THE SMUGGLER. 325 



up here. Can't you come down, and fetch them? It is not 

 much out of your way." 



"No, I can't do that,'' answered Kate, who did not alto- 

 gether like going to the lone house she had mentioned; "but 

 you can send them down to Cranbrook, at all events ; and 

 there they can be left for me, at Mrs. Tims's shop; they'll 

 be quite safe; and I will call for them either to-night, or to- 

 morrow morning,'' 



" Well, I will do that, my love," replied Richard Radford, 

 taking the bonnet, and putting it on his head. 



" Very well, sir,'' answered Kate, not well pleased with the 

 epithet he had bestowed upon her, and taking a step to move 

 away, " I will call for them there." 



But young Radford threw his arm round her waist, saying, 

 " Come, Kate, I must have a kiss before you go. You give 

 plenty to Harding, I dare say." 



" Let me go, sir! '' cried Kate Clare, indignantly. " You 

 are a base, ungrateful young man I' 5 



But young Radford did not let her go. He took the kiss 

 she struggled against, by force; and he was proceeding to 

 further insult, when Kate exclaimed, "If you do not let me 

 go, I will scream till the soldiers are upon you. They are 

 not far." 



She spoke so loud, that her very tone excited his alarm ; 

 and he withdrew his arm from her waist, but still held her 

 hand tight, saying, "Come, come, Kate! nonsense, I did not 

 mean to offend youl Go up to Harbourne House, there's a 

 good girl, and stay as long as you can there, till I get out of 

 the wood." 



"You do offend me; you do offend me I" cried Kate Clare, 

 striving to withdraw her hand from his grasp. 



"Will you promise to go up to Harbourne, then?" said 

 Richard Radford, " and I will let you go." 



"Yes, yes," answered Kate, "I will go;" and the moment 

 her hand was free, she darted away, leaving the basket she 

 had brought behind her. 



As soon as she was gone, Richard Radford cursed her for a 

 saucy jade, as if the offence had been hers, not his; and then 

 taking up the basket, he threw it, eggs and all, together with 

 his own hat, into the deep hole in the sand-bank. Advancing 

 along the path till he reached the open road, he hurried on in 



