THE SMUGGLER. 445 



Mr. Cropland ; but then, drawing her kindly to him, he added, 

 " Come, my clear, we will make a truce upon the following 

 conditions: I won't tease you any more; and you shall do 

 everything I tell you. In the first place, then, wipe your 

 eyes, and dry up your tears; for if Digby sees how red your 

 cheeks can look when you've been crying, he may find out 

 that you are not quite such a Venus as he fancies just now. 

 There; go along!" and he pushed her gently away from him. 



While this gayer conversation had been going on within, 

 Mr. Osborn had passed through the glass doors, and was walk- 

 ing slowly up and down with Sir Robert Croyland. The 

 subject they spoke upon must have been grave, for there was 

 gloom upon both their faces when they returned. 



" I know it," said Sir Robert Croyland to his companion, 

 as they entered the room; "I am quite well aware of it; it is 

 that which makes me urge speed." 



" If such be your view," replied Mr. Osborn, " you are 

 right, Sir Robert; and heaven will bless those acts which are 

 done under such impressions." 



The party in the drawing-room heard no more; and, not- 

 withstanding the kindly efforts of Mrs. Barbara, and a thou- 

 sand little impediments, which, " with the very best motives 

 in the world," she created or discovered, all the arrangements 

 for the double marriage were made with great promptitude and 

 success. At the end of somewhat less than a fortnight, with- 

 out any noise or parade, the two sisters stood together at the 

 altar, and pledged their troth to those they truly loved. Sir 

 Robert Croyland seemed well and happy; for during the 

 last few days previous to the wedding, both his health and 

 spirits had apparently improved. But ere a month was over, 

 both his daughters received a summons to return, as speedily 

 as possible, to Harbourne House. They found him on the 

 bed of death, with his brother and Mr. Osborn sitting beside 

 him. But their father greeted them with a well-contented 

 smile, and reproved their tears in a very different tone from 

 that which he had been generally accustomed to use. 



" My dear children," he said, in a feeble voice, " I have 

 often longed for this hour; and though life has become hap- 

 pier now, I have for many weeks seen death approaching, and 

 have seen it without regret. I did not think it would have 

 been so slow, and that was the cause of my hurrying your 



