334 THE SMUGGLER. 



served a double meaning in her question, he answered, "Oh! 

 yes, that I will, if you will consent to accompany me." 



Zara smiled, and sat down to the instrument again; and 

 the reader must judge from the song itself whether the young 

 officer's conjecture, that her words had an enigmatical sense, 

 was just or not. 



THE OFFICER'S SONG. 



" A star is still beaming 



Beyond the grey cloud; 

 Its light rays are streaming, 



With nothing to shroud; 

 And the star shall be there 



When the clouds pass away ; 

 Its lustre unchanging, 



Immortal its ray. 



"Tis the guide of the true heart, 



In field, or on sea; 

 'Tis the hope of the slave, 



And the trust of the free ; 

 The light of the lover, 



Whatever assail ; 

 The strength of the honest, 



That never can fail. 



Waft, waft, thou light wind, 



From the peace-giving ray, 

 The vapours of sorrow, 



That over it stray; 

 And let it pour forth, 



All unshrouded and bright, 

 That those who now mourn, 



May rejoice in its light." 



" God grant it!" murmured the voice of Sir Robert Croy- 

 land. Zara said, " Arnenl" in her heart; and in a minute or 

 two after, her father rose and left the room. 



During the rest of the evening, nothing very important oc- 

 curred in Harbourne House. Mrs. Barbara played her usual 

 part, and would contribute to Sir Edward Digby's amusement 

 in a most uncomfortable manner. The following morning, too, 

 went by without any incident of importance, till about ten 

 o'clock, when breakfast just being over, and Zara having been 

 called from the room by her maid, Sir Robert's butler an- 



