410 THE SMUGGLER. 



" I tell you of the fact," continued Mr. Radford, " because 

 it may be necessary for you to make some little preparation 

 for your journey. I don't know whether you hear or not; but 

 you are to be married to my son, to-night. It is now nine; 

 the clergyman and Richard will be here by eleven ; and the 

 marriage will take place half an hour before twelve. So you 

 have two hours and a half to prepare." 



"You are mistaken altogether, Mr. Radford," replied 

 Edith, in as firm a tone as she could assume. "It is not my 

 intention to marry your son at all. I have often told you 

 so; I now repeat it.'' 



"You do, do you!' 7 exclaimed Mr. Radford, giving her a 

 furious glance across the table; "then I will tell you some- 

 thing, young woman. Your consent was given to your father; 

 and I will have no trifling backwards and forwards. Circum- 

 stances have arisen to-day, curses be upon them all! which ren- 

 der it necessary that the marriage should take place fotir-and- 

 twenty hours before it was first fixed, and it shall take place, 

 by P and he added a terrible oath. 



"You will find it will not take place, Mr. Radford, ''replied 

 Edith, in the same tone as before, "for, in the first place, I 

 never did consent. My father left me fainting, without wait- 

 ing to hear what I had to say, or he would not have so de- 

 ceived himself. 5 ' 



"Then he shall die the death of a felon," cried Mr. Radford, 

 " and you yourself shall be the person to put the rope round 

 his neck." 



" Whatever be the consequences, I shall be firm," replied 

 Edith; " but at the same time, let me tell you, I do not believe 

 you have the power you suppose. You may bring a false ac- 

 cusation, an accusation you know to be false ; but such things 

 are never so well prepared but they are discovered at last ; and 

 so it will be in your case." 



"A false accusation 1" exclaimed Mr. Radford vehemently; 

 " an accusation I know to be false ! I'll soon show you that, 

 girl;" and starting up from his seat, he hurried out of the 

 room. 



Contrary to Edith's expectation, Mr. Radford was absent 

 for a long time; but when he returned he had several papers 

 in his hand, some apparently freshly written, and one which 

 bore the yellow marks of age. His face was stern and reso- 



