THE SMUGGLER. 299 



Mr. Croyland was considerate; and knowing that Sir Henry 

 Layton was with his neice, for his young friend had passed 

 him on the road, he paused for a moment in the vestibule, 

 giving various orders and directions, in order to afford them 

 a few minutes more of private conversation. When he went 

 in, he .was surprised to find Edith's face fall of deep grief, 

 and her eyes wet with tears, and still more when Layton, 

 after kissing her fair cheek, advanced towards him, saying, 

 " I must go, my dear friend, nor can I accept you kind invi- 

 tation to stay here to-night. But I am about to show myself 

 a bold man, and ask you to give me almost the privilege of a 

 son ; that is, of coming and going, for the four or five next 

 days, at my own will, and without question.'' 



" What's all this? What's all this?" cried Mr. Croyland; 

 "a lovers' quarrel? Ha! Edith? Ha! Harry?" 



"Oh! no," answered Edith, giving her uncle her hand; "there 

 never can be a quarrel between me and Henry Layton." 



"Well, then, what is it all?" exclaimed Mr. Croyland, 

 turning from one to the other. " Mystery, mystery! I hate 

 mystery, Harry Layton. However, you shall have your pri- 

 vilege; the doors shall be open. Come; go: do what you 

 like. But if you are not a great fool, you will order over a 

 post-chaise and four this very night, put her in, and be off for 

 Gretna Green. I'll give you my parental benediction.'' 



" I am afraid, my dear sir,' 5 answered Layton, " that can- 

 not be. Edith has told me various things since I saw her, 

 which require to be dealt with in a different way. I trust, 

 that, in whatever I do, my conduct will be such as to give you 

 satisfaction ; and whether the result be fortunate or otherwise, 

 1 shall never, till the last hour of life, forget the kindness you 

 have shown me. And now, my dear sir, adieu for the pre- 

 sent, for I have much to do this night." 



Thus saying, he shook the old gentleman's hand, and de- 

 parted with a heavy heart and anxious mind. During his 

 onward ride, his heart did not become lighter; his mind was 

 only more burdened with cares. As long as he was in Edith's 

 presence he had borne up and struggled against all that he 

 felt; for he saw that she was already overwhelmed with grief, 

 and he feared to add to it; but now his thoughts were all con- 

 fusion. With incomplete information, in circumstances the 

 most difficult, anxious to save her he loved, even at any sacri- 



