284 THE SMUGGLER. 



that he wants; it is but the pitiful wealth my uncle left 

 me. Let him take it, my father!" she continued, laying her 

 hand upon Sir Robert's arm, and gazing brightly in his face, 

 as if the light of hope had suddenly been renewed. " Let him 

 take it all, every farthing. I would sooner work as a hired 

 servant in the fields for my daily bread, with the only com- 

 fort of innocence and peace, than break my vows, and marry 

 that bad man. I will sign a promise this instant that he shall 

 have all." 



Sir Robert Croyland threw his arms round her, and looked 

 up to heaven, as if imploring succour for them both. "My 

 sweet child! My dear child !" he said, with the tears stream- 

 ing down his cheeks. "But I cannot leave you even this 

 generous hope. This man has other designs. I offered I 

 promised to give Zara to his son, and to ensure to her, with 

 my brother's help, a fortune equal to your own. But he 

 would not hear of it. He has other views, my Edith. You 

 must know all ; you must see all as it really is. He will keep 

 his word this very night ! If before twelve he do not receive 

 your consent, the intimation of the fatal knowledge he pos- 

 sesses will be sent to those who will not fail to track it 

 through every step, as the bloodhound follows his prey. He 

 is a desperate man, Edith, and will keep his word, bringing 

 down ruin upon our heads, even if it overwhelm himself 

 also." 



Edith Croyland paused without reply for several minutes, her 

 beautiful face remaining pale, with the exception of one glowing 

 spot in the centre of her cheek. Her eyes were fixed upon 

 the ground, and- her lips moved, but without speech. She 

 was arguing in her own mind the case between hope and de- 

 spair; and the terrible array of circumstances on every side 

 bewildered her. Delay was her only refuge ; and looking up 

 in her father's face, she said, " But why is he so hasty? 

 Why cannot he wait a few hours longer? I will fix a time 

 when my answer shall be given; it shall be shortly, very 

 shortly: this time to-morrow. Surely, surely, in so terrible 

 a case, I may be allowed a few hours to think ; a short, a 

 very short period, to decide!" 



" He will admit of no more than I have said,'' answered 

 Sir Robert Croyland: "it is as vain to entreat him as to ask 

 the hangman to delay his fatal work. He is hard as iron; 



