318 THE SMUGGLER. 



not in heart, I can assure you; and as I was obliged to visit 

 this wood, I resolved I would not be so near you without 

 coming in to see how you were going on, with your pretty 

 Kate here." 



"My pretty Kate, very soon!" said Harding, aloud; and 

 the young officer turned suddenly round, and looked at him 

 more attentively than before. 



"Ah, Mr. Harding 1" he exclaimed, "is that you? We 

 have met before, though perhaps you don't remember me. 5 ' 



" Oh! yes, 1 do, sir," replied the smuggler, drily. "But I 

 must go, Kate;'' and he added, in alow tone, "I shall be 

 back by -and- bye." 



Thus saying, he walked away ; but before he had taken ten 

 steps, Lay ton followed, and tools: him by the arm. " What do 

 you want with me, sir?'' asked the smuggler, turning sharply 

 round, and putting his hand in the bosom of his coat. 



"Hush!" replied the young officer; "I seek no harm to 

 you; merely one word. For heaven's sake! Harding, quit 

 this perilous life of yours ; at least, before you marry that poor 

 girl if I have understood you rightly, that you are about to 

 marry her. I speak as a friend." 



"Thank you, sir!'' answered the smuggler, "I dare say 

 you mean it kind ; but it was hardly fair of you, either, to 

 come and talk with me upon the cliff, if you are, as I suppose, 

 the Sir Henry Layton all the folks are speaking about.'' 



" Why, my good friend, my talking with you did you no 

 harm,'' replied the young officer; "you cannot say that I led 

 you to speak of anything that could injure either you or 

 others. Besides, I have nothing to do with you gentlemen of 

 the sea, though I may with your friends on land. But take 

 the advice of one well disposed towards you; and, above all, 

 do not linger about this place at present, for it is a dangerous 

 neighbourhood for any one who has had a share in the late 

 transactions." 



"That advice I shall take, at all events," answered Hard- 

 ing, bluntly; " and perhaps the other too, for I am sick of all 

 this!" And thus saying, he walked away, passing close by 

 the two dragoons, who offered no obstruction. 



In the meanwhile Layton, returning to Widow Clare and 

 her daughter, went into the cottage, and talked to them, for a 

 few minutes, of old days. Gradually, however, he brought 



