310 THE SMUGGLER. 



than you imagine," he answered. " It is, indeed, long since 

 first I was in this land; but not so long since I was here last; 

 and all its people and its things, its woods, its villages, its hills, 

 are as familiar to me, ay, more so than to you. Of yourself, 

 Layton, and your fate, I also know much: I might say I know 

 all; for certainly I know more than you do, can do more than 

 you are able to do, will do more than you can. To show you 

 what I know, I will give you a brief summary of your own 

 history: at least, that part of it of which you think I know 

 nothing. Young, eager, and impatient, you were thrown con- 

 stantly into the society of one, good, beautiful, gentle, and 

 true. You had much encouragement from those who should 

 not have given it, unless they had tne intention of continuing 

 it to the end. You loved, and were beloved ; and then, in the 

 impatience of your boyish ardour, you bound Edith Croyland 

 to yourself, without her parent's knowledge and consent, by 

 vows which, whatever human laws may say, are indissoluble 

 by the law of heaven ; and therein you did wrong. It was 

 a great error. Do I say right?" 



" It was, indeed,' 5 answered Sir Henry Layton, casting 

 down his eyes sternly on the ground; "it was, indeed." 



"More: I will tell you more," continued Mr. Warde; "you 

 have bitterly repented it, and bitterly suffered for it. You are 

 suffering even now." 



" Not for it," replied the young officer; "not for it. My 

 sufferings are not consequences of my fault." 



" You are wrong," answered the old man ; " wrong, as you 

 will find. But I will go on, and tell you what you have done 

 this day. Those who have behaved ill to you have been 

 punished likewise; and their punishment is working itself out, 

 but sweeping you in within its vortex. You have been over 

 to see Edith Croyland. She has told you her tale. You have 

 met in love, and parted in sorrow. Is it not so? And now 

 you know not which way to turn for deliverance." 



" It is so, indeed, my good friend," said Layton, sadly; 

 " but how you have discovered all this, I cannot divine." 



" That has nought to do with the subject,'' answered Warde. 

 " Now, tell me, Layton, tell me, and remember you are dearer 

 to me than you know; are you prepared to make atonement 

 for your fault? The only atonement in your power: to give 

 back to Edith the vows she plighted : to leave her free to 



