THE SMUGGLER. 91 



"Very well," answered the young baronet, laughing, "to 

 please you I will be as brutal as possible, and if you like it, 

 scold you as sharply as your uncle, if you say or do anything 

 that I disapprove of." 



" Do, do I" cried Zara; " I love him and esteem him, though 

 he does not understand me in the least; and I would rather a 

 great deal have his conversation, sharp and snappish as it 

 seems to be, than all the honey or milk and water of any of 

 the smart young men in the neighbourhood. But here we are 

 at the house; and only one word more as a warning, and one 

 word as a question; first, do not let any of my good aunt's 

 schemes embarrass you in anything you have to do or say. 

 Walk straight through them as if they did not exist. Take 

 your own course, without, in the least degree, attending to 

 what she says for or against." 



"And what is the question?" demanded Sir Edward, as 

 they were now mounting the steps to the terrace. 



" Simply this," replied the fair lady, are you not acquainted 

 with more of Edith's history than the people here are aware 

 of?" 



"I am," answered Digby; "and to see more of her, to 

 speak with her for a few minutes in private, if possible, was 

 the great object of my coming hither." 



"Thanks, thanks 1" said Zara, giving him a bright and 

 grateful smile. " Be guided by me, and you shall have the 

 opportunity. But I must speak with you first myself, that 

 you may know all. I suppose you are an early riser?" 



" Oh, yes!" replied Sir Edward; but he added no more; for 

 at that moment they were overtaken by Edith and Mr. Croy- 

 land, and the whole party entered the house together. 



CHAPTER IX. 



THERE is a strange similarity ; I had nearly called it an affinity, 

 between the climate of any country and the general character 

 of its population ; and there is a still stronger and more com- 

 monly remarked resemblance between the changes of the 

 weather and the usual course of human life. From the atmos- 

 phere around us, and from the alterations which affect it, 

 poets and moralists both, have borrowed a large store of 



