106 THE SMUGGLER. 



"Ay, but I'm not going home to-night," said tho smuggler; 

 " I can have a bed at Mrs. Glare's; and I'm going to sleep 

 there, so you can send it over when you like in the morning, 

 and I'll get it off in time." 



" I wish you would not go hanging about after that girl, 

 when we've got such serious business in hand," exclaimed Mr. 

 Radford, in a sharp tone ; but the next moment he added, with 

 a sudden change of voice, " It doesn't signify to-night, how- 

 ever. There will be time enough ; and they say you are going 

 to marry her, Harding. Is that true?" 



" I should say that's my business," replied Harding, bluntly, 

 " but that I look upon it as an honour, Mr. Radford, that 

 she's going to marry me; for a better girl does not live in the 

 land, and I've known her a long while now, so Fra never likely 

 to think otherwise." 



" Ay, I've known her a long time too," answered Mr. 

 Radford, "ever since her poor father was shot, and before; 

 and a very good girl I believe she is. But now that you are 

 over here, you may as well wait and hear what comes of these 

 goods. Couldn't you just ride over to the Ramleys to-morrow 

 morning: there you'll hear all about it." 



Harding laughed, but replied the next moment, in a grave 

 tone, " I don't like the Ramley's, sir, and don't want to have 

 more to do with them than I can help. I shall hear all about 

 it soon enough, without going there." 



" But I shan't," answered Mr. Radford. 



" Then you had better send your son, sir," rejoined Hard- 

 ing. " He's oftener there than I am, a great deal. Well, 

 the matter is all settled, then. Either the night after to- 

 morrow, or the night after that, if the men keep a good look- 

 out, they'll see a light on Tolsford Hill. Then they must 

 gather as fast as possible at Saltwood, and come on with any- 

 body they may find there. Good night, Mr. Radford 1" 



"Good night, Harding; good night 1" said Mr. Radford, 

 walking on; and the other turning his steps back towards 

 Harbourne, made his way, by the first road on the right, to 

 the cottage where we have seen him in the earlier part of the 

 day. 



It was a pleasant aspect that the cottage presented when 

 he went in, which he did without any of the ceremonies of 

 knocking at the door or ringing the bell; for he was sure of a 



