THE SMUGGLER. 319 



the conversation round to the inhabitants of Harbourne House, 

 and asked if either the widow or Kate ever went up there. 



"Oh! Kate goes twice every day, sir," said Mrs. Clare, 

 " for we have all the finest of the poultry to keep down here. 

 But are you not going there yourself, Mr. Henry?" 



" Alas, no !' ? answered Layton, with a sigh. "Those days 

 have gone by, Mrs. Clare; and I am now a stranger where I 

 was once loved." 



"Don't say so, sir," replied the widow, "don't say so! 

 For, I am sure, where you were best loved of all, there you 

 arc best loved still." 



"That I believe," answered Layton; "but, at all events, I 

 am not going there at present; and if Kate would do me a 

 service, she would, the first time she sees Miss Zara Croyland 

 alone, tell her, that if ever she rides or walks out along the 

 road by the Chequers, she will find an old friend by the 

 way." 



"Miss Zara, sir, did you say?" asked Widow Clare. 



"Yes, mother, yes," cried Kate; "you forget Miss Edith 

 is not there now; she is down at Mr. Croyland's." 



"But remember, Kate," continued Layton, "I do not wish 

 my name mentioned to many persons in the house. Indeed, 

 it will be better not to speak of me at all to any one but Zara. 

 It must be soon known that I am here, it is true; but I wish 

 to let events take their course till then. And now, Mrs. Clare, 

 good evening. I shall see you again some day soon ; and you 

 must let me know when Kate's wedding-day is fixed." 



The mother looked at her daughter with a smile, and Kate 

 blushed and laughed. "It is to be this day week, sir," an- 

 swered Mrs. Clare. 



Layton nodded his head, saying, " I will not forget," and, 

 mounting his horse at the door, rode away. 



"Now, did you find him, Kate?" asked Mrs. Clare, in a 

 low tone, the moment Sir Henry Layton was gone. 



"Oh! yes," replied her daughter; "the dragoons did not 

 follow me, as you thought they would, mother; and I set 

 down the basket close to the willow. At first he did not 

 answer when I asked if he wanted % any thing ; but when I 

 spoke again, he said, 'No. A thousand thanks for what you 

 have brought;' and he spoke kind and civilly. Then, just as 

 I was going away, he said, 'Kate, Kate! let me know when 



