Tilfc SMUGGLER. 109 



says. Whatever way one goes, death is near enough; and 

 I don't know that it's a bit nearer on the sea than anywhere 

 else." 



" Not a whit," replied Harding; " God's hand is upon the 

 sea as well as upon the land, Mrs. Clare ; and if it is His will 

 that we go, why we go ; and if it is His will that we stay, he 

 doesn't want strength to protect us.' 1 * 



" No, indeed," answered Mrs. Glare ; " and it's that which 

 comforts me, for I think that what is God's will must be good. 

 I'm sure, when my poor husband went out in the morning, 

 six years ago come the tenth of October next, as well and as 

 hearty as a man could be, I never thought to see him brought 

 home a corpse, and I left a lone widow with my poor girl, 

 and not knowing where to look for any help. But God raised 

 me up friends where I least expected them." 



" Why you had every right to expect that Sir Robert 

 would be kind to you, Mrs. Clare," rejoined Harding, " when 

 your husband had been in his service for sixteen or seventeen 

 years." 



"No, indeed, I hadn't," said the widow; " for Sir Robert 

 was always, we thought, a rough, hard master, grumbling 

 continually, till my poor man could hardly bear it; for he was 

 a free-spoken man, as I dare say you remember, Mr. Harding, 

 and would say his mind to any one, gentle or simple." 



"He was as good a soul as ever lived," answered Harding; 

 " a little rash and passionate, but none the worse for that." 



" Ay, but it was that which set the head keeper against 

 him," answered the widow, "and he set Sir Robert, making 

 out that Edward was always careless and insolent ; but he did 

 his duty as well as any man, and knowing that, he didn't 

 like to be found fault with. However, I don't blame Sir 

 Robert ; for since my poor man's death he has found out what 

 he was worth, and very kind he has been to me, to be sure. 

 The cottage, and the garden, and the good bit of ground at 

 the back, and twelve shilllings a week into the bargain, have 

 we had from him ever since." 



" Ay, and I am sure nothing can be kinder than the two 

 young ladies," said Kate ; " they are always giving me some- 

 thing; and Miss Edith taught me all I know. I should have 

 been sadly ignorant if it had not been for her; and a deal of 

 trouble I gave her." 



