35 1 THE SMUGGLER. 



and I will tell yon who ho is: one Harry Lay ton, whom you 

 may have heard of; now, Lieutenant- Colonel Sir Henry Lay ton, 

 Knight of the Bath, forsooth 1" 



Sir Robert Croyland gazed upon him in astonishment ; but, 

 whatever were his other sensations, deep grief and bitter re- 

 gret mingled with them, when he thought that circumstances 

 should ever have driven or tempted him to promise his daugh- 

 ter's hand to a low, dissolute, unprincipled villain, and to put j 

 a fatal barrier between her and one whom he had always > 

 known to be generous, honourable, and high principled, and ; 

 who had now gained such distinction in the service of his 

 country. He remained perfectly silent, however; and the 

 expression of surprise and consternation which his countenance 

 displayed, was misinterpreted by Mr. Radford to his own ad- 

 vantage. 



"Now, look here, Sir Robert," he continued; "if your 

 daughter were in your house, you could not help this young 

 man having some communication with her. He 'has already 

 been over at your brother's, and has seen her, I doubt not. 

 Here, then, is your fair daughter, Miss Zara; your guest, Sir 

 Edward Digby, his intimate friend, I dare say; all your 

 maids and half your men servants, even dear Mrs. Barbara 

 herself, with her sweet meddling ways, would all be ready to 

 fetch and carry between the lovers. In short, our whole 

 plans would be overturned ; and I should be compelled to do 

 that which would be very disagreeable to me, and to strike at 

 this upstart Henry Layton through the breast of Sir Robert 

 Croyland. In my house, he can have no access to her; and 

 though some mischief may already have been done, yet it can 

 go no further. " 



" Now I understand what you mean by revenge," said the 

 baronet, in a low tone, folding his hands together. " Now I 

 understand." 



"Well, but have I judged rightly or wrongly?" demanded 

 Mr. Radford. 



"Rightly, I suppose,'' said Sir Robert Croyland, sadly. 

 " It can't be helped; but poor Edith, how does she bear it?" 



"Oh! very well," answered Mr. Radford, quietly. " She 

 cried a little at first, and when she found where they were 

 going, asked the coachman what he meant. It was my coach- 

 man, you know, not yours; and so he lied, like a good, honest 



