296 THE SMUGGLER. 



a terrible struggle to speak. At length he said, " And the 

 man, Edith, the man they wish you to marry, who is he?" 



" Ever the same," answered Edith, bending down her head, 

 and her cheek, which had been as pale as death, glowing like 

 crimson, " the same Richard Radford." 



"What! a felon!" exclaimed Layton, turning round, with 

 his brows bent ; " a felon, after whom my soldiers and the 

 officers of justice are now hunting through the country! Sir 

 Robert Croyland must be mad! But I tell you, Edith, that 

 man shall never stand within a church again, till it be the 

 chapel of the gaol. Let him make his peace with heaven ; 

 for if he be caught, and caught he shall be, there is no mercy 

 for him on earth. But surely there must be some mistake. 

 You cannot have understood your father rightly, or he cannot 

 know " 



"Oh! yes, yes!" replied Edith; "he knows all; and it is 

 the same. Ay, and within four days, too, that he may take 

 me with him in his flight.'' 



"Ere four days be over," answered her lover, sternly, "he 

 shall no more think of bridals." 



"And what will become of my father, then!'' said Edith, 

 gazing steadily down upon the ground. "It is I, I that shall 

 have done it. Alas, alas! which way shall I turn?" 



There was something more than sorrow in her countenance, 

 there was anguish, almost agony; and Sir Henry Lay ton was 

 much moved. "Turn to me, Edith,'' he said, "turn to hinl 

 who loves you better than life; and there is no sacrifice that 

 he will not make for you, but his honour. Tell me, have 

 you made any promise? Have you given your father your 

 consent?'' 



"No," answered Edith, eagerly; "no, I have not. He 

 took my words as consent, though, ere they were half finished 

 the horror and pain of all I heard overcame me, and I fainted. 

 But I did not consent, Harry, I could not consent without 

 your permission. Oh! Harry, aid and support me!" 



"Listen to me, my beloved," replied Layton; "wealth, got 

 by any means, is this man's object. I gather from what you 

 say, that your father has some cause to dread him. Give up to 

 him this much coveted fortune, let him take it; ay, and share 

 Henry Layton's little wealth. I desire nothing but yourself." 



" Alas, Henry, it is all in vain!" answered Edith; "I have 



