442 THE SMUGGLER. 



necessary, my dear uncle, to put you to the trouble ; and I do 

 not think it would answer its purpose if you took it." 



" But I will have my own way," said Mr. Croyland; "you 

 are my pet; and all the matrimonial arrangements shall be 

 mine. If you don't mind, and say another word, I'll insist 

 upon being bridesmaid too; for I can encroach in my demands, 

 I can tell you, as well as a lady or a prime minister." 



As he spoke, the farther progress of the discussion was in- 

 terrupted by the entrance of Zara, followed by Sir Edward 

 Digby. Her colour was a little heightened, and her manner 

 somewhat agitated ; but she shook hands with her uncle and 

 Layton, neither of whom she had seen before during that 

 morning; arid then passing by her father, in her way towards 

 Edith, she whispered a word to him as she went. 



"What, whatl" exclaimed Sir Robert Croyland, turning 

 suddenly round towards Digby, with a look of alarm, and 

 pressing his left hand upon his side, " she says you have some- 

 thing important to tell me, Sir Edward. Pray speak! I 

 have no secrets from those who are around me." 



"I am sure, what I have to say will shock all present I" 

 replied Sir Edward Digby, gravely; " but the fact is, I heard 

 a report this morning, from my servant, that Mr. Radford had 

 destroyed himself last night in prison ; and I rode over as fast 

 as I could, to ascertain if the rumour was correct. I found 

 that it was but too accurate, and that the unhappy man ter- 

 minated a career of crime by the greatest that he could 

 commit." 



"Well, there's one rascal less in the world; that's some 

 comfort," said Mr. Zachary Croyland; "I would rather, in- 

 deed, he had let some one else hang him, instead of doing it 

 himself; for I don't approve of suicide at all; it's foolish, and 

 wicked, and cowardly. Still, nothing else could be expected 

 from such a man ; but what's the matter with you, Robert ? 

 you seem ill; surely, you can't take this man's death much to 

 heart?" 



Sir Robert Croyland did not reply, but made a faint sign to 

 open the window, which was immediately done; and he re- 

 vived under the influence of the air. 



"I will go out for a few minutes," he said, rising; and 

 Edith instantly starting up, approached to go with him. He 

 would not suffer her, however. " No, my child," he replied 



