380 THE SMUGGLER. 



more," he continued, " on a subject on which you have kindly 

 and frankly set a lover's heart at rest, let me only tell you 

 that your father has fully sanctioned my suit, which I know, 

 after what you have said, will not be painful to you to 

 hear." 



" I was sure he would/' answered Zara; "not that he en- 

 tered into any of my aunt's castles in the air, or that he di- 

 vined my schemes, Digby; but, doubtless, he wishes to see a 

 fortuneless girl well married, and would have been content 

 with a lover for her who might not have suited herself quite 

 so well. You see I deal frankly with you, Digby, still ; and 

 will do so both now and hereafter, if you do not check me." 



" Never, never will I!" answered Sir Edward Digby; "it 

 was so you first commanded my esteem, even before my love ; 

 and so you will always keep it." 



"Before your love?'' said Zara, in an unwontedly serious 

 tone; "your love is very young yet, Digby; and sometimes I 

 can hardly believe all this to be real. Will it last? or will it 

 vanish away like a dream, and leave me waking, alone and 

 sorrowful?'' 



"And yours for me, Zara?" asked her lover; but then he 

 added quickly, "no, I will not put an unfair question: and 

 every question is unfair that is already answered in one's 

 own heart. Yours will, I trust, remain firm for me; so mine, 

 I know, will for you, because we have seen each other under 

 circumstances which have called forth the feelings, and dis- 

 played fully all the inmost thoughts which years of ordinary 

 intercourse might not develope. But now, dear Zara, let us 

 speak of our demeanour to each other. It will, perhaps, give 

 us greater advantage if you treat me, perhaps, as a favoured, 

 but not yet as an accepted lover. I will appear willingly as 

 your humble slave and follower, if you will, now and then, let 

 me know in private that I am something dearer; and by keep- 

 ing up the character with me, which has gained you your 

 uncle's commendation as a fair coquette, you may, perhaps, 

 reconcile Mrs. Barbara to many things, which her notions of 

 propriety might interfere with, if they were done as between 

 the betrothed." 



"I fear I shall manage it but badly, Digby,'' she answered. 

 "It was very easy to play the coquette before, when no 

 deeper feelings were engaged, when I cared for no one, when 



