THE SMUGGLER. 323 



to take any great interest in them ; all declaring that the Ram- 

 leys and their gang were the pest of the country, and that 

 young Dick Radford was not a bit better. Such opinions, 

 regarding that young gentleman, acted as a warning to Mrs. 

 Clare, not to mention the object of the loan she came to 

 solicit ; and when, after having rested about twenty minutes, 

 she preferred her petition to Mrs. Harris, it was readily 

 granted by the tall farmer's wife, although not without some 

 expression of curiosity, as to what her sister-in-law could want 

 a dress of hers for. 



" Kate or I will bring it back to-night or to-morrow 

 morning," replied Mrs. Clare, "and I'll tell you what we 

 want it for, at the wedding, which, remember, is to be yes- 

 terday week." 



" Ay, we will all come down with white favours, and our 

 best buckles," said young William, the farmer's eldest son; 

 "and I'll have a kiss of the bride." 



A gown and cloak of Mrs. Harris's, having been brought 

 down (they were not her best) and neatly folded up in a 

 shawl-handkerchief, Mrs. Clare set forward on her way home, 

 hurrying her steps as much as possible, lest any untoward 

 event should prevent the execution of her scheme. A stout 

 countrywoman, accustomed to exercise, the widow accom- 

 plished the walk in as short a time as possible ; yet it was 

 nine o'clock before she reached the cottage, and she instantly 

 despatched her daughter to the "hide" in the wood, with the 

 clothes folded up in as small a space as possible, and laid in 

 the bottom of a basket, covered over with eggs. 



The only difficulty was, in regard to a bonnet; and, after 

 earnest consultation between mother and child, it was deter- 

 mined that, as Mrs. Clare's head was somewhat larger than 

 Kate's, her bonnet should be put over her daughter's, which 

 was easily accomplished. Both were of straw, and both were 

 plain enough ; but, to conceal the contrivance from the eyes 

 of any one whom Kate might meet, Mrs. Clare pinned a small 

 piece of lace, which had been bought for the wedding, into the 

 inside of her own bonnet; remarking that it would do to hide 

 young Mr. Radford's face a bit. 



Furnished with all that was needful, and having had the 

 instructions which Mr. Radford had left, repeated carefully to 

 her by her mother, fair Kate Clare set out upon her expcdi- 



