330 THE SMUGGLER. 



ing, not interrupting the conference of her niece and their guest 

 above ten times in a minute. Sir Edward, indeed, kept him- 

 self within all due and well- defined rules. He never proceeded 

 beyond what a great master of the art has pronounced to be 

 " making-love;'' "a course of small, quiet, attentions: not so 

 pointed as to alarm, nor so vague as to be misunderstood." 

 Strange to say, Zara was very much obliged to him for follow- 

 ing such a course, as it gave an especially good pretext for 

 intimacy, for whispered words and quiet conversation, and 

 even for a little open seeking for each other's society, which 

 would have called observation, if not inquiry, upon them, had 

 not her companion's conduct been what it was. She thought 

 fit to attribute it, in her own mind, entirely to his desire of 

 communicating to her, without attracting notice, whatever he 

 had learned, that could in any way affect her sister's fate ; and 

 she judged it a marvellous good device that they should appear 

 for the time as lovers, with full powers on both parts to with- 

 draw from that position whenever it suited them. Poor girl! 

 she knew not how far she was entangling herself. 



Sir Edward Digby, in the meanwhile, took no alarming 

 advantage of his situation. The whispered word was almost 

 always of Edith or of Layton. He never spoke of Zara herself, 

 or of himself, or of his own feelings ; not a word could denote to 

 her that he was making love, though his whole demeanour had 

 very much that aspect to those who sat and looked on. Oh! 

 those who sit and look on, what a world they see, and what 

 a world they don't see! . Ever more than those who play the 

 game, be they shrewd as they may: ever less than the cards 

 would show, were they turned up. By fits and snatches, he 

 communicated to his fair companion, while he was playing 

 with this ball of gold thread, or winding and unwinding that 

 piece of crimson silk, as much as what had passed between 

 himself and Sir Henry Layton as he thought necessary; and 

 then he asked her to sing, as her aunt had given him a quiet 

 hint that her niece did sometimes do such a thing; saying, in 

 a low tone, while he preferred the request, "Pray, go on with 

 the song, though I may interrupt you sometimes with questions, 

 not quite relevant to the subject." 



" I understand, I quite understand," answered Zara; but 

 it may be a question whether the sweet girl really quite under- 

 stood either herself or him. It is impossible that any two free 



