THE SMUGGLER. 337 



and can put it down in a minute. Nobody else can see mo 

 here ; and if I could but find out what is vexing him, I might 

 have some way of helping him ; I'm sure I intend well." 



All this argumentation in Mrs. Barbara's mind took up the 

 space of about three seconds ; and then the note, pressed be- 

 tween two fingers in the most approved fashion, was applied 

 as a telescope to her eye, to get a perspective view of the 

 cause of her brother's irritation. I must make the reader a 

 party to the transaction, I am afraid, and let him know the 

 words which Mrs. Barbara read : 



"My dear Radford," the note began "As misfortune 

 would have it, all my horses have been taken out of the stable, 

 and have not been brought back. I fear that they have 

 fallen into other hands than those that borrowed them ; and 

 my brother Zachary has one of his crabbed moods upon him, 

 and will not lend his carriage to bring Edith back. If your 

 horses have not gone as well as mine, I should feel particularly 

 obliged by your sending them down here, to take over my 

 coach to Zachary's and bring Edith back; for I do not wish 

 her to stay there any longer, as the marriage is to take place 

 so soon. If you can come over to-morrow, we can settle 

 whether it is to be at your house or here, though I should 

 prefer it here, if you have no objection." 



There seemed to be a few words more; but it took Mrs. Bar- 

 bara longer to decipher the above lines, in the actual position 

 of the note, than it might have done, had the paper been spread 

 out fair before her; so that, just as she was moving it a little, 

 to get at the rest, the sound of the farther of the two doors 

 being thrown open, interrupted her proceedings; and, laying 

 down the letter quickly, she darted away, full of the important 

 intelligence which she had acquired. 



