THE SMUGGLER. 235 



and they pursued her still, long after she had sought her pil- 

 low, keeping her waking for some hours. At length, not long 

 before daybreak, sleep took possession of her brain ; but it was 

 not untroubled sleep. Wild and whirling images for some 

 time supplied the place of thought; but they were all vague 

 and confused, and undefined for a considerable length of time 

 after sleep had closed her eyes, and she forgot them as soon as 

 she awoke. But at length a vision of more tangible form pre- 

 sented itself, which remained impressed upon her memory. In 

 it, the events of the day mingled with those both of the for- 

 mer and the latter years, undoubtedly in strange and disor- 

 derly shape, but still bearing a sufficient resemblance to reality 

 to show whence they were derived. The form of young Rad- 

 ford, bleeding and wounded, seemed before her eyes ; and with 

 one hand clasped tightly round her wrist, he seemed to drag 

 her down into a grave prepared for himself. Then she saw 

 Sir Edward Digby with a naked sword in his hand, striving in 

 vain to cut off the arm that held her, the keen blade passing 

 through and through the limb of the phantom without disse- 

 vering it from the body, or relaxing its hold upon herself. 

 Then the figure of her father stood before her, clad in a long 

 mourning cloak, and she heard his voice crying, in a dark and 

 solemn tone, " Down, down, both of you, to the grave that 

 you have dug for mel" The next instant the scene was 

 crowded with figures, both on horseback and on foot. Many 

 a countenance which she had seen and known at different times 

 was amongst them ; and all seemed urging her on down into 

 the gulf before her; till suddenly appeared, at the head of a 

 bright and glittering troop, he whom she had so long and 

 deeply loved, as if advancing at full speed to her rescue. She 

 called loudly to him, she stretched out her hand towards him, 

 and onward he came through the throng till he nearly reached 

 her. Then in an instant her father interposed again and 

 pushed him back. All became a scene of disarray and confu- 

 sion, as if a general battle had been taking place around her. 

 Swords were drawn, shots were fired, wounds were given and 

 received; there were cries of agony and loud words of com- 

 mand, till at length, in the midst, her lover reached her; his 

 arms were cast round her; she was pressed to his bosom; and 

 with a start, and mingled feelings of joy and terror, Edith's 

 dream came to an end. 



