260 THE SMUGGLER. 



Sir Robert Croyland shrank from him, as if an asp had 

 approached his cheek, and he turned deadly pale. " No, 

 Radford; no," he replied, in a faltering and deprecatory tone; 

 " you cannot mean such a horrible thing. I will do all that 

 I can to make her yield, I will, indeed; I will insist, I will " 



" Sir Robert Croyland," said Mr. Radford, sternly and slowly. 

 "I will have no more trifling. I have indulged you too long, 

 Your daughter must be my son's wife before he quits this 

 country, which must be the case for a time, till we can get 

 this affair wiped out by our parliamentary influence. Her for- 

 tune must be his; she must be his wife, I say, before four days 

 are over. Now, my good friend," he continued, falling back, 

 in a degree, into his usual manner, which had generally a touch 

 of sarcastic bitterness in it when addressing his present com- 

 panion; "what means you may please to adopt to arrive at 

 this desirable result I cannot tell; but as the young lady has 

 shown an aversion to the match, not very flattering to my 

 son " 



"Is it not his own fault?" cried Sir Robert Croyland, 

 roused to some degree of indignation and resistance; "has he 

 ever, by word or deed, sought to remove that reluctance? 

 Has he wooed her as woman always requires to be wooed ? 

 Has he not rather shown a preference to her sister; paid her 

 all attention, courted, admired her?" 



"Pity you suffered it, Sir Robert," answered Radford; 

 "but permit me, in your courtesy, to go on with what I was 

 saying. As the young lady has shown this unfortunate re- 

 luctance, I anticipate no effect from your proposed use of pa- 

 rental authority. I believe your requests and your commands 

 will be equally unavailing; and, therefore, I say, tell her, her 

 father's life depends upon it; for I will have no more trifling, 

 Sir Robert; no more delay, no more hesitation. It must be 

 settled at once, this very day. Before midnight, I must hear 

 that she consents, or your understand; and consent she will, 

 if you but employ the right means. She may show herself 

 obstinate, undutiful, careless of your wishes and commands; 

 but I do not think that she would like to be the one to tie a 

 halter round her father's neck, or to bring what I think you 

 gentlemen of heraldry and coat-armour call a cross-patonce 

 into the family-bearing ; ha, ha, ha I Da you, Sir Robert ?" 



The unhappy gentleman to whom he spoke covered his eyes 



