THE SMUGGLER. 361 



and, returning as quietly to her own chamber as she had come 

 thence, she shut the door and locked it. She had never 

 locked it in her life before, and she knew not why she did it. 



Then, drawing the arm-chair to the hearth, Zara Croyland 

 trimmed the fire, wrapped herself up as warmly as she could, 

 and putting out one of the candles, that she might not be left 

 in darkness by both being burnt out together, she took up a 

 book and began to read. From time to time, during that long 

 night, her eyes grew heavy, and she fell asleep; but something 

 always woke her. Either her own thoughts troubled her in 

 dreams, or else the book fell out of her hand, or the wind 

 shook the window, or the cold chill that precedes the coming 

 morning disturbed her; and at length she looked at her watch, 

 and, finding it past five o'clock, she congratulated herself at 

 having escaped the power of the drowsy god, and, dressing in 

 haste, undrew the curtains, and looked out by the light of the 

 dawning day. When she saw the edge of the sun coming up, 

 she said to herself, " He is often very early. I will go down." 

 But, bethinking herself that no time was to be lost, she hurried 

 first to her maid's room, and waking her, told her to see Sir 

 Edward .Digby's servant as soon as he rose, and to bid him 

 inform his master that she wanted to speak with him in the 

 library. " Speak not a word of this to any one else, Eliza," 

 she said ; and then, thinking it necessary to assign some rea- 

 son for her conduct, she added, "I am very anxious about my 

 sister; her not coming home yesterday alarms me, and I want 

 to hear more." 



"Oh! dear, you needn't frighten yourself, Miss Zara," re- 

 plied the maid. " I dare say there's nothing the matter." 



" But I cannot help frightening myself," replied Zara; and 

 going down into the library, she unclosed one of the shutters. 



The maid was very willing to gratify her young lady, for 

 Zara was a favourite with all ; but thinking from the look of 

 the sky, that it would be a long time before the servant rose, 

 and having no such scruples as her mistress, she went quietly 

 away to his room, and knocked at his door, saying, " I wish 

 you would get up, Mr. Somers, I want to speak with you." 



Zara remained alone for twenty minutes in the library, or 

 not much more, and then she heard Digby's step in the pas- 

 sage. There was a good deal of alarm and surprise in his 

 look when he entered ; but his fair companion's talc was soon 



