THE SMUGGLER. 2?1 



waving in the wind of a fierce storm, while two travellers stood 

 beneath a bank, and a writhing beech tree, scarcely seeming 

 to find shelter even there from the large grey streams of rain 

 that swept across the foreground. But, withal, in the distance 

 were seen some majestic old towers and columns, with a gleam 

 of golden light upon the edge of the sky; and Hope, never 

 wearying of her kindly offices, whispered to Edith's heart, 

 " In life, as in that picture, there may be sunshine behind the 

 storm." 



Poor Edith was right willing to listen ; and she gave her- 

 self up to the gentle guide. "Perhaps," she thought, "his 

 duty might not admit of his coming, or perhaps he might not 

 know how he would be received. My father's anger would be 

 sure to follow such a step. He might think that insult, injury, 

 would be added. He might imagine even that I am changed," 

 and she shook her head, sadly. "Yet why should he not," 

 she continued, " if I sit here and think so of him? Who can 

 tell what people may have said? Who can tell even what 

 falsehoods may have been spread? Perhaps he's even now 

 thinking of me. Perhaps he has come into this part of the 

 country to make inquiries, to see with his own eyes, to satisfy 

 himself. Oh! it must be so: it must be sol" she cried, giving 

 herself up again to the bright dream. " Ay, and this Sir Ed- 

 ward Digby, too, he is his dear friend, his companion ; may he 

 not have sent him down to investigate and judge? I thought 

 it strange at the time, that this young officer should write to 

 inquire after my father's family, and then instantly accept an 

 invitation; and I marked how he gazed at that wretched 

 young man and his unworthy father. Perhaps he will tell 

 Zara more, and I shall hear when I return. Perhaps he has 

 told her more already. Indeed, it is very probable, for they 

 had a long ride together yesterday;" and poor Edith began to 

 feel as anxious to go back to her father's house as she had 

 been glad to quit it, Yet she saw no way how this could be 

 accomplished, before the period allotted for her stay was at an 

 end; and she determined to have recourse to a little simple 

 art, and ask Mr. Croyland to take her over to Ilarbourne on 

 the following morning, with the ostensible purpose of looking 

 for some article of apparel left behind, but, in truth, to obtain 

 a few minutes' conversation with her sister. 



There are times in the life of almost every one, at least, of 



