THE SMUGGLER. 87 



interest to obtain that position. Miss Croyland, you seem ill. 

 Let me give you my arm.'' 



Edith bowed her head quietly, and leaned upon her sister, 

 but answered not a word; and Zara gave a glance to Sir 

 Edward Digby which he read aright. It was a meaning, a 

 sort of relying and imploring look, as if she would have said, 

 " I beseech you, say no more, she cannot bear it." And the 

 young officer abruptly turned the conversation, observing, 

 " The day has been very hot, Miss Croyland. You have 

 walked far and over -fatigued yourself." 



" It is nothing, it is nothing," answered Edith, with a deep- 

 drawn breath; "it will be past in a moment, Sir Edward. I 

 am frequently thus." 



"Too frequently," murmured Zara, gazing at her sister; 

 and Sir Edward Digby replied, " I am sure if such be the case, 

 you should consult some physician." 



Zara shook her head, with a melancholy smile, while her 

 sister walked on, leaning upon her arm in silence, with her 

 eyes bent towards the ground, as if in deep thought. " I fear 

 that no physician would do her good," said the younger lady, 

 in a low voice, "the evil is now confirmed." 



"Nay," replied Digby, gazing at her, "I think I know one 

 who could cure her entirely." 



His look said more than his words; and Zara fixed her 

 eyes upon his face for an instant with an inquiring glance. 

 The expression then suddenly changed to one of bright intel- 

 ligence, and she answered, "I will make you give me his 

 name to-morrow, Sir Edward. Not now; not now! I shall 

 forget it." 



Sir Edward Digby was not slow in taking a hint, and he 

 consequently made no attempt to bring the conversation back 

 to the subject which had so much affected Miss Croyland; 

 but lest a dead silence should too plainly mark that he saw 

 into the cause of the faintness which had come over her, he 

 went on talking to her sister; and Zara soon resumed, at 

 least to all appearance, her own light spirits again. But 

 Digby had seen her under a different aspect, which was 

 known to few besides her sister; and to say the truth, though 

 he had thought her sparkling frankness very charming, yet the 

 deeper and tenderer feelings which she had displayed towards 

 Edith were still more to his taste. 



