336 THE SMUGGLER. 



Returning to the room which he had previously left, with- 

 out bestowing one word upon Mrs. Barbara, whom he passed 

 in the corridor, Sir Robert Croyland entered into conversation 

 with Sir Edward Digby, and strove, though with too evident 

 an effort, to appear careless and unconcerned. 



In the mean time, however, we must notice what was pass- 

 ing in the corridor; for it was of some importance, though, 

 like many other important things, it was transacted very 

 quietly. 



Mrs. Barbara had overheard Sir Robert's directions to the 

 servant ; and she had seen the man, as he went away to get 

 ready the pony, which was usually sent in the morning to the 

 post, deposit the note he had received upon an antique piece 

 of furniture, a large marble table, with great sprawling gilt 

 legs, which stood in the hall, close to the double doors that 

 led to the offices. 



Now, Mrs. Barbara was one of the most benevolent people 

 upon earth: she literally overflowed with the milk of human 

 kindness; and, if a few drops of that same milk occasionally 

 spotted the apron of her morality, which we cannot help ac- 

 knowledging'was sometimes the case, she thought, as a great 

 many other people do of a great many other sins, that " there 

 was no great harm in it if the motive was good.'' This was 

 one of those cases and occasions when the milk was beginning 

 to run over. She had a deep regard for her brother: she 

 would have sacrificed her right hand for him ; and she was 

 quite sure that something very sad had happened to vex him, 

 or he never would have thought of swearing at her. She 

 would have done, she was ready to do, anything in the world 

 to help him; but how could she help him without knowing 

 what he was vexed about? It is wonderful how many lines 

 the devil always has out for those who are disposed to take a 

 bait. Something whispered to Mrs. Barbara, as she gazed at 

 the letter, "The whole story is in there!" Ah! Mrs. Bar- 

 bara, do not take it up, and look at the address! It is dan- 

 gerous, very dangerous. 



But Mrs. Barbara did take it up and looked at the address, 

 and then at the two ends. It was folded as a note, unfortu- 

 nately; and she thought il There can be no harm, Pm sure; 

 I won't open it, though I've seen him open Edith's letters, 

 poor thing! I shall hear the man pull back the inner door, 



