THE SMUGGLER. 245 



got to say more? and what in the name of fortune made you 

 call yourself Captain Osborn to an old friend of your family 

 like myself?" 



" I did not do so, if you recollect," replied the young officer. 

 " It was my friend Digby who gave me that name; and you 

 must pardon me, if, on many accounts, I yielded to the trick; 

 for I was coming down here on a difficult service, one that I 

 am not accustomed to, and do not like ; and I was very de- 

 sirous of seeing a little of the country, and of learning some- 

 thing of the habits of the persons with whom I had to deal, 

 before I was called upon to act." 



"*And devilish well you did act when you set about it," 

 cried Mr. Croyland. "I watched you this morning over the 

 wall, and wondered a little that you did not come on to my 

 house at once." 



" It is upon that subject that I must now speak," said 

 Sir Henry Lay ton, taking a grave tone, " and I must touch 

 upon many painful subjects in the past. Just when I was 

 about to write to you, Mr. Croyland, to say that I would come, 

 in accordance with your kind invitation, I learned that your 

 niece, Miss Croyland, is staying at your house. Now, I know 

 not whether you have been informed, that long ago " 



" Oh I yes, I know all about that," answered Mr. Croyland, 

 quickly. " There was a great deal of love and courting, and 

 all that sort of boy and girl's stuff. " 



" It must be man and woman's stuff now, Mr. Croyland," 

 replied the young officer; "for I must tell you fairly and at 

 once, I love her as deeply, as truly as ever. Years have made 

 no difference; other scenes have made no change. The same 

 as I went, in every thought and feeling, I have returned ; and 

 I can never think of her without emotion, which I can never 

 speak to her without expressing." 



" Indeed, indeed!" said Mr. Croyland, apparently in some 

 surprise. " That docs make some difference." 



k ' That is what I feared," continued Sir Henry Lay ton. 

 " Your brother disapproved of our engagement. In consequence 

 of it he behaved to my father in a way on which I will not 

 dwell. You would not have behaved in such a way, I know; 

 and although I should think any means justifiable, to see your 

 niece when in her father's mansion, to tell her how deeply I 

 love hqr still, and to ask her to sacrifice fortune and everything 



