THE SMUGGLER. 347 



ing nir. " Impossible!" she cried. "Why, he was a gay, 

 slight, florid, young man!" 



" Six or seven years ago," answered Digby ; " but that, my 

 dear Miss Croyland, is Sir Henry Layton, depend upon it." 



Now, it may seem strange that Edith should have instantly 

 recognised, even at a much greater distance, the man whom 

 her sister did not, though the same period had passed since 

 each had seen him ; but it must be remembered, that Edith 

 was between two and three years older than Zara; and those 

 two or three years, at the time of life which they had reached 

 when Layton left England, are amongst the most important in 

 a woman's life; those when new feelings and new thoughts 

 arise, to impress for ever, on the woman's heart, events and 

 persons that the girl forgets in an hour. 



Layton, however, it certainly was; and when Zara could 

 ROC his features distinctly, she recalled the lines. Springing 

 from his horse as soon as he was near, her sister's lover cast 

 the bridle of his charger over his arm, and, taking the hand 

 she extended to him, kissed it affectionately: " Ohl Zara how 

 you are changed," he said. " But so am I; and you have 

 gained, whilst I have lost. It is very kind of you to come 

 thus speedily." 



" You could not doubt, Layton, that I would, if possible," 

 answered Zara; "but all things are much changed in our 

 house, as well as ourselves ; and that wild liberty which we 

 formerly enjoyed, of running whithersoever we would, is sadly 

 abridged now. But what have you to say, Layton? for I 

 dare not stay long." 



Digby was dropping" behind, apparently to speak to his 

 servant for a moment; but Layton called to him assuring him 

 that he had nothing to say which he might not hear. 



"Presently, presently," answered Zara's companion; and 

 leaving them alone, he rode up to good Mr. Somers, who, with 

 his usual discretion, had halted, as they halted, at a very re- 

 spectful distance. The young officer seemed to give some 

 orders, which were rather long, and then returned at a slow 

 pace. In the mean time, the conversation of Layton and Zara 

 liad gone on; but his only object, it appeared, was to see her, 

 and to entreat her to aid and support his Edith in any trial 

 she might be put to. " I spent a short period of chequered 

 happiness with her last night," he said; "and she then told 



