360 tHE SMUGGLER. 



before, "Because, you know," said the good lady, "I could 

 not speak of such things before a stranger, like Sir Edward 

 Digby; and when he was gone, I didn't dare say anything to 

 your father. Think of it till to-morrow, there's a dear girl, 

 and try and devise some plan." 



u I will," said Zara, "I will;" but as soon as her aunt 

 had disappeared, she clasped her hands together, exclaiming: 

 " Good heaven! what plan can I form? Edith is lost! They 

 have her now completely in their power. Oh! that I had 

 known this before Sir Edward Digby went to sleep. He might 

 have gone over to Layton to-morrow, early; and they might 

 have devised something together. Perhaps he has not gone 

 to rest yet. He told me to throw off all restraint, to have no 

 ceremony in case of need. Layton told me so, too; that I 

 might trust in him, that he is a man of honour. Oh! yes, I 

 am sure he is a man of honour: but what will he think? He 

 promised he would think no harm of anything I might be 

 called upon to do, and I promised I would trust him. I will 

 go 1 He can speak to me in the passage. No one sleeps near 

 to overhear. But I will knock softly; for though he said he 

 had letters to write, he may have gone to bed by this time." 



Leaving the lights standing where they were, Zara cast on 

 a long dressing-gown, and crept quietly out into the passage, 

 taking care not to pull the door quite to. All was silent in 

 the house ; not a sound was heard ; and with her heart beating 

 as if it would have burst through her side, she approached Sir 

 Edward Digby's door, but there she paused. Had she not 

 paused, but gone on at once, and knocked, all would have been 

 well; for, so far from being in bed, he was sitting calmly 

 reading. But ladies' resolutions, and men's, are made of very 

 much the same materials. The instant her foot stopped, her 

 whole host of woman's feelings crowded upon her, and barred 

 the way. First, she thought of modesty, and propriety, and 

 decency ; and then, though she might have overcome the whole 

 of that squadron for Edith's sake, the remembrance of many 

 words that Digby had spoken, the look, the tone, the manner, 

 all rose again upon her memory. She felt that he was a lover; 

 and putting her hand to her brow, she murmured: "I cannot; 

 no, I cannot. Had he been only a friend, I would. I will see 

 him early to-morrow. I will sit up all night, that I may not 

 sleep, and miss the opportunity; but I cannot go to-night;" 



