THE SMUGGLER. 341 



"Oh! you must ask me yourself, Sir Ed ward, "replied Zara, 



quite in a civil tone; "and then when you see that I am wil- 

 ling, you must be very pressing with my father, quite as if you 

 were a lover; and he will not refuse you. I'll bear you harm- 

 less, as I have heard Mr. Radford say;" she added with a 

 playful smile that was quickly saddened. 



"You shall command for the time," answered Digby, as 

 gaily; "perhaps, after that, I may take my turn, sweet lady. 

 But I have a good deal to say to you, too, which I could not 

 fully explain last night." 



"As we go, as we go," replied Zara; "my father will be 

 back directly, otherwise I would tell you a long story about 

 my aunt, who has evidently got some great secret which she 

 is all impatience to divulge. If I had stayed an hour with 

 her, I might have arrived at it; but I was afraid of losing my 

 opportunity here. Oh! that invaluable thing, opportunity. 

 Once lost, what years of misery does it not sometimes leave 

 behind. Would to heaven that Edith and Layton had run 

 away with each other when they were about it. We should 

 all have been happier now." 



"And I should never have known you," replied Digby. 

 Zara smiled, and shook her head, as if saying, " That is hardly 

 fair;" but Sir Robert Croyland was seen coming up the walk, 

 and she only replied, "Now, do your devoir, gallant knight, 

 and let me see if you do it zealously." 



"I have been trying in your absence, my dear sir," said 

 Digby, rather maliciously, as the baronet joined them, "to 

 persuade your fair daughter to run away with me. But she 

 is very dutiful, and will not take such a rash step, though the 

 distance is only to Woodchurch, without your consent. I 

 pray you give it; for I long to mount her on my quietest 

 horse, and see her try her skill in horsemanship again." 



Sir Robert Croyland looked grave; and ere the words were 

 half spoken, Sir Edward Digby felt that he had committed an 

 error in his game; for he was well aware that when we have 

 a favour to ask, we should not call up, by speech or look, in 

 the mind of the person who is to grant it, any association 

 having a contrary tendency. 



" I am afraid that I have no servant whom I could send 

 with you, Sir Edward," replied her father; "one I have just 

 despatched to some distance, and you know I am left without 



