342 THE SMUGGLER. 



horse?, for this poor beast just come bade, is unfit. Neither 

 do I think it would be altogether consistent with decorum, for 

 Zara to go with you quite alone." 



Sir Edward Digby mentally sent the word decorum back 

 to the place from whence it came; but he was resolved to 

 press his point; and wheii Zara replied, "Oh! do let me go, 

 papa ;" he added, "My servant can accompany us, to satisfy 

 propriety, Sir Robert ; and you know I have quartered three 

 horses upon you. Then, as I find the fair lady is somewhat 

 afraid of a multitude of soldiers, I promise most faithfully not 

 even to dismount in Woodchurch, but to say what I have to 

 say, to the officer in command there, and then canter back 

 over the country." 



"Who is the officer in command?" asked Sir Robert 

 Croyland. 



Zara drew her breath quick, but Sir Edward Digby avoided 

 the dangerous point. " Irby has one troop there," he replied ; 

 "and there are parts of two others. When I have made 

 interest enough here," he continued, with a half bow to Zara, 

 "I shall beg to introduce Irby to you, Sir Robert; you will 

 like him much, I think. I have known him long." 



" Pray invite him to dinner while he stays," said Sir Robert 

 Croyland; " it will give me much pleasure to see him." 



"Not yet; not yet!" answered Digby, laughing; "I always 

 secure my own approaches first." 



Sir Robert Croyland smiled graciously, and, turning to 

 Zara, said, "Well, my dear, I see no objection, if you wish 

 it. You had better go and get ready." 



Zara's cheek was glowing, and she took her father at the 

 first word; but when she was gone, Sir Robert thought fit to 

 lecture his guest a little, upon the bad habit of spoiling young 

 ladies which he seemed to have acquired. He did it jocularly, 

 but with his usual pompous and grave air; and no one would 

 have recognised in the Sir Robert Croyland walking in the 

 garden, the father whom we have lately seen humbled before 

 his own child. There is no part of a man's character which 

 he keeps up so well to the world as that part which is not his 

 own. The assertion may seem to be a contradiction in terms ; 

 but there is no other way of expressing the sense clearly ; and 

 whether those terms be correct or not, will depend upon 

 whether character is properly innate or accumulated. 



