THE SMUGGLER. 2 75 



even if you were to drag me to the altar, I would say, No, to 

 the last I" 



"Kash, mad, unfeeling girl!" cried her father, starting up, 

 and gazing upon her with a look in which rage, and disap- 

 pointment, and perplexity were all mingled. 



He stood before her for a moment in silence, and then strode 

 vehemently backwards and forwards in the room, with his 

 right hand contracting and expanding, as if grasping at some- 

 thing. "It must be done I'' he said, at length, pressing his 

 hand upon his brow; "it must be done!" and then he recom- 

 menced his silent walk, with the shadows of many emotions 

 coming over his countenance. 



When he returned to Edith's side again, the manner and 

 the aspect of Sir Robert Croyland were both changed. There 

 was an expression of deep sorrow upon his countenance, of 

 much agitation, but considerable tenderness; and, to his 

 daughter's surprise, he took her hand in his, and pressed it 

 affectionately. 



" Edith,'' he said, after a short interval of silence, " I have 

 commanded, I have insisted, I have threatened, but all in vain. 

 Yet, in so doing, I have had in view to spare you even greater 

 pain than could be occasioned by a father's sternness. My 

 very love for you, my child, made me seem wanting in love. 

 But now I must inflict the greater pain. You require, it 

 seems, inducements stronger than obedience to a father's ear- 

 nest commands, and you shall have them, however terrible for 

 me to speak and you to hear. I will tell you all, and leave you 

 to judge." 



Edith gazed at him in surprise and terror. "Oh! do not, 

 do not, sir!" she said; "do not try to break my heart, and 

 put my duty to you in opposition to the fulfilment of a most 

 sacred vow, in opposition to all the dictates of my own heart 

 and my own conscience." 



" Edith it must be done," replied Sir Robert Croyland. 

 " I have urged you to a marriage with young Richard Rad- 

 ford. I now tell you solemnly that your father's life depends 

 upon it.'' 



Edith clasped her hands wildly together, and gazed for a 

 moment in his face, without a word, almost stupified with 

 horror. But Sir Robert Croyland had deceived her, or at- 

 tempted to deceive her, on the very same subject they were 



