25 f) THE SMUGGLER. 



The young baronet instantly offered his host the use of one 

 of his steeds, which was gratefully accepted by Sir Robert 

 Groyland, who, however, thought fit to enter into an excul- 

 pation of himself, somewhat tedious withal, assuring his guest 

 that the horses had been taken without his approbation or 

 consent, and that he had no knowledge whatsoever of the trans- 

 action in which they were engaged. 



Sir Edward Digby professed himself quite convinced that 

 such was the case, and in order to relieve his host from the 

 embarrassment which he seemed to feel, explained that he was 

 already aware that the Kentish smugglers were in the habit of 

 borrowing horses without the owner's consent. 



In our complicated state of society, however, everything 

 hinges upon trifles. We have made the watch so fine, that a 

 grain of dust stops the whole movement; and the best arranged 

 plans are thrown out by the negligence, the absence, or the 

 folly of a servant, a friend, or a messenger. Sir Edward Digby 's 

 groom could not be found for more than a quarter of an hour: 

 when he was, at length, brought to light, the horse had to be 

 saddled. An hour had now nearly elapsed since the master 

 of the house had given orders for his own horse to be brought 

 round immediately; he was evidently uneasy at the delay, 

 peevish, restless, uncomfortable; and in the end, he said he 

 would mount at the back door, as it was the nearest and the 

 most convenient. He even waited in the vestibule; but sud- 

 denly he turned, walked through the double doors leading to 

 the stable-yard, and said he heard the horse coming up. 



Mrs. Barbara Croyland had, in the mean time, amused her- 

 self and her -niece in the library, with the door open; and 

 sometimes she worked a paroquet, in green, red, and white 

 silk embroidery, a favourite occupation for ladies in her juve- 

 nile days, and sometimes she gazed out of the window, or 

 listened to the conversation of her brother and his guest in the 

 vestibule. At the very moment, however, when Sir Robert 

 was making his exit by the doors between the principal part 

 of the house and the offices, Mrs. Barbara called loudly after 

 him, " Brother Robert! brother Robert! Here is Mr. Radford 

 coming." 



The baronet turned a deaf ear, and shut the door. He 

 would have locked it, too, if the evasion would not have then 

 been too palpable. But Mrs. Barbara was resolved that he 



