90 THE SMUGGLER. 



because I believe from all I have seen, and all I have heard, 

 that he is incapable of misunderstanding such conduct." 



"You do me justice, Miss Croyland," replied the young 

 officer, much gratified; " but you have spoken under a wrong 

 impression in regard to your aunt. I did not interrupt you, 

 for what you said was too pleasing, too interesting not to in- 

 duce me to let you go on; but I can assure you that what I 

 said was perfectly true, and that though some words which 

 your aunt dropped accidentally, showed me that she had some 

 scheme on foot, she said nothing to indicate what it was.'' 



" Well, never mind it," answered the young lady. " We 

 now understand each other, I trust, and, after this, I do not 

 think you will easily mistake me, though, if what I suppose is 

 true, I may have to do a great many extraordinary things 

 with you, Sir Edward; seek your society when you may not 

 be very willing to grant it, consult you, rely upon you, confide 

 in you in a way that few women would do, except with a 

 brother or an acknowledged lover, which I beg you to under- 

 stand, you are on no account to be ; and I, on my part, will 

 promise that I will not misunderstand you either, nor take 

 anything you do at my request for one very dear to me," (and 

 she gave a glance over her shoulder towards her sister who 

 was some way behind,) " as anything but a sign of your hav- 

 ing a kind and generous heart. So now that's all settled." 



" There is one thing, Miss Croyland," replied Digby, 

 gravely, " that you will find very difficult to do, though you 

 say you will try it : namely to seek my society when I am un- 

 willing to give it." 



"Nay, nay I will have no such speeches, 5 ' cried Zara Croy- 

 land, " or I have done with you! I never could put any trust 

 in a man who said civil things to me." 



"What, not if he sincerely thought them?" demanded her 

 companion. 



" Then I would rather he continued to think them without 

 speaking them," answered the young lady. " If you did but 

 know, Sir Edward, how sickened and disgusted a poor girl in 

 the country soon gets with flattery that means nothing, from 

 men who insult her understanding by thinking that she can 

 be pleased with such trash, you would excuse me for being 

 rude and uncivilized enough to wish never to hear a smooth 

 word from any man whom I am inclined to respect. 



