340 THE SMUGGLER. 



did he descant upon the levelling and preservation of turf in 

 bowling-greens, and upon the clipping of old yew-trees, both 

 before and after Zara joined them, that Digby began to doubt, 

 notwithstanding all he had heard, whether he could really have 

 such a load upon his heart as he himself had stated to Edith, 

 and to fancy that after all, it might be a stratagem to drive 

 her to compliance with his wishes. 



A little incident, of no great moment in the eyes of any one 

 but a very careful observer of his fellow-men; and Digby was 

 far more so than he seemed, soon settled the doubt. As they 

 were passing under an old wall of red brick, channelled by 

 time and the shoots of pears and peaches, which separated the 

 garden from the different courts, a door suddenly opened be- 

 hind them, just after they had passed it ; and while Sir Edward's 

 eyes were turned to the face of the master of the house, Sir 

 Robert's ear instantly caught the sound, and his cheek became 

 as pale as ashes. 



"There is some dark terror there!" thought the young 

 officer; but, turning to Zara, he finished the sentence he had 

 been uttering, while her father's coachman, who was the 

 person that had opened the door, came forward to say that one 

 of the horses had returned. 



"Returned!" exclaimed Sir Robert Croyland; "has been 

 brought back, I suppose you mean?" 



"Ay, Sir Robert," replied the man; "a fellow from the 

 lone house at Iden Green brought him, and in a sad state the 

 poor beast is. He's got a cut like with a knife all down his 

 shoulder." 



"Your dragoon's swords are sharp, Sir Edward,'' said the 

 old baronet, gaily, to his guest; " however, I will go and see 

 him myself, and rejoin you here in a minute." 



"I am so glad to have a moment alone," cried Zara, as 

 soon as her father was gone, "that you must forgive me if I 

 use it directly. I am going to ask you a favour, Sir Edward. 

 You must take me a ride, and lend me a horse. I have just 

 had a message from poor Harry Layton ; he wishes to see me, 

 but I ana afraid to go alone, with so many soldiers about." 

 ' "Are they such terrible animals?" asked her companion, 

 with a smile, adding, however, " I shall be delighted, if your 

 father will consent; for I have already told him that I am 

 going to Woodchurch this afternoon." 



