168 THE SMUGGLER, 



CHAPTER XVI. 



I WONDER if the reader ever wandered from Saltwood Castle 

 back to the good old town of Hythe, on a fine summer's day, 

 with a fair companion, as full of thought and mind as grace 

 and beauty, and with a dear child just at the age when all the 

 world is fresh and lovely, and then missed his way, and 

 strayed, far from the track, towards Sandgate, till dinner was 

 kept waiting at the inn, and the party who would not plod on 

 foot, were all tired and wondering at their friend's delay 1 I 

 wonder if the reader ever did all this. I have ; and a very 

 pleasant thing it is to do. Yes, all of it, reader. For, surely, 

 to go from waving wood to green field, and from green field 

 to hill-side and wood again, and to trace along the brook which 

 we know must lead to the sea-shore, with one companion of 

 high soul, who can answer thought for thought, and another 

 in life's early morning, who can bring back before your eyes 

 the picture of young enjoyment: ay, and to know that those 

 you love most dearly and esteem most highly, are looking for 

 your coming, with a little anxiety, not even approaching the 

 bounds of apprehension, is all very pleasant indeed. 



You, dear and excellent lady, who were one of my com- 

 panions on the way, may perhaps recollect a little cottage, 

 near the spot where we sprung a solitary partridge, whither I 

 went to inquire the shortest road to Hythe. That cottage was 

 standing there at the period of which I now write ; and at the 

 bottom of that hill, amongst the wood, and close by the little 

 stream, nearly where the foot-bridge now carries the traveller 

 over dry shod, was another hut, half concealed by the trees, 

 and covered over with well nigh as much moss and houseleek 

 as actual thatch. 



It has been long swept away, as well as its tenants; and 

 certainly a wretched and ill-constructed place it was. Would 

 to Heaven that all such were gone from our rich and produc- 

 tive land, and that every labourer, in a country which owes so 

 much to the industry of her children, had a dwelling better 



