408 THE SMUCIGLrn, 



CHAPTER XXXVI. 



ABOUT an hour before the event took place, which we have 

 last related, Edith Croyland sat in a small drawing-room at the 

 back of Mr. Radford's house, in which she had been kept cap- 

 tive, for we may well use that term, ever since her removal 

 from Mr. Croyland's. Her first day had been spent in tears 

 and indignation; for immediately after her arrival, on finding 

 that her father was not really there, she became convinced 

 that she had been deceived, and naturally doubted that it was 

 with his consent she had been removed. Nor had Mr. Rad- 

 ford's manner at all tended to do away with this impression. 

 He laughed at her remonstrances and indignation, treated her 

 tears with cold indifference, and told his servants, before 

 her face, that she was on no account to be suffered to. go 

 out, or to see any one but Sir Robert Croyland. In other 

 respects, he treated her well ; did all in his power to provide 

 for her comfort; and, as his whole establishment was arranged 

 upon a scale of luxury and extravagance rarely met with in 

 the old country houses of the gentry of that time, none of 

 the materials of that which is commonly called comfort were 

 wanting. 



But it was the comfort of the heart which Edith required, 

 and did not find. Mr. Radford handed her down to dinner 

 himself, and with as much ceremonious politeness as he could 

 show, seated her at the end of his ostentatious table; but 

 Edith did not eat. She retired at night to the downy bed 

 prepared for her; but Edith did not sleep. Thus passed the 

 first day and the morning of the second; and when, about 

 noon, Sir Robert Croyland arrived, he found her pale and 

 wan with anxiety and watching, and he left her paler still ; 

 for he resisted all her entreaties to take her thence, and her 

 last hope of relief was gone. 



He had spoken kindly, tenderly, indeed; he had even shed 

 tears; but his mind at the time of his visit was still in a state 



