THE SMUGGLER* 237 



dragoons, stretching out his hand and arm in the direction 

 which the fugitive had taken, as if giving orders for his pur- 

 suit. She watched him with feelings indescribable, and saw 

 him more than once turn his eyes towards the house where 

 she was, and gaze on it long and thoughtfully. 



" Can he know whose dwelling this is?" she asked herself; 

 " can he know who is in it, and yet ride away?'' But so it 

 was. After he had remained on the ground for about half an 

 hour, she saw him depart, turning his horse's head slowly to- 

 wards Woodchurch; and Edith withdrew from the window, 

 and wept. 



Her eyes were dry, however, and her manner calm, when 

 she went down to breakfast; and she heard unmoved, from 

 her uncle, the details of the skirmish which had taken place 

 between the smugglers and the military. 



"This must be a tremendous blow to them," said Mr. 

 Croyland; " the goods are reported to be of immense value, 

 and the whole of them are stated to have been run by that old 

 infernal villain, Kadford. I am glad that this has happened, 

 trebly felix ter et amplius, my dear Edith : first, that a trade 

 which enriches scoundrels to the detriment of the fair and 

 lawful merchant, has received nearly its death-blow ; secondly, 

 that these audacious vagabonds, who fancied they had all the 

 world at their command, and that they could do as they 

 pleased in Kent, have been taught how impotent they are 

 against a powerful hand and a clear head ; and, thirdly, that 

 the most audacious vagabond of them all, who has amassed a 

 large fortune by defiance of the law, and by a system which 

 embodies cheatery with robbery I mean robbery of the re- 

 venue with cheatery of the lawful merchant has been the 

 person to suffer. I have heard a great deal of forcing nations 

 to abate their customs dues, by smuggling in despite of them ; 

 but depend upon it, whoever advocates such a system is I 

 will not say, either a rogue or a fool, as some rash and intem- 

 perate persons might say but a man with very queer notions 

 of morals, my dear. I dare say, the fellows' firing awoke you, 

 my love. You look pale, as if you had been disturbed." 



Edith replied, simply, that she had been roused by the noise, 

 but did not enter into any particulars, though she saw, or fancied 

 she saw, an inquiring look upon her uncle's face as he spoke. 



During the morning many. were the reports and anecdotes 



