structed by her in the art and mystery of setting everything 

 to wrongs with the very best intentions in the world.'' 



"Thank you, my dear sir," replied Sir Edward, smiling, 

 "I think I should prefer the fresh air; and, as to the dangers 



