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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/39531-8.txt b/39531-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..7a0aec4 --- /dev/null +++ b/39531-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,18785 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Smuggler: (Vol's I-III), by +G. P. R. (George Payne Rainsford James + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Smuggler: (Vol's I-III) + A Tale + +Author: G. P. R. (George Payne Rainsford James + +Release Date: April 24, 2012 [EBook #39531] +Last Updated: December 12, 2017 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE SMUGGLER: (VOL'S I-III) *** + + + + +Produced by Charles Bowen, from page scans provided by +Google Books (Oxford University) + + + + + + + + + + + +Transcriber's Notes: + + 1. Page scan source: + http://books.google.com/books?id=q_QDAAAAQAAJ + (Oxford University) + + 2. The diphthong oe is represented by [oe]. + + + + + + + THE SMUGGLER: + + + + A Tale + + + + BY G. P. R. JAMES, ESQ. + + AUTHOR OF + + "DARNLEY," "DE L'ORME," "RICHELIEU," + + ETC. ETC. + + + + IN THREE VOLUMES. + + + VOL. I. + + + + + LONDON: + SMITH, ELDER AND CO., 65, CORNHILL. + 1845. + + + + + + + DEDICATION. + + * * * + + TO + + THE HON. CHARLES EWAN LAW, M.P. + + RECORDER OF LONDON, + + ETC. ETC. ETC. + + * * * + + +My Dear Sir, + +It would be almost superfluous to assure you of my esteem and regard; +but feelings of personal friendship are rarely assigned as the sole +motives of a dedication. The qualities, however, which command public +respect, and the services which have secured it to you in so high a +degree, must appear a sufficient motive for offering you this slight +tribute, in the eyes not only of those who know and love you in the +relations of private life, but of all the many who have marked your +career, either as a lawyer, alike eminent in learning and in +eloquence, or as a just, impartial, clear-sighted, and yet merciful +judge. + +You will willingly accept the book, I know, for the sake of the +author; though, perhaps, you may have neither time nor inclination to +read it. Accept the dedication, also, I beg, as a sincere testimony of +respect from one who, having seen a good deal of the world, and +studied mankind attentively, is not easily induced to reverence or won +to regard. + +When you look upon this page, it will probably call to your mind some +very pleasant hours, which would doubtless have been as agreeable if I +had not been there. As I write it, it brings up before my eyes many a +various scene, of which you and yours were the embellishment and the +light. At all events, such memories must be pleasant to us both; for +they refer to days almost without a shadow, when the magistrate and +the legislator escaped from care and thought, and the laborious man of +letters cast away his toil. + +In the following pages you will find more than one place depicted, as +familiar to your remembrance as to mine; and if I have taken some +liberties with a few localities, stolen a mile or two off certain +distances, or deprived various hills and dales of their due +proportions, these faults are of a species of petty larceny, on which +I do not think you will pass a severe sentence, and I hope the public +will imitate your lenity. + +I trust that no very striking errors will meet your eye, for I believe +I have given a correct picture of the state of society in this good +county of Kent as it existed some eighty or ninety years ago; and, in +regard to the events, if you or any of my readers should be inclined +to exclaim,--"This incident is not probable!" I have an answer ready, +quite satisfactory to myself, whatever it may be to others; namely, +that "the improbable incident" is true. All the more wild, stirring, +and what may be called romantic parts of the tale, are not alone +_founded_ upon fact, but are facts; and the narrative owes me nothing +more than a gown owes to a sempstress--namely, the mere sewing of it +together with a very common-place needle and thread. In short, a few +characters thrown in for relief, a little love, a good deal of +landscape, and a few tiresome reflections, are all that I have added +to a simple relation of transactions well known to many in this part +of the country as having actually happened, a generation or two ago. +Among these recorded incidents are the attack of Goudhurst Church by +the smugglers, its defence by the peasantry, the pursuit, and defeat +of the free-traders of those days by the Dragoons, the implication of +some persons of great wealth in the most heinous parts of the +transaction, the visit of Mowle, the officer, in disguise, to the +meeting-place of his adversaries, his accidental detection by one of +them, and the bold and daring man[oe]uvre of the smuggler, Harding, as +related near the close of the work. Another incident, but too sadly +true--namely, the horrible deed by which some of the persons taking a +chief part in the contraband trade called down upon themselves the +fierce enmity of the peasantry--I have but lightly touched upon, for +reasons you will understand and appreciate. But it is some +satisfaction to know that there were just judges in those days, as +well as at present, and that the perpetrators of one of the most +brutal crimes on record suffered the punishment they so well merited. + +Happily, my dear sir, a dedication, in these days, is no compliment; +and therefore I can freely offer, and you receive it, as a true and +simple expression of high respect and regard, + + From yours faithfully, + + G. P. R. JAMES. + + + + + + THE SMUGGLER + + + + + CHAPTER I. + + +It is wonderful what improvements have taken place in clocks and +watches during the last half-century; how accurately the escapements +are constructed, how delicately the springs are formed, how easily the +wheels move, and what good time they keep. After all, society is but a +clock, a very complicated piece of mechanism; and it, too, has +undergone, in many countries, the same improvements that have taken +place in the little ticking machines that we put in our pockets, or +those greater indicators of our progress towards eternity that we hang +upon our walls. From the wooden clock, with its weight and catgut, to +the exquisite chronometer which varies only by a second or two in the +course of the year, what a vast advance! and between even a period +which many still living can remember, and that in which I now write, +what a change has taken place in the machinery and organization of the +land in which we dwell! + +In the times which I am about to depict, though feudal ages were gone, +though no proud barons ruled the country round from castle and +stronghold, though the tumultuous times of the great rebellion had +also passed away, and men in buff and bandolier no longer preached, or +fought, or robbed, or tyrannized under the name of law and liberty, +though the times of the second Charles and the second James, William +and Mary, and good Queen Anne, falling collars, and hats and plumes, +and floating wigs and broad-tailed coats, were all gone--bundled away +into the great lumber-room of the Past--still, dear reader, there was +a good deal of the wooden clock about the mechanism of society. + +One of the parts in which rudeness of construction and coarseness of +material were most apparent, was in the Customs system of the country, +and in the impediments which it met with. The escapement was anything +but fine. Nowadays we do things delicately. If we wish to cheat the +government, we forge Exchequer bills, or bribe landing-waiters and +supervisors, or courteously insinuate to a superior officer that a +thousand pounds is not too great a mark of gratitude for enabling us +to pocket twenty thousand at the expense of the Customs. If we wish to +cheat the public, there is chalk for our milk, grains of paradise for +our beer, sago and old rags for our sugar, lime for our linen, and +devils' dust to cover our backs. Chemistry and electricity, steam and +galvanism, all lend their excellent aid to the cheat, the swindler, +and the thief; and if a man is inclined to keep himself within +respectable limits, and deceive himself and others at the same time +with perfect good faith and due decorum, are there not hom[oe]opathy, +hydropathy, and mesmerism? + +In the days I speak of it was not so. There was a grander roughness +and daringness about both our rogues and our theorists. None but a +small villain would consent to be a swindler. We had more robbers than +cheats; and if a man chose to be an impostor, it was with all the +dignity and decision of a Psalmanazor, or a bottle conjuror. Gunpowder +and lead were the only chemical agents employed; a bludgeon was the +animal magnetism most in vogue, and your senses and your person were +attacked and knocked down upon the open road without having the heels +of either delicately tripped up by some one you did not see. + +Still this difference was more apparent in the system of smuggling +than in anything else, and the whole plan, particulars, course of +action, and results were so completely opposed to anything that is, or +can be in the present day--the scenes, the characters, the very +localities have so totally changed, that it may be necessary to pause +a moment before we go on to tell our tale, in order to give some sort +of description of the state of the country bordering on the sea-coast, +at the period to which I allude. + +Scarcely any one of the maritime counties was in those days without +its gang of smugglers; for if France was not opposite, Holland was not +far off; and if brandy was not the object, nor silk, nor wine, yet tea +and cinnamon, and hollands, and various East India goods, were things +duly estimated by the British public, especially when they could be +obtained without the payment of Custom-house dues. But besides the +inducements to smuggling which the high price that those dues imposed +upon certain articles, held out, it must be remembered that various +other commodities were totally prohibited, and, as an inevitable +consequence, were desired and sought for more than any others. The +nature of both man and woman, from the time of Adam and Eve down to +the present day, has always been fond of forbidden fruit; and it +mattered not a pin whether the goods were really better or worse, so +that they were prohibited, men would risk their necks to get them. The +system of prevention also was very inefficient, and a few scattered +Custom-House officers, aided by a cruiser here or there upon the +coast, had an excellent opportunity of getting their throats cut or +their heads broken, or of making a decent livelihood by conniving at +the transactions they were sent down to stop, as the peculiar +temperament of each individual might render such operations pleasant +to him. Thus, to use one of the smugglers' own expressions--a +_roaring_ trade in contraband goods was going on along the whole +British coast, with very little let or hindrance. + +As there are land-sharks and water-sharks, so were there then (and so +are there now) land-smugglers and water-smugglers. The latter brought +the objects of their commerce, either from foreign countries or from +foreign vessels, and landed them on the coast--and a bold, daring, +reckless body of men they were; the former, in gangs, consisting +frequently of many hundreds, generally well mounted and armed, +conveyed the commodities so landed into the interior, and distributed +them to others, who retailed them as occasion required. Nor were these +gentry one whit less fearless, enterprising, and lawless than their +brethren of the sea. + +We have not yet done, however, with all the ramifications of this vast +and magnificent league, for it extended itself, in the districts where +it existed, to almost every class of society. Each tradesman smuggled +or dealt in smuggled goods; each public house was supported by +smugglers, and gave them in return every facility possible; each +country gentleman on the coast dabbled a little in the interesting +traffic; almost every magistrate shared in the proceeds or partook of +the commodities. Scarcely a house but had its place of concealment, +which would accommodate either kegs or bales, or human beings, as the +case might be; and many streets in sea-port towns had private passages +from one house to another, so that the gentleman inquired for by the +officers at No. 1 was often walking quietly out of No. 20, while they +were searching for him in vain. The back of one street had always +excellent means of communication with the front of another; and the +gardens gave exit to the country with as little delay as possible. + +Of all counties, however, the most favoured by nature and by art for +the very pleasant and exciting sport of smuggling, was the county of +Kent; its geographical position, its local features, its variety of +coast, all afforded it the greatest advantages; and the daring +character of the natives on the shores of the Channel was sure to turn +those advantages to the purposes in question. Sussex, indeed, was not +without its share of facilities, nor did the Sussex men fail to +improve them; but they were so much farther off from the opposite +coast, that the commerce--which we may well call the regular +trade--was, at Hastings, Rye, and Winchelsea, in no degree to be +compared to that which was carried on from the North Foreland to +Romney Hoy. + +At one time, the fine level of "The Marsh," a dark night and a fair +wind, afforded a delightful opportunity for landing a cargo and +carrying it rapidly into the interior; at another time, Sandwich Flats +and Pevensey Bay presented a harbour of refuge, and a place of repose +to kegs innumerable and bales of great value; at another period, the +cliffs round Folkestone and near the South Foreland, saw spirits +travelling up by paths which seemed inaccessible to mortal foot; and +at another, the wild and broken ground at the back of Sandgate was +traversed by long trains of horses, escorting or carrying every +description of contraband articles. + +The interior of the country was not less favourable to the traffic +than the coast: large masses of wood, numerous gentlemen's parks, +hills and dales tossed about in wild confusion; roads such as nothing +but horses could travel, or men on foot, often constructed with felled +trees or broad stones laid side by side; wide tracts of ground, partly +copse and partly moor, called in that county "minnisses;" and a long +extent of the Weald of Kent, through which no high way existed, and +where such thing as coach or carriage was never seen, offered the land +smugglers opportunities of carrying on their transactions with the +degree of secrecy and safety which no other county afforded. Their +numbers, too, were so great, their boldness and violence so notorious, +their powers of injuring or annoying so various, that even those who +took no part in their operations were glad to connive at their +proceedings, and at times to aid in concealing their persons or their +goods. Not a park, not a wood, not a barn, did not at some period +afford them a refuge when pursued, or become a depository for their +commodities; and many a man, on visiting his stable or his cart-shed +early in the morning, found it tenanted by anything but horses or +wagons. The churchyards were frequently crowded at night by other +spirits than those of the dead, and not even the church was exempted +from such visitations. + +None of the people of the county took notice of, or opposed these +proceedings; the peasantry laughed at, or aided, and very often got a +good day's work, or, at all events, a jug of genuine hollands from the +friendly smugglers; the clerk and the sexton willingly aided and +abetted, and opened the door of vault, or vestry, or church, for the +reception of the passing goods; the clergyman shut his eyes if he saw +tubs or stone jars in his way; and it is remarkable what good brandy +punch was generally to be found at the house of the village pastor. +The magistrates of the county, when called upon to aid in pursuit of +the smugglers, looked grave, and swore in constables very slowly; +despatched servants on horseback to see what was going on, and ordered +the steward or the butler to "_send the sheep to the wood_," an +intimation that was not lost upon those for whom it was intended. The +magistrates and officers of seaport towns were in general so deeply +implicated in the trade themselves, that smuggling had a fairer chance +than the law, in any case that came before them, and never was a more +hopeless enterprise undertaken, in ordinary circumstances, than that +of convicting a smuggler, unless captured in flagrant delict. + +Were it only our object to depict the habits and manners of these +worthy people, we might take any given part of the seaward side of +Kent that we chose for particular description, for it was all the +same. No railroads had penetrated through the country then; no coast +blockade was established; even martello-towers were unknown; and in +the general confederacy or understanding which existed throughout the +whole of the county, the officers found it nearly a useless task to +attempt to execute their duty. Nevertheless, as it is a tale I have to +tell, not a picture to paint, I may as well dwell for a few minutes +upon the scene of the principal adventures about to be related. A long +range of hills, varying greatly in height and steepness, runs nearly +down the centre of the county of Kent, throwing out spurs or +buttresses in different directions, and sometimes leaving broad and +beautiful valleys between. The origin or base, if we may so call it, +of this range is the great Surrey chain of hills; not that it is +perfectly connected with that chain, for in many places a separation +is found, through which the Medway, the Stour, and several smaller +rivers wind onward to the Thames or to the sea; but still the general +connexion is sufficiently marked, and from Dover and Folkestone, by +Chart, Lenham, Maidstone, and Westerham on the one side, and Barham, +Harbledown, and Rochester on the other, the road runs generally over a +long line of elevated ground, only dipping down here and there to +visit some town or city of importance which has nested itself in one +of the lateral valleys, or strayed out into the plain. + +On the northern side of the county, a considerable extent of flat +ground extends along the bank and estuary of the Thames from Greenwich +to Sandwich and Deal. On the southern side, a still wider extent lies +between the high-land and the borders of Sussex. This plain or valley +as perhaps it may be called, terminates at the sea by the renowned +flat of Romney Marsh. Farther up, somewhat narrowing as it goes, it +takes the name of the Weald of Kent, comprising some very rich land +and a number of small villages, with one or two towns of no very great +importance. This Weald of Kent is bordered all along by the southern +side of the hilly range we have mentioned; but strange to say, +although a very level piece of ground was to be had through this +district, the high road perversely pursued its way up and down the +hills, by Lenham and Charing, till it thought fit to descend to +Ashford, and thence once more make its way to Folkestone. Thus a great +part of the Weald of Kent was totally untravelled; and at one village +of considerable size, which now hears almost hourly the panting and +screaming steam-engine whirled by, along its iron course, I have +myself seen the whole population of the place turn out to behold the +wonderful phenomenon of a coach-and-four, the first that was ever +beheld in the place. Close to the sea the hills are bare enough; but +at no great distance inland, they become rich in wood, and the Weald, +whether arable or pasture, or hop-garden or orchard, is so divided +into small fields by numerous hedgerows of fine trees, and so +diversified by patches of woodland, that, seen at a little distance up +the hill--not high enough to view it like a map--it assumes, in the +leafy season, almost the look of a forest partially cleared. + +Along the southern edge, then, of the hills we have mentioned, and in +the plainer valley that stretches away from their feet, among the +woods, and hedgerows, and villages, and parks which embellish that +district, keeping generally in Kent, but sometimes trespassing a +little upon the fair county of Sussex, lies the scene of the tale +which is to follow, at a period when the high calling, or vocation, of +smuggling was in its most palmy days. But, ere I proceed to conduct +the reader into the actual locality where the principal events here +recorded really took place, I must pause for an instant in the +capital, to introduce him to one or two travelling companions. + + + + + CHAPTER II. + + +It was in the gray of the morning--and very gray, indeed, the morning +was, with much more black than white in the air, much more of night +still remaining in the sky than of day appearing in the east--when, +from the old Golden Cross, Charing Cross, or rather from the low and +narrow archway which, at that time, gave exit from its yard into the +open street exactly opposite the statue of King Charles, issued forth +a vehicle which had not long lost the name of diligence, and assumed +that of stage-coach. Do not let the reader delude himself into the +belief that it was like the stage-coach of his own recollections in +any other respect than in having four wheels, and two doors, and +windows. Let not fancy conjure up before him flat sides of a bright +claret colour, and a neat boot as smooth and shining as a looking +glass, four bays, or browns, or greys, three-parts blood, and a +coachman the pink of all propriety. Nothing of the kind was there. The +vehicle was large and roomy, capable of containing within, at least, +six travellers of large size. It was hung in a somewhat straggling +manner upon its almost upright springs, and was elevated far above any +necessary pitch. The top was decorated with round iron rails on either +side; and multitudinous were the packages collected upon the space so +enclosed; while a large cage-like instrument behind contained one or +two travellers, and a quantity of parcels. The colour of the sides was +yellow, but the numerous inscriptions which they bore in white +characters left little of the groundwork to be seen; for the name of +every place at which the coach stopped was there written for the +convenience of travellers who might desire to visit any town upon the +road; so that each side seemed more like a leaf out of a topographical +dictionary of the county of Kent than anything else. Underneath +the carriage was a large wicker basket, or cradle, also filled with +trunk-mails, and various other contrivances for holding the goods and +chattels of passengers; and the appearance of the whole was as +lumbering and heavy as that of a hippopotamus. The coachman mounted on +the box was a very different looking animal even from our friend Mr. +Weller, though the inimitable portrait of that gentleman is now, alas, +but a record of an extinct creature! However, as we have little to do +with the driver of the coach, I shall not pause to give a long account +of his dress or appearance; and, only noticing that the horses before +him formed as rough and shambling a team of nags as ever were seen, +shall proceed to speak of the travellers who occupied the interior of +the vehicle. + +Although, as we have seen, the coach would have conveniently contained +six, it was now only tenanted by three persons. The first, who had +entered at the Golden Cross, Charing Cross, was a tall, thin, elderly +gentleman, dressed with scrupulous care and neatness. His linen and +his neckcloth were as white as snow, his shoes, his silk stockings, +his coat, his waistcoat, and his breeches as black as jet; his hat was +in the form of a Banbury cake; the buckles in his shoes and at his +knees were large and resplendent; and a gold-headed cane was in his +hand. To keep him from the cold, he had provided himself with a +garment which would either serve for a cloak or a coat, as he might +find agreeable, being extensive enough for the former, and having +sleeves to enable it to answer the purpose of the latter. His hair and +eyebrows were as white as driven snow, but his eyes were still keen, +quick, and lively. His colour was high, his teeth were remarkably +fine, and the expression of his countenance was both intelligent and +benevolent, though there was a certain degree of quickness in the turn +of the eyes, which, together with a sudden contraction of the brow +when anything annoyed him, and a mobility of the lips, seemed to +betoken a rather hasty and irascible spirit. + +He had not been in the coach more than a minute and a half--but was +beginning to look at a huge watch which he drew from his fob, and to +"pish" at the coachman for being a minute behind his time--when he was +joined by two other travellers of a very different appearance and age +from himself. The one who entered first was a well-made, powerful man, +who might be either six-and-twenty or two-and-thirty. He could not +well be younger than the first of those two terms, for he had all the +breadth and vigorous proportions of fully-developed manhood. He could +not be well older than the latter, for not a trace of passing years, +no wrinkle, no furrow, no grayness of hair, no loss of any youthful +grace was apparent. Although covered by a large rough coat, then +commonly called a wrap-rascal, of the coarsest materials and the +rudest form, there was something in his demeanour and his look which +at once denoted the gentleman. His hat, too, his gloves, and his +boots, which were the only other parts of his dress that the loose +coat we have mentioned suffered to be seen, were all not only good, +but of the best quality. Though his complexion was dark, and his skin +bronzed almost to a mahogany colour by exposure to sun and wind, the +features were all fine and regular, and the expression high toned, but +somewhat grave, and even sad. He seated himself quietly in the corner +of the coach, with his back to the horses; and folding his arms upon +his broad chest, gazed out of the window with an abstracted look, +though his eyes were turned towards a man with a lantern who was +handing something up to the coachman. Thus the old gentleman on the +opposite side had a full view of his countenance, and seemed, by the +gaze which he fixed upon it, to study it attentively. + +The second of the two gentlemen I have mentioned entered immediately +after the first, and was about the same age, but broader in make, and +not quite so tall. He was dressed in the height of the mode of that +day; and, though not in uniform, bore about him several traces of +military costume, which were, indeed, occasionally affected by the +dapper shopmen of that period, when they rode up Rotten Row or walked +the Mall, but which harmonized so well with his whole appearance and +demeanour, as to leave no doubt of their being justly assumed. His +features were not particularly good, but far from ugly, his complexion +fair, his hair strong and curly; and he would have passed rather for a +handsome man than otherwise, had not a deep scar, as if from a +sabre-wound, traversed his right cheek and part of his upper lip. His +aspect was gay, lively, and good-humoured, and yet there were some +strong lines of thought about his brow, with a slightly sarcastic turn +of the muscles round the corner of his mouth and nostrils. On +entering, he seated himself opposite the second traveller, but without +speaking to him, so that the old gentleman who first tenanted the +coach could not tell whether they came together or not; and the moment +after they had entered, the door was closed, the clerk of the inn +looked at the way-bill, the coachman bestowed two or three strokes of +his heavy whip on the flanks of his dull cattle, and the lumbering +machine moved heavily out, and rolled away towards Westminster Bridge. + +The lights which were under the archway had enabled the travellers to +see each other's faces, but when once they had got into the street, +the thickness of the air, and the grayness of the dawn, rendered +everything indistinct, except the few scattered globe lamps which +still remained blinking at the sides of the pavement. The old +gentleman sunk back in his corner, wrapped his cloak about him for a +nap, and was soon in the land of forgetfulness. His slumbers did not +continue very long, however; and when he woke up at the Loompit Hill, +he found the sky all rosy with the beams of the rising sun, the +country air light and cheerful, and his two companions talking +together in familiar tones. After rousing himself, and putting down +the window, he passed about five minutes either in contemplating the +hedges by the roadside, all glittering in the morning dew, or in +considering the faces of his two fellow-travellers, and making up his +mind as to their characters and qualities. At the end of that time, as +they had now ceased speaking, he said-- + +"A beautiful day, gentlemen. I was sure it would be so when we set +out." + +The darker and the graver traveller made no reply, but the other +smiled good-humouredly, and inquired-- + +"May I ask by what you judged, for to me the morning seemed to promise +anything but fine weather?" + +"Two things--two things, my dear sir," answered the gentleman in +black. "An old proverb and a bad almanack." + +"Indeed!" exclaimed the other. "I should have thought it a very good +almanack if it told me to a certainty what sort of weather it would +be." + +"Ay, but how did it tell me?" rejoined the elderly traveller, leaning +his hand upon the gold head of his cane. "It declared we should have +torrents of rain. Now, sir, the world is composed of a great mass of +fools with a small portion of sensible men, who, like a little +quantity of yeast in a large quantity of dough, make the dumpling not +quite so bad as it might be. Of all the fools that I ever met with, +however, the worst are scientific fools, for they apply themselves to +tell all the other fools in the world that of which they themselves +know nothing, or at all events very little, which is worse. I have +examined carefully, in the course of a long life, how to deal with +these gentry, and I find that if you believe the exact reverse of any +information they give you, you will be right nine hundred and +ninety-seven times out of a thousand. I made a regular calculation of +it some years ago; and although at first sight it would seem that the +chances are equal, that these men should be right or wrong, I found +the result as I have stated, and have acted upon it ever since in +perfect security. If they trusted to mere guess work, the chances +might, perhaps, be equal, but they make such laborious endeavours to +lead themselves wrong, and so studiously avoid everything that could +lead them right, that the proportion is vastly against them." + +"If such be their course of proceeding, the result will be naturally +as you say," answered the gentleman to whom he spoke; "but I should +think that as the variations of the weather must proceed from natural +causes constantly recurring, observation and calculation might arrive +at some certainty regarding them." + +"Hold the sea in the hollow of your hand," cried the old gentleman, +impatiently; "make the finite contain the infinite; put twenty +thousand gallons into a pint pot,--and when you have done all that, +then calculate the causes that produce rain to-day and wind to-morrow, +or sunshine one day and clouds the next. Men say the same cause +acting under the same circumstances will always produce the same +effect--good; I grant that, merely for the sake of argument. But I +contend that the same effect may be produced by a thousand causes or +more. A man knocks you down; you fall: that's the effect produced by +one cause; but a fit of apoplexy may make you fall exactly in the same +way. Then apply the cause at the other end if you like, and trip your +foot over a stone, or over some bunches of long grass that mischievous +boys have tied across the path--down you come, just as if a +quarrelsome companion had tapped you on the head. No, no, sir; the +only way of ascertaining what the weather will be from one hour to +another is by a barometer. That's not very sure, and the best I know +of is a cow's tail, or a piece of dried seaweed. But these men of +science, they do nothing but go out mare's-nesting from morning till +night, and a precious number of horses' eggs they have found!" + +Thus commenced a conversation which lasted for some time, and in which +the younger traveller seemed to find some amusement, plainly +perceiving, what the reader has already discovered, that his elderly +companion was an oddity. The other tenant of the coach made no +observation, but remained with his arms folded on his chest, sometimes +looking out of the window, sometimes gazing down at his own knee in +deep thought. About ten miles from town the coach passed some led +horses, with the grooms that were conducting them; and, as is natural +for young men, both the old gentleman's fellow-travellers put their +heads to the window, and examined the animals with a scrutinizing eye. + +"Fine creatures, fine creatures--horses!" said the gentleman in black. + +"Those are very fine ones," answered the graver of the two young men; +"I think I never saw better points about any beast than that black +charger." + +"Ay, sir; you are a judge of horse-flesh, I suppose," rejoined the old +gentleman; "but I was speaking of horses in the abstract. They are +noble creatures indeed; and as matters have fallen out in this world, +I can't help thinking that there is a very bad arrangement, and that +those at the top of the tree should be a good way down. If all +creatures had their rights, man would not be the cock of the walk, as +he is now--a feeble, vain, self-sufficient, sensual monkey, who has no +farther advantages over other apes than being able to speak and cook +his dinner." + +"May I ask," inquired the livelier of the two young men, "what is the +gentlemanly beast you would put over his head?" + +"A great many--a great many," replied the other. "Dogs, +horses--elephants, certainly; I think elephants at the top. I am not +sure how I would class lions and tigers, who decidedly have one +advantage over man, that of being stronger and nobler beasts of prey. +He is only at the head of the tribe Simia, and should be described by +naturalists as the largest, cunningest, and most gluttinous of +baboons." + +The gay traveller laughed aloud; and even his grave companion smiled, +saying, drily, "On my life, I believe there's some truth in it." + +"Truth, sir!" exclaimed the old gentleman. "It's as true as we are +living. How dare man compare himself to a dog? an animal with greater +sagacity, stronger affections, infinitely more honour and honesty, a +longer memory, and a truer heart. I would not be a man if I could be a +dog, I can assure you." + +"Many a man leads the life of a dog," said the gay traveller. "I'm +sure I have, for the last five or six years." + +"If you have led as honest a life, sir," rejoined the old man, "you +may be very proud of it." + +What the other would have answered cannot be told, for at that moment +the coach stopped to change horses, which was an operation in those +days, occupying about a quarter of an hour, and the whole party got +out and went into the little inn to obtain some breakfast; for between +London and Folkestone, which was to be the ultimate resting-place of +the vehicle, two hours and a half, upon the whole, were consumed with +breakfast, dinner, tea, and supper. Thus any party of travellers +proceeding together throughout the entire journey, had a much better +opportunity of becoming thoroughly acquainted with each other than +many a man has before marriage with the wife he takes to his bosom. + +Though the conversation of the old gentleman was, as the reader has +perceived, somewhat morose and misanthropical, he showed himself very +polite and courteous at the breakfast table, made the tea, carved the +ham, and asked every man if he took cream and sugar. What wonderful +things little attentions are--how they smooth down our asperities and +soften us to one another! The two younger gentlemen had looked upon +their elderly companion merely as that curious compound which we have +before mentioned--an oddity, and which, like a pinch of strong snuff, +stimulates us without being very pleasant; but now they began to think +him a very nice old gentleman, and even the graver of the pair +conversed with him almost cheerfully for the short space of time their +meal occupied. When they had finished, and paid the score, the whole +party walked out together to the front of the house, where they found +a poor beggar woman with a child in her arms. Each gave her something, +but the elderly man stopped to inquire farther, and the others walked +up and down for a few minutes, till the coachman, who was making +himself comfortable by the absorption of his breakfast, and the horses +who were undergoing the opposite process in the application of their +harness, at length made their appearance. The two younger gentlemen +turned their eyes from time to time, as they walked, to their elderly +friend, who seemed to be scolding the poor woman most vehemently. His +keen black eyes sparkled, his brow contracted, he spoke with great +volubility, and demonstrated somewhat largely with the forefinger of +his right hand. What were their internal comments upon this conduct +did not appear; but both were a good deal surprised to see him, in the +end, put his hand into his breeches pocket, draw forth a piece of +money--it was not silver for it was yellow, and it was not copper for +it was too bright--and slip it quietly into the poor woman's palm. He +next gave a quiet, almost a timid glance around, to see if any one +were looking, and then stepped rapidly into the coach, as if he were +ashamed of what he had done. During all this proceeding he had taken +no notice of his two companions, nor at all listened to what they were +talking of; but as they entered the vehicle, while the horses were +being put to, the one said to the other, "I think you had better do +so, a great deal. It is as well to have the _carte du pays_ before one +commences operations." + +"Well," replied the other, "you take the lead, Edward. The wound is +still painful, though it is an old one." + +What they were talking of their companion could not tell; but it +excited, in some degree, his curiosity; and the manners of his two +companions had, to say the truth, pleased him, though he was one of +those men who, with very benevolent feelings at the bottom, are but +little inclined to acknowledge that they are well pleased with +anything or with anybody. For a moment or two all parties were silent; +but the elderly gentleman was the first to begin, saying, in a more +placable and complimentary tone than he was in general accustomed to +use, "I hope I am to have the pleasure of your society, gentlemen, to +the end of my journey?" + +"I rather think we shall be your companions as far as you go," replied +the gayer of the two young men, "for we are wending down to the far, +wild parts of Kent; and it is probable you will not go beyond +Folkestone, unless, indeed, you are about to cross the seas." + +"Not I," exclaimed the old gentleman--"I have crossed the seas enough +in my day, and never intend to set my foot out of my own country +again, till four stout fellows carry me to the churchyard. No, no; +you'll journey beyond me a long way, for I am only going to a little +place called Harbourne, some distance on the Sussex side of +Folkestone: a place quite out of the world, with no bigger a town near +it than Cranbrook, and where we see the face of a human creature above +the rank of a farmer, or a smuggler about once in the year--always +excepting the parson of the parish." + +"Then you turn off from Maidstone?" said the graver traveller, looking +steadfastly in his face. + +"No, I don't," replied the other. "Never, my dear sir, come to +conclusions where you don't know the premises. I go, on the contrary, +to Ashford, where I intend to sleep. I am there to be joined by a +worthy brother of mine, and then we return together to Cranbrook. You +are quite right, indeed, that my best and straightest road would be, +as you say, from Maidstone; but we can't always take the straightest +road in this world, though young men think they can, and old men only +learn too late that they cannot." + +"I have good reason to know the fact," said the gayer of his two +fellow travellers; "I myself am going to the very same part of the +country you mention, but have to proceed still farther out of my way; +for I must visit Hythe and Folkestone first." + +"Indeed, indeed!" exclaimed their elderly friend. "Do you know any +body in that part of Kent?--Have you ever been there before?" + +"Never," replied the other; "nor have I ever seen the persons I am +going to see. What sort of a country is it?" + +"Bless the young man's life!" exclaimed the gentleman in black, "does +he expect me to give him a long picturesque description of St. +Augustine's Lathe? If you wish to know my opinion of it, it is as wild +and desolate a part of the world as the backwoods of America, and the +people little better than American savages. You'll find plenty of +trees, a few villages, some farm-houses, one or two gentlemen's +seats--they had better have called them stools--a stream or two, a +number of hills and things of that kind; and your humble servant, who +would be very happy to see you, if you are not a smuggler, and are +coming to that part of the country." + +"I shall not fail to pay my respects to you," replied the gentleman to +whom he spoke; "but I must first know who I am to inquire for." + +"Pay your respect where it is due, my dear sir," rejoined the other. +"You can't tell a whit whether I deserve any respect or not. You'll +find out all that by and by. As to what I am called, I could give you +half a dozen names. Some people call me the Bear, some people the +Nabob, some the Misanthrope; but my real name--that which I am known +by at the post-office--is Mr. Zachary Croyland, brother of the man who +has Harbourne House: a younger brother too, by God's blessing--and a +great blessing it is." + +"It is lucky when every man is pleased with his situation," answered +his young acquaintance. "Most elder brothers thank God for making them +such, and I have often had cause to do the same." + +"It's the greatest misfortune that can happen to a man," exclaimed the +old gentleman, eagerly. "What are elder brothers, but people who are +placed by fate in the most desperate and difficult circumstances. +Spoilt and indulged in their infancy, taught to be vain and idle and +conceited from the cradle, deprived of every inducement to the +exertion of mind, corrupted by having always their own way, sheltered +from all the friendly buffets of the world, and left, like a pond in a +gravel pit, to stagnate or evaporate without stirring. Nine times out +of ten from mere inanition they fall into every sort of vice; forget +that they have duties as well as privileges, think that the slice of +the world that has been given to them is entirely at their own +pleasure and disposal, spend their fortunes, encumber their estates, +bully their wives and their servants, indulge their eldest son till he +is just such a piece of unkneaded dough as themselves, kick out their +younger sons into the world without a farthing, and break their +daughters' hearts by forcing them to marry men they hate. That's what +elder brothers are made for; and to be one, I say again, is the +greatest curse that can fall upon a man. But come, now I have told you +my name, tell me yours. That's but a fair exchange you know, and no +robbery, and I hate going on calling people 'sir' for ever." + +"Quite a just demand," replied the gentleman whom he addressed, "and +you shall immediately have the whole particulars. My name is Digby, a +poor major in his Majesty's ---- regiment of Dragoons, to whom the two +serious misfortunes have happened of being born an eldest son, and +having a baronetcy thrust upon him." + +"Couldn't be worse--couldn't be worse!" replied the old gentleman, +laughing. "And so you are Sir Edward Digby! Oh yes. I can tell you, +you are expected, and have been so these three weeks. The whole +matter's laid out for you in every house in the country. You are to +marry every unmarried woman in the hundred. The young men expect you +to do nothing but hunt foxes, course hares, and shoot partridges from +morning till night; and the old men have made up their minds that you +shall drink port, claret, or madeira, as the case may be, from night +till morning. I pity you--upon my life, I pity you. What between love +and wine and field sports, you'll have a miserable time of it! Take +care how you speak a single word to any single woman! Don't even smile +upon Aunt Barbara, or she'll make you a low curtsey, and say 'You must +ask my brother about the settlement, my dear Edward.' Ha, ha, ha!" and +he laughed a long, merry, hearty peal, that made the rumbling vehicle +echo again. Then putting the gold-headed cane to his lips, he turned a +sly glance upon the other traveller, who was only moved to a very +faint smile by all the old gentleman's merriment, asking, "Does this +gentleman come with you?--Are you to be made a martyr of too, sir? Are +you to be set running after foxes all day, like a tiger on horseback, +and to have sheep's eyes cast at you all the evening, like a man in +the pillory pelted with eggs? Are you bound to imbibe a butt of claret +in three weeks? Poor young men--poor young men! My bowels of +compassion yearn towards you." + +"I shall fortunately escape all such perils," replied he whom he had +last addressed--"I have no invitation to that part of the country." + +"Come, then, I'll give you one," said the old gentleman; "if you like +to come and stay a few days with an old bachelor, who will neither +make you drunk nor make you foolish, I shall be glad to see you." + +"I am not very likely to get drunk," answered the other, "as an old +wound compels me to be a water drinker. Foolish enough I may be, and +may have been; but, I am sure, that evil would not be increased by +frequenting your society, my dear sir." + +"I don't know--I don't know, young gentleman," said Mr. Croyland: +"every man has his follies, and I amongst the rest as goodly a +bag-full as one could well desire. But you have not given me an +answer; shall I see you? Will you come with your friend, and take up +your abode at a single man's house, while Sir Edward goes and charms +the ladies." + +"I cannot come with him, I am afraid," replied the young gentleman, +"for I must remain with the regiment some time; but I will willingly +accept your invitation, and join him in a week or two." + +"Oh you're in the same regiment, are you?" asked Mr. Croyland; "it's +not a whole regiment of elder sons, I hope?" + +"Oh no," answered the other, "I have the still greater misfortune of +being an only son; and the greater one still, of being an orphan." + +"And may I know your style and denomination?" said Mr. Croyland. + +"Oh, Osborn, Osborn!" cried Sir Edward Digby, before his friend could +speak, "Captain Osborn of the ---- Dragoons." + +"I will put that down in my note-book," rejoined the old gentleman. +"The best friend I ever had was named Osborn. He couldn't be your +father, though, for he had no children, poor fellow! and was never +married, which was the only blessing Heaven ever granted him, except a +good heart and a well-regulated mind. His sister married my old +schoolfellow, Leyton--but that's a bad story, and a sad story, though +now it's an old story, too." + +"Indeed!" said Sir Edward Digby; "I'm fond of old stories if they are +good ones." + +"But, I told you this was a bad one, Sir Ned," rejoined the old +gentleman sharply; "and as my brother behaved very ill to poor Leyton, +the less we say of it the better. The truth is," he continued, for he +was one of those who always refuse to tell a story, and tell it after +all, "Leyton was rector of a living which was in my brother's gift. He +was only to hold it, however, till my youngest nephew was of age to +take it; but when the boy died--as they both did sooner or +later--Leyton held the living on, and thought it was his own, till one +day there came a quarrel between him and my brother, and then Robert +brought forward his letter promising to resign when called upon, and +drove him out. I wasn't here then; but I have heard all about it +since, and a bad affair it was. It should not have happened if I had +been here, for Bob has a shrewd eye to the nabob's money, as well he +may, seeing that he's----but that's no business of mine. If he chooses +to dribble through his fortune, Heaven knows how, I've nothing to do +with it! The two poor girls will suffer." + +"What, your brother has two fair daughters then, has he?" demanded Sir +Edward Digby. "I suppose it is under the artillery of their glances I +am first to pass; for, doubtless, you know I am going to your +brother's." + +"Oh, yes, I know--I know all about it!" replied Mr. Croyland. "They +tell me everything as in duty bound--that's to say, everything they +don't wish to conceal. But I'm consulted like an oracle upon all +things unimportant; for he that was kicked out with a sixpence into +the wide world, has grown a wonderful great man since the sixpence has +multiplied itself. As to your having to pass under the artillery of +the girls' glances, however, you must take care of yourself; for you +might stand a less dangerous fire, I can tell you, even in a field of +battle. But I'll give you one warning for your safeguard. You may make +love to little Zara as long as you like--think of the fools calling +her Zara! Though she'll play a pretty game of picquet with you, you +may chance to win it; but you must not dangle after Edith, or you will +burn your fingers. She'll not have you, if you were twenty baronets, +and twenty majors of Dragoons into the bargain. She has got some of +the fancies of the old uncle about her, and is determined to die an +old maid, I can see." + +"Oh, the difficulty of the enterprise would only be a soldier's reason +for undertaking it!" said Sir Edward Digby. + +"It wont do--it wont do;" answered Mr. Croyland, laughing; "you may +think yourself very captivating, very conquering, quite a look-and-die +man, as all you people in red jackets fancy yourselves, but it will be +all lost labour with Edith, I can tell you." + +"You excite all the martial ardour in my soul!" exclaimed Digby, with +a gay smile; "and if she be not forty, hump-backed, or one eyed, by +the fates you shall see what you shall see." + +"Forty!" cried Mr. Croyland; "why she's but two-and-twenty, man!--a +great deal straighter than that crouching wench in white marble they +call the 'Venus de Medici,' and with a pair of eyes, that, on my life, +I think would have made me forswear celibacy, if I had found such +looking at me, any time before I reached fifty!" + +"Do you hear that, Osborn?" cried Sir Edward Digby. "Here's a fine +field for an adventurous spirit. I shall have the start of you, my +friend; and in the wilds of Kent, what may not be done in ten days or +a fortnight?" + +His companion only answered by a melancholy smile; and the +conversation went on between the old gentleman and the young baronet +till they reached the small town of Lenham, where they stopped again +to dine. There, however, Mr. Croyland drew Sir Edward Digby aside, and +inquired in a low tone, "Is your friend in love?--He looks mighty +melancholy." + +"I believe he is," replied Digby. "Love's the only thing that can make +a man melancholy; and when one comes to consider all the attractions +of a squaw of the Chippeway Indians, it is no wonder that my friend is +in such a hopeless case." + +The old gentleman poked him with his finger, and shook his head with a +laugh, saying--"You are a wag, young gentleman--you are a wag; but it +would be a great deal more reasonable, let me tell you, to fall in +love with a Chippeway squaw, in her feathers and wampam, than with one +of these made-up madams, all paint and satin, and tawdry bits of +embroidery. In the one case you might know something of what your love +is like; in the other, I defy you to know anything about her; and, +nine times out of ten, what, a man marries is little better than a +bale of tow and whalebone, covered over with the excrement of a +silkworm. Man's a strange animal; and one of the strangest of all his +proceedings is, that of covering up his own natural skin with all +manner of contrivances derived from every bird, beast, fish, and +vegetable, that happens to come in his way. If he wants warmth, he +goes and robs a sheep of its great coat; he beats the unfortunate +grass of the field, till he leaves nothing but shreds, to make himself +a shirt; he skins a beaver, to cover his head; and, if he wants to be +exceedingly fine, he pulls the tail of an ostrich, and sticks the +feather in his hat. He's the universal mountebank, depend upon it, +playing his antics for the amusement of creation, and leaving nothing +half so ridiculous as himself." + +Thus saying, he turned round again, and joined Captain Osborn, in +whom, perhaps, he took a greater interest than even in his livelier +companion. It might be that the associations called up by the name +were pleasant to him, or it might be that there was something in his +face that interested him, for certainly that face was one which seemed +to become each moment more handsome as one grew familiar with it. + +When, after dinner, they re-entered the vehicle, and rolled away once +more along the high road, Captain Osborn took a greater share in the +conversation than he had previously done; and remarking that Mr. +Croyland had put, as a condition, upon his invitation to Sir Edward, +that he should not be a smuggler, he went on to observe, "You seem to +have a great objection to those gentry, my dear sir; and yet I +understand your county is full of them." + +"Full of them!" exclaimed Mr. Croyland--"it is running over with them. +They drop down into Sussex, out into Essex, over into Surrey; the +vermin are more numerous than rats in an old barn. Not that, when a +fellow is poor, and wants money, and can get it by no other +means,--not that I think very hard of him when he takes to a life of +risk and adventure, where his neck is not worth sixpence, and his gain +is bought by the sweat of his brow. But your gentleman smuggler is my +abomination--your fellow that risks little hut an exchequer process, +and gains ten times what the others do, without their labour or their +danger. Give me your bold, brave fellow, who declares war and fights +it out, There's some spirit in him." + +"Gentlemen smugglers!" said Osborn; "that seems to me to be a strange +sort of anomaly. I was not aware that there were such things." + +"Pooh! the country is full of them," cried Mr. Croyland. "It is not +here that the peasant treads upon the kybe of the peer; but the +smuggler treads upon the country gentlemen. Many a merchant who never +made a hundred pounds by fair trade, makes thousands and hundreds of +thousands by cheating the Customs. There is not a man in this part of +the country who does not dabble in the traffic more or less. I've no +doubt all my brandied cherries are steeped in stuff that never paid +duty; and if you don't smuggle yourself, your servants do it for you. +But I'll tell you all about it," and he proceeded to give them a true +and faithful exposition of the state of the county, agreeing in all +respects with that which has been furnished to the reader in the first +chapter of this tale. + +His statement and the various conversation, which arose from different +parts of it, occupied the time fully, till the coach, as it was +growing dark, rolled into Ashford. There Mr. Croyland quitted his two +companions, shaking them each by the hand with right goodwill; and +they pursued their onward course to Hythe and Folkestone, without any +farther incident worthy of notice. + + + + + CHAPTER III. + + +At Hythe, to make use of a very extraordinary though not uncommon +expression, the coach stopped to sup--not that the coach itself ate +anything, for, on the contrary, it disgorged that which it had already +taken in; but the travellers who descended from it were furnished with +supper, although the distance to Folkestone might very well have +justified them in going on to the end of their journey without any +other pabulum than that which they had already received. But two or +three things are to be taken into consideration. The distance from +London to Folkestone is now seventy-one miles. It was longer in those +days by several more, besides having the disadvantage of running up +and down over innumerable hills, all of which were a great deal more +steep than they are in the present day. The journey, which the +travellers accomplished, was generally considered a feat both of +difficulty and danger, and the coach which performed that feat in one +day, was supposed to deserve right well the name which it had assumed, +of "The Phenomenon." Before it began to run, seventy-one miles in +seventeen hours was considered an impracticable journey for anything +but a man on horseback, and when first the coach appeared upon the +road, the towns-people and villagers turned out in multitudes, with +admiration and wonder, not unmixed with dread, to see the rapid rate +at which it went--very nearly six miles an hour! The old diligence, +which had preceded it, had slept one night, and sometimes two, upon +the road; and, in its first vain struggles with its more rapid +successor, it had actually once or twice made the journey in +two-and-twenty hours. To beat off this pertinacious rival, the +proprietor of the stage had been obliged to propitiate the inn-keepers +of various important towns, by dividing his favours amongst them; and +thus the traveller was forced to wait nearly one hour at Hythe, during +which he might sup if he liked, although he was only about five miles +from Folkestone. + +The supper room of the inn was vacant when the two officers of +Dragoons entered, but the table, covered with its neat white cloth, +and all the preparations for a substantial meal, together with a +bright fire sparkling in the grate, rendered its aspect cheerful and +reviving after a long and tedious journey, such as that which had just +been accomplished. Sir Edward Digby looked round well pleased, turned +his back to the fire, spoke to the landlord and his maid about supper, +and seemed disposed to enjoy himself during the period of his stay. He +ordered, too, a pint of claret, which he was well aware was likely to +be procured in great perfection upon the coast of Kent. The landlord +in consequence conceived a high respect for him, and very much +undervalued all the qualities of his companion, who, seating himself +at the table, leaned his head upon his hand, and fell into deep +thought, without giving orders for anything. The host, with his +attendant star, disappeared from the room to procure the requisites +for the travellers' meal, and Sir Edward Digby immediately took +advantage of their absence to say, "Come, come, my dear Colonel, shake +this off. I think all that we have lately heard should have tended to +revive hope, and to give comfort. During all the six years that we +have been more like brothers than friends, I have never seen you so +much cast down as now, when you are taking the field under the most +favourable circumstances, with name, station, reputation, fortune, and +with the best reason to believe those true whom you had been taught to +suppose false." + +"I cannot tell, Digby," replied his companion; "we shall hear more ere +long, and doubt is always well nigh as painful as the worst certainty. +Besides, I am returning to the scenes of my early youth--scenes +stored, it is true, with many a sweet and happy memory, but full also +of painful recollections. Those memories themselves are but as an +inscription on a tomb, where hopes and pleasures, the bright dreams of +youth, the ardent aspirations of first true love, the sweet +endearments of a happy home, the treasured caresses of the best of +mothers, the counsels, the kindness, the unvarying tenderness of the +noblest and highest minded of fathers, all lie buried. There may be a +pleasure in visiting that tomb, but it is a melancholy one; and when I +think that it was for me--that it was on my account, my father +suffered persecution and wrong, till a powerful mind, and a vigorous +frame gave way, there is a bitterness mingled with all my remembrances +of these scenes, from which I would fain clear my heart. I will do so, +too, but it will require some solitary thought, some renewed +familiarity with all the objects round, to take off the sharpness of +the first effect. You, go on to Folkestone and see that all is right +there, I will remain here and wait for the rest. As soon as you have +ascertained that everything is prepared to act in case we are called +upon--which I hope may not be the case, as I do not like the +service--you may betake yourself to Harbourne House, making me a +report as you pass. When I have so distributed the men that we can +rapidly concentrate a sufficient number upon any spot where they may +be required, I will come on after you to our good old friend's +dwelling. There you can see me, and let me know what is taking place." + +"I think you had better not let him know who you really are," replied +Sir Edward Digby, "at least till we have seen how the land lies." + +"I do not know--I will think of it," answered the other gentleman, +whom for the present we shall continue to call Osborn, though the +learned reader has already discovered that such was not his true name. +"It is evident," he continued, "that old Mr. Croyland does not +remember me, although I saw him frequently when he was in England for +a short time, some six or seven years before he finally quitted India. +However, though I feel I am much changed, it is probable that many +persons will recognise me whenever I appear in the neighbourhood of +Cranbrook, and he might take it ill, that he who was so good and true +a friend both to my uncle and my father, should be left in ignorance. +Perhaps it would be better to confide in him fully, and make him aware +of all my views and purposes." + +"Under the seal of confession, then," said his friend; "for he is +evidently a very talkative old gentleman. Did you remark how he once +or twice declared he would not tell a story, that it was no business +of his, and then went on to tell it directly." + +"True, such was always his habit," answered Osborn; "and his oddities +have got somewhat exaggerated during the last twelve years; but he's +as true and faithful as ever man was, and nothing would induce him to +betray a secret confided to him." + +"You know best," replied the other; but the entrance of the landlord +with the claret, and the maid with the supper, broke off the +conversation, and there was no opportunity of renewing it till it was +announced that the horses were to, and the coach was ready. The two +friends then took leave of each other, both coachman and host being +somewhat surprised to find that one of the travellers was about to +remain behind. + +When, however, a portmanteau, a sword-case, and a large trunk, or mail +as it was then called, had been handed out of the egregious boot, +Osborn walked into the inn once more, and called the landlord to him. +"I shall, most likely," he said, "take up my quarters with you for +some days, so you will be good enough to have a bed room prepared for +me. You must also let me have a room, however small, where I can read, +and write, and receive any persons who may come to see me, for I have +a good deal of business to transact." + +"Oh, yes, sir--I understand," replied the host, with a knowing +elevation of one eye-brow and a depression of the other, "Quite snug +and private. You shall have a room at the back of the house with two +doors, so that they can come in by the one, and go out through the +other, and nobody know anything about it." + +"I rather suspect you mistake," answered the guest, with a smile, "and +for fear you should say anything, under an error, that you might be +sorry for afterwards, let me tell you at once that I am an officer of +Dragoons, and that the business I speak of is merely regimental +business." + +The host's face grew amazingly blank; for a smuggler in a large way +was, in his estimation, a much more valuable and important guest than +an officer in the army, even had he been Commander-in-Chief of the +forces; but Osborn proceeded to relieve his mind from some of its +anxieties by saying: "You will understand that I am neither a spy nor +an informer, my good friend, but merely come here to execute whatever +orders I may receive from government as a military man. I tell you who +I am at once, that you may, as far as possible, keep from my sight any +of those little transactions which I am informed are constantly taking +place on this coast. I shall not, of course, step over the line of my +duty, which is purely military, to report anything I see; but still I +should not like that any man should say I was cognizant of proceedings +contrary to the interests of the government. This hint, however, I +doubt not, will be enough." + +"Sir, you are a gentleman," said the host, "and as a nod is as good as +a wink to a blind horse, I shall take care you have no annoyance. You +must wait a little for your bed-room though, for we did not know you +were going to stay; but we will lose no time getting it ready. Can I +do anything else to serve you, sir?" + +"I think not," replied Osborn. "But one thing will be necessary. I +expect five horses down to-morrow, and there must be found stabling +for them, and accommodation for the servants." + +The landlord, who was greatly consoled by these latter proofs of his +guest's opulence and importance, was proceeding to assure him that all +manner of conveniences, both for horse and man were to be found at his +inn, when the door of the room opened, and a third person was added to +the party within. The moment the eye of the traveller by the coach +fell upon him, his face lighted up with a well pleased smile, and he +exclaimed, "Ah, my good friend, is that you?--I little expected to +find you in this part of Kent. What brought you hither, after our long +voyage?" + +"The same that brought you," answered the other: "old memories and +loved associations." + +But before we proceed to notice what was Osborn's reply, we must, +though very unwilling to give long descriptions either of personal +appearance or of dress, pause to notice briefly those of the stranger +who had just entered. + +He had originally been a tall man, and probably a powerful one, but he +now stooped considerably, and was extremely thin. His face had no +colour in it, and even the lips were pale, but yet the hue was not +cadaverous, or even what could be called sickly. The features were +generally small and fine, except the eyes, which were large and +bright, with a sort of brilliant but unsafe fire in them, and that +peculiar searching and intense gaze when speaking to any one, which is +common to people of strong imaginations, who try to convey to others +more than they actually say. His forehead, too, was high and grand, +but wrinkled over with the furrows of thought and care; and on the +right side was a deep indentation, with a gash across it, as if the +skull had been driven in by a blow. His hair, which was long and thin, +was milk white, and though his teeth were fine, yet the wrinkles of +his skin, the peculiar roughness of the ear, and the shrivelled hand, +all bore testimony of an advanced age. Yet, perhaps, he might be +younger than he looked, for the light in that eager eye plainly spoke +one of those quick, anxious, ever labouring spirits which wear the +frame by the internal emotions, infinitely more rapidly and more +destructively than any of the external events and circumstances of +life. One thing was very peculiar about him--at least, in this +country--for on another continent such a peculiarity might have called +for no attention. On either cheek, beginning just behind the external +corner of the eye, and proceeding in a graceful wave all along the +cheek bone, turning round, like an acanthus leaf, at the other +extremity upon the cheek itself, was a long line of very minute blue +spots, with another, and another, and another beneath it, till the +whole assumed the appearance of a rather broad arabesque painted in +blue upon his face. His dress in other respects (if this tattooing +might be called a part of his dress) though coarse in texture was +good. The whole, too, was black, except where the white turned-down +collar of his shirt appeared between his coat and his pale brownish +skin. His shoes were large and heavy like those used by the countrymen +in that part of the county, and in them he wore a pair of silver +buckles, not very large, but which in their peculiar form and +ornaments, gave signs of considerable antiquity. Though bent, as we +have said, thin, and pale, he seemed active and energetic. All his +motions were quick and eager, and he grasped the hand which Osborn +extended to him, with a warmth and enthusiasm very different from the +ordinary expression of common friendship. + +"You mistake," said the young gentleman, in answer to his last +observation. "It was not old memories and loved associations which +brought me here at all, Mr. Warde. It was an order from the +commander-in-chief. Had I not received it, I should not have visited +this place for years--if ever!" + +"Yes, yes, you would," replied the old man; "you could not help +yourself. It was written in the book of your fate. It was not to be +avoided. You were drawn here by an irresistible impulse to undergo +what you have to undergo, to perform that which is assigned you, and +to do and suffer all those things which are written on high." + +"I wonder to hear _you_ speaking in terms so like those of a fatalist," +answered Osborn--"you whom I have always heard so strenuously assert +man's responsibility for all his actions, and scoff at the idea of his +excusing himself on the plea of his predestination." + +"True, true," answered the old man whom he called +Warde,--"predestination affords him no excuse for aught that is wrong, +for though it be an inscrutable mystery how those three great facts +are to be reconciled, yet certain it is that Omniscience cannot be +ignorant of that which will take place, any more than of that which +has taken place; that everything which God foreknows, must take place, +and has been pre-determined by his will, and that yet--as every man +must feel within himself--his own actions depend upon his volition, +and if they be evil he alone is to blame. The end is to come, +Osborn--the end is to come when all will be revealed--and doubt not +that it will be for God's glory. I often think," he continued in a +less emphatic tone, "that man with his free will is like a child with +a plaything. We see the babe about to dash it against the wall in mere +wantonness, we know that he will injure it--perhaps break it to +pieces--perhaps hurt himself with it in a degree; we could prevent it, +yet we do not, thinking perhaps that it will be a lesson--one of +those, the accumulation of which makes experience, if not wisdom. At +all events the punishment falls upon him; and, if duly warned, he has +no right to blame us for that which his own will did, though we saw +what he would do, and could have prevented him from doing so. We are +all spoilt children, Osborn, and remain so to the end, though God +gives us warning enough,--but here comes my homely meal." + +At the same moment the landlord brought in a dish of vegetables, some +milk and some pottage, which he placed upon the table, giving a shrewd +look to the young officer, but saying to his companion, "There, I have +brought what you ordered, sir; but I cannot help thinking you had +better take a bit of meat. You had nothing but the same stuff this +morning, and no dinner that I know of." + +"Man, I never eat anything that has drawn the breath of life," replied +Warde. "The first of our race brought death into the world and was +permitted to inflict it upon others, for the satisfaction of his own +appetites; but it was a permission, and not an injunction--except for +sacrifice. I will not be one of the tyrants of the whole creation; I +will have no more of the tiger in my nature than is inseparable from +it; and as to gorging myself some five or six times a day with +unnecessary food--am I a swine, do you think, to eat when I am not +hungry, for the sole purpose of devouring? No, no, the simplest food, +and that only for necessity, is best for man's body and his mind. We +all grow too rank and superfluous." + +Thus saying, he approached the table, said a short grace over that +which was set before him, and then sitting down, ate till he was +satisfied, without exchanging a word with any one during the time that +he was thus engaged. It occupied less than five minutes, however, to +take all that he required, and then starting up suddenly, he thanked +God for what he had given him, took up his hat and turned towards the +door. + +"I am going out, Osborn," he said, "for my evening walk. Will you come +with me?" + +"Willingly for half an hour," answered the young officer, and, telling +the landlord as he passed that he would be back by the time that his +room was ready, he accompanied his eccentric acquaintance out into the +streets of Hythe, and thence, through some narrow walks and lanes, to +the sea-shore. + + + + + CHAPTER IV. + + +The sky was clear and bright; the moonlight was sleeping in dream-like +splendour upon the water, and the small waves, thrown up by the tide +more than the wind, came rippling along the beach like a flood of +diamonds. All was still and silent in the sky, and upon the earth; and +the soft rustle of the waters upon the shore seemed but to say "Hush!" +as if nature feared that any louder sound should interrupt her calm +repose. To the west, stretched out the faint low line of coast towards +Dungeness; and to the east, appeared the high cliffs near Folkestone +and Dover--grey and solemn; while the open heaven above looked down +with its tiny stars and lustrous moon upon the wide extended sea, +glittering in the silver veil cast over her sleeping bosom from on +high. + +Such was the scene presented to the eyes of the two wanderers when +they reached the beach, a little way on the Sandgate side of Hythe, +and both paused to gaze upon it for several minutes in profound +silence. + +"This is indeed a night to walk forth upon the sands," said the young +officer at length. "It seems to me, that of all the many scenes from +which man can derive both instruction and comfort, in the difficulties +and troubles of life, there is none so elevating, so strengthening, as +that presented by the sea shore on a moonlight night. To behold that +mighty element, so full of destructive and of beneficial power, lying +tranquilly within the bound which God affixed to it, and to remember +the words, 'Thus far shalt thou come, and no farther, and here shall +thy proud waves be stopped,' affords so grand an illustration of his +might, so fine a proof of the truth of his promises, that the heart +must be hard indeed and the mind dull, not to receive confirmation of +faith, and encouragement in hope." + +"More, far more, may man receive," replied his companion, "if he be +but willing; but that gross and corrupt insect refuses all +instruction, and though the whole universe holds out blessings, still +chooses the curse. Where is there a scene whence man may not receive +benefit? What spot upon the whole earth has not something to speak to +his heart, if he would but listen? In his own busy passions, however, +and in his own fierce contentions, in his sordid creeping after gain, +in his trickery and his knavery, even in his loves and pleasures, man +turns a deaf ear to the great voice speaking to him; and the only +scene of all this earth which cannot benefit the eye that looks upon +it, is that in which human beings are the chief actors. There all is +foulness, or pitifulness, or vice; and one, to live in happiness, and +to take the moral of all nature to his heart, should live alone with +nature. I will find me out such a place, where I can absent myself +entirely, and contemplate nought but the works of God without the +presence of man, for I am sick to death of all that I have seen of him +and his, especially in what is called a civilized state." + +"You have often threatened to do so, Warde," answered the young +officer, "but yet methinks, though you rail at him, you love man too +much to quit his abodes entirely. I have seen you kind and considerate +to savages of the most horrible class; to men whose daily practice +it is to torture with the most unheard of cruelty the prisoners +whom they take in battle; and will you have less regard for other +fellow-creatures, because they are what you call civilized?" + +"The savage is at least sincere," replied his companion. "The want of +sincerity is the great and crowning vice of all this portion of the +globe. Cruel the wild hunters may be, but are they more cruel than the +people here? Which is the worst torment, a few hours' agony at the +stake, singing the war-song, all ended by a blow of a hatchet, or long +years of mental torture, when every scorn and contumely, every bitter +injustice, every cruel bereavement that man can inflict or suffer, is +piled upon your head, till the load becomes intolerable. Then, too, it +is done in a smooth and smiling guise. The civilized fiend looks +softly upon you while he wounds you to the heart--makes a pretext of +law, and justice, and equity--would have you fancy him a soft good +man, while there is no act of malevolence and iniquity that he does +not practise. The savage is true, at all events. The man who fractured +my skull with a blow of his tomahawk, made no pretence of friendship +or of right. He did it boldly, as an act customary with his people, +and would have led me to the stake and danced with joy to see me +suffering, had I not been rescued. He was sincere at least: but how +would the Englishman have served me? He would have wrung my heart with +pangs insupportable, and all the time have talked of his great grief +to afflict me, of the necessity of the case, of justice being on his +side, and of a thousand other vain and idle pretexts, but aggravating +the act by mocking me with a show of generosity." + +"I fear my excellent friend that you have at some time suffered sadly +from man's baseness," said Osborn; "but yet I think you are wrong to +let the memory thereof affect you thus. I, too, have suffered, and +perhaps shall have to suffer more; but yet I would not part with the +best blessings God has given to man, as you have done, for any other +good." + +"What have I parted with that I could keep?" asked the other, sharply: +"what blessings? I know of none!" + +"Trust--confidence," replied his young companion. "I know you will say +that they have been taken from you; that you have not thrown them +away, that you have been robbed of them. But have you not parted with +them too easily? Have you not yielded at once, without a struggle to +retain what I still call the best blessings of God? There are many +villains in the world--I know it but too well; there are many knaves. +There are still more cold and selfish egotists, who, without +committing actual crimes or injuring others, do good to none; but +there are also many true and upright hearts, many just, noble, and +generous men; and were it a delusion to think so, I would try to +retain it still." + +"And suffer for it in the hour of need, in the moment of the deepest +confidence," answered Warde. "If you must have confidence, place it in +the humble and the low, in the rudest and least civilized--ay, in the +very outcasts of society--rather than in the polished and the courtly, +the great and high. I would rather trust my life, or my purse, to the +honour of the common robber, and to his generosity, than to the very +gentlemanly man of fashion and high station. Now, if, as you say, you +have not come down hither for old associations, you must be sent to +hunt down honester men than those who sent you--men who break boldly +through an unjust and barbarous system, which denies to our land the +goods of another, and who, knowing that the very knaves who devised +that system, did it but to enrich themselves, stop with a strong hand +a part of the plunder on the way--or, rather, insist at the peril of +their lives, on man's inherent right to trade with his neighbours, and +frustrate the roguish devices of those who would forbid to our land +the use of that produced by another." + +Osborn smiled at his companion's defence of smuggling, but replied, "I +can conceive a thousand reasons, my good friend, why the trade in +certain things should be totally prohibited, and a high duty for the +interests of the state be placed on others. But I am not going to +argue with you on all our institutions; merely this I will say, that +when we entrust to certain men the power of making laws, we are bound +to obey those laws when they are made; and it were but candid and just +to suppose that those who had made them, after long deliberation, did +so for the general good of the whole." + +"For their own villanous ends," answered Warde--"for their own selfish +interests. The good of the whole!--what is it in the eyes of any of +these law-givers but the good of a party?" + +"But do you not think," asked the young officer, "that we ourselves, +who are not law-givers, judge their actions but too often under the +influence of the very motives we attribute to them? Has party no share +in our own bosoms? Has selfishness--have views of our own interests, +in opposition either to the interests of others or the general weal, +no part in the judgment that we form? Each man carps at that which +suits him not, and strives to change it, without the slightest care +whether, in so doing, he be not bringing ruin on the heads of +thousands. But as to what you said just now of my being sent hither to +hunt down the smuggler, such is not the case. I am sent to lend my aid +to the civil power when called upon to do so--but nothing more; and we +all know that the civil power has proved quite ineffective in stopping +a system, which began by violation of a fiscal law, and has gone on to +outrages the most brutal, and the most daring. I shall not step beyond +the line of my duty, my good friend; and I will admit that many of +these very misguided men themselves, who are carrying on an illegal +traffic in this daring manner, fancy themselves justified by such +arguments as you have just now used--nay, more, I do believe that +there are some men amongst them of high and noble feelings, who never +dream that they are dishonest in breaking a law that they dislike. But +if we break one law thus, why should we keep any?--why not add robbery +and murder if it suits us? + +"Ay, there _are_ high minded and noble men amongst them," answered +Warde, not seeming to heed the latter part of what his companion said, +"and there stands one of them. He has evil in him doubtless; for he is +a man and an Englishman; but I have found none here who has less, and +many who have more. Yet were that man taken in pursuing his +occupation, they would imprison, exile, perhaps hang him, while a +multitude of knaves in gilded coats, would be suffered to go on +committing every sin, and almost every crime, unpunished--a good man, +an excellent man, and yet a smuggler." + +The young officer knew it was in vain to reason with him, for in the +frequent intercourse they had held together, he had perceived that, +with many generous and noble feelings, with a pure heart, and almost +ascetic severity of life, there was a certain perversity in the course +of Mr. Warde's thoughts, which rendered it impossible to turn them +from the direction which they naturally took. It seemed as if by long +habit they had channelled for themselves so deep a bed, that they +could never be diverted thence; and consequently, without replying at +first, he merely turned his eyes in the direction which the other +pointed out, trying to catch sight of the person of whom he spoke. +They were now on the low sandy shore which runs along between the town +of Hythe and the beautiful little watering place of Sandgate. But it +must be recollected, that at the time I speak of, the latter place +displayed no ornamental villas, no gardens full of flowers, almost +touching on the sea, and consisted merely of a few fishermen's, or +rather smuggler's, huts, with one little public house, and a +low-browed shop, filled with all the necessities that the inhabitants +might require. Thus nothing like the mass of buildings which the +watering place now can boast, lay between them and the Folkestone +cliffs; and the whole line of the coast, except at one point, where +the roof of a house intercepted the view, was open before Osborn's +eyes; yet neither upon the shore itself, nor upon the green upland, +which was broken by rocks and bushes, and covered by thick dry grass, +could he perceive anything resembling a human form. A minute after, +however, he thought he saw something move against the rugged +background, and the next moment, the head and shoulders of a man +rising over the edge of the hill caught his eyes, and as his companion +walked forward in silence, he inquired, + +"Have you known him long, or is this one of your sudden judgments, my +good friend?" + +"I knew him when he was a boy and a lad," answered Wilmot, "I know him +now that he is a man--so it is no sudden judgment. Come, let us speak +with him, Osborn," and he advanced rapidly, by a narrow path, up the +side of the slope. + +Osborn paused a single instant, and then followed, saying, "Be upon +your guard, Warde; and remember how I am circumstanced. Neither commit +me nor let him commit himself." + +"No, no, fear not," answered his friend, "I am no smuggler, young +man;" and he strode on before, without pausing for further +consultation. As they climbed the hill, the figure of the man of whom +they had been speaking became more and more distinct, while walking up +and down upon a flat space at the top of the first step or wave of +ground; he seemed to take no notice of their approach. When they came +nearer still, he paused, as if waiting for their coming; and the moon +shining full upon him, displayed his powerful form, standing in an +attitude of easy grace, with the arms folded on the chest, and the +head slightly bent forward. He was not above the middle height; but +broad in the shoulders, and long in the arms; robust and strong--every +muscle was round and swelling, and yet not heavy; for there was the +appearance of great lightness and activity in his whole figure, +strangely combined with that of vigour and power. His head was small, +and well set upon his shoulders; and the very position in which he +stood, the firm planting of his feet on the ground, the motionless +crossing of his arm upon his breast, all seemed to argue to the mind +of Osborn--and he was one not unaccustomed to judge of character by +external signs--a strong and determined spirit, well fitted for the +rough and adventurous life which he had undertaken. + +"Good night, Harding," said Mr. Warde, as they came up to the spot +where he stood. "What a beautiful evening it is!" + +"Goodnight, sir," answered the man, in a civil tone, and with a voice +of considerable melody. "It is indeed a beautiful evening, though +sometimes I like to see the cloudy sky, too." + +"And yet I dare say you enjoy a walk by the bright sea, in the calm +moonlight, as much as I do," rejoined Mr. Warde. + +"Ay, that I do, sir," replied the smuggler. "That's what brought me +out to-night, for there's nothing else doing; but I should not rest +quiet, I suppose, in my bed, if I did not take my stroll along the +downs or somewhere, and look over the sea, while she lies panting in +the moonbeams. She's a pretty creature, and I love her dearly. I +wonder how people can live inland." + +"Oh, there are beautiful scenes enough inland," said Osborn, joining +in the conversation; "both wild and grand, and calm and peaceful." + +"I know there are, sir, I know there are," answered the smuggler, +gazing at him attentively, "and if ever I were to live away from the +beach, I should say, give me the wild and grand, for I have seen many +a beautiful place inland, especially in Wales; but still it always +seems to me as if there was something wanting when the sea is not +there. I suppose it is natural for an Englishman." + +"Perhaps it is," rejoined Osborn, "for certainly when Nature rolled +the ocean round us, she intended us for a maritime people. But to +return to what you were saying, if I could choose my own abode, it +should be amongst the calm and peaceful scenes, of which the eye never +tires, and amongst which the mind rests in repose." + +"Ay, if it is repose one is seeking," replied the smuggler, with a +laugh, "well and good. Then a pleasant little valley, with trees and a +running stream, and a neat little church, and the parsonage, may do +well enough. But I dare say you and I, sir, have led very different +lives, and so have got different likings. I have always been +accustomed to the storm and the gale, to a somewhat adventurous life, +and to have that great wide sea before my eyes for ever. You, I dare +say, have been going on quietly and peacefully all your days, perhaps +in London, or in some great town, knowing nothing of hardships or of +dangers; so that is the reason you love quiet places." + +"Quite the reverse!" answered Osborn, with a smile--"mine has been +nothing but a life of peril and danger, and activity, as far as it +hitherto has gone. From the time I was eighteen till now, the battle +and the skirmish, the march and the retreat, with often the hard +ground for my bed, as frequently the sky for my covering, and at best +a thin piece of canvas to keep off the blast, have been my lot, but it +is that very fact that makes me long for some repose, and love scenes +that give the picture of it to the imagination, if not the reality to +the heart. I should suppose that few men who have passed their time +thus, and known from youth to manhood nothing but strife and hourly +peril, do not sooner or later desire such tranquillity." + +"I don't know, sir," said the smuggler; "it maybe so, and the time may +come with me; but yet I think habits one is bred to, get such a hold +of the heart that we can't do without them. I often fancy I should +like a month's quiet, too; but then I know before the month was out I +should long to be on the sea again." + +"Man is a discontented creature," said Warde,--"not even the bounty of +God can satisfy him. I do not believe that he would even rest in +heaven, were he not wearied of change by the events of this life. Well +may they say it is a state of trial." + +"I hope I shall go to heaven, too," rejoined the smuggler; "but I +should like a few trips first; and I dare say, when I grow an old man, +and stiff and rusty, I shall be well contented to take my walk here in +the sunshine, and talk of days that are gone; but at present, when one +has life and strength, I could no more sit and get cankered in +idleness than I could turn miller. This world's not a place to be +still in; and I say, Blow wind, and push off the boat." + +"But one may have activity enough without constant excitement and +peril," answered Osborn. + +"I don't know that there would be half the pleasure in it," replied +the smuggler, laughing--"that we strive for, that we love. Everything +must have its price, and cheap got is little valued. But who is this +coming?" he continued, turning sharply round before either of his +companions heard a sound. + +The next moment, however, steps running up the face of the bank were +distinguished, and in another minute a boy of twelve or thirteen, +dressed in a sailor's jacket, came hurrying up to the smuggler, and +pulled his sleeve, saying, in a low voice, "Come hither--come hither; +I want to speak to you." + +The man took a step apart, and bending down his head listened to +something which the boy whispered in his ear. "I will come--I will +come directly," he said, at length, when the lad was done. "Run on and +tell him, little Starlight; for I must get home first for a minute. +Good night, gentlemen," he continued, turning to Mr. Warde and his +companion, "I must go away for a longer walk;" and, without farther +adieu, he began to descend the bank, leaving the two friends to take +their way back to Hythe, conversing, as they went, much in the same +strain as that in which they had indulged while coming thither, +differing in almost every topic, but yet with some undefinable link of +sympathy between them, which nevertheless owed its origin, in the old +man's breast, to very different feelings from those which were +experienced by his younger companion. + + + + + CHAPTER V. + + +There was an old house, built in a style which acquired the mint-mark +of fashion of about the reign of George the First, and was considered +by those of the English, or opposite party, to be peculiarly well +qualified for the habitation of Hanover rats. It stood at a little +distance from the then small hamlet of Harbourne, and was plunged into +one of the southern apertures of the wood of that name, having its +gardens and pleasure-grounds around it, with a terrace and a lawn +stretching out to the verge of a small parish road, which passed at +the distance of somewhat less than a quarter of a mile from the +windows. It was all of red brick, and looked square and formal enough, +with the two wings projecting like the a-kimbo arms of some untamed +virago, straight and resolute as a redoubt. The numerous windows, +however, with very tolerable spaces between them; the numerous +chimneys, with every sort of form and angle; the numerous doors, of +every shape and size, and the square precision of the whole, bespoke +it a very capacious building, and the inside justified fully the idea +which the mind of a traveller naturally formed from the outside. It +was, in truth, a roomy, and in some cases a very convenient abode; but +it was laid out upon a particular plan, which it may not be amiss to +write down, for the practical instruction of the reader unlearned in +such edifices. + +In the centre of the ground-floor was a large hall of a cruciform +shape, each of the limbs being about fifteen feet wide. The two +shorter arms of the cross stretched from side to side of the building +in its width; the two longer from end to end of its length. The +southern termination of the shorter arms was the great hall-door; the +northern arm, which formed the passage between the various ranges of +offices, extended to a door at the back, opening into a court-yard +surrounded by coach-houses, stables, cow-sheds, pig-sties, and +hen-roosts. But the offices, and the passage between them, were shut +off from the main hall and the rest of the mansion by double doors; +and the square of fifteen feet in the centre of the hall was, to the +exent of about two-thirds of the whole, occupied by a large, +low-stepped, broad-ballustraded oaken staircase. The eastern and +western limbs of the cross afforded the means of communicating with +various rooms,--such as library, dining-room, drawing-room, +music-room, magistrate's-room, gentleman's-room, and billiard-room, +with one or two others to which no name had been applied. Many of +these rooms had doors which led into the one adjacent; but this was +not invariably the case, for from the main corridor branched off +several little passages, separating in some instances one chamber from +the other, and leading out upon the terrace by the smaller doors which +we have noticed above. What was the use of these passages and doors +nobody was ever able to divine, and it remains a mystery to the +present day, which I shall not attempt to solve by venturing any +hypothesis upon so recondite a subject. The second floor above was +laid out much in the same way as the one below, except that one of the +limbs of the cross was wanting, the space over the great door being +appropriated to a very tolerable bed-room. From this floor to the +other, descended two or three staircases, the principal one being the +great open flight of steps which I have already mentioned; and the +second, or next in importance, being a stone staircase, which reached +the ground between the double doors, that shut out the main hall from +the offices. + +Having thus given some idea of the interior of the building, I will +only pause to notice, that, at the period I speak of, it had one very +great defect. It was very much out of repair,--not, indeed, of that +sort of substantial repair which is necessary to comfort, but of that +pleasant repair which is agreeable to the eye. It was well and solidly +built, and was quite wind and water tight; but although the builders +of the day in which it was erected were, as every one knows, +peculiarly neat in their brick-work, yet Time would have his way even +with their constructions, and he had maliciously chiselled out the +pointing from between the sharp, well-cut bricks, scraped away the +mortar from the stone copings, and cracked and blistered the painting +of the wood-work. This labour of his had not only given a venerable, +but also a somewhat dilapidated appearance to the mansion; and some +green mould, with which he had taken the pains to dabble all the white +parts of the edifice, did not decrease the look of decay. + +Sweeping round from the parish road that we have mentioned was a +branch, leading by the side of the lawn, and a gentle ascent up to the +terrace and to the great door, and carriages on arriving passed along +the whole front of the house by the western angle before they reached +the court-yard behind. But from that courtyard there were various +other means of exit. One to the kitchen garden, one to two or three +other courts, and one into the wood which came within fifty yards of +the enclosure; for, to use the ordinary romance phrase, Harbourne +House was literally "bosomed in wood." The windows, however, and the +front, commanded a fine view of a rich and undulating country, +plentifully garnished with trees, but still, for a considerable +distance, exposed to the eye, from the elevated ground upon which the +mansion was placed. A little hamlet was seen at the distance of about +two miles in front--I rather suspect it was Kenchill--and to the +eastward the house looked over the valley towards the high ground by +Woodchurch and Woodchurch Beacon, catching a blue line which probably +was Romney Marsh. Between, Woodchurch, however, and itself, was seen +standing out, straight and upright, a very trim-looking white +dwelling, flanked by some pleasant groves, and to the west were seen +one or two gentlemen's seats scattered about over the face of the +country. Behind, nothing of course was to be seen but tree-tops, +except from the window of one of the attics, whence the housemaid +could descry Biddenden Windmill and the top of Biddenden Church. +Harbourne Wood was indeed, at that time, very extensive, joining on to +the large piece of woodland, from which it is now separated, and +stretching out as far as that place with an unpleasant name, called +Gallows Green. The whole of this space, and a considerable portion of +the cultivated ground around, was within the manor of the master of +the mansion, Sir Robert Croyland, of Harbourne, the elder brother of +that Mr. Zachary Croyland, whom we have seen travelling down into Kent +with two companions in the newly established stage-coach. + +About four days after that memorable journey, a traveller on +horseback, followed by a servant leading another horse, and with a +portmanteau behind him, rode up the little parish road we have +mentioned, took the turning which led to the terrace, and drew in his +bridle at the great door of Harbourne House. I would describe him +again, but I have already given the reader so correct and accurate a +picture of Sir Edward Digby, that he cannot make any mistake. The only +change which had taken place in his appearance since he set out from +London, was produced by his being now dressed in a full military +costume; but nevertheless the eyes of a fair lady, who was in the +drawing-room and had a full view of the terrace, conveyed to her mind, +as she saw him ride up, the impression that he was a very handsome man +indeed. In two minutes more, which were occupied by the opening of the +door and sundry directions given by the young baronet to his servant, +Sir Edward Digby was ushered into the drawing-room, and advanced with +a frank, free, military air, though unacquainted with any of the +persons it contained. As his arrival about that hour was expected, the +whole family of Harbourne House was assembled to receive him; and +before we proceed farther, we may as well give some account of the +different persons of whom the little circle was composed. + +The first whom Sir Edward's eyes fell upon was the master of the +mansion, who had risen, and was coming forward to welcome his guest. +Sir Robert Croyland, however, was so different a person from his +brother, in every point, that the young officer could hardly believe +that he had the baronet before him. He was a large, heavy-looking man, +with good features and expressive eyes, but sallow in complexion, and +though somewhat corpulent, having that look of loose, flabby obesity, +which is generally an indication of bad health. His dress, though +scrupulously clean and in the best fashion of the time, fitted him +ill, being too large even for his large person; and the setting of the +diamond ring which he wore upon his hand was scarcely more yellow than +the hand itself. On his face he bore a look of habitual thought and +care, approaching moroseness, which even the smile he assumed on Sir +Edward's appearance could not altogether dissipate. In his tone, +however, he was courtly and kind, though perhaps a little pompous, +expressed his delight at seeing his old friend's son in Harbourne +House, shook him warmly by the hand, and then led him ceremoniously +forward to introduce him to his sister, Mrs. Barbara Croyland, and his +two daughters. + +The former lady might very well have had applied to her Fielding's +inimitable description of the old maid. Her appearance was very +similar, her station and occupation much the same; but nevertheless, +in all essential points, Mrs. Barbara Croyland was a very different +person from the sister of Squire Allworthy. She was a kind-hearted +soul as ever existed; gentle in her nature, anxious to do the very +best for every body, a little given to policy for the purpose of +accomplishing that end, and consequently, nine times out of ten, +making folks very uncomfortable in order to make them comfortable, and +doing all manner of mischief for the purpose of setting things right. +No woman ever had a more perfect abnegation of self than Mrs. Barbara +Croyland, in all things of great importance. She had twice missed a +very good opportunity of marriage, by making up a match between one +who was quite ready to be her own lover and one of her female friends, +for whom he cared very little. She had lent the whole of her own +private fortune, except a small annuity, which by some chance had been +settled upon her, to her brother Sir Robert, without taking any +security whatsoever for principal or interest; and she was always +ready, when there was anything in her purse, to give it away to the +worthy or unworthy--rather, indeed, preferring the latter, from a +conviction that they were more likely to be destitute of friends than +those who had some claim upon society. + +Nevertheless Mrs. Barbara Croyland was not altogether without that +small sort of selfishness which is usually termed vanity. She was +occasionally a little affronted and indignant with her friends, when +they disapproved of her spoiling their whole plans with the intention +of facilitating them. She knew that her design was good; and she +thought it very ungrateful in the world to be angry when her good +designs produced the most opposite results to those which she +intended. She was fully convinced, too, that circumstances were +perversely against her; and yet for her life she could not refrain +from trying to make those circumstances bend to her purpose, +notwithstanding all the nips on the knuckles she received; and she had +still some scheme going on, which, though continually disappointed, +rose up Hydra-like, with a new head springing out as soon as the other +was cut off. As it was at her suggestion, and in favour of certain +plans which she kept deep in the recesses of her own bosom, that Sir +Robert Croyland had claimed acquaintance with Sir Edward Digby on the +strength of an old friendship with his father, and had invited him +down to Harbourne House immediately on the return of his regiment to +England, it may well be supposed that Miss Barbara received him with +her most gracious smiles--which, to say the truth, though the face was +wrinkled with age, and the complexion not very good, were exceedingly +sweet and benignant, springing from a natural kindness of heart, +which, if guided by a sounder discretion, would have rendered her one +of the most amiable persons on the earth. + +After a few words of simple courtesy on both parts, Sir Edward turned +to the other two persons who were in the room, where he found metal +more attractive--at least, for the eyes. The first to whom he was +introduced was a young lady, who seemed to be about one-and-twenty +years of age, though she had in fact just attained another year; and +though Sir Robert somewhat hurried him on to the next, who was +younger, the keen eye of the young officer marked enough to make him +aware that, if so cold and so little disposed to look on a lover as +her uncle had represented, she might well become a very dangerous +neighbour to a man with a heart not well guarded against the power of +beauty. Her hair, eyes, and eyelashes were almost black, and her +complexion of a clear brown, with the rose blushing faintly in the +cheek; but the eyes were of a deep blue. The whole form of the head, +the fall of the hair, the bend of the neck from the shoulders, were +all exquisitely symmetrical and classical, and nothing could be more +lovely than the line of the brow and the chiselled cutting of the +nose. The upper lip, small and delicately drawn, the under lip full +and slightly apart, shewing the pearl-like teeth beneath; the turn of +the ear, and the graceful line in the throat, might all have served as +models for the sculptor or the painter; for the colouring was as rich +and beautiful as the form; and when she rose and stood to receive him, +with the small hand leaning gently on the arm of the chair, he thought +he had never seen anything more graceful than the figure, or more +harmonious than its calm dignity, with the lofty gravity of her +countenance. If there was a defect in the face, it was perhaps that +the chin was a little too prominent, but yet it suited well with the +whole countenance and with its expression, giving it decision without +harshness, and a look of firmness, which the bright smile that +fluttered for a moment round the lips, deprived of everything that was +not gentle and kind. There was soul, there was thought, there was +feeling, in the whole look; and Digby would fain have paused to see +those features animated in conversation. But her father led him on, +after a single word of introduction, to present him to his younger +daughter, who, with some points of resemblance, offered a strange +contrast to her sister. She, too, was very handsome, and apparently +about two years younger; but hers was the style of beauty which, +though it deserves a better name, is generally termed pretty. All the +features were good, and the hair exceedingly beautiful; but the face +was not so oval, the nose perhaps a little too short, and the lips too +sparkling with smiles to impress the mind, at first sight, so much as +the countenance of the other. She seemed all happiness; and in looking +to the expression and at her bright blue eyes, as they looked out +through the black lashes, like violets from a clump of dark leaves, it +was scarcely possible to fancy that she had ever known a touch of care +or sorrow, or that one of the anxieties of life had ever even brushed +her lightly with its wing. She seemed the flower just opening to the +morning sunshine--the fruit, before the bloom had been washed away by +one shower. Her figure, too, was full of young grace; her movements +were all quicker, more wild and free than her sister's; and as she +rose to receive Sir Edward Digby, it was more with the air of an old +friend than a new acquaintance. Indeed, she was the first of the +family who had seen him, for hers were the eyes which had watched his +approach from the window, so that she felt as if she knew him better +than any of them. + +There was something very winning in the frank and cordial greeting +with which she met him, and in an instant it had established a sort of +communication between them which would have taken hours, perhaps days, +to bring about with her sister. As Sir Edward Digby did not come there +to fall in love, he would fain have resisted such influences, even at +the beginning; and perhaps the words of old Mr. Croyland had somewhat +put him upon his guard. But it was of no use being upon his guard; +for, fortify himself as strongly as he would, Zara went through all +his defences in an instant; and, seeming to take it for granted that +they were to be great friends, and that there was not the slightest +obstacle whatever to their being perfectly familiar in a ladylike and +gentleman-like manner, of course they were so in five minutes, though +he was a soldier who had seen some service, and she an inexperienced +girl just out of her teens. But all women have a sort of experience of +their own; or, if experience be not the right name, an intuition in +matters where the other sex is concerned, which supplies to them very +rapidly a great part of that which long converse with the world +bestows on men. Too true that it does not always act as a safeguard to +their own hearts--true that it does not always guide them right in +their own actions,--but still it does not fail to teach them the best +means of winning where they wish to win; and if they do not succeed, +it is far more frequently that the cards which they hold are not good, +than that they play the game unskilfully. + +Whether Sir Robert Croyland had or had not any forethought in his +invitation of Sir Edward Digby, and, like a prudent father, judged +that it would be quite as well his youngest daughter should marry a +wealthy baronet, he was too wise to let anything like design appear; +and though he suffered the young officer to pursue his conversation +with Zara for two or three minutes longer than he had done with her +sister, he soon interposed, by taking the first opportunity of telling +his guest the names of those whom he had invited to meet him that day +at dinner. + +"We shall have but a small party," he said, in a somewhat apologetic +tone, "for several of our friends are absent just now; but I have +asked my good and eccentric brother Zachary to meet you to-day, Sir +Edward; and also my excellent neighbour, Mr. Radford, of Radford +Hall--a very superior man indeed under the surface, though the manner +may be a little rough. His son, too, I trust will join us;" and he +glanced his eye towards Edith, whose face grew somewhat paler than it +had been before. Sir Robert instantly withdrew his gaze; but the look +of both father and daughter had not been lost upon Digby; and he +replied--"I have the pleasure of knowing your brother already, Sir +Robert. We were fellow-travellers as far as Ashford, four or five days +ago. I hope he is well." + +"Oh, quite well--quite well," answered the baronet; "but as odd as +ever--nay odder, I think, for his expedition to London. That which +seems to polish and soften other men, but renders him rougher and more +extraordinary. But he was always very odd--very odd indeed, even as a +boy." + +"Ay, but he was always kind-hearted, brother Robert," observed Miss +Barbara; "and though he may be a little odd, he has been in odd +places, you know--India and the like; and besides, it does not do to +talk of his oddity, as you are doing always, for if he heard of it, he +might leave all his money away." + +"He is only odd, I think," said Edith Croyland, "by being kinder and +better than other men." + +Sir Edward Digby turned towards her with a warm smile, replying--"So +it struck me, Miss Croyland. He is so good and right-minded himself, +that he is at times a little out of patience with the faults and +follies of others--at least, such was my impression, from all I saw of +him." + +"It was a just one," answered the young lady, "and I am sure, Sir +Edward, the more you see of him the more you will be inclined to +overlook the oddities for the sake of the finer qualities." + +It seemed to Sir Edward Digby that the commendations of Sir Robert +Croyland's brother did not seem the most grateful of all possible +sounds to the ears of the Baronet, who immediately after announced +that he would have the pleasure of conducting his young guest to his +apartments, adding that they were early people in the country, their +usual dinner-hour being four o'clock, though he found that the +fashionable people of London were now in the habit of dining at +half-past four. Sir Edward accordingly followed him up the great +oaken staircase to a very handsome and comfortable room, with a +dressing-room at the side, in which he found his servant already +busily employed in disburdening his bags and portmanteau of their +contents. + +Sir Robert paused for a moment--to see that his guest had everything +which he might require, and then left him. But the young baronet did +not proceed immediately to the business of the toilet, seating himself +before the window of the bed-room, and gazing out with a thoughtful +expression, while his servant continued his operations in the next +room. From time to time the man looked in as if he had something to +say, but his master continued in a reverie, of which it may be as well +to take some notice. His first thought was, "I must lay out the plan +of my campaign; but I must take care not to get my wing of the army +defeated while the main body is moving up to give battle. On my life, +I'm a great deal too good-natured to put myself in such a dangerous +position for a friend. The artillery that the old gentleman spoke of +is much more formidable than I expected. My worthy colonel did not use +so much of love's glowing colours in his painting as I supposed; but +after all, there's no danger; I am proof against all such shots, and I +fancy I must use little Zara for the purpose of getting at her +sister's secrets. There can be no harm in making a little love to her, +the least little bit possible. It will do my pretty coquette no harm, +and me none either. It may be well to know how the land lies, however; +and I dare say that fellow of mine has made some discoveries already; +but the surest way to get nothing out of him is to ask him, and so I +must let him take his own way." + +His thoughts then turned to another branch of the same subject; and he +went on pondering rather than thinking for some minutes more. There is +a state of mind which can scarcely be called thought; for thought is +rapid and progressive, like the flight of a bird, whether it be in the +gyrations of the swallow, or the straightforward course of the rook; +but in the mode or condition of which I speak, the mind seems rather +to hover over a particular object, like the hawk eyeing carefully that +which is beneath it; and this state can no more be called thought than +the hovering of the hawk can be called flight. Such was the occupation +of Sir Edward Digby, as I have said, for several minutes, and then he +went on to his conclusions. "She loves him still," he said to himself; +"of that I feel sure. She is true to him still, and steadfast in her +truth. Whatever may have been said or done has not been hers, and that +is a great point gained; for now, with station, rank, distinction, and +competence at least, he presents himself in a very different position +from any which he could assume before; and unless on account of some +unaccountable prejudice, the old gentleman can have no objection. Oh, +yes, she loves him still, I feel very sure! The calm gravity of that +beautiful face has only been written there so early by some deep and +unchanged feeling. We never see the sparkling brightness of youth so +shadowed but by some powerful and ever-present memory, which, like the +deep bass notes of a fine instrument, gives a solemn tone even to the +liveliest music of life. She can smile, but the brow is still grave: +there is something underneath it; and we must find out exactly what +that is. Yet I cannot doubt; I am sure of it. Here, Somers! are not +those things ready yet? I shall be too late for dinner." + +"Oh, no, sir;" replied the man, coming in, and putting up the back of +his hand to his head, in military fashion. "Your honour wont be too +late. The great bell rings always half-an-hour before, then Mr. +Radford is always a quarter-of-an-hour behind his time." + +"I wonder who Mr. Radford is!" said Sir Edward Digby, as if speaking +to himself. "He seems a very important person in the county." + +"I can tell you, sir," said the man, "he is or was the richest person +in the neighbourhood, and has got Sir Robert quite under his thumb, +they say. He was a merchant, or a shopkeeper, the butler told me, in +Hythe. But there was more money came in than ever went through his +counting-house, and what between trading one way or another, he got +together a great deal of riches, bought this place here in the +neighbourhood, and set up for a gentleman. His son is to be married to +Miss Croyland, they say; but the servants think that she hates him, +and fancy that he would himself rather have her sister." + +The latter part of this speech was that which interested Sir Edward +Digby the most; but he knew that there was a certain sort of +perversity about his servant, which made him less willing to answer a +distinct question than to volunteer any information; and therefore he +fixed upon another point, inquiring, "What do you mean, Somers, by +saying that he is, or was, the richest man in the country?" + +"Why, sir, that is as it may be," answered the man; "but one thing is +certain--Miss Croyland has three times refused to marry this young +Radford, notwithstanding all her father could say; and as for the +young gentleman himself, why he's no gentleman at all, going about +with all the bad characters in the county, and carrying on his +father's old trade, like a highwayman. It has not quite answered so +well though, for they say old Radford lost fully fifty thousand pounds +by his last venture, which was run ashore somewhere about Romney Hoy. +The boats were sunk, part of the goods seized, and the rest sent to +the bottom. You may be sure he's a dare-devil, however, for whenever +the servants speak of him, they sink their voice to a whisper, as if +the fiend were at their elbow." + +Sir Edward Digby was very well inclined to hear more; but while the +man was speaking, the bell he had mentioned, rang, and the young +baronet, who had a certain regard for his own personal appearance, +hastened to dress and to descend to the drawing-room. + + + + + CHAPTER VI. + + +It is sometimes expedient in telling a tale of this kind, to introduce +the different personages quietly to the reader one after the other, +and to suffer him to become familiar with them separately, before they +are all brought to act together, that he may have a clear and definite +notion of their various characters, dispositions, and peculiarities, +and be enabled to judge at once of the motives by which they are +actuated, when we recite the deeds that they perform. + +Having twice or thrice mentioned one of the prominent persons in this +history, without having brought him visibly upon the scene, (as, in +the natural course of events, I must very soon do,) I shall now follow +the plan above mentioned; and, in order to give the reader a distinct +notion of Mr. Radford, his character and proceedings, will beg those +who have gone on with me thus far, to step back with me to the same +night, on which Mr. Warde and his young friend met the smuggler in his +evening walk along the heights. + +Not very far from the town of Hythe, not very far from the village of +Sandgate, are still to be found the ruins of an ancient castle, which, +by various deeds that have been performed within its walls, has +acquired a name in English history. The foundation of the building is +beyond our records; and tradition, always fond of the marvellous, +carries back the period when the first stone was laid to the times of +the Roman invaders of Great Britain. Others supposed that it was +erected by the Saxons, but, as it now stands, it presents no trace of +the handiwork of either of those two races of barbarians, and is +simply one of those strongholds constructed by the Normans, or their +close descendants, either to keep their hold of a conquered country, +or to resist the power both of tyrannical monarchs and dangerous +neighbours. Various parts of the building are undoubtedly attributable +to the reign of Henry II.; and if any portion be of an earlier date, +of which I have some doubts, it is but small; but a considerable part +is, I believe, of a still later epoch, and in some places may be +traced the architecture common in the reign of Edward III. and of his +grandson. The space enclosed within the outer walls is very extensive, +and numerous detached buildings, chapels, halls, and apparently a +priory, are still to be found built against those walls themselves, so +that it is probable that the castle in remote days gave shelter to +some religious body, which is rendered still more likely from the fact +of Saltwood Castle and its manor having formerly appertained to the +church and see of Canterbury. + +Many a remarkable scene has undoubtedly passed in the courts and halls +of that now ruined building, and it is even probable that there the +dark and dreadful deed, which, though probably not of his contriving, +embittered the latter life of the second Henry, was planned and +determined by the murderers of Thomas à Becket. With such deeds, +however, and those ancient times, we have nothing here to do; and at +the period to which this tale refers, the castle, though in a much +more perfect state than at present, was already in ruins. The park, +which formerly surrounded it, had been long thrown open and divided +into fields; but still the character which its formation had given to +the neighbouring scenery had not passed away; and the rich extent of +old pasture, the scattered woods and clumps of trees, the brawling +brook, here and there diverted from its natural course for ornament or +convenience,--all bespoke the former destination of the ground, for +near a mile around on every side, when magnificent Archbishop +Courtenay held the castle of Saltwood as his favourite place of +residence. + +Though, as I have said, grey ruin had possession of the building, yet +the strength of its construction had enabled it in many parts to +resist the attacks of time; and the great keep, with its two lofty +gate towers and wide-spreading hall, was then but very little decayed. +Nevertheless, at that period no one tenanted the castle of Saltwood +but an old man and his son, who cultivated a small portion of ground +in the neighbourhood; and their dwelling was confined to three rooms +in the keep, though they occupied several others by their implements +of husbandry, occasionally diversified with sacks of grain, stores of +carrots and turnips, and other articles of agricultural produce. Thus, +every night, for a short time, lights were to be seen in Saltwood +Castle, but all the buildings except the keep, were utterly neglected, +and falling rapidly into a state of complete dilapidation. + +It was towards this building, on the night I speak of, that the +smuggler took his way, about a quarter of an hour after having +suddenly broken off his conversation with Mr. Warde and the young +officer. He walked on with a quick, bold, careless step, apparently +without much thought or consideration of the interview to which he was +summoned. He paused, indeed, more than once, and looked around him; +but it was merely to gaze at the beauty of the scenery, for which he +had a great natural taste. It is no slight mistake to suppose that the +constant intercourse with, and opportunity of enjoying the beauties of +nature, diminish in any degree the pleasures that we thence derive. +The direct contrary is the case. Every other delight, everything that +man has contrived or found for himself, palls upon the taste by +frequent fruition; but not so with those sources of pleasure which are +given us by God himself; and the purer and freer they are from man's +invention, the more permanent are they in their capability of +bestowing happiness, the more extensive seems their quality of +satisfying the ever-increasing desires of the spirit within us. Were +it not so, the ardent attachment which is felt by those who have been +born and brought up in the midst of fine and magnificent scenery to +the place of their nativity, could not exist; and it will always be +found that, other things being equal, those who live most amongst the +beauties of nature, are those who most appreciate them. + +Many a beautiful prospect presented itself to the smuggler, as he +walked on by the light of the moon. At one place, the woods swept +round him and concealed the rest of the country from his eyes; but +then the moonbeams poured through the branches, or streamed along the +path, and every now and then, between the old trunks and gnarled +roots, he caught a sight of the deeper parts of the woodland, sleeping +in the pale rays. At another, issuing forth upon the side of the hill, +the leafy wilderness lay beneath his feet with the broad round summit +of some piece of high ground, rising dark and flat above; and at some +distance further, he suddenly turned the angle of the valley, and had +the tall grey ruin of Saltwood full before him, with the lines of the +trees and meadows sweeping down into the dell, and the bright sky, +lustrous with the moonlight, extended broad and unclouded behind. +Shortly after, he came to the little stream, rushing in miniature +cascades between its hollow banks, and murmuring with a soft and +musical voice amongst the roots of the shrubs, which here and there +hid it from the beams. + +He paused but a moment or two, however, at any of these things, and +then walked on again, till at length he climbed the road leading up to +the castle, and passed through the arch-way of the gate. Of the +history of the place he knew nothing, but from vague traditions heard +in his boyhood; and yet, when he stood amongst those old grey walls, +with the high towers rising before him, and the greensward, covering +the decay of centuries, beneath his feet, he could not help feeling a +vague impression of melancholy, not unmingled with awe, fall upon him. +In the presence of ancient things, the link between all mortality +seems most strongly felt. We perceive our association with the dead +more strongly. The character and habits of thought of the person, of +course, render it a more distinct or obscure perception; but still we +all have it. With some, it is as I have before called it, an +impression that we must share the same decay, meet the same fate, fall +into the same tomb as those who have raised or produced the things +that we behold; for every work of man is but a tombstone, if it be +read aright. But with others, an audible voice speaks from the grey +ruin and the ancient church, from the dilapidated houses where our +fathers dwelt or worshipped, and says to every one amongst the living, +"As they were, who built us, so must you be. They enjoyed, and hoped, +and feared, and suffered. So do you. Where are they gone, with all +their thoughts? Where will you go, think you never so highly? All +down, down, to the same dust, whither we too are tending. We have seen +these things, for ages past, and we shall see more." + +I mean not to say that such was exactly the aspect under which those +ruins presented themselves to the eye of the man who now visited them. +The voice that spoke was not so clear; but yet it was clear enough to +make him feel thoughtful if not sad; and he paused to gaze up at the +high keep, as the moon shone out upon the old stone-work, showing +every loophole and casement. He was not without imagination in a +homely way, and, following the train of thought which the sight of the +castle at that hour suggested, he said to himself, "I dare say many a +pretty girl has looked out of that window to talk to her lover by the +moonlight; and they have grown old, and died like other folks." + +How long he would have gone on in this musing mood I cannot tell, but +just at that moment the boy who had come down to the beach to call +him, appeared from the old doorway of the chapel, and pointing to one +of the towers in the wall, whispered--"He's up there, waiting for +you." + +"Well, then, you run home, young Starlight," replied the smuggler. +"I'll be after you in a minute, for he can't have much to say, I +should think. Off with you! and no listening, or I'll break your head, +youngster." + +The boy laughed, and ran away through the gate; and his companion +turned towards the angle which he had pointed out. Approaching the +wall, he entered what might have been a door, or perhaps a window +looking in upon the court, and communicating with one of those +passages which led from tower to tower, with stairs every here and +there leading to the battlements. He was obliged to bow his head as he +passed; but after climbing a somewhat steep ascent, where the broken +steps were half covered with rubbish, he emerged upon the top of the +wall, where many a sentinel had kept his weary watch in times long +past. At a little distance in advance, standing in the pale moonlight, +was a tall, gaunt figure, leaning against a fragment of one of the +neighbouring towers; and Harding did not pause to look at the +splendour of the view below, though it might well, with its world of +wood and meadow, bounded by the glistening sea, have attracted eyes +less fond of such scenes than his; but on he walked, straight towards +the person before him, who, on his part, hurried forward to meet him, +whenever the sound of his step broke upon the ear. + +"Good night, Harding," said Mr. Radford, in a low but still harsh +tone; "what a time you have been. It will be one o'clock or more +before I get back." + +"Past two," answered the smuggler, bluntly; "but I came as soon as I +could. It is not much more than half an hour since I got your +message." + +"That stupid boy has been playing the fool, then," replied the other; +"I sent him----" + +"Oh, he's not stupid," interrupted the smuggler; "and he's not given +to play the fool either. More like to play the rogue. But what's the +business now, sir? There's no doing anything on such nights as these." + +"I know that--I know that," rejoined Radford. "But this will soon +change. The moon will be dwindled down to cheese-paring before many +days are over, and the barometer is falling. It is necessary that we +should make all our arrangements beforehand, Harding, and have +everything ready. We must have no more such jobs as the last two." + +"I had nothing to do with them," rejoined the smuggler. "You chose +your own people, and they failed. I do not mean to say it was their +fault, for I don't think it was. They lost as much, for them, as you +did; and they did their best, I dare say; but still that is nothing to +me. I've undertaken to land the cargo, and I will do it, if I live. If +I die, there's nothing to be said, you know; but I don't say I'll ever +undertake another of the sort. It does not answer, Mr. Radford. It +makes a man think too much, to know that other people have got so much +money staked on such a venture." + +"Ay, but that is the very cause why every one should exert himself," +answered his companion. "I lost fifty thousand pounds by the last +affair, twenty by the other; but I tell you, Harding, I have more than +both upon this, and if this fail----" + +He paused, and did not finish the sentence; but he set his teeth hard, +and seemed to draw his breath with difficulty. + +"That's a bad plan," said the smuggler--"a bad plan, in all ways. You +wish to make up all at one run: and so you double the venture: but you +should know by this time, that one out of four pays very well, and we +have seldom failed to do one out of two or three; but the more money +people get the more greedy they are of it; so that because you put +three times as much as enough on one freight, you must needs put five +times on the other, and ten times on the third, risking a greater loss +every time for a greater gain. I'll have to do with no more of these +things. I'm contented with little, and don't like such great +speculations." + +"Oh, if you are afraid," cried Mr. Radford, "you can give it up! I +dare say we can find some one else to land the goods." + +"As to being afraid, that I am not," answered Harding; "and having +undertaken the run, I'll do it. I'm not half so much afraid as you +are: for I've not near so much to lose--only my life or liberty and +three hundred pounds. But still, Mr. Radford, I do not like to think +that if anything goes wrong you'll be so much hurt; and it makes a man +feel queer. If I have a few hundreds in a boat, and nothing to lose +but myself and a dozen of tubs, I go about it as gay as a lark and as +cool and quiet as a dogfish; but if anything were to go wrong now, why +it would be----" + +"Ruin--utter ruin!" said Mr. Radford. + +"I dare say it would," rejoined the smuggler; "but, nevertheless, your +coming down here every other day, and sending for me, does no good, +and a great deal of harm. It only teazes me, and sets me always +thinking about it, when the best way is not to think at all, but just +to do the thing and get it over. Besides, you'll have people noticing +your being so often down here, and you'll make them suspect something +is going on." + +"But it is necessary, my good fellow," answered the other, "that we +should settle all our plans. I must have people ready, and horses and +help, in case of need." + +"Ay, that you must," replied the smuggler, thoughtfully. "I think you +said the cargo was light goods." + +"Almost all India," said Radford, in return. "Shawls and painted +silks, and other things of great value but small bulk. There are a few +bales of lace, too; but the whole will require well nigh a hundred +horses to carry it, so that we must have a strong muster." + +"Ay, and men who fight, too," rejoined Harding. "You know there are +Dragoons down at Folkestone?" + +"No!--when did they come?" exclaimed Hadford, eagerly. "That's a bad +job--that's a bad job! Perhaps they suspect already. Perhaps some of +those fellows from the other side have given information, and these +soldiers are sent down in consequence--I shouldn't wonder, I shouldn't +wonder." + +"Pooh--nonsense, Mr. Radford!" replied Harding; "you are always so +suspicious. Some day or another you'll suspect me." + +"I suspect everybody," cried Radford, vehemently, "and I have good +cause. I have known men do such things, for a pitiful gain, as would +hang them, if there were any just punishment for treachery." + +Harding laughed, but he did not explain the cause of his merriment, +though probably he thought that Mr. Radford himself would do many a +thing for a small gain, which would not lightly touch his soul's +salvation. He soon proceeded, however, to reply, in a grave +tone--"That's a bad plan, Mr. Radford. No man is ever well served by +those whom he suspects. He had better never have anything to do with a +person he doubts; so, if you doubt me, I'm quite willing to give the +business up, for I don't half like it." + +"Oh, no!" said Radford, in a smooth and coaxing tone, "I did not mean +you, Harding; I know you too well for as honest a fellow as ever +lived; but I do doubt those fellows on the other side, and I strongly +suspect they peached about the other two affairs. Besides, you said +something about Dragoons, and we have not had any of that sort of +vermin here for a year or more." + +"You frighten yourself about nothing," answered Harding. "There is but +a troop of them yet, though they say more are expected. But what good +are Dragoons? I have run many a cargo under their very noses, and hope +I shall live to run many another. As to stopping this traffic, they +are no more good than so many old women!" + +"But you must get it all over before the rest come," replied Mr. +Radford, in an argumentative manner, taking hold of the lappel of his +companion's jacket; "there's no use of running more risk than needful. +And you must remember that we have a long way to carry the goods after +they are landed. Then is the most dangerous time." + +"I don't know that," said Harding; "but, however, you must provide for +that, and must also look out for _hides_[1] for the things. I wont +have any of them down with me; and when I have landed them safely, +though I don't mind giving a help to bring them a little way inland, I +wont be answerable for anything more." + + +--------------------- + +[Footnote 1: It may be as well to explain to the uninitiated reader, +that the secret places where smugglers conceal their goods after +landing, are known by the name of "Hides."] + +--------------------- + + +"No, no; that's all settled," answered his companion; "and the hides +are all ready, too. Some can come into my stable, others can be +carried up to the willow cave. Then there's Sir Robert's great barn." + +"Will Sir Robert consent?" asked Harding, in a doubtful tone. "He +would never have anything to do with these matters himself, and was +always devilish hard upon us. I remember he sent my father to gaol ten +years ago, when I was a youngster." + +"He must consent," replied Radford, sternly. "He dare as soon refuse +me as cut off his right hand. I tell you, Harding, I have got him in a +vice; and one turn of the lever will make him cry for mercy when I +like. But no more of him. I shall use his barn as if it were my own; +and it is in the middle of the wood, you know, so that it's out of +sight. But even if it were not for that, we've got many another place. +Thank Heaven, there are no want of hides in this county!" + +"Ay, but the worst of dry goods, and things of that kind," rejoined +the smuggler, "is that they spoil with a little wet, so that one can't +sink them in a cut or canal till they are wanted, as one can do with +tubs. Who do you intend to send down for them? That's one thing I must +know." + +"Oh, whoever comes, my son will be with them," answered Mr. Radford. +"As to who the others will be, I cannot tell yet. The Ramleys, +certainly, amongst the rest. They are always ready, and will either +fight or run, as it may be needed." + +"I don't much like them," replied Harding; "they are a bad set. I wish +they were hanged, or out of the country; for, as you say, they will +either fight, or run, or peach, or anything else that suits them: one +just as soon as another." + +"Oh, no fear of that--no fear of that!" exclaimed Mr. Radford, in a +confident tone, which seemed somewhat strange to the ears of his +companion, after the suspicions he had heard him so lately express; +but the other instantly added, in explanation, "I shall take care that +they have no means of peaching, for I will tell them nothing about it, +till they are setting off with fifty or sixty others." + +"That's the best way, and the only way with such fellows as that," +answered Harding; "but if you tell nobody, you'll find it a hard job +to get them all together." + +"Only let the day be fixed," said Mr. Radford; "and I'll have all +ready--never fear." + +"That must be your affair," replied Harding; "I'm ready whenever you +like. Give me a dark night and a fair wind, and my part of the job is +soon done." + +"About this day week, I should think," said Mr. Radford. "The moon +will be nearly out by that time." + +"Not much more than half," replied the smuggler; "and as we have got +to go far,--for the ship, you say, will not stand in,--we had better +have the whole night to ourselves. Even a bit of a moon is a bad +companion on such a trip; especially when there is so much money +risked. No, I think you had better give me three days more: then there +will be wellnigh nothing left of her, and she wont rise till three or +four. We can see what the weather's like, too, about that time; and I +can come up, and let you know. But if you'll take my advice, Mr. +Radford, you'll not be coming down here any more, till it's all over +at least. There's no good of it, and it may do mischief." + +"Well, now it's all settled, I shall not need to do so," rejoined the +other; "but I really don't see, Harding, why you should so much wish +me to stay away." + +"I'll tell you why, Mr. Radford," said Harding, putting his hands into +the pockets of his jacket, "and that very easily. Although you have +become a great gentleman, and live at a fine place inland, people +haven't forgot when you kept a house and a counting-house too, in +Hythe, and all that used to go on in those days; and though you are a +magistrate, and go out hunting and shooting, and all that, the good +folks about have little doubt that you have a hankering after the old +trade yet, only that you do your business on a larger scale than you +did then. It's but the other day, when I was in at South's, the +grocer's, to talk to him about some stuff he wanted, I heard two men +say one to the other, as they saw you pass, 'Ay, there goes old +Radford. I wonder what he's down here for!' 'As great an old smuggler +as ever lived,' said the other; 'and a pretty penny he's made of it. +He's still at it, they say; and I dare say he's down here now upon +some such concern.' So you see, sir, people talk about it, and that's +the reason why I say that the less you are here the better." + +"Perhaps it is--perhaps it is," answered Mr. Radford, quickly; "and as +we've now settled all we can settle, till you come up, I'll take +myself home. Good night, Harding--good night!" + +"Good night, sir," answered Harding, with something like a smile upon +his lip; and finding their way down again to the court below, they +parted. + +"I don't like that fellow at all," said Mr. Radford to himself, as he +walked away upon the road to Hythe, where he had left his horse; "he's +more than half inclined to be uncivil. I'll have nothing more to do +with him after this is over." + +Harding took his way across the fields towards Sandgate, and perhaps +his thoughts were not much more complimentary to his companion than +Mr. Radford's had been to him; but in the meantime, while each +followed his separate course homeward, we must remain for a short +space in the green, moonlight court of Saltwood Castle. All remained +still and silent for about three minutes; but then the ivy, which at +that time had gathered thickly round the old walls, might be seen to +move in the neighbourhood of a small aperture in one of the ruined +flanking towers of the outer wall, to which it had at one time +probably served as a window, though all traces of its original form +were now lost. The tower was close to the spot where Mr. Radford and +his companion had been standing; and although the aperture we have +mentioned looked towards the court, joining on to a projecting wall in +great part overthrown, there was a loop-hole on the other side, +flanking the very parapet on which they had carried on their +conversation. + +After the ivy had moved for a moment, as I have said, something like a +human head was thrust out, looking cautiously round the court. The +next minute a broad pair of shoulders appeared, and then the whole +form of a tall and powerful man, who, after pausing for an instant on +the top of the broken wall, used its fragments as a means of descent +to the ground below. Just as he reached the level of the court, one of +the loose stones which he had displaced as he came down, rolled after +him and fell at his side; and, with a sudden start at the first sound, +he laid his hand on the butt of a large horse-pistol stuck in a belt +round his waist. As soon as he perceived what it was that had alarmed +him, he took his hand from the weapon again, and walked out into the +moonlight; and thence, after pacing quietly up and down for two or +three minutes, to give time for the two other visitors of the castle +to get to a distance, he sauntered slowly out through the gate. He +then turned under the walls towards the little wood which at that time +occupied a part of the valley; opposite to which he stood gazing for +about five minutes. When he judged all safe, he gave a whistle, upon +which the form of a boy instantly started out from the trees, and came +running across the meadow towards him. + +"Have you heard all, Mr. Mowle?" asked the boy in a whisper, as soon +as he was near. + +"All that they said, Little Starlight," replied the other. "They +didn't say enough; but yet it will do; and you are a clever little +fellow. But come along," he added, laying his hand on the boy's +shoulder, "you shall have what I promised you, and half-a-crown more; +and if you go on, and tell me all you find out, you shall be well +paid." + +Thus saying, he walked on with the boy towards Hythe, and the scenery +round Saltwood resumed its silent solitude again. + + + + + CHAPTER VII. + + +To a very hungry man, it matters not much what is put upon the table, +so that it be eatable; but with the intellectual appetite the case is +different, and every one is anxious to know who is to be his +companion, or what is to be in his book. Now, Sir Edward Digby was +somewhat of an epicure in human character; and he always felt as great +a curiosity to enjoy any new personage brought before him, as the more +ordinary epicure desires to taste a new dish. He was equally refined, +too, in regard to the taste of his intellectual food. He liked a good +deal of flavour, but not too much: a soupçon of something, he did not +well know what, in a man's demeanour gave it great zest, as a soupçon +of two or three condiments so blended in a salmi as to defy analysis +must have charmed Vatel; and, to say the truth, the little he had seen +or heard of the house in which he now was, together with his knowledge +of some of its antecedents, had awakened a great desire for a farther +taste of its quality. + +When he went down stairs, then, and opened the dining-room door, his +eye naturally ran round in search of the new guests. Only two, +however, had arrived, in the first of whom he recognised Mr. Zachary +Croyland. The other was a venerable looking old man, in black, whom he +could not conceive to be Mr. Radford, from the previous account which +he had heard of that respectable gentleman's character. It turned out, +however, that the person before him--who had been omitted by Sir +Robert Croyland in the enumeration of his expected visitors--was the +clergyman of the neighbouring village; and being merely a plain, good +man, of very excellent sense, but neither, rich noble, nor thrifty, +was nobody in the opinion of the baronet. + +As soon as Sir Edward Digby appeared, Mr. Zachary Croyland, with his +back tall, straight, and stiff as a poker, advanced towards him, and +shook him cordially by the hand. "Welcome, welcome, my young friend," +he said; "you've kept your word, I see; and that's a good sign of any +man, especially when he knows that there's neither pleasure, profit, +nor popularity to be gained by so doing; and I'm sure there's none of +either to be had in this remote corner of the world. You have some +object, of course, in coming among us; for every man has an object; +but what it is I can't divine." + +"A very great object indeed, my dear sir," replied the young officer, +with a smile; "I wish to cultivate the acquaintance of an old friend +of my father's--your brother here, who was kind enough to invite me." + +"A very unprofitable sort of plant to cultivate," answered Mr. +Croyland, in a voice quite loud enough to be heard by the whole room. +"It wont pay tillage, I should think; but you know your own affairs +best. Here, Edith, my love, I must make you better acquainted with my +young fellow-traveller. Doubtless, he is perfectly competent to talk +as much nonsense to you as any other young man about town, and has +imported, for the express benefit of the young ladies in the country, +all the sweet things and pretty speeches last in vogue. But he can, in +his saner moments, and if you just let him know that you are not quite +a fool, bestow upon you some small portion of common sense, which he +has picked up, Heaven knows how!--He couldn't have it by descent; for +he is an eldest son, and that portion of the family property is always +reserved for the younger children." + +Mrs. Barbara Croyland, who found that her brother Zachary was riding +his horse somewhat hard, moved across the room--with the superfluity +of whalebone which she had in her stays crackling at every step, as if +expressly to attract attention--and, laying her hand on Mr. Croyland's +arm, she whispered--"Now do, brother, be a little civil and kind. +There's no use of hurting people's feelings; and, if Robert hasn't as +much sense as you, there's no use you should always be telling him +so." + +"Pish! nonsense! "cried Mr. Croyland, "Hold your tongue, Bab. You're a +good soul as ever lived, but a great fool into the bargain. So don't +meddle. I should think you had burnt your fingers enough with it by +this time." + +"And I'm sure you're a good soul, too, if you would but let people +know it," replied Mrs. Barbara, anxious to soften and keep down all +the little oddities and asperities of her family circle in the eyes of +Sir Edward Digby. + +But she only showed them the more by so doing; for Mr. Croyland was +not to be caught by honey; and, besides, the character which she, in +her simplicity, thought fit to attribute to him, was the very last +upon the face of the earth which he coveted. Every man has his vanity; +and it is an imp that takes an infinite variety of different forms, +frequently the most hideous or the most absurd. Now Mr. Croyland's +vanity lay in his oddity and acerbity. There was nothing on earth +which he considered so foolish as good-nature; and he was heartily +ashamed of the large portion with which Heaven had endowed him. + +"I a good soul!" he exclaimed. "Let me tell you, Bab, you are very +much mistaken in that, as in every other thing you say or do. I am +nothing more nor less than a very cross, ill-tempered old man; and you +know it quite well, if you wouldn't be a hypocrite." + +"Well, I do believe you are," said the lady, with her own particular +vanity mortified into a state of irritation, "and the only way is to +let you alone." + +While this conversation had been passing between brother and sister, +Sir Edward Digby, taking advantage of the position in which they +stood, and which masked his own operations from the rest of the party, +bent down to speak a few words to Edith, who, whatever they were, +looked up with a smile, faint and thoughtful indeed, but still +expressing as much cheerfulness as her countenance ever showed. The +topic which he spoke upon might be commonplace, but what he said was +said with grace, and had a degree of originality in it, mingled with +courtliness and propriety of expression, which at once awakened +attention and repaid it. It was not strong beer--it was not strong +spirit--but it was like some delicate kind of wine, which has more +power than the fineness of the flavour suffers to be apparent at the +first taste. + +Their conversation was not long, however; for by the time that the +young gentleman and lady had exchanged a few sentences, and Mr. +Croyland had finished his discussion with his sister, the name of Mr. +Radford was announced; and Sir Edward Digby turned quickly round to +examine the appearance of the new comer. As he did so, however, his +eye fell for a moment upon the countenance of Edith Croyland, and he +thought he remarked an expression of anxiety not unmingled with pain, +till the door closed after admitting a single figure, when a look of +relief brightened her face, and she gave a glance across the room to +her sister. The younger girl instantly rose; and while her father was +busy receiving Mr. Radford with somewhat profuse attention, she +gracefully crossed the room, and seating herself by Edith, laid her +hand upon her sister's, whispering something to her with a kindly +look. + +Sir Edward Digby marked it all, and liked it; for there is something +in the bottom of man's heart which has always a sympathy with +affection; but he, nevertheless, did not fail to take a complete +survey of the personage who entered, and whom I must now present to +the reader, somewhat more distinctly than I could do by the moonlight. +Mr. Richard Radford was a tall, thin, but large-boned man, with dark +eyes and overhanging shaggy brows, a hook nose, considerably depressed +towards the point, a mouth somewhat wide, and teeth very fine for his +age, though somewhat straggling and sharklike. His hair was very +thick, and apparently coarse; his arms long and powerful; and his +legs, notwithstanding the meagreness of his body, furnished with very +respectable calves. On the whole, he was a striking but not a +prepossessing person; and there was a look of keenness and cupidity, +we might almost say voracity, in his eye, with a bend in the brow, +which would have given the observer an idea of great quickness of +intellect and decision of character, if it had not been for a certain +degree of weakness about the partly opened mouth, which seemed to be +in opposition to the latter characteristic. He was dressed in the +height of the mode, with large buckles in his shoes and smaller ones +at his knees, a light dress-sword hanging not ungracefully by his +side, and a profusion of lace and embroidery about his apparel. + +Mr. Radford replied to the courtesies of Sir Robert Croyland +with perfect self-possession--one might almost call it +self-sufficiency--but with no grace and some stiffness. He was then +introduced, in form, to Sir Edward Digby, bowing low, if that could be +called a bow, which was merely an inclination of the rigid spine, from +a perpendicular position to an angle of forty-five with the horizon. +The young officer's demeanour formed a very striking contrast with +that of his new acquaintance, not much in favour of the latter; but he +showed that, as Mr. Croyland had predicated of him, he was quite +prepared to say a great many courteous nothings in a very civil and +obliging tone. Mr. Radford declared himself delighted at the honour of +making his acquaintance, and Sir Edward pronounced himself charmed at +the opportunity of meeting him. Mr. Radford hoped that he was going to +honour their poor place for a considerable length of time, and Sir +Edward felt sure that the beauty of such scenery, and the delights of +such society, would be the cause of much pain to him when he was +compelled to tear himself away. + +A low but merry laugh from behind them, caused both the gentlemen to +turn their heads; and they found the sparkling eyes of Zara Croyland +fixed upon them. She instantly dropped her eye-lids, however, and +coloured a little, at being detected. It was evident enough that she +had been weighing the compliments she heard, and estimating them at +their right value, which made Mr. Radford look somewhat angry, but +elicited nothing from Sir Edward Digby but a gay glance at the +beautiful little culprit, which she caught, even through the thick +lashes of her downcast eyes, and which served to reassure her. + +Sir Robert Croyland himself was displeased; but Zara was in a degree a +spoiled child, and had established for herself a privilege of doing +what she liked, unscolded. To turn the conversation, therefore, Sir +Robert, in a tone of great regard, inquired particularly after his +young friend, Richard, and said, he hoped that they were to have the +pleasure of seeing him. + +"I trust so--I trust so, Sir Robert," replied Mr. Radford; "but you +know I am totally unacquainted with his movements. He had gone away +upon some business, the servants told me; and I waited as long as I +could for him; but I did not choose to keep your dinner, Sir Robert; +and if he does not choose to come in time, the young dog must go +without.--Pray do not stop a moment for him." + +"Business!" muttered Mr. Croyland--"either cheating the king's +revenue, or making love to a milkmaid, I'll answer for him;" but the +remark passed unnoticed, for Sir Robert Croyland, who was always +anxious to drown his brother's somewhat too pertinent observations, +without giving the nabob any offence, was loudly pressing Mr. Radford +to let them wait for half an hour, in order to give time for the young +gentleman's arrival. + +His father, however, would not hear of such a proceeding; and the bell +was rung, and dinner ordered. It was placed upon the table with great +expedition; and the party moved towards the dining-room. Mr. Radford +handed in the baronet's sister, who was, to say the truth, an enigma +to him; for he himself could form no conception of her good-nature, +simplicity, and kindness, and consequently thought that all the +mischief she occasionally caused, must originate in well-concealed +spite, which gave him a great reverence for her character. Sir Edward +Digby, notwithstanding a hint from Sir Robert to take in his youngest +daughter, advanced to Miss Croyland, and secured her, as he thought, +for himself; while the brother of the master of the house followed +with the fair Zara, leaving the clergyman and Sir Robert to come +together. By a man[oe]uvre on the part of Edith, however, favoured by +her father, but nearly frustrated by the busy spirit of her aunt, Miss +Croyland got placed between Sir Robert and the clergyman, while the +youngest daughter of the house was seated by Sir Edward Digby, leaving +a chair vacant between herself and her worthy parent for young +Radford, when he should arrive. + +All this being arranged, to the satisfaction of everybody but Sir +Edward Digby, grace was said, after a not very decent hint from Sir +Robert Croyland, that it ought not to be too long; and the dinner +commenced with the usual attack upon soup and fish. It must not be +supposed, however, because we have ventured to say that the +arrangement was not to the satisfaction of Sir Edward Digby, that the +young baronet was at all disinclined to enjoy his pretty little +friend's society nearer than the opposite side of the table. Nor must +it be imagined that his sage reflections, in regard to keeping himself +out of danger, had at all made a coward of the gallant soldier. The +truth is, he had a strong desire to study Edith Croyland: not on +account of any benefit which that study could be of to himself, but +with other motives and views, which, upon the whole, were very +laudable. He wished to see into her mind, and, by those slight +indications which were all he could expect her to display--but which, +nevertheless, to a keen observer, often tell a history better than a +whole volume of details--to ascertain some facts, in regard to which +he took a considerable interest. Being somewhat eager in his way, and +not knowing how long he might find it either convenient or safe to +remain in his present quarters, he had determined to commence the +campaign as soon as possible; but, frustrated in his first attack, he +determined to change his plan of operations, and besiege the fair Zara +as one of the enemy's outworks. He accordingly laughed and talked with +her upon almost every subject in the world during the first part of +dinner, skilfully leading her up to the pursuits of her sister and +herself in the country, in order to obtain a clear knowledge of their +habits and course of proceeding, that he might take advantage of it at +an after-period, for purposes of his own. + +The art of conversation, when properly regarded, forms a regular +system of tactics, in which, notwithstanding the various man[oe]uvres +of your adversary, and the desultory fire kept up by indifferent +persons around, you still endeavour to carry the line of advance in +the direction that you wish, and to frustrate every effort to turn it +towards any point that may not be agreeable to you, rallying it here, +giving it a bend there; presenting a sharp angle at one place, an +obtuse one at another; and raising from time to time a barrier or a +breastwork for the purpose of preventing the adverse force from +turning your flank, and getting into your rear. + +But the mischief was, in the present instance, that Sir Edward Digby's +breastworks were too low for such an active opponent as Zara Croyland. +They might have appeared a formidable obstacle in the way of a +scientific opponent; but with all the rash valour of youth, which is +so frequently successful where practice and experience fail, she +walked straight up, and jumped over them, taking one line after +another, till Sir Edward Digby found that she had nearly got into the +heart of his camp. It was all so easy and natural, however, so gay and +cheerful, that he could not feel mortified, even at his own want of +success; and though five times she darted away from the subject, and +began to talk of other things, he still renewed it, expatiating upon +the pleasures of a country life, and upon how much more rational, as +well as agreeable it was, when compared to the amusements and whirl of +the town. + +Mr. Zachary Croyland, indeed, cut across them often, listening to what +they said and sometimes smiling significantly at Sir Edward Digby, or +at other times replying himself to what either of the two thought fit +to discourse upon. Thus, then, when the young baronet was descanting +sagely of the pleasures of the country, as compared with those of the +town, good Mr. Croyland laughed merrily, saying, "You will soon have +enough of it, Sir Edward; or else you are only deceiving that poor +foolish girl; for what have you to do with the country?--you, who have +lived the best part of your life in cities, and amongst their +denizens. I dare say, if the truth were told now, you would give a +guinea to be walking up the Mall, instead of sitting down here, in +this old, crumbling, crazy house, speaking courteous nonsense to a +pretty little milkmaid." + +"Indeed, my dear sir, you are very much mistaken," replied Sir Edward, +gravely. "You judge all men by yourself; and because you are fond of +cities, and the busy haunts of men, you think I must be so too." + +"I fond of cities and the busy haunts of men!" cried Mr. Croyland, in +a tone of high indignation; but a laugh that ran round the table, and +in which even the worthy clergyman joined, shewed the old gentleman +that he had been taken in by Sir Edward's quietly-spoken jest; and at +the same time his brother exclaimed, still laughing, "He hit you +fairly there, Zachary. He has found out the full extent of your love +for your fellow-creatures already." + +"Well, I forgive him, I forgive him!" said Mr. Croyland, with more +good humour than might have been expected. "I had forgotten that I had +told him, four or five days ago, my hatred for all cities, and +especially for that great mound of greedy emmets, which, +unfortunately, is the capital of this country. I declare I never go +into that vast den of iniquity, and mingle with the stream of +wretched-looking things that call themselves human, which all its +doors are hourly vomiting forth, but they put me in mind of the white +ants in India, just the same squalid-looking, active, and voracious +vermin as themselves, running over everything that obstructs them, +intruding themselves everywhere, destroying everything that comes in +their way, and acting as an incessant torment to every one within +reach. Certainly, the white ants are the less venemous of the two +races, and somewhat prettier to look at; but still there's a wonderful +resemblance." + +"I don't at all approve of your calling me a milkmaid, uncle," said +Zara, shaking her small delicate finger at Mr. Croyland, across the +table. "It's very wrong and ungrateful of you. See if ever I milk your +cow for you again!" + +"Then I'll milk it myself, my dear," replied Mr. Croyland, with a +good-humoured smile at his fair niece. + +"You cannot, you cannot!" cried Zara. "Fancy, Sir Edward, what a +picture it made when one day I went over to my uncle's, and found him +with a frightful-looking black man, in a turban whom he brought over +from Heaven knows where, trying to milk a cow he had just bought, and +neither of them able to manage it. My uncle was kneeling upon his +cocked hat, amongst the long grass, looking, as he acknowledges, like +a kangaroo; the cow had got one of her feet in the pail, kicking most +violently; and the black man with a white turban round his head, was +upon both his knees before her, beseeching her in some heathen +language to be quiet. It was the finest sight I ever saw, and would +have made a beautiful picture of the Worship of the Cow, which is, as +I am told, customary in the country where both the gentlemen came +from." + +"Zara, my dear--Zara!" cried Mrs. Barbara, who was frightened to death +lest her niece should deprive herself of all share in Mr. Croyland's +fortune. "You really should not tell such a story of your uncle." + +But the worthy gentleman himself was laughing till the tears ran down +his cheeks. "It's quite true--it's quite true!" he exclaimed, "and she +did milk the cow, though we couldn't. The ill-tempered devil was as +quiet as a lamb with her, though she is so vicious with every male +thing, that I have actually been obliged to have a woman in the +cottage within a hundred yards of the house, for the express purpose +of milking her." + +"That's what you should have done at first," said Mr. Radford, putting +down the fork with which he had been diligently devouring a large +plateful of fish. "Instead of having nothing but men about you, you +should have had none but your coachman and footman, and all the rest +women." + +"Ay, and married my cook-maid," replied Mr. Croyland, sarcastically. + +Sir Robert Croyland looked down into his plate with a quivering lip +and a heavy brow, as if he did not well know whether to laugh or be +angry. The clergyman smiled, Mr. Radford looked furious, but said +nothing, and Mrs. Barbara exclaimed, "Oh, brother, you should not say +such things! and besides, there are many cook-maids who are very nice, +pretty, respectable people." + +"Well, sister, I'll think of it," said Mr. Croyland, drily, but with a +good deal of fun twinkling in the corners of his eyes. + +It was too much for the light heart of Zara Croyland; and holding down +her head, she laughed outright, although she knew that Mr. Radford had +placed himself in the predicament of which her uncle spoke, though he +had been relieved of the immediate consequence for some years. + +What would have been the result is difficult to say; for Mr. Radford +was waxing wroth; but at that moment the door was flung hastily open, +and a young gentleman entered, of some three or four-and-twenty years +of age, bearing a strong resemblance to Mr. Radford, though +undoubtedly of a much more pleasant and graceful appearance. He was +well dressed, and his coat, lined with white silk of the finest +texture, was cast negligently back from his chest, with an air of +carelessness which was to be traced in all the rest of his apparel. +Everything he wore was as good as it could be, and everything became +him; for he was well formed, and his movements were free and even +graceful; but everything seemed to have been thrown on in a hurry, and +his hair floated wild and straggling round his brow, as if neither +comb nor brush had touched it for many hours. It might have been +supposed that this sort of disarray proceeded from haste when he found +himself too late and his father gone; but there was an expression of +reckless indifference about his face which led Sir Edward Digby to +imagine that this apparent negligence was the habitual characteristic +of his mind, rather than the effect of any accidental circumstance. +His air was quite self-possessed, though hurried; and a flashing +glance of his eye round the table, resting for a moment longer on Sir +Edward Digby than on any one else, seemed directed to ascertain +whether the party assembled was one that pleased him, before he chose +to sit down to the board with them. He made no apology to Sir Robert +Croyland for being too late, but shook hands with him in return for +the very cordial welcome he met with, and then seated himself in the +vacant chair, nodding to Miss Croyland familiarly, and receiving a +cold inclination of the head in return. One of the servants inquired +if he would take soup and fish; but he replied, abruptly, "No; bring +me fish. No soup--I hate such messes." + +In the meantime, by one of those odd turns which sometimes take place +in conversation, Mr. Croyland, the clergyman, and Mr. Radford himself +were once more talking together: the latter having apparently overcome +his indignation at the nabob's tart rejoinder, in the hope and +expectation of saying something still more biting to him in return. +Like many a great general, however, he had not justly appreciated the +power of his adversary as compared with his own strength. Mr. +Croyland, soured at an early period of life, had acquired by long +practice and experience a habit of repartee when his prejudices or his +opinions (and they are very different things) were assailed, which was +overpowering. A large fund of natural kindness and good humour formed +a curious substratum for the acerbity which had accumulated above it, +and his love of a joke would often shew itself in a hearty peal of +laughter, even at his own expense, when the attack upon him was made +in a good spirit, by one for whom he had any affection or esteem. But +if he despised or disliked his assailant, as was the case with Mr. +Radford, the bitterest possible retort was sure to be given in the +fewest possible words. + +In order to lead away from the obnoxious subject, the clergyman +returned to Mr. Croyland's hatred of London, saying, not very +advisedly perhaps, just as young Mr. Radford entered, "I cannot +imagine, my dear sir, why you have such an animosity to our +magnificent capital, and to all that it contains, especially when we +all know you to be as beneficent to individuals as you are severe upon +the species collectively." + +"My dear Cruden, you'll only make a mess of it," replied Mr. Croyland. +"The reason why I do sometimes befriend a poor scoundrel whom I happen +to know, is because it is less pleasant for me to see a rascal suffer +than to do what's just by him. I have no will and no power to punish +all the villany I see, otherwise my arm would be tired enough of +flogging, in this county of Kent. But I do not understand why I should +be called upon to like a great agglomeration of blackguards in a city, +when I can have the same diluted in the country. Here we have about a +hundred scoundrels to the square mile; in London we have a hundred to +the square yard." + +"Don't you think, sir, that they may be but the worse scoundrels in +the country because they are fewer?" demanded Mr. Radford. + +"I am beginning to fancy so," answered Mr. Croyland, drily, "but I +suppose in London the number makes up for the want of intensity." + +"Well, it's a very fine city," rejoined Mr. Radford; "the emporium of +the world, the nurse of arts and sciences, the birth-place and the +theatre of all that is great and majestic in the efforts of human +intellect." + +"And equally of all that is base and vile," answered his opponent; "it +is the place to which all smuggled goods naturally tend, Radford. +Every uncustomed spirit, every prohibited ware, physical and +intellectual, there finds its mart; and the chief art that is +practised is to cheat as cleverly as may be--the chief science +learned, is how to defraud without being detected. We are improving in +the country, daily--daily; but we have not reached the skill of London +yet. Men make large fortunes in the country in a few years by merely +cheating the Customs; but in London they make large fortunes in a few +months by cheating everybody." + +"So they do in India," replied Mr. Radford, who thought he had hit the +tender place. + +"True, true!" cried Mr. Croyland; "and then we go and set up for +country gentlemen, and cheat still. What rogues we are, Radford!--eh? +I see you know the world. It is very well for me to say, I made all my +money by curing men, not by robbing them. Never you believe it, my +good friend. It is not in human nature, is it? No, no! tell that to +the marines. No man ever made a fortune but by plunder, that's a +certain fact." + +The course of Sir Robert Croyland's dinner-party seemed to promise +very pleasantly at this juncture; but Sir Edward Digby, though +somewhat amused, was not himself fond of sharp words, and had some +compassion upon the ladies at the table. He therefore stepped in; and, +without seeming to have noticed that there was anything passing +between Mr. Radford and the brother of his host, except the most +delicate courtesies, he contrived, by some well-directed questions in +regard to India, to give Mr. Croyland an inducement to deviate from +the sarcastic into the expatiative; and having set him cantering upon +one of his hobbies, he left him to finish his excursion, and returned +to a conversation which had been going on between him and the fair +Zara, in somewhat of a low tone, though not so low as to show any +mutual design of keeping it from the ears of those around. Young +Radford had in the meantime been making up for the loss of time +occasioned by his absence at the commencement of dinner, and he seemed +undoubtedly to have a prodigious appetite. Not a word had passed from +father to son, or son to father; and a stranger might have supposed +them in no degree related to each other. Indeed, the young gentleman +had hitherto spoken to nobody but the servant; and while his mouth was +employed in eating, his quick, large eyes were directed to every face +round the table in succession, making several more tours than the +first investigating glance, which I have already mentioned, and every +time stopping longer at the countenance of Sir Edward Digby than +anywhere else. He now, however, seemed inclined to take part in that +officer's conversation with the youngest Miss Croyland, and did not +appear quite pleased to find her attention so completely engrossed by +a stranger. To Edith he vouchsafed not a single word; but hearing the +fair lady next to him reply to something which Sir Edward Digby had +said. "Oh, we go out once or twice almost every day; sometimes on +horseback; but more frequently to take a walk," he exclaimed, "Do you, +indeed, Miss Zara?--why, I never meet you, and I am always running +about the country. How is that, I wonder?" + +Zara smiled, and replied, with an arch look, "Because fortune +befriends us, I suppose, Mr. Radford;" but then, well knowing that he +was not one likely to take a jest in good part, she added--"we don't +go out to meet anybody, and therefore always take those paths where we +are least likely to do so." + +Still young Radford did not seem half to like her reply; but, +nevertheless, he went on in the same tone, continually interrupting +her conversation with Sir Edward Digby, and endeavouring, after a +fashion not at all uncommon, to make himself agreeable by preventing +people from following the course they are inclined to pursue. The +young baronet rather humoured him than otherwise, for he wished to see +as deeply as possible into his character. He asked him to drink wine +with him; he spoke to him once or twice without being called upon to +do so; and he was somewhat amused to see that the fair Zara was a good +deal annoyed at the encouragement he gave to her companion on the left +to join in their conversation. + +He was soon satisfied, however, in regard to the young man's mind and +character. Richard Radford had evidently received what is called a +good education, which is, in fact, no education at all. He had been +taught a great many things; he knew a good deal; but that which really +and truly constitutes education was totally wanting. He had not +learned how to make use of that which he had acquired, either for his +own benefit or for that of society. He had been instructed, not +educated, and there is the greatest possible difference between the +two. He was shrewd enough, but selfish and conceited to a high degree, +with a sufficient portion of pride to be offensive, with sufficient +vanity to be irritable, with all the wilfulness of a spoiled child, +and with that confusion of ideas in regard to plain right and wrong, +which is always consequent upon the want of moral training and +over-indulgence in youth. To judge from his own conversation, the +whole end and aim of his life seemed to be excitement; he spoke of +field sports with pleasure; but the degree of satisfaction which he +derived from each, appeared to be always in proportion to the danger, +the activity, and the fierceness. Hunting he liked better than +shooting, shooting than fishing, which latter he declared was only +tolerable because there was nothing else to be done in the spring of +the year. But upon the pleasures of the chase he would dilate largely, +and he told several anecdotes of staking a magnificent horse here, and +breaking the back of another there, till poor Zara turned somewhat +pale, and begged him to desist from such themes. + +"I cannot think how men can be so barbarous," she said. "Their whole +pleasure seems to consist in torturing poor animals or killing them." + +Young Radford laughed. "What were they made for?" he asked. + +"To be used by man, I think, not to be tortured by him," the young +lady replied. + +"No torture at all," said her companion on the left. "The horse takes +as much pleasure in running after the hounds as I do, and if he breaks +his back, or I break my neck, it's our own fault. We have nobody to +thank for it but ourselves. The very chance of killing oneself gives +additional pleasure; and, when one pushes a horse at a leap, the best +fun of the whole is the thought whether he will be able by any +possibility to clear it or not. If it were not for hunting, and one or +two other things of the sort, there would be nothing left for an +English gentleman, but to go to Italy and put himself at the head of a +party of banditti. That must be glorious work!" + +"Don't you think, Mr. Radford," asked Sir Edward Digby, "that active +service in the army might offer equal excitement, and a more +honourable field?" + +"Oh, dear no!" cried the young man. "A life of slavery compared with a +life of freedom; to be drilled and commanded, and made a mere machine +of, and sent about relieving guards and pickets, and doing everything +that one is told like a school-boy! I would not go into the army for +the world. I'm sure if I did I should shoot my commanding officer +within a month!" + +"Then I would advise you not," answered the young baronet, "for after +the shooting there would be another step to be taken which would not +be quite so pleasant." + +"Oh, you mean the hanging," cried young Radford, laughing; "but I +would take care they should never hang me; for I could shoot myself as +easily as I could shoot him; and I have a great dislike to +strangulation. It's one of the few sorts of death that would not +please me." + +"Come, come, Richard!" said Sir Robert Croyland, in a nervous and +displeased tone; "let us talk of some other subject. You will frighten +the ladies from table before the cloth is off." + +"It is very odd," said young Radford, in a low voice, to Sir Edward +Digby, without making any reply to the master of the house--"it is +very odd, how frightened old men are at the very name of death, when +at the best they can have but two or three years to live." + +The young officer did not reply, but turned the conversation to other +things; and the wine having been liberally supplied, operated as it +usually does, at the point where its use stops short of excess, in +"making glad the heart of man;" and the conclusion of the dinner was +much more cheerful and placable than the commencement. + +The ladies retired within a few minutes after the desert was set upon +the table; and it soon became evident to Sir Edward Digby, that the +process of deep drinking, so disgracefully common in England at that +time, was about to commence. He was by no means incapable of bearing +as potent libations as most men; for occasionally, in those days, it +was scarcely possible to escape excess without giving mortal offence +to your entertainer; but it was by no means either his habit or his +inclination so to indulge, and for this evening especially he was +anxious to escape. He looked, therefore, across the table to Mr. +Croyland for relief; and that gentleman, clearly understanding what he +meant, gave him a slight nod, and finished his first glass of wine +after dinner. The bottles passed round again, and Mr. Croyland took +his second glass; but after that he rose without calling much +attention: a proceeding which was habitual with him. When, however, +Sir Edward Digby followed his example, there was a general outcry. +Every one declared it was too bad, and Sir Robert said, in a somewhat +mortified tone, that he feared his wine was not so good as that to +which his guest had been accustomed. + +"It is only too good, my dear sir," replied the young baronet, +determined to cut the matter short, at once and for ever. "So good, +indeed, that I have been induced to take two more glasses than I +usually indulge in, and I consequently feel somewhat heated and +uncomfortable. I shall go and refresh myself by a walk through your +woods." + +Several more efforts were made to induce him to stay; but he was +resolute in his course; and Mr. Croyland also came to his aid, +exclaiming, "Pooh, nonsense, Robert! let every man do as he likes. +Have not I heard you, a thousand times, call your house Liberty Hall? +A pretty sort of liberty, indeed, if a man must get beastly drunk +because you choose to do so!" + +"I do not intend to do any such thing, brother," replied Sir Robert, +somewhat sharply; and in the meanwhile, during this discussion, Sir +Edward Digby made his escape from the room. + + + + + CHAPTER VIII. + + +On entering the drawing-room, towards which Sir Edward Digby +immediately turned his steps, he found it tenanted alone by Mrs. +Barbara Croyland, who sat in the window with her back towards the +door, knitting most diligently, with something pinned to her knee. As +it was quite beyond the good lady's conception that any body would +ever think of quitting the dining-room so early but her younger +brother, no sooner did she hear a step than, jumping at conclusions as +she usually did, she exclaimed aloud, "Isn't he a nice young man, +brother Zachary? I think it will do quite well, if that----" + +Sir Edward Digby would have given a great deal to hear the conclusion +of the sentence; but his honour was as bright as his sword; and he +never took advantage of a mistake. "It is not your brother, Mrs. +Croyland," he said; and then Mrs. Barbara starting up with a face like +scarlet, tearing her gown at the same time by the tug she gave to the +pin which attached her work to her knee, he added, with the most +benevolent intentions, "I think he might have been made a very nice +young man, if he had been properly treated in his youth. But I should +imagine he was very wild and headstrong now." + +Mrs. Barbara stared at him with a face full of wonder and confusion; +for her own mind was so completely impressed with the subject on which +she had begun to speak, that she by no means comprehended the turn +that he intended to give it, but thought that he also was talking of +himself, and not of young Radford. How it would have ended, no mere +mortal can tell; for when once Mrs. Barbara got into a scrape, she +floundered most awfully. Luckily, however, her brother was close +enough behind Sir Edward Digby to hear all that passed, and he entered +the room while the consternation was still fresh upon his worthy +sister's countenance. + +After gazing at her for a moment, with a look of sour merriment, Mr. +Croyland exclaimed, "There! hold your tongue, Bab; you can't get your +fish out of the kettle without burning your fingers!--Now, my young +friend," he continued, taking Sir Edward Digby by the arm, and drawing +him aside, "if you choose to be a great fool, and run the risk of +falling in love with a pretty girl, whom my sister Barbara has +determined you shall marry, whether you like it or not, and who +herself, dear little soul, has no intention in the world but of +playing you like a fish till you are caught, and then laughing at you, +you will find the two girls walking in the wood behind the house, as +they do every day. But if you don't like such amusement, you can stay +here with me and Bab, and be instructed by her in the art and mystery +of setting everything to wrongs with the very best intentions in the +world." + +"Thank you, my dear sir," replied Sir Edward, smiling, "I think I +should prefer the fresh air; and, as to the dangers against which you +warn me, I have no fears. The game of coquetry can be played by two." + +"Ay, but woe to him who loses!" said Mr. Croyland, in a more serious +tone. "But go along with you--go along! You are a rash young man; and +if you will court your fate, you must." + +The young baronet accordingly walked away, leaving Mrs. Barbara to +recover from her confusion as she best might, and Mr. Croyland to +scold her at his leisure, which Sir Edward did not in the slightest +degree doubt he would do. It was a beautiful summer's afternoon in the +end of August, the very last day of the month, the hour about a +quarter to six, so that the sun had nearly to run a twelfth part of +his course before the time of his setting. It was warm and cheerful, +too, but with a freshness in the air, and a certain golden glow over +the sky, which told that it was evening. Not wishing exactly to pass +before the dining-room windows, Sir Edward endeavoured to find his way +out into the wood behind the house by the stable and farm yards; but +he soon found himself in a labyrinth from which it was difficult to +extricate himself, and in the end was obliged to have recourse to a +stout country lad, who was walking up towards the mansion, with a +large pail of milk tugging at his hand, and bending in the opposite +direction to balance the load. Right willingly, however, the youth set +down the pail; and, leaving it to the tender mercies of some pigs, who +were walking about in the yard and did not fail to inquire into the +nature of its contents, he proceeded to show the way through the +flower and kitchen gardens, by a small door in the wall, to a path +which led out at once amongst the trees. + +Now, Sir Edward Digby had not the slightest idea of which way the two +young ladies had gone; and it was by no means improbable that, if he +were left without pilotage in going and returning, he might lose his +way in the wood, which, as I have said, was very extensive. But all +true lovers are fond of losing their way; and as he had his sword by +his side, he had not the slightest objection to that characteristic of +an Amadis, having in reality a good deal of the knight-errant about +him, and rather liking a little adventure, if it did not go too far. +His adventures, indeed, were not destined that night to be very +remarkable; for, following the path about a couple of hundred yards, +he was led directly into a good, broad, sandy road, in which he +thought it would be impossible to go astray. A few clouds that passed +over the sky from time to time cast their fitful and fanciful shadows +upon the way; the trees waved on either hand; and, with a small border +of green turf, the yellow path pursued its course through the wood, +forming a fine but pleasant contrast in colour with the verdure of all +the other things around. As he went on, too, the sky overhead, and the +shades amongst the trees, began to assume a rosy hue as the day +declined farther and farther; and the busy little squirrels, as +numerous as mice, were seen running here and there up the trees and +along the branches, with their bright black eyes staring at the +stranger with a saucy activity very little mingled with fear. The +young baronet was fond of such scenes, and fond of the somewhat grave +musing which they very naturally inspire; and he therefore went on, +alternately pondering and admiring, and very well contented with his +walk, whether he met with his fair friends or not. Sir Edward, indeed, +would not allow himself to fancy that he was by any means very anxious +for Zara's company, or for Miss Croyland's either--for he was not in +the slightest hurry either to fall in love or to acknowledge it to +himself even if he were. With regard to Edith, indeed, he felt himself +in no possible danger; for had he continued to think her, as he had +done at first, more beautiful than her sister--which by this time he +did not--he was still guarded in her case by feelings, which, to a man +of his character, were as a triple shield of brass, or anything a +great deal stronger. + +He walked on, however, and he walked on; not, indeed, with a very slow +pace, but with none of the eager hurry of youth after beauty; till at +length, when he had proceeded for about half an hour, he saw +cultivated fields and hedgerows at the end of the road he was +pursuing, and soon after came to the open country, without meeting +with the slightest trace of Sir Robert Croyland's daughters. + +On the right hand, as he issued out of the wood, there was a small but +very neat and picturesque cottage, with its little kitchen-garden and +its flower-garden, its wild roses, and its vine. + +"I have certainly missed them," said Sir Edward Digby to himself, "and +I ought to make the best use of my time, for it wont do to stay here +too long. Perhaps they may have gone into the cottage. Girls like +these often seek an object in their walk, and visit this poor person +or that;" and thus thinking, he advanced to the little gate, went into +the garden, and knocked with his knuckles at the door of the house. A +woman's voice bade him come in; and, doing so, he found a room, small +in size, but corresponding in neatness and cleanliness with the +outside of the place. It was tenanted by three persons--a middle-aged +woman, dressed as a widow, with a fine and placid countenance, who was +advancing towards the door as he entered; a very lovely girl of +eighteen or nineteen, who bore a strong resemblance to the widow; and +a stout, powerful, good-looking man, of about thirty, well dressed, +though without any attempt at the appearance of a station above the +middle class, with a clean, fine, checked shirt, having the collar +cast back, and a black silk handkerchief tied lightly in what is +usually termed a sailor's knot. The two latter persons were sitting +very close together, and the girl was smiling gaily at something her +companion had just said. + +"Two lovers!" thought the young baronet; but, as that was no business +of his, he went on to inquire of the good woman of the house, if she +had seen some young ladies pass that way; and having named them, he +added, to escape scandal, "I am staying at the house, and am afraid, +if I do not meet with them, I shall not easily find my way back." + +"They were here a minute ago, sir," replied the widow, "and they went +round to the east. They will take the Halden road back, I suppose. If +you make haste, you will catch them easily." + +"But which is the Halden road, my good lady?" asked Sir Edward Digby; +and she, turning to the man who was sitting by her daughter, said, "I +wish you would shew the gentleman, Mr. Harding." + +The man rose cheerfully enough--considering the circumstances--and led +the young baronet with a rapid step, by a footpath that wound round +the edge of the wood, to another broad road about three hundred yards +distant from that by which the young officer had come. Then, pointing +with his hand, he said, "There they are, going as slow as a Dutch +butter-tub. You can't miss them, or the road either: for it leads +straight on." + +Sir Edward Digby thanked him, and walked forward. A few rapid steps +brought him close to the two ladies, who--though they looked upon +every part of the wood as more or less their home, and consequently +felt no fear--turned at the sound of a footfall so near; and the +younger of the two smiled gaily, when she saw who it was. + +"What! Sir Edward Digby!" she exclaimed. "In the name of all that is +marvellous, how did you escape from the dining-room? Why, you will be +accused of shirking the bottle, cowardice, and milksopism, and crimes +and misdemeanours enough to forfeit your commission." + +She spoke gaily; but Sir Edward Digby thought that the gaiety was not +exactly sterling; for when first she turned, her face had been nearly +as grave as her sister's. He answered, however, in the same tone, "I +must plead guilty to all such misdemeanours; but if they are to be +rewarded by such pleasure as that of a walk with you, I fear I shall +often commit them." + +"You must not pay us courtly compliments, Sir Edward," said Miss +Croyland, "for we poor country people do not understand them. I hope, +however, you left the party peaceable: for it promised to be quite the +contrary at one time, and my uncle and Mr. Radford never agree." + +"Oh, quite peaceable, I can assure you," replied Digby. "I retreated +under cover of your uncle's movements. Perhaps, otherwise, I might not +have got away so easily. He it was who told me where I should find +you." + +"Indeed!" exclaimed Miss Croyland, in a tone of surprise; and then, +casting down her eyes, she fell into thought. Her sister, however, +carried on the conversation in her stead, saying, "Well, you are the +first soldier, Sir Edward, I ever saw, who left the table before +night." + +"They must have been soldiers who had seen little service, I should +think," replied the young officer; "for a man called upon often for +active exertion, soon finds the necessity of keeping any brains he has +got as clear as possible, in case they should be needed. In many +countries where I have been, too, we could get no wine to drink, even +if we wanted it. Such was the case in Canada, and in some parts of +Germany." + +"Have you served in Canada?" demanded Miss Croyland suddenly, raising +her eyes to his face with a look of deep interest. + +"Through almost the whole of the war." replied Sir Edward Digby, +quietly, without noticing, even by a glance, the change of expression +which his words had produced. He then paused for a moment, as if +waiting for some other question; but both Miss Croyland and her sister +remained perfectly silent, and the former turned somewhat pale. + +As he saw that neither of his two fair companions were likely to carry +the conversation a step further, the young officer proceeded, in a +quiet and even light tone--"This part of the country," he continued, +"is always connected in my mind with Canada; and, indeed, I was glad +to accept your father's invitation at once, when he was kind enough to +ask me to his house; for, in addition to the pleasure of making his +personal acquaintance, I longed to see scenes which I had often heard +mentioned with all the deep affection and delight which only can be +felt by a fine mind for the spot in which our brighter years are +passed." + +The younger girl looked to her sister, but Edith Croyland was deadly +pale, and said nothing; and Zara inquired in a tone to which she too +evidently laboured to give the gay character of her usual demeanour, +"Indeed, Sir Edward! May I ask who gave you such a flattering account +of our poor country? He must have been a very foolish and prejudiced +person--at least, so I fear you must think, now you have seen it." + +"No, no!--oh, no!" cried Digby, earnestly, "anything but that. I had +that account from a person so high-minded, so noble, so full of every +generous quality of heart, and every fine quality of mind, that I was +quite sure, ere I came here, I should find the people whom he +mentioned, and the scenes which he described, all that he had stated; +and I have not been disappointed, Miss Croyland." + +"But you have not named him, Sir Edward," said Zara; "you are very +tantalizing. Perhaps we may know him, and be sure we shall love him +for his patriotism." + +"He was an officer in the regiment to which I then belonged." answered +the young baronet, "and my dearest friend. His name was Leyton--a most +distinguished man, who had already gained such a reputation, that, had +his rank in the army admitted it, none could have been more desired to +take the command of the forces when Wolfe fell on the heights of +Abraham. He was too young, however, and had too little interest to +obtain that position.--Miss Croyland, you seem ill. Let me give you my +arm." + +Edith bowed her head quietly, and leaned upon her sister, but answered +not a word; and Zara gave a glance to Sir Edward Digby which he read +aright. It was a meaning, a sort of relying and imploring look, as if +she would have said, "I beseech you, say no more; she cannot bear it." +And the young officer abruptly turned the conversation, observing, +"The day has been very hot, Miss Croyland. You have walked far, and +over-fatigued yourself." + +"It is nothing--it is nothing," answered Edith, with a deep-drawn +breath; "it will be past in a moment, Sir Edward. I am frequently +thus." + +"Too frequently," murmured Zara, gazing at her sister; and Sir Edward +Digby replied, "I am sure, if such be the case, you should consult +some physician." + +Zara shook her head with a melancholy smile, while her sister walked +on, leaning upon her arm in silence, with her eyes bent towards the +ground, as if in deep thought. "I fear that no physician would do her +good," said the younger lady, in a low voice; "the evil is now +confirmed." + +"Nay," replied Digby, gazing at her, "I think I know one who could +cure her entirely." + +His look said more than his words; and Zara fixed her eyes upon his +face for an instant with an inquiring glance. The expression then +suddenly changed to one of bright intelligence, and she answered, "I +will make you give me his name to-morrow, Sir Edward. Not now--not +now! I shall forget it." + +Sir Edward Digby was not slow in taking a hint; and he consequently +made no attempt to bring the conversation back to the subject which +had so much affected Miss Croyland; but lest a dead silence should too +plainly mark that he saw into the cause of the faintness which had +come over her, he went on talking to her sister; and Zara soon +resumed, at least to all appearance, her own light spirits again. But +Digby had seen her under a different aspect, which was known to few +besides her sister; and to say the truth, though he had thought her +sparkling frankness very charming, yet the deeper and tenderer +feelings which she had displayed towards Edith were still more to his +taste. + +"She is not the light coquette her uncle represents her," he thought, +as they walked on: "there is a true and feeling heart beneath--one +whose affections, if strongly excited and then disappointed, might +make her as sad and cheerless as this other poor girl." + +He had not much time to indulge either in such meditations or in +conversation with his fair companion; for, when they were within about +a mile of the house, old Mr. Croyland was seen advancing towards them +with his usual brisk air and quick pace. + +"Well, young people, well," he said, coming forward, "I bring the +soberness of age to temper the lightness of youth." + +"Oh, we are all very sober, uncle," replied Zara. "It is only those +who stay in the house drinking wine who are otherwise." + +"I have not been drinking wine, saucy girl," answered Mr. Croyland; +"but come, Edith, I want to speak with you; and, as the road is too +narrow for four, we'll pair off, as the rascals who ruin the country +in the House of Commons term it. Troop on, Miss Zara. There's a +gallant cavalier who will give you his arm, doubtless, if you will ask +it." + +"Indeed I shall do no such thing," replied the fair lady, walking on; +and, while Edith and her uncle came slowly after, Sir Edward Digby and +the youngest Miss Croyland proceeded on their way, remaining silent +for some minutes, though each, to say the truth, was busily thinking +how the conversation which had been interrupted might best be renewed. +It was Zara who spoke first, however, looking suddenly up in her +companion's face with one of her bright and sparkling smiles, and +saying, "It is a strange house, is it not, Sir Edward? and we are a +strange family?" + +"Nay, I do not see that," replied the young officer. "With every new +person whose acquaintance we make, we are like a traveller for the +first time in a foreign country, and must learn the secrets of the +land before we can find our way rightly." + +"Oh, secrets enough here!" cried Zara. "Every one has his secret but +myself. I have none, thank God! My good father is full of them; Edith, +you see, has hers; my uncle is loaded with one even now, and eager to +disburden himself; but my aunt's are the most curious of all, for they +are everlasting; and not only that, but though most profound, they are +sure to be known in five minutes to the whole world. Try to conceal +them how she may, they are sure to drop out before the day is over; +and, whatever good schemes she may have against any one, no defence is +needed, for they are sure to frustrate themselves.--What are you +laughing at, Sir Edward? Has she begun upon you already?" + +"Nay, not exactly upon me," answered Sir Edward Digby. "She certainly +did let drop some words which showed me, she had some scheme in her +head, though whom it referred to, I am at a loss to divine." + +"Nay, nay, now you are not frank," cried the young lady. "Tell me this +moment, if you would have me hold you good knight and true! Was it me +or Edith that it was all about? Nay, do not shake your head, my good +friend, for I will know, depend upon it; and if you do not tell me, I +will ask my aunt myself----" + +"Nay, for Heaven's sake, do not!" exclaimed Sir Edward. "You must not +make your aunt think that I am a tell-tale." + +"Oh, I know--I know!" exclaimed the fair girl, clapping her hands +eagerly--"I can divine it all in a minute. She has been telling you +what an excellent good girl Zara Croyland is, and what an admirable +wife she would make, especially for any man moving in the highest +society, and hinting, moreover, that she is fond of military men, and, +in short, that Sir Edward Digby could not do better. I know it all--I +know it all, as well as if I had heard it! But now, my dear sir," she +continued, in a graver tone, "put all such nonsense out of your head, +if you would have us such good friends as I think we may be. Leave my +dear aunt's schemes to unravel and defeat themselves, or only think of +them as a matter of amusement, and do not for a moment believe that +Zara Croyland has either any share in them, or any design of +captivating you or any other man whatsoever; for I tell you fairly, +and at once, that I never intend--that nothing would induce me--no, +not if my own dearest happiness depended upon it--to marry, and leave +poor Edith to endure all that she may be called upon to undergo. I +will talk to you more about her another time; for I think that you +already know something beyond what you have said to-day; but we are +too near the house now, and I will only add, that I have spoken +frankly to Sir Edward Digby, because I believe, from all I have seen +and all I have heard, that he is incapable of misunderstanding such +conduct." + +"You do me justice, Miss Croyland," replied the young officer, much +gratified; "but you have spoken under a wrong impression in regard to +your aunt. I did not interrupt you, for what you said was too +pleasing, too interesting not to induce me to let you go on; but I can +assure you that what I said was perfectly true, and that though some +words which your aunt dropped accidentally showed me that she had some +scheme on foot, she said nothing to indicate what it was." + +"Well, never mind it," answered the young lady. "We now understand +each other, I trust; and, after this, I do not think you will easily +mistake me, though, if what I suppose is true, I may have to do a +great many extraordinary things with you, Sir Edward--seek your +society when you may not be very willing to grant it, consult you, +rely upon you, confide in you in a way that few women would do, except +with a brother or an acknowledged lover, which I beg you to understand +you are on no account to be; and I, on my part, will promise that I +will not misunderstand you either, nor take anything that you may do, +at my request, for one very dear to me," (and she gave a glance over +her shoulder towards her sister, who was some way behind,) "as +anything but a sign of your having a kind and generous heart. So now +that's all settled." + +"There is one thing, Miss Croyland," replied Digby, gravely, "that you +will find very difficult to do, though you say you will try it, +namely, to seek my society when I am unwilling to give it." + +"Nay, nay, I will have no such speeches," cried Zara Croyland, "or I +have done with you! I never could put any trust in a man who said +civil things to me." + +"What, not if he sincerely thought them?" demanded her companion. + +"Then I would rather he continued to think them without speaking +them," answered the young lady. "If you did but know, Sir Edward, how +sickened and disgusted a poor girl in the country soon gets with +flattery that means nothing, from men who insult her understanding by +thinking that she can be pleased with such trash, you would excuse me +for being rude and uncivilized enough to wish never to hear a smooth +word from any man whom I am inclined to respect." + +"Very well," answered the young baronet, laughing, "to please you, I +will be as brutal as possible, and if you like it, scold you as +sharply as your uncle, if you say or do anything that I disapprove +of." + +"Do, do!" cried Zara; "I love him and esteem him, though he does not +understand me in the least; and I would rather a great deal have his +conversation, sharp and snappish as it seems to be, than all the honey +or milk and water of any of the smart young men in the neighbourhood. +But here we are at the house; and only one word more as a warning, and +one word as a question; first, do not let any of my good aunt's +schemes embarrass you in anything you have to do or say. Walk straight +through them as if they did not exist. Take your own course, without, +in the least degree, attending to what she says for or against." + +"And what is the question?" demanded Sir Edward, as they were now +mounting the steps to the terrace. + +"Simply this," replied the fair lady,--"are you not acquainted with +more of Edith's history than the people here are aware of?" + +"I am," answered Digby; "and to see more of her, to speak with her for +a few minutes in private, if possible, was the great object of my +coming hither." + +"Thanks, thanks!" said Zara, giving him a bright and grateful smile. +"Be guided by me, and you shall have the opportunity. But I must speak +with you first myself, that you may know all. I suppose you are an +early riser?" + +"Oh, yes!" replied Sir Edward; but he added no more; for at that +moment they were overtaken by Edith and Mr. Croyland; and the whole +party entered the house together. + + + + + CHAPTER IX. + + +There is a strange similarity--I had nearly called it an +affinity--between the climate of any country and the general character +of its population; and there is a still stronger and more commonly +remarked resemblance between the changes of the weather and the usual +course of human life. From the atmosphere around us, and from the +alterations which affect it, poets and moralists both, have borrowed a +large store of figures; and the words, clouds, and sunshine, light +breezes, and terrible storms, are terms as often used to express the +variations in man's condition as to convey the ideas to which they +were originally applied. But it is the affinity between the climate +and the people of which I wish to speak. The sunny lightness of the +air of France, the burning heat of Italy and Spain, the cold dullness +of the skies of Holland, contrast as strongly with the climate in +which we live, as the characters of the several nations amongst +themselves; and the fiercer tempests of the south, the more foggy and +heavy atmosphere of the north, may well be taken as some compensation +for the continual mutability of the weather in our own most changeable +air. The differences are not so great here as in other lands. We +escape, in general, the tornado and the hurricane, we know little of +the burning heat of summer, or the intense cold of winter, as they are +experienced in other parts of the world; but at all events, the +changes are much more frequent; and we seldom have either a long lapse +of sunny days, or a long continued season of frost, without +interruption. So it is, too, with the people. Moveable and fluctuating +as they always are, seeking novelty, disgusted even with all that is +good as soon as they discover that it is old, our laws, our +institutions, our very manners are continually undergoing some change, +though rarely, very rarely indeed, is it brought about violently and +without due preparation. Sometimes it will occur, indeed, both morally +and physically, that a great and sudden alteration takes place, and a +rash and vehement proceeding will disturb the whole country, and seem +to shake the very foundations of society. In the atmosphere, too, +clouds and storms will gather in a few hours, and darken the whole +heaven. + +The latter was the case during the first night of Sir Edward Digby's +stay at Harbourne House. The evening preceding, as well as the day, +had been warm and sunshiny; but about nine o'clock the wind suddenly +chopped round to the southward, and when Sir Edward woke on the +following morning, as he usually did, about six, he found a strong +breeze blowing and rattling the casements of the room, and the whole +atmosphere loaded with a heavy sea-mist filled with saline particles, +borne over Romney Marsh to the higher country, in which the house was +placed. + +"A pleasant day for partridge-shooting," he thought, as he rose from +his bed; "what variations there are in this climate." But +nevertheless, he opened the window and looked out, when, somewhat to +his surprise, he saw fifteen or sixteen horses moving along the road, +heavily laden, with a number of men on horseback following, and eight +or ten on foot driving the weary beasts along. They were going +leisurely enough; there was no affectation of haste or concealment; +but yet all that the young officer had heard of the county and of the +habits of its denizens, led him naturally to suppose that he had a +gang of smugglers before him, escorting from the coast some contraband +goods lately landed. + +He had soon a more unpleasant proof of the lawless state of that part +of England; for as he continued to lean out of the window, saying to +himself, "Well, it is no business of mine," he saw two or three of the +men pause; and a moment after, a voice shouted--"Take that, old +Croyland, for sending me to gaol last April." + +The wind bore the sounds to his ear, and made the words distinct; and +scarcely had they been spoken, when a flash broke through the misty +air, followed by a loud report, and a ball whizzed through the window, +just above his head, breaking one of the panes of glass, and lodging +in the cornice at the other side of the room. + +"Very pleasant!" said Sir Edward Digby to himself; but he was a +somewhat rash young man, and he did not move an inch, thinking--"the +vagabonds shall not have to say they frightened me." + +They shewed no inclination to repeat the shot, however, riding on at a +somewhat accelerated pace; and as soon as they were out of sight, +Digby withdrew from the window, and began to dress himself. He had not +given his servant, the night before, any orders to call him at a +particular hour; but he knew that the man would not be later than +half-past six; and before he appeared, the young officer was nearly +dressed. + +"Here, Somers," said his master, "put my gun together, and have +everything ready if I should like to go out to shoot. After that I've +a commission for you, something quite in your own way, which I know +you will execute capitally." + +"Quite ready, sir," said the man, putting up his hand to his head. +"Always ready to obey orders." + +"We want intelligence of the enemy, Somers," continued his master. +"Get me every information you can obtain regarding young Mr. Radford, +where he goes, what he does, and all about him." + +"Past, present, or to come, sir?" demanded the man. + +"All three," answered his master. "Everything you can learn about him, +in short--birth, parentage, and education." + +"I shall soon have to add his last dying speech and confession, I +think, sir," said the man; "but you shall have it all before +night--from the loose gossip of the post-office down to the full, +true, and particular account of his father's own butler. But bless my +soul, there's a hole through the window, sir." + +"Nothing but a musket-ball, Somers," answered his master, carelessly. +"You've seen such a thing before, I fancy." + +"Yes, sir, but not often in a gentleman's bedroom," replied the man. +"Who could send it in here, I wonder?" + +"Some smugglers, I suppose they were," replied Sir Edward, "who took +me for Sir Robert Croyland, as I was leaning out of the window, and +gave me a ball as they passed. I never saw a worse shot in my life; +for I was put up like a target, and it went a foot and a half above my +head. Give me those boots, Somers;" and having drawn them on, Sir +Edward Digby descended to the drawing-room, while his servant +commented upon his coolness, by saying, "Well, he's a devilish fine +young fellow, that master of mine, and ought to make a capital general +some of these days!" + +In the drawing-room, Sir Edward Digby found nobody but a pretty +country girl in a mob-cap sweeping out the dust; and leaving her to +perform her functions undisturbed by his presence, he sauntered +through a door which he had seen open the night before, exposing part +of the interior of a library. That room was quite vacant, and as the +young officer concluded that between it and the drawing-room must lie +the scene of his morning's operations, he entertained himself with +taking down different books, looking into them for a moment or two, +reading a page here and a page there, and then putting them up again. +He was in no mood, to say the truth, either for serious study or light +reading. Gay would not have amused him; Locke would have driven him +mad. + +He knew not well why it was, but his heart beat when he heard a step +in the neighbouring room. It was nothing but the housemaid, as he was +soon convinced, by her letting the dustpan drop and making a terrible +clatter. He asked himself what his heart could be about, to go on in +such a way, simply because he was waiting, in the not very vague +expectation of seeing a young lady, with whom he had to talk of some +business, in which neither of them were personally concerned. + +"It must be the uncertainty of whether she will come or not," he +thought; "or else the secrecy of the thing;" and yet he had, often +before, had to wait with still more secrecy and still more +uncertainty, on very dangerous and important occasions, without +feeling any such agitation of his usually calm nerves. She was a very +pretty girl, it was true, with all the fresh graces of youth about +her, light and sunshine in her eyes, health and happiness on her +cheeks and lips, and + + + "La grace encore plus belle que la beauté" + + +in every movement. But then, they perfectly understood each other; +there was no harm, there was no risk, there was no reason why they +should not meet. + +Did they perfectly understand each other? Did they perfectly +understand themselves? It is a very difficult question to answer; but +one thing is very certain--that, of all things upon this earth, the +most gullible is the human heart; and when it thinks it understands +itself best, it is almost always sure to prove a greater fool than +ever. + +Sir Edward Digby did not altogether like his own thoughts; and +therefore, after waiting for a quarter of an hour, he walked out into +one of the little passages, which we have already mentioned, running +from the central corridor towards a door or window in the front, +between the library and what was called the music-room. He had not +been there a minute when a step--very different from that of the +housemaid--was heard in the neighbouring room; and, as the officer was +turning thither, he met the younger Miss Croyland coming out, with a +bonnet--or hat, as it was then called,--hanging on her arm by the +ribbons. + +She held out her hand, frankly, towards him, saying, in a low tone, +"You must think this all very strange, Sir Edward, and perhaps very +improper. I have been taxing myself about it all night; but yet I was +resolved I would not lose the opportunity, trusting to your generosity +to justify me, when you hear all." + +"It requires no generosity, my dear Miss Croyland," replied the young +baronet; "I am already aware of so much, and see the kind and deep +interest you take in your sister so clearly, that I fully understand +and appreciate your motives." + +"Thank you--thank you," replied Zara, warmly; "that sets my mind at +rest. But come out upon the terrace. There, seen by all the world, I +shall not feel as if I were plotting;" and she unlocked the glass door +at the end of the passage. Sir Edward Digby followed close upon her +steps; and when once fairly on the esplanade before the house, and far +enough from open doors and windows not to be overheard, they commenced +their walk backwards and forwards. + +It was quite natural that both should be silent for a few moments; for +where there is much to say, and little time to say it in, people are +apt to waste the precious present--or, at least, a part--in +considering how it may best be said. At length the lady raised her +eyes to her companion's face, with a smile more melancholy and +embarrassed than usually found place upon her sweet lips, asking, "How +shall I begin, Sir Edward?--Have you nothing to tell me?" + +"I have merely to ask questions," replied Digby; "yet, perhaps that +may be the best commencement. I am aware, my dear Miss Croyland, that +your sister has loved, and has been as deeply beloved as woman ever +was by man. I know the whole tale; but what I seek now to learn is +this--does she or does she not retain the affection of her early +youth? Do former days and former feelings dwell in her heart as still +existing things? or are they but as sad memories of a passion passed +away, darkening instead of lighting the present,--or perhaps as a tie +which she would fain shake off, and which keeps her from a brighter +fate hereafter?" + +He spoke solemnly, earnestly, with his whole manner changed; and Zara +gazed in his face eagerly and inquiringly as he went on, her face +glowing, but her look becoming less sad, till it beamed with a warm +and relieved smile at the close. "I was right, and she was wrong"--she +said, at length, as if speaking to herself. "But to answer your +question, Sir Edward Digby," she continued, gravely. "You little know +woman's heart, or you would not put it--I mean the heart of a true and +unspoiled woman, a woman worthy of the name. When she loves, she loves +for ever--and it is only when death or unworthiness takes from her him +she loves, that love becomes a memory. You cannot yet judge of Edith, +and therefore I forgive you for asking such a thing; but she is all +that is noble, and good, and bright; and Heaven pardon me, if I almost +doubt that she was meant for happiness below--she seems so fitted for +a higher state!" + +The tears rose in her eyes as she spoke; but Sir Edward feared +interruption, and went on, asking, somewhat abruptly perhaps, "What +made you say, just now, that you were right and she was wrong?" + +"Because she thought that he was dead, and that you came to announce +it to her," Zara replied. "You spoke of him in the past, you always +said, 'he was;' you said not a word of the present." + +"Because I knew not what were her present feelings," answered Digby. +"She has never written--she has never answered one letter. All his +have been returned in cold silence to his agents, addressed in her own +hand. And then her father wrote to----" + +"Stay, stay!" cried Zara, putting her hand to her head--"addressed in +her own hand? It must have been a forgery! Yet, no--perhaps not. She +wrote to him twice; once just after he went, and once in answer to a +message. The last letter I gave to the gardener myself, and bade him +post it. That, too, was addressed to his agent's house. Can they have +stopped the letters and used the covers?" + +"It is probable," answered Digby, thoughtfully. "Did she receive none +from him?" + +"None--none," replied Zara, decidedly. "All that she has ever heard of +him was conveyed in that one message; but she doubted not, Sir Edward. +She knew him, it seems, better than he knew her." + +"Neither did he doubt her," rejoined her companion, "till circumstance +after circumstance occurred to shake his confidence. Her own father +wrote to him--now three years ago--to say that she was engaged, by her +own consent, to this young Radford, and to beg that he would trouble +her peace no more by fruitless letters." + +"Oh, Heaven!" cried Zara, "did my father say that?" + +"He did," replied Sir Edward. "And more: everything that poor Leyton +has heard since his return has confirmed the tale. He inquired, too +curiously for his own peace--first, whether she was yet married; next, +whether she was really engaged; and every one gave but one account." + +"How busy they have been!" said Zara, thoughtfully. "Whoever said it, +it is false, Sir Edward; and he should not have doubted her more than +she doubted him." + +"She, you admit, had one message," answered Digby; "he had none; and +yet he held a lingering hope--trust would not altogether be crushed +out. Can you tell me the tenour of the letters which she sent?" + +"Nay, I did not read them," replied his fair companion; "but she told +me that it was the same story still: that she could not violate her +duty to her parent; but that she should ever consider herself pledged +and plighted to him beyond recall, by what had passed between them." + +"Then there is light at last," said Digby, with a smile. "But what is +this story of young Radford? Is he, or is he not, her lover? He seemed +to pay her little attention,--more, indeed, to yourself." + +The gay girl laughed. "I will tell you all about it," she answered. +"Richard Radford is not her lover. He cares as little about her as +about the Queen of England, or any body he has never seen; and, as you +say, he would perhaps pay me the compliment of selecting me rather +than Edith, if there was not a very cogent objection: Edith has forty +thousand pounds settled upon herself by my mother's brother, who was +her godfather; I have nothing, or next to nothing--some three or four +thousand pounds, I believe; but I really don't know. However, this +fortune of my poor sister's is old Radford's object; and he and my +father have settled it between them, that the son of the one should +marry the daughter of the other. What possesses my father, I cannot +divine; for he must condemn old Radford, and despise the young one; +but certain it is that he has pressed Edith, nearly to cruelty, to +give her hand to a man she scorns and hates--and presses her still. It +would be worse than it is, I fear, were it not for young Radford +himself, who is not half so eager as his father, and does not wish to +hurry matters on.--I may have some small share in the business," she +continued, laughing again, but colouring at the same time; "for, to +tell the truth, Sir Edward, having nothing else to do, and wishing to +relieve poor Edith as much as possible, I have perhaps foolishly, +perhaps even wrongly, drawn this wretched young man away from her +whenever I had an opportunity. I do not think it was coquetry, as my +uncle calls it--nay, I am sure it was not; for I abhor him as much as +any one; but I thought that as there was no chance of my ever being +driven to marry him, I could bear the infliction of his conversation +better than my poor sister." + +"The motive was a kind one, at all events," replied Sir Edward Digby; +"but then I may firmly believe that there is no chance whatever of +Miss Croyland giving her hand to Richard Radford?" + +"None--none whatever," answered his fair companion. But at that point +of their conversation one of the windows above was thrown up, and the +voice of Mrs. Barbara was heard exclaiming--"Zara, my love, put on +your hat; you will catch cold if you walk in that way, with your hat +on your arm, in such a cold, misty morning!" + +Miss Croyland looked up, nodding to her aunt; and doing as she was +told, like a very good girl as she was. But the next instant she said, +in a low tone, "Good Heaven! there is his face at the window! My +unlucky aunt has roused him by calling to me; and we shall not be long +without him." + +"Who do you mean?" asked the young officer, turning his eyes towards +the house, and seeing no one. + +"Young Radford," answered Zara. "Did you not know that they had to +carry him to bed last night, unable to stand? So my maid told me; and +I saw his face just now at the window, next to my aunt's. We shall +have little time, Sir Edward, for he is as intrusive as he is +disagreeable; so tell me at once what I am to think regarding poor +Harry Leyton. Does he still love Edith? Is he in a situation to enable +him to seek her, without affording great, and what they would consider +reasonable, causes of objection?" + +"He loves her as deeply and devotedly as ever," replied Sir Edward +Digby; "and all I have to tell him will but, if possible, increase +that love. Then as to his situation, he is now a superior officer in +the army, highly distinguished, commanding one of our best regiments, +and sharing largely in the late great distribution of prize-money. +There is no position that can be filled by a military man to which he +has not a right to aspire; and, moreover, he has already received, +from the gratitude of his king and his country, the high honour----" + +But he was not allowed to finish his sentence; for Mrs. Barbara +Croyland, who was most unfortunately matutinal in her habits, now came +out with a shawl for her fair niece, and was uncomfortably civil to +Sir Edward Digby, inquiring how he had slept, whether he had been warm +enough, whether he liked two pillows or one, and a great many other +questions, which lasted till young Radford made his appearance at the +door, and then, with a pale face and sullen brow, came out and joined +the party on the terrace. + +"Well," said Mrs. Barbara--now that she had done as much mischief as +possible--"I'll just go in and make breakfast, as Edith must set out +early, and Mr. Radford wants to get home to shoot." + +"Edith set off early?" exclaimed Zara; "why, where is she going, my +dear aunt?" + +"Oh, I have just been settling it all with your papa, my love," +replied Mrs. Barbara. "I thought she was looking ill yesterday, and so +I talked to your uncle last night. He said he would be very glad to +have her with him for a few days; but as he expects a Captain Osborn +before the end of the week, she must come at once; and Sir Robert says +she can have the carriage after breakfast, but that it must be back by +one." + +Zara cast down her eyes, and the whole party, as if by common consent, +took their way back to the house. As they passed in, however, and +proceeded towards the dining-room, where the table was laid for +breakfast, Zara found a moment to say to Sir Edward Digby, in a low +tone, "Was ever anything so unfortunate! I will try to stop it if I +can." + +"Not so unfortunate as it seems," answered the young baronet, in a +whisper; "let it take its course. I will explain hereafter." + +"Whispering! whispering!" said young Radford, in a rude tone, and with +a sneer curling his lip. + +Zara's cheek grew crimson; but Digby turned upon him sharply, +demanding, "What is that to you, sir? Pray make no observations upon +my conduct, for depend upon it I shall not tolerate any insolence." + +At that moment, however, Sir Robert Croyland appeared; and whatever +might have been Richard Radford's intended reply, it was suspended +upon his lips. + + + + + CHAPTER X. + + +Before I proceed farther with the events of that morning, I must +return for a time to the evening which preceded it. It was a dark and +somewhat dreary night, when Mr. Radford, leaving his son stupidly +drunk at Sir Robert Croyland's, proceeded to the hall door to mount +his horse; and as he pulled his large riding-boots over his shoes and +stockings, and looked out, he regretted that he had not ordered his +carriage. "Who would have thought," he said, "that such a fine day +would have ended in such a dull evening?" + +"It often happens, my dear Radford," replied Sir Robert Croyland, who +stood beside him, "that everything looks fair and prosperous for a +time; then suddenly the wind shifts, and a gloomy night succeeds." + +Mr. Radford was not well-pleased with the homily. It touched upon that +which was a sore subject with him at that moment; for, to say the +truth, he was labouring under no light apprehensions regarding the +result of certain speculations of his. He had lately lost a large sum +in one of these wild adventures--far more than was agreeable to a man +of his money-getting turn of mind; and though he was sanguine enough, +from long success, to embark, like a determined gambler, a still +larger amount in the same course, yet the first shadow of reverse +which had fallen upon him, brought home and applied to his own +situation the very commonplace words of Sir Robert Croyland; and he +began to fancy that the bright day of his prosperity might be indeed +over, and a dark and gloomy night about to succeed. + +As we have said, therefore, he did not at all like the baronet's +homily; and, as very often happens with men of his disposition, he +felt displeased with the person whose words alarmed him. Murmuring +something, therefore, about its being "a devilish ordinary +circumstance indeed," he strode to the door, scarcely wishing the +baronet good night, and mounted a powerful horse, which was held ready +for him. He then rode forward, followed by two servants on horseback, +proceeding slowly at first, but getting into a quicker pace when he +came upon the parish road, and trotting on hard along the edge of +Harbourne Wood. He had drunk as much wine as his son; but his hard and +well-seasoned head was quite insensible to the effects of strong +beverages, and he went on revolving all probable contingencies, +somewhat sullen and out of humour with all that had passed during the +afternoon, and taking a very unpromising view of everybody and +everything. + +"I've a notion," he thought, "that old scoundrel Croyland is playing +fast and loose about his daughter's marriage with my son. He shall +repent it if he do; and if Dick does not make the girl pay for all her +airs and coldness when he's got her, he's no son of mine. He seems as +great a fool as she is, though, and makes love to her sister without a +penny, never saying a word to a girl who has forty thousand pounds. +The thing shall soon be settled one way or another, however. I'll have +a conference with Sir Robert on Friday, and bring him to book. I'll +not be trifled with any longer. Here we have been kept more than four +years waiting till the girl chooses to make up her mind, and I'll not +stop any longer. It shall be, yes or no, at once." + +He was still busy with such thoughts when he reached the angle of +Harbourne Wood, and a loud voice exclaimed, "Hi! Mr. Radford!" + +"Who the devil are you?" exclaimed that worthy gentleman, pulling in +his horse, and at the same time putting his hand upon one of the +holsters, which every one at that time carried at his saddle bow. + +"Harding, sir," answered the voice--"Jack Harding; and I want to speak +a word with you." + +At the same time the man walked forward; and Mr. Radford immediately +dismounting, gave his horse to the servants, and told them to lead him +quietly on till they came to Tiffenden. Then pausing till the sound of +the hoofs became somewhat faint, he asked, with a certain degree of +alarm, "Well, Harding, what's the matter? What has brought you up in +such a hurry to-night?" + +"No great hurry, sir," answered the smuggler, "I came up about four +o'clock; and finding that you were dining at Sir Robert's, I thought I +would look out for you as you went home, having something to tell you. +I got an inkling last night, that, some how or another, the people +down at Hythe have some suspicion that you are going to try something, +and I doubt that boy very much." + +"Indeed! indeed!" exclaimed Mr. Radford, evidently under great +apprehension. "What have they found out, Harding?" + +"Why, not much, I believe," replied the smuggler; "but merely that +there's something in the wind, and that you have a hand in it." + +"That's bad enough--that's bad enough," repeated Mr. Radford. "We must +put it off, Harding. We must delay it, till this has blown by." + +"No, I think not, sir," answered the smuggler. "It seems to me, on the +contrary, that we ought to hurry it; and I'll tell you why. You see, +the wind changed about five, and if I'm not very much mistaken, we +shall have a cloudy sky and dirty weather for the next week at least. +That's one thing; but then another is this, the Ramleys are going to +make a run this very night. Now, I know that the whole affair is +blown; and though they may get the goods ashore they wont carry them +far. I told them so, just to be friendly; but they wouldn't listen, +and you know their rash way. Bill Ramley answered, they would run the +goods in broad daylight, if they liked, that there was not an officer +in all Kent who would dare to stop them. Now, I know that they will be +caught to-morrow morning, somewhere up about your place. I rather +think, too, your son has a hand in the venture; and if I were you, I +would do nothing to make people believe that it wasn't my own affair +altogether. Let them think what they please; and then they are not so +likely to be on the look-out." + +"I see--I see," cried Mr. Radford. "If they catch these fellows, and +think that this is my venture, they will never suspect another. It's a +good scheme. We had better set about it to-morrow night." + +"I don't know," answered Harding. "That cannot well be done, I should +think. First, you must get orders over to the vessel to stand out to +sea; then you must get all your people together, and one half of them +are busy upon this other scheme, the Ramleys and young Chittenden, and +him they call the major, and all their parties. You must see what +comes of that first; for one half of them may be locked up before +to-morrow night. + +"That's unfortunate, indeed!" said Mr. Radford, thoughtfully. + +"One must take a little ill luck with plenty of good luck," observed +Harding; "and it's fortunate enough for you that these wild fellows +will carry through this mad scheme, when they know they are found out +before they start. Besides, I'm not sure that it is not best to wait +till the night after, or, may be, the night after that. Then the news +will have spread, that the goods have been either run and hid away, or +seized by the officers. In either case, if you manage well, they will +think that it is your venture; and the fellows on the coast will be +off their guard--especially Mowle, who's the sharpest of them all." + +"Oh, I'll go down to-morrow and talk to Mowle myself," replied Mr. +Radford. "It will be well worth my while to give him a hundred guineas +to wink a bit." + +"Don't try it--don't try it!" exclaimed Harding, quickly. "It will do +no good, and a great deal of harm. In the first place, you can do +nothing with Mowle. He never took a penny in his life." + +"Oh, every man has his price," rejoined Mr. Radford, whose opinion of +human nature, as the reader may have perceived, was not particularly +high. "It's only because he wants to be bid up to. Mr. Mowle thinks +himself above five or ten pounds; but the chink of a hundred guineas +is a very pleasant sound." + +"He's as honest a fellow as ever lived," answered Harding, "and I tell +you plainly, Mr. Radford, that if you offered him ten times the sum, +he wouldn't take it. You would only shew him that this venture is not +your grand one, without doing yourself the least good. He's a fair, +open enemy, and lets every one know that, as long as he's a +riding-officer here, he will do all he can against us." + +"Then he must be knocked on the head," said Mr. Radford, in a calm and +deliberate tone; "and it shall be done, too, if he meddles with my +affairs." + +"It will not be I who do it," replied Harding; "unless we come hand to +hand together. Then, every man must take care of himself; but I should +be very sorry, notwithstanding; for he's a straightforward, bold +fellow, as brave as a lion, and with a good heart into the bargain. I +wonder such an honest man ever went into such a rascally service." + +The last observation of our friend Harding may perhaps sound strangely +to the reader's ears; but some allowance must be made for professional +prejudices, and it is by no means too much to say that the smugglers +of those days, and even of a much later period, looked upon their own +calling as highly honest, honourable, and respectable, regarding the +Customs as a most fraudulent and abominable institution, and all +connected with it more or less in the light of a band of swindlers and +knaves, leagued together for the purpose of preventing honest men from +pursuing their avocations in peace. Such were the feelings which +induced Harding to wonder that so good a man as Mowle could have +anything to do with the prevention of smuggling; for he was so +thoroughly convinced he was in the right himself, that he could not +conceive how any one could see the case in any other point of view. + +"Ay," answered Mr. Radford, "that is a wonder, if he is such a good +sort of man; but that I doubt. However, as you say it would not do to +put oneself in his power, I'll have him looked after, and in the +meanwhile, let us talk of the rest of the business. You say the night +after to-morrow, or the night after that! I must know, however; for +the men must be down. How are we to arrange that?" + +"Why, I'll see what the weather is like," was Harding's reply. "Then I +can easily send up to let you know--or, what will be better still, if +you can gather the men together the day after to-morrow, in the +different villages not far off the coast, and I should find it the +right sort of night, and get out to sea, they shall see a light on the +top of Tolsford Hill, as soon as I am near in shore again. That will +serve to guide them and puzzle the officers. Then let them gather, and +come down towards Dymchurch, where they will find somebody from me to +guide them." + +"They shall gather first at Saltwood," said Mr. Radford, "and then +march down to Dymchurch. But how are we to manage about the ship?" + +"Why, you must send an order," answered Harding, "for both days, and +let your skipper know that if he does not see us the first, he will +see us the second." + +"You had better take it down with you at once," replied Mr. Radford, +"and get it off early to-morrow. If you'll just come up to my house, +I'll write it for you in a minute." + +"Ay, but I'm not going home to-night," said the smuggler; "I can have +a bed at Mrs. Clare's; and I'm going to sleep there, so you can send +it over when you like in the morning, and I'll get it off in time." + +"I wish you would not go hanging about after that girl, when we've got +such serious business in hand," exclaimed Mr. Radford, in a sharp +tone; but the next moment he added, with a sudden change of voice, "It +doesn't signify to-night, however. There will be time enough; and they +say you are going to marry her, Harding. Is that true?" + +"I should say, that's my business," replied Harding, bluntly, "but +that I look upon it as an honour, Mr. Radford, that she's going to +marry me; for a better girl does not live in the land, and I've known +her a long while now, so I'm never likely to think otherwise." + +"Ay, I've known her a long time, too," answered Mr. Radford--"ever +since her poor father was shot, and before; and a very good girl I +believe she is. But now that you are over here, you may as well wait +and hear what comes of these goods. Couldn't you just ride over to the +Ramleys to-morrow morning--there you'll hear all about it." + +Harding laughed, but replied the next moment, in a grave tone, "I +don't like the Ramleys, sir, and don't want to have more to do with +them than I can help. I shall hear all about it soon enough, without +going there." + +"But I sha'n't," answered Mr. Radford. + +"Then you had better send your son, sir," rejoined Harding. "He's +oftener there than I am, a great deal.--Well, the matter is all +settled, then. Either the night after to-morrow, or the night after +that, if the men keep a good look-out, they'll see a light on Tolsford +Hill. Then they must gather as fast as possible at Saltwood, and come +on with anybody they may find there. Good night, Mr. Radford." + +"Good night, Harding--good night," said Mr. Radford, walking on; and +the other turning his steps back towards Harbourne, made his way, by +the first road on the right, to the cottage where we have seen him in +the earlier part of the day. + +It was a pleasant aspect that the cottage presented when he went in, +which he did without any of the ceremonies of knocking at the door or +ringing the bell; for he was sure of a welcome. There was but one +candle lighted on the table, for the dwellers in the place were poor; +but the room was small, and that one was quite sufficient to shew the +white walls and the neat shelves covered with crockery, and with +one or two small prints in black frames. Besides, there was the +fire-place, with a bright and cheerful, but not large fire; for +though, in the month of September, English nights are frequently cold +and sometimes frosty, the weather had been as yet tolerably mild. +Nevertheless, the log of fir at the top blazed high, and crackled +amidst the white and red embers below, and the flickering flame, as it +rose and fell, caused the shadows to fall more vaguely or distinctly +upon the walls, with a fanciful uncertainty of outline, that had +something cheerful, yet mysterious in it. + +The widow was bending over the fire, with her face turned away, and +her figure in the shadow. The daughter was busily working with her +needle, but her eyes were soon raised--and they were very beautiful +eyes--as Harding entered. A smile, too, was upon her lips; and though +even tears may be lovely, and a sad look awaken deep and tender +emotions, yet the smile of affection on a face we love is the +brightest aspect of that bright thing the human countenance. It is +what the sunshine is to the landscape, which may be fair in the rain +or sublime in the storm, but can never harmonize so fully with the +innate longing for happiness which is in the breast of every one, as +when lighted up with the rays that call all its excellence and all its +powers into life and being. + +Harding sat down beside the girl, and took her hand in his, saying, +"Well, Kate, this day three weeks, then, remember?" + +"My mother says so," answered the girl, with a cheek somewhat glowing, +"and then, you know, John, you are to give it up altogether. No more +danger--no more secrets?" + +"Oh, as for danger," answered Harding, laughing, "I did not say that, +love. I don't know what life would be worth without danger. Every man +is in danger all day long; and I suppose that we are only given life +just to feel the pleasure of it by the chance of losing it. But no +dangers but the common ones, Kate. I'll give up the trade, as you have +made me promise; and I shall have enough by that time to buy out the +whole vessel, in which I've got shares, and what between that and the +boats, we shall do very well. You put me in mind, with your fears, of +a song that wicked boy, little Starlight, used to sing. I learned it +from hearing him: a more mischievous little dog does not live; but he +has got a sweet pipe." + +"Sing it, John--sing it!" cried Kate; "I love to hear you sing, for it +seems as if you sing what you are thinking." + +"No, I wont sing it," answered Harding, "for it is a sad sort of song, +and that wont do when I am so happy." + +"Oh, I like sad songs!" said the girl; "they please me far more than +all the merry ones." + +"Oh, pray sing it, Harding!" urged the widow; "I am very fond of a +song that makes me cry." + +"This wont do that," replied the smuggler; "but it is sadder than some +that do, I always think. However, I'll sing it, if you like;" and in a +fine, mellow, bass voice, to a very simple air, with a flattened third +coming in every now and then, like the note of a wintry bird, he went +on:-- + + + SONG. + + "Life's like a boat, + Rowing--rowing + Over a bright sea, + On the waves to float, + Flowing--flowing + Away from her lea. + + "Up goes the sheet! + Sailing--sailing, + To catch the rising breeze, + While the winds fleet, + Wailing--wailing, + Sigh o'er the seas. + + "She darts through the waves, + Gaily--gaily, + Scattering the foam. + Beneath her, open graves, + Daily--daily, + The blithest to entomb. + + "Who heeds the deep, + Yawning--yawning + For its destined prey, + When from night's dark sleep, + Dawning--dawning, + Wakens the bright day? + + "Away, o'er the tide! + Fearless--fearless + Of all that lies beneath; + Let the waves still hide, + Cheerless--cheerless, + All their stores of death. + + "Stray where we may, + Roaming--roaming + Either far or near, + Death is on the way, + Coming--coming-- + Who's the fool to fear?" + + +The widow did weep, however, not at the rude song, though the voice +that sung it was fine, and perfect in the melody, but at the +remembrances which it awakened--remembrances on which she loved to +dwell, although they were so sad. + +"Ay, Harding," she said, "it's very true what your song says. Whatever +way one goes, death is near enough; and I don't know that it's a bit +nearer on the sea than anywhere else." + +"Not a whit," replied Harding; "God's hand is upon the sea as well as +upon the land, Mrs. Clare; and if it is his will that we go, why we +go; and if it is his will that we stay, he doesn't want strength to +protect us." + +"No, indeed," answered Mrs. Clare; "and it's that which comforts me, +for I think that what is God's will must be good. I'm sure, when my +poor husband went out in the morning, six years ago come the tenth of +October next, as well and as hearty as a man could be, I never thought +to see him brought home a corpse, and I left a lone widow with my poor +girl, and not knowing where to look for any help. But God raised me up +friends where I least expected them." + +"Why you had every right to expect that Sir Robert would be kind to +you, Mrs. Clare," rejoined Harding, "when your husband had been in his +service for sixteen or seventeen years." + +"No, indeed, I hadn't," said the widow; "for Sir Robert was always, we +thought, a rough, hard master, grumbling continually, till my poor man +could hardly bear it; for he was a free-spoken man, as I dare say you +remember, Mr. Harding, and would say his mind to any one, gentle or +simple." + +"He was as good a soul as ever lived," answered Harding; "a little +rash and passionate, but none the worse for that." + +"Ay, but it was that which set the head keeper against him," answered +the widow, "and he set Sir Robert, making out that Edward was always +careless and insolent; but he did his duty as well as any man, and +knowing that, he didn't like to be found fault with. However, I don't +blame Sir Robert; for since my poor man's death he has found out what +he was worth; and very kind he has been to me, to be sure. The +cottage, and the garden, and the good bit of ground at the back, and +twelve shillings a-week into the bargain, have we had from him ever +since." + +"Ay, and I am sure nothing can be kinder than the two young ladies," +said Kate; "they are always giving me something; and Miss Edith taught +me all I know. I should have been sadly ignorant if it had not been +for her--and a deal of trouble I gave her." + +"God bless her!" cried Harding, heartily. "She's a nice young lady, I +believe, though I never saw her but twice, and then she looked very +sad." + +"Ay, she has cause enough, poor thing!" said Mrs. Clare. "Though I +remember her as blithe as the morning lark--a great deal gayer than +Miss Zara, gay as she may be." + +"Ay, I know--they crossed her love," answered Harding; "and that's +enough to make one sad. Though I never heard the rights of the story." + +"Oh, it was bad enough to break her heart, poor thing!" replied Mrs. +Clare. "You remember young Leyton, the rector's son--a fine, handsome, +bold lad as ever lived, and as good as he was handsome. Well, he was +quite brought up with these young ladies, you know--always up at the +Hall, and Miss Edith always down at the Rectory; and one would have +thought Sir Robert blind or foolish, not to fancy that two such young +things would fall in love with each other; and so they did, to be +sure. Many's the time I've seen them down here, in this very cottage, +laughing and talking, and as fond as a pair of doves--for Sir Robert +used to let them do just whatever they liked, and many a time used to +send young Harry Leyton to take care of Miss Croyland, when she was +going out to walk any distance; so, very naturally, they promised +themselves to each other; and one day--when he was twenty and she just +sixteen--they got a Prayer-Book at the Rectory, and read over the +marriage ceremony together, and took all the vows down upon their +bended knees. I remember it quite well, for I was down at the Rectory +that very day helping the housekeeper; and just as they had done old +Mr. Leyton came in, and found them somewhat confused, and the book +open between them. He would know what it was all about, and they told +him the truth. So then he was in a terrible taking; and he got Miss +Croyland under his arm and went away up to Sir Robert directly, and +told him the whole story without a minute's delay. Every one thought +it would end in being a match; for though Sir Robert was very angry, +and insisted that Harry Leyton should be sent to his regiment +immediately--for he was then just home for a bit, on leave--he did not +show how angry he was at first, but very soon after he turned Mr. +Leyton out of the living, and made him pay, I don't know what, for +dilapidations; so that he was arrested and put in prison--which broke +his heart, poor man, and he died!" + +Harding gave Sir Robert Croyland a hearty oath; and Mrs. Clare +proceeded to tell her tale, saying--"I did not give much heed to the +matter then; for it was just at that time that my husband was killed, +and I could think of nothing else; but when I came to hear of what was +going on, I found that Sir Robert had promised his daughter to this +young Radford----" + +"As nasty a vermin as ever lived," said Harding. + +"Well, she wont have him, I'm sure," continued the widow, "for it has +been hanging off and on for these six years. People at first said it +was because they were too young. But I know that she has always +refused, and declared that nothing should ever drive her to marry him, +or any one else; for the law might say what it liked, but her own +heart and her own conscience, told her that she was Harry Leyton's +wife, and could not be any other man's, as long as he was living. +Susan, her maid, heard her say so to Sir Robert himself; but he still +keeps teasing her about it, and tells everybody she's engaged to young +Radford." + +"He'll go the devil," said Harding; "and I'll go to bed, Mrs. Clare, +for I must be up early to-morrow, to get a good many things to rights. +God bless you Kate, my love! I dare say I shall see you before I +go--for I must measure the dear little finger!" And giving her a +hearty kiss, Harding took a candle, and retired to the snug room that +had been prepared for him. + + + + + CHAPTER XI. + + +We must change the scene for a while, not only to another part of the +county of Kent, but to very different people from the worthy Widow +Clare and the little party assembled at her cottage. We must pass over +the events of the night also, and of the following morning up to the +hour of nine, proposing shortly to return to Harbourne House, and +trace the course of those assembled there. The dwelling into which we +must now introduce the reader, was a large, old-fashioned Kentish +farm-house, not many miles on the Sussex side of Ashford. It was +built, as many of these farm-houses still are, in the form of a cross, +presenting four limbs of strongly constructed masonry, two stories +high, with latticed windows divided into three partitions, separated +by rather neatly cut divisions of stone. Externally it had a strong +Harry-the-Eighth look about it, and probably had been erected in his +day, or in that of one of his immediate successors, as the residence +of some of the smaller gentry of the time. At the period I speak of, +it was tenanted by a family notorious for their daring and licentious +life, and still renowned in county tradition for many a fierce and +lawless act. Nevertheless, the head of the house, now waxing somewhat +in years, carried on, not only ostensibly but really, the peaceable +occupation of a Kentish farmer. He had his cows and his cattle, and +his sheep and his pigs; he grew wheat and barley, and oats and +turnips; had a small portion of hop-ground, and brewed his own beer. +But this trade of farming was only a small part of his employment, +though, to say the truth, he had given himself up more to it since his +bodily powers had declined, and he was no longer able to bear the +fatigue and exertion which the great strength of his early years had +looked upon as sport. The branch of his business which he was most +fond of was now principally entrusted to his two sons; and two strong, +handsome daughters, which made the number of his family amount to +four, occasionally aided their brothers, dressed in men's clothes, and +mounted upon powerful horses, which they managed as well as any grooms +in the county. + +The reader must not think that, in this description, we are exercising +indiscreetly our licence for dealing in fiction. We are painting a +true picture of the family of which we speak, as they lived and acted +some eighty or eighty-five years ago. + +The wife of the farmer had been dead ten or twelve years; and her +children had done just what they liked ever since; but it must be +admitted, that, even if she had lived to superintend their education, +we have no reason to conclude their conduct would have been very +different from what it was. We have merely said that they had done as +they pleased ever since her death, because during her life she had +made them do as she pleased, and beat them, or, as she herself termed +it, "basted" them heartily, if they did not. She was quite capable of +doing so too, to her own perfect satisfaction, for probably few arms +in all Kent were furnished with more sinewy muscles or a stouter fist +than hers could boast. It was only upon minor points of difference, +however, that she and her children ever quarrelled; for of their +general course of conduct she approved most highly; and no one was +more ready to receive packets of lace, tea, or other goods under her +fostering care, or more apt and skilful in stopping a tub of spirits +from "talking," or of puzzling a Custom-House officer when force was +not at hand to resist him. + +She was naturally of so strong a constitution, and so well built a +frame, that it is wonderful she died at all; but having caught cold +one night, poor thing!--it is supposed, in setting fire to a +neighbouring farm-house, the inmates of which were suspected of having +informed against her husband--her very strength and vigour gave a +tendency to inflammation, which speedily reduced her very low. A +surgeon, who visited the house in fear and trembling, bled her +largely, and forbade the use of all that class of liquids which she +was accustomed to imbibe in considerable quantities; and for three or +four days the fear of death made her follow his injunctions. But at +the end of that period, when the crisis of the disease was imminent, +finding herself no better, and very weak, she declared that the doctor +was a fool, and ought to have his head broken, and directed the maid +to bring her the big green bottle out of the corner cupboard. To this +she applied more than once, and then beginning to get a little +riotous, she sent for her family to witness how soon she had cured +herself. Sitting up in her bed, with a yellow dressing-gown over her +shoulders, and a gay cap overshadowing her burning face, she sung them +a song in praise of good liquor--somewhat panting for breath, it must +be owned--and then declaring that she was "devilish thirsty," which +was probably accurate to the letter, she poured out a large glass from +the big green bottle, which happened to be her bed-fellow for the +time, and raised it to her lips. Half the contents went down her +throat; but, how it happened I do not know, the rest was spilt upon +the bed clothes, and good Mrs. Ramley fell back in a doze, from which +nobody could rouse her. Before two hours were over she slept a still +sounder sleep, which required the undertaker to provide against its +permanence. + +The bereaved widower comforted himself after a time. We will not say +how many hours it required to effect that process. He was not a +drunken man himself; for the passive participle of the verb to "drink" +was not often actually applicable to his condition. Nevertheless, +there was a great consumption of hollands in the house during the next +week; and, if it was a wet funeral that followed, it was not with +water, salt or fresh. + +There are compensations for all things; and if Ramley had lost his +wife, and his children a mother, they all lost also a great number of +very good beatings, for, sad to say, he who could thrash all the +country round, submitted very often to be thrashed by his better half, +or at all events underwent the process of either having his head made +closely acquainted with a candlestick, or rendered the means of +breaking a platter. After that period the two boys grew up into as +fine, tall, handsome, dissolute blackguards as one could wish to look +upon; and for the two girls, no term perhaps can be found in the +classical authors of our language; but the vernacular supplies an +epithet particularly applicable, which we must venture to use. They +were two _strapping wenches_, nearly as tall as their brothers, full, +rounded, and well formed in person, fine and straight cut in features, +with large black shining eyes, a well-turned foot and ancle, and, as +was generally supposed, the invincible arm of their mother. + +We are not here going to investigate or dwell upon the individual +morality of the two young ladies. It is generally said to have been +better in some respects than either their ordinary habits, their +education, or their language would have led one to expect; and, +perhaps being very full of the stronger passions, the softer ones had +no great dominion over them. + +There, however, they sat at breakfast on the morning of which we have +spoken, in the kitchen of the farm-house, with their father seated at +the head of the table. He was still a great, tall, raw-boned man, with +a somewhat ogre-ish expression of countenance, and hair more white +than grey. But there were four other men at the table besides himself, +two being servants of the farm, and two acknowledged lovers of the +young ladies--very bold fellows as may well be supposed; for to marry +a she-lion or a demoiselle bear would have been a light undertaking +compared to wedding one of the Miss Ramleys. They seemed to be upon +very intimate terms with those fair personages, however, and perhaps +possessed as much of their affection as could possibly be obtained; +but still the love-making seemed rather of a feline character, for the +caresses, which were pretty prodigal, were mingled with--we must not +say interrupted by--a great deal of grumbling and growling, some +scratching, and more than one pat upon the side of the head, which did +not come with the gentleness of the western wind. The fare upon the +table consisted neither of tea, coffee, cocoa, nor any other kind of +weak beverage, but of beef and strong beer, a diet very harmonious +with the appearance of the persons who partook thereof. It was +seasoned occasionally with roars of laughter, gay and not very +delicate jests, various pieces of fun, which on more than one occasion +went to the very verge of an angry encounter, together with a good +many blasphemous oaths, and those testimonies of affection which I +have before spoken of as liberally bestowed by the young ladies upon +their lovers in the shape of cuffs and scratches. The principal topic +of conversation seemed to be some adventure which was even then going +forward, and in which the sons of the house were taking a part. No +fear, no anxiety, however, was expressed by any one, though they +wondered that Jim and Ned had not yet returned. + +"If they don't come soon they won't get much beef, Tom, if you swallow +it at that rate," said the youngest Miss Ramley to her sweetheart; +"you've eaten two pounds already, I'm sure." + +The young gentleman declared that it was all for love of her, but that +he hadn't eaten half so much as she had, whereupon the damsel became +wroth, and appealed to her father, who, for his part, vowed, that, +between them both, they had eaten and swilled enough to fill the big +hog-trough. The dispute might have run high, for Miss Ramley was not +inclined to submit to such observations, even from her father; but, +just as she was beginning in good set terms, which she had learnt from +himself, to condemn her parent's eyes, the old man started up, +exclaiming, "Hark! there's a shot out there!" + +"To be sure," answered one of the lovers. "It's the first of +September, and all the people are out shooting." + +Even while he was speaking, however, several more shots were heard, +apparently too many to proceed from sportsmen in search of game, and +the next moment the sound of horses' feet could be heard running quick +upon the road, and then turning into the yard which lay before the +house. + +"There they are!--there they are!" cried half-a-dozen voices; and, all +rushing out at the front door, they found the two young men with +several companions, and four led horses, heavily laden. Jim, the elder +brother, with the assistance of one of those who accompanied him, was +busily engaged in shutting the two great wooden gates which had been +raised by old Ramley some time before--nobody could tell why--in place +of a five-barred gate, which, with the tall stone wall, formerly shut +out the yard from the road. The other brother, Edward, or Ned Ramley, +as he was called, stood by the side of his horse, holding his head +down over a puddle; and, for a moment, no one could make out what he +was about. On his sister Jane approaching him, however, she perceived +a drop of blood falling every second into the dirty water below, and +exclaimed, "How hast thou broken thy noddle, Ned?" + +"There, let me alone, Jinny," cried the young man, shaking off the +hand she had laid upon his arm, "or I shall bloody my toggery. One of +those fellows has nearly cracked my skull, that's all; and he'd have +done it, too, if he had but been a bit nearer. This brute shied just +as I was firing my pistol at him, or he'd never have got within arm's +length. It's nothing--it's but a scratch.--Get the goods away; for +they'll be after us quick enough. They are chasing the major and his +people, and that's the way we got off." + +One of the usual stories of the day was then told by the rest--of how +a cargo had been run the night before, and got safe up into the +country: how, when they thought all danger over, they had passed +before old Bob Croyland's windows, and how Jim had given him a shot as +he stood at one of them; and then they went on to say that, whether it +was the noise of the gun, or that the old man had sent out to call the +officers upon them, they could not tell; but about three miles further +on, they saw a largish party of horse upon their right. Flight had +then become the order of the day; but, finding that they could not +effect it in one body, they were just upon the point of separating, +Ned Ramley declared, when two of the riding officers overtook them, +supported by a number of dragoons. Some firing took place, without +much damage, and, dividing into three bodies, the smugglers scampered +off, the Ramleys and their friends taking their way towards their own +house, and the others in different directions. The former might have +escaped unpursued, it would seem, had not the younger brother, Ned, +determined to give one of the dragoons a shot before he went: thus +bringing on the encounter in which he had received the wound on his +head. + +While all this was being told to the father, the two girls, their +lovers, the farm-servants, and several of the men, hurried the +smuggled goods into the house, and raising a trap in the floor of the +kitchen--contrived in such a manner that four whole boards moved up at +once on the western side of the room--stowed the different articles +away in places of concealment below, so well arranged, that even if +the trap was discovered, the officers would find nothing but a vacant +space, unless they examined the walls very closely. + +The horses were then all led to the stable; and Edward Ramley, having +in some degree stopped the bleeding of his wound, moved into the +house, with most of the other men. Old Ramley and the two +farm-servants, however, remained without, occupying themselves in +loading a cart with manure, till the sound of horses galloping down +was heard, and somebody shook the gates violently, calling loudly to +those within to open "in the King's name." + +The farmer instantly mounted upon the cart, and looked over the wall; +but the party before the gates consisted only of five or six dragoons, +of whom he demanded, in a bold tone, "Who the devil be you, that I +should open for you? Go away, go away, and leave a quiet man at +peace!" + +"If you don't open the gates, we'll break them down," said one of the +men. + +"Do, if you dare," answered old Ramley, boldly; "and if you do, I'll +shoot the best of you dead.--Bring me my gun, Tom.--Where's your +warrant, young man? You are not an officer, and you've got none with +you, so I shan't let any boiled lobsters enter my yard, I can tell +you." + +By this time he was provided with the weapon he had sent for; and one +of his men, similarly armed, had got into the cart beside him. The +appearance of resistance was rather ominous, and the dragoons were +well aware that if they did succeed in forcing an entrance, and blood +were spilt, the whole responsibility would rest upon themselves, if no +smuggled goods should be found, as they had neither warrant nor any +officer of the Customs with them. + +After a short consultation, then, he who had spoken before, called to +old Ramley, saying, "We'll soon bring a warrant. Then look to +yourself;" and, thus speaking, he rode off with his party. Old Ramley +only laughed, however, and turned back into the house, where he made +the party merry at the expense of the dragoons. All the men who had +been out upon the expedition were now seated at the table, dividing +the beef and bread amongst them, and taking hearty draughts from the +tankard. Not the least zealous in this occupation was Edward Ramley, +who seemed to consider the deep gash upon his brow as a mere scratch, +not worth talking about. He laughed and jested with the rest; and when +they had demolished all that the board displayed, he turned to his +father, saying, not in the most reverent tone, "Come, old fellow, +after bringing our venture home safe, I think you ought to send round +the true stuff: we've had beer enough. Let's have some of the +Dutchman." + +"That you shall, Neddy, my boy," answered the farmer, "only I wish you +had shot that rascal you fired at. However, one can't always have a +steady aim, especially with a fidgetty brute like that you ride;" and +away he went to bring the hollands, which soon circulated very freely +amongst the party, producing, in its course, various degrees of mirth +and joviality, which speedily deviated into song. Some of the ditties +that were sung were good, and some of them very bad; but almost all +were coarse, and the one that was least so was the following:-- + + + SONG. + + "It's wonderful, it's wonderful, is famous London town, + With its alleys + And its valleys, + And its houses up and down; + But I would give fair London town, its court, and all its + people, + For the little town of Biddenden, with the moon above + the steeple. + + "It's wonderful, it's wonderful, to see what pretty faces + In London streets + A person meets + In very funny places; + But I wouldn't give for all the eyes in London town one sees, + A pair, that by the moonlight, looks out beneath the trees. + + "It's wonderful, in London town, how soon a man may hold, + By art and sleight, + Or main and might, + A pretty sum of gold; + Yet give me but a pistol, and one rich squire or two, + A moonlight night, a yellow chaise, and the high road will do." + + +This was not the last song that was sung; but that which followed was +interrupted by one of the pseudo-labourers coming in from the yard, to +say that there was a hard knocking at the gate. + +"I think it is Mr. Radford's voice," added the man, "but I'm not sure; +and I did not like to get up into the cart to look." + +"Run up stairs to the window, Jinny!" cried old Ramley, "and you'll +soon see." + +His daughter did, on this occasion, as she was bid, and soon called +down from above, "It's old Radford, sure enough; but he's got two men +with him!" + +"It's all right, if he's there," said Jim Ramley; and the gates were +opened in a minute, to give that excellent gentleman admission. + +Now, Mr. Radford, it must be remembered, was a magistrate for the +county of Kent; but his presence created neither alarm nor confusion +in the house of the Ramleys; and when he entered, leaving his men in +the court for a minute, he said, with a laugh, holding the father of +that hopeful family by the arm, "I've come to search, and to stop the +others. Where are the goods?" + +"Safe enough," answered the farmer. "No fear--no fear!" + +"But can we look under the trap?" asked Mr. Radford, who seemed as +well acquainted with the secrets of the place as the owner thereof. + +"Ay, ay!" replied the old man. "Don't leave 'em too long--that's all." + +"I'll go down myself," said Radford; "they've got scent of it, or I +wouldn't find it out." + +"All right--all right!" rejoined the other, in a low voice; and the +magistrate, raising his tone, exclaimed, "Here, Clinch and Adams--you +two fools! why don't you come in? They say there is nothing here; but +we must search. We must not take any man's word; not to say that I +doubt yours, Mr. Ramley; but it is necessary, you know." + +"Oh, do what you like, sir," replied the farmer. "I don't care!" + +A very respectable search was then commenced, and pursued from room to +room--one of the men who accompanied Mr. Radford, and who was an +officer of the Customs, giving old Ramley a significant wink with his +right eye as he passed, at which the other grinned. Indeed, had the +whole matter not been very well understood between the great majority +of both parties, it would have been no very pleasant or secure task +for any three men in England to enter the kitchen of that farm-house +on such an errand. At length, however, Mr. Radford and his companions +returned to the kitchen, and the magistrate thought fit to walk +somewhat out of his way towards the left-hand side of the room, when +suddenly stopping, he exclaimed, in a grave tone, "Hallo! Ramley, +what's here? These boards seem loose!" + +"To be sure they are," answered the farmer; "that's the way to the old +beer cellar. But there's nothing in it, upon my honour!" + +"But we must look, Ramley, you know," said Mr. Radford. "Come, open +it, whatever it is! + +"Oh, with all my heart," replied the man; "but you'll perhaps break +your head. That's your fault, not mine, however,"--and, advancing to +the side of the room, he took a crooked bit of iron from his +pocket--not unlike that used for pulling stones out of a horse's +hoofs--and insinuating it between the skirting-board and the floor, +soon raised the trap-door of which we have spoken before. + +A vault of about nine feet deep was now exposed, with the top of a +ladder leading into it; and Mr. Radford ordered the men who were with +him to go down first. The one who had given old Ramley the wink in +passing, descended without ceremony; but the other, who was also an +officer, hesitated for a moment. + +"Go down--go down, Clinch!" said Mr. Radford. "You _would_ have a +search, and so you shall do it thoroughly." + +The man obeyed, and the magistrate paused a moment to speak with the +smuggling farmer, saying, in a low voice, "I don't mind their knowing +I'm your friend, Ramley. Let them think about that as they like. +Indeed, I'd rather that they did see we understand each other; so give +me a hint if they go too far; I'll bear it out." + +Thus saying, he descended into the cellar, and old Ramley stood gazing +down upon the three from above, with his gaunt figure bending over the +trap-door. At the end of a minute or two he called down, "There--that +ought to do, I'm sure! We can't be kept bothering here all day!" + +Something was said in a low tone by one of the men below; but then the +voice of Mr. Radford was heard, exclaiming, "No, no; that will do! +We've had enough of it! Go up, I say! There's no use of irritating +people by unreasonable suspicions, Mr. Clinch. Is it not quite enough, +Adams? Are you satisfied!" + +"Oh! quite, sir," answered the other officer; "there's nothing but bare +walls and an empty beer barrel." + +The next moment the party began to reappear from the trap, the officer +Clinch coming up first, with a grave look, and Mr. Radford and the +other following, with a smile upon their faces. + +"There, all is clear enough," said Mr. Radford; "so you, gentlemen, +can go and pursue your search elsewhere. I must remain here to wait +for my son, whom I sent for to join me with the servants, as you know; +not that I feared any resistance from you, Mr. Ramley; but smuggling +is so sadly prevalent now-a-days, that one must be on one's guard, you +know." + +A horse laugh burst from the whole party round the table; and in the +midst of it the two officers retired into the yard, where, mounting +their horses, they opened the gates and rode away. + +As soon as they were gone, Mr. Radford shook old Ramley familiarly by +the hand, exclaiming, "This is the luckiest thing in the world, my +good fellow! If I can but get them to accuse me of conniving at this +job, it will be a piece of good fortune which does not often happen to +a man." + +Ramley, as well he might, looked a little confounded; but Mr. Radford +drew him aside, and spoke to him for a quarter of an hour, in a voice +raised hardly above a whisper. Numerous laughs, and nods, and signs of +mutual understanding passed between them; and the conversation ended +by Mr. Radford saying, aloud, "I wonder what can keep Dick so long; he +ought to have been here before now! I sent over to him at eight; and +it is past eleven." + + + + + CHAPTER XII. + + +We will now, by the reader's good leave, return for a short time to +Harbourne House, where the party sat down to breakfast, at the +inconveniently early hour of eight. I will not take upon myself to say +that it might not be a quarter-of-an-hour later, for almost everything +is after its time on this globe, and Harbourne House did not differ in +this respect from all the rest of the world. From the face of young +Radford towards the countenance of Sir Edward Digby shot some very +furious glances as they took their places at the breakfast-table; but +those looks gradually sunk down into a dull and sullen frown, as they +met with no return. Sir Edward Digby, indeed, seemed to have forgotten +the words which had passed between them as soon as they had been +uttered; and he laughed, and talked, and conversed with every one as +gaily as if nothing had happened. Edith was some ten minutes behind +the rest at the meal, and seemed even more depressed than the night +before; but Zara had reserved a place for her at her own side; and +taking the first opportunity, while the rest of the party were busily +talking together, she whispered a few words in her ear. Sir Edward +Digby saw her face brighten in a moment, and her eyes turn quickly +towards himself; but he took no notice; and an interval of silence +occurring the next moment, the conversation between the two sisters +was interrupted. + +During breakfast, a servant brought in a note and laid it on the +side-board, and after the meal was over, Miss Croyland retired to her +own room to make ready for her departure. Zara was about to follow; +but good Mrs. Barbara, who had heard some sharp words pass between the +two gentlemen, and had remarked the angry looks of young Radford, was +determined that they should not quarrel without the presence of +ladies, and consequently called her youngest niece back, saying, in a +whisper, "Stay here, my dear. I have a particular reason why I want +you not to go." + +"I will be back in a moment, my dear aunt," replied Zara; but the +worthy old lady would not suffer her to depart; and the butler +entering at that moment, called the attention of Richard Radford to +the note which had been brought in some half-an-hour before, and which +was, in fact, a sudden summons from his father. + +The contents seemed to give him no great satisfaction; and, turning to +the servant, he said, "Well, tell them to saddle my horse, and bring +him round;" and as he spoke, he directed a frowning look towards the +young baronet, as if he could scarcely refrain from shewing his anger +till a fitting opportunity occurred for expressing it. + +Digby, however, continued talking lightly with Zara Croyland, in the +window, till the horse had been brought round, and the young man had +taken leave of the rest of the party. Then sauntering slowly out of +the room, he passed through the hall door, to the side of Richard +Radford's horse, just as the latter was mounting. + +"Mr. Radford," he said, in a low tone, "you were pleased to make an +impertinent observation upon my conduct, which led me to tell you what +I think of yours. We were interrupted; but I dare say you must wish +for further conversation with me. You can have it when and where you +please." + +"At three o'clock this afternoon, in the road straight from the back +of the house," replied young Radford, in a low, determined tone, +touching the hilt of his sword. + +Sir Edward Digby nodded, and then turning on his heel, walked coolly +into the house. + +"I am sure, Sir Edward," cried Mrs. Barbara, as soon as she saw him, +while Zara fixed her eyes somewhat anxiously upon his countenance--"I +am sure you and Mr. Radford have been quarrelling." + +"Oh no, my dear madam," replied Sir Edward Digby; "nothing of the +kind, I can assure you. Our words were very ordinary words, and +perfectly civil, upon my word. We had no time to quarrel." + +"My dear Sir Edward," said Sir Robert Croyland, "you must excuse me +for saying it, I must have no such things here. I am a magistrate for +this county, and bound by my oath to keep the peace. My sister tells +me that high words passed between you and my young friend Radford +before breakfast?" + +"They were very few, Sir Robert," answered Digby, in a careless tone; +"he thought fit to make an observation upon my saying a few words to +your daughter, here, in a low tone, which I conceive every gentleman +has a right to do to a fair lady. I told him, I thought his conduct +insolent; and that was all that passed. I believe the youth has got a +bad headache from too much of your good wine, Sir Robert; therefore, I +forgive him. I dare say, he'll be sorry enough for what he said, +before the day is over; and if he is not, I cannot help it." + +"Well, well, if that's all, it is no great matter!" replied the master +of the house; "but here comes round the carriage; run and call Edith, +Zara." + +Before the young lady could quit the room, however, her sister +appeared; and the only moment they obtained for private conference was +at the door of the carriage, after Edith had got in, and while her +father was giving some directions to the coachman. No great +information could be given or received, indeed, for Sir Robert +returned to the side of the vehicle immediately, bade his daughter +good-bye, and the carriage rolled away. + +As soon as it was gone, Sir Edward Digby proposed, with the permission +of Sir Robert Croyland, to go out to shoot; for he did not wish to +subject himself to any further cross-examination by the ladies of the +family, and he read many inquiries in fair Zara's eyes, which he +feared might be difficult to answer. Retiring, then, to put on a more +fitting costume, while gamekeepers and dogs were summoned to attend +him, he took the opportunity of writing a short letter, which he +delivered to his servant to post, giving him, at the same time, brief +directions to meet him near the cottage of good Mrs. Clare, about +half-past two, with the sword which the young officer usually wore +when not on military service. Those orders were spoken in so ordinary +and commonplace a tone that none but a very shrewd fellow would have +discovered that anything was going forward different from the usual +occurrences of the day; but Somers was a very shrewd fellow; and in a +few minutes--judging from what he had observed while waiting on his +master during dinner on the preceding day--he settled the whole matter +entirely to his own satisfaction, thinking, according to the +phraseology of those times, "Sir Edward will pink him--and a good +thing too; but it will spoil sport here, I've a notion." + +As he descended to the hall, in order to join the keepers and their +four-footed coadjutors, the young baronet encountered Mrs. Barbara and +her niece; and he perceived Zara's eyes instantly glance to his +sword-belt, from which he had taken care to remove a weapon that could +only be inconvenient to him in the sport he was about to pursue. She +was not so easily to be deceived as her father; but yet the absence of +the weapon usually employed in those days, as the most efficacious for +killing a fellow-creature, put her mind at ease, at least for the +present; and, although she determined to watch the proceedings of the +young baronet during the two or three following days--as far, at +least, as propriety would permit--she took no further notice at the +moment, being very anxious to prevent her good aunt from interfering +more than necessary in the affairs of Sir Edward Digby. + +Mrs. Barbara, indeed, was by no means well pleased that Sir Edward was +going to deprive her schemes of the full benefit which might have +accrued from his passing the whole of that day unoccupied, with Zara, +at Harbourne House, and hinted significantly that she trusted if he +did not find good sport he would return early, as her niece was very +fond of a ride over the hills, only that she had no companion. + +The poor girl coloured warmly, and the more so as Sir Edward could not +refrain from a smile. + +"I trust, then, I shall have the pleasure of being your companion +to-morrow, Miss Croyland," he said, turning to the young lady. "Why +should we not ride over, and see your excellent uncle and your sister? +I must certainly pay my respects to him; and if I may have the honour +of escorting you, it will give double pleasure to my ride." + +Zara Croyland was well aware that many a matter, which if treated +seriously may become annoying--if not dangerous, can be carried +lightly off by a gay and dashing jest: "Oh, with all my heart," she +said; "only remember, Sir Edward, we must have plenty of servants with +us, or else all the people in the country will say that you and I are +going to be married; and as I never intend that such a saying should +be verified, it will be as well to nip the pretty little blossom of +gossip in the bud." + +"It shall be all exactly as you please," replied the young officer, +with a low bow and a meaning smile; but at the very same moment, Mrs. +Barbara thought fit to reprove her niece, wondering how she could talk +so sillily; and Sir Edward took his leave, receiving his host's +excuses, as he passed through the hall, for not accompanying him on +his shooting expedition. + +"The truth is, my dear sir," said Sir Robert Croyland, "that I am now +too old and too heavy for such sports." + +"You were kind enough to tell me, this is Liberty Hall," replied the +young baronet, "and you shall see, my dear sir, that I take you at +your word, both in regard to your game and your wine, being resolved, +with your good permission, and for my own health, to kill your birds +and spare your bottles." + +"Certainly, certainly," answered the master of the mansion--"you shall +do exactly as you like;" and with this licence, Sir Edward set out +shooting, with tolerable success, till towards two o'clock, when, +quite contrary to the advice and opinion of the gamekeepers--who +declared that the dogs would have the wind with them in that +direction, and that as the day was now hot, the birds would not lie a +minute--he directed his course towards the back of Harbourne Wood, +finding, it must be confessed, but very little sport. There, +apparently fatigued and disgusted with walking for a mile or two +without a shot, he gave his gun to one of the men, and bade him take +it back to the house, saying, he would follow speedily. As soon as he +had seen them depart, he tracked round the edge of the wood, towards +Mrs. Clare's cottage, exactly opposite to which he found his trusty +servant, provided as he had directed. + +Sir Edward then took the sword and fixed it in his belt, saying, "Now, +Somers, you may go!" + +"Certainly, sir," replied the man, touching his hat with a look of +hesitation; but he added, a minute after, "you had better let me know +where it's to be, sir, in case----" + +"Well," rejoined Sir Edward Digby, with a smile, "you are an old +soldier and no meddler, Somers; so that I will tell you, 'in +case,'--that the place is in a straight line between this and +Harbourne House. So now, face about to the right, and go back by the +other road." + +The man touched his hat again, and walked quickly away, while the +young officer turned his steps up the road which he had followed +during the preceding evening in pursuit of the two Miss Croylands. It +was a good broad open way, in which there was plenty of fencing room, +and he thought to himself as he walked on, "I shall not be sorry to +punish this young vagabond a little. I must see what sort of skill he +has, and if possible wound him without hurting him much. If one could +keep him to his bed for a fortnight, we should have the field more +clear for our own campaign; but these things must always be a chance." + +Thus meditating, and looking at his watch to see how much time he had +to spare, Major Sir Edward Digby walked on till became within sight of +the garden wall and some of the out-buildings of Harbourne House. The +reader, if he has paid attention, will remember that the road did not +go straight to the back of the house itself: a smaller path, which led +to the right, conducting thither; but as the gardens extended for +nearly a quarter of a mile on that side, it followed the course of the +wall to the left to join the parish road which ran in front of the +mansion, leaving the green court, as it was called, or lawn, and the +terrace, on the right hand. + +As there was no other road in that direction, Sir Edward Digby felt +sure that he must be on the ground appointed, but yet, as is the case +in all moments of expectation, the time seemed so long, that when he +saw the brick-work he took out his watch again, and found there were +still five minutes to spare. He accordingly turned upon his steps, +walking slowly back for about a quarter of a mile, and then returned, +looking sharply out for his opponent, but seeing no one. He was now +sure that the time must be past; but, resolved to afford young Radford +every opportunity, he said to himself, "Watches may differ, and +something may have detained him. I will give him a full half hour, and +then if he does not come I shall understand the matter." + +As soon, then, as he saw the walls once more, he wheeled round and +re-trod his steps, then looked at his watch, and found that it was a +quarter past three. "Too bad!" he said,--"too bad! The fellow cannot +be coward, too, as well as blackguard. One turn more, and then I've +done with him." But as he advanced on his way towards the house, he +suddenly perceived the flutter of female garments before him, and +saying to himself, "This is awkward!" he gazed round for some path, in +order to get out of the way for a moment, but could perceive none. The +next instant, coming round a shrub which started forward a little +before the rest of the trees, he saw the younger Miss Croyland +advancing with a quick step, and, he could not help thinking, with a +somewhat agitated air. Her colour was heightened, her eyes eagerly +looking on; but, as soon as she saw him, she slackened her pace, and +came forward in a more deliberate manner. + +"Oh, Sir Edward!" she said, in a calm, sweet tone, "I am glad to see +you. You have finished your shooting early, it seems." + +"Why, the sport was beginning to slacken," answered Sir Edward Digby. +"I had not had a shot for the last half hour, and so thought it best +to give it up." + +"Well then, you shall take a walk with me," cried Zara, gaily. "I am +just going down to a poor friend of ours, called Widow Clare, and you +shall come too." + +"What! notwithstanding all your sage and prudent apprehensions in +regard to what people might say if we were seen alone together!" +exclaimed Sir Edward Digby, with a smile. + +"Oh! I don't mind that," answered Zara. "Great occasions, you know, +Sir Edward, require decisive measures; and I assuredly want an escort +through this terrible forest, to protect me from all the giants and +enchanters it may contain." + +Sir Edward Digby looked at his watch again, and saw that it wanted but +two minutes to the half hour. + +"Oh!" said Zara, affecting a look of pique, "if you have some +important appointment, Sir Edward, it is another affair--only tell me +if it be so?" + +Sir Edward Digby took her hand in his: "I will tell you, dear lady," +he replied, "if you will first tell me one thing, truly and +sincerely--What brought you here?" + +Zara trembled and coloured; for with the question put in so direct a +shape, the agitation, which she had previously overcome, mastered her +in turn, and she answered, "Don't, don't, or I shall cry." + +"Well, then, tell me at least if I had anything to do with it?" asked +the young baronet. + +"Yes, you had!" replied Zara; "I can't tell a falsehood. But now, Sir +Edward, don't, as most of you men would do, suppose that it's from any +very tender interest in you, that I did this foolish thing. It was +because I thought--I thought, if you were going to do what I imagined, +it would be the very worst thing in the world for poor Edith." + +"I shall only suppose that you are all that is kind and good," +answered Digby--perhaps a little piqued at the indifference which she +so studiously assumed; "and even if I thought, Miss Croyland, that you +did take some interest in my poor self, depend upon it, I should not +be inclined to go one step farther in the way of vanity than you +yourself could wish. I am not altogether a coxcomb. But now tell me, +how you were led to suspect anything?" + +"Promise me first," said Zara, "that this affair shall not take place. +Indeed, indeed, Sir Edward, it must not, on every account!" + +"There is not the slightest chance of any such thing," replied Sir +Edward Digby. "You need not be under the slightest alarm." + +"What! you do not mean to say," she exclaimed, with her cheeks glowing +and her eyes raised to his face, "that you did not come here to fight +him?" + +"Not exactly," answered Sir Edward Digby, laughing; "but what I do +mean to say, my dear young lady, is, that our friend is half an hour +behind his time, and I am not disposed to give him another opportunity +of keeping me waiting." + +"And if he had been in time," cried Zara, clasping her hands together +and casting down her eyes, "I should have been too late." + +"But tell me," persisted Sir Edward Digby, "how you heard all this. +Has my servant, Somers, been indiscreet?" + +"No, no," replied Zara; "no, I can assure you! I saw you go out in +your shooting dress, and without a sword. Then I thought it was all +over, especially as you had the gamekeepers with you; but some time +ago I found that your servant had gone out, carrying a sword under his +arm, and had come straight up this road. That made me uneasy. When the +gamekeepers came back without you, I was more uneasy still; but I +could not get away from my aunt for a few minutes. When I could, +however, I got my hat and cloak, and hurried away, knowing that you +would not venture to fight in the presence of a woman. As I went out, +all my worst fears were confirmed by seeing your servant come back +without the sword; and then--not very well knowing, indeed, what I was +to say or do--I hurried on as fast as possible. Now you have the whole +story, and you must come away from this place." + +"Very willingly," answered the young officer; adding, with a smile, +"which way shall we go, Miss Croyland? To Widow Clare's?" + +"No, no!" answered Zara, blushing again. "Do not tease me. You do not +know how soon, when a woman is agitated, she is made to weep. My +father is out, indeed," she added, in a gayer tone, "so that I should +have time to bathe my eyes before dinner, which will be half an hour +later than usual; but I should not like my aunt to tell him that I +have been taking a crying walk with Sir Edward Digby." + +"Heaven forbid that I should ever give you cause for a tear!" answered +the young baronet; and then, with a vague impression that he was doing +something very like making love, he added, "but let us return to the +house, or perhaps we may have your aunt seeking us." + +"The most likely thing in the world," replied Zara; and taking their +way back, they passed through the gardens and entered the house by one +of the side doors. + + + + + CHAPTER XIII. + + +It was a custom of those days, I believe, not altogether done away +with in the present times, for magistrates to assemble in petty +sessions, or to meet at other times for the dispatch of any +extraordinary business, in tavern, public-house, or inn--a custom more +honoured in the breach than the observance, except where no other +place of assembly can be found. It thus happened that, on the day of +which we have been speaking, some half-dozen gentlemen, all justices +of the peace for the county of Kent, were gathered together in a +good-sized room of the inn, at the little town of * * * * * . There +was a table drawn across the room, at which was placed the +magistrates' clerk, with sundry sheets of paper before him, several +printed forms, and two books, one big and the other little. The +magistrates themselves, however, were not seated in due state and +dignity, but, on the contrary, were in general standing about and +talking together, some looking out of the window into the street, some +leaning with their backs against the table and the tails of their +coats turned over their hands, while one occupied an arm-chair placed +sideways at the board, with one knee thrown over the other--a +favourite position which he could not have assumed had he sat with his +face to the table. + +The latter was Sir Robert Croyland, who had been sent for in haste by +his brother justices, to take part in their proceedings relative to a +daring act of smuggling which had just been perpetrated. Sir Robert +would willingly have avoided giving his assistance upon this occasion; +but the summons had been so urgent that he could not refuse going; and +he was now not a little angry to find that there were more than +sufficient justices present to make a quorum, and to transact all the +necessary business. Some one, however, it would seem, had--as usual in +all county arrangements--been very busy in pressing for as full an +attendance as possible; and those who knew the characters of the +gentlemen assembled might have perceived that the great majority of +them were not very well qualified to sit as judges upon a case of this +nature, as almost every one was under suspicion of leaning towards the +side of the smugglers, most of them having at some time engaged more +or less in the traffic which they were called upon to stop. Sir Robert +Croyland was the least objectionable in this point of view; for he had +always borne a very high name for impartiality in such matters, and +had never had anything personally to do with the illicit traffic +itself. It is probable, therefore, that he was sent for to give a mere +show of justice to the proceedings; for Mr. Radford was expected to be +there; and it was a common observation of the county gentlemen, that +the latter could now lead Sir Robert as he liked. Mr. Radford, indeed, +had not yet arrived, though two messengers had been despatched to +summon him; the answer still being that he had gone over towards +Ashford. Sir Robert, therefore, sat in the midst--not harmonizing much +in feeling with the rest, and looking anxiously for his friend's +appearance, in order to obtain some hint as to how he was to act. + +At length, a considerable noise was heard in the streets below, and a +sort of constable door-keeper presented himself, to inform the +magistrates that the officers and dragoons had arrived, bringing in +several prisoners. An immediate bustle took place, the worshipful +gentlemen beginning to seat themselves, and one of them--as it is +technically termed--moving Sir Robert into the chair. In order to shew +that this was really as well as metaphysically done, Sir Robert +Croyland rose, sat down again, and wheeled himself round to the table. +A signal was then given to the constable; and a rush of several +persons from without was made into the temporary justice room, which +was at once nearly filled with custom-house officers, soldiers, +smugglers, and the curious of the village. + +Amongst the latter portion of the auditory,--at least, so he supposed +at first,--Sir Robert Croyland perceived his young friend, Richard +Radford; and he was in the act of beckoning him to come up to the +table, in order to inquire where his father was, and how soon he would +return, when one of the officers of the Customs suddenly thrust the +young gentleman out of the way, exclaiming, "Stand farther back! What +are you pushing forward for? Your turn will come soon enough, I +warrant." + +Sir Robert Croyland was confounded; and for a moment or two he sat +silent in perplexity and surprise. Not that he ever entertained a +doubt of old Mr. Radford still nourishing all the propensities of his +youth; nor that he was not well aware they had formed part of the +inheritance of the son; but there were certain considerations of some +weight which made Sir Robert feel that it would have been better for +him to be in any other spot of the habitable globe than that where he +was at the moment. Recovering himself, however, after a brief pause of +anxious indecision, he made a sign to the constable door-keeper, and +whispered to him, as soon as the man reached his side, to inquire into +the cause of Mr. Richard Radford's being there. The man was shrewd and +quick, and while half the magistrates were speaking across the table +to half the officers and some of the dragoons, he went and returned to +and from the other side of the room, and then whispered to the +baronet, "For smuggling, sir--caught abetting the others--his name +marked upon some of the goods!" + +Sir Robert Croyland was not naturally a brilliant man. Though hasty in +temper in his early days, he had always been somewhat obtuse in +intellect; but this was a case of emergency; and there is no greater +sharpener of the wits than necessity. In an instant, he had formed his +plan to gain time, which was his great object at that moment; and, +taking out his watch, he laid it on the table, exclaiming aloud, +"Gentlemen! gentlemen! a little regularity, if you please. My time is +precious. I have an important engagement this afternoon, and I----" + +But his whole scheme had nearly been frustrated by the impetuosity of +young Radford himself, who at once pushed through officers and +soldiers, saying, "And so have I, Sir Robert, a very important +engagement this afternoon. I claim to be heard as speedily as +possible." + +Sir Robert, however, was determined to carry his point, and to avoid +having aught to do with the case of his young friend, even at the risk +of giving him offence and annoyance. "Stand back, sir!" he said. "In +this court, there is no friendship or favour. You will have attention +in turn, but not before. Mr. Mowle, bring forward the prisoners one +after the other, as near as possible, in the order of--the order +of--of their capture," he added, at length, after hesitating for a +moment to consider whether it was or was not probable that young +Radford had been amongst those last taken; "and let all the others be +removed, under guard, into the next room." + +"Wont that make it a long affair, Sir Robert?" asked Mr. Runnington, a +neighbouring squire. + +"Oh dear, no!" replied the chairman; "by regularity we shall save +time. Do as you are directed, Mowle!" + +Young Radford showed a strong disposition to resist, or, at least, to +protest against this arrangement; but the officer to whom the baronet +had spoken, treated the prisoner with very little reverence; and he, +with the rest of the gang, was removed from the room, with the +exception of three, one of whom, with a smart cockade in his hat, such +as was worn at that time by military men in undress, swaggered up to +the table with a bold air, as if he were about to address the +magistrates. + +"Ah, major, is that you?" asked a gentleman on Sir Robert's right, +known in the country by the name of Squire Jollyboat, though his +family being originally French, his real appellation was Jollivet. + +"Oh yes, squire," answered the prisoner, in a gay, indifferent tone, +"here I am. It is long since I have had the pleasure of seeing your +worship. I think you were not on the bench the last time I was +committed, or I should have fared better." + +"I don't know that, major," replied the gentleman; "on the former +occasion I gave you a month, I think." + +"Ay, but the blackguards that time gave me two," rejoined the major. + +"Because it was the second offence," said Squire Jollyboat. + +"The second! Lord bless you, sir!" answered the major, with a look of +cool contempt; and turning round with a wink to his two companions, +they all three laughed joyously, as if it were the finest joke in the +world. + +It might not be very interesting to the reader were we to give in +detail the depositions of the various witnesses upon a common case of +smuggling in the last century, or to repeat all the various arguments +which were bandied backwards and forwards between the magistrates, +upon the true interpretation of the law, as expressed in the 9th +George II., cap. 35. It was very evident, indeed, to the officers of +Customs, to the serjeant of dragoons, and even to the prisoners +themselves, that the worthy justices were disposed to take as +favourable a view of smuggling transactions as possible. But the law +was very clear; the case was not less so; Mowle, the principal riding +officer, was a straightforward, determined, and shrewd man; and +although Sir Robert Croyland, simply with a view of protracting the +investigation till Mr. Radford should arrive, started many questions +which he left to the other magistrates to settle, yet in about half an +hour the charge of smuggling, with riot, and armed resistance to the +Custom-House officers, was clearly made out against the major and his +two companions; and as the act left no discretion in such a case, the +resistance raising the act to felony, all three were committed for +trial, and the officers bound over to prosecute. + +The men were then taken away, laughing and jesting; and Sir Robert +Croyland looked with anxiety for the appearance of the next party; but +two other men were now introduced without Richard Radford; and the +worthy baronet was released for the time. The case brought forward +against these prisoners differed from that against those who preceded +them, inasmuch as no resistance was charged. They had simply been +found aiding and abetting in the carriage of the smuggled goods, and +had fled when they found themselves pursued by the officers, though +not fast enough to avoid capture. The facts were speedily proved, and, +indeed, much more rapidly than suited the views of Sir Robert +Croyland. He therefore raised the question, when the decision of the +magistrates was about to be pronounced, whether this was the first or +the second offence, affecting some remembrance of the face of one of +the men. The officers, also, either really did recollect, or pretended +to do so, that the person of whom he spoke had been convicted before; +but the man himself positively denied it, and defied them to bring +forward any proof. A long discussion thus commenced, and before it was +terminated the baronet was relieved by the appearance of Mr. Radford +himself, who entered booted and spurred, and covered with dust, as if +just returned from a long ride. + +Shaking hands with his brother magistrates, and especially with Sir +Robert Croyland, he was about to seat himself at the end of that +table, when the baronet rose, saying, "Here, Radford, you had better +take my place, as I must positively get home directly, having +important business to transact." + +"No, no, Sir Robert," replied that respectable magistrate, "we cannot +spare you in this case, nor can I take that place. My son, I hear, is +charged with taking part in this affair; and some sharp words have +been passing between myself and that scoundrel of a fellow called +Clinch, the officer, who applied to me for aid in searching the +Ramleys' house. When I agreed to go with him, and found out a very +snug place for hiding, he was half afraid to go down; and yet, since +then, he has thought fit to insinuate that I had something to do with +the run, and did not conduct the search fairly." + +The magistrates looked round to each other and smiled; and Radford +himself laughed heartily, very much as if he was acting a part in a +farce, without any hope or expectation of passing off his zeal in the +affair, upon his fellow magistrates, as genuine. Mowle, the officer, +at the same time turned round, and spoke a few words to two men who +had followed Mr. Radford into the room, one of whom shrugged his +shoulders with a laugh, and said nothing, and the other replied +eagerly, but in a low tone. + +Sir Robert Croyland, however, urged the necessity of his going, put +his watch in his pocket, and buttoned up his coat. But Mr. Radford, +assuming a graver air and a very peculiar tone, replied, "No, no, Sir +Robert; you must stay, indeed. We shall want you. Your known +impartiality will give weight to our decisions, whatever they may be." + +The baronet sat down again, but evidently with so much unwillingness, +that his brethren marvelled not a little at this fresh instance of the +influence which Mr. Radford exerted over his mind. + +"Who is the next prisoner, Mr. Mowle?" demanded Sir Robert Croyland, +as soon as he had resumed his seat. + +"Mr. Richard Radford, I suppose, sir," said Mowle; "but these two men +are not disposed of." + +"Well, then," said Mr. Jollivet, who was very well inclined to +commence a career of lenity, "as no proof has been given that this is +the second offence, I think we must send them both for a month. That +seems to me the utmost we can do." + +The other magistrates concurred in this decision; and the prisoners +were ordered to be removed; but ere they went, the one against whom +the officers had most seriously pressed their charge, turned round +towards the bench, exclaiming, in a gay tone, "Thank you, Squire +Jollyboat. Your worship shall have a chest of tea for this, before I'm +out a fortnight." + +A roar of laughter ran round the magistrates--for such matters were as +indecently carried on in those days, on almost all occasions, as they +sometimes are now; and in a moment or two after, young Radford was +brought in, with a dark scowl upon his brow. + +"How is this, Dick?" cried his father. "Have you been dabbling in a +run, and suffered yourself to be caught?" + +"Let these vagabonds make their accusation, and bring their +witnesses," replied the young man, sullenly, "and then I'll speak for +myself." + +"Well, your worships," said Mowle, coming forward, "the facts are +simply these: I have long had information that goods were to be run +about this time, and that Mr. Radford had some share in the matter. +Last night, a large quantity of goods were landed in the Marsh, though +I had been told it was to be near about Sandgate, or between that and +Hythe, and was consequently on the look-out there. As soon as I got +intimation, however, that the run had been effected, I got together as +many men as I could, sent for a party of dragoons from Folkestone, +and, knowing pretty well which way they would take, came across by +Aldington, Broadoak and Kingsnorth, and then away by Singleton Green, +towards Four-Elms, where, just under the hill, we came upon those two +men who have just been convicted, and two others, who got off. We +captured these two, and three horse-loads they had with them, for +their beasts were tired, and they had lagged behind. There were two or +three chests of tea, and a good many other things, and all of them +were marked, just like honest bales of goods, 'Richard Radford, +Esquire, Junior.' As we found, however, that the great party was on +before, we pursued them as far as Rouse-end, where we overtook them +all; but there they scattered, some galloping off towards Gouldwell, +as if they were going to the Ramleys; some towards Usherhouse, and +some by the wood towards Etchden. Four or five of the dragoons pushed +after those running for Gouldwell, but I and the rest stuck to the +main body, which went away towards the wood, and who showed fight. +There was a good deal of firing amongst the trees, but not much damage +done, except to my horse, who was shot in the shoulder. But just as we +were chasing them out of the wood, up came Mr. Richard Radford, who +was seen for a minute speaking to one of the men who were running, and +riding along beside him for some way. He then turned, and came up to +us, and tried to stop us as we were galloping after them, asking what +the devil we were about, and giving us a great deal of bad language. I +didn't mind him, but rode on, knowing we could take him at any time; +but Mr. Birchett, the other chief officer, who had captured the major +a minute or two before, got angry, and caught him by the collar, +charging him to surrender, when he instantly drew his sword, and +threatened to run him through. One of the dragoons, however, knocked +it out of his hand, and then he was taken. This affray in the middle +of the road enabled the greater part of the rest to get off; and we +only captured two more horses and one man." + +Several of the other officers, and the dragoons, corroborated Mowle's +testimony; and the magistrates, but especially Sir Robert Croyland, +began to look exceedingly grave. Mr. Radford, however, only laughed, +turning to his son, and asking, "Well, Dick! what have you to say to +all this?" + +Richard Radford, however, merely tossed up his head, and threw back +his shoulders, without reply, till Sir Robert Croyland addressed him, +saying, "I hope, Mr. Radford, you can clear yourself of this charge, +for you ought to know that armed resistance to the King's officers is +a transportable offence." + +"I will speak to the magistrates," replied young Radford, "when I can +speak freely, without all these people about me. As to the goods they +mention, marked with my name, I know nothing about them." + +"Do you wish to speak with the magistrates alone?" demanded old Mr. +Radford. + +"I must strongly object to any such proceeding," exclaimed Mowle. + +"Pray, sir, meddle with what concerns you," said old Radford, turning +upon him fiercely, "and do not pretend to dictate here. You gentlemen +are greatly inclined to forget your place. I think that the room had +better be cleared of all but the prisoner, Sir Robert." + +The baronet bowed his head; Squire Jollivet concurred in the same +opinion; and, though one or two of the others hesitated, they were +ultimately overruled, and the room was cleared of all persons but the +magistrates and the culprit. + +Scarcely was this done, when, with a bold free air, and contemptuous +smile, young Radford advanced to the side of the table, and laid his +left hand firmly upon it; then, looking round from one to another, he +said, "I will ask you a question, worshipful gentlemen.--Is there any +one of you, here present, who has never, at any time, had anything to +do with a smuggling affair?--Can you swear it upon your oaths?--Can +you, sir?--Can you? Can you?" + +The magistrates to whom he addressed himself, looked marvellously +rueful, and replied not; and at last, turning to his father, he said, +"Can you, sir? though I, methinks, need hardly ask the question." + +"No, by Jove, Dick, I can't!" replied his father, laughing. "I wish to +Heaven you wouldn't put such awful interrogatories; for I believe, for +that matter, we are all in the same boat." + +"Then I refuse," said young Radford, "to be judged by you. Settle the +matter as you like.--Get out of the scrape as you can; but don't +venture to convict a man when you are more guilty than he is himself. +If you do, I may tell a few tales that may not be satisfactory to any +of you." + +It had been remarked, that, in putting his questions, the young +gentleman had entirely passed Sir Robert Croyland; and Mr. Jollivet +whispered to the gentleman next him, "I think we had better leave him +and Sir Robert to settle it, for I believe the baronet is quite clear +of the scrape." + +But Mr. Radford had overheard, and he exclaimed, "No, no; I think the +matter is quite clear how we must proceed. There's not the slightest +proof given that he knew anything about these goods being marked with +his name, or that it was done by his authority. He was not with the +men either, who were carrying the goods; and they were going quite +away from his own dwelling. He happened to come there accidentally, +just when the fray was going on. That I can prove, for I sent him a +note this morning, telling him to join me at Ashford as fast as +possible." + +"I saw it delivered myself," said Sir Robert Croyland. + +"To be sure," rejoined Mr. Radford; "and then, as to his talking to +the smugglers when he did come up, I dare say he was telling them to +surrender, or not to resist the law. Wasn't it so, Dick?" + +"Not a bit of it," answered Richard Radford, boldly. "I told them to +be off as fast as they could. But I did tell them not to fire any +more. That's true enough!" + +"Ay, to be sure," cried Mr. Radford. "He was trying to persuade them +not to resist legitimate authority." + +Almost all the magistrates burst into a fit of laughter; but, no way +disconcerted, worthy Mr. Radford went on saying--"While he was doing +this, up comes this fellow, Birchett, and seizes him by the collar; +and, I dare say, he abused him into the bargain." + +"He said I was a d--d smuggling blackguard myself," said young +Radford. + +"Well, then, gentlemen, is it at all wonderful that he drew his +sword?" demanded his respectable father. "Is every gentleman in the +county to be ridden over, rough-shod, by these officers and their +dragoons, and called 'd--d smuggling blackguards,' when they are +actually engaged in persuading the smugglers not to fire? I promise +you, my son shall bring an action against that fellow, Birchett, for +an assault. It seems to me that the case is quite clear." + +"It is, at all events, rendered doubtful," said Sir Robert Croyland, +"by what has been suggested. I think the officers had better now be +recalled; and, by your permission, I will put a few questions to +them." + +In a very few minutes the room was, once more, nearly filled, and the +baronet addressed Mowle, in a grave tone, saying--"A very different +view of this case has been afforded us, Mr. Mowle, from that which you +gave just now. It is distinctly proved, and I myself can in some +degree testify to the fact, that Mr. Radford was on the spot +accidentally, having been sent for by his father to join him at +Ashford----" + +"At the Ramleys', I suppose you mean, sir," observed Mowle, drily. + +"No, sir; at Ashford," rejoined Mr. Radford; and Sir Robert Croyland +proceeded to say: + +"The young gentleman also asserts that he was persuading the smugglers +to submit to lawful authority, or, at all events, not to fire upon +you. Was there any more firing after he came up?" + +"No; there was not," answered Mowle. "They all galloped off as hard as +they could." + +"Corroborative proof of his statement," observed Sir Robert, solemnly. +"The only question, therefore, remaining, seems to be, as to whether +Mr. Radford, junior, had really anything to do with the placing of his +name upon the goods. Now, one strong reason for supposing such not to +be the case is, that they were not found near his house, or going +towards it, but the contrary." + +"Why, he's as much at home in the Ramleys' house as at his own," said +a voice from behind; but Sir Robert took no notice, and proceeded to +inquire--"Have you proof, Mr. Mowle, that he authorized any one to +mark these goods with his name?" + +Mr. Radford smiled; and Mowle, the officer, looked a little puzzled. +At length, however, he answered--"No, I can't say we have, Sir Robert; +but one thing is very certain, it is not quite customary to ask for +such proof in this stage of the business, and in the cases of inferior +men." + +"I am sorry to hear it," replied Sir Robert Croyland, in a dignified +and sententious tone, "for it is quite necessary that in all cases the +evidence should be clear and satisfactory to justify the magistrates +in committing any man to prison, even for trial. In this instance +nothing is proved, and not even a fair cause for suspicion made out. +Mr. Radford was there accidentally; the goods were going in a +different direction from his house; he was seized, we think upon +insufficient grounds, while endeavouring to dissuade the smugglers +from resisting the king's officers and troops; and though we may judge +his opposition imprudent, it was not wholly unjustifiable. The +prisoner is therefore discharged." + +"The goods were going to the Ramleys," said the man, Clinch, who now, +emboldened by the presence of several other officers, spoke loud and +decidedly. "Here are two or three of the dragoons, who can swear that +they followed a party of the smugglers nearly to the house, and had +the gates shut in their face when they came up; and I can't help +saying, that the search of the house by Mr. Radford was not conducted +as it ought to have been. The two officers were left without, while he +went in to speak with old Ramley, and there were a dozen of men, or +more, in the kitchen." + +"Pooh! nonsense, fellow!" cried Mr. Radford, interrupting him with a +laugh; "I did it for your own security." + +"And then," continued Clinch, "when we had gone down into the +concealed cellar below, which was as clear a _hide_ for smuggled goods +as ever was seen, he would not let me carry out the search, though I +found that two places at the sides were hollow, and only covered with +boards." + +"Why, you vagabond, you were afraid of going down at all!" said Mr. +Radford. "Where is Adams? He can bear witness of it." + +"Clinch didn't seem to like it much, it must be confessed," said +Adams, without coming forward; "but, then, the place was so full of +men, it was enough to frighten one." + +"I wasn't frightened," rejoined Mr. Radford. + +"Because it was clear enough that you and the Ramleys understood each +other," answered Clinch, boldly. + +"Pooh--pooh, nonsense!" said Squire Jollivet. "You must not talk such +stuff here, Mr. Clinch. But, however that may be, the prisoner is +discharged; and now, as I think we have no more business before us, we +may all go home; for it's nearly five o'clock, and I, for one, want my +dinner." + +"Ay, it is nearly five o'clock," said young Radford, who had been +standing with his eyes cast down and his brow knit; "and you do not +know what you have all done, keeping me here in this way." + +He added an oath, and then flung out of the room, passing through the +crowd of officers and others, in his way towards the door, without +waiting for his father, who had risen with the rest of the +magistrates, and was preparing to depart. + +Sir Robert Croyland and Mr. Radford descended the stairs of the inn +together; and at the bottom, Mr. Radford shook the baronet heartily by +the hand, saying, loud enough to be heard by everybody. "That was +admirably well done, Sir Robert! Many thanks--many thanks." + +"None to me, my dear sir," answered Sir Robert Croyland. "It was but +simple justice;" and he turned away to mount his horse. + +"Very pretty justice, indeed!" said Mowle, in a low voice, to the +sergeant of dragoons; "but I can't help fancying there's something +more under this than meets the eye. Mr. Radford isn't a gentleman who +usually laughs at these matters so lightly. But if he thinks to cheat +me, perhaps he may find himself mistaken." + +In the meantime the baronet hastened homewards, putting his horse into +a quick pace, and taking the nearest roads through the woods, which +were then somewhat thickly scattered over that part of Kent. He had no +servant with him; and when at about two miles from his own house, he +passed through a wild and desolate part of the country, near what is +now called Chequer Tree, he looked on before and around him on every +side, somewhat anxiously, as if he did not much admire the aspect of +the place. + +He pushed on, however, entered the wood, and rode rapidly down into a +deep dell, which may still be seen in that neighbourhood, though its +wild and gloomy character is now almost altogether lost. At that time, +tall trees grew up round it on either hand, leaving, in the hollow, a +little patch of about half an acre, filled with long grass and some +stunted willows, while the head of a stream bubbling up in their +shade, poured on its clear waters through a fringe of sedges and +rushes towards some larger river. + +The sun had yet an hour or two to run before his setting; but it was +only at noon of a summer's day that his rays ever penetrated into that +gloomy and secluded spot; and towards the evening it had a chilly and +desolate aspect, which made one feel as if it were a place debarred +for ever of the bright light of day. The green tints of spring, or the +warmer brown of autumn, seemed to make no difference, for the shades +were always blue, dull and heavy, mingling with the thin filmy mist +that rose up from the plashy ground on either side of the road. + +A faint sort of shudder came over Sir Robert Croyland, probably from +the damp air; and he urged his horse rapidly down the hill without any +consideration for the beast's knees. He was spurring on towards the +other side, as if eager to get out of it, when a voice was heard from +amongst the trees, exclaiming, in a sad and melancholy tone, "Robert +Croyland! Robert Croyland! what look you for here?" + +The baronet turned on his saddle with a look of terror and anguish; +but, instead of stopping, he dug his spurs into the horse's sides, and +gallopped up the opposite slope. As if irresistibly impelled to look +at that which he dreaded, he gazed round twice as he ascended, and +each time beheld, standing in the middle of the road, the same figure, +wrapped in a large dark cloak, which he had seen when first the voice +caught his ear. Each time he averted his eyes in an instant, and +spurred on more furiously than ever. His accelerated pace soon carried +him to the top of the hill, where he could see over the trees; and in +about a quarter of an hour, he reached Halden, when he began to check +his horse, and reasoned with himself on his own sensations. There was +a great struggle in his mind; but ere he arrived at Harbourne House he +had gained sufficient mastery over himself to say, "What a strange +thing imagination is!" + + + + END OF VOL. I. + + + T. C. Savill, Printer, 4, Chandos-street, Covent-garden. + + + + + + + THE SMUGGLER: + + + + A Tale + + + + BY G. P. R. JAMES, ESQ. + + AUTHOR OF + + "DARNLEY," "DE L'ORME," "RICHELIEU," + + ETC. ETC. + + + + IN THREE VOLUMES. + + + VOL. II. + + + + + LONDON: + SMITH, ELDER AND CO., 65, CORNHILL. + 1845. + + + + + + + THE SMUGGLER. + + + + + CHAPTER I. + + +What a varying thing is the stream of life! How it sparkles and +glitters! Now it bounds along its pebbly bed, sometimes in sunshine, +and sometimes in shade; sometimes sporting round all things, as if its +essence were merriment and brightness; sometimes flowing solemnly on, +as if it were derived from Lethe itself. Now it runs like a liquid +diamond along the meadow; now it plunges in fume and fury over the +rock; now it is clear and limpid, as youth and innocence can make it; +now it is heavy and turbid, with the varying streams of thought and +memory that are ever flowing into it, each bringing its store of +dulness and pollution as it tends towards the end. Its voice, too, +varies as it goes; now it sings lightly as it dances on; now it roars +amidst the obstacles that oppose its way; and now it has no tone but +the dull low murmur of exhausted energy. + +Such is the stream of life! yet, perhaps, few of us would wish to +change our portion of it for the calm regularity of a canal--even if +one could be constructed without locks and floodgates upon it to hold +in the pent-up waters of the heart till they are ready to burst +through the banks. + +Life was in its sparkling aspect with Zara Croyland and Sir Edward +Digby, when they set out on horseback for the house of old Mr. +Croyland, cantering easily along the roads of that part of the +country, which, in the days I speak of, were soft and somewhat sandy. +Two servants followed behind at a discreet distance; and lightly +passing over hill and dale, with all the loveliness of a very bright +portion of our fair land stretched out around them, the young lady and +her companion drew in, through the eyes, fresh sensations of happiness +from all the lovely things of nature. The yellow woods warmed their +hearts; the blue heaven raised their thoughts; the soft air refreshed +and cheered all their feelings; and, when a passing cloud swept over +the sky, it only gave that slight shadowy tone to the mind, which +wakens within us the deep, innate, and elevating movements of the +spirit, that seem to connect the aspect of God's visible creation, +with a higher and a purer state of being. Each had some spring of +happiness in the heart fresh opened; for, to the fair girl who went +bounding along through that gay world, the thought that she was +conveying to a dear sister tidings of hope, was in itself a joy; and +to her companion a new subject of contemplation was presenting itself, +in the very being who accompanied him on the way--a subject quite +untouched and novel, and, to a man of his character and disposition, a +most interesting one. + +Sir Edward Digby had mingled much with the world; he had seen many +scenes of different kinds; he had visited various countries, the most +opposite to each other; he had frequented courts, and camps, and +cities; and he had known and seen a good deal of woman, and of +woman's heart; but he had never yet met any one like Zara Croyland. +The woman of fashion and of rank in all the few modifications of +character that her circumstances admit--for rank and fashion are sadly +like the famous bed of the robber of Attica, on which all men are cut +down or stretched out to a certain size,--was well known to him, and +looked upon much in the light of an exotic plant, kept in an +artificial state of existence, with many beauties and excellences, +perhaps, mingling with many deformities and faults, but still weakened +and deprived of individuality by long drilling in a round of +conventionalities. He had seen, too, the wild Indian, in the midst of +her native woods, and might have sometimes admired the free grace and +wild energy of uncultivated and unperverted nature; but he was not +very fond of barbarism, and though he might admit the existence of +fine qualities, even in a savage, yet he had not been filled with any +great enthusiasm in favour of Indian life, from what he had seen in +Canada. The truth is, he had never been a very dissolute, or, as it is +termed, a very gay man--he was not sated and surfeited with the vices +of civilization, and consequently was not inclined to seek for new +excitement in the very opposite extreme of primeval rudeness. + +Most of the gradations between the two, he had seen at different +periods and in different lands; but yet in her who now rode along +beside him, there was something different from any. It was not a want, +but a combination of the qualities he had remarked in others. There +was the polish and the cultivation of high class and finished +training, with a slight touch of the wildness and the originality of +the fresh unsophisticated heart. There was the grace of education, and +the grace of nature; and there seemed to be high natural powers of +intellect, uncurbed by artificial rules, but supplied with materials +by instruction. + +All this was apparent; but the question with him was, as to the heart +beneath, and its emotions. He gazed upon her as they went on--when she +was not looking that way--he watched her countenance, the habitual +expression of the features, and the varying expression which every +emotion produced. Her face seemed like a bright looking-glass, which a +breath will dim, and a touch will brighten; but there is so much +deceit in the world, and every man who has mingled with that world +must have seen so much of it, and every man, also, has within himself +such internal and convincing proofs of our human nature's fondness for +seeming, that we are all inclined--except in very early youth--to +doubt the first impression, to inquire beyond the external appearance, +and to inquire if the heart of the fruit corresponds with the beauty +of the outside. + +He asked himself what was she really?--what was true, and what was +false, in that bright and sparkling creature? Whether, was the gaiety +or the sadness the real character of the mind within? or whether the +frequent variation from the one to the other--ay, and from energy to +lightness, from softness to firmness, from gentleness to vigour--were +not all the indications of a character as various as the moods which +it assumed. + +Sir Edward Digby was resolved not to fall in love, which is the most +dangerous resolution that a man can take: for it is seldom, if ever, +taken, except in a case of great necessity--one of those hasty +outworks thrown up against a powerful enemy, which are generally taken +in a moment and the cannon therein turned against ourselves. + +Nevertheless, he had resolved, as I have said, not to fall in love; +and he fancied that, strengthened by that resolution, he was quite +secure. It must not be understood, indeed, that Sir Edward Digby never +contemplated marriage. On the contrary, he thought of it as a remote +evil that was likely to fall upon him some day, by an inevitable +necessity. It seemed a sort of duty, indeed, to transmit his name, and +honours, and wealth to another generation; and as duties are not +always very pleasant things, he, from time to time, looked forward to +the execution of his, in this respect, in a calm, philosophical, +determined manner. Thirty-five, he thought, would be a good time to +marry; and when he did so, he had quite made up his mind to do it with +the utmost deliberation and coolness. It should be quite a _mariage de +raison_. He would take it as a dose of physic--a disagreeable thing, +to be done when necessary, but not a minute before; and in the +meantime, to fall in love, was quite out of the question. + +No, he was examining and investigating and contemplating Zara +Croyland's character, merely as a matter of interesting speculation; +and a very dangerous speculation it was, Sir Edward Digby! I don't +know which was most perilous, that, or your resolution. + +It is very strange, he never recollected that, in no other case in his +whole career, had he found it either necessary to take such a +resolution, or pleasant to enter into such a speculation. If he had, +perhaps he might have begun to tremble for himself. Nor did he take +into the calculation the very important fact that Zara Croyland was +both beautiful and pretty--two very different things, reader, as you +will find, if you examine. A person may be very pretty without being +the least beautiful, or very beautiful without being the least pretty; +but when those two qualities are both combined, and when, in one girl, +the beauty of features and of form that excites admiration, is joined +with that prettiness of expression, and colouring, and arrangement +that wakens tenderness and wins affection, Lord have mercy upon the +man who rides along with her through fair scenes, under a bright sky! + +Digby did not at all find out, that he was in the most dangerous +situation in the world; or, if some fancy ever came upon him, that he +was not quite safe, it was but as one of those vague impressions of +peril that float for a single instant over the mind when we are +engaged in any very bold and exciting undertaking, and pass away again +as fast. + +Far from guarding himself at all, Sir Edward Digby went on in his +unconsciousness, laying himself more and more open to the enemy. In +pursuit of his scheme of investigation, he proceeded, as they rode +along, to try the mind of his fair companion in a thousand different +ways; and every instant he brought forth some new and dangerous +quality. He found that, in the comparative solitude in which she +lived, she had had time for study as well as thought, and had acquired +far more, and far more varied stores of information, than was common +with the young women of her day. It was not alone that she could read +and spell--which a great many could not, in those times,--but she had +read a number of different works upon a number of different subjects; +knew as much of other lands, and of the habits of other people, as +books could give, and was tastefully proficient in the arts that +brighten life, even where their cultivation is not its object. + +Thus her conversation had always something new about it. The very +images that suggested themselves to her mind were derived from such +numerous sources, that it kept the fancy on the stretch to follow her +in her flights, and made their whole talk a sort of playful chase, +like that of one bird after another in the air. Now she borrowed a +comparison for something sensible to the eye from the sweet music that +charms the ear--now she found out links of association between the +singing of the birds and some of the fine paintings that she had seen +or heard of--now combined a bright scene, or a peculiar moment of +happiness, with the sweet odours of the flowers or the murmur of the +stream. With everything in nature and art she sported, apparently +unconscious; and often, too, in speaking of the emotions of the heart +or the thoughts of the mind, she would, with a bright flash of +imagination, cast lights upon those dark and hidden things, from +objects in the external world, or from the common events of life. + +Eagerly Digby led her on--pleased, excited, entertained himself; but +in so doing he produced an effect which he had not calculated upon. He +made a change in her feelings towards himself. She had thought him a +very agreeable man from the first; she had seen that he was a +gentleman by habit, and divined that he was so by nature; but now she +began to think that he was a very high-toned and noble-minded man, +that he was one worthy of high station and of all happiness--she did +not say--of affection, nor let the image of love pass distinctly +before her eyes. There might be a rosy cloud in the far sky wherein +the god was veiled; but she did not see him--or, was it that she would +not? Perhaps it was so; for woman's heart is often as perverse and +blind, in these matters, as man's. But one thing is clear, no two +people can thus pour forth the streams of congenial thought and +feeling--to flow on mingling together in sweet communion--for any +great length of time, without a change of their sensations towards +each other; and, unless the breast be well guarded by passion for +another, it is not alone that mind with mind is blended, but heart +with heart. + +Though the distance was considerable,--that is to say, some three or +four miles, and they made it more than twice as long by turning up +towards the hills, to catch a fine view of the wooded world below, on +whose beauty Zara expatiated eloquently,--and though they talked of a +thousand different subjects, which I have not paused to mention here, +lest the detail should seem all too tedious, yet their ride passed +away briefly, like a dream. At length, coming through some green +lanes, overhung by young saplings and a crown of brambles and other +hedge-row shrubs--no longer, alas, in flower--they caught sight of the +chimneys of a house a little way farther on, and Zara said, with a +sigh, "There is my uncle's house." + +Sir Edward Digby asked himself, "Why does she sigh?" and as he did so, +felt inclined to sigh, too; for the ride had seemed too short, and had +now become as a pleasant thing passed away. But then he thought, "We +shall enjoy it once again as we return;" and he took advantage of +their slackened pace to say, "As I know you are anxious to speak with +your sister, Miss Croyland, I will contrive to occupy your uncle for a +time, if we find him at home. I fear I shall not be able to obtain an +opportunity of talking with her myself on the subjects that so deeply +interest her, as at one time I hoped to do; but I am quite sure, from +what I see of you, that I may depend upon what you tell me, and act +accordingly." + +As if by mutual consent, they had avoided, during their expedition of +that morning, the subject which was, perhaps, most in the thoughts of +each; but now Zara checked her horse to a slow walk, and replied, +after a moment's thought, "I should think, if you desire it, you could +easily obtain a few minutes' conversation with her at my uncle's.--I +only don't know whether it may agitate her too much or not. Perhaps +you had better let me speak with her first, and then, if she wishes +it, she will easily find the means. You may trust to me, indeed, Sir +Edward, in Edith's case, though I do not always say exactly what I +mean about myself. Not that I have done otherwise with you; for, +indeed, I have neither had time nor occasion; but with the people that +occasionally come to the house, sometimes it is necessary, and +sometimes I am tempted, out of pure perversity, to make them think me +very different from what I am. It is not always with those that I hate +or despise either, but sometimes with people that I like and esteem +very much. Now, I dare say poor Harry Leyton has given you a very sad +account of me?" + +"No, indeed," answered Sir Edward Digby; "you do him wrong; I have not +the least objection to tell you exactly what he said." + +"Oh, do--do!" cried Zara; "I should like to hear very much, for I am +afraid I used to tease him terribly." + +"He said," replied Digby, "that when last he saw you, you were a gay, +kind-hearted girl of fourteen, and that he was sure, if I spoke to you +about him, you would tell me all that I wanted to know with truth and +candour." + +"That was kind of him," said Zara, with some emotion, "that was very +kind. I am glad he knows me; and yet that very candour, Sir Edward, +some people call affectation, and some impudence. I am afraid that +those who know much of the world never judge rightly of those who know +little of it. Sincerity is a commodity so very rare, I am told, in the +best society, that those who meet with it never believe that they have +got the genuine article." + +"I know a good deal of the world," replied the young baronet, "but +yet, my dear Miss Croyland, I do not think that I have judged you +wrongly;" and he fell into thought. + +The next moment they turned up to the house of old Mr. Croyland; and +while the servants were holding the horses, and Zara, with the aid of +Sir Edward Digby, dismounting at the door, they saw, to her horror and +consternation, a large, yellow coach coming down the hill towards the +house, which she instantly recognised as her father's family vehicle. + +"My aunt, my aunt, upon my life!" exclaimed Zara, with a rueful shake +of the head. "I must speak one word with Edith before she comes; so +forgive me, Sir Edward," and she darted into the house, asking a black +servant, in a shawl turban and a long white gown, where Miss Croyland +was to be found. + +"She out in de garden, pretty missy," replied the man; and Zara ran on +through the vestibule before her. Unfortunately, vestibules will have +doors communicating with them, which, I have often remarked, have an +unhappy propensity to open when any one is anxious to pass by them +quietly. It was so in the present instance: roused from a reverie by +the ringing of the bell, and the sound of voices without, Mr. Croyland +issued forth just at the moment when Zara's light foot was carrying +her across to the garden; and catching her by the arm, he detained +her, asking, "What brought you here, saucy girl, and whither are you +running so fast?" + +Now Zara, though she was not good Mr. Zachary's favourite, had a very +just appreciation of her uncle's character, and knew that the simple +truth was less dangerous with him than with nine hundred and +ninety-nine persons out of a thousand in civilized society. She, +therefore, replied at once. "Don't stop me, uncle, there's a good man! +I came to speak a few words to Edith, and wish to speak them before my +aunt arrives." + +"What! plot and counterplot, I will warrant!" exclaimed Mr. Croyland, +freeing her arm. "Well, get you gone, you graceless monkey! Ha! who +have we here? Why, my young friend, the half-bottle man! Are you one +of the plotters too, Sir Edward?" + +"Oh, I am a complete master in the art of domestic strategy, I assure +you," answered the young officer, "and I propose--having heard what +Miss Croyland has just said--that we take up a position across these +glass doors, in order to favour her operations. We can then impede +the advance of Mrs. Barbara's corps, by throwing forward the +light-infantry of small-talk, assure her it is a most beautiful day, +tell her that the view from the hill is lovely, and that the slight +yellowness of September gives a fine warmth to the green foliage--with +various other pieces of information which she does not desire--till +the man[oe]uvres in our rear are complete." + +"Ah, you are a sad knave," replied Mr. Zachary Croyland, laughing, +"and, I see, are quite ready to aid the young in bamboozling the old." + +But, alas, the best schemed campaign is subject to accidental +impediments in execution, which will often deprive it of success! +Almost as Mr. Croyland spoke, the carriage rolled up; and not small +was the horror of the master of the house, to see riding behind it, on +a tall grey horse, no other than young Richard Radford. Sir Edward +Digby, though less horrified, was not well pleased; but it was Mr. +Croyland who spoke, and that in rather a sharp and angry tone, +stepping forward, at the same time, over the threshold of his door: +"Mr. Radford," he said--"Mr. Radford, I am surprised to see you! You +must very well know, that although I tolerate, and am obliged to +tolerate, a great many people whom I don't approve, at my brother's +house, your society is not that which I particularly desire." + +Young Radford's eyes flashed, but, for once in his life, he exercised +some command over himself. "I came here at your sister's suggestion, +sir," he said. + +"Oh, Barbara, Barbara! barbarous Barbara!" exclaimed Mr. Zachary +Croyland, shaking his head at his sister, who was stepping out of the +carriage. "The devil himself never invented an instrument better +fitted to torment the whole human race, than a woman with the best +intentions in the world." + +"Why, my dear brother," said Mrs. Barbara, with the look of a martyr, +"you know quite well that Robert wishes Mr. Radford to have the +opportunity of paying his addresses to Edith, and so I proposed----" + +"He shan't have the opportunity here, by Vishnoo!" cried the old +gentleman. + +"To say the truth," said Mr. Radford, interposing, "such was not my +object in coming hither to-day. I wished to have the honour of saying +a few words to a gentleman I see standing behind you, sir, which was +also the motive of my going over to Harbourne House. Otherwise, well +knowing your prejudices, I should not have troubled you; for, I can +assure you, that _your_ company is not particularly agreeable to +_me_." + +"If mine is what you want, sir," replied Sir Edward Digby, stepping +forward and passing Mr. Croyland, "it is very easily obtained; but, as +it seems you are not a welcome guest here, perhaps we had better walk +along the lane together." + +"A less distance than that will do," answered Richard Radford, +throwing the bridle of his horse to one of the servants, and taking +two or three steps away from the house. + +"Oh, Zachary, my dear brother, do interfere!" exclaimed Mrs. Barbara. +"I forgot they had quarrelled yesterday morning, and unfortunately let +out that Sir Edward was here. There will be a duel, if you don't stop +them." + +"Not I," cried Mr. Croyland, rubbing his hands; "it's a pleasure to +see two fools cut each other's throats. I'd lay any wager--if I ever +did such a thing as lay wagers at all--that Digby pricks him through +the midriff. There's a nice little spot at the end of the garden quite +fit for such exercises." + +Mr. Zachary Croyland was merely playing upon his sister's +apprehensions, as the best sort of punishment he could inflict for the +mischief she had brought about; but he never had the slightest idea +that Sir Edward Digby and young Radford would come to anything like +extreme measures in his sister's presence, knowing the one to be a +gentleman, and mistakenly believing the other to be a coward. The +conversation of the two who had walked away was not of long duration: +nor, for a time, did it appear very vehement. Mr. Radford said +something, and the young Baronet replied; Mr. Radford rejoined, and +Digby answered the rejoinder. Then some new observation was made by +the other, which seemed to cause Sir Edward to look round to the +house, and, seeing Mr. Croyland and his sister still on the step, to +make a sign for young Radford to follow to a greater distance. The +latter, however, planted the heel of his boot tight in the gravel, as +if to give emphasis to what he said, and uttered a sentence in a +louder tone, and with a look so fierce, meaning, and contemptuous, +that Mr. Croyland saw the matter was getting serious, and stepped +forward to interfere. + +In an instant, however, Sir Edward Digby, apparently provoked beyond +bearing, raised the heavy horsewhip which he had in his hand, and laid +it three or four times, with great rapidity, over Mr. Radford's +shoulders. The young man instantly dropped his own whip, drew his +sword, and made a fierce lunge at the young officer's breast. The +motion was so rapid, and the thrust so well aimed, that Digby had +barely time to put it aside with his riding-whip, receiving a wound in +his left shoulder as he did so. But the next moment his sword was also +out of the sheath, and, after three sharp passes, young Radford's +blade was flying over the neighbouring hedge, and a blow in the face +from the hilt of Sir Edward Digby's weapon brought him with his knee +to the ground. + +The whole of this scene passed as quick as lightning; and I have not +thought fit to interrupt the narration for the purpose of recording, +in order, the four, several, piercing shrieks with which Mrs. Barbara +Croyland accompanied each act of the drama. The first, however, was +loud enough to call Zara from the garden, even before she had found +her sister; and she came up to her aunt's side just at the moment that +young Radford was disarmed, and then struck in the face by his +opponent. + +Slightly heated, Sir Edward gazed at him with his weapon in his hand; +and the young lady, clasping her hands, exclaimed aloud, "Hold, Sir +Edward! Sir Edward! for Heaven's sake!" + +Sir Edward Digby turned round with a faint smile, thrust his sword +back into the sheath, and, without bestowing another word on his +adversary, walked slowly back to the door of the house, and apologized +to Mrs. Barbara for what had occurred, saying, "I beg you ten thousand +pardons, my dear madam, for treating you to such a sight as this; but +I can assure you it is not my seeking. That person, who failed to keep +an appointment with me yesterday, thought fit twice just now to call +me coward; and as he would not walk to a little distance, I had no +resource but to horsewhip him where I stood." + +"Pity you didn't ran him through the liver!" observed Mr. Croyland. + +While these few words were passing, young Radford rose slowly, paused +for an instant to gaze upon the ground, and then, gnawing his lip, +approached his horse's side. There is, perhaps, no passion of the +human heart more dire, more terrible than impotent revenge, or more +uncontrollable in its effect upon the human countenance. The face of +Richard Radford, handsome as it was in many respects, was at the +moment when he put his foot into the stirrup and swung himself up to +the saddle, perfectly frightful, from the fiend-like expression of +rage and disappointment that it bore. He felt that he was +powerless--for a time, at least; that he had met an adversary greatly +superior to himself, both in skill and strength; and that he had +suffered not only defeat but disgrace, before the eyes of a number of +persons whom his own headstrong fury had made spectators of a scene so +painful to himself. Reining his horse angrily back to clear him of the +carriage, he shook his fist at Sir Edward Digby, exclaiming, "Sooner +or later, I will have revenge!" Then, striking the beast's flank with +his spurs, he turned and galloped away. + +Digby had, as we have seen, addressed his apologies to Mrs. Barbara +Croyland; but after hearing, with a calm smile, his vanquished +opponent's empty threat, he looked round to the fair companion of his +morning's ride, and saw her standing beside her uncle, with her cheek +very pale and her eyes cast down to the ground. + +"Do not be alarmed. Miss Croyland," he said, bending down his head, +and speaking in a low and gentle tone. "This affair can have no other +results. It is all over now." + +Zara raised her eyes to his face, but, as she did so, turned more pale +than before; and pointing to his arm--where the cloth of his coat was +cut through, and the blood flowing down over his sleeve and dropping +from the ruffle round his wrist--she exclaimed, "You are hurt, Sir +Edward! Good Heaven! he has wounded you!" + +"A scratch--a scratch," said Digby; "a mere nothing. A +pocket-handkerchief tied round it, will soon remedy all the mischief +he has done, though not all he intended." + +"Oh! come in--come in, and have it examined!" cried Zara, eagerly. + +The rest of the party gathered round, joined, just at that moment, by +Edith from the garden; and Mr. Croyland, tearing the coat wider open, +looked at the wound with more experienced eyes, saying, "Ah, a flesh +wound! but in rather an awkward place. Not as wide as a church door, +nor as deep as a draw-well, as our friend has it; but if it had been +an inch and a half to the right, it would have divided the subclavian +artery--and then, my dear sir, 'it would have done.' This will get +well soon. But come, Sir Neddy, let us into the house; and I will do +for you what I haven't done for ten or twelve years--_id est_, dress +your wound myself: and mind, you must not drink any wine to-night." + +The whole party began to move into the house, Sir Edward Digby keeping +as near the two Miss Croylands as possible, and laying out a little +plan in his head for begging the assistance of Mrs. Barbara while his +wound was dressed, and sending the two young ladies out of the room to +hold their conference together. He was, however, destined to be +frustrated here also. To Zara Croyland, it had been a day of unusual +excitement; she had enjoyed, she had been moved, she had been agitated +and terrified, and she was still under much greater alarm than perhaps +was needful, both regarding Sir Edward Digby's wound and the threat +which young Radford had uttered. She felt her head giddy and her heart +flutter as if oppressed; but she walked on steadily enough for four or +five steps, while her aunt, Mrs. Barbara, was explaining to Edith, in +her own particular way, all that had occurred. But just when the old +lady was saying--"Then, whipping out his sword in an instant, he +thrust at Sir Edward's breast, and I thought to a certainty he was run +through--" Zara sunk slowly down, caught by her sister as she fell, +and the hue of death spread over her face. + +"Fainted!" cried Mr. Croyland. "I wish to Heaven, Bab, you would hold +your tongue! I will tell Edith about it afterwards. What's the use of +bringing it all up again before the girl's mind, when the thing's done +and over? There, let her lie where she is; the recumbent position is +the right thing. Bring a cushion out of the drawing-room, Edith, my +love, and ask Baba for the hartshorn drops. We'll soon get her better; +and then the best thing you can do, Bab, is to put her into the +carriage, take her home again, and hold your tongue to my brother +about this foolish affair--if anything can hold a woman's tongue. I'll +plaster up the man's arm, and then, like many another piece of damaged +goods, he'll be all right--on the outside at least." + +Mrs. Barbara Croyland followed devoutly one part of her brother's +injunctions. As soon as Zara was sufficiently recovered, she hurried +her to the carriage, without leaving her alone with Edith for one +moment; and Sir Edward Digby, having had his wound skilfully dressed +by Mr. Zachary Croyland's own hands, thanked the old gentleman +heartily for his care and kindness, mounted his horse, and rode back +to Harbourne House. + + + + + CHAPTER II. + + +We must now return to the town of Hythe, and to the little room in the +little inn, which that famous borough boasted as its principal +hostelry, at the period of our tale. It was about eleven o'clock at +night, perhaps a few minutes earlier; and in that room was seated a +gentleman, whom we have left for a long time, though not without +interest in himself and his concerns. But, as in this wayfaring world +we are often destined for weeks, months--ay, and long years--to quit +those whom we love best, and to work for their good in distant scenes, +with many a thought given to them, but few means of communication; so, +in every picture of human life which comprises more than one +character, must we frequently leave those in whom we are most +interested, while we are tracing out the various remote cords and +pulleys of fate, by which the fabric of their destiny is ultimately +reared. + +The gentleman, then, who had been introduced to Mr. Croyland as +Captain Osborne, was seated at a table, writing. A number of papers, +consisting of letters, accounts, and several printed forms, unfilled +up, were strewed upon the table around, which was moreover encumbered +by a heavy sword and belt, a large pair of thick buckskin gloves, and +a brace of heavy silver-mounted pistols. He looked pale and somewhat +anxious; but nevertheless he went on, with his fine head bent, and +the light falling from above upon his beautifully cut classical +features--sometimes putting down a name, and adding a sum in figures +opposite--sometimes, when he came to the bottom of the page, running +up the column with rapidity and ease, and then inscribing the sum +total at the bottom. + +It was perhaps, rather an unromantic occupation that the young officer +was employed in; for it was evident that he was making up, with steady +perseverance, some rather lengthy accounts; and all his thoughts +seemed occupied with pounds, shillings, and pence. It was not so, +indeed, though he wished it to be so; but, if the truth must be +spoken, his mind often wandered afar; and his brain seemed to have got +into that state of excitement, which caused sounds and circumstances +that would at any other time have passed without notice, to trouble +him and disturb his ideas on the present occasion. + +There had been a card and punch club in one of the neighbouring rooms. +The gentlemen had assembled at half-past six or seven, had hung up +their wigs upon pegs provided for the purpose, and had made a great +deal of noise in coming in and arranging themselves. There was then +the brewing of the punch, the lighting of the pipes, and the laughing +and jesting to which those important events generally give rise, at +the meeting of persons of some importance in a country town; and then +the cards were produced, and a great deal of laughing and talking, as +usual, succeeded, in regard to the preliminaries, and also respecting +the course of the game. + +There had been no slight noise, also, in the lower regions of the inn, +much speaking, and apparently some merriment; and, from all these +things put together--to say nothing of, every now and then, the +pleasures of a comic song, given by one of the parties above or +below--the young officer had been considerably disturbed, and had been +angry with himself for being so. His thoughts, too, would wander, +whether he liked it or not. + +"Digby must have seen her," he said to himself, "unless she be absent; +and surely he must have found some opportunity of speaking with +herself or her sister by this time. I wonder I have not heard from +him. He promised to write as soon as he had any information; and he is +not a man to forget. Well, it is of no use to think of it;" and he +went on--"five and six are eleven, and four are fifteen, and six are +twenty-one." + +At this interesting point of his calculation, a dragoon, who was +stationed at the door, put his head into the room, and said, "Mr. +Mowle, sir, wants to speak to you." + +"Let him come in," answered the officer; and, laying down his pen, he +looked up with a smile. "Well, Mr. Mowle!" he continued, "what news do +you bring? Have you been successful?" + +"No very good news, and but very little success, sir," answered the +officer of customs, taking a seat to which the other pointed. "We have +captured some of their goods, and taken six of the men, but the +greater part of the cargo, and the greatest villain of them all, have +been got off." + +"Ay, how happened that?" asked the gentleman to whom he spoke. "I gave +you all the men you required; and I should certainly have thought you +were strong enough." + +"Oh yes, sir, that was not what we lacked," answered Mowle, in a +somewhat bitter tone; "but I'll tell you what we did want--honest +magistrates, and good information. Knowing the way they were likely to +take, I cut straight across the country by Aldington, Kingsnorth, and +Singleton-green, towards Four Elms----" + +"It would have been better, I should think, to go on by Westhawk," +said the young officer; "for though the road is rather hilly, you +would by that means have cut them off, both from Singleton, Chart +Magna, and Gouldwell, towards which places, I think you said, they +were tending. + +"Yes, sir," replied the officer of Customs, "but we found, on the +road, that we were rather late in the day, and that our only chance +was by hard riding. We came up with four of them, however, who had +lagged behind, about Four Elms. Two of these we got, and all their +goods; and, from the information they gave, we galloped on as hard as +we could to Rousend." + +"Did you take the road, or across the country?" demanded the young +officer. + +"Birchett would take the road," answered Mowle. + +"He was wrong--he was quite wrong," replied the other. "If you had +passed by Newstreet, then straight over the fields and meadows, up to +the mill, you would have had them in a trap. They could not have +reached Chart, or New Purchase, or Gouldwell, or Etchden, without your +catching them; and if they had fallen back, they must have come upon +the men I stationed at Bethersden, with whom was Adams, the officer." + +"Why, you seem to know the country, sir," said his companion, with +some surprise, "as if you had lived in it all your days." + +"I do know it very well," answered the officer of dragoons; "and you +must be well aware that what I say is right. It was the shortest way, +too, and presents no impediments but a couple of fences, and a ditch." + +"All very true, sir," answered Mowle, "and so I told Birchett; but +Adams had gone off for another officer, and is very little use to us +himself.--There's no trusting him, sir.--However, we came up with them +at Rousend, but there, after a little bit of a tussle, they +separated;" and he went on to give his account of the affray with the +smugglers, nearly in the same words which he had employed when +speaking to the magistrates, some six or seven hours before. His +hearer listened with grave attention; but when Mowle came to mention +the appearance of Richard Radford, and his capture, the young +officer's eyes flashed, and his brow knit; and as the man went on to +describe the self-evident juggle which had been played, to enable the +youth to evade the reach of justice, he rose from the table, and +walked once or twice hastily up and down the room. Then, seating +himself again, to all appearance as calm as before, he said, "This is +too bad, Mr. Mowle, and shall be reported." + +"Ay, sir; but you have not heard the worst," answered Mowle. "These +worthy justices thought fit to send the five men whom they had +committed, off to gaol in a wagon, with three or four constables to +guard them, and of course you know what took place." + +"Oh, they were all rescued, of course!" replied the officer. + +"Before they got to Headcorn," said Mowle. "But the whole affair was +arranged by Mr. Radford; for these fellows say themselves, that it is +better to work for him at half price, than for any one else, because +he always stands by his own, and will see no harm come to them. If +this is to go on, sir, you and I may as well leave the county." + +"It shall not go on," answered the officer; "but we must have a little +patience, my good friend. Long impunity makes a man rash. This worthy +Mr. Radford seems to have become so already; otherwise, he would never +have risked carrying so large a venture across the country in open +day----" + +"I don't think that, in this, he was rash at all, sir," answered +Mowle, lowering his tone, and speaking in a whisper; "and if you will +listen for a moment, I'll tell you why. My belief is, that the whole +of this matter is but a lure to take us off the right scent; and I +have several reasons for thinking so. In the first place, the run was +but a trifling affair, as far as I can learn--not worth five hundred +pounds. I know that what we have got is not worth a hundred; and it +has cost me as good a horse as I ever rode in my life. Now from all I +hear, the cargo that Mr. Radford expects is the most valuable that +ever was run from Dungeness Point to the North Foreland. So, if my +information is correct, and I am sure it----" + +"Who did you get it from?" demanded the officer, "if the question is a +fair one." + +"Some such questions might not be," answered Mowle, "but I don't mind +answering this, Colonel. I got it from Mr. Radford himself.--Ay, sir, +you may well look surprised; but I heard him, with my own ears, say +that it was worth at least seventy thousand pounds. So you see my +information is pretty good. Now, knowing this, as soon as I found out +what value was in this lot, I said to myself, this is some little spec +of young Radford's own. But when I came to consider the matter, I +found, that must be a mistake too; for the old man helped the Ramleys +out of their scrape so impudently, and took such pains to let it be +well understood that he had an interest in the affair, that I felt +sure there was some motive at the bottom, sir. In all these things, he +has shown himself from a boy, as cautious as he is daring, and that's +the way he has made such a power of money. He's not a man to appear +too much in a thing, even for his son's sake, if he has not some +purpose to answer; and, depend upon it, I'm right, when I say that +this run was nothing but a trap, or a blind as they call it, to make +us think--in case we've got any information of the great venture--that +the thing is all over. Why did they choose the day, when they might +have done it all at night? Why did Mr. Radford go on laughing with the +magistrates, as if it was a good joke? No, no, sir, the case is clear +enough: they are going to strike their great stroke sooner than we +supposed; and this is but a trifle." + +"But may you not have made some mistake in regard to Mr. Radford's +words?" demanded the young officer. "I should think it little likely +that so prudent a man, as you represent him to be, would run so great +a risk for such a purpose." + +"I made no mistake," answered Mowle; "I heard the words clear enough; +and, besides, I've another proof. The man who is to run the goods for +him, had nothing to do with this affair. I've got sharp eyes upon him; +and though he was away from home the other night, he was not at sea. +That I've discovered. He was up in the county, not far from Mr. +Radford's own place, and most likely saw him, though that I can't find +out. However, sir, I shall hear more very soon. Whenever it is to be +done, we shall have sharp work of it, and must have plenty of men." + +"My orders are to assist you to the best of my power," said the young +officer, "and to give you what men you may require; but as I have been +obliged to quarter them in different places, you had better give me as +speedy information of what force you are likely to demand, and on what +point you wish them to assemble, as you can." + +"Those are puzzling questions, Colonel," replied Mowle. "I do not +think the attempt will be made to-night; for their own people must be +all knocked up, and they cannot bring down enough to carry as well as +run--at least, I think not. But it will probably be made to-morrow, if +they fancy they have lulled us; and that fancy I shall take care to +indulge, by keeping a sharp look out, without seeming to look out at +all. As to the point, that is what I cannot tell. Harding will start +from the beach here; but where he will land is another affair; and the +troops are as likely to be wanted twenty miles down the coast, or +twenty miles up, as anywhere else. I wish you would give me a general +order for the dragoons to assist me wherever I may want them." + +"That is given already, Mr. Mowle," answered the officer; "such are +the commands we have received; and even the non-commissioned officers +are instructed, on the very first requisition made by a chief officer +of Customs, to turn out and aid in the execution of the law. Wherever +any of the regiment are quartered, you will find them ready to +assist." + +"Ay, but they are so scattered, sir," rejoined Mowle, "that it may be +difficult to get them together in a hurry." + +"Not in the least," replied Osborne; "they are so disposed that I can, +at a very short notice, collect a sufficient force, at any point, to +deal with the largest body of smugglers that ever assembled." + +"You may, perhaps, sir, but I cannot," answered the Custom-House +officer; "and what I wish is, that you would give them a general order +to march to any place where I require them, and to act as I shall +direct." + +"Nay, Mr. Mowle," said the other, shaking his head, "that, I am +afraid, cannot be. I have no instructions to such effect; and though +the military power is sent here, to assist the civil, it is not put +under the command of the civil. I do not conceal from you that I do +not like the service; but that shall only be a motive with me for +executing my duty the more vigorously; and you have but to give me +intimation of where you wish a force collected, and it shall be done +in the shortest possible time." + +Mowle did not seem quite satisfied with this answer; and after +musing for a few minutes, he replied, "But suppose I do not know +myself--suppose it should be fifteen or twenty miles from Hythe, and I +myself, on the spot, how am I to get the requisition sent to you--and +how are you to move your men to the place where I may want +them--perhaps, farther still?". + +"As to my moving my men, you must leave that to me," answered the +young officer; "and as to your obtaining the information, and +communicating it, I might reply, that _you_ must look to that; but as +I sincerely believe you to be a most vigilant and active person, who +will leave no means unemployed to obtain intelligence, I will only +point out, in the first place, that our best efforts sometimes fail, +but that we may always rest at ease, when we have used our best; and, +in the second, I will suggest to you one or two means of ensuring +success. Wherever you may happen to find that the landing of these +goods is intended, or wherever you may be when it is effected, you +will find within a circle of three miles, several parties of dragoons, +who, on the first call, will render you every aid. With them, upon the +system I have laid down for them, you will be able to keep your +adversaries in check, delay their operations, and follow them up. Your +first step, however, should be, to send off a trooper to me with all +speed, charging him, if verbally, with as short and plain a message as +possible--first, stating the point where the 'run,' as you call it, +has been effected; and secondly, in what direction, to the best of +your judgment, the enemy--that is to say, the smugglers--are marching. +If you do that, and are right in your conjecture, they shall not go +far without being attacked. If you are wrong, as any man may be, in +regard to their line of retreat, they shall not be long unpursued. But +as to putting the military under the command of the Customs, as I said +before, I have no orders to that effect, and do not think that any +such will ever be issued. In the next place, in order to obtain the +most speedy information yourself, and to ensure that I shall be +prepared, I would suggest that you direct each officer on the coast, +if a landing should be effected in his district, first, to call for +the aid of the nearest military party, and then to light a beacon on +the next high ground. As soon as the first beacon is lighted, let the +next officer on the side of Hythe, light one also, and, at the same +time, with any force he can collect, proceed towards the first. Easy +means may be found to transmit intelligence of the route of the +smugglers to the bodies coming up; and, in a case like the present, I +shall not scruple to take the command myself, at any point where I may +be assured formidable resistance is likely to be offered." + +"Well, sir, I think the plan of the beacons is a good one," answered +Mowle, "and it would be still better, if there were any of the coast +officers on whom we could depend; but a more rascally set of mercenary +knaves does not exist. Not one of them who would not sell the whole of +the King's revenue for a twenty pound or so; and, however clear are +the orders they receive, they find means to mistake them. But I will +go and write the whole down, and have it copied out for each station, +so that if they do not choose to understand, it must be their own +fault. I am afraid, however, that all this preparation will put our +friends upon their guard, and that they will delay their run till they +can draw us off somewhere else." + +"There is some reason for that apprehension," replied the young +officer, thoughtfully. "You imagine, then, that it is likely to take +place to-morrow night, if we keep quiet?" + +"I have little doubt of it," replied Mowle; "or if not, the night +after.--But I think it will be to-morrow. Yes, they won't lose the +opportunity, if they fancy we are slack; and then the superintendent +chose to fall sick to-day, so that the whole rests with me, which will +give me enough to do, as they are well aware." + +"Well, then," replied the gentleman to whom he spoke, "leave the +business of the beacons to me. I will give orders that they be lighted +at every post, as soon as application is made for assistance. You will +know what it means when you see one; and, in the meantime, keep quite +quiet--affect a certain degree of indifference, but not too much, and +speak of having partly spoiled Mr. Radford's venture.--Do you think he +will be present himself?" + +"Oh, not he--not he!" answered Mowle. "He is too cunning for that, by +a hundred miles. In any little affair like this of to-day, he might +not, perhaps, be afraid of showing himself--to answer a purpose; but +in a more serious piece of business, where his brother justices could +not contrive to shelter him, and where government would certainly +interfere, he will keep as quiet and still as if he had nought to do +with it. But I will have him, nevertheless, before long; and then all +his ill-gotten wealth shall go, even if we do not contrive to +transport him." + +"How will you manage that?" asked the young officer; "if he abstains +from taking any active part, you will have no proof, unless, indeed, +one of those he employs should give evidence against him, or inform +beforehand for the sake of the reward." + +"They wont do that," said Mowle, thoughtfully, "they wont do +that.--I do not know how it is, sir," he continued, after a moment's +pause, "but the difference between the establishment of the Customs +and the smugglers is a very strange one; and I'll tell you what it is: +there is not one of these fellows who run goods upon the coast, or +carry them inland, who will, for any sum that can be offered, inform +against their employers or their comrades; and there's scarce a +Custom-House officer in all Kent, that, for five shillings, would not +betray his brother or sell his country. The riding officers are +somewhat better than the rest; but these fellows at the ports think no +more of taking a bribe to shut their eyes than of drinking a glass of +rum. Now you may attempt to bribe a smuggler for ever--not that I ever +tried; for I don't like to ask men to sell their own souls; but +Birchett has, often. I cannot well make out the cause of this +difference; but certainly there is such a spirit amongst the smugglers +that they wont do a dishonest thing, except in their own way, for any +sum. There are the Ramleys, even--the greatest blackguards in Europe, +smugglers, thieves, and cut-throats--but they wont betray each other. +There is no crime they wont commit but that; and that they would +sooner die than do; while we have a great many men amongst us, come of +respectable parents, well brought up, well educated, who take money +every day to cheat their employers." + +"I rather suspect that it is the difference of consequences in the two +cases," answered Osborne, "which makes men view the same act in a +different way. A Custom-House officer who betrays his trust, thinks +that he only brings a little loss upon a government which can well +spare it--he is not a bit the less a rogue for that, for honesty makes +no such distinctions--but the smuggler who betrays his comrade or +employer, must be well aware that he is not only ruining him in purse, +but bringing on him corporeal punishment." + +"Ay, sir, but there's a spirit in the thing," said Mowle, shaking his +head; "the very country people in general love the smugglers, and help +them whenever they can. There's not a cottage that will not hide them +or their goods; scarce a gentleman in the county who, if he finds all +the horses out of his stable in the morning, does not take it quietly, +without asking any more questions; scarce a magistrate who does not +give the fellows notice as soon as he knows the officers are after +them. The country folks, indeed, do not like them so well as they did; +but they'll soon make it up." + +"A strange state, certainly," said the officer of dragoons; "but what +has become of the horses you mention, when they are thus found +absent?" + +"Gone to carry goods, to be sure," answered Mowle. "But one thing is +very clear, all the country is in the smugglers' favour, and I cannot +help thinking that the people do not like the Custom's dues, that they +don't see the good of them, and are resolved to put them down." + +"Ignorant people, and, indeed, all people, do not like taxation of any +kind," replied Osborne; "and every class objects to that tax which +presses on itself, without the slightest regard either for the +necessity of distributing the burdens of the country equally, or any +of the apparently minute but really important considerations upon +which the apportionment has been formed. However, Mr. Mowle, we have +only to do our duty according to our position--you to gain all the +information that you can--I to aid you, to the best of my ability, in +carrying the law into effect." + +"From the smugglers themselves, little is the information I can get, +sir," answered Mowle, returning to the subject from which their +conversation had deviated, "and often I am obliged to have recourse to +means I am ashamed of. The principal intelligence I receive is from a +boy who offered himself one day--the little devil's imp--and +certainly, by his cunning, and by not much caring myself what risks I +run, I have got some very valuable tidings. But the little vagabond +would betray me, or anyone else, to-morrow. He is the grandson of an +old hag who lives at a little hut just by Saltwood, who puts him up to +it all; and if ever there was an old demon in the world she is one. +She is always brewing mischief, and chuckling over it all the time, as +if it were her sport to see men tear each other to pieces, and to make +innocent girls as bad as she was herself, and as her own daughter was, +too,--the mother of this boy. The girl was killed by a chance shot, +one day, in a riot between the smugglers and the Customs people; and +the old woman always says it was a smuggler's shot. Oh! I could tell +you such stories of that old witch." + +The stories of Mr. Mowle, however, were cut short by the entrance of a +servant carrying a letter, which the young officer took and opened +with a look of eager anxiety. The contents were brief; but they seemed +important, for various were the changes which came over his fine +countenance while he read them. The predominant expression, however, +was joy, though there was a look of thoughtful consideration--perhaps +in a degree of embarrassment, too, on his face; and as he laid the +letter down on the table, and beat the paper with his fingers, gazing +up into vacancy, Mowle, judging that his presence was not desired, +rose to retire. + +"Stay a moment. Mr. Mowle--stay a moment," said Osborne. "This letter +requires some consideration. It contains a call to a part of Kent some +fifteen or sixteen miles distant; but as it is upon private business, +I must not let that interfere with my public duty. You say that this +enterprise of Mr. Radford's is likely to be put in execution to-morrow +night." + +"I cannot be sure, colonel," answered the officer: "but I think there +is every chance of it." + +"Then I must return before nightfall to-morrow," replied the +gentleman, with a sigh. + +"Your presence will be very necessary, sir," said the Custom-House +officer. "There is not one of your officers who seems up to the +business, except Major Digby and yourself. All the rest are such fine +gentlemen that one can't get on with them." + +"Let me consider for a moment," rejoined the other; but Mowle went on +in the same strain, saying, "Then, sir, if you were to be absent all +to-morrow, I might get very important information, and not be able to +give it to you, nor arrange anything with you either." + +Osborne still meditated with a grave brow for some time. "I will +write," he said, at length. "It will be better--it will be only just +and honourable. I will write instead of going to-morrow, Mr. Mowle; +and if this affair should not take place to-morrow night, as you +suppose, I will make such arrangements for the following day--on which +I must go over to Woodchurch--as will enable you to communicate with +me without delay, should you have any message to send. At all events, +I will return to Hythe before night. Now good evening;" and while +Mowle made his bow and retired, the young officer turned to the letter +again, and read it over with glistening eyes. + + + + + CHAPTER III. + + +I wonder if the reader ever wandered from Saltwood Castle back to the +good old town of Hythe, on a fine summer's day, with a fair companion, +as full of thought and mind as grace and beauty, and with a dear child +just at the age when all the world is fresh and lovely--and then +missed his way, and strayed--far from the track--towards Sandgate, +till dinner was kept waiting at the inn, and the party who would not +plod on foot, were all tired and wondering at their friend's delay!--I +wonder if the reader ever did all this. I have--and a very pleasant +thing it is to do. Yes, all of it, reader. For, surely, to go from +waving wood to green field, and from green field to hill-side and wood +again, and to trace along the brook which we know must lead to the +sea-shore, with one companion of high soul, who can answer thought for +thought, and another in life's early morning, who can bring back +before your eyes the picture of young enjoyment--ay, and to know that +those you love most dearly and esteem most highly, are looking for +your coming, with a little anxiety, not even approaching the bounds of +apprehension, is all very pleasant indeed. + +You, dear and excellent lady, who were one of my companions on the +way, may perhaps recollect a little cottage--near the spot where we +sprung a solitary partridge--whither I went to inquire the shortest +road to Hythe. That cottage was standing there at the period of which +I now write; and at the bottom of that hill, amongst the wood, and +close by the little stream nearly where the foot-bridge now carries +the traveller over dryshod, was another hut, half concealed by the +trees, and covered over with well nigh as much moss and houseleek as +actual thatch. + +It has been long swept away, as well as its tenants; and certainly a +wretched and ill-constructed place it was. Would to Heaven that all +such were gone from our rich and productive land, and that every +labourer, in a country which owes so much to the industry of her +children, had a dwelling better fitted to a human being! But, alas, +many such still exist! and it is not always, as it was in this case, +that vice is the companion of misery. This is no book of idle twaddle, +to represent all the wealthy as cold, hard, and vicious, and the poor +all good, forbearing, and laborious; for evil is pretty equally +distributed through all classes--though, God knows, the rich, with all +their opportunities, ought to shew a smaller proportion of wickedness, +and the poor might perhaps be expected, from their temptations, to be +worse than they are! Still it is hard to think that many as honest a +man as ever lived--ay, and as industrious a man, too--returns, after +his hard day's toil, to find his wife and children, well nigh in +starvation, in such a place as I am about to describe--and none to +help them. + +The hut--for it did not deserve the name of cottage--was but of one +floor, which was formed of beaten clay, but a little elevated above +the surrounding soil. It contained two rooms. The one opened into what +had been a garden before it, running down nearly to the brookside; and +the other communicated with the first, but had a door which gave exit +into the wood behind. Windows the hut had two, one on either side; but +neither contained more than two complete panes of glass. The spaces, +where glass had once been, were now filled up in a strange variety of +ways. Here was a piece of board nailed in; there a coarse piece of +cloth kept out the wind; another broken pane was filled up with paper; +and another, where some fragments of the original substance remained, +was stopped with an old stocking stuffed with straw. In the garden, as +it was still called, appeared a few cabbages and onions, with more +cabbage-stalks than either, and a small patch of miserable potatoes. +But weeds were the most plentiful of all, and chickweed and groundsel +enough appeared there to have supplied a whole forest of singing +birds. It had been once fenced in, that miserable garden; but the wood +had been pulled down and burned for firing by its present tenants, or +others as wretched in circumstances as themselves; and nought remained +but a strong post here and there, with sometimes a many-coloured rag +of coarse cotton fluttering upon some long, rusty nail, which had +snatched a shred from passing poverty. Three or four stunted +gooseberry bushes, however, marked out the limit on one side; a path +ran in front between the garden and the brook; and on the other side +there was a constant petty warfare between the farmer and the +inhabitant of the hovel as to the possession of the border-land; and +like a great and small state contending, the more powerful always +gained some advantage in despite of right, but lost perhaps as much by +the spiteful incursions of the foe, as if he had yielded the contested +territory. + +On the night of which I speak--the same on which Mowle visited the +commanding officer of the dragoons at Hythe--the cottage itself, the +garden, and all the squalid-looking things about the place, were +hidden in the deep darkness which had again fallen over the earth as +soon as night had fallen. The morning, it may be remembered--it +was the same on which Sir Edward Digby had been fired at by the +smugglers--had been somewhat cold and foggy; but about eleven, the day +had brightened, and the evening had been sultry. No sooner, however, +did the sun reach the horizon than mists began to rise, and before +seven o'clock the whole sky was under cloud and the air filled with +fog. He must have been well acquainted with every step of the country +who could find his way from town to town. Nevertheless, any one who +approached Galley Ray's cottage, as it was called, would, at the +distance of at least a hundred yards, have perceived something to lead +him on; for a light, red as that of a baleful meteor, was streaming +through the two glazed squares of the window into the misty air, +making them look like the eyes of some wild animal in a dark forest. + +We must pause here, however, for a moment, to explain to the reader +who Galley Ray was, and how she acquired the first of her two +appellations, which certainly was not that which she had received at +her baptism. Galley Ray, then, was the old woman of whom Mr. Mowle had +given that favourable account, which may be seen in the last chapter; +and, to say the truth, he had but done her justice. Her name was +originally Gillian Ray; but, amongst a number of corrupt associates, +with whom her early life was spent, the first of the two appellations +was speedily transformed to Gilly or Gill. Some time afterwards--when +youth began to wane, and whatever youthful graces she possessed were +deviating into the virago qualities of the middle age--while watching +one night the approach of a party of smugglers, with whom she had some +intimacy, she perceived three or four Custom-House officers coming +down to launch a galley, which they had upon the beach, for the +purpose of cutting off the free-traders. But Gilly Ray instantly +sprang in, and with the boat-hook set them all at defiance, till they +threatened to launch her into the sea, boat and all. + +It is true, she was reported to have been drunk at the time; but her +daring saved the smugglers, and conveyed her for two months to jail, +whence, as may be supposed, she returned not much improved in her +morals. One of those whom she had befriended in the time of need, +bestowed on her the name of Galley, by an easy transition from her +original prænomen; and it remained by her to the last day of her life. + +The reader has doubtless remarked, that amongst the lawless and the +rash, there is a certain fondness for figures of speech, and that +tropes and metaphors, simile and synecdoche, are far more prevalent +amongst them than amongst the more orderly classes of society. Whether +it is or not, that they wish to get rid of a precise apprehension of +their own acts, I cannot say; but certain it is, that they do indulge +in such flowers of rhetoric, and sometimes, in the midst of humour, +quaintness, and even absurdity, reach the point of wit, and at times +soar into the sublime. Galley Ray had, as we have seen, one daughter, +whose fate has been related; and that daughter left one son, who, +after his reputed father, one Mark Nightingale, was baptized +Nightingale Ray. His mother, and after her death his grandmother, used +to call him Little Nighty and Little Night; but following their +fanciful habits, the smugglers who used to frequent the house found +out an association between "Night Ray" and the beams of the bright and +mystical orbs that shine upon us from afar; and some one gave him the +name of Little Starlight, which remained with him, as that of Galley +had adhered to his grandmother. The cottage or hut of the latter, +then, beamed with an unwonted blaze upon the night I have spoken of, +till long after the hour when Mowle had left the inn where his +conference with the young officer had taken place. But let not the +reader suppose that this illumination proceeded from any great expense +of wax or oil. Only one small tallow candle, stuck into a long-necked, +square-sided Dutch bottle, spread its rays through the interior of the +hovel, and that was a luxury; but in the fireplace blazed an immense +pile of mingled wood and driftcoal; and over it hung a large hissing +pot, as huge and capacious as that of the witches in Macbeth, or of +the no less famous Meg Merrilies. Galley Ray, however, was a very +different person in appearance from the heroine of "Guy Mannering;" +and we must endeavour to call up her image as she stood by the +fire-side, watching the cauldron and a kettle which stood close to it. + +The red and fitful light flashed upon no tall, gaunt form, and lighted +up no wild and commanding features. There was nothing at all poetical +in her aspect: it was such as may be seen every day in the haunts of +misery and vice. Originally of the middle height, though once strong +and upright, she had somewhat sunk down under the hand of Time, and +was now rather short than otherwise. About fifty she had grown fat and +heavy; but fifteen years more had robbed her flesh of firmness and her +skin of its plumped out smoothness; and though she had not yet reached +the period when emaciation accompanies decrepitude, her muscles were +loose and hanging, her face withered and sallow. Her hair, once as +black as jet, was now quite grey, not silver--but with the white +greatly predominating over the black. Yet, strange to say, her eyes +were still clear and bright, though small, and somewhat red round the +lids; and, stranger still, her front teeth were white as ivory, +offering a strange contrast to the wrinkled and yellow skin. Her look +was keen; but there was that sort of habitual jocularity about it, +which in people of her caste is often partly assumed--as an ever ready +excuse for evading a close question, or covering a dangerous +suggestion by a jest--and partly natural, or at least springing from a +fearful kind of philosophy, gained by the exhaustion of all sorts of +criminal pleasures, which leaves behind, too surely, the impression +that everything is but a mockery on earth. Those who have adopted that +philosophy never give a thought beyond this world. Her figure was +somewhat bowed, and over her shoulders she had the fragments of a +coarse woollen shawl, from beneath which appeared, as she stirred the +pot, her sharp yellow elbows and long arms. On her head she wore a +cap, which had remained there, night and day, for months; and, thrust +back from her forehead, which was low and heavy, appeared the +dishevelled grey hair, while beneath the thick and beetling brows came +the keen eyes, and a nose somewhat aquiline and depressed at the +point. + +Near her, on the opposite side of the hearth, was the boy whom the +reader has already seen, and who has been called little Starlight; +and, even at that late hour, for it was near midnight, he seemed as +brisk and active as ever. Night and day, indeed, appeared to him the +same; for he had none of the habits of childhood. The setting sun +brought no drowsiness to his eyelids: mid-day often found him sleeping +after a night of watchfulness and activity. The whole course of his +existence and his thoughts had been tainted: there was nothing of +youth either in his mind or his ways. The old beldam called him, and +thought him, the shrewdest boy that ever lived; but, in truth, she had +left him no longer a boy, in aught but size and looks. Often--indeed +generally--he would assume the tone of his years, for he found it +served his purpose best; but he only laughed at those who thought him +a child, and prided himself on the cunning of the artifice. + +There might be, it is true, some lingering of the faults of youth, but +that was all. He was greedy and voracious, loved sweet things as well +as strong drink, and could not always curb the truant and erratic +spirit of childhood; but still, even in his wanderings there was a +purpose, and often a malevolence. He would go to see what one person +was about; he would stay away because another wanted him. It may be +asked, was this natural wickedness?--was his heart so formed +originally? Oh no, reader; never believe such things. There are +certainly infinite varieties of human character; and I admit that the +mind of man is not the blank sheet of paper on which we can write what +we please, as has been vainly represented. Or, if it be, the +experience of every man must have shown him, that that paper is of +every different kind and quality--some that will retain the finest +line, some that will scarce receive the broadest trace. But still +education has immense power for good or evil. By education I do not +mean teaching. I mean that great and wonderful process by which, +commencing at the earliest period of infancy--ay, at the mother's +breast--the raw material of the mind is manufactured into all the +varieties that we see. I mean the sum of every line with which the +paper is written as it passes from hand to hand. That is education; +and most careful should we be that, at an early period, nought should +be written but good, for every word once impressed is well nigh +indelible. + +Now what education had that poor boy received? The people of the +neighbouring village would have said a very good one; for there was +what is called a charity school in the neighbourhood, where he had +been taught to read and write, and cast accounts. But this was +_teaching_, not _education_. Oh, fatal mistake! when will Englishmen +learn to discriminate between the two? His education had been at +home--in that miserable hut--by that wretched woman--by her companions +in vice and crime! What had all the teaching he had received at the +school done for him, but placed weapons in the hand of wickedness? Had +education formed any part of the system of the school where he was +instructed--had he been taught how best to use the gifts that were +imparted--had he been inured to regulate the mind that was stored--had +he been habituated to draw just conclusions from all he read, instead +of merely being taught to read, that would have been in some degree +education, and it might have corrected, to a certain point, the darker +schooling he received at home. Well might the great philosopher, who +in some things most grossly misused the knowledge he himself +possessed, pronounce that "Knowledge is power;" but, alas, he forgot +to add, that it is power _for good or evil!_ That poor child had been +taught that which to him might have been either a blessing or a bane; +but all his real education had been for evil; and there he stood, +corrupted to the heart's core. + +"I say, Mother Ray," he exclaimed, "that smells cursed nice--can't you +give us a drop before the coves come?" + +"No, no, you young devil," replied the old woman with a grin, "one +can't tell when they'll show their mugs at the door; and it wouldn't +do for them to find you gobbling up their stuff. But bring me that big +porringer, and we'll put by enough for you and me. I've nimmed one +half of the yellow-boy they sent, so we'll have a quart of moonshine +to-morrow to help it down." + +"I could get it very well down without," answered little Starlight, +bringing her a large earthen pot, with a cracked cover, into which she +ladled out about half a gallon of the soup. + +"There, take and put that far under the bed in t'other room," said the +old woman, adding several expletives of so peculiar and unpleasant a +character, that I must omit them; and, indeed, trusting to the +reader's imagination, I shall beg leave to soften, as far as possible, +the terms of both the boy and his grandmother for the future, merely +premising, that when conversing alone together, hardly a sentence +escaped their lips without an oath or a blasphemy. + +Little Starlight soon received the pot from the hands of his worthy +ancestress, and conveyed it into the other room, where he stayed so +long that she called him to come forth, in what, to ordinary ears, +would have seemed the most abusive language, but which, on her lips, +was merely the tone of endearment. He had waited, indeed, to cool the +soup, in order to steal a portion of the stolen food; but finding that +he should be detected if he remained longer, he ventured to put his +finger in to taste it. The result was that he scalded his hand; but he +was sufficiently Spartan to utter no cry or indication of pain; and he +escaped all inquiry; for the moment after he had returned, the door +burst violently open, and some ten or twelve men came pouring in, +nearly filling the little room. + +Various were their garbs, and strangely different from each other were +they in demeanour as well as dress. Some were clad in smock-frocks, +and some in sailors' jackets; some looked like respectable tradesmen, +some were clothed in a sort of fanciful costume of their own, smacking +a little of the brigand; and one appeared in the ordinary riding-dress +of a gentleman of that period; but all were well armed, without much +concealment of the pistols, which they carried about them in addition +to the sword that was not uncommonly borne by more than one class in +England at that time. They were all young men except one or two; and +three of the number bore evident marks of some recent affray. One had +a broad strip of plaster all the way down his forehead, another had +his upper lip terribly cut, and a third--the gentleman, as I am bound +to call him, as he assumed the title of Major--had a patch over his +eye, from beneath which appeared several rings of various colours, +which showed that the aforesaid patch was not merely a means of +disguise. + +They were all quite familiar with Galley Ray and her grandson; some +slapped her on the shoulder; some pulled her ear; some abused her +horribly in jocular tones; and all called upon her eagerly to set +their supper before them, vowing that they had come twenty miles since +seven o'clock that night, and were as hungry as fox-hunters. + +To each and all Galley Ray had something to say in their own +particular way. To some she was civil and coaxing, addressed them as +"gentlemen," and to others slang and abusive, though quite in good +humour, calling them, "you blackguards," and "you varmint," with +sundry other delectable epithets, which I shall forbear to transcribe. + +To give value to her entertainment, she of course started every +objection and difficulty in the world against receiving them, asking +how, in the name of the fiend, they could expect her to take in so +many? where she was to get porringers or plates for them all? and +hoping heartily that such a troop weren't going to stay above half an +hour. + +"Till to-morrow night, Galley, my chicken," replied the Major. "Come, +don't make a fuss. It must be so, and you shall be well paid. We shall +stay in here to-night; and to-morrow we shall take to cover in the +wood; but young Radford will come down some time in the day, and then +you must send up little Starlight to us, to let me know." + +The matter of the supper was soon arranged to their contentment. Some +had tea-cups, and some saucers; some had earthen pans, some wooden +platters. Two were honoured with china plates; and the large pot being +taken off the fire, and set on the ground in the midst of them, each +helped himself, and went on with his meal. A grand brewing of smuggled +spirits and water then commenced; and a number of horn cups were +handed round, not enough, indeed, for all the guests; but each vessel +was made to serve two or three; and the first silence of hunger being +over, a wild, rambling, and desultory conversation ensued, to which +both Galley Ray and her grandson lent an attentive ear. + +The Major said something to the man with the cut upon his brow, to +which the other replied, by condemning his own soul, if he did not +blow Harding's brains out--if it were true. "But, I don't believe it," +he continued. "He's no friend of mine; but he's not such a blackguard +as to peach." + +"So I think; but Dick Radford says he is sure he did," answered the +Major; "Dick fancies that he's jealous of not having had yesterday's +job too, and that's why he spoiled it. We know he was up about that +part of the country on the pretence of his seeing his Dolly; but +Radford says he went to inform, and that he'll wring his liver out, as +soon as this job of his father's is over." + +A torrent of blasphemies poured forth by almost every person present +followed, and they all called down the most horrid condemnation on +their own heads, if they did not each lend a hand to punish the +informer. In the midst of this storm of big words, Galley Ray put her +mouth to the Major's ear, saying, "I could tell young Radford how he +could wring his heart out, and that's better than his liver. There's +no use of trying to kill him, for he doesn't care two straws about +that. Sharp steel and round lead are what he looks for every day. But +I could show you how to plague him worse." + +"Why, you old brute," replied the Major, "you're a friend of his!--But +you may tell him, if you like. We have all sworn it, and we'll do it; +only hold your tongue till after to-morrow night, or I'll cure your +bacon for you." + +"I'm no friend of his," cried Galley Ray. "The infernal devil, wasn't +it he that shot my girl, Meg? Ay, ay, I know he says he didn't, and +that he didn't fire a pistol that day, but kept all to the cutlash; +but he did, I'm sure, and a-purpose too; for didn't he turn to, that +morning, and abuse her like the very dirt under his feet, because she +came, a little in liquor, down to his boat-side?--Ay, I'll have my +revenge--I've been looking for it long, but now it's a-coming--it's +a-coming very fast; and afore I've done with him, I'll wring him out +like a wet cloth, till he's not got one pleasure left in his whole +carcase, nor one thing to look to, for as long as he may live!--Ay, +ay, he thinks an old woman nothing; but he shall see--he shall see;" +and the beldam wagged her frightful head backwards and forwards with a +look of well-contented malice that made it more horrible than ever. + +"What an old devil!" cried the Major, glancing round the table with a +look of mock surprise; and then they all burst into a roar of laughter +which shook the miserable hovel in which they sat. + +"Come, granny, give us some more lush, and leave off preaching," cried +Ned Ramley, the man with the cut upon his brow. "You can tell it all +to Dick Radford, to-morrow; for he's fond of cutting up people's +hearts." + +"But how is it--how is it?" asked the Major. "I should like to hear." + +"Ay, but you shan't hear all," answered Galley Ray. "Let Dick do his +part, and I'll do mine, so we'll both have our revenge; but I know one +thing, if I were a gentleman, and wanted a twist at Jack Harding, I'd +get his Kate away from him. She's a light-hearted lass, and would +listen to a gentleman, I dare say; but, however, I'll have her away +some way, and then kick her out into Folkestone streets, to get her +bread like many a better woman than herself." + +"Pooh, nonsense!" said Ned Ramley--"that's all stuff. Harding is going +to marry her; and she knows better than to play the fool." + +"Ay," answered the old woman, with a look of spite, "I shouldn't +wonder if Harding spoiled this job for old Radford, too." + +"Not he!" cried Ramley, "he would pinch himself there, old tiger; for +his own pay depends upon it." + +"Ay, upon landing the stuff safely," answered the old woman, with a +grin, "but not upon getting it clear up into the Weald. He may have +both, Neddy, my dear--he may have both pays; first for landing and +then for peaching. Play booty for ever!--that's the way to make money; +and who knows but you may get another crack of your own pretty skull, +or have your brains sent flying out, like the inside of an egg against +the pillory." + +"By the fiend, he had better not," said Ned Ramley, "for there will be +some of us left, at all events, to pay him." + +"Come, speak out, old woman," cried another of the men; "have you or +your imp there got any inkling that the Custom House blackguards have +nosed the job. If we find they have, and you don't tell, I'll send you +into as much thick loam as will cover you well, I can tell you;" and +he added a horrible oath to give force to his words. + +"Not they, as yet," answered the beldam, "of that I am quite sure; for +as soon as the guinea and the message came, I went down to buy the +beef, and mutton, and the onions; and there I saw Mowle talking to +Gurney the grocer, and heard him say that he had spoiled Mr. Radford's +venture this morning, for one turn at least; and after that, I sent +down little Nighty there, to watch him and his cronies; and they all +seemed very jolly, he said, when he came back half an hour ago, and +crowing like so many young cocks, as if they had done a mighty deal. +Didn't they, my dear?" + +"Ay, that they did, Granny," replied the boy, with a look of +simplicity; "and when I went to the tap of the Dragon to get +twopennorth, I heard the landlord say that Mowle was up with the +dragoon Colonel, telling him all about the fine morning's work they +had made." + +"Devilish fine, indeed!" cried Ned Ramley. "Why they did not get one +quarter of the things; and if we can save a third, that's enough to +pay very well, I can tell them." + +"No, no! they know nothing as yet," continued the old woman, with a +sapient shake of the head; "I can't say what they may hear before +to-morrow night; but, if they do hear anything, I know where it will +come from--that's all. People may be blind if they like; but I'm not, +that's one thing." + +"No, no! you see sharp enough, Galley Ray," answered the Major. "But +hark, is not that the sound of a horse coming down?" + +All the men started up; and some one exclaimed, "I shouldn't wonder if +it were Mowle himself.--He's always spying about." + +"If it is, I'll blow his brains out," said Ned Ramley, motioning to +the rest to make their way into the room behind. + +"Ay, you had best, I think, Neddy," said Galley Ray, in a quiet, +considerate tone, answering his rash threat as coolly as if she had +been speaking of the catching of a trout. "You'll have him here all +snug, and may never get such another chance. 'Dead men tell no tales,' +Neddy. But, get back--'tis a horse, sure enough! You can take your own +time, if you go in there." + +The young man retreated; and bending down her lips to the boy's ear, +the old witch inquired in a whisper, "Is t'other door locked, and the +window fast?" + +"Yes," said the boy, in the same tone; "and the key hid in the +sacking." + +"Then if there are enough to take 'em," murmured Gaily Ray to +herself--"take 'em they shall!--If there's no one but Mowle, he must +go--that's clear. Stretch out that bit o' sail, boy, to catch the +blood." + +But before the boy could obey her whisper, the door of the hut was +thrown open; and instead of Mowle there appeared the figure of Richard +Radford. + +"Here, little Starlight!" he cried, "hold my horse--why, where are all +the men? Have they not come?" + +The old woman arranged her face in an instant into the sweetest smile +it was capable of assuming, and replied, instantly, "Oh dear, yes: +bless your beautiful face, Mr. Radford, but we didn't expect you +to-night, and thought it was some of the Custom-House blackguards when +we heard the horse. Here, Neddy!--Major!--It's only Mr. Radford." + +Ere she had uttered the call, the men, hearing a well-known voice, +were entering the room again; and young Radford shook hands with +several of them familiarly, congratulating the late prisoners on their +escape. + +"I found I couldn't come to-morrow morning," he said, "and so I rode +down to-night. It's all settled for to-morrow, and by this time +Harding's at sea. He'll keep over on the other side till the sun is +low; and we must be ready for work by ten, though I don't think he'll +get close in before midnight." + +"Are you quite sure of Harding, Mr. Radford?" asked the Major. "I +thought you had doubts of him about this other venture." + +"Ay, and so I have still," answered Richard Radford, a dark scowl +coming over his face, "but we must get this job over first. My father +says, he will have no words about it, till this is all clear, and +after that I may do as I like. Then, Major, then----" + +He did not finish the sentence; but those who heard him knew very well +what he meant; and the Major inquired, "But is he quite safe in this +business? The old woman thinks not." + +Young Radford mused with a heavy brow for a minute or two, and then +replied, after a sudden start, "But it's no use now--he's at sea by +this time; and we can't mend it. Have you heard anything certain of +him, Galley Ray?" + +"No, nothing quite for certain, my beauty," said the old woman; "but +one thing I know: he was seen there upon the cliffs, with two strange +men, a-talking away at a great rate; and that was the very night he +saw your father, too; but that clear little cunning devil, my boy, +Nighty--he's the shrewdest lad that ever lived--found it all out." + +"What did he find out?" demanded young Radford, sharply. + +"Why, who the one was, he could never be sure," answered the +beldam--"a nasty-looking ugly brute, all tattooed in the face, like a +wild Indian; but the other was the colonel of dragoons--that's +certain, so Nighty says--he is the shrewdest boy that----" + +Richard Radford and his companions gazed at each other with very +meaning and very ill-satisfied looks; but the former, at length, said, +"Well, we shall see--we shall see! and if he does, he shall rue it. In +the meantime, Major, what we must do is, to have force enough to set +them, dragoons and all, at defiance. My father has got already a +hundred men, and I'll beat up for more to-morrow.--I can get fifty or +sixty out of Sussex. We'll all be down with you early. The soldiers +are scattered about in little parties, so they can never have very +many together; and the devil's in it, if we can't beat a handful of +them." + +"Give us a hundred men," said Ned Ramley, "and we'll beat the whole +regiment of them." + +"Why, there are not to be found twenty of them together in any one +place," answered young Radford, "except at Folkestone, and we shan't +have the run within fifteen or sixteen miles of that; so we shall +easily do for them; and I should like to give those rascals a +licking." + +"Then, what's to be done with Harding?" asked Ned Ramley. + +"Leave him to me--leave him to me, Ned," replied the young gentleman, +"I'll find a way of settling accounts with him." + +"Why, the old woman was talking something about it," said the Major. +"Come, speak up, old brute!--What is it you've got to say?" + +"Oh, I'll tell him quietly when he's a going," answered Galley Ray. +"It's no business of yours, Major." + +"She hates him like poison," said the Major, in a whisper, to young +Radford; "so that you must not believe all she says about him." + +The young man gave a gloomy smile, and then, after a few words more, +unceremoniously turned the old woman out of her own hovel, telling her +he would come and speak to her in a moment. As soon as the hut was +clear of her presence, he proceeded to make all his final arrangements +with the lawless set who were gathered together within. + +"I thought that Harding was not to set off till to-morrow morning," +said one of the more staid-looking of the party, at length; "I wonder +your father lets him make such changes, Mr. Radford--it looks +suspicious, to my thinking." + +"No, no; it was by my father's own orders," said young Radford; +"there's nothing wrong in that. I saw the note sent this evening; so +that's all right. By some contrivance of his own, Harding is to give +notice to one of the people on Tolsford Hill, when he is well in land +and all is safe; and then we shall see a fire lighted on the top, +which is to be our signal, to gather down on the beach. It's all right +in that respect, at least. + +"I'm glad to hear it," answered the other; "and now, as all is +settled, had you not better take a glass of grog before you go." + +"No, no," replied the young man, "I'll keep my head cool for +to-morrow; for I've got a job to do in the morning that may want a +clear eye and a steady hand." + +"Well, then, good luck to you!" said Ned Ramley, laughing; and with +this benediction, the young gentleman opened the cottage door. + +He found Galley Ray holding his horse alone; and, as soon as she saw +him, she said, "I've sent the boy away, Mr. Radford, because I wanted +to have a chat with you for a minute, all alone, about that +blackguard, Harding;" and sinking her voice to a whisper, she +proceeded for several minutes, detailing her own diabolical notions, +of how young Radford might best revenge himself on Harding, with a +coaxing manner, and sweet tone, which contrasted strangely and +horribly, both with the words which she occasionally used, and the +general course of her suggestions. Young Radford sometimes laughed, +with a harsh sort of bitter, unpleasant merriment, and sometimes asked +questions, but more frequently remained listening attentively to what +she said. + +Thus passed some ten minutes, at the end of which time, he exclaimed, +with an oath, "I'll do it!" and then, mounting his horse, he rode away +slowly and cautiously, on account of the thick fog and the narrow and +stony road. + +No sooner was he gone, than little Starlight crept out from between +the cottage and a pile of dried furze-bushes, which had been cast down +on the left of the hut--at once affording fuel to the inhabitants, and +keeping out the wind from a large crack in the wall, which penetrated +through and through, into the room where young Radford had been +conversing with the smugglers. + +"Did you hear them, my kiddy?" asked the old woman, as soon as the boy +approached her. + +"Every word, Mother Ray," answered little Starlight. "But, get in, +get in, or they will be thinking something; and I'll tell you all +to-morrow." + +The old woman saw the propriety of his suggestion; and, both entering +the hovel, the door was shut. With it, I may close a scene, upon which +I have been obliged to pause longer than I could have wished. + + + + + CHAPTER IV. + + +The man who follows a wolf goes straight on after him till he rides +him down; but, in chasing a fox, it is always expedient and fair to +take across the easiest country for your horse or for yourself, to +angle a field, to make for a slope when the neighbouring bank is too +high, to avoid a clay fallow, or to skirt a shaking moss. Very +frequently, however, one beholds an inexperienced sportsman (who does +not well know the country he is riding, and sees the field broken up +into several parties, each taking its own course after the hounds) +pause for several minutes, not knowing which to follow. Such is often +the case with the romance writer also, when the broken nature of the +country over which his course lies, separates his characters, and he +cannot proceed with all of them at once. + +Now, at the present moment, I would fain follow the smugglers to the +end of their adventure; but, in so doing, dear reader, I should (to +borrow a shred of the figure I have just used) get before my hounds; +or, in other words, I should too greatly violate that strict +chronological order which is necessary in an important history like +the present. I must, therefore, return, by the reader's good leave, to +the house of Mr. Zachary Croyland, almost immediately after Sir Edward +Digby had ridden away, on the day following young Radford's recently +related interview with the smugglers, at which day--with a sad +violation of the chronological order I have mentioned above--I had +already arrived, as the reader must remember, in the first chapter of +the present volume. + +Mr. Croyland then stood in the little drawing-room, fitted up +according to his own peculiar notions, where Sir Edward's wound had +been dressed; and Edith, his niece, sat at no great distance on one of +the low ottomans, for which he had an oriental predilection. She was a +little excited, both by all that she had witnessed, and all that she +had not; and her bright and beautiful eyes were raised to her uncle's +face, as she inquired, "How did all this happen? You said you would +tell me when they were gone." + +Mr. Croyland gazed at her with that sort of parental tenderness which +he had long nourished in his heart towards her; and certainly, as she +sat there, leaning lightly upon her arm, and with the sunshine falling +upon her beautiful form, her left hand resting upon her knee, and one +small beautiful foot extended beyond her gown, he could not help +thinking her the loveliest creature he had ever beheld in his life, +and asking himself--"Is such a being as that, so full of grace in +person, and excellence in mind, to be consigned to a rude, brutal +bully, like the man who has just met with deserved chastisement at my +door?" + +He had just begun to answer her question, thinking how he might best +do so without inflicting more pain upon her than necessary, when the +black servant I have mentioned entered the drawing-room, saying, "A +man want to speak to you, master." + +"A man!" cried Mr. Croyland, impatiently. "What man? I don't want any +man! I've had enough of men for one morning, surely, with those two +fools fighting just opposite my house!--What sort of a man is it?" + +"Very odd man, indeed, master," answered the Hindoo. "Got great blue +pattern on him's face. Strange looking man. Think him half mad," and +he made a deferential bow, as if submitting his judgment to that of +his master. + +"Well, I like odd men," exclaimed Mr. Croyland. "I like strange men +better than any others. I'm not sure I do not like them a _leetle_ +mad--not too much, not too much, you know, Edith, my dear! Not +dangerous; just mad enough to be pleasant, but not furious or +obstreperous.--Where have you put him?" + +"In de library, master," replied the man; "and he begin taking down +the books directly." + +"High time I should go and see, who is so studiously inclined," said +Mr. Croyland; "or he may not only take down the books, but take them +away. That wouldn't do, you know, Edith, my dear--that wouldn't do. +Without my niece and my books, what would become of me? I don't intend +to lose either the one or the other. So that you are never to marry, +my love; mind that, you are never to marry!" + +Edith smiled faintly--very faintly indeed; but for the world she would +not have made her uncle feel that he had touched upon a tender point. +"I do not think I ever shall, my dear uncle," she answered; and +saying, "That's a good girl!" the old gentleman hurried out of the +room to see his unknown visitor. + +Edith remained for some time where she was, in deep and even painful +thoughts. All that she had learnt from her sister, since Zara's +explanation with Sir Edward Digby, amounted but to this, that he whom +she had so deeply loved--whom she still loved so deeply--was yet +living. Nothing more had reached her; and, though hope, the fast +clinger to the last wreck of probability, yet whispered that he might +love her still--that she might not be forgotten--that she might not be +abandoned, yet fear and despondency far predominated, and their hoarse +tones nearly drowned the feeble whisper of a voice which once had been +loud and gay in her heart. + +After meditating, then, for some minutes, she rose and left the +drawing-room, passing, on her way to the stairs, the door of the +library to which her uncle had previously gone. She heard him talking +loud as she went along; but the sounds were gay, cheerful, and +anything but angry; and another voice was answering, in mellower +tones, somewhat melancholy, indeed, but still not sad. Going rapidly +by, this was all she distinguished; but after she reached her own +room, which was nearly above the library, the murmur of the voices +still rose up for more than an hour, and at length Mr. Croyland and +his guest came out, and walked through the vestibule to the door. + +"God bless you, Harry--God bless you!" said Mr. Croyland, with an +appearance of warmth and affection which Edith had seldom known him to +display towards any one; "if you wont stay, I can't help it. But mind +your promise--mind your promise! In three or four days, you know;" and +with another cordial farewell they parted. + +When the stranger was gone, however, Mr. Croyland remained standing in +the vestibule for several minutes, gazing down upon the floor-cloth, +and murmuring to himself various broken sentences, from time to time. +"Who'd have thought it," he said; "thirty years come Lady-day next, +since we saw each other!--But this isn't quite right of the boy: I +will scold him--I will frighten him, too. He shouldn't deceive--nobody +should deceive--it's not right. But after all, in love and war, every +stratagem is fair, they say; and I'll work for him, that I will. Here, +Edith, my love," he continued, calling up the stairs, for he had heard +his niece's light foot above, "come, and take a walk with me, my dear: +it will do us both good." + +Edith came down in a moment, with a hat (or bonnet) in her hand; and +although Mr. Croyland affected, on most occasions, to be by no means +communicative, yet there was in his whole manner, and in the +expression of his face, quite sufficient to indicate to his niece, +that he was labouring under the pressure of a secret, which was not a +very sad or dark one. + +"There, my dear!" he exclaimed, "I said just now that I would not have +you marry; but I shall take off the restriction. I will not prohibit +the banns--only in case you should wish to marry some one I don't +approve. But I've got a husband for you--I've got a husband for you, +better than all the Radfords that ever were christened; though, by the +way, I doubt whether these fellows ever were christened at all--a set +of unbelieving, half-barbarous sceptics. I do not think, upon my +conscience, that old Radford believes in anything but the existence of +his own individuality." + +"But who is the husband you have got for me?" demanded Edith, forcing +herself to assume a look of gaiety which was not natural to her. "I +hope he's young, handsome, rich, and agreeable." + +"All, all!" cried Mr. Croyland. "Those are absolute requisites in a +lady's estimation, I know. Never was such a set of grasping monkeys as +you women. Youth, beauty, riches, and a courtly air--you must have +them all, or you are dissatisfied; and the ugliest, plainest, poorest +woman in all Europe, thinks that she has every right to a ph[oe]nix +for her companion--an angel--a demi-god. But you shall see--you shall +see; and in the true spirit of a fond parent, if you do not see with +my eyes, hear with my ears, and understand with my understanding--why, +I'll disinherit you.--But who the mischief is this, now?" he +continued, looking out at the door--"another man on horseback, upon my +life, as if we had not had enough of them already. Never, since I have +been in this county of Kent, has my poor, quiet, peaceable door been +besieged in this manner before." + +"It's only a servant with a note, my dear uncle," said Edith. + +"Ah, something more on your account," cried Mr. Croyland. "It's all +because you are here. Baba, Baba! see what that fellow wants!--It's +not your promised husband, my dear, so you need not eye him so +curiously." + +"Oh, no!" answered Edith, smiling. "I took it for granted that my +promised husband, as you call him, was to be this same odd, +strange-looking gentleman, who has been with you for the last hour." + +"Pooh--no!" cried Mr. Croyland; "and yet, my lady, I can tell you, you +could not do better in some respects, for he's a very good man--a very +excellent man indeed, and has the advantage of being a _leetle_ mad, +as I said before--that is, he's wise enough not to care what fools +think of him. That's what is called being mad now-a-days. Who is it +from, Baba? + +"Didn't say, master," answered the Indian, who had just handed him a +note. "He wait an answer." + +"Oh, very well!" answered Mr. Croyland. "He may get a shorter one than +he expects. I've no time to be answering notes. People in England +spend one half of their lives in writing notes that mean nothing, and +the other half in sealing them. Why can't the fools send a message?" + +While he had been thus speaking, the worthy old gentleman had been +adjusting the spectacles to his nose, and walking with his usual brisk +step to the window in the passage, against which he planted his back, +so that the light might fall over his shoulder upon the paper; but as +he read, a great change came over his countenance. + +"Ah, that's right!--That's well!--That's honest," he said: "I see what +he means, but I'll let him speak out himself. Walk into the garden, +Edith, my love, till I answer this man's note. Baba, bid the fellow +wait for a moment," and stepping into the library, Mr. Croyland sought +for a pen that would write, and then scrawled, in a very rude and +crooked hand, which soon made the paper look like an ancient Greek +manuscript, a few lines, to the beauty of which he added the effect of +bad blotting-paper. Then folding his note up, he sealed and addressed +it, first reading carefully over again the epistle which he had just +received, and with which it may be as well to make the reader +acquainted, though I shall abstain from looking into Mr. Croyland's +answer till it reaches its destination. The letter which the servant +had brought was to the following effect: + +"The gentleman who had the pleasure of travelling with Mr. Croyland +from London, and who was introduced to him by the name of Captain +Osborn, was about to avail himself of Mr. Croyland's invitation, when +some circumstances came to his knowledge, which seem to render it +expedient that he should have a few minutes' conversation with Mr. +Croyland before he visits his house. He is at present at Woodchurch, +and will remain there till two o'clock, if it is convenient for Mr. +Croyland to see him at that place to-day.--If not, he will return to +Woodchurch to-morrow, towards one, and will wait for Mr. Croyland till +any hour he shall appoint." + +"There! give that to the gentleman's servant," said Mr. Croyland; and +then depositing his spectacles safely in their case, he walked out +into the garden to seek Edith. + +The servant, in the meanwhile, went at a rapid pace, over pleasant +hill and dale, till he reached the village of Woodchurch, and stopped +at a little public-house, before the door of which stood three +dragoons, with their horses' bridles over their arms. As speedily as +possible, the man entered the house, and walked up stairs, where he +found his master talking to a man, covered with dust from the road. + +"Mr. Mowle should have given me farther information," the young +officer said, looking at a paper in his hand. "I could have made my +combinations here as well as at Hythe." + +"He sent me off in a great hurry, sir," answered the man; "but I'll +tell him what you say." + +"Stay, stay!" said the officer, holding out his hand to his servant +for the note which he had brought. "I will tell you more in a minute, +and breaking open the seal, he read Mr. Croyland's epistle, which was +to the following effect. + +"Mr. Croyland presents his compliments to Captain Osborn, and has had +the honour of receiving his letter, although he cannot conceive why +Captain Osborn should wish to speak with him at Woodchurch, when he +could so easily speak with him in his own house, yet Mr. Croyland is +Captain Osborn's very humble servant, and will do as he bids him. As +it is now past one o'clock, as it would take half-an-hour to get Mr. +Croyland's carriage ready, and an hour to reach Woodchurch, and as it +is some years since Mr. Croyland has got upon the back of anything but +an ass, or a hobby-horse,--having moreover no asses at hand with the +proper proportion of legs, though many, deficient in number--it is +impossible for him to reach Woodchurch by the time stated to-day. He +will be over at that place, however, by two o'clock to-morrow, and +hopes that Captain Osborn will be able to return with him, and spend a +few days in an old bachelor's house." + +The young officer's face was grave as he read the first part of the +letter, but it relaxed into a smile towards the end. He then gave, +perhaps, ten seconds to thought; after which, rousing himself +abruptly, he turned to the dusty messenger from Hythe, and fixing a +somewhat searching glance upon the man's face, he said--"Tell Mr. +Mowle that I will be over with him directly, and as the troops, it +seems, will be required on the side of Folkestone, he must have +everything prepared on his part; for we shall have no time to spare." + +The man bowed with a stolid look, and withdrew; and after he had left +the room, the officer remained silent for a moment or two, looking out +of the window till he saw him mount his horse and depart. Then, +descending in haste to the inn door, he gave various orders to the +dragoons, who were there waiting. To one they were, "Ride off to +Folkestone as fast as you can go, and tell Captain Irby to march +immediately with his troop to Bilsington, which place he must reach +before two o'clock in the morning." To another: "You gallop off to +Appledore, and bid the sergeant there bring his party down to Brenzet +Corner, in the Marsh, and put himself under the orders of Cornet +Joyce." To the third: "You, Wood, be off to Ashford, and tell +Lieutenant Green to bring down all his men as far as Bromley Green, +taking up the party at Kingsnorth. Let him be there by three; and +remember, these are private orders. Not a word to any one." + +The men sprang into the saddle, as soon as the last words were spoken, +and rode away in different directions; and, after bidding his servant +bring round his horse, the young officer remained standing at the door +of the inn, with his tall form erect, his arms crossed upon his chest, +and his eyes gazing towards Harbourne House. He was in the midst of +the scenes where his early days had been spent. Every object around +him was familiar to his eye: not a hill, not a wood, not a church +steeple or a farm house, but had its association with some of those +bright things which leave a lustre in the evening sky of life, even +when the day-star of existence has set. There were the pleasant hours +of childhood, the sports of boyhood, the dreams of youth, the love of +early manhood. The light that memory cast upon the whole might not be +so strong and powerful, might not present them in so real and definite +a form, as in the full day of enjoyment; but there is a great +difference between that light of memory, when it brightens a period of +life that may yet renew the joys which have passed away for a time, +and when it shines upon pleasures gone for ever. In the latter case it +is but as the moonlight--a reflected beam, without the warmth of +fruition or the brilliancy of hope; but in the former, it is as the +glow of the descending sun, which sheds a purple lustre through the +vista of the past, and gives a promise of returning joy even as it +sinks away. He stood, then, amongst the scenes of his early years, +with hope refreshed, though still with the remembrance of sorrows +tempering the warmth of expectation, perhaps shading the present. It +wanted, indeed, but some small circumstance, by bearing afar, like +some light wind, the cloud of thought, to give to all around the +bright hues of other days; and that was soon afforded. He had not +remained there above two or three minutes when the landlord of the +public-house came out, and stood directly before him. + +"Oh, I forgot your bill, my good fellow," said the young officer. +"What is my score?" + +"No, sir, it is not that," answered the man, "but I think you have +forgotten me. I could not let you go, however, without just asking you +to shake hands with me, though you are a great gentleman now, and I am +much what I was." + +The young officer gazed at him for a moment, and let his eye run over +the stout limbs and portly person of the landlord, till at length he +said, in a doubtful tone, "Surely, you cannot be young Miles, the son +of my father's clerk?" + +"Ay, sir, just the same," replied the host; "but young and old, we +change, just as women do their names when they marry. Not that six or +seven years have made me old either; but I was six and twenty when you +went away, and as thin as a whipping post; now I'm two and thirty, and +as fat as a porker. That makes a wonderful difference, sir. But I'm +glad you don't forget old times." + +"Forget them, Miles!" said the young officer, holding out his hand to +him, "oh no, they are too deeply written in my heart ever to be +blotted out! I thought I was too much changed myself for any one to +remember me, but those who were most dear to me. What between the +effects of time and labour, sorrow and war, I hardly fancied that any +one in Kent would know me. But you are changed for the better, I for +the worse. Yet I am very glad to see you, Miles; and I shall see you +again to-morrow; for I am coming back here towards two o'clock. In the +meantime, you need not say you have seen me; for I do not wish it to +be known that I am here, till I have learned a little of what +reception I am likely to have." + +"Oh, I understand, sir--I understand," replied the landlord; "and if +you should want to know how the land lies, I can always tell you; for +you see, I have the parish-clerks' club, which meets here once a week; +and then all the news of the country comes out; and besides, many a +one of them comes in here at other times, to have a gossip with old +Rafe Miles's son, so that I hear everything that goes on in the county +almost as soon as it is done; and right glad shall I be to tell you +anything you want to know, just for old times' sake; when you used to +go shooting snipes by the brooks, and I used to come after for the +sport--that is to say, anything about your own people; not about the +smugglers, you know; for they say you are sent here to put them down; +and I should not like to peach, even to you. I heard that some great +gentleman had come down--a Sir Harry Somebody. But I little thought it +was you, till I saw you just now standing looking so melancholy +towards Harbourne, and thinking, I dare say, of the old house at +Tiffenden." + +"Indeed I was," answered the young officer, with a sigh. "But as to +the smugglers, my good friend, I want no information. I am sent down +with my regiment merely to aid the civil power, which seems totally +incompetent to stop the daring outrages that are every day committed. +If this were suffered to go on, all law, not only regarding the +revenue, but even that affecting the protection of life and property, +would soon be at an end." + +"That it would, sir," answered the landlord; "and it's well nigh at an +end already, for that matter." + +"Well," continued the officer, "though the service is not an agreeable +one, and I think, considering all things, might have been entrusted to +another person, yet I have but to obey; and consequently, being here, +am ready whenever called upon to support the officers, either of +justice or the revenue, both by arms and by advice. But I have no +other duty to perform, and indeed would rather not have any +information regarding the proceedings of these misguided men, except +through the proper channels. If I had the absolute command of the +district, with orders to put down smuggling therein, it might be a +different matter; but I have not." + +"Ay, I thought there was a mistake about it," replied Miles; "but here +is your horse, sir. I shall see you to-morrow, then?" + +"Certainly," answered the officer; and having paid his score, he +mounted and rode away. + + + + + CHAPTER V. + + +The colonel of the dragoon regiment rode into Hythe coolly and calmly, +followed by his servant; for though, to say the truth, he had pushed +his horse very fast for some part of the way, he judged it expedient +not to cause any bustle in the town by an appearance of haste and +excitement. It was customary in those days for officers in the army in +active service, even when not on actual duty, to appear in their +regimental uniform; but this practice the gentleman in question had +dispensed with since he left London, on many motives, both public and +personal; and though he wore the cockade--at that time the sign and +symbol of a military man, or of one who affected that position, yet he +generally appeared in plain clothes, except when any large body of the +troops were gathered together. + +At the door of the inn where he had fixed his headquarters, and in the +passage leading from it into the house, were a number of private +soldiers and a sergeant; and amongst them appeared Mr. Mowle, the +Custom-House officer, waiting the arrival of the commander of the +dragoons. As the latter dismounted, Mowle advanced to his side, saying +something in a low voice. The young officer looked at the sky, which +was still glowing bright with the sun, which had about an hour and +a-half to run ere it reached the horizon. + +"In an hour, Mr. Mowle," replied the officer: "there will be time +enough. Make all your own arrangements in the meanwhile." + +"But, sir, if you have to send to Folkestone?" said Mowle. "You +misunderstood me, I think." + +"No, no," answered the colonel, "I did not. You misunderstood me. Come +back in an hour.--If you show haste or anxiety, you will put the enemy +on his guard." + +After having said these few words in a low tone, he entered the house, +gave some orders to the soldiers, several of whom sauntered away +slowly to their quarters, as if the business of the day were over; and +then, proceeding to his own room, he rang the bell and ordered dinner. + +"I thought there was a bit of a bustle, sir?" said the landlord, +inquiringly, as he put the first dish upon the table. + +"Oh dear, no," replied the colonel. "Did you mean about these men who +have escaped?" + +"I didn't know about what, colonel," answered the landlord, "but +seeing Mr. Mowle waiting for you----" + +"You thought it must be about them," added the officer; "but you are +mistaken, my good friend. There is no bustle at all. The men will, +doubtless, soon be taken, one after the other, by the constables. At +all events, that is an affair with which I can have nothing to do." + +The landlord immediately retreated, loaded with intelligence, and +informed two men who were sipping rum-and-water in the tap-room, that +Mowle had come to ask the colonel to help in apprehending "the Major" +and others who had been rescued, and that the colonel would have +nothing to do with it. + +The men finished their grog much more rapidly than they had begun it, +and then walked out of the house, probably to convey the tidings +elsewhere. Now, the town of Hythe is composed, as every one knows, of +one large and principal street nearly at the bottom of the hill, with +several back streets--or perhaps lanes we might call them--running +parallel to the first, and a great number of shorter ones running up +and down the hill, and connecting the principal thoroughfare with +those behind it. Many--nay, I might say most--of the houses in the +main street had, at the time I speak of, a back as well as a front +entrance. They might sometimes have even more than one; for there were +trades carried on in Hythe, as the reader has been made aware, which +occasionally required rapid and secret modes of exit. Nor was the +house in which the young commander of dragoons resided without its +conveniences in this respect; but it happened that Mowle, the officer, +was well acquainted with all its different passages and contrivances; +and consequently he took advantage, on his return at the end of an +hour, of one of the small lanes, which led him by a back way into the +inn. Then ascending a narrow staircase without disturbing anybody, he +made his way to the room he sought, where he found the colonel of the +regiment quietly writing some letters after his brief meal was over. + +"Well, Mr. Mowle!" said the young officer, folding up, and sealing the +note he had just concluded--"now, let me hear what you have +discovered, and where you wish the troops to be." + +"I am afraid, sir, we have lost time," answered Mowle; "for I can't +tell at what time the landing will take place." + +"Not before midnight," replied his companion; "there is no vessel in +sight, and, with the wind at this quarter, they can't be very quick in +their movements." + +"Why, probably not before midnight, sir," answered Mowle; "but there +are not above fifty of your men within ten miles round, and if you've +to send for them to Folkestone and Ashford, and out almost to +Staplehurst, they will have no time to make ready and march; and the +fellows will be off into the Weald before we can catch them." + +The young officer smiled: "Then you think fifty men will not be +enough?" he asked. + +"Not half enough," answered Mowle, beginning to set down his companion +as a person of very little intellect or energy--"why, from what I +hear, there will be some two or three hundred of these fellows down, +to carry the goods after they are run, and every one of them equal to +a dragoon, at any time." + +"Well, we shall see!" said the young officer, coolly. "You are sure +that Dymchurch is the place?" + +"Why, somewhere thereabouts, sir; and that's a long way off," answered +Mowle; "so if you have any arrangements to make, you had better make +them." + +"They are all made," replied the colonel; "but tell me, Mr. Mowle, +does it not frequently take place that, when smugglers are pursued in +the marsh, they throw their goods into the cuts and canals and creeks +by which it is intersected." + +"To be sure they do, sir," exclaimed the officer; "and they'll do that +to a certainty, if we can't prevent them landing; and, if we attack +them in the Marsh----" + +"To prevent them landing," said the gentleman, "seems to me impossible +in the present state of affairs; and I do not know whether it would be +expedient, even if we could. Your object is to seize the goods, both +for your own benefit and that of the state, and to take as many +prisoners as possible. Now, from what you told me yesterday, I find +that you have no force at sea, except a few miserable boats----" + +"I sent off for the revenue cruiser this morning, sir," answered +Mowle. + +"But she is not come," rejoined the officer; "and, consequently, must +be thrown out of our combinations. If we assemble a large force at any +point of the coast, the smugglers on shore will have warning. They may +easily find means of giving notice of the fact to their comrades at +sea--the landing may be effected at a different point from that now +proposed, and the goods carried clear off before we can reach them. It +seems to me, therefore, better for you to let the landing take place +quietly. As soon as it has taken place, the beacons will be lighted by +my orders; the very fact of a signal they don't understand will throw +the smugglers into some confusion; and they will hurry out of the +Marsh as fast as possible----" + +"But suppose they separate, and all take different roads," said Mowle. + +"Then all, or almost all, the different parties will be met with and +stopped," replied the officer. + +"But your men cannot act without a requisition from the Customs, sir," +answered Mowle, "and they are so devilish cautious of committing +themselves----" + +"But I am not," rejoined the colonel; "and every party along the whole +line has notice that the firing of the beacons is to be taken as a +signal that due requisition has been made, and has orders also to stop +any body of men carrying goods that they may meet with. But I do not +think that these smugglers will separate at all, Mr. Mowle. Their only +chance of safety must seem to them--not knowing how perfectly prepared +we are--to lie in their numbers and their union. While acting +together, their numbers, it appears from your account, would be +sufficient to force any one post opposed to them, according to the +arrangements which they have every reason to believe still exist; and +they will not throw away that chance. It is, therefore, my belief that +they will make their way out of the Marsh in one body. After that, +leave them to me. I will take the responsibility upon myself." + +"Very well, colonel--very well!" said Mowle; "if you are ready without +my knowing anything about it, all the better. Only the fellow I sent +you brought back word something about Folkestone." + +"That was merely because I did not like the man's look," replied the +young officer, "and thought you would understand that a message sent +you in so public a manner, upon a business which required secrecy, +must not be read in its direct sense." + +"Oh, I see, colonel--I see," cried the officer of Customs; "it was +stupid enough not to understand. All my people are ready, however; and +if we could but discover the hour the run is to be made, we should +have a pretty sure game of it." + +"Cannot the same person who gave you so much intelligence, give you +that also?" asked his companion. + +"Why, no; either the imp can't, or he wont," said Mowle. "I had to pay +him ten pounds for what tidings I got, for the little wretch is as +cunning as Satan." + +"Are you sure the intelligence was correct?" demanded the officer of +dragoons. + +"Oh yes, sir," replied Mowle. "His tidings have always been quite +right; and besides, I've the means of testing this myself; for he told +me where they are to meet--at least a large party of them--before +going down to the shore. I've a very great mind to disguise myself, +and creep in among them." + +"A very hazardous experiment, I should think," said the colonel; "and +I do not see any object worth the risk." + +"Why, the object would be to get information of the hour," answered +Mowle. "If we could learn that, some time before, we could have +everything ready, and have them watched all through the Marsh." + +"Well, you must use your own judgment in that particular!" answered +the young officer; "but I tell you, I am quite prepared myself; and +such a large body as you have mentioned cannot cross a considerable +extent of country without attracting attention." + +"Well, I'll see, sir--I'll see," answered Mowle; "but had I not better +send off two or three officers towards Dymchurch, to give your men +notice as soon as the goods are landed?" + +"Undoubtedly," answered the colonel. "There's a party at New Romney, +and a party at Burmarsh. They both have their orders, and as soon as +they have intimation, will act upon them. I would have enough men +present, if I were you, to watch the coast well, but with strict +orders to do nothing to create alarm." + +Some minor arrangements were then entered into, of no great importance +to the tale; and Mowle took his leave, after having promised to give +the colonel the very first intimation he received of the farther +proceedings of the smugglers. + +The completion of his own arrangements took the Custom-House officer +half an hour more, and at the end of that time he returned to his own +dwelling, and sat down for a while, to think over the next step. He +felt a strong inclination to visit the meeting place of the smugglers +in person. He was, as we have shown, a man of a daring and adventurous +disposition, strong in nerve, firm in heart, and with, perhaps, too +anxious a sense of duty. Indeed, he was rather inclined to be rash +than otherwise, from the apprehension of having anything like fear +attributed to him in the execution of the service he had undertaken; +but still he could not shut his eyes to the fact that the scheme he +meditated was full of peril to himself. The men amongst whom he +proposed to venture were lawless, sanguinary, and unscrupulous; and, +if discovered, he had every reason to believe that his life would be +sacrificed by them without the slightest hesitation or remorse. He was +their most persevering enemy; he had spared them on no occasion; and +although he had dealt fairly by them, yet many of those who were +likely to be present, had suffered severe punishment at his +instigation and by his means. He hesitated a little, and called to +mind what the colonel had said regarding the hazard of the act, and +the want of sufficient object; but then, suddenly starting up, he +looked forward with a frowning brow, exclaiming, "Why, hang it, I'm +not afraid! I'll go, whatever befals me. It's my duty not to leave any +chance for information untried. That young fellow is mighty cool about +the business; and if these men get off, it shall not be any fault of +mine." + +Thus saying, he lighted a candle, and went into an adjoining room, +where, from a large commode, filled with a strange medley of different +dresses and implements, he chose out a wagoner's frock, a large pair +of leathern leggings, or gaiters, and a straw hat, such as was very +commonly used at that time amongst the peasantry of England. After +gazing at them for a moment or two, and turning them over once or +twice, he put them on, and then, with a pair of sharp scissors, cut +away, in a rough and unceremonious fashion, a considerable quantity of +his black hair, which was generally left rough and floating. High up +over his neck, and round his chin, he tied a large blue handkerchief, +and when thus completely accoutred, gave himself a glance in the +glass, saying, "I don't think I should know myself." + +He seemed considerably reassured at finding himself so completely +disguised; and then looking at his watch, and perceiving that the hour +named for the meeting was approaching, he put a brace of pistols in +his breast, where they could be easily reached through the opening in +front of the smock-frock. + +He had already reached the door, when something seemed to strike +him; and saying to himself--"Well, there's no knowing what may +happen!--it's better to prepare against anything," he turned back to +his sitting-room, and wrote down on a sheet of paper: + + +"Sir,--I am gone up to see what they are about. If I should not be +back by eleven, you may be sure they have caught me, and then you must +do your best with Birchett and the others. If I get off, I'll call in +as I come back, and let you know. + + "Sir, your very obedient servant, + + "William Mowle." + + +As soon as this was done, he folded the note up, addressed, and sealed +it; and then, blowing the light out, he called an old female servant +who had lived in his house for many years, and whom he now directed to +carry the epistle to the colonel of dragoons who was up at the inn, +adding that she was to deliver it with her own hand. + +The old woman took it at once; and knowing well, how usual it was for +the Custom-House officers to disguise their persons in various ways, +she took no notice of the strange change in Mr. Mowle's appearance, +though it was so complete that it could not well escape her eyes, even +in the darkness which reigned throughout the house. + +This having been all arranged, and the maid on her way to convey the +letter, Mowle himself walked slowly forward through the long narrow +lanes at the back of the town, and along the path up towards Saltwood. +It was dusk when he set out, but not yet quite dark; and as he went, +he met two people of the town, whom he knew well, but who only replied +to the awkward nod of the head which he gave them, by saying, "Good +night, my man," and walked on, evidently unconscious that they were +passing an acquaintance. + +As he advanced, however, the night grew darker and more dark; and a +fog began to rise, though not so thick as that of the night before. +Mowle muttered to himself, as he observed it creeping up the hill from +the side of the valley, "Ay, this is what the blackguards calculated +upon, and they are always sure to be right about the weather; but it +will serve my turn as well as theirs;" and on he went in the direction +of the castle, keeping the regular road by the side of the hill, and +eschewing especially the dwelling of Galley Ray and her grandson. + +Born in that part of the country, and perfectly well prepared, both to +find his way about every part of the ruins, and to speak the dialect +of the county in its broadest accent, if he should be questioned, the +darkness was all that he could desire; and it was with pleasure that +he found the obscurity so deep that even he could not see the large +stones which at that time lay in the road, causing him to stumble more +than once as he approached the castle. He was in some hope, indeed, of +reaching the ruins before the smugglers began to assemble, and of +finding a place of concealment whence he could overhear their sayings +and doings; but in this expectation, he discovered, as he approached +the walls, that he should be disappointed; for in the open road +between the castle and the village, he found a number of horses tied, +and two men watching. He trudged on past them, however, with a slow +step and a slouching gait; and when one of the men called out, "Is +that you, Jack?" he answered, "Ay, ay!" without stopping. + +At the gate of the court he heard a good many voices talking within; +and, it must be acknowledged, that, although as brave a man as ever +lived, he was not without a strong sense of the dangers of his +situation. But he suffered it not to master him in the least; and +advancing resolutely, he soon got the faint outline of several groups +of men--amounting in the whole to about thirty--assembled on the green +between the walls and the keep. Walking resolutely up to one of these +little knots, he looked boldly amongst the persons it comprised as if +seeking for somebody. Their faces could scarcely be distinguished; but +the voices of one or two who were talking together, showed him that +the group was a hazardous one, as it contained several of the most +notorious smugglers of the neighbourhood, who had but too good cause +to be well acquainted with his person and his tongue. He went on, +consequently, to the next little party, which he soon judged, from the +conversation he overheard, to be principally composed of strangers. +One man spoke of how they did those things in Sussex, and told of how +he had aided to haul up, Heaven knows how many bales of goods over the +bare face of the cliff between Hastings and Winchelsea. Judging, +therefore, that he was here in security, the officer attached himself +to this group, and, after a while, ventured to ask, "Do ye know what's +to be the hour, about?" + +The man he spoke to answered "No!" adding that, they could not tell +anything "till the gentleman came." This, however, commenced a +conversation, and Mowle was speedily identified with that group, +which, consisting entirely of strangers, as he had supposed, did not +mingle much with the rest. Every one present was armed; and he found +that though some had come on foot like himself, the greater part had +journeyed on horseback. He had a good opportunity also of learning +that, notwithstanding every effort made by the Government, the system +of smuggling was carried on along the coast to a much greater extent +than even he himself had been aware of. Many of his brother officers +were spoken of in high terms of commendation, which did not sound very +satisfactory to his ears; and many a hint for his future operations, +he gained from the gossip of those who surrounded him. + +Still time wore on, and he began to be a little uneasy lest he should +be detained longer than the hour which he had specified in his note to +the colonel of dragoons. But at length, towards ten o'clock, the quick +tramping of a number of horses were heard, and several voices +speaking; and a minute after, five or six and twenty men entered the +grass court, and came up hastily to the rest. + +"Now, are you all ready?" cried a voice, which Mowle instantly +recognised as that of young Radford. + +"Yes, we've been waiting these two hours," answered one of those in +the group which the officer had first approached; "but you'll never +have enough here, sir." + +"Never you mind that," rejoined Richard Radford, "there are eighty +more at Lympne, and a good number down at Dymchurch already, +with plenty of horses. Come, muster, muster, and let us be off, +for the landing will begin at one, and we have a good long way to +go.--Remember, every one," he continued, raising his voice, "that +the way is by Butter's Bridge, and then down and along the shore. If +any one takes the road by Burmarsh he will fall in with the dragoons. +Troop off, my men, troop off. You Ned, and you Major, see that the +court is quite cleared; we must have none lagging behind." + +This precaution did not at all disconcert our good friend Mowle, for +he judged that he should very easily find the means of detaching +himself from the rest, at the nearest point to Hythe; and accordingly +he walked on with the party he had joined, till they arrived at the +spot where they had seen the horses tied. There, however, the greater +part mounted, and the others joined a different body, which Mowle was +well aware was not quite so safe; for acting as the chief thereof, and +looking very sharply after his party too, was no other than our friend +the Major. Mowle now took good care to keep silence--a prudent step, +which was enjoined upon them all by Mr. Radford and some others, who +seemed to have the direction of the affair. But notwithstanding every +care, the tread of so many men and so many horses made a considerable +noise; and just as they were passing a small cottage, not a quarter of +a mile from Saltwood, the good dame within opened the door to see what +such a bustle could be about. As she did so, the light from the +interior fell full upon Mowle's face, and the eyes of the Major, +turned towards the door at the same moment, rested upon him for an +instant, and were then withdrawn. It were vain to say, that the worthy +officer felt quite as comfortable at that moment as if he had been in +his own house; but when no notice was taken, he comforted himself with +the thought that his disguise had served him well, and trudged on with +the rest, without showing any hesitation or surprise. About half a +mile farther lay the turning which he proposed to take to reach Hythe; +and he contrived to get over to the left side of the party, in order +to drop off in that direction unperceived. When he was within ten +steps of it, however, and was congratulating himself that the party, +having scattered a little, gave him greater facilities for executing +his scheme, an arm was familiarly thrust through his own, and a pair +of lips, close to his ear, said in a low, but very distinct tone, "I +know you--and if you attempt to get off, you are a dead man! Continue +with the party, and you are safe. When the goods are landed and gone, +you shall go; but the least suspicious movement before, shall bring +twenty bullets into your head. You did me a good turn yesterday +morning before the Justices, in not raking up old offences; and I am +willing to do you a good turn now; but this is all I can do for you." + +Mowle turned round, well knowing the voice, nodded his head, and +walked on with the rest in the direction of Lympne. + + + + + CHAPTER VI. + + +Towards half-past ten o'clock at night, the Inn at Hythe was somewhat +quieter than it had been on the evening before. This was not a punch +club night; there was no public dinner going forward; a great many +accustomed guests were absent, and the house was left nearly vacant of +all visitors, except the young commandant of the dragoons, his two or +three servants, and three stout-looking old soldiers, who had come in +about ten, and taken possession of the tap-room, in their full +uniform, scaring away, as it would seem, a sharp-looking man, who had +been previously drinking there in solitude, only cheered by the +occasional visits and brief conversation of the landlord. The officer +himself was up stairs in his room, with a soldier at his door, as +usual, and was supposed by all the household to be busy writing; but, +in the meanwhile, there was a good deal of bustle in the stables; and +about a quarter before eleven, the ostler came in, and informed the +landlord, that they were saddling three of the colonel's horses, and +his two grooms' horses. + +"Saddling three!" cried the host; "why, he can't ride three horses at +once, anyhow; and where can he be going to ride to-night? I must run +and see if I can pump it out of the fellows;" and away he walked +to the stables, where he found the men--two grooms, and two +helpers--busily engaged in the occupation which the ostler had stated. + +"Ah," said the landlord, "so there is something going on to-night?" + +"Not that I know of," answered the head groom. "Tie down that holster, +Bill. The thongs are loose--don't you see?" + +"Oh, but there must be something in the wind," rejoined the landlord, +"the colonel wouldn't ride out so late else." + +"Lord bless you!" replied the man, "little you know of his ways. Why, +sometimes he'll have us all up at two or three in the morning, just to +visit a post of perhaps twenty men. He's a smart officer, I can tell +you; and no one must be caught napping in his regiment, that's +certain." + +"But you have saddled three horses for him!" said the landlord, +returning to his axiom; "and he can't ride three at once, any how." + +"Ay, but who can tell which he may like to ride?" rejoined the groom, +"we shan't know anything about that, till he comes into the stable, +most likely." + +"And where is he going to, to-night?" asked the landlord. + +"We can't tell that he's going anywhere," answered the man; "but if he +does, I should suppose it would be to Folkestone. The major is away on +leave, you know; and it is just as likely as not, that he'll go over +to see that all's right there." + +The worthy host was not altogether satisfied with the information he +received; but as he clearly saw that he should get no more, he +retired, and went into the tap, to try the dragoons, without being +more successful in that quarter than he had been in the stables. + +In the meantime, his guest up stairs had finished his letters--had +dressed himself in uniform--armed himself, and laid three brace of +pistols, charged, upon the table, for the holsters of his saddles; and +then taking a large map of the county, he leaned over it, tracing the +different roads, which at that time intersected the Weald of Kent. Two +or three times he took out his watch; and as the hour of eleven drew +near, he began to feel considerable alarm for the fate of poor Mowle. + +"If they discover him, they will murder him, to a certainty," he +thought; "and I believe a more honest fellow does not live.--It was a +rash and foolish undertaking. The measures I have adopted could not +fail.--Hark! there is the clock striking. We must lose no more time. +We may save him yet, or at all events, avenge him." He then called the +soldier from the door, and sent off a messenger to the house of the +second officer of Customs, named Birchett, who came up in a few +minutes. + +"Mr. Birchett," said the colonel, "I fear our friend Mowle has got +himself into a scrape;" and he proceeded to detail as many of the +circumstances as were necessary to enable the other to comprehend the +situation of affairs; and ended by asking, "Are you prepared to act in +Mr. Mowle's absence?" + +"Oh, yes, sir," answered Birchett. "Mowle did not tell me the +business; but he said, I must have my horse saddled. He was always a +close fellow, and kept all the intelligence to himself." + +"In this case it was absolutely necessary," replied the colonel; "but +without any long explanations, I think you had better ride down +towards Dymchurch at once, with all the men you can trust, keeping as +sharp a look-out as you can on the coast, and sending me information +the moment you receive intelligence that the run has been effected. Do +not attempt to attack the smugglers without sufficient force; but +despatch two men by different roads, to intimate the fact to me at +Aldington Knowle, where I shall be found throughout the night." + +"Ay, sir," answered the officer, "but suppose the fellows take along +by Burmarsh, and so up to Hardy Pool. They will pass you, and be off +into the country before anything can be done." + +"They will be stopped at Burmarsh," replied the colonel; "orders have +been given to barricade the road at nightfall, and to defend the +hamlet against any one coming from the sea. I shall establish another +post at Lympne as I go. Leave all that to me." + +"But you must have a requisition, sir, or I suppose you are not +authorized to act," said the officer. "I will get one for you in a +minute." + +"I have one," answered the Colonel, laying hand on the papers before +him; "but even were it not so, I should act on my own responsibility. +This is no ordinary case, Mr. Birchett. All you have to do is to ride +off towards Dymchurch as fast as you can, to give me notice that the +smugglers have landed their goods as soon as you find that such is the +case, and to add any information that you can gain respecting the +course they have taken. Remember, not to attack them unless you find +that you have sufficient force, but follow and keep them in sight as +far as you can." + +"It's such a devilish foggy night, sir," said Birchett. + +"It will be clearer inland," replied the young officer; "and we shall +catch them at day break. We can only fail from want of good +information; so see that I have the most speedy intelligence. But +stay--lest anything should go wrong, or be misunderstood with regard +to the beacons, you may as well, if you have men to spare, send off as +you pass, after the run has been effected, to the different posts at +Brenzet, at Snave, at Ham Street, with merely these words, 'The goods +are landed. The smugglers are at such a place.' The parties will act +upon the orders they have already received. Now away, and lose no +time!" + +The riding officer hurried off, and the colonel of the regiment +descended to the court-yard. In three minutes more the sound of a +trumpet was heard in the streets of Hythe, and in less than ten, a +party of about thirty dragoons were marching out of the town towards +Lympne. A halt for about five minutes was made at the latter place, +and the small party of soldiers was diminished to about half its +number. Information, too, was there received, from one of the +cottagers, of a large body of men (magnified in his account into three +or four hundred) having gone down into the marshes about half an hour +before; but the commanding officer made no observation in reply, and +having given the orders he thought necessary, rode on towards +Aldington. The fog was thick in all the low ground, but cleared away a +good deal upon the more elevated spots; and as they were rising one of +the hills, the Serjeant who was with the party exclaimed, "There is +something very red up there, sir! It looks as if there were a beacon +lighted up, if we could see it for the fog." + +The young officer halted for a moment, looked round, and then rode on +till he reached the summit of the hill, whence a great light, clearly +proceeding from a beacon, was discovered to the north-east. + +"That must be near Postling," he said. "We have no party there. It +must be some signal of their own." And as he rode on, he thought, "It +is not impossible that poor Mowle's rashness may have put these men on +their guard, and thus thwarted the whole scheme. That is clearly some +warning to their boats." + +But ere a quarter of an hour more had passed, he saw the probability +of still more disastrous effects, resulting from the lighting of the +beacon on Tolsford Hill; for another flame shot up, casting a red +glare through the haze from the side of Burmarsh, and then another and +another, till the dim air seemed all tinged with flame. + +"An unlucky error," he said to himself. "Serjeant Jackson should have +known that we have no party in that quarter; and the beacons were only +to be lighted, from the first towards Hythe. It is very strange how +the clearest orders are sometimes misunderstood." + +He rode on, however, at a quick pace, till he reached Aldington +Knowle, and had found the highest ground in the neighbourhood, whence, +after pausing for a minute or two to examine the country, as marked +out by the various fires, he dispatched three of the dragoons in +different directions, with orders to the parties in the villages round +to disregard the lights they saw, and not to act upon the orders +previously given, till they received intimation that the smugglers +were on the march. + +It was now about midnight, and during nearly two hours the young +officer remained stationed upon the hill without any one approaching, +or any sound breaking the stillness of the night but the stamping of +the horses of his little force and the occasional clang of the +soldiers' arms. At the end of that period, the tramp of horse coming +along the road at a quick pace from the side of Hythe, was heard by +the party on the more elevated ground at a little distance from the +highway. There was a tightening of the bridle and a movement of the +heel amongst the men, to bring their chargers into more regular line; +but not a word was said, and the colonel remained in front, with his +arms crossed upon his chest and his rein thrown down, while what +appeared from the sound to be a considerable body of cavalry, passed +before him. He could not see them, it is true, from the darkness of +the night; but his ear recognised in a moment the jingling of the +dragoons' arms, and he concluded rightly, that the party consisted of +the company which he had ordered from Folkestone down to Bilsington. +As soon as they had gone on, he detached a man to the next cross road +on the same side, with orders, if he perceived any body of men coming +across from the side of the Marsh, to ride forward at once to the +officer in command at Bilsington, and direct him to move to the north, +keeping the Priory wood on the right, till he reached the cross-roads +at the corner, and wait there for further orders. The beacons had by +this time burnt out; and all remained dark and still for about half an +hour more, when the quick galloping of a horse was heard coming from +the side of the Marsh. A pause took place as soon as the animal +reached the high road, as if the rider had halted to look for some one +he had expected; and--dashing down instantly through the gate of the +field, which had been opened by the dragoons to gain the highest point +of ground--the young officer exclaimed, "Who goes there?" + +"Ah, colonel, is that you?" cried the voice of Birchett. "They are +coming up as fast as they can come, and will pass either by Bilsington +or Bonnington. There's a precious lot of them--I never saw such a +number gathered before. Mowle's gone, poor fellow, to a certainty; for +we've seen nothing of him down there." + +"Nor I either," answered the young officer, with a sigh. "I hope you +have left men to watch them, Mr. Birchett." + +"Oh yes, sir," replied the officer. "I thought it better to come up +myself, than trust to any other. But I left Clinch and the rest there, +and sent off, as you told me, to all your posts." + +"You are sure they will come by Bilsington or Bonnington, and not +strike off by Kitsbridge, towards Ham Street or Warehorn?" demanded +the young officer. + +"If they do, they'll have to turn all the way back," answered +Birchett; "for I saw them to the crossing of the roads, and then came +across by Sherlock's Bridges and the horse-road to Hurst." + +"And are you quite sure," continued the colonel, "that your messengers +will reach the parties at Brenzet or Snave?" + +"Quite, sir," answered the Custom-House officer; "for I did not send +them off till the blackguards had passed, and the country behind was +clear." + +"That was judicious; and we have them," rejoined the young officer. "I +trust they may take by Bonnington; but it will be necessary to +ascertain the fact. You shall go down, Mr. Birchett, yourself, with +some of the troopers, and reconnoitre. Go as cautiously as possible; +and if you see or hear them passing, fall back quietly. If they do not +appear in reasonable time, send me intelligence. You can calculate the +distances better than I can." + +"I believe they will go by Bonnington," said the Customs officer; "for +it's much shorter, and I think they must know of your party at +Bilsington; though, to be sure, they could easily force that, for it +is but a sergeant's guard." + +"You are mistaken," answered the colonel. + +"Captain Irby is there with his troop; and, together with the parties +moving up, on a line with the smugglers from the Marsh, he will have a +hundred and fifty men, either in Bilsington, or three miles in his +rear. Nevertheless, we must give him help, in case they take that +road; so you had better ride down at once, Mr. Birchett." + +And, ordering three of the privates to accompany the Custom-House +officer, with renewed injunctions to caution and silence, he resumed +his position on the hill, and waited in expectation of the result. + + + + + CHAPTER VII. + + +The cottages round Dymchurch, and the neighbourhood of the Gut, as it +is called, showed many a cheerful light about eleven o'clock, on the +night of which we have just been speaking; and, as the evening had +been cold and damp, it seemed natural enough to the two officers of +Customs stationed in the place--or at least they chose to think +so--that the poor people should have a fire to keep them warm. If they +had judged it expedient to go forth, instead of remaining in the house +appropriated to them, they might indeed have discovered a fragrant +odour of good Hollands, and every now and then a strong smell of +brandy, issuing from any hovel door that happened to open as they +passed. But the two officers did not judge it expedient to go forth; +for it was late, they were warm and comfortable where they were, a +good bowl of punch stood before them, and one of them, as he ladled +out the exhilarating liquor to the other, remarked, with philosophical +sagacity, "It's such a foggy night, who the deuce could see anything +on the water even if they went to look for it?" + +The other laughed, with a meaning wink of his eye, and perfectly +agreed in the justice of his companion's observation. "Well, we must +go out, Jim, about twelve," he said, "just to let old Mowle see that +we are looking about; but you can go down to High Nook, and I can +pretend I heard something suspicious in the Marsh, farther up. +Otherwise, we shall be broke, to a certainty." + +"I don't care, if I am broke," answered the other. "I've got all that +I want now, and can set up a shop." + +"Well, I should like to hold on a little longer," replied his more +prudent companion; "and besides, if they found us out, they might do +worse than discharge us." + +"But how the deuce should they find us out?" asked the other. "Nobody +saw me speak to the old gentleman; and nobody saw you. I didn't: nor +did you see me. So we can say nothing, and nobody else can say +anything--I shan't budge." + +"Well, I shall!" said the other. "'Tis but a walk; and you know quite +well, Jim, that if we keep to the westward, it's all safe." + +It was evident to the last speaker that his comrade had drunk quite +enough punch; but still they went on till the bowl was finished; and +then, the one going out, the other did not choose to remain, but +issued forth also, cursing and growling as he went. The murmur of a +good many voices to the eastward of Dymchurch saluted their ears the +moment they quitted the house; but that sound only induced them to +hasten their steps in the opposite direction. + +The noise which produced this effect upon the officers, had also been +heard by another person, who was keeping his solitary watch on the low +shore, three or four hundred yards from the village; and to him it was +a pleasant sound. He had been on the look-out there for nearly two +hours; and no sight had he seen, nor sound had he heard, but the water +coming up as the tide made, and every now and then driving him further +back to avoid the ripple of the wave. Two or three minutes after, a +step could be distinguished; and some one gave a whistle. + +The watcher whistled in return; and the next instant he was joined by +another person, somewhat taller than himself, who inquired, "Have you +heard anything of them yet?" + +"No, sir," answered the man, in a respectful tone. "Everything has +been as still and as sleepy as an old woman's cat." + +"Then what the devil's the meaning of these fires all over the +country?" asked young Radford; for he it was who had come down. + +"Fires, sir?" said the man. "Why they were to light one upon Tolsford +Hill, when Harding sent up the rockets; but I have heard of none but +that, and have seen none at all." + +"Why, they are blazing all over the country," cried young Radford, +from Tolsford to Dungeness. "If it's any of our people that have done +it, they must be mad." + +"Well, if they have lighted the one at Tolsford,"' answered the man, +"we shall soon have Tom Hazlewood down to tell us more; for he was to +set off and gallop as fast as possible, whenever he saw anything." + +Young Radford made no reply, but stood musing in silence for two or +three minutes; and then starting, he exclaimed, "Hark! wasn't that a +cheer from the sea?" + +"I didn't hear it," answered the man; "but I thought I heard some one +riding." + +Young Radford listened; but all seemed still for a moment, till, +coming upon harder ground, a horse's feet sounded distinctly. + +"Tom Hazlewood, I think," cried Radford. "Run up, and see, Bill!" + +"He'll come straight down here, sir," replied the man; "he knows where +to find me." And almost as he spoke, a man on horseback galloped up, +saying, "They must be well in shore now." + +"Who the devil lighted all those fires?" exclaimed young Radford. "Why +they will alarm the whole country!" + +"I don't know, sir," answered the man on horseback; "I lighted the one +at Tolsford, but I've nothing to do with the others, and don't know +who lighted them." + +"Then you saw the rockets?" demanded the young gentleman. + +"Quite clear, sir," replied Hazlewood; "I got upon the highest point +that I could find, and kept looking out over the sea, thinking I +should see nothing; for though it was quite clear up so high, and the +stars shining as bright as possible, yet all underneath was like a +great white cloud rolled about; but suddenly, as I was looking over +this way, I saw something like a star shoot up from the cloud and +burst into a thousand bright sparks, making quite a blaze all round +it; and then came another, and then another. So, being quite sure that +it was Jack Harding at sea, I ran down as hard as I could to where I +had left Peter by the pile of wood and the two old barrels, and taking +the candle out of his lantern, thrust it in. As soon as it was in a +blaze, I got outside my horse and galloped down; for he could not be +more than two or three miles out when I saw the rockets." + +"Then he must be close in now," answered Richard Radford; "and we had +better get all the men down, and spread out." + +"There will be time enough, sir, I should think," observed the man on +foot, "for he'll get the big boats in, as near as he can, before he +loads the little ones." + +"I will fire a pistol, to let him know where we are," answered young +Radford; and drawing one from his belt, he had cocked it, when the man +on foot stopped him, saying, "There are two officers in Dymchurch, you +know, sir, and they may send off for troops." + +"Pooh--nonsense!" replied Richard Radford, firing the pistol in the +air; "do you think we would have left them there, if we were not sure +of them?" + +In somewhat less than a minute, a distinct cheer was heard from the +sea; and at the sound of the pistol, a crowd of men and horses, which +in the mist and darkness seemed innumerable, began to gather down upon +the shore, as near to the water's edge as they could come. A great +many lanterns were produced, and a strange and curious sight it was to +see the number of wild-looking faces which appeared by that dim, +uncertain light. + +"Ned Ramley!" cried young Radford. + +"Here I am, sir," answered a voice close at hand. + +"Where's the Major?" + +"Major! Major!" shouted Ramley. + +"Coming," answered a voice at some distance. "Stand by him, and do as +I told you!" + +"What's the matter?" demanded Richard Radford, as the Major came up. + +"Oh, nothing, sir!" replied the other; "only a man I found larking +about. He says he's willing to help; but I thought it best to set a +watch upon him, as I don't know him." + +"That was right," said the young gentleman. "But, hark!--there are the +oars!" And the sound of the regular sweep, and the shifting beat of +the oar against the rowlocks, was distinctly heard by all present. +Some of the men waded down into the water, there being very little sea +running, and soon, through the mist, six boats of a tolerable size +could be seen pulling hard towards the land. In another moment, amidst +various cries and directions, they touched the shore. Several men +jumped out of each into the water, and a number of the party which had +come down to meet them, running in, caught hold of the ropes that were +thrown out of the boats, and with marvellous rapidity they were drawn +up till they were high and dry. + +"Ah, Harding, is that you?" said young Radford, addressing the +smuggler, who had been steering the largest boat. "This is capitally +managed. You are even earlier than I expected; and we shall get far +into the country before daylight." + +"We were obliged to use the sweeps, sir," said Harding, bluntly; "but +don't let's talk. Get the things out, and load the horses; for we +shall have to make two more trips back to the luggers before they are +all cleared." + +Everything was now bustle and activity; a number of bales and packages +were taken out of the boats and placed upon the horses in one way or +another, not always the most convenient to the poor animals; and as +soon as Harding had made Mr. Radford count the number of the articles +landed, the boats were launched off again to some larger vessels, +which it seems were lying out at a little distance, though +indiscernible in the fog. + +Harding himself remained ashore; and turning to one or two of those +about him, he asked, "What was all that red blaze I saw half over the +country?" + +"None of us can tell," answered young Radford. "The moment the fire at +Tolsford was lighted, a dozen more were flaming up, all along to +Dungeness." + +"That's devilish strange!" said Harding. "It does not look well.--How +many men have you got with you, Mr. Radford?" + +"Why, well nigh upon two hundred," answered Ned Ramley, for his +comrade. + +"Ah, then you'll do," answered Harding, with a laugh; "but still you +won't be the worse for some more. So I and some of the lads will see +you safe across the Marsh. The Customs have got nothing at sea about +here; so the boats will be safe enough." + +"Thank you, Harding--thank you, Jack;" said several of the voices. +"Once out of the Marsh, with all these ditches and things, and we +shall do very well. How far are the luggers off?" + +"Not a hundred fathom," answered Harding. "I would have run them +ashore if there had been any capstan here to have drawn them up. But +they wont be a minute, so have every thing ready. Move off those +horses that are loaded, a bit, my lads, and bring up the others." + +Harding's minute, however, extended to nearly ten, and then the boats +were again perceived approaching, and the same process was followed as +before. The third trip was then made with equal success and ease. Not +the slightest difficulty occurred, not the slightest obstruction was +offered; the number of packages was declared to be complete, the +horses were all loaded, and the party began to move off in a long +line, across the Marsh, like a caravan threading the mazes of the +desert. + +Leaving a few men with the boats that were ashore, Harding and the +rest of the seamen, with Mr. Radford, and several of his party, +brought up the rear of the smugglers, talking over the events which +had taken place, and the course of their farther proceedings. All +seemed friendly and good-humoured; but there is such a thing as +seeming, even amongst smugglers, and if Harding could have seen the +real feelings of some of his companions towards him, it is very +probable that he would not have given himself the trouble to accompany +them on the way. + +"I will pay you the money when I get to Bonnington," said young +Radford, addressing his companion. "I can't very well get at it till I +dismount." + +"Oh, there's no matter for that, sir," replied the smuggler. "Your +father can pay me some other time.--But what are you going to +Bonnington for? I should have thought your best way would have been by +Bilsington, and so straight into the Weald. Then you would have had +the woods round about you the greater part of the way; or I don't know +that I might not have gone farther down still, and so by Orleston." + +"There's a party of dragoons at Bilsington," said young Radford, "and +another at Ham Street." + +"Ay, that alters the case," answered the smuggler; "but they are all +so scattered about and so few, I should think they could do you no +great harm. However, it will be best for you to go by Bonnington, if +you are sure there are no troops there." + +"If there are, we must fight: that's all," answered young Radford; and +so ended the conversation for the time. One of those pauses of deep +silence succeeded, which--by the accidental exhaustion of topics and +the recurrence of the mind to the thoughts suggested by what has just +passed--so frequently intervene in the conversation even of great +numbers, whether occupied with light or serious subjects. How often do +we find, amidst the gayest or the busiest assembly, a sudden stillness +pervade the whole, and the ear may detect a pin fall. In the midst of +the silence, however, Harding laid his hand upon young Radford's +bridle, saying, in a low voice, "Hark! do you not hear the galloping +of horses to the east there?" + +The young man, on the first impulse, put his hand to his holster; but +then withdrew it, and listened. "I think I do," he answered; "but now +it has stopped." + +"You are watched, I suspect," said Harding; "they did not seem many, +however, and may be afraid to attack you. If I were you, I would put +the men into a quicker pace; for these fellows may gather as they +go.--If you had got such things with you as you could throw into the +cuts, it would not much matter; for you could fight it out here, as +well as elsewhere; but, if I understood your father rightly, these +goods would all be spoiled, and so the sooner you are out of the Marsh +the better. Then you will be safe enough, if you are prudent. You may +have to risk a shot or two; but that does not much matter." + +"And what do you call prudent, Harding?" asked young Radford, in a +wonderfully calm tone, considering his vehement temperament, and the +excitement of the adventure in which he was engaged; "how would you +have me act, when I do get out of the Marsh?" + +"Why, that seems clear enough," replied the smuggler. "I would send +all the goods and the men on foot, first, keeping along the straight +road between the woods; and then, with all those who have got horses, +I would hang behind a quarter of a mile or so, till the others had +time to get on and disperse to the different hides, which ought to be +done as soon as possible. Let a number drop off here, and a number +there--one set to the willow cave, close by Woodchurch hill, another +to the old Priory in the wood, and so on: you still keeping behind, +and facing about upon the road, if you are pursued. If you do that, +you are sure to secure the goods, or by far the greater part of them." + +The advice was so good--as far as young Radford knew of the condition +of the country, and the usual plan of operations which had hitherto +been pursued by the Customs in their pursuit of smugglers--that he +could offer no reasonable argument against it; but when prejudice has +taken possession of a man's mind, it is a busy and skilful framer of +suspicions; and he thought within his own breast, though he did not +speak his intentions aloud, "No! Hang me if I leave the goods till I +see them safe housed. This fellow may want to ruin us, by separating +us into small parties." + +The rest of the party had, by this time, resumed their conversation; +and both Radford and Harding well knew that it would be vain to +attempt to keep them quiet; for they were a rash and careless set, +inclined to do everything with dash and swagger; and although, in the +presence of actual and apparent danger, they could be induced to +preserve some degree of order and discipline, and to show some +obedience to their leaders, yet as soon as the peril had passed away, +or was no longer immediately before their eyes, they were like +schoolboys in the master's absence, and careless of the consequences +which they did not see. Twice Harding said, in a low voice, "I hear +them again to the east, there!" and twice young Radford urged his men +to a quicker pace; but many of them had come far; horses and men were +tired; every one considered that, as the goods were safely landed, and +no opposition shown, the battle was more than half won; and all forgot +the warning of the day before, as man ever forgets the chastisements +which are inflicted by Heaven for his good, and falls the next day +into the very same errors, for the reproof of which they were sent. + +"Now," said Harding, as they approached the spot where the Marsh road +opened upon the highway to Bonnington, "spread some of your men out on +the right and left, Mr. Radford, to keep you clear in case the enemy +wish to make an attack. Your people can easily close in, and follow +quickly, as soon as the rest have passed." + +"If they do make an attack," thought young Radford, "your head shall +be the first I send a ball through;" but the advice was too judicious +to be neglected; and he accordingly gave orders to Ned Ramley and the +Major, with ten men each, to go one or two hundred yards on the road +towards Bilsington on the one hand, and Hurst on the other, and see +that all was safe. A little confusion ensued, as was but natural in so +badly disciplined a body; and in the meanwhile the laden horses +advanced along the road straight into the heart of the country, while +Richard Radford, with the greater part of his mounted men, paused to +support either of his parties in case of attack. He said something in +a low voice regarding the money, to Harding, who replied abruptly, +"There--never mind about that; only look out, and get off as quickly +as you can. You are safe enough now, I think; so good night." + +Thus saying, he turned, and with the six or eight stout fellows who +accompanied him, trod his way back into the Marsh. What passed through +young Radford's brain at that moment it may be needless to dwell upon; +but Harding escaped a peril that he little dreamed of, solely by the +risk of ruin to the whole scheme which a brawl at that spot and moment +must have entailed. + +The men who had been detached to the right, advanced along the road to +the distance specified, proceeding slowly in the fog, and looking +eagerly out before. "Look out," said Ned Ramley, at length, to one of +his companions, taking a pistol from his belt at the same time, "I see +men on horseback there, I think." + +"Only trees in the fog," answered the other. + +"Hush!" cried Ramley, sharply; but the other men were talking +carelessly, and whether it was the sound of retreating horses or not, +that he heard, he could not discover. After going on about three +hundred yards, Ned Ramley turned, saying, "We had better go back now, +and give warning; for I am very sure those were men I saw." + +The other differed with him on that point; and, on rejoining Richard +Radford, they found the Major and his party just come back from the +Bilsington road, but with one man short. "That fellow," said the +Major, "has taken himself off. I was sure he was a spy, so we had +better go on as fast as possible. We shall have plenty of time before +he can raise men enough to follow." + +"There are others to the east, there," replied Ned Ramley. "I saw two +or three, and there is no time to be lost, I say, or we shall have the +whole country upon us. If I were you, Mr. Radford, I'd disperse in as +small numbers as possible whenever we get to the Chequer-tree; and +then if we lose a few of the things, we shall keep the greater +part--unless, indeed, you are minded to stand it out, and have a fight +upon the Green. We are enough to beat them all, I should think." + +"Ay, Ned, that is the gallant way," answered Richard Radford; "but we +must first see what is on before. We must not lose the goods, or risk +them; otherwise nothing would please me better than to drub these +dragoons; but in case it should be dark still when they come near +us--if they do at all--we'll have a blow or two before we have done, I +trust. However, let us forward now, for we must keep up well with the +rest." + +The party moved on at a quick pace, and soon overtook the train of +loaded horses, and men on foot, which had gone on before. Many a time +a glance was given along the road behind, and many a time an attentive +ear was turned listening for the sound of coming horse; but all was +still and silent; and winding on through the thick woods, which at +that time overspread all the country in the vicinity of their course, +and covered their line of advance right and left, they began to lose +the sense of danger, and to suppose that the sounds which had been +heard, and the forms which had been seen, were but mere creations of +the fancy. + +About two miles from the border of Romney Marsh, the mist grew +lighter, fading gradually away as the sea air mingled with the clearer +atmosphere of the country. At times a star or two might be seen above; +and though at that hour the moon gave no light, yet there was a +certain degree of brightening in the sky which made some think they +had miscalculated the hour, and that it was nearer the dawn than they +imagined, while others contended that it was produced merely by the +clearing away of the fog. At length, however, they heard a distant +clock strike four. They were now at a spot where three or four roads +branch off in different directions, at a distance of not more than +half-a-mile from Chequer-tree, having a wide extent of rough, +uncultivated land, called Aldington Freight, on their right, and part +of the Priory wood on their left; and it yet wanted somewhat more than +an hour to the actual rising of the sun. A consultation was then held; +and, notwithstanding some differences of opinion, it was resolved to +take the road by Stonecross Green, where they thought they could get +information from some friendly cottagers, and thence through Gilbert's +Wood towards Shaddoxhurst. At that point, they calculated that they +could safely separate in order to convey the goods to the several +_hides_, or places of concealment, which had been chosen beforehand. + +At Stonecross Green, they paused again, and knocked hard at a cottage +door, till they brought forth the sleepy tenant from his bed. But the +intelligence gained from him was by no means satisfactory; he spoke of +a large party of dragoons at Kingsnorth, and mentioned reports which +had reached him of a small body having shown itself, at Bromley Green, +late on the preceding night; and it was consequently resolved, after +much debate, to turn off before entering Gilbert's Wood, and, in some +degree retreading their steps towards the Marsh, to make for +Woodchurch beacon and thence to Redbrook Street. The distance was thus +rendered greater, and both men and horses were weary; but the line of +road proposed lay amidst a wild and thinly inhabited part of the +country, where few hamlets or villages offered any quarters for the +dragoons. They calculated, too, that having turned the dragoons who +were quartered at Bilsington, they should thus pass between them and +those at Kingsnorth and Bromley Green: and Richard Radford, himself, +was well aware that there were no soldiers, when he left that part of +the country, in the neighbourhood of High Halden or Bethersden. This +seemed, therefore, the only road that was actually open before them; +and it was accordingly taken, after a general distribution of spirits +amongst the men, and of hay and water to the horses. Still their +progress was slow, for the ground became hilly in that neighbourhood, +and by the time they arrived at an elevated spot, near Woodchurch +Beacon, whence they could see over a wide extent of country round, the +grey light of the dawn was spreading rapidly through the sky, showing +all the varied objects of the fair and beautiful land through which +they wandered. + +But it is now necessary to turn to another personage in our history, +of whose fate, for some time, we have had no account. + + + + + CHAPTER VIII. + + +We left our friend, Mr. Mowle, in no very pleasant situation; for +although the generosity of the Major, in neither divulging the +discovery he had made, to the rest of the smugglers, nor blowing the +brains of the intruder out upon the spot, was, perhaps, much more than +could be expected from a man in his situation and of his habits, yet +it afforded no guarantee whatsoever to the unfortunate Custom-House +officer, that his life would not be sacrificed on the very first +danger or alarm. He also knew, that if such an accident were to happen +again, as that which had at first displayed his features to one of +those into whose nocturnal councils he had intruded, nothing on earth +could save him; for amongst the gang by whom he was surrounded, were a +number of men who had sworn to shed his blood on the very first +opportunity. + +He walked along, therefore, as the reader may well conceive, with the +feeling of a knife continually at his throat; and a long and weary +march it seemed to him, as, proceeding by tortuous ways and zig-zag +paths, the smugglers descended into Romney Marsh, and advanced +rapidly towards Dymchurch. Mowle was, perhaps, as brave and daring a +man as any that ever existed; but still the sensation of impending +death can never be very pleasant to a person in strong health, and +well-contented with the earth on which he is placed; and Mowle felt +all the disagreeable points in his situation, exactly as any other man +would do. It would not be just to him, however, were we not to state, +that many other considerations crossed his mind, besides that of his +own personal safety. The first of these was his duty to the department +of government which he served; and many a plan suggested itself for +making his escape here or there, in which he regarded the apprehension +of the smugglers, and the seizure of the goods that they were going to +escort into the country, fully as much as his own life. + +His friend the Major, however, took means to frustrate all such plans, +and seemed equally careful to prevent Mr. Mowle from effecting his +object, and to guard against his being discovered by the other +smugglers. At every turn and corner, at the crossing of every stream +or cut, the Major was by his side; and yet once or twice he whispered +a caution to him to keep out of the way of the lights, more especially +as they approached Dymchurch. When they came near the shore, and a +number of men with lanterns issued forth to aid them from the various +cottages in the vicinity, he told Mowle to keep back with one party, +consisting of hands brought out of Sussex, who were stationed in the +rear with a troop of the horses. But at the same time Mowle heard his +compassionate friend direct two of the men to keep a sharp eye upon +him, as he was a stranger, of whom the leaders were not quite sure, +adding an injunction to blow his brains out at once, if he made the +slightest movement without orders. + +In the bustle and confusion which ensued, during the landing of the +smuggled goods and the loading of the horses, Mowle once or twice +encouraged a hope that something would favour his escape. But the two +men strictly obeyed the orders they had received, remained close to +his side during more than an hour and a half, which was consumed upon +the beach, and never left him till he was rejoined by the Major, who +told him to march on with the rest. + +"What's to come of this?" thought Mowle, as he proceeded, "and what can +the fellow intend to do with me?--If he drags me along with them till +daylight, one half of them will know me; and then the game's up--and +yet he can't mean me harm, either. Well, I may have an opportunity of +repaying him some day." + +When the party arrived at Bonnington, however, and, as we have already +stated, two small bodies were sent off to the right and left, to +reconnoitre the ground on either side, Mowle was one of those selected +by the Major to accompany him on the side of Bilsington. But after +having gone to the prescribed distance, without discovering anything +to create suspicion, the worthy field-officer gave the order to +return; and contriving to disentangle Mowle from the rest, he +whispered in his ear, "Off with you as fast as you can, and take back +by the Marsh, for if you give the least information, or bring the +soldiers upon us, be you sure that some of us will find means to cut +your throat.--Get on, get on fast!" he continued aloud, to the other +men. "We've no time to lose;" and Mowle, taking advantage of the hurry +and confusion of the moment, ran off towards Bilsington as fast as his +legs could carry him. + +"He's off!" cried one of the men. "Shall I give him a shot?" + +"No--no," answered the Major, "it will only make more row. He's more +frightened than treacherous, I believe. I don't think he'll peach." + +Thus saying, he rejoined the main body of the smugglers, as we have +seen; and Mowle hurried on his way without pause, running till he was +quite out of breath. Now, the Major, in his parting speech to Mowle, +though a shrewd man, had miscalculated his course, and mistaken the +person with whom he had to deal. Had he put it to the Custom-House +officer, as a matter of honour and generosity, not to inform against +the person who had saved his life, poor Mowle would have been in a +situation of great perplexity; but the threat which had been used, +relieved him of half the difficulty. Not that he did not feel a +repugnance to the task which duty pointed out--not that he did not ask +himself, as soon as he had a moment to think of anything, "What ought +I to do? How ought I to act?" But still the answer was, that his duty +and his oath required him immediately to take steps for the pursuit +and capture of the smugglers; and when he thought of the menace he +said to himself, "No, no; if I don't do what I ought, these fellows +will only say that I was afraid." + +Having settled the matter in his own mind, he proceeded to execute his +purpose with all speed, and hurried on towards Bilsington, where he +knew there was a small party of dragoons, proposing to send off +messengers immediately to the colonel of the regiment and to all the +different posts around. It was pitch dark, so that he did not perceive +the first houses of the hamlet, till he was within a few yards of +them; and all seemed still and quiet in the place. But after having +passed the lane leading to the church, Mowle heard the stamping of +some horses' feet, and the next instant a voice exclaimed, "Stand! who +goes there?" + +'"A friend!" answered Mowle. "Where's the sergeant?" + +"Here am I," replied another voice. "Who are you? + +"My name is Mowle," rejoined our friend, "the chief officer of Customs +at Hythe." + +"Oh, come along, Mr. Mowle; you are just the man we want," said the +sergeant, advancing a step or two. "Captain Irby is up here, and would +be glad to speak with you." + +Mowle followed in silence, having, indeed, some occasion to set his +thoughts in order, and to recover his breath. About sixty or seventy +yards farther on, a scene broke upon him, which somewhat surprised +him; for, instead of a dozen dragoons at the most, he perceived, on +turning the corner of the next cottage, a body of at least seventy or +eighty men, as well as he could calculate, standing each beside his +horse, whose breath was seen mingling with the thick fog, by the light +of a single lantern held close to the wall of the house which +concealed the party from the Bonnington Road. Round that lantern were +congregated three or four figures, besides that of the man who held +it; and, fronting the approach, was a young gentleman,[2] dressed in +the usual costume of a dragoon officer of that period. Before him +stood another, apparently a private of the regiment; and the light +shone full upon the faces of both, showing a cold, thoughtful, and +inquiring look upon the countenance of the young officer, and anxious +haste upon that of the inferior soldier. + + +--------------------- + +[Footnote 2: It will be seen that I have represented all my officers +as young men, even up to the very colonel of the regiment; but it must +be remembered, that, in those days, promotion in the service was +regulated in a very different manner from the present system. I +remember a droll story, of a visitor at a nobleman's house, inquiring +of the butler what was the cause of an obstreperous roaring he heard +up stairs, when the servant replied, "Oh, sir, it is nothing but the +little general crying for his pap."] + +--------------------- + + +"Here is Mr. Mowle, the chief officer, captain," said the sergeant, as +they advanced. + +"Ha, that is fortunate!" replied Captain Irby. "Now we shall get at +the facts, I suppose. Well, Mr. Mowle, what news?" + +"Why, sir, the cargo is landed," exclaimed Mowle, eagerly; "and the +smugglers passed by Bonnington, up towards Chequer-tree, not twenty +minutes ago." + +"So this man says," rejoined Captain Irby, not the least in the world +in haste. "Have you any fresh orders from the colonel?" + +"No, sir; he said all his orders were given when last I saw him," +replied the officer of Customs; "but if you move up quick towards +Chequer-tree, you are sure to overtake them." + +"How long is it since you saw Sir Henry?" demanded Captain Irby, +without appearing to notice Mowle's suggestion. + +"Oh, several hours ago," answered the Custom-House agent, somewhat +provoked at the young officer's coolness. "I have been kept prisoner +by the smugglers since ten o'clock--but that is nothing to the +purpose, sir. If you would catch the smugglers, you have nothing for +it but to move up to Chequer-tree after them; and that is what I +require you to do." + +"I have my orders," answered the captain of the troop, with a smile at +the impetuous tone of the Custom-House officer, "and if you bring me +none later, those I shall obey, Mr. Mowle." + +"Well, sir, you take the responsibility upon yourself, then," said +Mowle; "I have expressed my opinion, and what I require at your +hands." + +"The responsibility will rest where it ought," replied Captain Irby, +"on the shoulders of him whom I am bound to obey. For your opinion I +am obliged to you, but it cannot be followed; and as to what you +require, I am under superior authority, which supersedes your +requisition." + +He then said a word or two to one of the men beside him, who +immediately proceeded to the body of men behind; but all that Mowle +could hear was "Snave" and "Brenzet," repeated once or twice, with +some mention of Woodchurch and the road by Red Brooke Street. The +order was then given to mount, and march; and Mowle remarked that four +troopers rode off at a quick pace before the rest. + +"Now, Mr. Mowle, we shall want you with us if you please," said +Captain Irby, in a civil tone. "Where is your horse?" + +"Horse!--I have got none;" answered the officer of Customs, a good +deal piqued; "did I not say that I have been a prisoner with the +smugglers for the last five hours? and as to my going with you, sir, I +see no use I can be of, if you do not choose to do what I require, or +follow my advice." + +"Oh, the greatest--the greatest!" replied the young officer, without +losing his temper for an instant, "and as to a horse, we will soon +supply you." + +An order was immediately given; and in three minutes the horse of a +dragoon officer, fully caparisoned, was led up to Mowle's side, who, +after a moment's hesitation, mounted, and rode on with the troop. It +must not be denied that he was anything but satisfied, not alone +because he thought that he was not treated with sufficient +deference--although, having for years been accustomed to be obeyed +implicitly by the small parties of dragoons which had been previously +sent down to aid the Customs, it did seem to him very strange that his +opinions should go for nought--but also because he feared that the +public service would suffer, and that the obstinacy, as he called it, +of the young officer, would enable the smugglers to escape. Still more +was his anxiety and indignation raised, when he perceived the slow +pace at which the young officer proceeded, and that instead of taking +the road which he had pointed out, the party kept the Priory Wood on +the right hand, bearing away from Chequer-tree, to which he had +assured himself that Richard Radford and his party were tending. + +He saw that many precautions were taken, however, which, attributing +them at first to a design of guarding against surprise, he thought +quite unnecessary. Two dragoons were thrown forward at a considerable +distance before the head of the troop; a single private followed about +twenty yards behind them; two more succeeded, and then another, and +last came Captain Irby himself, keeping Mr. Mowle by his side. From +time to time a word was passed down from those who led the advance, +not shouted--but spoken in a tone only loud enough to be heard by the +trooper immediately behind; and this word, for a considerable way, was +merely "All clear!" + +At length, just at the end of the Priory Wood, where a path, coming +from the east, branched off towards Aldington Freight, and two roads +went away to the north and west, the order to halt was given, to the +surprise and consternation of Mr. Mowle, who conceived that the escape +of the smugglers must be an inevitable result. At length a new word +was passed from the head of the line, which was, "On before." But +still the captain of the troop gave no command to march, and the +soldiers sat idle on their horses for a quarter of an hour longer. +Mowle calculated that it must now be at least half past four or five +o'clock. He thought he perceived the approach of day; and though, in +discontented silence, he ventured to say no more, he would have given +all he had in the world to have had the command of the troop for a +couple of hours. His suspense and anxiety were brought to an end at +length; for just as he was assured, by the greyness of the sky, that +the sun would soon rise, a trooper came dashing down the right-hand +path at full speed, and Captain Irby spurred on to meet him. What +passed between them Mowle could not hear; but the message was soon +delivered, the soldier rode back to the east, by the way he came, and +the order to march was immediately given. Instead, however, of taking +the road to Stonecross, the troop directed its course to the west, but +at a somewhat quicker pace than before. Still a word was passed back +from the head of the line; and, after a short time, the troop was put +into a quick trot, Captain Irby sometimes endeavouring to lead his +companion into general conversation upon any indifferent subject, but +not once alluding to the expedition on which they were engaged. Poor +Mowle was too anxious to talk much. He did not at all comprehend the +plan upon which the young officer was acting; but yet he began to see +that there was some plan in operation, and he repeated to himself more +than once, "There must be something in it, that's clear; but he might +as well tell me what it is, I think." + +At length he turned frankly round to his companion, and said, "I see +you are going upon some scheme, Captain. I wish to Heaven you would +tell me what it is; for you can't imagine how anxious I am about this +affair." + +"My good friend," replied Captain Irby, "I know no more of the matter +than you do; so I can tell you nothing about it. I am acting under +orders; and the only difference between you and I is, that you, not +being accustomed to do so, are always puzzling yourself to know what +it all means, while I, being well drilled to such things, do not +trouble my head about it; but do as I am told, quite sure that it will +all go right." + +"Heaven send it!" answered Mowle; "but here it is broad day-light, and +we seem to be going farther and farther from our object every minute." + +As if in answer to his last observation, the word was again passed +down from the front, "On, before!" and Captain Irby immediately halted +his troop for about five minutes. At the end of that time, the march +was resumed, and shortly after the whole body issued out upon the side +of one of the hills, a few miles from Woodchurch. + +The sun was now just risen--the east was glowing with all the hues of +early day--the mist was dispersed or left behind in the neighbourhood +of the Marsh; and a magnificent scene, all filled with golden light, +spread out beneath the eyes of the Custom-House officer. But he had +other objects to contemplate much more interesting to him than the +beauties of the landscape. About three-quarters of a mile in advance, +and in the low ground to the north-west of the hill on which he stood, +appeared a dark, confused mass of men and horses, apparently directing +their course towards Tiffenden; and Mowle's practised eye instantly +perceived that they were the smugglers. At first sight he thought, +"They may escape us yet:" but following the direction in which Captain +Irby's glance was turned, he saw, further on, in the open fields +towards High Halden, a considerable body of horse, whose regular line +at once showed them to be a party of the military. Then turning +towards the little place on his left, called Cuckoo Point, he +perceived, at the distance of about a mile, another troop of dragoons, +who must have marched, he thought, from Brenzet and Appledore. + +The smugglers seemed to become aware, nearly at the same moment, of +the presence of the troops on the side of High Halden; for they were +observed to halt, to pause for a minute or two, then re-tread their +steps for a short distance, and take their way over the side of the +hill, as if tending towards Plurenden or Little Ingham. + +"You should cut them off, sir--you should cut them off!" cried Mowle, +addressing Captain Irby, "or, by Jove, they'll be over the hill above +Brook Street; and then we shall never catch them, amongst all the +woods and copses up there. They'll escape, to a certainty!" + +"I think not, if I know my man," answered Captain Irby, coolly; "and, +at all events, Mr. Mowle, I must obey my orders.--But there he comes +over the hill; so that matter's settled. Now let them get out if they +can.--You have heard of a rat-trap, Mr. Mowle?" + +Mowle turned his eyes in the direction of an opposite hill, about +three-quarters of a mile distant from the spot where he himself stood, +and there, coming up at a rapid pace, appeared an officer in a plain +grey cloak, with two or three others in full regimentals, round him, +while a larger body of cavalry than any he had yet seen, met his eyes, +following their commander about fifty yards behind, and gradually +crowning the summit of the rise, where they halted. The smugglers +could not be at more than half a mile's distance from this party, and +the moment that it appeared, the troops from the side of High Halden +and from Cuckoo Point began to advance at a quick trot, while Captain +Irby descended into the lower ground more slowly, watching, with a +small glass that he carried in his hand, the motions of all the other +bodies, when the view was not cut off by the hedge-rows and copses, as +his position altered. Mowle kept his eyes upon the body of smugglers, +and upon the dragoons on the opposite hill, and he soon perceived a +trooper ride down from the latter group to the former, as if bearing +them some message. + +The next instant, there was a flash or two, as if the smugglers had +fired upon the soldier sent to them; and then, retreating slowly +towards a large white house, with some gardens and shrubberies and +various outbuildings around it, they manifested a design of occupying +the grounds with the intention of there resisting the attack of the +cavalry. A trooper instantly galloped down, at full speed, towards +Captain Irby, making him a sign with his hand as he came near; and the +troop with whom Mowle had advanced instantly received the command to +charge, while the other, from the hill, came dashing down with +headlong speed towards the confused multitude below. + +The smugglers were too late in their man[oe]uvre. Embarrassed with a +large quantity of goods and a number of men on foot; they had not time +to reach the shelter of the garden walls, before the party of dragoons +from the hill was amongst them. But still they resisted with fierce +determination, formed with some degree of order, gave the troopers a +sharp discharge of firearms as they came near, and fought hand to hand +with them, even after being broken by their charge. + +The greater distance which Captain Irby had to advance, prevented his +troop from reaching the scene of strife for a minute or two after the +others; but their arrival spread panic and confusion amongst the +adverse party; and after a brief and unsuccessful struggle, in the +course of which, one of the dragoons was killed, and a considerable +number wounded, nothing was thought of amongst young Radford's band, +but how to escape in the presence of such a force. The goods were +abandoned--all those men who had horses were seen galloping over the +country in different directions; and if any fugitive paused, it was +but to turn and fire a shot at one of the dragoons in pursuit. Almost +every one of the men on foot was taken ere half an hour was over; and +a number of those on horseback were caught and brought back, some +desperately wounded. Several were left dead, or dying, on the spot +where the first encounter had taken place; and amongst the former, +Mowle, with feelings of deep regret, almost approaching remorse, +beheld, as he rode up towards the colonel of the regiment, the body of +his friend, the Major, shot through the head by a pistol-ball. Men of +the Custom-House officer's character, however, soon console themselves +for such things; and Mowle, as he rode on, thought to himself, "After +all, it's just as well! He would only have been hanged--so he's had an +easier death." + +The young officer in the command of the regiment of dragoons was +seated on horseback, upon the top of a little knoll, with some six or +seven persons immediately around him, while two groups of soldiers, +dismounted, and guarding a number of prisoners, appeared a little in +advance. Amongst those nearest to the Colonel, Mowle remarked his +companion, Birchett, who was pointing, with a discharged pistol, +across the country, and saying, "There he goes, sir, there he goes! +I'll swear that is he, on the strong grey horse. I fired at him--I'm +sure I must have hit him." + +"No, you didn't, sir," answered a sergeant of dragoons, who was busily +tying a handkerchief round his own wounded arm. "Your shot went +through his hat." + +The young officer fixed his eyes keenly upon the road leading to +Harbourne, where a man, on horseback, was seen galloping away, at full +speed, with four or five of the soldiers in pursuit. + +"Away after him, Sergeant Miles," he said; "take straight across the +country, with six men of Captain Irby's troop. They are fresher. If +you make haste you will cut him off at the corner of the wood; or if +he takes the road through it, in order to avoid you, leave a couple of +men at Tiffenden corner, and round by the path to the left. The +distance will be shorter for you, and you will stop him at Mrs. +Clare's cottage--a hundred guineas to any one who brings him in." + +His orders were immediately obeyed; and, without noticing Mowle, or +any one else, the colonel continued to gaze after the little party of +dragoons, as, dashing on at the utmost speed of their horses, they +crossed an open part of the ground in front, keeping to the right hand +of the fugitive, and threatening to cut him off from the north side of +the country, towards which he was decidedly tending. Whether, if he +had been able to proceed at the same rate at which he was then going, +they would have been successful in their efforts or not, is difficult +to say; for his horse, though tired, was very powerful, and chosen +expressly for its fleetness. But in a flight and pursuit like that, +the slightest accident will throw the advantage on the one side or the +other; and unfortunately for the fugitive, his horse stumbled, and +came upon its knees. It was up again in a moment, and went on, though +somewhat more slowly; and the young officer observed, in a low tone, +"They will have him.--It is of the utmost importance that he should be +taken.--Ah! Mr. Mowle, is that you? Why, we have given you up for +these many hours. We have been successful, you see; and yet, but half +successful either, if their leader gets away.--You are sure of the +person, Mr. Birchett?" + +"Perfectly, sir," answered the officer of Customs. "I was as near to +him, at one time, as I am now to you; and Mr. Mowle here, too, will +tell you I know him well." + +"Who,--young Radford?" asked Mowle. "Oh yes, that we all do; and +besides, I can tell you, that is he on the grey horse, for I was along +with him the greater part of last night." And Mowle proceeded to +relate succinctly all that had occurred to him from ten o'clock on the +preceding evening. + +The young officer, in the meanwhile, continued to follow the soldiers +with his eyes, commenting, by a brief word or two, on the various +turns taken by the pursuit. + +"He is cut off," he said, in a tone of satisfaction; "the troops, from +Halden, will stop him there.--He is turning to the left, as if he +would make for Tenterden.--Captain Irby, be so good as to detach a +corporal, with as many men as you can spare, to cut him off by Gallows +Green--on the left-hand road, there. Bid them use all speed. Now he's +for Harbourne again! He'll try to get through the wood; but Miles will +be before him." + +He then applied himself to examine the state of his own men and the +prisoners, and paid every humane attention to both, doing the best +that he could for their wounds, in the absence of surgical assistance, +and ordering carts to be procured from the neighbouring farms, to +carry those most severely injured into the village of Woodchurch. The +smuggled goods he consigned to the charge of the Custom-House +officers, giving them, however, a strong escort, at their express +desire; although, he justly observed, that there was but little chance +of any attempt being made by the smugglers to recover what they had +lost. + +"I shall now, Mr. Mowle," he continued, "proceed to Woodchurch, and +remain there for a time, to see what other prisoners are brought in, +and make any farther arrangements that may be necessary; but I shall +be in Hythe, in all probability, before night. The custody of the +prisoners I shall take upon myself for the present, as the civil power +is evidently not capable of guarding them." + +"Well, sir, you have made a glorious day's work of it," answered +Mowle, "that I must say; and I'm sure if you like to establish your +quarters, for the morning, at Mr. Croyland's there, on just before, he +will make you heartily welcome; for he hates smugglers as much as any +one." + +The young officer shook his head, saying, "No, I will go to +Woodchurch." + +But he gazed earnestly at the house for several minutes, before he +turned his horse towards the village; and then, leaving the minor +arrangements to be made by the inferior officers, he rode slowly and +silently away. + + + + + CHAPTER IX. + + +We must turn, dear reader, to other persons and to other scenes, but +still keep to that eventful day when the smugglers, who had almost +fancied themselves lords of Kent, first met severe discomfiture at the +hands of those sent to suppress their illicit traffic. Many small +parties had before been defeated, it is true; many a cargo of great +value, insufficiently protected, had been seized. Such, indeed, had +been the case with the preceding venture of Richard Radford; and such +had been, several times, the result of overweening confidence; but the +free-traders of Kent had still, more frequently, been successful in +their resistance of the law; and they had never dreamed that in great +numbers, and with every precaution and care to boot, they could be +hemmed in and overpowered, in a country with every step of which they +were well acquainted. They had now, however, been defeated, as I have +said, for the first time, in a complete and conclusive manner, after +every precaution had been taken, and when every opportunity had been +afforded them of trying their strength with the dragoons, as they had +often boastfully expressed a wish to do. + +But we must now leave them, and turn to the interior of the house near +which the strife took place. Nay, more, we must enter a fair lady's +chamber, and watch her as she lies, during the night of which we have +already given so many scenes, looking for awhile into her waking +thoughts and slumbering dreams; for that night passed in a strange +mingling of sleepless fancies and of drowsy visions. + +Far from me to encourage weak and morbid sensibilities, or to +represent life as a dream of sickly feelings, or a stage for the +action of ill-regulated passions;--it is a place of duty and of +action, of obedience to the rule of the one great guide, of endeavour, +and, alas, of trial!--But still human beings are not mere machines: +there is still something within this frame-work of dust and ashes, +besides, and very different from, the bones and muscles, the veins and +nerves, of which it is composed; and Heaven forbid that it should not +be so! There are still loves and affections, sympathies and regards, +associations and memories, and all the linked sweetness of that +strange harmonious whole, where the spirit and the matter, the soul +and the body, blended in mysterious union, act on each other, and +reciprocate, by every sense and every perception, new sources of pain +or of delight. The forms and conventionalities of society, the habits +of the age in which we live, the force of education, habit, example, +may, in very many cases, check the outward show of feeling, and in +some, perhaps, wear down to nothing the reality. But still how many a +bitter heart-ache lies concealed beneath the polished brow and smiling +lip; how many a bright aspiration, how many a tender hope, how many a +passionate throb, hides itself from the eyes of others--from the +foreigners of the heart--under an aspect of gay merriment or of cold +indifference. The silver services of the world are all, believe me, +but of plated goods, and the brightest ornaments that deck the table +or adorn the saloon but of silver-gilt. + +Could we--as angels may be supposed to do--stand by the bed-side of +many a fair girl who has been laughing through an evening of apparent +merriment, and look through the fair bosom into the heart beneath, see +all the feelings that thrill therein, or trace even the visions that +chequer slumber, what should we behold? Alas! how strange a contrast +to the beaming looks and gladsome smiles which have marked the course +of the day. How often would be seen the bitter repining; the weary +sickness of the heart; the calm, stern grief; the desolation; the +despair--forming a black and gloomy background to the bright seeming +of the hours of light. How often, in the dream, should we behold "the +lost, the loved, the dead, too many, yet how few," rise up before +memory in those moments, when not only the shackles and the handcuffs +of the mind, imposed by the tyrant uses of society, are cast off, but +also when the softer bands are loosened, which the waking spirit +places upon unavailing regrets and aspirations all in vain--in those +hours, when memory, and imagination, and feeling are awake, and when +judgment, and reason, and resolution are all buried in slumber. Can it +be well for us thus to check the expression of all the deeper feelings +of the heart--to shut out all external sympathies--to lock within the +prison of the heart its brightest treasures like the miser's gold, and +only to give up to them the hours of solitude and of slumber?--I know +not; and the question, perhaps, is a difficult one to solve: but such, +however, are the general rules of society; and to its rules we are +slaves and bondsmen. + +It was to her own chamber that Edith Croyland usually carried her +griefs and memories; and even in the house of her uncle, though she +was aware how deeply he loved her, she could not, or she would not, +venture to speak of her sensations as they really arose. + +On the eventful day of young Radford's quarrel with Sir Edward Digby, +Edith retired at the sober hour at which the whole household of Mr. +Croyland usually sought repose; but there, for a considerable time, +she meditated as she had often meditated before, on the brief +intelligence she had received on the preceding day. "He is living," +she said to herself: "he is in England, and yet he seeks me not! But +my sister says he loves me still!--It is strange, it is very strange. +He must have greatly changed. So eager, so impetuous as he used to be, +to become timid, cautious, reserved,--never to write, never to +send.--And yet why should I blame him? What has he not met with from +mine, if not from me? What has his love brought upon himself and his? +The ruin of his father--a parent's suffering and death--the +destruction of his own best prospects--a life of toil and danger, and +expulsion from the scenes in which his bright and early days were +spent!--Why should I wonder that he does not come back to a spot where +every object must be hateful to him?--why should I wonder that he does +not seek me, whose image can never be separated from all that is +painful and distressing to him in memory? Poor Henry! Oh, that I could +cheer him, and wipe away the dark and gloomy recollections of the +past." + +Such were some of her thoughts ere she lay down to rest; and they +pursued her still, long after she had sought her pillow, keeping her +waking for some hours. At length, not long before daybreak, sleep took +possession of her brain; but it was not untroubled sleep. Wild and +whirling images for some time supplied the place of thought; but they +were all vague, and confused, and undefined for a considerable length +of time after sleep had closed her eyes, and she forgot them as soon +as she awoke. But at length a vision of more tangible form presented +itself, which remained impressed upon her memory. In it, the events of +the day mingled with those both of the former and the latter years, +undoubtedly in strange and disorderly shape, but still bearing a +sufficient resemblance to reality to show whence they were derived. +The form of young Radford, bleeding and wounded, seemed before her +eyes; and with one hand clasped tightly round her wrist, he seemed to +drag her down into a grave prepared for himself. Then she saw Sir +Edward Digby with a naked sword in his hand, striving in vain to cut +off the arm that held her, the keen blade passing through and through +the limb of the phantom without dissevering it from the body, or +relaxing its hold upon herself. Then the figure of her father stood +before her, clad in a long mourning cloak, and she heard his voice +crying, in a dark and solemn tone, "Down, down, both of you, to the +grave that you have dug for me!" The next instant the scene was +crowded with figures, both on horseback and on foot. Many a +countenance which she had seen and known at different times was +amongst them; and all seemed urging her on down into the gulf before +her; till suddenly appeared, at the head of a bright and glittering +troop, he whom she had so long and deeply loved, as if advancing at +full speed to her rescue. She called loudly to him; she stretched out +her hand towards him, and onward he came through the throng till he +nearly reached her. Then in an instant her father interposed again and +pushed him back. All became a scene of disarray and confusion, as if a +general battle had been taking place around her. Swords were drawn, +shots were fired, wounds were given and received; there were cries of +agony and loud words of command, till at length, in the midst, her +lover reached her; his arms were cast round her; she was pressed to +his bosom; and with a start, and mingled feelings of joy and terror, +Edith's dream came to an end. + +Daylight was pouring into her room through the tall window; but yet +she could hardly persuade herself that she was not dreaming still; for +many of the sounds which had transmitted such strange impressions to +her mind, still rang in her ears. She heard shots and galloping horse, +and the loud word of command; and after pausing for an instant or two, +she sprang up, cast something over her, and ran to the window. + +It was a bright and beautiful morning; and the room which she occupied +looked over Mr. Croyland's garden wall to the country beyond. But +underneath that garden wall was presented a scene, such as Edith had +never before witnessed. Before her eyes, mingled in strange confusion +with a group of men who, from their appearance, she judged to be +smugglers, were a number of the royal dragoons; and, though pistols +were discharged on both sides, and even long guns on the part of the +smugglers, the use of fire-arms was too limited to produce sufficient +smoke to obscure the view. Swords were out, and used vehemently; and +on running her eye over the mass before her, she saw a figure that +strongly brought back her thoughts to former days. Directing the +operations of the troops, seldom using the sword which he carried in +his own hand, yet mingling in the thickest of the fray, appeared a +tall and powerful young man, mounted on a splendid charger, but only +covered with a plain grey cloak. + +The features she could scarcely discern; but there was something in +the form and in the bearing, that made Edith's heart beat vehemently, +and caused her to raise her voice to Heaven in murmured prayer. The +shots were flying thick: one of them struck the sun-dial in the +garden, and knocked a fragment off; but still she could not withdraw +herself from the window; and with eager and anxious eyes she continued +to watch the fight, till another body of dragoons swept up, and the +smugglers, apparently struck with panic, abandoned resistance, and +were soon seen flying in every direction over the ground. + +One man, mounted on a strong grey horse, passed close beneath the +garden wall; and in him Edith instantly recognised young Richard +Radford. That sight made her draw back again for a moment from the +window, lest he should recognise her; but the next instant she looked +out again, and then beheld the officer whom she had seen commanding +the dragoons, stretching out his hand and arm in the direction which +the fugitive had taken, as if giving orders for his pursuit. She +watched him with feelings indescribable, and saw him more than once +turn his eyes towards the house where she was, and gaze on it long and +thoughtfully. + +"Can he know whose dwelling this is?" she asked herself; "can he know +who is in it, and yet ride away?" But so it was. After he had remained +on the ground for about half an hour, she saw him depart, turning his +horse's head slowly towards Woodchurch; and Edith withdrew from the +window, and wept. + +Her eyes were dry, however, and her manner calm, when she went down to +breakfast; and she heard unmoved, from her uncle, the details of the +skirmish which had taken place between the smugglers and the military. + +"This must be a tremendous blow to them," said Mr. Croyland; "the +goods are reported to be of immense value, and the whole of them are +stated to have been run by that old infernal villain, Radford. I am +glad that this has happened, trebly--_felix ter et amplius_, my dear +Edith; first, that a trade which enriches scoundrels to the detriment +of the fair and lawful merchant, has received nearly its death-blow; +secondly, that these audacious vagabonds, who fancied they had all the +world at their command, and that they could do as they pleased in +Kent, have been taught how impotent they are against a powerful hand +and a clear head; and, thirdly, that the most audacious vagabond of +them all, who has amassed a large fortune by defiance of the law, and +by a system which embodies cheatery with robbery--I mean robbery of +the revenue with cheatery of the lawful merchant--has been the person +to suffer. I have heard a great deal of forcing nations to abate their +Customs dues, by smuggling in despite of them; but depend upon it, +whoever advocates such a system is--I will not say, either a rogue or +a fool, as some rash and intemperate persons might say--but a man with +very queer notions of morals, my dear. I dare say, the fellows firing +awoke you, my love. You look pale, as if you had been disturbed." + +Edith replied, simply, that she had been roused by the noise, but did +not enter into any particulars, though she saw, or fancied she saw, an +inquiring look upon her uncle's face as he spoke. + +During the morning many were the reports and anecdotes brought in by +the servants, regarding the encounter, which had taken place so close +to the house; and all agreed that never had so terrible a disaster +befallen the smugglers. Their bands were quite broken up, it was said, +their principal leaders taken or killed, and the amount of the +smuggled goods which--with the usual exaggeration of rumour--was +raised to three or four hundred thousand pounds, was universally +reported to be the loss of Mr. Radford. His son had been seen by many +in command of the party of contraband traders; and it was clear that +he had fled to conceal himself, in fear of the very serious +consequences which were likely to ensue. + +Mr. Croyland rubbed his hands: "I will mark this day in the calendar +with a white stone!" he said. "Seldom, my dear Edith, very seldom, do +so many fortunate circumstances happen together; a party of atrocious +vagabonds discomfited and punished as they deserve; the most audacious +rogue of the whole stripped of his ill-gotten wealth; and a young +ruffian, who has long bullied and abused the whole county, driven from +that society in which he never had any business. This young officer, +this Captain Osborn, must be a very clever, as well as a very gallant +fellow." + +"Captain Osborn!" murmured Edith; "were they commanded by Captain +Osborn?" + +"Yes, my dear," answered the old gentleman; "I saw him myself over the +garden wall. I know him, my love; I have been introduced to him. +Didn't you hear me say, he is coming to spend a few days with me?" + +Edith made no reply; but somewhat to her surprise, she heard her +uncle, shortly after, order his carriage to be at the door at +half-past twelve. He gave his fair niece no invitation to accompany +him; and Edith prepared to amuse herself during his absence as +best she might. She calculated, indeed, upon that which, to a +well-regulated mind, is almost always either a relief or a pleasure, +though too often a sad one: the spending of an hour or two in solitary +thought. But all human calculations are vain; and so were those of +poor Edith Croyland. For the present, however, we must leave her to +her fate, and follow her good uncle, Zachary, on his expedition to +Woodchurch, whither, as doubtless the reader has anticipated, his +steps, or rather those of his coach horses, were turned, just as the +hands of the clock in the vestibule pointed to a quarter to one. + + + + + CHAPTER X. + + +During the whole forenoon of the 3rd of September, the little village +of Woodchurch presented a busy and bustling, though, in truth, it +could not be called a gay scene. The smart dresses of the dragoons, +the number of men and horses, the soldiers riding quickly along the +road from time to time, the occasional sound of the trumpet, the +groups of villagers and gaping children, all had an animating effect; +but there was, mingled with the other sights which the place +presented, quite a sufficient portion of human misery, in various +forms, to sadden any but a very unfeeling heart. For some time after +the affray was over, every ten minutes, was seen to roll in one of the +small, narrow carts of the country, half filled with straw, and +bearing a wounded man, or at most, two. In the same manner, several +corpses, also, were carried in; and the number of at least fifty +prisoners, in separate detachments, with hanging hands and pinioned +arms, were marched slowly through the street to the houses which had +been marked out as affording the greatest security. + +The good people of Woodchurch laughed and talked freely with the +dragoons, made many inquiries concerning the events of the skirmish, +and gave every assistance to the wounded soldiers; but it was remarked +with surprise, by several of the officers, that they showed no great +sympathy with the smugglers, either prisoners or wounded--gazed upon +the parties who were brought in with an unfriendly air, and turning +round to each other, commented, in low tones, with very little +appearance of compassion. + +"Ay, that's one of the Ramleys' gang," said the stout blacksmith of +the place, to his friend and neighbour, the wheelwright, as some ten +or twelve men passed before them with their wrists tied. + +"And that fellow in the smart green coat is another," rejoined the +wheelwright; "he's the man who, I dare say, ham-stringed my mare, +because I wouldn't let them have her for the last run." + +"That's Tom Angel," observed the blacksmith; "he's to be married to +Jinny Ramley, they say." + +"He'll be married to a halter first, I've a notion," answered the +wheelwright, "and then instead of an angel he'll make a devil! He's +one of the worst of them, bad as they all are. A pretty gaol delivery +we shall have at the next 'Sizes!" + +"A good county delivery, too," replied the blacksmith; "as men have +been killed, it's felony, that's clear: so hemp will be dear, Mr. +Slatterly." + +By the above conversation the feelings of the people of Woodchurch +towards the smugglers, at that particular time, may be easily divined; +but the reader must not suppose that they were influenced alone by the +very common tendency of men's nature to side with the winning party; +for such was not altogether the case, though, perhaps, they would not +have ventured to show their dislike to the smugglers so strongly, had +they been more successful. As long as the worthy gentlemen, who had +now met with so severe a reverse, had contented themselves with merely +running contraband articles--even as long as they had done nothing +more than take a man's horse for their own purposes, without his +leave, or use his premises, whether he liked it or not, as a place of +concealment for their smuggled goods, they were not only indifferent, +but even friendly; for man has always a sufficient portion of the +adventurer at his heart to have a fellow feeling for all his brethren +engaged in rash and perilous enterprises. But the smugglers had grown +insolent and domineering from long success; they had not only felt +themselves lords of the county, but had made others feel it often in +an insulting, and often in a cruel and brutal manner. Crimes of a very +serious character had been lately committed by the Ramleys and others, +which, though not traced home by sufficient evidence to satisfy the +law, were fixed upon them by the general voice of the people; and the +threats of terrible vengeance which they sometimes uttered against all +who opposed them, and the boastful tone in which they indulged, when +speaking of their most criminal exploits, probably gained them credit +for much more wickedness than they really committed. + +Thus their credit with the country people was certainly on the decline +when they met with the disaster which has been lately recorded; and +their defeat and dispersion was held by the inhabitants of Woodchurch +as an augury of better times, when their women would be able to pass +from village to village, even after dusk, in safety and free from +insult, and their cattle might be left out in the fields all night, +without being injured, either by wantonness, or in lawless uses. It +will be understood, that in thus speaking, I allude alone to the land +smugglers, a race altogether different from their fellow labourers of +the sea, whom the people looked upon with a much more favourable eye, +and who, though rash and daring men enough, were generally a good +humoured free-hearted body, spending the money that they had gained at +the peril of their lives or their freedom, with a liberal hand and in +a kindly spirit. + +Almost every inhabitant of Woodchurch had some cause of complaint +against the Ramleys' gang; and, to say the truth, Mr. Radford himself +was by no means popular in the county. A selfish and a cunning man is +almost always speedily found out by the lower classes, even when he +makes an effort to conceal it. But Mr. Radford took no such trouble; +for he gloried in his acuteness; and if he had chosen a motto, it +probably would have been "Every man for himself." His selfishness, +too, took several of the most offensive forms. He was ostentatious; he +was haughty; and, on the strength of riches acquired, every one knew +how, he looked upon himself as a very great man, and treated all the +inferior classes, except those of whom he had need, to use their own +expression, "as dirt under his feet." All the villagers, therefore, +were well satisfied to think that he had met with a check at last; and +many of the good folks of Woodchurch speculated upon the probability +of two or three, out of so great a number of prisoners, giving such +evidence as would bring that worthy gentleman within the gripe of the +law. + +Such were the feelings of the people of that place, as well as those +of many a neighbouring village; and the scene presented by the captive +and wounded smugglers, as they were led along, was viewed with +indifference by some, and with pleasure by others. Two or three of the +women, indeed, bestowed kindly attention upon the wounded men, moved +by that beautiful compassion which is rarely if ever wanting, in a +female heart; but the male part of the population took little share, +if any, in such things, and were quite willing to aid the soldiers in +securing the prisoners, till they could be marched off to prison. + +The first excitement had subsided before noon, but still, from time to +time, some little bustle took place--a prisoner was caught and brought +in, and carried to the public house where the colonel had established +himself--an orderly galloped through the street--messengers came and +went; and four or five soldiers, with their horses ready saddled, +remained before the door of the inn, ready, at a moment's notice, for +any event. The commanding officer did not appear at all beyond the +doors of his temporary abode; but continued writing, giving orders, +examining the prisoners, and those who brought them, in the same room +which he had entered when first he arrived. As few of the people of +the place had seen him, a good deal of curiosity was excited by his +quietness and reserve. It was whispered amongst the women, that he was +the handsomest man ever seen; and the men said he was a very fine +fellow, and ought to be made a general of. The barmaid communicated to +her intimate friends, that when he took off his cloak, she had seen a +star upon the breast of his coat; and that her master seemed to know +more of him, if he liked to tell; but the landlord was as silent as a +mouse. + +These circumstances, however, kept up a little crowd before the +entrance of the inn, consisting of persons anxious to behold the hero +of the day; and just at the hour of two, the carriage of Mr. Croyland +rolled in, through the people, at the usual slow and deliberate pace +to which that gentleman accustomed his carriage horses. + +The large heavy door of the large heavy vehicle, was opened by the two +servants who accompanied it; and out stepped Mr. Croyland, with his +back as straight and stiff as a poker, and his gold-headed cane in his +hand. The landlord, at the sight of an equipage, which he well knew, +came out in haste, bowing low, and welcoming Mr. Croyland in the +hearty good old style. The nabob himself unbent a little to his friend +of the inn, and after asking him how he did, and bestowing a word or +two on the state of the weather, proceeded to say, "And now, Miles, I +wish to speak a word or two with Captain Osborn, who is in your house, +I believe." + +"No, Mr. Croyland," replied the landlord, looking at the visitor with +some surprise, "the captain is not here. He is down at Nelly South's, +and his name's not Osborn, either, but Irby." + +"Then, who the deuce have you got here, with all these soldiers about +the door?" demanded Mr. Croyland. + +"The colonel of the regiment, sir," answered Miles; "there has only +been one captain here all day; and that's Captain Irby." + +"Not right of the lad--not right of the lad!" exclaimed Mr. Croyland, +rather testily; "no one should keep a man waiting, especially an old +man, and more especially still, a cross old man. But I'll come in and +stop a bit; for I want to see the young gentleman. Where the devil did +he go to, I wonder, after the skirmish?--Halloo, you sir, corporal! +Pray, sir, what's your officer's name?" + +The man put up his hand in military fashion, and, with a strong +Hibernian accent, demanded, "Is it the colonel you're inquiring about, +sir? Why, then, his name is Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Henry Leyton, +Knight of the Bath--and mighty cold weather it was, too, when he got +the Bath; so I didn't envy him his ducking." + +"Oh ho!" said Mr. Croyland, putting his finger sagaciously to the side +of his nose; "be so good as to send up that card to Lieutenant-Colonel +Sir Henry Leyton, Knight of the Bath, and tell him that the gentleman +whose appellation it bears is here, inquiring for one Captain Osborn +whom he once saw." + +The corporal took the card himself to the top of the stairs, and +delivered the message, with as much precision as his intellect could +muster, to some person who seemed to be waiting on the outside of a +door above. "Why, you fool!" cried a voice, immediately, "I told you, +if Mr. Croyland came, to show him up. Sir Henry will see him." And +immediately a servant, in plain clothes, descended to perform his +function himself. + +"Very grand!" murmured Mr. Croyland, as he followed. + +The door above was immediately thrown open, and his name announced; +but, walking slowly, he had not entered the room before the young +officer, who has more than once been before the reader's eyes, was +half across the floor to meet him. He was now dressed in full uniform; +and certainly a finer or more commanding-looking man had seldom, if +ever, met Mr. Croyland's view. Advancing with a frank and pleasant +smile, he led him to the arm-chair which he had just occupied--it was +the only one in the room--and, after thanking him for his visit, +turned to the servant, and bade him shut the door. + +"I am in some surprise, and in some doubt, Sir Henry," said Mr. +Croyland, with his sharp eyes twinkling a little. "I came here to see +one Captain Osborn; and I find a gentleman very like him, in truth, +but certainly a much smarter looking person, whom I am told is +Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Henry Leyton, Knight of the Bath, &c. &c. &c.; +and yet he seems to look upon old Zachary Croyland as a friend, too." + +"He does, from his heart, I can assure you, Mr. Croyland," replied the +young officer; "and I trust you will ever permit him to do so. But if +it becomes us to deceive no man, it becomes us still more not to +deceive a friend; and on that account it was I asked your presence +here, to explain to you one or two circumstances which I thought it +but just you should know, before I ventured to present myself at your +house." + +"Pray speak, Sir Henry," replied Mr. Croyland--"I am all ears." + +The young officer paused for a moment, and a shadow came over his +brow, as if something painful passed through his mind; but then, with +a slight motion of his hand, as if he would have waved away unpleasant +thoughts, he said, "I must first tell you, my dear sir, that I am the +son of the Reverend Henry Leyton, whom you once knew, and the nephew +of that Charles Osborn, with whom you were also intimately +acquainted." + +"The dearest friend I ever had in the world," replied Mr. Croyland, +blowing his nose violently. + +"Then I trust you will extend the same friendship to his nephew," said +the colonel. + +"I don't know--I don't know," answered Mr. Croyland; "that must depend +upon circumstances. I'm a very crabbed, tiresome old fellow, Sir +Henry; and my friendships are not very sudden ones. But I have patted +your head many a time when you were a child, and that's something. +Then you are very like your father, and a little like your uncle, +that's something more: so we may get on, I think. But what have you +got to say more? and what in the name of fortune made you call +yourself Captain Osborn, to an old friend of your family like myself?" + +"I did not do so, if you recollect," replied the young officer. "It +was my friend Digby who gave me that name; and you must pardon me, if, +on many accounts, I yielded to the trick; for I was coming down here +on a difficult service--one that I am not accustomed to, and do not +like; and I was very desirous of seeing a little of the country, and +of learning something of the habits of the persons with whom I had to +deal, before I was called upon to act." + +"And devilish well you did act when you set about it," cried Mr. +Croyland. "I watched you this morning over the wall, and wondered a +little that you did not come on to my house at once." + +"It is upon that subject that I must now speak," said Sir Henry +Leyton, taking a grave tone, "and I must touch upon many painful +subjects in the past. Just when I was about to write to you, Mr. +Croyland, to say that I would come, in accordance with your kind +invitation, I learned that your niece, Miss Croyland, is staying at +your house. Now, I know not whether you have been informed, that long +ago----" + +"Oh, yes, I know all about that," answered Mr. Croyland, quickly. +"There was a great deal of love and courting, and all that sort of boy +and girl's stuff." + +"It must be man and woman's stuff now, Mr. Croyland," replied the +young officer, "for I must tell you fairly and at once, I love her as +deeply, as truly as ever. Years have made no difference; other scenes +have made no change. The same as I went, in every thought and feeling, +I have returned; and I can never think of her without emotion, which I +can never speak to her without expressing." + +"Indeed--indeed!" said Mr. Croyland, apparently in some surprise. +"That does make some difference." + +"That is what I feared," continued Sir Henry Leyton. "Your brother +disapproved of our engagement. In consequence of it, he behaved to my +father in a way--on which I will not dwell. You would not have behaved +in such a way, I know; and although I should think any means +justifiable, to see your niece when in her father's mansion, to tell +her how deeply I love her still, and to ask her to sacrifice fortune +and everything to share a soldier's fate, yet I did not think it would +be right or honourable, to come into the house of a friend under a +feigned name, and seek his niece--for seek her I should wherever I +found her--when he might share the same views as his brother, or at +all events think himself bound to support them. In short, Mr. +Croyland, I knew that when you were aware of my real name and of my +real feelings, it would make a difference, and a great one." + +"Not the difference you think, Harry," replied the old gentleman, +holding out his hand to him; "but quite the reverse.--I'll tell you +what, young man, I think you a devilish fine, high-spirited, +honourable fellow, and the only one I ever saw whom I should like to +marry my Edith. So don't say a word more about it. Come and dine with +me to-day, as soon as you've got all this job over. You shall see her; +you shall talk to her; you shall make all your arrangements together; +and if there's a post-chaise in the country, I'll put you in and shut +the door with my own hands. My brother is an old fool, and worse than +an old fool, too--something very like an old rogue--at least, so he +behaved to your father, and not much better to his own child; but I +don't care a straw about him, and never did; and I never intend to +humour one of his whims." + +Sir Henry Leyton pressed the old gentleman's hand in his, with much +emotion; for the prospect seemed brightening to him, and the dark +clouds which had so long overshadowed his course appeared to be +breaking away. He had been hitherto like a traveller on a strong and +spirited horse, steadfastly pursuing his course, and making his way +onward, with vigour and determination, but with a dark and threatening +sky over head, and not even a gleam of hope to lead him on. +Distinction, honours, competence, command, he had obtained by his own +talents and his own energies; he was looked up to by those below him, +by his equals, even by many of his superiors. The eyes of all who knew +him turned towards him as to one who was destined to be a leading man +in his day. Everything seemed fair and smiling around him, and no eye +could see the cloud that overshadowed him but his own. But what to him +were honours, or wealth, or the world's applause, if the love of his +early years were to remain blighted for ever? and in the tented field, +the city, or the court, the shadow had still remained upon his heart's +best feelings, not checking his energies, but saddening all his +enjoyments. How often is it in the world, that we thus see the bright, +the admired, the powerful, the prosperous, with the grave hue of +painful thoughts upon the brow, the never unmingled smile, the lapses +of gloomy meditation, and ask ourselves, "What is the secret sorrow in +the midst of all this success? what is the fountain of darkness that +turns the stream of sunshine grey? what the canker-worm that preys +upon so bright a flower?" Deep, deep in the recesses of the heart, it +lies gnawing in silence; but never ceasing, and never satisfied. Now, +however, there was a light in the heavens for him; and whether it was +as one of those rays that sometimes break through a storm, and then +pass away, no more to be seen till the day dies in darkness; or +whether it was the first glad harbinger of a serene evening after a +stormy morning, the conclusion of this tale must show. + +"I'll tell you something, my dear boy," continued Mr. Croyland, +forgetting that he was speaking to the colonel of a dragoon regiment, +and going back at a leap to early days. "Your father was my old +school-fellow and dear companion; your uncle was the best friend I +ever had, and the founder of my fortune; for to his interest I owe my +first appointment to India--ay, and to his generosity the greater part +of my outfit and my passage. To them I am indebted for everything, to +my brother for nothing; and I look upon you as a relation much more +than upon him; so I have no very affectionate motives for +countenancing or assisting him in doing what is not right. I'll tell +you something more, too, Harry; I was sure that you would do what is +honourable and right--not because you have got a good name in the +world; for I am always doubtful of the world's good names, and, +besides, I never heard the name of Sir Harry Leyton till this blessed +day--but because you were the son of one honest man and the nephew of +another, and a good wild frank boy too. So I was quite sure you would +not come to my house under a false name, when my niece was in it, +without, at all events, letting me into the secret; and you have +justified my confidence, young man." + +"I would not have done such a thing for the world," replied the young +officer; "but may I ask, then, my dear Mr. Croyland, if you recognised +me in the stage coach? for it must be eighteen or nineteen years since +you saw me." + +"Don't call me Mr. Croyland," said the old gentleman, abruptly; "call +me Zachary, or Nabob, or Misanthrope, or Bear, or anything but that. +As to your question, I say, no. I did not recognise you the least in +the world. I saw in your face something like the faces of old friends, +and I liked it on that account. But as for the rest of the matter, +there's a little secret, my boy--a little bit of a puzzle. By one way +or another--it matters not what--I had found out that Captain Osborn +was my old friend Leyton's son; but till I came here to-day, I had no +notion that he was colonel of the regiment, and a Knight of the Bath, +to boot, as your corporal fellow took care to inform me. I thought you +had been going under a false name, perhaps, all this time, and fancied +I should find Captain Osborn quite well known in the regiment. I had a +shrewd notion, too, that you had sent for me to tell the secret; but I +was determined to let you explain yourself without helping you at all; +for I'm a great deal fonder of men's actions than their words, Harry." + +"Is it fair to ask, who told you who I was?" asked Sir Henry Leyton. +"My friend Digby has some----" + +"No, no," cried Mr. Croyland; "it wasn't that good, rash, rattle-pate, +coxcomb of a fellow, who is only fit to be caged with little Zara; and +then they may live together very well, like two monkeys in a show-box. +No, he had nothing to do with it, though he has been busy enough since +he came here, shooting partridges, and fighting young Radfords, and +all that sort of thing." + +"Fighting young Radfords!" exclaimed Sir Henry Leyton, suddenly +grasping the sheath of his sword with his right hand. "He should not +have done that--at least, without letting me know." + +"Why, he knew nothing about it himself," replied Mr. Croyland, "till +the minute it took place. The young vagabond followed him to my house; +so I civilly told my brother's pet that I didn't want to see him; and +he walked away with your friend Digby just across the lawn in front of +the house, when, after a few minutes of pleasant conversation, the +baronet applies me a horsewhip, with considerable unction and +perseverance, to the shoulders of Richard Radford, Esquire, junior; +upon which out come the pinking-irons, and in the course of the +scuffle, Sir Edward receives a little hole in the shoulder, and Mr. +Radford is disarmed and brought upon his knee, with a very unpleasant +and ungentleman-like bump upon his forehead, bestowed, with hearty +good-will, by the hilt of Master Digby's sword. Well, when he had got +him there, instead of quietly poking a hole through him, as any man of +common sense would have done, your friend lets him get up again, and +ride away, just as a man might be supposed to pinch a Cobra that had +bit him, by the tail, and then say, 'Walk off, my friend.' However, so +stands the matter; and young Radford rode away, vowing all sorts of +vengeance. He'll have it, too, if he can get it; for he's as spiteful +as a baboon; so I hope you've caught him, as he was with these +smuggling vagabonds, that's certain." + +Sir Henry Leyton shook his head. "He has escaped, I am sorry to say," +he replied. "How, I cannot divine; for I took means to catch him that +I thought were infallible. All the roads through Harbourne Wood were +guarded, but yet in that wood, all trace of him was lost. He left his +horse in the midst of it, and must have escaped by some of the +by-paths." + +"He's concealed in my brother's house, for a hundred guineas!" cried +Mr. Croyland. "Robert's bewitched, to a certainty; for nothing else +but witchcraft could make a man take an owl for a cock pheasant. Oh +yes! there he is, snug in Harbourne House, depend upon it, feeding +upon venison and turbot, and with a magnum of claret and two bottles +of port to keep him comfortable--a drunken, beastly, vicious brute! A +cross between a wolf and a swine, and not without a touch of the fox +either--though the first figure is the best; for his father was the +wolf, and his mother the sow, if all tales be true." + +"He cannot be in Harbourne House, I should think," replied the +colonel, "for my dragoons searched it, it seems, violating the laws a +little, for they had no competent authority with them; and besides he +would not have put himself within Digby's reach, I imagine." + +"Then he's up in a tree, roosting in the day, like a bird of prey," +rejoined Mr. Croyland, in his quick way. "It's very unlucky he has +escaped--very unlucky indeed." + +"At all events," answered the young officer, "thus much have we +gained, my dear friend: he dare not shew himself in this county for +years. He was seen, by competent witnesses, at the head of these +smugglers, taking an active part with them in resistance to lawful +authority. Blood has been shed, lives have been sacrificed, and a +felony has been committed; so that if he is wise, and can manage it, +he will get out of England. If he fail of escaping, or venture to show +himself, he will grace the gallows, depend upon it." + +"Heaven be praised!" cried Mr. Croyland. "Give me the first tidings, +when it is to happen, Harry, that I may order four horses, and hire a +window. I would not have him hanged without my seeing it for a hundred +pounds." + +Sir Henry Leyton smiled faintly, saying, "Those are sad sights, my +dear sir, and we have too many of them in this county; but you have +not told me, from whom you received intimation that Captain Osborn and +Henry Osborn Leyton were the same person." + +"That's a secret--that's a secret, Hal," answered Mr. Croyland. "So +now tell me when you'll come.--You'll be over to-night. I suppose, or +have time and wisdom tamed the eagerness of love?" + +"Oh no, my dear sir," answered Leyton; "but I have still some business +to settle here, and have promised to be in Hythe to-night. Before I +go, however, I will ride over for an hour or two, for, till I have +seen that dear girl again, and have heard her feelings and her wishes +from her own lips, my thoughts will be all in confusion. I shall be +calmer and more reasonable afterwards." + +"Much need!" answered Mr. Croyland. "But now I must leave you. I +shan't say a word about it all, till you come; for preparing people's +minds is all nonsense. It is only drawing them out upon the rack of +expectation, which leaves them bruised and crushed, with no power to +resist whatever is to come afterwards.--But don't be long, Harry, for +remember that delays are dangerous." + +Leyton promised to set out as soon as one of his messengers, whom he +expected every instant, had returned; and going down with Mr. +Croyland, to the door of his carriage, he bade him adieu, and watched +him as he drove away, gratifying the eyes of the people of Woodchurch +with a view of his fine person, as he stood uncovered at the door. In +the meantime, Mr. Croyland took his way slowly back towards his own +dwelling. + +What had happened there during his absence, we shall see presently. + + + + + CHAPTER XI. + + +All things have their several stages; and, without a knowledge of the +preceding one it is impossible to judge accurately of any event which +is the immediate subject of our contemplation. The life of every one, +the history of the whole world that we inhabit, is but a regular drama +with its scenes and acts, each depending for its interest upon that +which preceded. I therefore judge it necessary, before going on to +detail the events which took place in Mr. Croyland's house during his +absence to visit the dwelling of his brother, and give some account of +that which produced them. On the same eventful morning, then, of which +we have spoken so much already, the inhabitants of Harbourne House +slept quietly during the little engagement between the smugglers and +the dragoons, unaware that things of great importance to their little +circle were passing at no great distance. I have mentioned the +inhabitants of Harbourne House; but perhaps it would have been more +proper to have said the master, his family, and his guest; for a +number of the servants were up; the windows were opened; and the wind, +setting from Woodchurch, brought the sound of firearms thence. The +movement of the troops from the side of High Halden was also remarked +by one of the housemaids and a footman, as the young lady was leaning +out of one of the windows with the young gentleman by her side. In a +minute or two after they perceived, galloping across the country, two +or three parties of men on horseback, as if in flight and pursuit. +Most of these took to the right or left, and were soon lost to the +sight; but at length one solitary horseman came on at a furious speed +towards Harbourne House, with a small party of dragoons following him +direct at a couple of hundred yards' distance, while two or three of +the soldiery were seen scattered away to the right, and a somewhat +larger body appeared moving down at a quick pace to the left, as if to +cut the fugitive off at Gallows Green. + +The horse of the single rider seemed tired and dirty; and he was +himself without a hat; but nevertheless, they pushed on with such +rapidity, that a few seconds, from the time when they were first seen, +brought steed and horseman into the little parish road which I have +mentioned as running in front of the house, and passing round the +grounds into the wood. As the fugitive drew near, the maid exclaimed, +with a sort of a half scream, "Why, Lord ha' mercy, Matthew, it's +young Mr. Radford!" + +"To be sure it is," answered the footman; "didn't you see that before, +Betsy? There's a number of the dragoons after him, too. He's been up +to some of his tricks, I'll warrant." + +"Well, I hope he wont come in here, at all events," rejoined the maid, +"for I shouldn't like it, if we were to have any fighting in the +house." + +"I shall go and shut the hall door," said the footman, drily--Richard +Radford not having ingratiated himself as much with the servants as he +had done with their master. But this precaution was rendered +unnecessary; for the young man showed no inclination to enter the +house, but passing along the road with the rapidity of an arrow, was +soon lost in the wood, without even looking up towards the house of +Sir Robert Croyland. Several of the dragoons followed him quickly; but +two of them planted themselves at the corner of the road, and remained +there immovable. + +The maid then observed, that she thought it high time the gentlefolks +should be called; and she proceeded to execute her laudable purpose, +taking care that tidings of what she had seen concerning Mr. Radford +should be communicated to Sir Robert Croyland, to Zara, and to the +servant of Sir Edward Digby, who again carried the intelligence to his +master. The whole house was soon afoot; and Sir Robert was just out of +his room in his dressing-gown, when three of the soldiers entered the +mansion, expressing their determination to search it, and declaring +their conviction that the smuggler whom they had been pursuing had +taken refuge there. + +In vain Sir Robert Croyland remonstrated, and inquired if they had a +warrant; in vain the servants assured the dragoons that no person had +entered during the morning. The Serjeant who was at their head, +persisted in asserting that the fugitive must have come in there, just +when he was hid from his pursuers by the trees, assigning as a reason +for this belief, that they had found his horse turned loose not a +hundred yards from the house. They accordingly proceeded to execute +their intention, meeting with no farther impediment till they reached +the room of Sir Edward Digby, who, though he did not choose to +interfere, not being on duty himself, warned the serjeant that he must +be careful of what he was doing, as it appeared that he had neither +magistrate, warrant, nor Custom-House officer with him. + +The serjeant, however, who was a bold and resolute fellow, and +moreover a little heated and excited by the pursuit, took the +responsibility upon himself, saying that he was fully authorized by +Mr. Birchett to follow, search for, and apprehend one Richard Radford, +and that he had the colonel's orders, too. Certainly, not a nook or +corner of Harbourne House did he leave unexamined before he retired, +grumbling and wondering at his want of success. + +Previous to his going, Sir Edward Digby charged him with a message to +the colonel, which proved as great an enigma to the soldier as the +escape of Richard Radford. "Tell him," said the young baronet, "that I +am ready to come down if he wants me; but that if he does not, I think +I am quite as well where I am." + +The breakfast passed in that sort of hurried and desultory +conversation which such a dish of gossip as now poured in from all +quarters usually produces, when served up at the morning meal. Sir +Robert Croyland, indeed, looked ill at ease, laughed and jested in an +unnatural and strained tone upon smugglers and smuggling, and +questioned every servant that came in for further tidings. The reports +that he thus received were as full of falsehood and exaggeration as +all such reports generally are. The property captured was said to be +immense. Two or three hundred smugglers were mentioned as having been +taken, and a whole legion of them killed. Some had made confession, +and clearly proved that the whole property was Mr. Radford's; and some +had fought to the last, and killed an incredible number of the +soldiers. To believe the butler, who received his information from the +hind, who had his from the shepherd, the man called the Major, before +he died, had absolutely breakfasted on dragoons, as if they had been +prawns; but all agreed that never had such a large body of contraband +traders been assembled before, or suffered such a disastrous defeat, +in any of their expeditions. + +Sir Edward Digby gathered from the whole account, that his friend had +been fully successful, that the smugglers had fought fiercely, that +blood had been shed, and that Richard Radford, after having taken an +active part in the affray, was now a fugitive, and, as the young +baronet fancied, never to appear upon the stage again. But still Sir +Robert Croyland did not seem by any means so well pleased as might +have been wished; and a dark and thoughtful cloud would frequently +come over his heavy brow, while a slight twitching of his lip seemed +to indicate that anxiety had as great a share in his feelings as +mortification. + +Mrs. Barbara Croyland amused herself, as usual, by doing her best to +tease every one around her, and by saying the most malapropos things +in the world. She spoke with great commiseration of "the poor +smugglers:" every particle of her pity was bestowed upon them. She +talked of the soldiers as if they had been the most fierce and +sanguinary monsters in Europe, who had attacked, unprovoked, a party +of poor men that were doing them no harm; till Zara's glowing cheek +recalled to her mind, that these very blood-thirsty dragoons were Sir +Edward Digby's companions and friends; and then she made the +compliment more pointed by apologizing to the young baronet, and +assuring him that she did not think for a moment he would commit such +acts. Her artillery was next turned against her brother; and, in a +pleasant tone of raillery, she joked him upon the subject of young Mr. +Radford, and of the search the soldiers had made, looking with a +meaning smile at Zara, and saying, "She dared say, Sir Robert could +tell where he was, if he liked." + +The baronet declared, sharply and truly, that he knew nothing about +the young man; but Mrs. Barbara shook her head and nodded, and looked +knowing, adding various agreeable insinuations of the same kind as +before--all in the best humour possible--till Sir Robert Croyland was +put quite out of temper, and would have retorted violently, had he not +known that to do so always rendered the matter ten times worse. Even +poor Zara did not altogether escape; but, as we are hurrying on to +important events, we must pass over her share of infliction. + +The conclusion of Mrs. Barbara's field-day was perhaps the most signal +achievement of all. Breakfast had come to an end, though the meal had +been somewhat protracted; and the party were just lingering out a few +minutes before they rose, still talking on the subject of the skirmish +of that morning, when the good lady thought fit to remark--"Well, we +may guess for ever; but we shall soon know more about it, for I dare +say we shall have Mr. Radford over here before an hour is gone, and he +must know if the goods were his." + +This seemed to startle--nay, to alarm Sir Robert Croyland. He looked +round with a sharp, quick turn of his head, and then rose at once, +saying, "Well, whether he comes or not, I must go out and see about a +good many things. Would you like to take a ride, Sir Edward Digby, or +what will you do?" + +"Why, I think I must stay here for the present," replied the young +baronet; "I may have a summons unexpectedly, and ought not to be +absent." + +"Well, you will excuse me, I know," answered his entertainer. "I must +leave my sister and Zara to amuse you for an hour or two, till I +return." + +Thus saying, and evidently in a great bustle, Sir Robert Croyland +quitted the room and ordered his horse. But just as the three whom he +had left in the breakfast-room were sauntering quietly towards the +library--Sir Edward Digby calculating by the way how he might best get +rid of Mrs. Barbara, in order to enjoy the fair Zara's company +undisturbed--they came upon the baronet at the moment when he was +encountered by one of his servants bringing him some unpleasant +intelligence. "Please, Sir Robert," said the man, with a knowing wink +of the eye, "all the horses are out." + +"Out!" cried the baronet, with a look of fury and consternation. "What +do you mean by out, fellow?" + +"Why, they were taken out of the stable last night, sir," replied the +man. "I dare say you know where they went; and they have not come back +again yet." + +"Pray, have mine been taken also?" demanded Sir Edward Digby, very +well understanding what sort of an expedition Sir Robert Croyland's +horses had gone upon. + +"Oh dear, no, sir!" answered the man; "your servant keeps the key of +that stable himself, sir." + +The young baronet instantly offered his host the use of one of his +steeds, which was gratefully accepted by Sir Robert Croyland, who, +however, thought fit to enter into an exculpation of himself, somewhat +tedious withal, assuring his guest that the horses had been taken +without his approbation or consent, and that he had no knowledge +whatsoever of the transaction in which they were engaged. + +Sir Edward Digby professed himself quite convinced that such was the +case, and in order to relieve his host from the embarrassment which he +seemed to feel, explained that he was already aware that the Kentish +smugglers were in the habit of borrowing horses without the owner's +consent. + +In our complicated state of society, however, everything hinges upon +trifles. We have made the watch so fine, that a grain of dust stops +the whole movement; and the best arranged plans are thrown out by the +negligence, the absence, or the folly of a servant, a friend, or a +messenger. Sir Edward Digby's groom could not be found for more than a +quarter of an hour: when he was, at length, brought to light, the +horse had to be saddled. An hour had now nearly elapsed since the +master of the house had given orders for his own horse to be brought +round immediately: he was evidently uneasy at the delay, peevish, +restless, uncomfortable; and in the end, he said he would mount at the +back door, as it was the nearest and the most convenient. He even +waited in the vestibule; but suddenly he turned, walked through the +double doors leading to the stable-yard, and said he heard the horse +coming up. + +Mrs. Barbara Croyland had, in the meantime, amused herself and her +niece in the library, with the door open; and sometimes she worked a +paroquet, in green, red, and white silk embroidery--a favourite +occupation for ladies in her juvenile days--and sometimes she gazed +out of the window, or listened to the conversation of her brother and +his guest in the vestibule. At the very moment, however, when Sir +Robert was making his exit by the doors between the principal part of +the house and the offices, Mrs. Barbara called loudly after him, +"Brother Robert!--Brother Robert!--Here is Mr. Radford coming." + +The baronet turned a deaf ear, and shut the door. He would have locked +it, too, if the evasion would not have then been too palpable. But +Mrs. Barbara was resolved that he should know that Mr. Radford was +coming; and up she started, casting down half-a-dozen cards of silk. +Zara tried to stop her; for she knew her father, and all the signs and +indications of his humours; but her efforts were in vain. Mrs. Barbara +dashed past her, rushed through both doors, leaving them open behind +her, and caught her brother's arms just as the horse, which he had +thought fit to hear approach a little before it really did so, was led +up slowly from the stables to the back door of the mansion. + +"Robert, here is Mr. Radford!" said Mrs. Barbara, aloud. "I knew you +would like to see him." + +The baronet turned his head, and saw his worthy friend, through the +open doors, just entering the vestibule. To the horror and surprise of +his sister, he uttered a low but bitter curse, adding, in tones quite +distinct enough to reach her ear, "Woman, you have ruined me!" + +"Good gracious!" cried Mrs. Barbara; "why, I thought----" + +"Hush! silence!" said Sir Robert Croyland, in a menacing tone; "not +another word, on your life;" and turning, he met Mr. Radford with the +utmost suavity, but with a certain degree of restraint which he had +not time to banish entirely from his manner. + +"Ah, Mr. Radford!" he exclaimed, shaking him, too, heartily by the +hand, "I was just going out to inquire about some things of +importance;" and he gazed at him with a look which he intended to be +very significant of the inquiries he had proposed to institute. But +his glance was hesitating and ill-assured; and Mr. Radford replied, +with the coolest and most self-possessed air possible, and with a +firm, fixed gaze upon the baronet's countenance. + +"Indeed, Sir Robert!" he said, "perhaps I can satisfy you upon some +points; but, at all events, I must speak with you for a few minutes +before you go. Good morning, Sir Edward Digby: have you had any sport +in the field?--I will not detain you a quarter of an hour, my good +friend. We had better go into your little room." + +He led the way thither as he spoke; and Sir Robert Croyland followed +with a slow and faltering step. He knew Richard Radford; he knew what +that calm and self-possessed manner meant. He was aware of the +significance of courteous expressions and amicable terms from the man +who called him his good friend; and if there was a being upon earth, +on whose head Sir Robert Croyland would have wished to stamp as on a +viper's, it was the placid benign personage who preceded him. + +They entered the room in which the baronet usually sat in a morning to +transact his business with his steward, and to arrange his affairs; +and Sir Robert carefully shut the door behind him, trying, during the +one moment that his back was turned upon his unwelcome guest, to +compose his agitated features into the expression of haughty and +self-sufficient tranquillity which they usually wore. + +"Sit down, Radford," he said--"pray sit down, if it be but for ten +minutes;" and he pointed to the arm-chair on the other side of the +table. + +Mr. Radford sat down, and leaned his head upon his hand, looking in +the baronet's face with a scrutinizing gaze. If Sir Robert Croyland +understood him well, he also understood Sir Robert Croyland, heart and +mind--every corporeal fibre--every mental peculiarity. He saw clearly +that his companion was terrified; he divined that he had wished to +avoid him; and the satisfaction that he felt at having caught him just +as he was going out, at having frustrated his hope of escape, had a +pleasant malice in it, which compensated for a part of all that he had +suffered during that morning, as report after report reached him of +the utter annihilation of his hopes of immense gain, the loss of a +ruinous sum of money, and the danger and narrow escape of his son. He +had not slept a wink during the whole of the preceding night; and he +had passed the hours in a state of nervous anxiety which would have +totally unmanned many a strong-minded man when his first fears were +realized. But Mr. Radford's mind was of a peculiar construction: +apprehension he might feel, but never, by any chance, discouragement. +All his pain was in anticipation, not in endurance. The moment a blow +was struck, it was over: his thoughts turned to new resources; and, in +reconstructing schemes which had been overthrown, in framing new ones, +or pursuing old ones which had slumbered, he instantly found comfort +for the past. Thus he seemed as fresh, as resolute, as unabashed by +fortune's late frowns, as ever; but there was a rankling bitterness, +an eager, wolf-like energy in his heart, which sprung both from angry +disappointment and from the desperate aspect of his present fortune; +and such feelings naturally communicated some portion of their +acerbity to the expression of his countenance, which no effort could +totally banish. + +He gazed upon Sir Robert Croyland, then with a keen and inquiring +look, not altogether untinged with that sort of pity which amounts to +scorn; and, after a momentary pause, he said, "Well, Croyland, you +have heard all, I suppose!" + +"No, not all--not all, Radford," answered the baronet, hesitating; "I +was going out to inquire." + +"I can save you the trouble, then," replied Mr. Radford, drily. "I am +ruined. That is to say, in the two last ventures I have lost +considerably more than a hundred thousand pounds." + +Sir Robert Croyland waved his head sadly, saying, "Terrible, terrible! +but what can be done?" + +"Oh, several things," answered Mr. Radford, "and that is what I have +come to speak to you about, because the first must rest with you, my +excellent good friend." + +"But where is your son, poor fellow?" asked the baronet, eager to +avoid, as long as possible, the point to which their conversation was +tending. "They tell me he was well nigh taken; and, after there has +been blood shed, that would have been destruction. Do you know they +came and searched this house for him?" + +"No, I had not heard of that, Croyland," replied Mr. Radford; "but he +is near enough, well enough, and safe enough to marry your fair +daughter." + +"Ay, yes," answered Sir Robert; "that must be thought of, and----." + +"Oh dear, no!" cried the other, interrupting him; "it has been thought +of enough already, Croyland--too much, perhaps; now, it must be done." + +"Well, I will go over to Edith at once," said the baronet, "and I will +urge her, by every inducement. I will tell her, that it is her duty, +that it is my will, and that she must and shall obey." + +Mr. Radford rose slowly off his seat, crossed over the rug to the +place where Sir Robert Croyland was placed; and, leaning his hand upon +the arm of the other's chair, he bent down his head, saying in a low +but very clear voice and perfectly distinct words, "Tell her, her +father's life depends upon it!" + +Sir Robert Croyland shrank from him, as if an asp had approached his +cheek; and he turned deadly pale. "No, Radford--no," he replied, in a +faltering and deprecatory tone; "you cannot mean such a horrible +thing. I will do all that I can to make her yield--I will, indeed--I +will insist--I will----" + +"Sir Robert Croyland," said Mr. Radford, sternly and slowly, "I will +have no more trifling. I have indulged you too long. Your daughter +must be my son's wife before he quits this country--which must be the +case for a time, till we can get this affair wiped out by our +parliamentary influence. Her fortune must be his, she must be his +wife, I say, before four days are over.--Now, my good friend," he +continued, falling back, in a degree, into his usual manner, which had +generally a touch of sarcastic bitterness in it when addressing his +present companion, "what means you may please to adopt to arrive at +this desirable result I cannot tell; but as the young lady has shown +an aversion to the match, not very flattering to my son----" + +"Is it not his own fault?" cried Sir Robert Croyland, roused to some +degree of indignation and resistance--"has he ever, by word or deed, +sought to remove that reluctance? Has he wooed her as woman always +requires to be wooed? Has he not rather shown a preference to her +sister, paid her all attention, courted, admired her?" + +"Pity you suffered it, Sir Robert," answered Radford; "but permit me, +in your courtesy, to go on with what I was saying. As the young lady +has shown this unfortunate reluctance, I anticipate no effect from +your proposed use of parental authority. I believe your requests and +your commands will be equally unavailing; and, therefore, I say, tell +her, her father's life depends upon it; for I will have no more +trifling, Sir Robert--no more delay--no more hesitation. It must be +settled at once--this very day. Before midnight, I must hear that she +consents, or you understand!--and consent she will, if you but employ +the right means. She may show herself obstinate, undutiful, careless +of your wishes and commands; but I do not think that she would like to +be the one to tie a halter round her father's neck, or to bring what I +think you gentlemen of heraldry and coat-armour call a cross-patonce +into the family-bearing--ha, ha, ha!--Do you, Sir Robert?" + +The unhappy gentleman to whom he spoke covered his eyes with his hand; +but, from beneath, his features could be seen working with the +agitation of various emotions, in which rage, impotent though it might +be, was not without its share. Suddenly, however, a gleam of hope +seemed to shoot across his mind; he withdrew his hand; he looked up +with some light in his eyes. "A thought has struck me, Radford," he +said; "Zara--we have talked of Zara--why not substitute her for Edith? +Listen to me--listen to me. You have not heard all." + +Mr. Radford shook his head. "It cannot be done," he replied--"it is +quite out of the question." + +"Nay, but hear!" exclaimed the baronet. "Not so much out of the +question as you think. Look at the whole circumstances, Radford. The +great obstacle with Edith, is that unfortunate engagement with young +Leyton. She looks upon herself as his wife; she has told me so a +thousand times; and I doubt even the effect of the terrible course +which you urge upon me so cruelly." + +Mr. Radford's brow had grown exceedingly dark at the very mention of +the name of Leyton; but he said nothing, and, as if to keep down the +feelings that were swelling in his heart, set his teeth hard in his +under lip. Sir Robert Croyland saw all these marks of anger, but went +on--"Now, the case is different with Zara. Your son has sought her, +and evidently admires her; and she has shown herself by no means +unfavourable towards him. Besides, I can do with her what I like. +There is no such obstacle in her case; and I could bend her to my will +with a word--Yes, but hear me out. I know what you would say: she has +no fortune; all the land that I can dispose of is mortgaged to the +full--the rest goes to my brother, if he survives me.--True, all very +true!--But, Radford, listen--if I can induce my brother to give Zara +the same fortune which Edith possesses--if this night I can bring +it you under his own hand, that she shall have fifty thousand +pounds?--You shake your head; you doubt that he will do it; but I can +tell you that he would willingly give it, to save Edith from your son. +I am ready to pledge you my word, that you shall have that engagement, +under his own hand, this very night, or that Edith shall become your +son's wife within four days. Let us cast aside all idle +circumlocution. It is Edith's fortune for your son, that you require. +You can care nothing personally which of the two he marries. As for +him, he evidently prefers Zara. She is also well inclined to him. I +can--I am sure I can--offer you the same fortune with her. Why should +you object?" + +Mr. Radford had resumed his seat, and with his arms folded on his +chest, and his head bent, had remained in a listening posture. But +nothing that he heard seemed to produce any change in his countenance; +and when Sir Robert Croyland had concluded, he rose again, took a step +towards him, and replied, through his shut teeth, "You are mistaken, +Sir Robert Croyland--it is not fortune alone I seek.--It is +revenge!--There, ask me no questions, I have told you my determination. +Your daughter Edith shall be my son's wife within four days, or Maidstone +jail, trial, and execution, shall be your lot. The haughty family of +Croyland shall bear the stain of felony upon them to the last +generation; and your daughter shall know--for if you do not tell her, +I will--that it is her obstinacy which sends her father to the +gallows. No more trifling--no more nonsense! Act, sir, as you think +fit; but remember, that the words--once passed my lips--can never be +recalled; that the secret I have kept buried for so many years, shall +to-morrow morning be published to the whole world, if to-night you do +not bring me your daughter's consent to what I demand. I am using no +vain threats, Sir Robert Croyland," he continued, resuming a somewhat +softened tone, "and I do not urge you to this without some degree of +regret. You have been very kind and friendly; you have done me good +service on several occasions; and it will be with great regret that I +become the instrument of your destruction. But still every man has a +conscience of some kind. Even I am occasionally troubled with qualms; +and I frequently reproach myself for concealing what I am bound to +reveal. It is a pity this marriage was not concluded long ago, for +then, connected with you by the closest ties; I should have felt +myself more justified in holding my tongue. Now, however, it is +absolutely necessary that your daughter Edith should become my son's +wife. I have pointed out the means which I think will soonest bring it +to bear; and if you do not use them, you must abide the consequences. +But mark me--no attempt at delay, no prevarication, no hesitation! A +clear, positive, distinct answer this night by twelve o'clock, or you +are lost!" + +Sir Robert Croyland had leaned his arms upon the table, and pressed +his eyes upon his arms. His whole frame shook with emotion, and the +softer, and seemingly more kindly words of the man before him, were +even bitterer to him than the harsher and the fiercer. Though he did +not see his face, he knew that there was far more sarcasm than +tenderness in them. He had been his slave--his tool, for years--his +tool through the basest and most unmanly of human passions--fear; and +he felt, not only that he was despised, but that at that moment +Radford was revelling in contempt. He could have got up and stabbed +him where he stood; for he was naturally a passionate and violent man. +But fear had still the dominion; and after a bitter struggle with +himself, he conquered his anger, and gave himself up to the thought of +meeting the circumstances in which he was placed, as best he might. He +was silent for several moments, however, after Mr. Radford had ceased +speaking; and then, looking up with an anxious eye and quivering lip, +he said, "But how is it possible, Radford, that the marriage should +take place in four days? The banns could not be published; and even if +you got a licence, your son could not appear at church within the +prescribed hours, without running a fatal risk." + +"We will have a special licence, my good friend," answered Mr. +Radford, with a contemptuous smile. "Do not trouble yourself about +that. You will have quite enough to do with your daughter, I should +imagine, without annoying yourself with other things. As to my son, I +will manage his part of the affair; and he can marry your daughter in +your drawing-room, or mine, at an hour when there will be no eager +eyes abroad. Money can do all things; and a special licence is not so +very expensive but that I can afford it, still. My drawing-room will +be best; for then we shall be all secure." + +"But, Radford--Radford!" said Sir Robert Croyland, "if I do--if I +bring Edith at the time appointed--if she become your son's wife--you +will give me up that paper, that fatal deposition?" + +"Oh, yes, assuredly," replied Mr. Radford, with an insulting smile; "I +can hand it over to you as part of the marriage settlement. You need +not be the least afraid!--and now, I think I must go; for I have +business to settle as well as you." + +"Stay, stay a moment, Radford," said the baronet, rising and coming +nearer to him. "You spoke of revenge just now. What is it that you +mean?" + +"I told you to ask no questions," answered the other, sharply. + +"But at least tell me, if it is on me or mine that you seek revenge!" +exclaimed Sir Robert Croyland. "I am unconscious of ever having +injured or offended you in any way." + +"Oh dear, no," replied Mr. Radford. "You have nothing to do with +it--no, nor your daughter either, though she deserves a little +punishment for her ill-treatment to my son. No, but there is one on +whom I will have revenge--deep and bitter revenge, too! But that is my +affair; and I do not choose to say more. You have heard my +resolutions; and you know me well enough, to be sure that I will keep +my word. So now go to your daughter, and manage the matter as you +judge best; but if you will take my advice, you will simply ask her +consent, and make her fully aware that her father's life depends upon +it; and now good-by, my dear friend. Good luck attend you on your +errand; for I would a great deal rather not have any hand in bringing +you, where destiny seems inclined to lead you very soon." + +Thus saying, he turned and quitted the room; and Sir Robert Croyland +remained musing for several minutes, his thoughts first resting upon +the last part of their conversation. "Revenge!" he said; "he must mean +my brother; and it will be bitter enough, to him, to see Edith married +to this youth. Bitter enough to me, too; but it must be done--it must +be done!" + +He pressed his hand upon his heart, and then went out to mount his +horse; but pausing in the vestibule, he told the butler to bring him a +glass of brandy. The man hastened to obey; for his master's face was +as pale as death, and he thought that Sir Robert was going to faint. +But when the baronet had swallowed the stimulating liquor, he walked +to the back door with a quick and tolerably steady step, mounted, and +rode away alone. + +Before I follow him, though anxious to do so as quickly as possible, I +must say a few words in regard to Mr. Radford's course. After he had +reached the parish road I have mentioned,--on which one or two +dragoons were still visible, slowly patrolling round Harbourne +Wood,--the man who had exercised so terrible an influence upon poor +Sir Robert Croyland turned his horse's head upon the path which led +straight through the trees towards the cottage of Widow Clare. His +face was still dark and cloudy; and, trusting to the care and +sure-footedness of his beast, he went on with a loose rein and his +eyes bent down towards his saddle-bow, evidently immersed in deep +thought. When he had got about two-thirds across the wood, he started +and turned round his head; for there was the sound of a horse's feet +behind, and he instantly perceived a dragoon following him, and +apparently keeping him in sight. Mr. Radford rode on, however, till he +came out not far from the gate of Mrs. Clare's garden, when he saw +another soldier riding slowly round the wood. With a careless air, +however, and as if he scarcely perceived these circumstances, he +dismounted, buckled the rein of his bridle slowly over the palings of +the garden, and went into the cottage, closing the door after him. He +found the widow and her daughter busily employed with the needle, +making somewhat smarter clothes than those they wore on ordinary +occasions. It was poor Kate's bridal finery. + +Mrs. Clare instantly rose, and dropped a low curtsey to Mr. Radford, +who had of late years frequently visited her cottage, and occasionally +contributed a little to her comfort, in a kindly and judicious manner. +Sometimes he had sent her down a load of wood, to keep the house warm; +sometimes he had given her a large roll of woollen cloth, a new gown +for her daughter or herself, or a little present of money. But Mr. +Radford had his object: he always had. + +"Well, Mrs. Clare!" said Mr. Radford, in as easy and quiet a tone as +if nothing had happened to agitate his mind or derange his plans; "so, +my pretty little friend, Kate, is going to be married to worthy Jack +Harding, I find." + +Kate blushed and held down her head, and Mrs. Clare assented with a +faint smile. + +"There has been a bad business of it this morning, though," said Mr. +Radford, looking in Mrs. Clare's face; "I dare say you've heard all +about it--over there, in the valley by Woodchurch and Redbrook +Street." + +Mrs. Clare looked alarmed; and Kate forgot her timidity, and +exclaimed--"Oh! is he safe?" + +"Oh, yes, my dear," answered Mr. Radford, in a kindly tone; "you need +not alarm yourself. He was not in it, at all. I don't say he had no +share in running the goods; for that is pretty well known, I believe; +and he did his part of the work well; but the poor fellows who were +bringing up the things, by some folly, or mistake, I do not know +which, got in amongst the dragoons, were attacked, and nearly cut to +pieces." + +"Ay, then, that is what the soldiers are hanging about here for," said +Mrs. Clare. + +"It's a sad affair for me, indeed!" continued Mr. Radford, +thoughtfully. + +"I am truly sorry to hear that, sir!" exclaimed Mrs. Clare, "for you +have been always very kind to me." + +"Well, my good lady," replied her visitor, "perhaps you may now be +able to do me a kindness in return," said Mr. Radford. "To tell you +the truth, my son was in this affray. He made his escape when he found +that they could not hold their ground; and it is for him that the +soldiers are now looking--at least, I suspect so. Perhaps you may be +able to give a little help, if he should be concealed about here?" + +"That I will," said Widow Clare, "if it cost me one of my hands!" + +"Oh, there will be no danger!" answered Mr. Radford; "I only wish you, +in case he should be lying where I think he is, to take care that he +has food till he can get away. It might be better for Kate here, to go +rather than yourself; or one could do it at one time, and the other at +another. With a basket on her arm, and a few eggs at the top, Kate +could trip across the wood as if she were going to Harbourne House. +You could boil the eggs hard, you know, and put some bread and other +things underneath. Then, at the place where I suppose he is, she could +quietly put down the basket and walk on." + +"But you must tell me where he is, sir," answered Mrs. Clare. + +"Certainly," replied Mr. Radford--"that is to say, I can tell you +where I think he is. Then, when she gets near it, she can look round +to see if there's any one watching, and if she sees no one, can say +aloud--'Do you want anything?' If he's there he'll answer; and should +he send any message to me, one of you must bring it up. I shan't +forget to repay you for your trouble." + +"Oh dear, sir, it isn't for that," said Mrs. Clare--"Kate and I will +both be very glad, indeed, to show our gratitude for your kindness. It +is seldom poor people have the opportunity; and I am sure, after good +Sir Robert Croyland, we owe more to you than to any body." + +"Sir Robert has been kind to you, I believe, Mrs. Clare!" replied Mr. +Radford, with a peculiar expression of countenance. "Well he may be! +He has not always been so kind to you and yours." + +"Pray, sir, do not say a word against Sir Robert!" answered the widow; +"though he sometimes used to speak rather cross and angrily in former +times, yet since my poor husband's death, nothing could be more kind +than he has been. I owe him everything, sir." + +"Ay, it's all very well, Mrs. Clare," replied Mr. Radford, shaking his +head with a doubtful smile--"it's all very well! However, I do not +intend to say a word against Sir Robert Croyland. He's my very good +friend, you know; and it's all very well.--Now let us talk about the +place where you or Kate are to go; but, above all things, remember +that you must not utter a word about it to any one, either now or +hereafter; for it might be the ruin of us all if you did." + +"Oh, no--not for the world, sir!" answered Mrs. Clare; "I know such +places are not to be talked about; and nobody shall ever hear anything +about it from us." + +"Well, then," continued Mr. Radford, "you know the way up to Harbourne +House, through the gardens. There's the little path to the right; and +then, half way up that, there's one to the left, which brings you to +the back of the stables. It goes between two sandy banks, you may +recollect; and there's a little pond with a willow growing over it, +and some bushes at the back of the willow. Well, just behind these +bushes there is a deep hole in the bank, high enough to let a man +stand upright in it, when he gets a little way down. It would make a +famous _hide_ if there were a better horse-path up to it, and +sometimes it has been used for small things such as a man can carry on +his back. Now, from what I have heard, my boy Richard must be in +there; for his horse was found, it seems, not above two or three +hundred yards from the house, broken-knee'd and knocked-up. If any one +should follow you as you go, and make inquiries, you must say that you +are going to the house; for there is a door there in the wall of the +stable-yard--though that path is seldom, if ever used now; but, if +there be nobody by, you can just set down the basket by the stump of +the willow, and ask if he wants anything more. If he doesn't answer, +speak again, and try at all events to find out whether he's there or +not, so that I may hear." + +"Oh, I know the place, quite well!" said Mrs. Clare. "My poor husband +used to get gravel there. But when do you think I had better go, sir? +for if the dragoons are still lingering about, a thousand to one but +they follow me, and, more likely still, may follow Kate; so I shall go +myself to night, at all events." + +"You had better wait till it is duskish," answered Mr. Radford; "and +then they'll soon lose sight of you amongst the trees; for they can't +go up there on horseback, and if they stop to dismount you can easily +get out of their way. Let me have any message you may get from +Richard; and don't forget, either, if Harding comes up here, to tell +him I want to speak with him very much. He'll be sorry enough for this +affair when he hears of it, for the loss is dreadful!" + +"I'm sure he will, sir," said Kate Clare; "for he was talking about +something that he had to do, and said it would half kill him, if he +did not get it done safely." + +"Ay, he's a very good fellow," answered Mr. Radford, "and you shall +have a wedding-gown from me, Kate.--Look out of the window, there's a +good girl, and see if any of those dragoons are about." + +Kate did as he bade her, and replied in the negative; and Mr. Radford, +after giving a few more directions, mounted his horse and rode away, +muttering as he went--"Ay, Master Harding, I have a strong suspicion +of you; and I will soon satisfy myself. They must have had good +information, which none could give but you, I think; so look to +yourself, my friend. No man ever injured me yet who had not cause to +repent it." + +Mr. Radford forgot that he no longer possessed such extensive means of +injuring others as he had formerly done; but the bitter will was as +strong as ever. + + + + + CHAPTER XII. + + +The house of Mr. Zachary Croyland was not so large or ostentatious in +appearance as that of his brother; but, nevertheless, it was a very +roomy and comfortable house; and as he was naturally a man of fine +taste--though somewhat singular in his likings and dislikings, as well +in matters of art as in his friendships, and vehement in favour of +particular schools, and in abhorrence of others--his dwelling was +fitted up with all that could refresh the eye or improve the mind. A +very extensive and well-chosen library covered the walls of one room, +in which were also several choice pieces of sculpture; and his +drawing-room was ornamented with a valuable collection of small +pictures, into which not one single Dutch piece was admitted. He was +accustomed to say, when any connoisseur objected to the total +exclusion of a very fine school--"Don't mention it--don't mention it; +I hate it in all its branches and all its styles. I have pictures for +my own satisfaction, not because they are worth a thousand pounds +apiece. I hate to see men represented as like beasts as possible; or +to refresh my eyes with swamps and canals; or, in the climate of +England, which is dull enough of all conscience, to exhilarate myself +with the view of a frozen pond and fields, as flat as a plate, covered +with snow, while half-a-dozen boors, in red night-caps and red noses, +are skating away in ten pairs of breeches--looking, in point of shape, +exactly like hogs set upon their hind legs. It's all very true the +artist may have shown very great talent; but that only shows him to be +the greater fool for wasting his talents upon such subjects." + +His collection, therefore, consisted almost entirely of the Italian +schools, with a few Flemish, a few English, and one or two exquisite +Spanish pictures. He had two good Murillos and a Velasquez, one or two +fine Vandykes, and four sketches by Rubens of larger pictures. But he +had numerous landscapes, and several very beautiful small paintings of +the Bolognese school; though that on which he prided himself the most, +was an exquisite Correggio. + +It was in this room that he left his niece Edith when he set out for +Woodchurch; and, as she sat--with her arm fallen somewhat listlessly +over the back of the low sofa, the light coming in from the window +strong upon her left cheek, and the rest in shade, with her rich +colouring and her fine features, the high-toned expression of soul +upon her brow, and the wonderful grace of her whole form and +attitude--she would have made a fine study for any of those dead +artists whose works lived around her. + +She heard the wheels of the carriage roll away; but she gave no +thought to the question of whither her uncle had gone, or why he took +her not with him, as he usually did. She was glad of it, in fact; and +people seldom reason upon that with which they are well pleased. Her +whole mind was directed to her own situation, and to the feelings +which the few words of conversation she had had with her sister had +aroused. She thought of him she loved, with the intense, eager longing +to behold him once more--but once, if so it must be--which perhaps +only a woman's heart can fully know. To be near him, to hear him +speak, to trace the features she had loved, to mark the traces of +Time's hand, and the lines that care and anxiety, and disappointment +and regret, she knew must be busily working--oh, what a boon it would +be! Then her mind ran on, led by the light hand of Hope, along the +narrow bridge of association, to ask herself--if it would be such +delight to see him and to hear him speak--what would it be to soothe, +to comfort, to give him back to joy and peace! + +The dream was too bright to last, and it soon faded. He was near her, +and yet he did not come; he was in the same land, in the same +district; he had gazed up to the house where she dwelt; if he had +asked whose it was, the familiar name--the name once so dear--must +have sounded in his ear; and yet he did not come. A few minutes of +time, a few steps of his horse, would have brought him to where she +was; but he had turned away,--and Edith's eyes filled with tears. + +She rose and wiped them off, saying, "I will think of something else;" +and she went up and gazed at a picture. It was a Salvator Rosa--a fine +painting, though not by one of the finest masters. There was a rocky +scene in front, with trees waving in the wind of a fierce storm, while +two travellers stood beneath a bank and a writhing beech tree, +scarcely seeming to find shelter even there from the large grey +streams of rain that swept across the foreground. But, withal, in the +distance were seen some majestic old towers and columns, with a gleam +of golden light upon the edge of the sky; and Hope, never wearying of +her kindly offices, whispered to Edith's heart, "In life, as in that +picture, there may be sunshine behind the storm." + +Poor Edith was right willing to listen; and she gave herself up to the +gentle guide. "Perhaps," she thought, "his duty might not admit of his +coming, or perhaps he might not know how he would he received. My +father's anger would be sure to follow such a step. He might think +that insult, injury, would be added. He might imagine even, that I am +changed," and she shook her head, sadly. "Yet why should he not," she +continued, "if I sit here and think so of him? Who can tell what +people may have said?--Who can tell even what falsehoods may have been +spread? Perhaps he's even now thinking of me. Perhaps he has come into +this part of the country to make inquiries, to see with his own eyes, +to satisfy himself. Oh, it must be so--it must be so!" she cried, +giving herself up again to the bright dream. "Ay, and this Sir Edward +Digby, too, he is his dear friend, his companion, may he not have sent +him down to investigate and judge? I thought it strange at the time, +that this young officer should write to inquire after my father's +family, and then instantly accept an invitation; and I marked how he +gazed at that wretched young man and his unworthy father. Perhaps he +will tell Zara more, and I shall hear when I return. Perhaps he has +told her more already. Indeed, it is very probable, for they had a +long ride together yesterday;" and poor Edith began to feel as anxious +to go back to her father's house as she had been glad to quit it. Yet +she saw no way how this could be accomplished, before the period +allotted for her stay was at an end; and she determined to have +recourse to a little simple art, and ask Mr. Croyland to take her over +to Harbourne, on the following morning, with the ostensible purpose of +looking for some article of apparel left behind, but, in truth, to +obtain a few minutes' conversation with her sister. + +There are times in the life of almost every one--at least, of every +one of feeling and intellect--when it seems as if we could meditate +for ever: when, without motion or change, the spirit within the +earthly tabernacle could pause and ponder over deep subjects of +contemplation for hour after hour, with the doors and windows of the +senses shut, and without any communication with external things. The +matter before us may be any of the strange and perplexing relations of +man's mysterious being; or it may be some obscure circumstance of our +own fate--some period of uncertainty and expectation--some of those +Egyptian darknesses which from time to time come over the future, and +which we gaze on half in terror, half in hope, discovering nothing, +yet speculating still. The latter was the case at that moment with +Edith Croyland; and, as she revolved every separate point of her +situation, it seemed as if fresh wells of thought sprung up to flow on +interminably. + +She had continued thus during more than half an hour after her uncle's +departure, when she heard a horse stop before the door of the house, +and her heart beat, though she knew not wherefore. Her lover might +have come at length, indeed; but if that dream crossed her mind it was +soon swept away; for the next instant she heard her father's voice, +first inquiring for herself, and then asking, in a lower tone, if his +brother was within. If Edith had felt hope before, she now felt +apprehension; for during several years no private conversation had +taken place between her father and herself without bringing with it +grief and anxiety, harsh words spoken, and answers painful for a child +to give. + +It seldom happens that fear does not go beyond reality; but such was +not the case in the present instance; for Edith Croyland had to +undergo far more than she expected. Her father entered the room where +she sat, with a slow step and a stern and determined look. His face +was very pale, too; his lips themselves seemed bloodless, and the +terrible emotions which were in his heart showed themselves upon his +countenance by many an intelligible but indescribable sign. As soon as +Edith saw him, she thought, "He has heard of Henry's return to this +country. It is that which has brought him;" and she nerved her heart +for a new struggle; but still she could scarcely prevent her limbs +from shaking, as she rose and advanced to meet her parent. + +Sir Robert Croyland drew her to him, and kissed her tenderly enough; +for, in truth, he loved her very dearly: and then he led her back to +the sofa, and seated himself beside her. + +"How low these abominable contrivances are," he said; "I do wish that +Zachary would have some sofas that people can sit upon with comfort, +instead of these beastly things, only fit for a Turkish harem, or a +dog-kennel." + +Edith made no reply; for she waited in dread of what was to follow, +and could not speak of trifles. But her father presently went on, +saying, "So, my brother is out, and not likely to return for an hour +or two!--Well, I am glad of it, Edith; for I came over to speak with +you on matters of much moment." + +Still Edith was silent; for she durst not trust her voice with any +reply. She feared that her courage would give way at the first words, +and that she should burst into tears, when she felt sure that all the +resolution she could command, would be required to bear her safely +through. She trusted, indeed, that, as she had often found before, her +spirit would rise with the occasion, and that she should find powers +of resistance within her in the time of need, though she shrank from +the contemplation of what was to come. + +"I have delayed long, Edith," continued Sir Robert Croyland, after a +pause, "to press you upon a subject in regard to which it is now +absolutely necessary you should come to a decision;--too long, indeed; +but I have been actuated by a regard for your feelings, and you owe me +something for my forbearance. There can now, however, be no further +delay. You will easily understand, that I mean your marriage with +Richard Radford." + +Edith raised her eyes to her father's face, and, after a strong +effort, replied, "My decision, my dear father, has, as you know, been +long made. I cannot, and I will not, marry him--nothing on earth shall +ever induce me!" + +"Do not say that, Edith," answered Sir Robert Croyland, with a bitter +smile; "for I could utter words, which, if I know you rightly, would +make you glad and eager to give him your hand, even though you broke +your heart in so doing. But before I speak those things which will +plant a wound in your bosom for life, that nothing can heal or +assuage, I will try every other means. I request you--I intreat you--I +command you, to marry him! By every duty that you owe me--by all the +affection that a child ought to feel for a father, I beseech you to do +so, if you would save me from destruction and despair!" + +"I cannot! I cannot!" said Edith, clasping her hands. "Oh! why should +you drive me to such painful disobedience? In the first place, can I +promise to love a man that I hate, to honour and obey one whom I +despise, and whose commands can never be for good? But still more, my +father,--you must hear me out, for you force me to speak--you force me +to tear open old wounds, to go back to times long past, and to recur +to things bitter to you and to me. I cannot marry him, as I told you +once before; for I hold myself to be the wife of another." + +"Folly and nonsense!" cried Sir Robert Croyland, angrily, "you are +neither his wife, nor he your husband. What! the wife of a man who has +never sought you for years--who has cast you off, abandoned you, made +no inquiry for you?--The marriage was a farce. You read a ceremony +which you had no right to read, you took vows which you had no power +to take. The law of the land pronounces all such engagements mere +pieces of empty foolery!" + +"But the law of God," replied Edith, "tells us to keep vows that we +have once made. To those vows, I called God to witness with a true and +sincere heart; and with the same heart, and the same feelings, I will +keep them! I did wrong, my father--I know I did wrong--and Henry did +wrong too; but by what we have done we must abide; and I dare not, I +cannot be the wife of another." + +"But, I tell you, you shall!" exclaimed her father, vehemently. "I +will compel you to be so; I will over-rule this obstinate folly, and +make you obedient, whether you choose it or not." + +"Nay, nay--not so!" cried Edith. "You could not do, you would not +attempt, so cruel a thing!" + +"I will, so help me Heaven!" exclaimed Sir Robert Croyland. + +"Then, thank Heaven," answered his daughter, in a low but solemn +voice, "it is impossible! In this country, there is no clergyman who +would perform the ceremony contrary to my expressed dissent. If I +break the vows that I have taken, it must be my own voluntary act; for +there is not any force that can compel me so to do; and I call Heaven +to witness, that, even if you were to drag me to the altar, I would +say, No, to the last!" + +"Rash, mad, unfeeling girl!" cried her father, starting up, and gazing +upon her with a look in which rage, and disappointment, and perplexity +were all mingled. + +He stood before her for a moment in silence, and then strode +vehemently backwards and forwards in the room, with his right hand +contracting and expanding, as if grasping at something. "It must be +done!" he said, at length, pressing his hand upon his brow; "it must +be done!" and then he recommenced his silent walk, with the shadows of +many emotions coming over his countenance. + +When he returned to Edith's side again, the manner and the aspect of +Sir Robert Croyland were both changed. There was an expression of deep +sorrow upon his countenance, of much agitation, but considerable +tenderness; and, to his daughter's surprise, he took her hand in his, +and pressed it affectionately. + +"Edith," he said, after a short interval of silence, "I have +commanded, I have insisted, I have threatened--but all in vain. Yet, +in so doing, I have had in view to spare you even greater pain than +could be occasioned by a father's sternness. My very love for you, my +child, made me seem wanting in love. But now I must inflict the +greater pain. You require, it seems, inducements stronger than +obedience to a father's earnest commands, and you shall have them, +however terrible for me to speak and you to hear. I will tell you all, +and leave you to judge." + +Edith gazed at him in surprise and terror. "Oh, do not--do not, sir!" +she said; "do not try to break my heart, and put my duty to you in +opposition to the fulfilment of a most sacred vow--in opposition to +all the dictates of my own heart and my own conscience." + +"Edith, it must be done," replied Sir Robert Croyland. "I have urged +you to a marriage with young Richard Radford. I now tell you solemnly +that your father's life depends upon it." + +Edith clasped her hands wildly together, and gazed, for a moment, in +his face, without a word, almost stupified with horror. But Sir Robert +Croyland had deceived her, or attempted to deceive her, on the very +same subject they were now discussing, more than once already. She +knew it; and of course she doubted; for those who have been once false +are never fully believed--those who have been once deceived are always +suspicious of those who have deceived them, even when they speak the +truth. As thought and reflection came back after the first shock, +Edith found much cause to doubt: she could not see how such a thing +was possible--how her refusal of Richard Radford could affect her +father's life; and she replied, after a time, in a hesitating tone, +"How can that be?--I do not understand it.--I do not see how----" + +"I will tell you," replied Sir Robert Croyland, in a low and +peculiarly-quiet voice, which had something fearful in it to his +daughter's ear. "It is a long story, Edith; but you must hear it all, +my child. You shall be your father's confidant--his only one. You +shall share the secret, dreadful as it is, which has embittered his +whole existence, rendered his days terrible, his nights sleepless, his +bed a couch of fire." + +Edith trembled in every limb; and Sir Robert, rising, crossed over and +opened the door of the drawing-room, to see that there were none of +the servants near it. Then closing it again, he returned to her side, +and proceeded, holding her hand in his: "You must have remarked," he +said, "and perhaps often wondered, my dear child, that Mr. Radford, a +man greatly below myself in station, whose manners are repulsive and +disagreeable, whose practices I condemn and reprobate, whose notions +and principles I abhor, has exercised over me for many years an +influence which no other person possesses, that he has induced me to +do many things which my better sense and better feelings disapproved, +that he has even led me to consent that my best-loved daughter should +become the wife of his son, and to urge her to be so at the expense of +all her feelings. You have seen all this, Edith, and wondered. Is it +not so?" + +"I have, indeed," murmured Edith. "I have been by no means able to +account for it." + +"Such will not be the case much longer, Edith," replied Sir Robert +Croyland. "I am making my confession, my dear child; and you shall +hear all. I must recur, too, to the story of young Leyton. You know +well that I liked and esteemed him; and although I was offended, as I +justly might be, at his conduct towards yourself, and thought fit to +show that I disapproved, yet at first, and from the first, I +determined, if I saw the attachment continue and prove real and +sincere, to sacrifice all feelings of pride, and all considerations of +fortune, and when you were of a fit age, to confirm the idle ceremony +which had passed between you, by a real and lawful marriage." + +"Oh, that was kind and generous of you, my dear father. What could +make you change so suddenly and fatally? You must have seen that the +attachment was true and lasting; you must have known that Henry was in +every way calculated to make your daughter happy." + +"You shall hear, Edith--you shall hear," replied her father. "Very +shortly after the event of which I have spoken, another occurred, of a +dark and terrible character, only known to myself and one other. I was +somewhat irritable at that time. My views and prospects with regard to +yourself were crossed; and although I had taken the resolution I have +mentioned, vexation and disappointment had their effect upon my mind. +Always passionate, I gave way more to my passion than I had ever done +before; and the result was a fatal and terrible one. You may remember +poor Clare, the gamekeeper. He had offended me on the Monday morning; +and I had used violent and angry language towards him before his +companions, threatening to punish him in a way he did not expect. On +the following day, we went out again to shoot--he and I alone +together--and, on our way back, we passed through a little wood, which +lies----" + +"Oh, stop--stop!" cried Edith, covering her eyes with her hands. "Do +not tell me any more!" + +Her father was not displeased to see her emotion, for it answered his +purpose. Yet, it must not be supposed that the peculiar tone and +manner which he assumed, so different from anything that had been seen +in his demeanour for years, was affected as a means to an end. Such +was not the case. Sir Robert Croyland was now true, in manner and in +words, though it was the first time that he had been entirely so for +many years. There had been a terrible struggle before he could make up +his mind to speak; but yet, when he did begin, it was a relief to him, +to unburthen the overloaded breast, even to his own child. It softened +him; it made his heart expand; it took the chain off long-imprisoned +feelings, and gave a better spirit room to make its presence felt. He +did not forget his object, indeed. To save himself from a death of +horror, from accusation, from disgrace, was still his end; but the +means by which he proposed to seek it were gentler. He even wavered in +his resolution: he fancied that he could summon fortitude to leave the +decision to Edith herself, and that if that decision were against him, +would dare and bear the worst. But still he was pleased to see her +moved; for he thought that she could never hear the whole tale, and +learn his situation fully, without rushing forward to extricate him; +and he went on--"Nay, Edith, now the statement has been begun, it must +be concluded," he said. "You would hear, and you must hear all. You +know the wood I speak of, I dare say--a little to the left of Chequer +Tree?" + +"Oh, yes!" murmured Edith, "where poor Clare was found." + +The baronet nodded his head: "It was there, indeed," he said. "We went +down to see if there were any snipes, or wild fowl, in the bottom. It +is a deep and gloomy-looking dell, with a pond of water and some +rushes in the hollow, and a little brook running through it, having +tall trees all around, and no road but one narrow path crossing it. As +we came down, I thought I saw the form of a man move amongst the +trees; and I fancied that some one was poaching there. I told Clare to +go round the pond and see, while I watched the road. He did not seem +inclined to go, saying, that he had not remarked anybody, but that the +people round about said the place was haunted. I had been angry with +him the whole morning, and a good deal out of humour with many things; +so I told him to go round instantly, and not make me any answer. The +man did so, in a somewhat slow and sullen humour, I thought, and +returned sooner than I fancied he ought to do, saying that he could +see no trace of any one. I was now very angry, for I fancied he +neglected his duty. I told him that he was a liar, that I had +perceived some one, whom he might have perceived as well, and that my +firm belief was, he was in alliance with the poachers, and deserved to +be immediately discharged. 'Well, Sir Robert,' he said, 'in regard to +discharging me, that is soon settled. I will not stay another day in +your service, after I have a legal right to go. As to being a liar, I +am none; and as to being in league with the poachers, if you say so, +you yourself lie!' Such were his words, or words to that effect. I got +furious at his insolence, though perhaps, Edith--perhaps I provoked it +myself--at least, I have thought so since. However, madly giving way +to rage, I took my gun by the barrel to knock him down. A struggle +ensued; for he caught hold of the weapon in my hand; and how I know +not, but the gun went off, and Clare fell back upon the turf. What +would I not have done then, to recal every hasty word I had spoken! +But it was in vain. I stooped over him; I spoke to him; I told him how +sorry I was for what had happened. But he made no answer, and pressed +his hand upon his right side, where the charge had entered. I was mad +with despair and remorse. I knew not where to go, or what to do. The +man was evidently dying; for his face had grown pale and sharp; and +after trying to make him speak, and beseeching him to answer one word, +I set off running as fast as I could towards the nearest village for +assistance. As I was going, I saw a man on horseback, riding sharply +down towards the very place. He was at some distance from me; but I +easily recognised Mr. Radford, and knew that he must pass by the spot +where the wounded man lay. I comforted myself with thinking that Clare +would get aid without my committing myself; and I crept in amongst the +trees at the edge of the wood, to make sure that Mr. Radford saw him, +and to watch their proceedings. Quietly and stealthily finding my way +through the bushes, I came near; and then I saw that Radford was +kneeling by Clare's side with an inkhorn in his hand, which, with his +old tradesmanlike-habits, he used always at that time to carry about +him. He was writing busily, and I could hear Clare speak, but could +not distinguish what he said. The state of my mind, at that moment, I +cannot describe. It was more like madness than any thing else. Vain +and foolish is it, for any man or any body of men, to argue what would +be their conduct in trying situations which they have never been +placed in. It is worse than folly for them to say, what would +naturally be another man's conduct in any circumstances; for no man +can tell another's character, or understand fully all the fine shades +of feeling or emotion that may influence him. The tale I am telling +you now, Edith, is true--too true, in all respects. I was very wrong, +certainly; but I was not guilty of the man's murder. I never intended +to fire: I never tried to fire; and yet, perhaps, I acted, afterwards, +as if I had been guilty, or at all events in a way that was well +calculated to make people believe I was so. But I was mad at the +time--mad with agitation and grief--and every man, I believe, in +moments of deep emotion is mad, more or less. However, I crept out of +the wood again, and hastened on, determined to leave the man to the +care of Mr. Radford, but with all my thoughts wild and confused, and +no definite line of conduct laid out for myself. Before I had gone a +mile, I began to think what a folly I had committed, that I should +have joined Radford at once; that I should have been present to hear +what the man said, and to give every assistance in my power, although +it might be ineffectual, in order to stanch the blood and save his +life. As soon as these reflections arose, I determined, though late, +to do what I should have done at first; and, turning my steps, I +walked back at a quick pace. Ere I got half way to the top of the hill +which looks down upon the wood, I saw Radford coming out again on +horseback; but I went on, and met him. As soon as he beheld me he +checked his horse, which was going at a rapid rate, and when I came +near, dismounted to speak with me. We were then little more than +common acquaintances, and I had sometimes dealt hardly with him in his +different transactions; but he spoke in a friendly tone, saying, 'This +is a sad business, Sir Robert; but if you will take my advice you will +go home as quickly as you can, and say nothing to any one till you see +me. I will be with you in an hour or so. At present I must ride up to +Middle Quarter, and get down men to carry home the body.' With a +feeling I cannot express, I asked, if he were dead, then. He nodded +his head significantly, and when I was going to put further questions, +he grasped my hand, saying, 'Go home, Sir Robert--go home. I shall say +nothing about the matter to any one, till I see you, except that I +found him dying in the wood. His gun was discharged,' he continued, +'so there is no proof that he did not do it himself!' Little did I +know what a fiend he was, into whose power I was putting myself." + +"Oh, Heaven!" cried Edith, who had been listening with her head bent +down till her whole face was nearly concealed, "I see it all, now! I +see it all!" + +"No, dear child," replied Sir Robert Croyland, in a voice sad and +solemn, but wonderfully calm, "you cannot see it all; no, nor one +thousandth part of what I have suffered. Even the next dreadful three +hours--for he was fully that time ere he came to Harbourne--were full +of horror, inconceivable to any one but to him who endured them. At +length, he made his appearance; calm, grave, self-possessed, with +nought of his somewhat rude and blustering manner, and announced, with +an affectation of feeling to the family, that poor Clare, my keeper, +had been found dying with a wound in his side." + +"I recollect the day, well!" said Edith, shuddering. + +"Do you not remember, then," said Sir Robert Croyland, "that he and I +went into my writing-room--that awful room, which well deserves the +old prison name of the room of torture! We were closeted there for +nearly two hours; and all he said I cannot repeat. His tone, however, +was the most friendly in the world. He professed the greatest interest +in me and in my situation; and he told me that he had come to see me +before he said a word to any one, because he wished to take my opinion +as to how he was to proceed. It was necessary, he said, that I should +know the facts, for, unfortunately they placed me in a very dangerous +situation, which he was most anxious to free me from; and then he went +on to tell me, that when he had come up, poor Clare was perfectly +sensible, and had his speech distinctly. 'As a magistrate,' he +continued, 'I thought it right immediately to take his dying +deposition, for I saw that he had not many minutes to live. Here it +is,' he said, showing his pocket-book; 'and, as I luckily always have +pen and ink with me, I knelt down, and wrote his words from his own +lips. He had strength enough to sign the paper; and, as you may see, +there is the mark of blood from his own hand, which he had been +pressing on his side.' I would fain have taken the paper, but he would +not let me, saying, that he was bound to keep it; and then he went on, +and read the contents. In it, the unfortunate man charged me most +wrongfully with having shot him in a fit of passion; and, moreover, he +said that he had been sure, beforehand, that I would do it, as I had +threatened him on the preceding day, and there were plenty of people +who could prove it." + +"Oh, how dreadful!" cried Edith. + +"It was false, as I have a soul to be saved!" cried Sir Robert +Croyland. "But Mr. Radford then went on, and, shrugging his shoulders, +said, that he was placed in a very delicate and painful situation, and +that he did not really know how to act with regard to the deposition. +'Put it in the fire!' I exclaimed--'put it in the fire!' But he said, +'No; every man must consider himself in these things, Sir Robert. I +have my own character and reputation to think of--my own duty. I risk +a great deal, you must recollect, by concealing a thing of this kind. +I do not know that I don't put my own life in danger; for this is +clear and conclusive evidence against you, and you know, what it is to +be accessory in a case of murder!' I then told him my own story, +Edith; and he said, that made some difference, indeed. He was sure I +would tell him the truth; but yet he must consider himself in the +matter; and he added hints which I could not mistake, that his +evidence was to be bought off. I offered anything he pleased to name, +and the result was such as you may guess. He exacted that I should +mortgage my estate, as far as it could be mortgaged, and make over the +proceeds to him, and that I should promise to give your hand to his +son. I promised anything, my child; for not only life and death, but +honour or disgrace, were in the balance. If he had asked my life, I +would have held my throat to the knife a thousand times sooner than +have made such sacrifices. But to die the death of a felon, Edith--to +be hanged--to writhe in the face of a grinning and execrating +multitude--to have my name handed down in the annals of crime, as the +man who had been executed for the murder of his own servant,--I could +not bear that, my child; and I promised anything! He kept the paper, +he said, as a security; and, at first, it was to be given to me, to do +with it as I liked--when the money coming from the mortgage was +secretly made over to him; but then, he said, that he had lost one +great hold, and must keep it till the marriage was completed: for by +this time the coroner's inquest was over, and he had withheld the +deposition, merely testifying that he had found the man at the point +of death in the wood, and had gone as fast as possible for assistance. +The jury consisted of his tenants and mine, and they were easily +satisfied; but the fiend who had me in his power was more greedy; and, +by the very exercise of his influence, he seemed to learn to enjoy it. +Day after day, month after month, he took a pleasure in making me do +things that were abhorrent to me. It changed my nature and my +character. He forced me to wink at frauds that I detested; and every +year he pressed for the completion of your marriage with his son. Your +coldness, your dislike, your refusal would, long ere this, have driven +him into fury, I believe, if Richard Radford had been eager for your +hand himself. But now, Edith--now, my child, he will hear of no more +delay. He is ruined in fortune, disappointed in his expectations, and +rendered fierce as a hungry beast by some events that have taken place +this morning. He has just now been over at Harbourne, and used threats +which I know, too well, he will execute. He it was, himself, who told +me to inform you, that if you did not consent, your father's life +would be the sacrifice!" + +"Oh, Heaven!" cried Edith, covering her eyes with her hands, "at +least, give me time to think.--Surely, his word cannot have such +power: a base, notorious criminal himself, one who every day violates +the law, who scoffs at his own oaths, and holds truth and honour but +as names--surely his word will be nothing against Sir Robert +Croyland's." + +"His word is nothing, would be nothing," replied her father, +earnestly; "but that deposition, Edith! It is that which is my +destruction. Remember, that the words of a dying man, with eternity +and judgment close before his eyes, are held by the law more powerful +than any other kind of evidence; and, besides, there are those still +living, who heard the rash threat I used. Suspicion once pointed at +me, a thousand corroborative circumstances would come forth to prove +that the tale I told of parting with the dead man, some time before, +was false, and that very fact would condemn me. Cast away all such +hopes, Edith--cast away all such expectations. They are vain!--vain! +Look the truth full in the face, my child. This man has your father's +life entirely and totally in his power, and ask yourself, if you will +doom me to death." + +"Oh, give me time--give me time!" cried Edith, wringing her hands. +"Let me but think over it till to-morrow, or next day." + +"Not an hour ago," replied Sir Robert Croyland, "he swore, by +everything he holds sacred, that if before twelve to-night, he did not +receive your consent----" + +"Stay, stay!" cried Edith, eagerly, placing her hand upon her brow. +"Let me think--let me think. It is but money that he wants--it is but +the pitiful wealth my uncle left me. Let him take it, my father!" she +continued, laying her hand upon Sir Robert's arm, and gazing brightly +in his face, as if the light of hope had suddenly been renewed. "Let +him take it all, every farthing. I would sooner work as a hired +servant in the fields for my daily bread, with the only comfort of +innocence and peace, than break my vows, and marry that bad man. I +will sign a promise this instant that he shall have all." + +Sir Robert Croyland threw his arms round her, and looked up to Heaven, +as if imploring succour for them both. "My sweet child!--My dear +child!" he said, with the tears streaming down his cheeks. "But I +cannot leave you even this generous hope. This man has other designs. +I offered--I promised to give Zara to his son, and to ensure to her, +with my brother's help, a fortune equal to your own. But he would not +hear of it. He has other views, my Edith. You must know all--you must +see all as it really is. He will keep his word this very night! If +before twelve, he do not receive your consent, the intimation of the +fatal knowledge he possesses will be sent to those who will not fail +to track it through every step, as the bloodhound follows his prey. He +is a desperate man, Edith, and will keep his word, bringing down ruin +upon our heads, even if it overwhelm himself also." + +Edith Croyland paused without reply for several minutes, her beautiful +face remaining pale, with the exception of one glowing spot in the +centre of her cheek. Her eyes were fixed upon the ground; and her lips +moved, but without speech. She was arguing in her own mind the case +between hope and despair; and the terrible array of circumstances on +every side bewildered her. Delay was her only refuge; and looking up +in her father's face, she said, "But why is he so hasty? Why cannot he +wait a few hours longer? I will fix a time when my answer shall be +given--it shall be shortly, very shortly--this time to-morrow. Surely, +surely, in so terrible a case, I may be allowed a few hours to +think--a short, a very short period, to decide." + +"He will admit of no more than I have said," answered Sir Robert +Croyland: "it is as vain to entreat him, as to ask the hangman to +delay his fatal work. He is hard as iron, without feeling, without +heart. His reasons, too, are specious, my dear child. His son, it +seems, has taken part this morning in a smuggling affray with the +troops--blood has been shed--some of the soldiers have been +killed--all who have had a share therein are guilty of felony; and it +has become necessary that the young man should be hurried out of the +country without delay. To him such a flight is nothing: he has no +family to blacken with the record of crime--he has no honourable name +to stain--his means are all prepared; his flight is easy, his escape +secure; but his father insists that you shall be his bride before he +goes, or he gives your father up, not to justice, but to the +law--which in pretending to administer justice, but too often commits +the very crimes it seems to punish. Four short days are all that he +allows; and then you are to be that youth's bride." + +"What! the bride of a felon!" cried Edith, her spirit rising for a +moment--"of one stained with every vice and every crime--to vow +falsely that I will love him whom I must ever hate--to break all my +promises to one I must ever love--to deceive, prove false and forsworn +to the noble and the true, and give myself to the base, the lawless, +and the abhorred! Oh, my father--my father! is it possible that you +can ask such a thing?" + +The fate of Sir Robert Croyland and his daughter hung in the balance. +One harsh command, one unkind word, with justice and truth on her +side, and feebleness and wrong on his, might have armed her to resist; +but the old man's heart was melted. The struggle that he witnessed in +his child was, for a moment--remark, only for a moment--more terrible +than that within his own breast. There was something in the innocence +and truth, something in the higher attributes of the passions called +into action in her breast, something in the ennobling nature of the +conflicting feelings of her heart--the filial tenderness, the +adherence to her engagements, the abhorrence of the bad, the love of +the good, the truth, the honour, and the piety, all striving one with +the other, that for a time made the mean passion of fear seem small +and insignificant. "I do not ask you, my child," he said--"I do not +urge you--I ask, I urge you no more! The worst bitterness is past. I +have told my own child the tale of my sorrows, my folly, my weakness, +and my danger. I have inflicted the worst upon you, Edith, and on +myself; and I leave it to your own heart to decide. After your +generous, your noble offer, to sacrifice your property and leave +yourself nothing, for my sake, it were cruel--it were, indeed, base, +to urge you farther. To avoid this, dreadful disclosure, to shelter +you and myself from such horrible details, I have often been stern, +and harsh, and menacing.--Forgive me, Edith, but it is past! You now +know what is on the die; and it is your own hand casts it. Your +father's life, the honour of your family, the high name we have ever +borne--these are to be lost and won. But I urge it not--I ask it not. +You only must and can decide." + +Edith, who had risen, stood before him, pale as ashes, with her hands +clasped so tight that the blood retreated from her fingers, where they +pressed against each other, leaving them as white as those of the +dead--her eyes fixed, straining, but sightless, upon the ground. All +that she saw, all that she knew, all that she felt, was the dreadful +alternative of fates before her. It was more than her frame could +bear--it was more than almost any human heart could endure. To condemn +a father to death, to bring the everlasting regret into her heart, to +wander, as if accurst, over the earth, with a parent's blood crying +out for vengeance! It was a terrible thought indeed. Then again, she +remembered the vows that she had taken, the impossibility of +performing those that were asked of her, the sacrifice of the innocent +to the guilty, the perjury that she must commit, the dark and dreadful +future before her, the self-reproach that stood on either hand to +follow her through life! She felt as if her heart was bursting; and +the next moment, all the blood seemed to fly from it, and leave it +cold and motionless. She strove to speak--her voice was choked; but +then, again, she made an effort; and a few words broke forth, +convulsively--"To save you, my father, I would do anything," she +cried. "I _will_ do anything--but----" + +She could not finish; her sight failed her; her heart seemed crushed; +her head swam; the colour left her lips; and she fell prone at her +father's feet, without one effort to save herself. + +Sir Robert Croyland's first proceeding was, to raise her and lay her +on the sofa; but before he called any one, he gazed at her a moment or +two in silence. "She has fainted," he said. "Poor child!--Poor girl!" +But then came another thought: "She said she would do anything," he +murmured; "her words were, 'I will'--It is surely a consent." + +He forgot--he heeded not--he would not heed, that she had added, +"But----" + +"Yes, it was a consent," he repeated; "it must have been a consent. I +will hasten to tell him. If we can but gain a few days, it is +something. Who can say what a few days may bring? At all events, it is +a relief.--It will obtain the delay she wished--I will tell him.--It +must have been a consent;" and calling the servants and Edith's own +maid, to attend upon her, he hastened out of the house, fearful of +waiting till her senses returned, lest other words should snatch from +him the interpretation he chose to put upon those which had gone +before. In an instant, however, he returned, went into the library, +and wrote down on a scrap of paper:-- + +"Thanks, dearest Edith!--thanks! I go in haste to tell Mr. Radford the +promise you have given." + +Then hurrying out again, he put the paper, which he had folded up, +into the hands of the groom, who held his horse. "That for Miss +Croyland," he said, "when she has quite recovered; but not before;" +and, mounting with speed, he rode away as fast as he could go. + + + + END OF VOL. II. + + + T. C. Savill, Printer, 4, Chandos-street, Covent-garden. + + + + + + + THE SMUGGLER: + + + + A Tale + + + + BY G. P. R. JAMES, ESQ. + + AUTHOR OF + + "DARNLEY," "DE L'ORME," "RICHELIEU," + + ETC. ETC. + + + + IN THREE VOLUMES. + + + VOL. III. + + + + + LONDON: + SMITH, ELDER AND CO., 65, CORNHILL. + 1845. + + + + + + + THE SMUGGLER. + + + + + CHAPTER I. + + +It was two o'clock when Sir Robert Croyland left his daughter; and +Edith, with the aid of her maid, soon recovered from the swoon into +which she had fallen. At first she hardly knew where she was, or what +had taken place. All seemed strange to her; for she had never fainted +before; and though she had more than once seen her sister in the state +in which she herself had just been, yet she did not apply what she had +witnessed in others to explain her own sensations. + +When she could rise from the sofa, where her father had laid her, and +thought and recollection returned, Edith's first inquiry was for Sir +Robert; and the servant's answer that he had been gone a quarter of an +hour, was at first a relief. But Edith sat and pondered for a while, +applying herself to call to mind all the last words which had been +spoken. As she did so, a fear came over her--a fear that her meaning +might have been mistaken. "No!" she murmured, at length--"no! I said, +_but_--he must have heard it.--I cannot break those vows--I dare not; +I would do anything to save him--oh, yes, doom myself to wretchedness +for life; but I cannot, unless Henry gives me back my promise.--Poor +Henry! what right have I to make him suffer too?--Yet does he +suffer?--But a father's life--a father's life! That must not be the +sacrifice!--Leave me, Caroline--I am better now!" she continued aloud; +"it is very foolish to faint in this way. It never happened to me +before." + +"Oh dear, Miss Edith! it happens to every one now and then," said the +maid, who had been in her service long; "and I am sure all Sir Robert +said to you to-day, was enough to make you." + +"Good heaven!" cried Edith; in alarm, "did you hear?" + +"I could not help hearing a part, Miss Edith," answered the maid; "for +in that little room, where I sit to be out of the way of all the black +fellows, one hears very plain what is said here. There was once a +door, I believe, and it is only just covered over." + +For a moment, Edith sat mute in consternation; but at length demanded, +"What did you hear? Tell me all, Caroline--every word, if you would +ever have me regard you more." + +"Oh, it was not much, Miss!" replied the maid; "I heard Sir Robert +twice say, his life depended on it--and I suppose he meant, on your +marrying young Mr. Radford. Then he seemed to tell you a long story; +but I did not hear the whole of that; for I did not try, I can assure +you, Miss Edith; and then I heard you say, 'To save you, my father, I +would do anything--I _will_ do anything, but--' and then you stopped +in the middle, because I suppose you fainted." + +Edith put her hands before her eyes and thought, or tried to think; +for her ideas were still in sad confusion. "Leave me now, Caroline," +she said; "but, remember, I expect that no part of any conversation +you have overheard between me and my father, will ever be repeated." + +"Oh dear, no, Miss Edith," replied the woman, "I would not on any +account;" and she left the room. + +We all know of what value are ordinary promises of secrecy, even in +the best society, as it is called. Nine times out of ten, there is one +dear friend to whom everything is revealed; and that dear friend has +others; and at each remove, the bond of secrecy is weaker and more +weak, till the whole world is made a hearer of the tale. Now Edith's +maid was a very discreet person; and when she promised not to reveal +what she had heard, she only proposed to herself, to tell it to one +person in the world. Nor was that person her lover, or her friend, or +her fellow-servant; nor was she moved by the spirit of gossip, but +really and truly by a love for her young lady, which was great, and by +a desire to serve her. Thus, she thought, as soon as she had shut the +door, "I will tell it to Miss Zara, though; for it is but right that +she should know how they are driving her sister to marry a man she +hates, as well she may. Miss Zara is active and quick, and may find +some means of helping her." + +The maid had not been gone a minute, when she returned with the short +note which Sir Robert Croyland had left; and as she handed it to her +young mistress, she watched her countenance eagerly. But Edith took +it, read it, and gazed upon the paper without a word. + +"Pray, Miss Edith," said the maid, "are you likely to want me soon; +for I wish to go up to the village for something?" + +"No, Caroline--no," answered Edith, with an absent air; "I shall not +want you;" and she remained standing with the paper in her hand, and +her eyes fixed upon it. + +The powers by which volition acts upon the mind, and in what volition +really consists, are mysteries which have never yet, that I have seen, +been explained. Yet certain it is, that there is something within us +which, when the intellectual faculties seem, under the pressure of +circumstances, to lose their functions, can by a great effort compel +them to return to their duty, rally them, and array them, as it were, +against the enemy by whom they have been routed. Edith Croyland made +the effort, and succeeded. She had been taken by surprise, and +overcome; but now she collected all the forces of her mind, and +prepared to fight the battle over again. In a few minutes, she became +calm, and applied herself to consider fully her own situation. There +were filial duty and tenderness on one side--love and a strong vow on +the other. "He has gone to tell Mr. Radford that I have consented," +was her first distinct thought, "but his having mistaken me, must not +make me give that consent when it is wrong. Were it myself alone, I +would sacrifice all for him--I could but die--a few hours of misery +are not much to bear--I have borne many. But I am bound--Good God! +what an alternative!" + +But I will not follow her thoughts: they can easily be conceived. She +was left alone, with no one to counsel, with no one to aid her. The +fatal secret she possessed was a bar to asking advice from any one. +Buried in her own bosom, the causes of her conduct, the motives upon +which she acted, must ever be secret, whatever course she pursued. +Agony was on either hand. She had to choose between two terrible +alternatives: on the one hand a breach of all her engagements, a few +years, a few weeks, perhaps, of misery, and an early death--for such +she knew must be her fate: and, on the other, a life, with love +certainly to cheer it, but poisoned by the remembrance that she had +sacrificed her father. Yet Edith now thought firmly, weighed, +considered all. + +She could come to no determination. Between two such gulfs, she shrank +trembling from either. + +The clock in the hall, with its clear, sharp bell, struck three; and +the moment after, the quick sound of horses' feet was heard. "Can it +be my father?" she thought. "No! he has not had time--unless he has +doubted;" but while she asked herself the question, the horses stopped +at the door, the bell rang; and she went on to say to herself, +"perhaps it is Zara. That would be a comfort indeed, though I cannot +tell her--I must not tell her all." + +The old Hindoo opened the door, saying "Missy, a gentleman want to see +you--very fine gentleman." + +Edith could not speak; but she bowed her head, and the servant, +receiving that token as assent, turned to some one behind him and +said, "Walk in, sir." + +For a moment or two, Edith did not raise her eyes, and her lips moved. +She heard a step in the room, that made her heart flutter; she heard +the door shut; but yet for an instant she remained with her head bent, +and her hands clasped together. Then she looked up. Standing before +her, and gazing intently upon her, was a tall handsome man, dressed in +the splendid uniform of the dragoons of that time, and with a star +upon his left breast--a decoration worn by persons who had the right +to do so, more frequently in those days than at the present time. But +it was to the face that Edith's eyes were turned--to the countenance +well known and deeply loved. Changed though it was--grave where it had +been gay, pale where it had been florid, sterner in the lines, once so +full of gentle youth--still all the features were there, and the +expression too, though saddened, was the same. + +He gazed on her with a look full of tenderness and love; and their +eyes met. On both of them the feelings of other years seemed to rush +with overpowering force. The interval which had since occurred, for a +moment, was annihilated; the heart went back with the rapid wing of +Memory, to the hours of joy that were gone; and Leyton opened wide his +arms, exclaiming, "Edith! Edith!" + +She could not resist. She had no power to struggle. Love, stronger +than herself, was master; and, starting up, she cast herself upon his +bosom, and there wept. + +"Dear, dear girl!" he said, "then you love me still,--then Digby's +assurance is true--then you have not forgotten poor Harry Leyton--then +his preserving hope, his long endurance, his unwavering love, his +efforts, his success, have not been all in vain!--Dear, dear Edith! +This hour repays me for all--for all. Dangers and adversities, and +wounds, and anguish of body and of mind, and sleepless nights, and +days of bitter thought--I would endure them all. All?--ay, tenfold +all--for this one hour!" and he pressed her closer and closer to his +heart. + +"Nay, Harry--nay," cried Edith, still clinging to him; "but hear me, +hear me--or if you speak such words of tenderness, you will break my +heart, or drive me mad." + +"Good heaven!" exclaimed Leyton, unclasping his arms, "what is it that +you say? Edith--my Edith--my own, my vowed, my bride! But now, you +seemed to share the joy you gave,--to love, as you are loved; and +now----" + +"I do love you--oh! I do love you!" cried Edith, vehemently; "add not +a doubt of that to all I suffer. Ever, ever have I loved you, without +change, without thought of change. But yet--but yet--. I may have +fancied that you have forgotten me--I may have thought it strange that +you did not write--that my letters remained unanswered; but still I +loved, still I have been true to you." + +"I did write, my Edith. I received no letters," said Leyton, sadly; +"we have both been wronged, my dear girl. My letters were returned in +a cover directed in your own hand: but that trick I understand--that I +see through. Oh, do not let any one deceive you again, beloved girl! +You have been my chief--I might say my only thought; for the memory of +you has mingled with every other idea, and made the whole your own. In +the camp and in the field, I have endured and fought for Edith; in the +council and in the court, I have struggled and striven for her; she +has been the end and object of every effort, the ruling power of my +whole mind. And now, Edith--now your soldier has returned to you. He +has won every step towards the crowning reward of his endeavours; he +has risen to competence, to command, to some honour in the service of +his country; and he can proudly say to her he loves, Cast from you the +fortune for which men dared to think I sought you--come to your lover, +come to your husband, as dowerless as he was when they parted us; and +let all the world see and know, that it was your love, not your +wealth, I coveted--this dear hand, that dear heart, not base gold, +that I desired. Oh, Edith, in Heaven's name, cast me not now headlong +down from the height of hope and joy to which you have raised me, for +fear a heart and spirit, too long depressed, should never find +strength to rise again." + +Edith staggered back and sank down upon the sofa, covering her eyes, +and only murmuring--"I do love you, Harry, beyond life itself.--Oh, +that I were dead!--oh, that I were dead!" + +There was a terrible struggle in Henry Leyton's bosom. He could not +understand the agitation that he witnessed; had it borne anything like +the character of joy, even of surprise, all would have been clear; but +it was evidently very different. It was joy overborne by sorrow. It +was evidently a struggle of love with some influence, perhaps not +stronger, yet terrible in its effect. He was a man of quick decision +and strong resolution--qualities not always combined; and he overcame +himself in a moment. He saw that he was loved--still deeply, truly +loved; and that was a great point. He saw that Edith was grieved to +the soul--he saw that he himself could not feel more intensely the +anguish she inflicted than she did, that she was wringing her own +heart while she was wringing his, and felt a double pang; and that was +a strong motive for calmness, if not for fortitude. Her last words, "I +wish I were dead!" restored him fully to himself; and following her to +the sofa, he seated himself beside her, gently took her hand in his, +and pressed his lips upon it. + +"Edith," he said--"my own dear Edith, let us be calm! Thank you, my +beloved, for one moment of happiness, the first I have known for +years; and now let us talk, as quietly as may be, of anything that may +have arisen which should justly cause Henry Leyton's return to make +Edith Croyland wish herself dead. Your uncle will not be long ere he +arrives; I left him on the road; and it is by his full consent that I +am here." + +"Oh no, Harry--no!" said Edith, turning at first to his comment on her +words, "it is not your return that makes me wish myself dead; but it +is, that circumstances--dark and terrible circumstances--which were +only made known to me an hour before your arrival, have turned all the +joy, the pure, the almost unmixed joy, that I should have felt at +seeing you again, into a well of bitterness. It is that I cannot, that +I dare not explain to you those circumstances--that you will think me +wrong, unkind--fickle, perhaps,--perhaps even mad, in whatsoever way I +may act." + +"But surely you can say something, dear Edith," said her lover; "you +can give some hint of the cause of all I see. You tell me in one +breath that you love me still, yet wish you were dead; and show +evidently that my coming has been painful to you." + +"No, no, Harry," she answered, mournfully, "do not say so. Painful to +me?--oh, no! It would be the purest joy that ever I yet knew, were it +not that--But why did you not come earlier, Harry? Why, when your +horse stood upon that hill, did you not turn his head hither? Would +that you had, would that you had! My fate would have been already +decided. Now it is all clouds and darkness. I knew you instantly. I +could see no feature; I could but trace a figure on horseback, wrapped +in a large cloak; but the instinct of love told me who it was. Oh! why +did you not come then?" + +"Because it would have been dishonest, Edith," answered Leyton, +gravely. "Your uncle had been my father's friend, my uncle's friend. +In a kindly manner he invited me here some time ago, as a perfect +stranger, under the name of Captain Osborn. You were not here then; +and I thought I could not in honour come under his roof, when I found +you were here, without telling him who I really was. He appointed this +day to meet me at Woodchurch at two; and I dared not venture, after +all that has passed between your family and mine, to seek you in his +dwelling, ere I had seen and explained myself to him. I knew you were +here: I gazed up at these windows with a yearning of the heart that +nearly overcame my resolution----" + +"I saw you gaze, Harry," answered Edith; "and I say still, would that +you had come.--Yet you were right.--It might have saved me much +misery; but you were right. And now listen to the fate that is before +me--to the choice I have to make, as far as I can explain it--and yet +what words can I use?--But it must be done. I must not leave anything +unperformed, that can prevent poor Edith Croyland from becoming an +object of hatred and contempt in Henry Leyton's eyes. Little as I can +do to defend myself, I must do it." + +She paused, gazed up on high for a moment, and then laid her hand upon +his. + +"Henry, I do love you," she said. "Nay, more, I am yours, plighted to +you by bonds I cannot and I dare not break--vows, I mean, the most +solemn, as well as the ties of long affection. Yet, if I wed you, I am +miserable for life. Self-reproach, eternal self-reproach--the most +terrible of all things--to which no other mental or corporeal pain can +ever reach, would prey upon my heart for ever, and bear me down into +the grave. Peace--rest, I should have none. A voice would be for ever +howling in my ear a name that would poison sleep, and make each waking +moment an hour of agony. I can tell you no more on this side of the +question; but so it is. It seems fated that I should bring misery one +way or another upon him who is dearest to me." + +"I cannot comprehend," exclaimed Leyton, in surprise. "Your father has +heard, I suppose, that I am here, and has menaced you with his curse." + +"Oh, no!" answered Edith; "far from it. He was here but now; he spoke +of you, Henry, as you deserve. He told me how he had loved you and +esteemed you in your young days; how, though angry at first at our +rash engagement, he would have consented in the end; but--there was a +fatal 'but,' Henry--an impediment not to be surmounted. I must not +tell you what it is--I cannot, I dare not explain. But listen to what +he said besides. You have heard one part of the choice; hear the +other: it is to wed a man whom I abhor--despise--contemn--whose very +look is fearful to me; to ask you to give me back the vows I plighted, +in order--in order," and she spoke very low, "that I may sacrifice +myself for my father, that I may linger out a few weeks of +wretchedness, and then sink into the grave, which is now my only +hope." + +"And do you ask me, Edith?" inquired Leyton, in a sad and solemn +tone--"do you, Edith Croyland, really and truly ask me to give you +back those vows? Speak, beloved--speak; for my heart is well nigh +bursting." + +He paused, and she was silent; covering her eyes with her hands, while +her bosom heaved, as if she were struggling for breath. "No, no, no, +Harry!" she cried, at length, as if the effort were vain, "I cannot, I +cannot! Oh, Harry, Harry! I wish that I were dead!" and, casting her +arms round his neck, she wept upon his breast again. + +Henry Leyton drew her closer to him with his left arm round her waist; +but pressed his right hand on his brow, and gazed on vacancy. Both +remained without speaking for a time; but at length he said, in a +voice more calm than might have been expected, "Let us consider this +matter, Edith. You have been terrified by some means; a tale has +been told you, which has agitated and alarmed you, which has overcome +your resolution, that now has endured more than six years, and +doubtless that tale has been well devised.--Are you sure that it is +true?--Forgive this doubt in regard to one who is near and dear to +you; but when such deceits have been practised, as those which we know +have been used to delude us, I must be suspicious.--Are you sure that +it is true, I say? + +"Too true, too true!"' answered Edith, shaking her head, +mournfully--"that tale explains all, too,--even those deceits you +mention. No, no, it is but too true--it could not be feigned--besides, +I remember so many things, all tending to the same. It is true--I +cannot doubt it." + +Sir Henry Leyton paused, and twice began to speak, but twice stopped, +as if the words he was about to utter, cost him a terrible struggle to +speak. At length he said, "And the man, Edith--the man they wish you +to marry--who is he?" + +"Ever the same," answered Edith, bending down her head, and her cheek, +which had been as pale as death, glowing like crimson--"the same, +Richard Radford." + +"What! a felon!" exclaimed Leyton, turning round, with his brows bent; +"a felon, after whom my soldiers and the officers of justice are now +hunting through the country! Sir Robert Croyland must be mad! But I +tell you, Edith, that man shall never stand within a church again, +till it be the chapel of the gaol. Let him make his peace with Heaven; +for if he be caught--and caught he shall be--there is no mercy for him +on earth. But surely there must be some mistake. You cannot have +understood your father rightly, or he cannot know----" + +"Oh! yes, yes!" replied Edith; "he knows all; and it is the same. Ay, +and within four days, too--that he may take me with him in his +flight." + +"Ere four days be over," answered her lover, sternly, "he shall no +more think of bridals." + +"And what will become of my father, then!" said Edith, gazing steadily +down upon the ground. "It is I--I that shall have done it. Alas, alas! +which way shall I turn?" + +There was something more than sorrow in her countenance; there was +anguish--almost agony; and Sir Henry Leyton was much moved. "Turn to +me, Edith," he said; "turn to him who loves you better than life; and +there is no sacrifice that he will not make for you, but his honour. +Tell me, have you made any promise?--have you given your father your +consent?" + +"No," answered Edith, eagerly; "no, I have not. He took my words as +consent, though ere they were half finished, the horror and pain of +all I heard overcame me, and I fainted. But I did not consent, +Harry--I could not consent, without your permission.--Oh, Harry, aid +and support me!" + +"Listen to me, my beloved," replied Leyton; "wealth, got by any means, +is this man's object. I gather from what you say, that your father has +some cause to dread him--give up to him this much-coveted fortune--let +him take it--ay, and share Henry Leyton's little wealth. I desire +nothing but yourself." + +"Alas, Henry, it is all in vain!" answered Edith; "I have offered it--I +knew your noble, generous heart. I knew that wealth would make no +difference to him I loved, and offered to resign everything. My +father, even before he came hither, offered him my sister--offered to +make her the sacrifice, as she is bound by no promises, and to give +her an equal portion; but it was all refused." + +"Then there is some other object," said her lover; "some object that +may, perhaps, tend even to more misery than you dream of, Edith. +Believe me, my beloved--oh! believe me, did I but see how I could +deliver you--were I sure that any act of mine would give you peace, no +sacrifice on my part would seem too great. At present, however, I see +nothing clearly--all is darkness and shadow around. I know not, that +if I give you back your promise, and free you from your vow, that I +shall not be contributing to make you wretched. How, then, am I to +act? You are sure, dear one, that you have not consented?" + +"Quite sure," answered Edith; "and it so happened, that there was one +who heard my words as well as my father. He, indeed, took them as +consent, and hurried away to Mr. Radford, without giving me time to +recover and say more. Read that, Harry," and she put the note her +father had left into his hands. + +"It is fortunate you were heard by another," replied Leyton. "Hark! +there is your uncle's carriage coming.--Four days, did he say--four +days? Well, then, dear Edith, will you trust in me? Will you leave +your fate in the hands of one who will do anything on earth for your +happiness?--and will you never doubt, though you may be kept in +suspense, that I will so act as to deliver you, if I can, without +bringing ruin on your father." + +"It is worse than ruin," answered Edith, with the tears rolling down +her cheeks--"it is death. But I will trust to you, Henry--I will trust +implicitly. But tell me how to act--tell me what I am to do." + +"Leave this matter as it is," answered her lover, hearing Mr. +Croyland's carriage stop at the door;--"your father has snatched too +eagerly at your words. Perhaps he has done so to gain time; but, at +all events, the fault is his, not yours. If he speaks to you on the +subject, you must tell the truth, and say you did not consent; but in +everything else be passive--let him do with you what he will--take you +to the altar, if he so pleases; but there must be the final struggle, +Edith. There you must boldly and aloud refuse to wed a man you cannot +love. There let the memory of your vows to me be ever present with +you. It may seem cruel; but I exact it for your own sake. In the +meantime, take means to let me know everything that happens, be it +small or great--cast off all reserve towards Digby; tell him all, +everything that takes place; tell your sister, too, or any one who can +bear me the tidings. I shall be nearer than you think." + +"Oh, Heaven, how will this end!" cried Edith, putting her hand in +his--"God help me, Harry--God help me!" + +"He will, dear girl," answered Leyton--"I feel sure he will. But +remember what I have said. Fail not to tell Digby, or Zara, or any one +who can bear the tidings to me, everything that occurs, every word +that is spoken, every step that is taken. Think nothing too trifling. +But there is your uncle's voice in the passage. Can you not inform him +of that which you think yourself bound not to tell me? I mean the +particulars of your father's situation." + +"No; oh no!" replied Edith--"I dare tell no one, especially not my +uncle. Though kind, and generous, and benevolent, yet he is hasty, and +he might ruin all. Dared I tell any one on earth, Henry, it would be +you; and if I loved you before--oh, how I must love you now, when +instead of the anger, or even heat, which I expected you to display, +you have shown yourself ready to sacrifice all for one who is hardly +worthy of you." + +Leyton pressed her to his bosom, and replied, "Real love is unselfish, +Edith. I tell you, dearest, that I die if I lose you; yet, Edith +Croyland shall never do what is wrong for Henry Leyton's sake. If in +the past we did commit an error, if I should not have engaged you by +vows without your parent's consent--though God knows that error has +been bitterly visited on my head!--I am still ready to make atonement +to the best of my power; but I will not consent that you should be +causelessly made miserable, or sacrifice yourself and me, without +benefit to any one. Trust to me, Edith--trust to me." + +"I will, I will!" answered Edith Croyland; "who can I trust to else?" + +Mr. Croyland was considerate; and knowing that Sir Henry Leyton was +with his niece--for his young friend had passed him on the road--he +paused for a moment in the vestibule, giving various orders and +directions, in order to afford them a few minutes more of private +conversation. When he went in, he was surprised to find Edith's face +full of deep grief, and her eyes wet with tears, and still more when +Leyton, after kissing her fair cheek, advanced towards him, saying, "I +must go, my dear friend, nor can I accept your kind invitation to stay +here to-night. But I am about to show myself a bold man, and ask you +to give me almost the privilege of a son--that is, of coming and +going, for the four or five next days, at my own will, and without +question." + +"What's all this?--what's all this?" cried Mr. Croyland; "a lovers' +quarrel?--Ha, Edith? Ha, Harry?" + +"Oh, no," answered Edith, giving her uncle her hand; "there never can +be a quarrel between me and Henry Leyton." + +"Well, then, what is it all?" exclaimed Mr. Croyland, turning +from one to the other. "Mystery--mystery! I hate mystery, Harry +Leyton.--However, you shall have your privilege; the doors shall be +open. Come--go--do what you like. But if you are not a great fool, you +will order over a post-chaise and four this very night, put her in, +and be off for Gretna Green. I'll give you my parental benediction." + +"I am afraid, my dear sir," answered Leyton, "that cannot be. Edith +has told me various things since I saw her, which require to be dealt +with in a different way. I trust, that in whatever I do, my conduct +will be such as to give you satisfaction; and whether the result be +fortunate or otherwise, I shall never, till the last hour of life, +forget the kindness you have shown me. And now, my dear sir, adieu for +the present, for I have much to do this night." + +Thus saying, he shook the old gentleman's hand, and departed with a +heavy heart and anxious mind. During his onward ride, his heart did +not become lighter; his mind was only more burdened with cares. As +long as he was in Edith's presence, he had borne up and struggled +against all that he felt; for he saw that she was already overwhelmed +with grief, and he feared to add to it; but now his thoughts were all +confusion. With incomplete information--in circumstances the most +difficult--anxious to save her he loved, even at any sacrifice on his +own part, yet seeing no distinct means of acting in any direction +without danger to her--he looked around him in vain for any resource; +or, if he formed a plan one moment, he rejected it the next. He knew +Edith's perfect truth, he knew the quiet firmness and power of her +mind too well to doubt one tittle of that which she had stated; and +though at first sight he thought the proofs he possessed of Mr. +Radford's participation in the late smuggling transaction were quite +sufficient to justify that person's immediate arrest, and proposed +that it should take place immediately, yet the next moment he +recollected what might be the result to Sir Robert Croyland, and +hesitated how to act. Then, again, he turned his eyes to the +circumstances in which Edith's father was placed, and asked himself, +what could be the mystery which so terribly overshadowed him? Edith +had said that his life was at stake; and Leyton tortured his +imagination in vain to find some explanation of such a fact. + +"Can he have been deceiving her?" he asked himself more than once. But +then, again, he answered, "No, it must be true! He can have no +ordinary motive in urging her to such a step; his whole character, his +whole views are against it. Haughty and ostentatious, there must be +some overpowering cause to make him seek to wed his daughter to a low +ruffian--the son of an upstart, who owed his former wealth to fraud, +and who is now, if all tales be true, nearly bankrupt,--to wed Edith, +a being of grace, of beauty, and of excellence, to a villain like +this--a felon and a fugitive--and to send her forth into the wide +world, to share the wanderings of a man she hates! The love of life +must be a strange thing in some men. One would have thought that a +thousand lives were nothing to such a sacrifice. Yet, the tale must be +true; this old man must have Sir Robert's life in his power. But +how--how? that is the question. Perhaps Digby can discover something. +At all events, I must see him without delay." + +In such thoughts, Sir Henry Leyton rode on fast to Woodchurch, +accomplishing in twenty minutes that which took good Mr. Croyland with +his pampered horses, more than an hour to perform; and springing from +his charger at the door of the inn, he was preparing to go up and +write to Sir Edward Digby, when Captain Irby, on the one hand, and his +own servant on the other, applied for attention. + +"Mr. Warde is up stairs, sir," said the servant; "he has been waiting +about half an hour." + +But Leyton turned to the officer, asking, "What is it, Captain Irby?" + +"Two or three of the men, sir, who have been taken," replied Captain +Irby, "have expressed a wish to make a statement. One of them is badly +wounded, too; but I did not know how to act till you arrived, as we +had no magistrate here." + +"Was it quite voluntary?" demanded the young officer; "no inducements +held out--no questions asked?" + +"Quite voluntary, sir," answered the other. "They sent to ask for you; +and when I went, in your absence, they told me what it was they +desired; but I refused to take the deposition till you arrived, for +fear of getting myself into a scrape." + +"It must be taken," replied the colonel. "Of whatever value it may be +judged hereafter, we must not refuse it when offered. I will come to +them in a moment, Irby;" and entering the house, but without going up +stairs, he wrote a few lines, in the bar, to Sir Edward Digby, +requesting to see him without delay. Then, calling his servant, he +said, "Tell Mr. Warde I will be with him in a few minutes; after +which, mount yourself, and carry this note over to Harbourne House, to +Sir Edward Digby. Give it into his own hand; but remember, it is my +wish that you should not mention my name there at all. Do you know the +place?" + +"Yes, sir," replied the man; and, leaving him to fulfil his errand, +the colonel returned to the door of the house, to accompany Captain +Irby. + + + + + CHAPTER II. + + +We mast now return for a time to Harbourne House, where, after Sir +Robert Croyland's departure, his guest had endeavoured in vain, during +the whole morning, to obtain a few minutes' private conversation with +the baronet's youngest daughter. Now, it was not in the least degree, +that Mrs. Barbara's notions of propriety interfered to prevent the two +young people from being alone together; for, on the contrary, Mrs. +Barbara was a very lenient and gentle-minded person, and thought +it quite right that any two human beings who were likely to fall in +love with each other, should have every opportunity of doing so, to +their hearts' content. But it so happened, from a sort of fatality +which hung over all her plans, that whenever she interfered with +anything,--which, indeed, she always did, with everything she could +lay her hands upon,--the result was sure to be directly the contrary +to that which she intended. It might be, indeed, that she did not +always manage matters quite judiciously, that she acted without +considering all the circumstances of the case; and undoubtedly it +would have been quite as well if she had not acted at all when she was +not asked. + +In the present instance, when she had remained in the drawing-room +with her niece and Sir Edward, for near half an hour after her brother +had departed, it just struck her that they might wish to be alone +together; for she had made up her mind by this time, that the young +officer's visit was to end in a love affair; and, as the very best +means of accomplishing the desired object, instead of going to speak +with the housekeeper, or to give orders to the dairy-maid, or to talk +to the steward,--as any other prudent, respectable, and well-arranged +aunt would have done--she said to her niece, as if a sudden thought +had occurred to her, "I don't think Sir Edward Digby has ever seen the +library. Zara, my dear, you had better show it to him. There are some +very curious books there, and the manuscript in vellum, with all the +kings' heads painted." + +Zara felt that it was rather a coarse piece of work which her aunt had +just turned out of hand; and being a little too much susceptible of +ridicule, she did not like to have anything to do with it, although, +to say the truth, she was very anxious herself for the few minutes +that Mrs. Barbara was inclined to give her. + +"Oh, I dare say, my dear aunt," she replied, "Sir Edward Digby does +not care anything about old books!--I don't believe they have been +opened for these fifty years." + +"The greater the treasure, Miss Croyland," answered the young officer; +"I can assure you nothing delights me more than an old library; so I +think I shall go and find it out myself, if you are not disposed to +show it to me." + +Zara Croyland remembered, with a smile, that Sir Edward Digby had met +with no great difficulty in finding it out for himself on a previous +occasion. She rose, however, with her colour a little heightened; for +his invitation was a very palpable one, and she did not know what +conclusions her aunt might be pleased to draw, or to insinuate to +others; and, leading the way towards the library, she opened the door, +expecting to find the room untenanted. There, however, before her +eyes, standing opposite to a book-case, with a large folio volume of +divinity in his hand, stood the clergyman of the parish; and he +instantly turned round his head, with spectacles on nose, and advanced +to pay his respects to Miss Croyland and Sir Edward Digby. Now, the +clergyman was a very worthy man; but he had one of those +peculiarities, which, if peculiarities were systematically classed, +would be referred to the bore genus. He was frequently unaware of when +people had had enough of him; and consequently on the present +occasion--after he had informed Zara, that finding that her father was +out, he had taken the liberty of walking into the library to look at a +book he wanted--he put back that book, and attacked Sir Edward Digby, +totis viribus, upon the state of the weather, the state of the +country, and the state of the smugglers. The later topic, as it was +the predominant one in every man's mind at that moment, and in that +part of the country, occupied him rather longer than a sermon, though +his parishioners occasionally thought his sermons quite sufficiently +extensive for any sleep-resisting powers of the human frame to +withstand; and then, when Sir Edward and Zara, forgetting, in the +interest which they seemed to take in his discourse, that they had +come into the library to look at the books, walked out upon the +terrace, he walked out with them; and as they turned up and down, he +turned up and down also, for full an hour. + +Zara could almost have cried in the end; but, as out of the basest +refuse of our stable-yards, grow the finest flowers of our gardens, so +good is ever springing up from evil; and in the end the worthy +clergyman gave his two companions the first distinct account which +they had received of the dispersion of Mr. Radford's band of +smugglers, and of the eager pursuit of young Radford which was taking +place throughout the country. Thus passed the morning, with one event +or other of little consequence, presenting obstacles to any free +communication between two people, who were almost as desirous of some +private conversation as if they had been lovers. + +A little before three o'clock, however, Zara Croyland who had been +looking out of the window, suddenly quitted the drawing-room; and Sir +Edward Digby, who maintained his post, was left to entertain Mrs. +Barbara, which he did to the best of his abilities. He was still in +full career, a little enjoying, to say sooth, some of the good lady's +minor absurdities, when Zara re-entered the room with a quick step, +and a somewhat eager look. Her fair cheek was flushed too; and her +face had in it that sort of determined expression which often betrays +that there has been a struggle in the mind, as to some step about to +be taken, and that victory has not been achieved without an effort. + +"Sir Edward Digby," she said, in a clear and distinct tone, "I want to +speak with you for a few moments, if you please." + +Mrs. Barbara looked shocked, and internally wondered that Zara could +not have made some little excuse for engaging Sir Edward in private +conversation. + +"She might have asked him to go and see a flower, or offered to play +him a tune on the harpsichord, or taken him to look at the dovecot, or +anything," thought Mrs. Barbara. + +The young officer, however, instantly started up, and accompanied his +fair inviter towards the library, to which she led the way with a +hurried and eager step. + +"Let us come in here!" she said, opening the door; but the moment she +was within, she sank into a chair and clasped her hands together. + +Sir Edward Digby shut the door, and then advanced towards her, a good +deal surprised and somewhat alarmed by the agitation he saw her +display. She did not speak for a moment, as if completely overpowered, +and feeling for her more deeply than he himself knew, her companion +took her hand and tried to soothe her, saying, "Be calm--be calm, my +dear Miss Croyland! You know you can trust in me, and if I can aid you +in any way, command me." + +"I know not what to do, or what to say," cried Zara; "but I am sure, +Sir Edward, you will find excuses for me; and therefore I will make +none--though I may perhaps seem somewhat bold in dealing thus with one +whom I have only known a few days." + +"There are circumstances which sometimes make a few days equal to many +years," replied Sir Edward Digby. "It is so, my dear young lady, with +you and I. Therefore, without fear or hesitation, tell me what it is +that agitates you, and how I can serve you. I am not fond of making +professions; but if it be in human power, it shall be done." + +"I know not, whether it can be done or not," said Zara; "but if not, +there is nothing but ruin and desolation for two people, whom we both +love. You saw my father set out this morning. Did you remark the +course he took? It was over to my uncle's, for I watched him from the +window. He passed back again some time ago, but then struck off +towards Mr. Radford's. All that made me uneasy; but just now, I saw +Edith's maid coming up towards the house; and eager for tidings, I +hurried away.--Good Heavens, what tidings she has borne me!" + +"They must be evil ones, I see," answered Digby; "but I trust not such +as to preclude all chance of remedying what may have gone wrong. When +two or three people act together zealously, dear lady, there are very +few things they cannot accomplish." + +"Yes, but how to explain!" exclaimed Zara; "yet I must be short; for +otherwise my aunt will be in upon us. Now, Sir Edward Digby," she +continued, after thinking for a moment, "I know you are a man of +honour--I am sure you are; and I ask you to pledge me that honour, +that you will never reveal to any one what I am going to tell you; for +I know not whether I am about to do right or wrong--whether, in trying +to save one, I may not be bringing down ruin upon others. Do you give +me your honour?" + +"Most assuredly!" answered her companion. "I will never repeat a word +that you say, unless with your permission, on my honour!" + +"Well, then," replied Zara, in a faint voice, "Mr. Radford has my +father's life in his power. How, I know not--how, I cannot tell. But +so it is; and such are the tidings that Caroline has just brought us. +Mr. Radford's conference with him this morning was not for nothing. +Immediately after, he went over to Edith; he told her some tale which +the girl did not distinctly hear; but, it seems, some paper which Mr. +Radford possesses was spoken of, and the sum of the whole matter was, +that my poor, sweet sister was told, if she did not consent, within +four days, to marry that hateful young man, she would sacrifice her +father's life. He left her fainting, and has ridden over to bear her +consent to Mr. Radford." + +"But, did she consent?" exclaimed Sir Edward Digby, in surprise and +consternation--"Did she really yield?" + +"No--no!" answered Zara, "she did not! The girl said she heard her +words, and they were not in truth a consent. But my father chose to +take them as such, and left her even before she recovered." + +I have already shown the effect of the same account upon Sir Henry +Leyton, with all the questions which it suggested to his mind; and the +impression produced upon his friend, as a man of sense and a man of +the world, were so similar, that it may be needless to give any +detailed statement of his first observations or inquiries. Zara soon +satisfied him, however, that the tale her father had told, was not a +mere device to frighten Edith into a compliance with his wishes; and +then came the question, What was to be done? + +"It is, in truth, a most painful situation in which your sister is +placed," said Digby, after some consideration; "but think you that +this man, this Radford, cannot be bought off? Money must be to him--if +he be as totally ruined as people say--the first consideration; and I +know Leyton so well, that I can venture to promise nothing of that +kind shall stand in the way, if we can but free your sister from the +terrible choice put before her." + +Zara shook her head sadly, saying, "No; that hope is vain!--The girl +tells me," she added, with a faint smile, which was quickly succeeded +by a blush, "that she heard my father say, he had offered me--poor me! +to Richard Radford, with the same fortune as Edith, but had been +refused." + +"And would you have consented?" demanded Sir Edward Digby, in a more +eager tone than he had yet used. + +"Nay," replied Zara, "that has nought to do with the present question. +Suffice it, that this proves that gold is not his only object." + +"Nay, but answer me," persevered her companion; "would you have +consented? It may have much to do with the question yet." He fixed his +eyes gravely upon her face, and took the fair, small hand, that lay +upon the arm of the chair, in his.--It was something very like making +love, and Zara felt a strange sensation at her heart; but she turned +away her face, and answered, with a very pale cheek, "I would die for +my father, Sir Edward; but I could not wed Richard Radford." + +Sir Edward raised her hand to his lips, and pressed them on it. "I +thought so!" he said--"I thought so! And now, heart, and mind, and +hand, and spirit, to save your sister, Zara! I have hunted many a fox +in my day, and I don't think the old one of Radford Hall will escape +me. The greatest difficulty is, not to compromise your father in any +way; but that shall be cared for, too, to the very best of my power, +be assured. Henceforth, dear lady, away with all reserve between us. +While I am in this house, it will be absolutely necessary for you to +communicate with me freely, and probably very often. Have no +hesitation; have no scruple as to hour, or manner, or means. Trust to +my honour as you have trusted this day; and you shall never find it +fail you. I will enter into such explanations with my servant, Somers, +in regard to poor Leyton, as will make him think it nothing strange, +if you send him for me at any time. He is as discreet as a privy +councillor; and you must, therefore, have no hesitation." + +"I will not," answered Zara; "for I would do anything to save my +sister from such a fate; and I do believe you will not think--you will +not imagine----" + +She paused in some confusion; and Sir Edward Digby answered, with a +smile--but a kindly and a gentlemanly one, "Let my imagination do as +it will, Zara. Depend upon it, it shall do you no wrong; and believe +me when I say, that I can hardly feel so much pain at these +circumstances as I otherwise might, since they bring me into such near +and frequent communication with you." + +"Hush, hush!" she answered, somewhat gravely; "I can think of nothing +now but my poor sister; and you must not, Sir Edward, by one +compliment, or fine speech--nay, nor by one kind speech either," she +added, laying her hand upon his arm, and looking up in his face, with +a glowing cheek--"for I know you mean it as kind--you must not, +indeed, throw any embarrassment over an intercourse, which is +necessary at present, and which is my only hope and resource, in the +circumstances in which we are placed. So now tell me what you are +going to do; for you seemed, but now, as if you were about to set out +somewhere." + +"I am going to Woodchurch instantly," replied Digby. "Sir Henry Leyton +must be there still----" + +"Sir Henry Leyton!" exclaimed Zara; "then he has, indeed, been a +successful campaigner." + +"Most successful, and most deservedly so," answered his friend. "No +man but Wolfe won more renown; and if he can but gain this battle, +Leyton will have all that he desires on earth. But I will not stay +here, skirmishing on the flanks, dear lady, while the main body is +engaged. I will ride over as fast as possible, see Leyton, consult +with him, and be back, if possible, by dinner time. If not, you must +tell your father not to wait for me, as I was suddenly called away on +business." + +"But how shall I know the result of your expedition?" demanded Zara; +"we shall be surrounded, I fear, by watchful eyes." + +"We must trust to fortune and our own efforts to afford us some means +of communication," replied Digby. "But remember, dearest lady, that +for this great object, you have promised to cast away all reserve. For +the time, at least, you must look upon Edward Digby as a brother, and +treat him as such." + +"That I will!" answered the fair girl, heartily; and Digby, leaving +her to explain their conduct to her aunt as she best might, ordered +his horse, and rode away towards Woodchurch, in haste. + +Pulling in his rein at the door of the little inn, he inquired which +was Sir Henry Leyton's room, and was directed up stairs; but on +opening the door of the chamber which had been pointed out, he found +no one in it, but the somewhat strange-looking old man, whom we have +once before seen with Leyton, at Hythe. + +"Ah, Mr. Warde, you here!" exclaimed Sir Edward Digby. "Leyton told me +you were in England. But where is he? I have business of some +importance to talk with him upon;" and as he spoke, he shook the old +man's hand warmly. + +"I know you have," answered Mr. Warde, gazing upon him--"at least, I +can guess that such is the case.--So have I; and doubtless the subject +is the same." + +"Nay, I should think not," refilled Digby; "mine refers only to +private affairs." + +The old man smiled; and that sharp featured, rude countenance assumed +an expression of indescribable sweetness: "Mine is the same," he said. +"You come to speak of Edith Croyland--so do I." + +"Indeed!" cried his companion, a good deal surprised; "you are a +strange being, Mr. Warde. You seem to learn men's secrets, whether +they will or not." + +"There is nothing strange on earth, but man's blindness," answered the +other; "everything is so simple, when once explained, that its +simplicity remains the only marvel.--But here he comes. Let me +converse with him first. Then, when he is aware of all that I know, +you shall have my absence, or my presence, as it suits you." + +While he was speaking, the voice of Henry Leyton was heard below, and +then his step upon the stairs; and, before Digby could answer, he was +in the room. His face was grave, but not so cloudy as it had been when +he returned to Woodchurch, half-an-hour before. He welcomed Mr. Warde +frankly, and cordially; but turned immediately to Sir Edward Digby, +saying, "You have been quick indeed, Digby. I could not have conceived +that my letter had reached you." + +"I got no letter," answered Digby; "perhaps it missed me on the way; +for, the corn being down, I came straight across the country." + +"It matters not--it matters not," answered Leyton; "so you are +here--that is enough. I have much to say to you, and that of immediate +importance." + +"I know it already," answered Digby. "But here is our good friend, +Warde, who seems to have something to say to you on the same subject." + +Sir Henry Leyton turned towards the old man with some surprise. "I +think Digby must be mistaken," he said, "for though, I am aware, from +what you told me some little time ago, that you have been in this part +of the country before, yet it must have been long ago, and you can +know nothing of the events which have affected myself since." + +The old man smiled, and shook his head. "I know more than you +imagine," he answered. "It is, indeed, long since first I was in this +land; but not so long since I was here last; and all its people and +its things, its woods, its villages, its hills, are as familiar to +me--ay, more so than to you. Of yourself, Leyton, and your fate, I +also know much--I might say I know all; for certainly I know more than +you do, can do more than you are able to do, will do more than you +can. To show you what I know; I will give you a brief summary of your +own history--at least, that part of it, of which you think I know +nothing. Young, eager, and impatient, you were thrown constantly into +the society of one, good, beautiful, gentle, and true. You had much +encouragement from those who should not have given it, unless they had +the intention of continuing it to the end. You loved, and were +beloved; and then, in the impatience of your boyish ardour, you bound +Edith Croyland to yourself, without her parent's knowledge and +consent, by vows which, whatever human laws may say, are indissoluble +by the law of Heaven; and therein you did wrong. It was a great +error.--Do I say right?" + +"It was, indeed," answered Sir Henry Leyton, casting down his eyes +sternly on the ground--"it was, indeed." + +"More--I will tell you more," continued Mr. Warde; "you have bitterly +repented it, and bitterly suffered for it. You are suffering even +now." + +"Not for it," replied the young officer--"not for it. My sufferings +are not consequences of my fault." + +"You are wrong," answered the old man; "wrong, as you will find. But I +will go on, and tell you what you have done this day. Those who have +behaved ill to you have been punished likewise; and their punishment +is working itself out, but sweeping you in within its vortex. You have +been over to see Edith Croyland. She has told you her tale. You have +met in love, and parted in sorrow.--Is it not so? And now you know not +which way to turn for deliverance." + +"It is so, indeed, my good friend," said Leyton, sadly; "but how you +have discovered all this, I cannot divine." + +"That has nought to do with the subject," answered Warde. "Now tell +me, Leyton, tell me--and remember you are dearer to me than you +know--are you prepared to make atonement for your fault? The only +atonement in your power--to give back to Edith the vows she plighted, +to leave her free to act as she may judge best. I have marked you +well, as you know, for years. I have seen you tried as few men, +perhaps, are tried; and you have come out pure and honest. The last +trial is now arrived; and I ask you here, before your friend, your +worldly friend, if you are ready to act honestly still, and to annul +engagements that you had no right to contract?" + +"I am," answered Sir Henry Leyton; "I am, if----" + +"Ay, if! There is ever an 'if' when men would serve their own +purposes against their conscience," said Mr. Warde, sternly. + +"Nay, but hear me, my good friend," replied the young officer. "I have +every respect for you. Your whole character commands it and deserves +it, as well as your profession; but, at the same time, though I may +think fit to answer you candidly, in matters where I would reject any +other man's interference, yet I must shape my answer as I think +proper, and rule my conduct according to my own views. You must, +therefore, hear me out. I say that I am ready to give back to Edith +Croyland the vows she plighted me, to set her free from all +engagements, to leave her, as far as possible, as if she had never +known Henry Leyton, whatever pang it may cost me--_if_ it can be +proved to me that by so doing I have not given her up to misery, as +well as myself. My own wretchedness I can bear--I have borne it long, +cheered by one little ray of hope. I can bear it still, even though +that light go out; but to know that by any act of mine--however +seemingly generous, or, as you term it, honest--I had yielded her up +to a life of anguish, that I could not bear. Show me that this will +not be the case; and, as I have said before, I am ready to make the +sacrifice, if it cost me life. Nay, more: I returned hither prepared, +if at the last, and with every effort to avert it, I found that +circumstances of which I know not the extent, rendered the keeping of +her vows to me more terrible in its consequences than her union with +another, however hateful he may be,--I came hither prepared, I say, in +such a case, to set her free; and I will do it!" + +The old man took both his hands, and gazed on him with a look of glad +satisfaction. "Honest to the last," he said--"honest to the last! The +resolution to do this, is as good as the deed; for I know you are not +one to fail where you have resolved.--But those who might exact the +sacrifice are not worthy of it. Your willingness has made the +atonement, Leyton; and I will deliver you from your difficulty." + +"You, Mr. Warde!" exclaimed Sir Edward Digby; "I cannot suppose that +you really have the power; or, perhaps, after all, you do not know the +whole circumstances." + +"Hush, hush, young man!" answered Warde, with a wave of the hand; "I +know all, I see all, where you know little or nothing. You are a good +youth, as the world goes--better than most of your bad class and +station; but these matters are above you. Listen to me, Leyton. Did +not Edith tell you that her father had worked upon her, by fears for +his safety--for his honour--for his life, perhaps?" + +"Yes, indeed," exclaimed Leyton, eagerly, and with a ray of hope +beginning to break upon him. "Was the tale not true, then?" + +"I guessed so," answered the old man. "I was sure that would be the +course at last. Nevertheless, the tale he told was true--too true. It +was forced from him by circumstances. Yet, I have said I will deliver +you from your difficulty; and I will. Pursue your own course; as you +have commenced, go on to the end. I ask you not now to give Edith back +her promises. Nay, I tell you, that her misery, her wretchedness--ay, +tenfold more than any you could suffer--would be the consequence, if +you did so. Let her go on firmly in her truth to the last; but tell +her, that deliverance will come. Now I leave you; but, be under no +doubt. Your course is clear; do all you can by your own efforts to +save her; but it is I who must deliver her in the end." + +Without any further farewell, he turned and left the room; and Sir +Henry Leyton and his friend remained for a minute or two in thought. + +"His parting advice is the best," said Digby, at length; "and +doubtless you will follow it, Leyton; but, of course, you will not +trust so far to the word of a madman, as to neglect any means that may +present themselves." + +"He is not mad," answered Leyton, shaking his head. "When first he +joined us in Canada, before the battle of Quebec, I thought as you do; +but he is not mad, Digby. There are various shades of reason; and +there may be a slight aberration in his mind from the common course of +ordinary thought. He may be wrong in his reasonings, rash in his +opinions, somewhat overexcited in imagination; but that is not +madness. His promises give me hope, I will confess; but still I will +act as if they had not been made. Now let us speak of our plans; and +first tell me what has taken place at Harbourne; for you seem to know +all the particulars already, which I sent for you to communicate, +though how you learned them I cannot divine." + +"Oh, my dear Leyton, if I were to tell you all that has happened," +replied Sir Edward Digby, "I should have to go on as long as a +Presbyterian minister, or a popular orator. I had better keep to the +point;" and he proceeded to relate to his friend the substance of the +conversation which had last taken place between himself and Zara. + +"It is most fortunate," answered Leyton, "that dear girl has thus +become acquainted with the facts; for Edith would not have told her, +and now we have some chance of obtaining information of all that +occurs, which must be our great security. However--since I returned, I +have obtained valuable information, which puts good Mr. Radford's +liberty, if not his life, in my power. Three of the men whom we have +taken, distinctly state that he sent them upon this expedition +himself--armed, and mounted them; and therefore he is a party to the +whole transaction. I have sent off a messenger to Mowle, the +officer--as faithful and as true a fellow as ever lived--begging him +to bring me up, without a moment's delay, a magistrate in whom he can +trust; for one of the men is at the point of death, and all the +justices round this place are so imbued with the spirit of smuggling, +that I do not choose the depositions to be taken by them. I have +received and written down the statements made, before witnesses; and +the men have signed them; but I have no power in this case to +administer an oath. As soon as the matter is in more formal train, I +shall insist upon the apprehension of Mr. Radford, whatever be the +consequences to Sir Robert Croyland; for here my duty to the country +is concerned, and the very powers with which I am entrusted, render it +imperative upon me so to act." + +"If you can catch him--if you can catch him!" replied Sir Edward +Digby. "But be sure, my dear Leyton, if he once discovers that you +have got such a hold upon him, he will take care to render that matter +difficult. You may find it troublesome, also, to get a magistrate to +act as you desire; for they are all of the same leaven; and I fancy +you have no power to do anything yourself except in aid and support of +the civil authorities. You must be very careful, too, not to exceed +your commission, where people might suspect that personal feelings are +concerned." + +"Personal feelings shall not bias me, Digby, even in the slightest +degree," replied his friend. "I will act towards Mr. Radford, exactly +as I would towards any other man who had committed this offence; and, +as to the imputation of motives, I can well afford to treat such +things with contempt. Were I, indeed, to act as I wish, I should not +pursue this charge against the chief offender, in order not to bring +down his vengeance suddenly upon Sir Robert Croyland's head, or should +use the knowledge I possess merely to impose silence upon him through +fear. But my duty is plain and straightforward; and it must be done. +As to my powers, they are more extensive than you suppose. Indeed, I +would have sooner thrown up my commission, than have undertaken a +service I disliked, without sufficient authority to execute it +properly. Thus, if no magistrate could be found to act as I might +require, I would not scruple, with the aid of any officer of Customs, +or even without, to apprehend this man on my own responsibility. But I +think we shall easily find one who will do his duty." + +"At all events," replied Sir Edward Digby, "you had better be +cautious, my dear Leyton. If you are not too quick in your movements, +you may perhaps trap the old bird and the young one together; and that +will be a better day's sport than if you only got a single shot." + +"Heaven send it may be before these fatal four days are over!" +answered Leyton; "for then the matter will be decided and Edith +delivered." + +"Why, if you were to catch the young one, it would be sufficient for +that object," said his friend. + +But Leyton shook his head. "I fear not," he replied; "yet that purpose +must not be neglected. Where he has concealed himself I cannot divine. +It would seem certain that he never got out of Harbourne Wood, unless, +indeed, it was by some of the bye-paths; and in that case, he surely +must have been seen. I will have it searched, to-morrow, from end to +end." + +In the same strain the conversation proceeded for half-an-hour more, +without any feasible plan of action having been decided upon, and with +no further result than the arrangement of means for frequent and +private communication. It was settled, indeed, that Leyton should fix +his head-quarters at Woodchurch, and that two or three of the dragoons +should be billeted at a small public-house on the road to Harbourne. +To them any communication from Sir Edward Digby was to be conveyed by +his servant, Somers, for the purpose of being forwarded to Woodchurch. +Such matters being thus arranged, as far as circumstances admitted, +the two friends parted; and Digby rode back to Harbourne House, which +he reached, as may be supposed, somewhat later than Sir Robert +Croyland's dinner-hour. + + + + + CHAPTER III. + + +About six o'clock on the evening of the same day, the cottage of Mrs. +Clare was empty. The good widow herself stood at the garden gate, and +looked up the road into the wood, along which the western sun was +streaming low. After gazing for a moment in that direction, she turned +her eyes to the left, and then down the edge of the wood, which +stretched along in a tolerably even line till it reached the farther +angle. The persevering dragoons were patrolling round it still; and +Mrs. Clare murmured to herself, "How will he ever get out, if they +keep such a watch?" + +She was then going into the cottage again, when a hurried step caught +her ear, coming apparently from the path which led from the side of +Halden to the back of the house, and thence round the little garden +into the road. + +"That sounds like Harding's step," thought the widow; and her ear had +not deceived her. In another minute, she beheld him turn the corner of +the fence and come towards her; but there was a heated and angry look +upon his face, which she had never seen there before; and--although +she had acted for the best, and not without much consideration, in +sending Kate upon Mr. Radford's commission, and not going herself--she +feared that her daughter's lover might not be well pleased his bride +should undertake such a task. As he came near, the symptoms of anger +were more apparent still. There was the cloudy brow, the flashing eye, +the hurried and impetuous walk, which she had often seen in her own +husband--a man very similar in character to him who now approached +her--when irritated by harsh words; and Widow Clare prepared to do all +she could to soothe him ere Kate's return. + +But Harding did not mention her he loved, demanding, while yet at some +distance, "Where is Mr. Radford, Mrs. Clare?" + +"He is not here, Mr. Harding," replied the widow; "he has not been +here since the morning. But what makes you look so cross, Harding? You +seem angry." + +"And well I may be," answered Harding, with an oath. "What do you +think they have set about?--That I informed against them, and betrayed +them into the hands of the dragoons: when, they know, I saw them safe +out of the Marsh; and it must have been their own stupidity, or the +old man's babbling fears, that ruined them--always trusting people +that were sure to be treacherous, and doubting those he knew to be +honest. But I'll make him eat his words, or cram them down his throat +with my fist." + +"Why, he spoke quite kindly of you this morning, Harding," said the +widow; "there must be some mistake." + +"Mistake!" cried the smuggler, sharply; "there is no mistake.--It is +all over Hythe and Folkestone already; and every one says that it came +from him. Can you not tell me where he is gone?--Which way did he +turn?" + +"Towards his own house," replied Mrs. Clare; "but you had better come +in, Harding, and get yourself cool before you go to him. You will +speak angrily now, and mischief may come of it. I am sure there is +some mistake." + +"I" will not sit down till I have made him own it," answered the +smuggler. "Perhaps he is up at Harbourne. I'll go there. Where is +Kate, Mrs. Clare?" + +"She has gone towards Harbourne House," said the widow, not choosing, +in the excited state of his feelings, to tell him her daughter's +errand; "but she will be back in one minute, if you will but come in." + +"No," he replied; "I will come back by-and-by. Perhaps I shall meet +her as I go;" and he was turning towards the wood, when suddenly, at +the spot where the road entered amongst the trees, the pretty figure +of Kate Clare, as trim, and neat, and simple as a wild flower, +appeared walking slowly back towards the cottage. But she was not +alone. By her side was a tall, handsome young man, dressed in full +military costume, with his heavy sword under his arm, and a star upon +his breast. He was bending down, talking to his fair companion with a +friendly air, and she was answering him with a gay smile. + +A pang shot through Harding's bosom: the first that ever the poor girl +had caused; nor, indeed, would he have felt it then, had he not been +irritated; for his was a frank and confiding heart, open as the day, +in which that foul and dangerous guest, Suspicion, usually could find +no lurking place. At first he did not recognise, in the glittering +personage before his eyes, the grave, plain-looking stranger, who, a +week or two before, had conversed with him for a few minutes on the +cliffs near Sandgate; but he saw, as the two came on, that Kate raised +her eyes; and as soon as she perceived him standing by her mother, a +look of joy lighted up her face, which made him murmur to himself, +"I'm a fool!" + +The stranger, too, saw him; but it made no change in his demeanour; +and the next moment, to Harding's surprise, the officer came forward +somewhat more quickly, and took Widow Clare by the hand, saying, with +a grave smile, "Do you not know me, Mrs. Clare?" + +"Gracious Heaven!" cried the widow, drawing back and gazing at him, +"Can it be you, sir?" + +"Yes, indeed!" he answered. "Why, Kate here knew me directly, though +she was but ten or eleven, I think, when I went away." + +"Oh, that was because you were always so fond of her, Mr. Henry," +replied Widow Clare. "Gracious! how you are changed!" + +Harding was talking to Kate while these few words passed, but he heard +them; nor did he fail to remark that two mounted dragoons, one leading +a horse by the rein, followed the young officer from the wood. He now +recognised him also; and by his dress perceived the rank he held in +the army, though Mrs. Clare called him "Mr. Henry." + +"Yes, I am changed, indeed!" replied Leyton, to the widow's last +remark, "in body and health, Mrs. Clare, but not in heart, I can +assure you; and as I was obliged to visit this wood, I resolved I +would not be so near you without coming in to see how you were going +on, with your pretty Kate here." + +"My pretty Kate, very soon!" said Harding, aloud; and the young +officer turned suddenly round, and looked at him more attentively than +before. + +"Ah, Mr. Harding!" he exclaimed, "is that you? We have met before, +though perhaps you don't remember me." + +"Oh yes, I do, sir," replied the smuggler, drily. "But I must go, +Kate;" and he added, in a low tone, "I shall be back by-and-by." + +Thus saying, he walked away; but before he had taken ten steps, Leyton +followed, and took him by the arm. "What do you want with me, sir?" +asked the smuggler, turning sharply round, and putting his hand in the +bosom of his coat. + +"Hush!" replied the young officer; "I seek no harm to you--merely +one word. For Heaven's sake, Harding, quit this perilous life of +yours!--at least, before you marry that poor girl--if I have +understood you rightly, that you are about to marry her. I speak as a +friend." + +"Thank you, sir!" answered the smuggler, "I dare say you mean it kind; +but it was hardly fair of you, either, to come and talk with me upon +the cliff, if you are, as I suppose, the Sir Henry Leyton all the +folks are speaking about." + +"Why, my good friend, my talking with you did you no harm," replied +the young officer; "you cannot say that I led you to speak of anything +that could injure either you or others. Besides, I have nothing to do +with you gentlemen of the sea, though I may with your friends on land. +But take the advice of one well disposed towards you; and, above all, +do not linger about this place at present, for it is a dangerous +neighbourhood for any one who has had a share in the late +transactions." + +"That advice I shall take, at all events," answered Harding, bluntly; +"and perhaps the other too, for I am sick of all this!" And thus +saying, he walked away, passing close by the two dragoons, who offered +no obstruction. + +In the meanwhile Leyton, returning to Widow Clare and her daughter, +went into the cottage, and talked to them, for a few minutes, of old +days. Gradually, however, he brought the conversation round to the +inhabitants of Harbourne House, and asked if either the widow or Kate +ever went up there. + +"Oh, Kate goes twice every day, sir," said Mrs. Clare, "for we have +all the finest of the poultry to keep down here. But are you not going +there yourself, Mr. Henry?" + +"Alas, no!" answered Leyton, with a sigh. "Those days have gone by, +Mrs. Clare; and I am now a stranger where I was once loved." + +"Don't say so, sir," replied the widow, "don't say so! For, I am sure, +where you were best loved of all, there you are best loved still." + +"That I believe," answered Leyton; "but, at all events, I am not going +there at present; and if Kate would do me a service, she would, the +first time she sees Miss Zara Croyland alone, tell her, that if ever +she rides or walks out along the road by the Chequers, she will find +an old friend by the way." + +"Miss Zara, sir, did you say?" asked Widow Clare. + +"Yes, mother--yes," cried Kate; "you forget Miss Edith is not there +now; she is down at Mr. Croyland's." + +"But remember, Kate," continued Leyton, "I do not wish my name +mentioned to many persons in the house. Indeed, it will be better not +to speak of me at all to any one but Zara. It must be soon known that +I am here, it is true; but I wish to let events take their course till +then. And now, Mrs. Clare, good evening. I shall see you again some +day soon; and you must let me know when Kate's wedding-day is fixed." + +The mother looked at her daughter with a smile, and Kate blushed and +laughed. "It is to be this day week, sir," answered Mrs. Clare. + +Leyton nodded his head, saying, "I will not forget," and, mounting his +horse at the door, rode away. + +"Now, did you find him, Kate?" asked Mrs. Clare, in a low tone, the +moment Sir Henry Leyton was gone. + +"Oh yes," replied her daughter; "the dragoons did not follow me, as +you thought they would, mother; and I set down the basket close to the +willow. At first he did not answer when I asked if he wanted anything; +but when I spoke again, he said, 'No. A thousand thanks for what you +have brought;' and he spoke kind and civilly. Then, just as I was +going away, he said, 'Kate, Kate! let me know when the soldiers are +gone.--If you could bring me a woman's dress, I could easily get +away.' I should not be afraid of going any more, mother," the girl +continued; "for he seems quite changed by his misfortune, and not rude +and jesting as he always used to be, whenever I saw him before." + +The idea of the woman's clothes seemed to strike Mrs. Clare very much; +and the good widow and her daughter set their wits to work, to +consider how all that was necessary could be procured; for a very +serious impediment thrust itself in the way of either mother or child +lending him a suit of their own apparel. Neither of them were very +tall women; and though young Radford was himself not above the middle +height, yet Kate's gown would not have fallen further than half way +down his leg; and the poor girl laughed merrily, to think of what a +figure he would make dressed in her garments. It would have been the +old story of the wolf in sheep's clothing, assuredly. + +"If we could but accomplish it, and enable him to escape," thought +Mrs. Clare, "especially after Harding has just been up here, it would +show Mr. Radford, clearly enough, that John had nothing to do with +informing against him." But the question, of where fitting apparel was +to be procured, still remained unsettled, till Kate suggested, that +perhaps her aunt's, at Glassenbury, might do. "She is very tall," +continued the girl, "and I am sure she would lend them to me; for she +and my uncle have always been so kind. Suppose I walk over early +to-morrow, and ask her." + +Now the little farm which Mrs. Clare's brother held, was somewhat more +than seven miles off, on the other side of Cranbrook. But still, what +is the exertion which woman will not make for a fellow-creature in +distress; and Mrs. Clare determined that she would rise betimes, and +go to William Harris's herself, certain of a kind reception and ready +consent from those who had always displayed towards her, in adversity, +the feelings of affection, which the more worldly-minded generally +shower upon prosperity alone. + +It was far for her daughter to walk, she thought; and besides, Harding +might come, and it would not do for Kate to be absent. Thus had she +settled it in her own mind, when Mr. Radford entered the cottage to +inquire after his son. + +High were the praises that he bestowed upon Kate and Mrs. Clare, for +their kindness; and he expressed his warm approval of their little +scheme. Nevertheless, he turned the matter in his mind, in order to +see whether he could not save Mrs. Clare the trouble of going nearly +to Goudhurst, by obtaining the necessary articles of female apparel +somewhere else. His own women servants, however, were all short and +stout; the only other persons whom he could think of, as at all +approaching his son in height, he did not choose to trust; and +therefore it was, at length, determined that the original plan should +be followed. But the worthy gentleman laid strict injunctions upon +Mrs. Clare, to be early in her proceedings, as he feared much, from +all he had gathered, that the wood might be more strictly searched, in +the course of the following day. + +When this was settled, and Mr. Radford had expressed his thanks, more +than once, Mrs. Clare thought it a good opportunity of turning the +conversation to Harding; and she asked Mr. Radford if he had seen him, +adding, "He has gone to look for you, sir, and seems very quick and +angry, because the people down about his place have got a report that +he informed about the run; and he fancies you have said so." + +"Pooh, nonsense, Mrs. Clare, I never said anything of the kind!" +replied Mr. Radford. "It is a story put about by the Custom-House +officers themselves, just to cover the persons from whom they had the +information. But we shall discover them some day, and pay them +handsomely. Tell Harding not to mind what people say, for I never +thought of such a thing." + +"That I will, sir," replied the widow; "for I'm sure it will set his +mind at rest.--You must know very well, sir, that he's as honest a man +as ever lived." + +"To be sure--to be sure," answered Mr. Radford, with great warmth of +manner; "no one knows that better than I do, Mrs. Clare." + +But whether Mr. Radford really felt the warmth which he assumed, may +be another question. His seemings were not always the best indications +of his real sentiments; and when he left Mrs. Clare's cottage, after +all had been arranged, his first thought was, "We will reckon with Mr. +Harding by-and-by.--The account is not made up yet." + +Before I proceed to other scenes, it may be as well to go on with the +part assigned in this history to Mrs. Clare and her daughter, at +least, till the morning of the following day. About eight o'clock at +night, Harding returned, still irritable and discontented, having +failed to find Mr. Radford. The account, however, which the widow gave +of her conversation with that gentleman, soothed him a good deal; but +he would not stay the night, as he had done before, saying that he +must absolutely be at home as soon as possible, and would return, +perhaps, the next day, or, at all events, the day after. + +"I must do the best I can, Mrs. Clare," he continued, "to help these +fellows out of the scrape they've run into. Two or three of them are +good men enough; and, as they risk their necks if they are taken, I +should like to get them down, and give them a passage to the other +side. So you see I shall be going about here a good deal, for the next +four or five days, and will look in, from time to time, to see you and +my dear little Kate." + +"But are you going to walk all the way back to-night, John?" asked +Kate, as he rose to depart. + +"No, my love," he answered, "I've got a horse up at Plurendon; but the +beast cast a shoe as I was coming, and I was obliged to leave him at +the blacksmith's." + +No sooner was Harding gone, than a little kindly contest rose between +mother and daughter, as to which should go over to Glassenbury; but +Mrs. Clare persisted, against all her child's remonstrances; and, in +order that they might rise before daylight, both retired to bed early, +and slept calmly and peacefully, unknowing what the morrow, to which +they both looked anxiously forward, was to bring. The sun was yet some +way below the horizon, when Mrs. Clare set out; but she met with no +impediment, and, walking on stoutly, arrived, at an early hour, at a +little farm-house, inhabited by her brother. She found farmer Harris +and his wife, with their two sons and Mrs. Harris's nephew (three +stout, good humoured, young men) seated at their breakfast; and warm +and joyful was the reception of Aunt Clare; one joking her upon Kate's +approaching marriage; another declaring Jack Harding, whom they all +knew, was a capital fellow; and all striving to make her comfortable, +and pressing her to partake of their morning meal. + +Every one of the party was eager to obtain some information from her, +who lived so much nearer to the spot, in regard to the late +discomfiture of the smugglers, although none seemed to take any great +interest in them, all declaring that the Ramleys, and their gang, were +the pest of the country, and that young Dick Radford was not a bit +better. Such opinions, regarding that young gentleman, acted as a +warning to Mrs. Clare, not to mention the object of the loan she came +to solicit; and when, after having rested about twenty minutes, she +preferred her petition to Mrs. Harris, it was readily granted by the +tall farmer's wife, although not without some expression of curiosity, +as to what her sister-in-law could want a dress of hers for. + +"Kate or I will bring it back to-night or to-morrow morning," replied +Mrs. Clare, "and I'll tell you what we want it for, at the wedding, +which, remember, is to be yesterday week." + +"Ay, we will all come down with white favours, and our best buckles," +said young William, the farmer's eldest son; "and I'll have a kiss of +the bride." + +A gown and cloak of Mrs. Harris's, having been brought down--they were +not her best--and neatly folded up in a shawl-handkerchief, Mrs. Clare +set forward on her way home, hurrying her steps as much as possible, +lest any untoward event should prevent the execution of her scheme. A +stout country woman, accustomed to exercise, the widow accomplished +the walk in as short a time as possible; yet it was nine o'clock +before she reached the cottage, and she instantly dispatched her +daughter to the "hide" in the wood, with the clothes folded up in as +small a space as possible, and laid in the bottom of a basket, covered +over with eggs. + +The only difficulty was, in regard to a bonnet; and, after earnest +consultation between mother and child, it was determined that, as Mrs. +Clare's head was somewhat larger than Kate's, her bonnet should be put +over her daughter's, which was easily accomplished. Both were of +straw, and both were plain enough; but, to conceal the contrivance +from the eyes of any one whom Kate might meet, Mrs. Clare pinned a +small piece of lace--which had been bought for the wedding--into the +inside of her own bonnet, remarking, that it would do to hide young +Mr. Radford's face a bit. + +Furnished with all that was needful, and having had the instructions +which Mr. Radford had left, repeated carefully to her, by her mother, +fair Kate Clare set out upon her expedition, passing one of the +dragoons, who were still patrolling round the wood, near the place +where the road entered it. The man said something to her, as she went +by, but did not attempt to follow; and Kate walked on, looking behind +her, from time to time, till she was satisfied that her proceedings +were unwatched. Then, hurrying on, with a quicker step, she turned to +the path, which led to the back of the gardens of Harbourne House, and +approached the old willow, and the brushwood which covered the place +where Richard Radford was concealed. + +"Mr. Radford," she said, as soon as she was quite close, "Mr. Radford! +Here is what you wanted. Take it as fast as you can." + +"Is there any one near but you, Kate?" asked the voice of Richard +Radford. + +"Oh, no!" she replied; "but the soldiers are still on the outside of +the wood watching." + +"I know that," rejoined the voice again, "for I saw them last night, +when I tried to get out. But are you sure that none of them followed +you, Kate?" + +"Oh, quite sure," she answered, "for I looked behind all the way!" + +"Well, stay and help me to put the things on," said Richard Radford, +issuing forth from behind the bushes, like a snake out of its hole. +Kate Clare willingly agreed to help him, and while the gown and the +cloak were thrown over his other clothes, told him all that his father +had said, desiring him not to come up to Radford Hall till he heard +more; but to go down to the _lone house_, near Iden Green, where he +would find one or two friends already collected. + +"Why, these are never your own clothes, Kate!" said young Radford, as +she pinned on the gown for him. "They fit as if they were made for +me." + +"Not at the back," answered Kate, laughing, "I cannot get the gown to +meet there; but that will be covered up by the cloak, so it does not +matter.--No, they are my aunt's, at Glassenbury; and you must let me +have them back, Mr. Radford, as soon as ever you have got to Iden +Green; for my mother has promised to return them to-night." + +"I don't know howl shall get them back, Kate," answered Richard +Radford; "for none of our people will like to venture up here. Can't +you come down and fetch them? It is not much out of your way." + +"No, I can't do that," answered Kate, who did not altogether like +going to the lone house she had mentioned; "but you can send them down +to Cranbrook, at all events; and there they can be left for me, at +Mrs. Tims's shop. They'll be quite safe; and I will call for them +either to-night or to-morrow morning." + +"Well, I will do that, my love," replied Richard Radford, taking the +bonnet and putting it on his head. + +"Very well, sir," answered Kate, not well pleased with the epithet he +had bestowed upon her, and taking a step to move away, "I will call +for them there." + +But young Radford threw his arm round her waist, saying, "Come, Kate! +I must have a kiss before you go.--You give plenty to Harding, I dare +say." + +"Let me go, sir!" cried Kate Clare, indignantly. "You are a base, +ungrateful young man!" + +But young Radford did not let her go. He took the kiss she struggled +against, by force; and he was proceeding to farther insult, when Kate +exclaimed, "If you do not let me go, I will scream till the soldiers +are upon you.--They are not far." + +She spoke so loud, that her very tone excited his alarm; and he +withdrew his arm from her waist, but still held her hand tight, +saying, "Come, come, Kate! Nonsense, I did not mean to offend you! Go +up to Harbourne House, there's a good girl, and stay as long as you +can there, till I get out of the wood." + +"You do offend me--you do offend me!" cried Kate Clare, striving to +withdraw her hand from his grasp. + +"Will you promise to go up to Harbourne, then?" said Richard Radford, +"and I will let you go." + +"Yes, yes," answered Kate, "I will go;" and the moment her hand was +free, she darted away, leaving the basket she had brought behind her. + +As soon as she was gone, Richard Radford cursed her for a saucy jade, +as if the offence had been hers, not his; and then taking up the +basket, he threw it, eggs and all, together with his own hat, into the +deep hole in the sandbank. Advancing along the path till he reached +the open road, he hurried on in the direction of Widow Clare's +cottage. Of a daring and resolute disposition--for his only virtue was +courage--he thought of passing the soldiers, as a good joke rather +than a difficult undertaking; but still recollecting the necessity of +caution, as he came near the edge of the wood he slackened his pace, +tried to shorten his steps, and assumed a more feminine demeanour. +When he was within a couple of hundred yards of the open country, he +saw one of the dragoons slowly pass the end of the road and look up; +and, on issuing forth from the wood, he perceived that the man had +paused, and was gazing back. But at that distance, the female garments +which he wore deceived the soldier; and he was suffered to walk on +unopposed towards Iden Green. + + + + + CHAPTER IV. + + +Sir Robert Croyland himself did not return to Harbourne House, till +the hands of the clock pointed out to every one that went through the +hall, that it was twenty minutes past the usual dinner hour; and, +though he tried to be as expeditious as he could, he was yet fully ten +minutes longer in dressing than usual. He was nervous; he was +agitated; all the events of that day had shaken and affected him; he +was angry with his servant; and several times he gave the most +contradictory orders. Although for years he had been undergoing a slow +and gradual change, under the painful circumstances in which he had +been placed, and had, from the gay, rash, somewhat noisy and +overbearing country gentleman, dwindled down into the cold, silent, +pompous, and imperative man of family, yet the alteration during that +day had been so great and peculiar that the valet could not help +remarking it, and wondering if his master was ill. + +Sir Robert tried to smoothe his look and compose his manner for the +drawing-room, however; and when he entered, he gazed round for Sir +Edward Digby, observing aloud: "Why, I thought soldiers were more +punctual. However, as it happens, to-day I am glad Sir Edward is not +down." + +"Down!" cried Mrs. Barbara, who had a grand objection to dinners being +delayed; "why, he is out; but you could expect no better; for +yesterday you were so long that the fish was done to rags; so I +ordered it not to be put in till he made his appearance." + +"I told you, my dear aunt, that he said he might not be back before +dinner," replied her niece, "and, therefore, it will be vain to wait +for him. He desired me to say so, papa." + +"Oh yes! Zara knows all about it," said Mrs. Barbara, with a shrewd +look; "they were talking together for ten minutes in the library; and +I cannot get her to tell me what it was about." + +It is, indeed, conscience that makes cowards of us all; and had the +fair girl's conversation with her new friend been on any other subject +than that to which it related--had it been about love, marriage, arms, +or divinity, she would have found no difficulty in parrying her aunt's +observations, however mal-à-propos they might have been. At present, +however, she was embarrassed by doubts of the propriety of what she +was doing, more especially as she felt sure that her father would be +inquisitive and suspicious, if the tale the maid had told was true. +Acting, however, as she not unfrequently did, in any difficulty, she +met Mrs. Barbara's inuendoes at once, replying, "Indeed I shall not +say anything about it to any one, my dear aunt. I will manage some +matters for myself; and the only thing I shall repeat is Sir Edward's +last dying speech, which was to the effect, that he feared he might be +detained till after our dinner hour, but would be back as soon as ever +he could, and trusted my father would not wait." + +"Do you know where he is gone, and why?" asked Sir Robert Croyland, in +a much quieter tone than she expected. But poor Zara was still puzzled +for an answer; and, as her only resource, she replied vaguely, +"Something about some of the smugglers, I believe." + +"Then had he any message or intelligence brought him?" inquired Sir +Robert Croyland. + +"I do not know--Oh, yes, I believe he had," replied his daughter, +in a hesitating tone and with a cheek that was beginning to grow red. +"He spoke with one of the soldiers at the corner of the road, I +know;--and, oh yes, I saw a man ride up with a letter." + +"That was after he was gone," observed Mrs. Barbara; but Sir Robert +paid little attention, and, ringing, ordered dinner to be served. +Could we see into the breasts of others, we should often save +ourselves a great deal of unnecessary anxiety. Zara forgot that +her father was not as well aware that Sir Edward Digby was +Leyton's dearest friend, as she was; but, in truth, all that he +concluded--either from the pertinent remarks of Mrs. Barbara or from +Zara's embarrassment--was, that the young baronet had been making a +little love to his daughter, which, to say sooth, was a consummation +that Sir Robert Croyland was not a little inclined to see. + +In about a quarter of an hour more, the dinner was announced; and the +master of the house, his sister, and Zara, sat down together. Hardly +had the fish and soup made any progress, when the quick canter of Sir +Edward Digby's horse put his fair confidante out of her anxiety; and, +in a few minutes after, he appeared himself, and apologized gracefully +to his host, for having been too late. "You must have waited for me, I +fear," he added, "for it is near an hour after the time; but I thought +it absolutely necessary, from some circumstances I heard, to go over +and see my colonel before he returned to Hythe, and then I was +detained." + +"Pray, who does command your regiment?" asked Mrs. Barbara. But Sir +Edward Digby was, at that moment, busily engaged in taking his seat by +Zara's side; and he did not hear. The lady repeated the question when +he was seated; but then he replied, "No, I thank you, my dear madam, +no soup to-day--a solid meal always after a hard ride; and I have +galloped till I have almost broken my horse's wind.--By the way, Sir +Robert, I hope you found my bay a pleasant goer. I have only ridden +him twice since I bought him, though he cost two hundred guineas." + +"He is well worth the money," replied the Baronet--"a very powerful +animal--bore me like a feather, and I ride a good weight." + +"Have your own horses come back?" asked the young officer, with a +laugh. + +Sir Robert Croyland answered in the negative, adding, "And that +reminds me I must write to my brother, to let Edith have his carriage +to-morrow, to bring her back; for mine are gone--coach-horses, and +all." + +"Edith, to-morrow!" exclaimed Mrs. Barbara, in surprise; "why, I +thought she was going to stay four or five days." + +"She is coming back to-morrow, Bab," replied Sir Robert, sharply; and +instantly turned the conversation. + +During the rest of the evening, Sir Edward Digby remained very +constantly by fair Zara's side; and, moreover, he paid her most +particular attention, in so marked a manner, that both Sir Robert +Croyland and Mrs. Barbara thought matters were taking their course +very favourably. The father busied himself in writing a letter and one +or two notes, which he pronounced to be of consequence--as, indeed, +they really were--while the aunt, worked diligently and discreetly at +embroidering, not interrupting the conference of her niece and their +guest above ten times in a minute. Sir Edward, indeed, kept himself +within all due and well-defined rules. He never proceeded beyond what +a great master of the art has pronounced to be "making love"--"a +course of small, quiet, attentions, not so pointed as to alarm, nor so +vague as to be misunderstood." Strange to say, Zara was very much +obliged to him for following such a course, as it gave an especially +good pretext for intimacy, for whispered words and quiet conversation, +and even for a little open seeking for each other's society, which +would have called observation, if not inquiry, upon them, had not her +companion's conduct been what it was. She thought fit to attribute it, +in her own mind, entirely to his desire of communicating to her, +without attracting notice, whatever he had learned, that could in any +way affect her sister's fate; and she judged it a marvellous good +device that they should appear for the time as lovers, with full +powers on both parts to withdraw from that position whenever it suited +them. Poor girl! she knew not how far she was entangling herself. + +Sir Edward Digby, in the meanwhile, took no alarming advantage of his +situation. The whispered word was almost always of Edith or of Leyton. +He never spoke of Zara herself, or of himself, or of his own feelings; +not a word could denote to her that he was making love, though his +whole demeanour had very much that aspect to those who sat and looked +on. Oh, those who sit and look on, what a world they see! and what a +world they don't see! Ever more than those who play the game, be they +shrewd as they may: ever less than the cards would show, were they +turned up. By fits and snatches, he communicated to his fair +companion, while he was playing with this ball of gold thread, or +winding and unwinding that piece of crimson silk, as much of what had +passed between himself and Sir Henry Leyton, as he thought necessary; +and then he asked her to sing--as her aunt had given him a quiet hint +that her niece did sometimes do such a thing--saying, in a low tone, +while he preferred the request, "Pray, go on with the song, though I +may interrupt you sometimes with questions, not quite relevant to the +subject." + +"I understand--I quite understand," answered Zara; but it may be a +question whether that sweet girl really quite understood either +herself or him. It is impossible that any two free hearts, can go on +long, holding such intimate and secret communion, on subjects deeply +interesting to both, without being drawn together by closer bonds, +than perhaps they fancy can ever be established between them--unless +there be something inherently repulsive on one part or the other. +Propinquity is certainly much, in the matter of love; but there are +circumstances, not rarely occurring in human life, which mightily +abridge the process; and such are--difficulties and dangers +experienced together--a common struggle for a common object--but more +than all--mutual and secret communion with, and aid of each other in +things of deep interest. The confidence that is required, the +excitement of imagination, the unity of effort, and of purpose, the +rapid exercise of mind to catch the half-uttered thought, the enforced +candour from want of time, which admits of no disguise or +circumlocution, the very mystery itself--all cast that magic chain +around those so circumstanced, within which they can hardly escape +from the power of love. Nine times out of ten, they never try; and, +however Zara Croyland might feel, she rose willingly enough to sing, +while Sir Edward Digby leaned over her chair, as she sat at the +instrument, which in those days supplied the place of that which is +now absurdly enough termed in England, a piano. Her voice, which was +fine though not very powerful, wavered a little as she began, from +emotions of many kinds. She wished to sing well; but she sang worse +than she might have done; yet quite well enough to please Sir Edward +Digby, though his ear was refined by art, and good by nature. +Nevertheless, though he listened with delight, and felt the music +deeply, he forgot not his purpose, and between each stanza asked some +question, obtaining a brief reply. But I will not so interrupt the +course of an old song, and will give the interrogatory a separate +place: + + + THE LADY'S SONG. + + "Oh! there be many, many griefs, + In this world's sad career, + That shun the day, that fly the gaze, + And never, never meet the ear. + + But what is darkest--darkest of them all? + The pang of love betray'd?-- + The hopes of youth all fleeting by-- + Spring flowers that early, early fade? + + But there are griefs--ay, griefs as deep: + The friendship turn'd to hate-- + And, deeper still--and deeper still, + Repentance come too late!--too late! + + The doubt of those we love; and more + The rayless, dull despair, + When trusted hearts are worthless found, + And all our dreams are air--but air. + + Deep in each bosom's secret cell, + The hermit-sorrows lie; + And thence--unheard on earth--they raise + The voice of prayer on high--on high. + + Oh! there be many, many griefs, + In this world's sad career, + That shun the day, that fly the gaze, + And, never, never meet the ear." + + +Thus sang the lady; and one of her hearers, at least, was delighted +with the sweet voice, and the sweet music, and the expression which +she gave to the whole. But though he listened with deep attention, +both to words and tones, as long as her lips moved, yet, when the mere +instrumental part of the music recommenced, which was the case between +every second and third stanza--and the symphonetic parts of every song +were somewhat long in those days--he instantly remembered the object +with which he had first asked her to sing, (little thinking that such +pleasure would be his reward;) and bending down his head, as if he +were paying her some lover-like compliment on her performance, he +asked her quietly, as I have said before, a question or two, closely +connected with the subject on which both their minds were at that +moment principally bent. + +Thus, at the first pause, he inquired--"Do you know--did you ever see, +in times long past, a gentleman of the name of Warde--a clergyman--a +good and clever man, but somewhat strange and wild?" + +"No," answered Zara, looking down at the keys of the harpsichord; "I +know no one of that name;" and she recommenced the song. + +When her voice again ceased, the young officer seemed to have thought +farther; and he asked, in the same low tone, "Did you ever know a +gentleman answering that description--his features must once have been +good--somewhat strongly marked, but fine and of an elevated +expression, with a good deal of wildness in the eye, but a peculiarly +bland and beautiful smile when he is pleased--too remarkable to be +overlooked or forgotten?" + +"Can you be speaking of Mr. Osborn?" asked Zara, in return. "I barely +recollect him in former days; but I and Edith met him about ten days +ago; and he remembered and spoke to her." + +The song required her attention; and though she would fain have played +the symphony over again, she was afraid her father would remark it, +and went on to sing the last two stanzas. As soon as she had +concluded, however, she said, in a low, quick voice, "He is a very +extraordinary man." + +"Can you give me any sign by which I should know him?" asked Digby. + +"He has now got a number of blue lines traced on his face," answered +Zara; "he went abroad to preach to the savages, I have heard. He is a +good man, but very eccentric." + +At the same moment the voice of her father was raised, saying, "I +wish, my dear, you would not sing such melancholy things as that. +Cannot you find something gayer? I do not like young ladies singing +such dull ditties, only fit for sentimental misses of the true French +school." + +What was the true French school of his day, I cannot tell. Certainly, +it must have been very different from the present. + +"Perhaps Sir Edward will sing something more cheerful himself?" +answered Zara. + +"Oh, I am a very bad musician," replied the young officer; "I cannot +even accompany myself. If you will, and have any of the few things I +know, I shall be very happy.--In everything, one can but try," he +added, in a low voice, "still hoping for the best." + +Zara looked over her collection of music with him; and at last she +opened one song which was somewhat popular in those times, though it +has long fallen into well-merited oblivion. "Can you venture to sing +that?" she asked, pointing to the words rather than the music; "it is +quite a soldier's song." + +Sir Edward Digby read the first line; and thinking he observed a +double meaning in her question, he answered, "Oh, yes, that I will, if +you will consent to accompany me." + +Zara smiled, and sat down to the instrument again; and the reader must +judge from the song itself whether the young officer's conjecture that +her words had an enigmatical sense was just or not. + + + THE OFFICER'S SONG. + + "A star is still beaming + Beyond the grey cloud; + Its light rays are streaming, + With nothing to shroud; + And the star shall be there + When the clouds pass away; + Its lustre unchanging, + Immortal its ray. + + "'Tis the guide of the true heart, + In field, or on sea; + 'Tis the hope of the slave, + And the trust of the free; + The light of the lover, + Whatever assail; + The strength of the honest, + That never can fail. + + "Waft, waft, thou light wind, + From the peace-giving ray, + The vapours of sorrow, + That over it stray; + And let it pour forth, + All unshrouded and bright, + That those who now mourn, + May rejoice in its light." + + +"God grant it!" murmured the voice of Sir Robert Croyland. Zara said, +"Amen," in her heart; and in a minute or two after, her father rose, +and left the room. + +During the rest of the evening, nothing very important occurred in +Harbourne House. Mrs. Barbara played her usual part, and would +contribute to Sir Edward Digby's amusement in a most uncomfortable +manner. The following morning, too, went by without any incident of +importance, till about ten o'clock, when breakfast just being over, +and Zara having been called from the room by her maid, Sir Robert's +butler announced to his master, that the groom had returned from Mr. +Croyland's. + +"Where is the note?" demanded his master, eagerly. + +"He has not brought one, Sir Robert," replied the servant, "only a +message, sir, to say that Mr. Croyland is very sorry he cannot spare +the horses to-day, as they were out a long way yesterday." + +Sir Robert Croyland started up in a state of fury not at all becoming. +He stamped, he even swore. But we have got rid of a great many of the +vices of those times; and swearing was so common at the period I speak +of, that it did not even startle Mrs. Barbara. Her efforts, however, +to soothe her brother, only served to irritate him the more; and next +he swore at her, which did surprise her mightily. + +He then fell into a fit of thought, which ended in his saying aloud, +"Yes, that must be the way. It is his business, and so----" But +Sir Robert did not conclude the sentence, retiring to his own +sitting-room, and there writing a letter. + +When he had done, he paused and meditated, his mind rambling over many +subjects, though still occupied intensely with only one. "I am a most +unfortunate man," he thought. "Nothing since that wretched day has +ever gone right with me. Even trifles combine to frustrate everything +I attempt. Would I had died many years ago! Poor Edith--poor girl--she +must know more sorrow still, and yet it must be done, or I am +lost!--If that wretched youth had been killed in that affray +yesterday, it would have all been over. Was there no bullet that could +find him?--and yet, perhaps, it might not have had the effect.--No, +no; there would have been some new kind of demand from that greedy, +craving scoundrel.--May there not be such even now? Will he give up +that fatal paper?--He shall--by Heaven, he shall!--But I must send the +letter. Sir Edward Digby will think this all very strange. How +unfortunate, that it should have happened just when he was here. Would +to Heaven I had any one to consult with! But I am lone, lone indeed. +My wife, my sons, my friends,--gone, gone, all gone! It is very sad;" +and after having mused for several minutes more, he rang the bell, +gave the servant who appeared the letter which he had just written, +and directed him to take it over to Mr. Radford's as soon as possible. + +Returning to the room which he had previously left--without bestowing +one word upon Mrs. Barbara, whom he passed in the corridor, Sir +Robert Croyland entered into conversation with Sir Edward Digby, and +strove--though with too evident an effort--to appear careless and +unconcerned. + +In the meantime, however, we must notice what was passing in the +corridor; for it was of some importance, though, like many other +important things, it was transacted very quietly. + +Mrs. Barbara had overheard Sir Robert's directions to the servant; and +she had seen the man--as he went away to get ready the pony, which was +usually sent in the morning to the post--deposit the note he had +received upon an antique piece of furniture--a large marble table, +with great sprawling gilt legs--which stood in the hall, close to the +double doors that led to the offices. + +Now, Mrs. Barbara was one of the most benevolent people upon earth: +she literally overflowed with the milk of human kindness; and, if a +few drops of that same milk occasionally spotted the apron of her +morality, which we cannot help acknowledging was sometimes the case, +she thought, as a great many other people do of a great many other +sins, that "there was no great harm in it, if the motive was good." +This was one of those cases and occasions when the milk was beginning +to run over. She had a deep regard for her brother: she would have +sacrificed her right hand for him; and she was quite sure that +something very sad had happened to vex him, or he never would have +thought of swearing _at her_. She would have done, she was ready to +do, anything in the world, to help him; but how could she help him, +without knowing what he was vexed about? It is wonderful how many +lines the devil always has out, for those who are disposed to take a +bait. Something whispered to Mrs. Barbara, as she gazed at the letter, +"The whole story is in there!" Ah, Mrs. Barbara, do not take it up, +and look at the address!--It is dangerous--very dangerous. + +But Mrs. Barbara did take it up, and looked at the address--and then +at the two ends. It was folded as a note, unfortunately; and she +thought--"There can be no harm, I'm sure--I won't open it--though I've +seen him open Edith's letters, poor thing!--I shall hear the man pull +back the inner door, and can put it down in a minute. Nobody else can +see me here; and if I could but find out what is vexing him, I might +have some way of helping him; I'm sure I intend well." + +All this argumentation in Mrs. Barbara's mind took up the space of +about three seconds; and then the note, pressed between two fingers in +the most approved fashion, was applied as a telescope to her eye, to +get a perspective view of the cause of her brother's irritation. I +must make the reader a party to the transaction, I am afraid, and let +him know the words which Mrs. Barbara read:-- + +"My dear Radford," the note began--"As misfortune would have it, all +my horses have been taken out of the stable, and have not been brought +back. I fear that they have fallen into other hands than those that +borrowed them; and my brother Zachary has one of his crabbed moods +upon him, and will not lend his carriage to bring Edith back. If your +horses have not gone as well as mine, I should feel particularly +obliged by your sending them down here, to take over my coach to +Zachary's and bring Edith back; for I do not wish her to stay there +any longer, as the marriage is to take place so soon. If you can come +over to-morrow, we can settle whether it is to be at your house or +here--though I should prefer it here, if you have no objection." + +There seemed to be a few words more; but it took Mrs. Barbara longer +to decipher the above lines, in the actual position of the note, than +it might have done, had the paper been spread out fair before her; so +that, just as she was moving it a little, to get at the rest, the +sound of the farther of the two doors being thrown open, interrupted +her proceedings; and, laying down the letter quickly, she darted away, +full of the important intelligence which she had acquired. + + + + + CHAPTER V. + + +There are periods in the life of some men, when, either by a +concatenation of unfortunate events, or by the accumulated +consequences of their own errors, the prospect on every side becomes +so clouded, that there is no resource for them, but to shut their eyes +to the menacing aspect of all things, and to take refuge in the moral +blindness of thoughtless inaction, against the pressure of present +difficulties. "I dare not think," is the excuse of many a man, for +continuing in the same course of levity which first brought +misfortunes upon him; but such is not always the case with those who +fly to wretched merriment in the hour of distress; and such was not +the case with Sir Robert Croyland. + +He had thought for long years, till his very heart sickened at the +name of reflection. He had looked round for help, and had found none. +He had tried to discover some prospect of relief; and all was +darkness. The storm he had long foreseen was now bursting upon his +head; it was no longer to be delayed; it was not to be warded off. His +daughter's misery, or his own destruction, was the only choice before +him; and he was resolved to think no more--to let events take their +course, and to meet them as he best might. + +But to resolve is one thing--to execute, another; and Edith's father +was not a man who could keep such a determination long. He might +indeed, for a time, cease to think of all the painful particulars of +his situation; but there will ever come moments when thought is forced +even upon the thoughtless, and events will arise, to press reflection +upon any heart. His efforts were, at first, very successful. After he +had despatched the letter to Mr. Radford, he had said, "I must really +pay my visitor some attention. It will serve to occupy my mind, too. +Anything to escape from the torturing consideration of questions, +which must ever be solved in wretchedness." And when he returned to +Sir Edward Digby, his conversation was particularly gay and cheerful. +It first turned to the unpleasant fact of the abstraction of all his +horses; but he now spoke of it in a lighter and less careful manner +than before. + +"Doubtless," he said, "they have been taken without leave, as usual, +by the smugglers, to use for their own purposes. It is quite a common +practice in this county; and yet we all go on leaving our stable-doors +open, as if to invite all who pass to enter, and choose what they +like. Then, I suppose, they have been captured with other spoil, in +the strife of yesterday morning, and are become the prize of the +conquerors; so that I shall never see them again." + +"Oh, no!" answered the young officer, "they will be restored, I am +quite sure, upon your identifying them, and proving that they were +taken, without your consent, by the smugglers. I shall go over to +Woodchurch by-and-by; and if you please, I will claim them for you." + +"It is scarcely worth while," replied the baronet; "I doubt that I +shall ever get them back. These are little losses which every man in +this neighbourhood must suffer, as a penalty for remaining in a half +savage part of the country.--What are you disposed to do this morning, +Sir Edward? Do you again walk the stubbles?" + +"I fear it 'would be of little use," answered Digby; "there has been +so much galloping lately, that I do not think a partridge has been +left undisturbed in its furrow; and the sun is too high for much +sport." + +"Well, then, let us walk in the garden for a little," said Sir Robert; +"it is curious, in some respects, having been laid out long before +this house was built, antiquated as it is." + +Sir Edward Digby assented, but looked round for Zara, as he certainly +thought her society would be a great addition to her father's. She had +not yet returned to the room, however; and Sir Robert, as if he +divined his young companion's feelings, requested his sister to tell +her niece, when she came, that he and their guest were walking in the +garden. "It is one of her favourite spots, Sir Edward," he continued, +as they went out, "and many a meditative hour she spends there; for, +gay as she is, she has her fits of thought, too." + +The young baronet internally said, "Well she may, in this house!" but +making a more civil answer to his entertainer, he followed him to the +garden; and so well and even cheerfully did Sir Robert Croyland keep +up the conversation, so learnedly did he descant upon the levelling +and preservation of turf in bowling-greens, and upon the clipping of +old yew-trees--both before and after Zara joined them--that Digby +began to doubt, notwithstanding all he had heard, whether he could +really have such a load upon his heart as he himself had stated to +Edith, and to fancy that, after all, it might be a stratagem to drive +her to compliance with his wishes. + +A little incident, of no great moment in the eyes of any one but a +very careful observer of his fellow-men--and Digby was far more so +than he seemed--soon settled the doubt. As they were passing under an +old wall of red brick--channelled by time and the shoots of pears and +peaches--which separated the garden from the different courts, a door +suddenly opened behind them, just after they had passed it; and while +Sir Edward's eyes were turned to the face of the master of the house, +Sir Robert's ear instantly caught the sound, and his cheek became as +pale as ashes. + +"There is some dark terror there!" thought the young officer; but, +turning to Zara, he finished the sentence he had been uttering, while +her father's coachman, who was the person that had opened the door, +came forward to say that one of the horses had returned. + +"Returned!" exclaimed Sir Robert Croyland; "has been brought back, I +suppose you mean?" + +"Ay, Sir Robert," replied the man; "a fellow from the lone house by +Iden Green brought him; and in a sad state the poor beast is. He's got +a cut, like with a knife, all down his shoulder." + +"Your dragoon swords are sharp, Sir Edward," said the old baronet, +gaily, to his guest; "however, I will go and see him myself, and +rejoin you here in a minute." + +"I am so glad to have a moment alone," cried Zara, as soon as her +father was gone, "that you must forgive me if I use it directly. I am +going to ask you a favour, Sir Edward. You must take me a ride, and +lend me a horse. I have just had a message from poor Harry Leyton; he +wishes to see me, but I am afraid to go alone, with so many soldiers +about." + +"Are they such terrible animals?" asked her companion, with a smile, +adding, however, "I shall be delighted, if your father will consent; +for I have already told him that I am going to Woodchurch this +afternoon." + +"Oh! you must ask me yourself, Sir Edward," replied Zara, "quite in a +civil tone; and then when you see that I am willing, you must be very +pressing with my father--quite as if you were a lover; and he will not +refuse you.--I'll bear you harmless, as I have heard Mr. Radford say;" +she added, with a playful smile that was quickly saddened. + +"You shall command for the time," answered Digby, as gaily; "perhaps +after that, I may take my turn, sweet lady. But I have a good deal to +say to you, too, which I could not fully explain last night." + +"As we go--as we go," replied Zara; "my father will be back directly, +otherwise I would tell you a long story about my aunt, who has +evidently got some great secret which she is all impatience to +divulge. If I had stayed an hour with her, I might have arrived at it; +but I was afraid of losing my opportunity here.--Oh, that invaluable +thing, opportunity! Once lost, what years of misery does it not +sometimes leave behind.--Would to Heaven that Edith and Leyton had run +away with each other when they were about it.--We should all have been +happier now." + +"And I should never have known you," replied Digby. Zara smiled, and +shook her head, as if saying, "That is hardly fair;" but Sir Robert +Croyland was seen coming up the walk; and she only replied, "Now do +your _devoir_, gallant knight, and let me see if you do it zealously." + +"I have been trying in your absence, my dear sir," said Digby, rather +maliciously, as the baronet joined them, "to persuade your fair +daughter to run away with me. But she is very dutiful, and will not +take such a rash step, though the distance is only to Woodchurch, +without your consent. I pray you give it; for I long to mount her on +my quietest horse, and see her try her skill in horsemanship again." + +Sir Robert Croyland looked grave; and ere the words were half spoken, +Sir Edward Digby felt that he had committed an error in his game; for +he was well aware that when we have a favour to ask, we should not +call up, by speech or look, in the mind of the person who is to grant +it, any association having a contrary tendency. + +"I am afraid that I have no servant whom I could send with you, Sir +Edward," replied her father; "one I have just dispatched to some +distance, and you know I am left without horses, for this poor beast +just come back, is unfit. Neither do I think it would be altogether +consistent with decorum, for Zara to go with you quite alone." + +Sir Edward Digby mentally sent the word decorum back to the place from +whence it came; but he was resolved to press his point; and when Zara +replied, "Oh, do let me go, papa!" he added, "My servant can accompany +us, to satisfy propriety, Sir Robert; and you know I have quartered +three horses upon you. Then, as I find the fair lady is somewhat +afraid of a multitude of soldiers, I promise most faithfully not even +to dismount in Woodchurch, but to say what I have to say, to the +officer in command there, and then canter back over the country." + +"Who is the officer in command?" asked Sir Robert Croyland. + +Zara drew her breath quick, but Sir Edward Digby avoided the dangerous +point. "Irby has one troop there," he replied; "and there are parts of +two others. When I have made interest enough here," he continued, with +a half bow to Zara, "I shall beg to introduce Irby to you, Sir Robert; +you will like him much, I think. I have known him long." + +"Pray invite him to dinner while he stays," said Sir Robert Croyland; +"it will give me much pleasure to see him." + +"Not yet--not yet!" answered Digby, laughing; "I always secure my own +approaches first." + +Sir Robert Croyland smiled graciously, and, turning to Zara, said, +"Well, my dear, I see no objection, if you wish it. You had better go +and get ready." + +Zara's cheek was glowing, and she took her father at the first word; +but when she was gone, Sir Robert thought fit to lecture his guest a +little, upon the bad habit of spoiling young ladies which he seemed to +have acquired. He did it jocularly, but with his usual pompous and +grave air; and no one would have recognised in the Sir Robert Croyland +walking in the garden, the father whom we have lately seen humbled +before his own child. There is no part of a man's character which he +keeps up so well to the world as that part which is not his own. The +assertion may seem to be a contradiction in terms; but there is no +other way of expressing the sense clearly; and whether those terms be +correct or not, will depend upon whether character is properly innate +or accumulated. + +Sir Edward Digby answered gaily, for it was his object to keep his +host in good humour at least, for the time. He denied the possibility +of spoiling a lady, while he acknowledged his propensity to attempt +impossibilities in that direction; and at the same time, with a good +grace, and a frankness, real yet assumed--for his words were true, +though they might not have been spoken just then, under any other +circumstances--he admitted that, of all people whom he should like to +spoil, the fair being who had just left them was the foremost. The +words were too decided to be mistaken. Sir Edward Digby was evidently +a gentleman, and known to be a man of honour. No man of honour trifles +with a woman's affections; and Sir Robert Croyland, wise in this +instance if not in others, did as all wise fathers would do, held his +tongue for a time that the matter might cool and harden, and then +changed the subject. + +Digby, however, had grown thoughtful. Did he repent what he had said? +No, certainly not. He wished, indeed, that he had not been driven to +say it so soon; for there were doubts in his own mind whether Zara +herself were altogether won. She was frank, she was kind, she trusted +him, she acted with him; but there was at times a shade of reserve +about her, coming suddenly, which seemed to him as a warning. She had +from the first taken such pains to ensure that her confidence--the +confidence of circumstances--should not be misunderstood; she had +responded so little to the first approaches of love, while she had +yielded so readily to those of friendship, that there was a doubt in +his mind which made him uneasy; and, every now and then, her uncle's +account of her character rung in his ear, and made him think--"I have +found this artillery more dangerous than I expected." + +What a pity it is that uncles will not hold their tongues! + +At length, he bethought him that it would be as well to order the +horses, which was accordingly done; and some time before they were +ready, the fair girl herself appeared, and continued walking up and +down the garden with her father and their guest, looking very lovely, +both from excitement, which gave a varying colour to her cheek, and +from intense feelings, which, denied the lips, looked out with deeper +soul from the eyes. + +"I think, Zara," said Sir Robert Croyland, when it was announced that +the horses and the servant were ready, "that you took Sir Edward to +the north, when you went over to your uncle's. You had better, +therefore, in returning--for I know, in your wild spirits, when once +on horseback, you will not be contented with the straight road--you +had better, I say, come by the southwest." + +"Oh, papa, I could never learn the points of the compass in my life!" +answered Zara, laughing; "I suppose that is the reason why, as my aunt +says, I steer so ill." + +"I mean--by the lower road," replied her father; and he laid such +emphasis on the words, that Zara received them as a command. + +They mounted and set out, much to the surprise of Mrs. Barbara +Croyland, who saw them from the window, and thence derived her first +information of their intended expedition; for Zara was afraid of her +aunt's kindnesses, and never encountered them when she could help it. +When they were a hundred yards from the house, the conversation began; +but I will not enter into all the details; for at first they related +to facts with which the reader is already well acquainted. Sir Edward +Digby told her at large, all that had passed between himself and +Leyton on the preceding day, and Zara, in return, informed him of the +message she had received from his friend, and how it had been +conveyed. Their minds then turned to other things, or rather to other +branches of the same subjects; and, what was to be done? was the next +question; for hours were flying--the moment that was to decide the +fate of the two beings in whom each felt a deep though separate +interest, was approaching fast; and no progress had apparently been +made. + +Zara's feelings seemed as much divided as Edith's had been. She shrank +from the thought, that her sister, whom she loved with a species of +adoration, should sacrifice herself on any account to such a fate as +that which must attend the wife of Richard Radford. She shrank also, +as a young, generous woman's heart must ever shrink, from the thought +of any one wedding the abhorred, and separating for ever from the +beloved; but then, when she came to turn her eyes towards her father, +she trembled for him as much as for Edith; and, with her two hands +resting on the pommel of the saddle, she gazed down in anxious and +bitter thought. + +"I know not your father as well as you do, my dear Miss Croyland," +said her companion, at length, as he marked these emotions; "and +therefore I cannot tell what might be his conduct under particular +circumstances." Zara suddenly raised her eyes, and fixed them on his +face; but Digby continued. "I do not speak of the past, but of the +future. I take it for granted--not alone as a courtesy, but from all I +have seen--that Sir Robert Croyland cannot have committed any act, +that could justly render him liable to danger from the law." + +"Thank you--thank you!" said Zara, dropping her eyes again; "you judge +rightly, I am sure." + +"But at the same time," he proceeded, "it is clear that some +unfortunate concurrence of circumstances has placed him either really, +or in imagination, in Mr. Radford's power. Now, would he but act a +bold and decided part--dare the worst--discountenance a bad man and a +villain--even, if necessary, in his magisterial capacity, treat him as +he deserves--he would take away the sting from his malice. Any +accusation this man might bring would have _enmity_ too strongly +written upon it, to carry much weight; and all the evidence in favour +of your father would have double force." + +"He cannot--he will not," answered Zara, sadly, "unless he be actually +driven. I know no more than you, Sir Edward, how all this has +happened; but I know my father, and I know that he shrinks from +disgrace more than death. An accusation, a public trial, would kill +him by the worst and most terrible kind of torture. Mr. Radford, too, +has wound the toils round him completely--that I can see. He could say +that Sir Robert Croyland has acted contrary to all his own principles, +at his request; and he could point to the cause. He could say that Sir +Robert Croyland suddenly became, and has been for years the most +intimate friend and companion of a man he scorned and avoided; +and he could assert that it was because the proud man was in the +cunning man's power. If, for vengeance, he chooses to avow his own +disgrace--and what is there not Mr. Radford would avow to serve his +ends?--believe me, he has my father in a net, from which it will be +difficult to disentangle him." + +They both fell into thought again; but Zara did not sink in Digby's +estimation, from the clear and firm view which she took of her +father's position. + +"Well," he said, at length, "let us wait, and hear what poor Leyton +has to tell you. Perhaps he may have gained some further insight, or +may have formed some plan; and now, Zara, let us for a moment speak of +ourselves. You see, to-day, I have been forced to make love to you." + +"Too much," said Zara, gravely. "I am sure you intended it for the +best; but I am sorry it could not be avoided." + +"And yet it is very pleasant," answered Digby, half jestingly, half +seriously. + +Zara seemed agitated: "Do not, do not!" she replied; "my mind is too +full of sad things, to think of what might be pleasant or not at +another time;" and she turned a look towards him, in which kindness, +entreaty, and seriousness were all so blended, that it left him in +greater doubt than ever, as to her sensations. "Besides," she added, +the serious predominating in her tone, "consider what a difference one +rash word, on either part, may make between us. Let me regard you, at +least for the present, as a friend--or a brother, as you once said, +Digby; let me take counsel with you, seek your advice, call for your +assistance, without one thought or care to shackle or restrain me. In +pity, do; for you know not how much I need support." + +"Then I am most ready to give it, on your own terms, and in your own +way," answered Digby, warmly; but, immediately afterwards, he fell +into a reverie, and in his own mind thought--"She is wrong in her +view; or indifferent towards me. With a lover to whom all is +acknowledged, and with whom all is decided, she would have greater +confidence, than with a friend, towards whom the dearest feelings of +the heart are in doubt. This must be resolved speedily, but not now; +for it evidently agitates her too much.--Yet, after all, in that +agitation is hope." + +Just as his meditations had reached this point, they passed by the +little public house of the Chequers, then a very favourite sign in +England, and especially in that part of the country; and in five +minutes after, they perceived a horseman on the road, riding rapidly +towards them. + +"There is Leyton," said Sir Edward Digby, as he came somewhat nearer; +but Zara gazed forward with surprise, at the tall, manly figure, +dressed in the handsome uniform of the time, the pale but noble +countenance, and the calm commanding air. "Impossible!" she cried. +"Why, he was a gay, slight, florid, young man." + +"Six or seven years ago," answered Digby; "but that, my dear Miss +Croyland, is Sir Henry Leyton, depend upon it." + +Now, it may seem strange that Edith should have instantly recognised, +even at a much greater distance, the man whom her sister did not, +though the same period had passed since each had seen him; but, it +must be remembered, that Edith was between two and three years older +than Zara; and those two or three years, at the time of life which +they had reached when Leyton left England, are amongst the most +important in a woman's life--those when new feelings and new thoughts +arise, to impress for ever, on the woman's heart, events and persons +that the girl forgets in an hour. + +Leyton, however, it certainly was; and when Zara could see his +features distinctly, she recalled the lines. Springing from his horse +as soon as he was near, her sister's lover cast the bridle of his +charger over his arm, and, taking the hand she extended to him, kissed +it affectionately: "Oh, Zara, how you are changed!" he said. "But so +am I; and you have gained, whilst I have lost. It is very kind of you +to come thus speedily." + +"You could not doubt, Leyton, that I would, if possible," answered +Zara; "but all things are much changed in our house, as well as +ourselves; and that wild liberty which we formerly enjoyed, of running +whithersoever we would, is sadly abridged now. But what have you to +say, Leyton? for I dare not stay long." + +Digby was dropping behind, apparently to speak to his servant for a +moment; but Leyton called to him, assuring him that he had nothing to +say, which he might not hear. + +"Presently, presently," answered Zara's companion; and leaving them +alone, he rode up to good Mr. Somers, who, with his usual discretion, +had halted, as they halted, at a very respectful distance. The young +officer seemed to give some orders, which were rather long, and then +returned at a slow pace. In the meantime, the conversation of Leyton +and Zara had gone on; but his only object, it appeared, was to see +her, and to entreat her to aid and support his Edith in any trial she +might be put to. "I spent a short period of chequered happiness with +her last night," he said; "and she then told me, dear Zara, that she +was sure her father would send for her in the course of this day. If +such be the case, keep with her always as far as possible; bid her +still remember Harry Leyton; bid her resist to the end; and assure her +that he will come to her deliverance ultimately. Were it myself alone, +I would sacrifice anything, and set her free; but when I know that, by +so doing, I should make her wretched for ever--that her own heart +would be broken, and nothing but an early death relieve her, I cannot +do it, Zara--no one can expect it." + +"Perhaps not--perhaps not, Leyton;" answered Zara, with the tears in +her eyes; "but yet--my father! However, I cannot advise--I cannot even +ask anything. All is so dark and perplexed, I am lost!" + +"I am labouring now, dear Zara," replied the young officer, "to find +or devise means of rendering his safety sure. Already I have the power +to crush the bad man in whose grasp he is, and render his testimony, +whatever it may be, nearly valueless. At all events, the only course +before us, is that which I have pointed out; and while Digby is with +you, you can never want the best and surest counsel and assistance. +You may confide in him fully, Zara. I have now known him many years; +and a more honourable and upright man, or one of greater talent, does +not live." + +There was something very gratifying to Zara in what he said of his +friend; and had she been in a mood to scrutinize her own feelings +accurately, the pleasure that she experienced in hearing such words +spoken of Sir Edward Digby--the agitated sort of pleasure--might have +given her an insight into her own heart. As it was, it only sent a +passing blush into her cheek, and she replied, "I am sure he is all +you say, Harry; and indeed, it is to his connivance that I owe my +being able to come hither to-day. These smugglers took away all my +father's horses; and I suppose, from what I hear, that some of them +have been captured by your men." + +"If such is the case they shall be sent back," replied Leyton; "for I +am well aware that the horses being found with the smugglers, is no +proof that they were therewith the owner's consent. To-morrow, I trust +to be able to give you a further insight into my plans, for I am +promised some information of importance to-night; and perhaps, even +before you reach home, I shall have put a bar against Mr. Richard +Radford's claims to Edith, which he may find insurmountable." + +As he was speaking, Sir Edward Digby returned, quickening his horse's +pace as he came near, and pointing with his hand. "You have got a +detachment out, I see, Leyton," he said--"Is there any new affair +before you?" + +"Oh, no," replied the Colonel, "it is merely Irby and a part of his +troop, whom I have despatched to search the wood, for I have certain +intelligence that the man we are seeking is concealed there." + +"They may save themselves the trouble," replied Zara, shaking her +head; "for though he was certainly there all yesterday, he made his +escape this morning." + +Leyton hit his lip, and his brow grew clouded. "That is unfortunate," +he said, "most unfortunate!--I do not ask you how you know, Zara; but +are you quite sure?" + +"Perfectly," she answered--"I would not deceive you for the world, +Leyton; and I only say what I have said, because I think that, if you +do search the wood, it may draw attention to your being in this +neighbourhood, which as yet is not known at Harbourne, and it may +embarrass us very much." + +"I am not sure, Leyton," said Sir Edward Digby, "that as far as your +own purposes are concerned, it might not be better to seem, at all +events, to withdraw the troops, or at least a part of them, from this +neighbourhood. Indeed, though I have no right to give you advice upon +the subject, I think also it might be beneficial in other respects, +for as soon as the smugglers think you gone, they will act with more +freedom." + +"I propose to do so, to-morrow," replied the colonel; "but I have some +information already, and expect more, upon which I must act in the +first place. It will be as well, however, to stop Irby's party, if +there is no end to be obtained by their proceedings." + +He then took leave of Zara and his friend, mounted his horse, and rode +back to meet the troop that was advancing; while Zara and Sir Edward +Digby, after following the same road up to the first houses of +Woodchurch, turned away to the right, and went back to Harbourne, by +the small country road which leads from Kennardington to Tenterden. + +Their conversation, as they went, would be of very little interest to +the reader; for it consisted almost altogether of comments upon +Leyton's changed appearance, and discussions of the same questions of +doubt and difficulty which had occupied them before. They went slowly, +however; and when they reached the house it did not want much more +than three quarters of an hour to the usual time of dinner. Sir Robert +Croyland they found looking out of the glass-door, which commanded a +view towards his brother's house, and his first question was, which +way they had returned. Sir Edward Digby gave an easy and unconcerned +reply, describing the road they had followed, and comparing it, +greatly to its disadvantage, with that which they had pursued on their +former expedition. + +"Then you saw nothing of the carriage, Zara?" inquired her father. "It +is very strange that Edith has not come back." + +"No, we saw no carriage of any kind; but a carrier's cart," replied +the young lady. "Perhaps if Edith did not know you were going to send, +she might not be ready." + +This reason, however, did not seem to satisfy Sir Robert Croyland; and +after talking with him for a few minutes more as he stood, still +gazing forth over the country, Zara and Digby retired to change their +dress before dinner; and the latter received a long report from his +servant of facts which will be shown hereafter. The man was +particularly minute and communicative, because his master asked him no +questions, and suffered him to tell his tale his own way. But that +tale fully occupied the time till the second bell rang, and Digby +hurried down to dinner. + +Still, Miss Croyland had not returned; and it was evident that Sir +Robert Croyland was annoyed and uneasy. All the suavity and +cheerfulness of the morning was gone; for one importunate source of +care and thought will always carry the recollection back to others; +and he sat at the dinner table in silence and gloom, only broken by +brief intervals of conversation, which he carried on with a laborious +effort. + +Just as Mrs. Barbara rose to retire, however, the butler re-entered +the room, announcing to Sir Robert Croyland that Mr. Radford had +called, and wished to speak with him. "He would not come in, sir," +continued the man, "for he said he wanted to speak with you alone, so +I showed him into the library." + +Sir Robert Croyland instantly rose, but looked with a hesitating +glance at his guest, while Mrs. Barbara and Zara retired from the +room. + +"Pray, do not let me detain you, Sir Robert," said the young officer; +"I have taken as much wine as I ever do, and will go and join the +ladies in the drawing-room." + +The customs of the day required that the master of the house should +press the bottle upon his guest; and Sir Robert Croyland did not fail +to do so. But Digby remained firm, and, to settle the question, walked +quietly to the door and entered the drawing-room. There, he found Zara +seated; but Mrs. Barbara was standing near the table, and apparently +in a state, for which the English language supplies but one term, and +that not a very classical one. I mean, she was in a _fidget_. + +The reader is aware that the library of Harbourne House was adjacent +to the drawing-room, and that there was a door between them. It was a +thick, solid, oaken door, however, such as shut out the wind in the +good old times; and, moreover, it fitted very close. Thus, though the +minute after Sir Edward had entered the room, a low murmur, as of +persons speaking somewhat loud, was heard from the library, not a +single syllable could be distinguished; and Mrs. Barbara looked at the +keyhole, with a longing indescribable. After about thirty seconds' +martyrdom, Mrs. Barbara quitted the room: Zara, who knew her aunt, +candidly trusting, that she had gone to put herself out of temptation; +and Sir Edward Digby never for a moment imagining, that she could have +been in any temptation at all. It may now be necessary, however, to +follow Sir Robert Croyland to the library, and to reveal to the reader +all that Mrs. Barbara was so anxious to learn. + +He found Mr. Radford, booted and spurred, standing, with his tall, +bony figure, in as easy an attitude as it could assume, by the +fire-place; and the baronet's first question was, "In the name of +Heaven, Radford, what has become of Edith?--Neither she nor the +carriage have returned." + +"Oh, yes, the carriage has, half an hour ago!" replied Mr. Radford; +"and I met the horses going back as I came.--Didn't you get my message +which I sent by the coachman?" + +"No, I must have been at dinner," answered Sir Robert Croyland, "and +the fools did not give it to me." + +"Well, it is no great matter," rejoined Mr. Radford, in the quietest +possible tone. "It was only to say that I was coming over, and would +explain to you all about Miss Croyland." + +"But where is she? Why did she not come?" demanded her father, with +some of the old impetuosity of his youth. + +"She is at my house," answered the other, deliberately; "I thought it +would be a great deal better, Croyland, to bring her there at once, as +you left to me the decision of where the marriage was to be. She could +be quite as comfortable there as here. My son will be up to-morrow; +and the marriage can take place quietly, without any piece of work. +Now, here it would be difficult to manage it; for, in the first place, +it would be dangerous for my son. You have got a stranger in the +house, and a whole heap of servants, who cannot be trusted. I have +arranged everything for the marriage, and for their going off quietly +on their little tour. We shall soon get a pardon for this affair with +the dragoons; and that will be all settled." + +Sir Robert Croyland had remained mute; not with any calm or tranquil +feelings, but with indignation and astonishment. "Upon my life and +soul," he cried, "this is too bad! Do you mean to say, sir, that you +have ventured, without my knowledge or consent, to change my +daughter's destination, and take her to your house when I wished her +to be brought here?" + +"Undoubtedly," replied Mr. Radford, with the most perfect calmness. + +"Well then, sir," exclaimed the baronet, irritated beyond all +endurance--"I have to tell you, that you have committed a gross, +insolent, and unjustifiable act; and I have to insist that she be +brought back here this very night." + +"Nay, my dear friend--nay," replied Mr. Radford, in a half jeering +tone. "These are harsh words that you use; but you must hear me first, +before I pay any attention to them." + +"I want to hear nothing, sir," cried Sir Robert Croyland, his anger +still carrying him forward. "But if you do not send her back to her +own home, I will get horses over from Tenterden, and bring her +myself.--Her slavery has not yet commenced, Mr. Radford." + +"I shall not be able to bring her over," answered Mr. Radford, still +maintaining the same provoking coolness; "because, in case of her +return, I should be obliged to use my horses myself, to lay certain +important facts, which we both know of, before a brother magistrate." + +He paused, and Sir Robert Croyland winced. But still indignation was +uppermost for the time; and rapidly as lightning the thoughts of +resistance passed through his mind. "This man's conduct is too bad," +he said to himself. "After such a daring act as this, with his +character blackened by so many stains, and so clear a case of revenge, +the magistrates will surely hardly listen to him." But as he continued +to reflect, timidity--the habitual timidity of many years--began to +mingle with and dilute his resolution; and Mr. Radford, who knew him +to the very heart, after having suffered him to reflect just long +enough to shake his firmness, went on in a somewhat different tone, +saying, "Come, Sir Robert! don't be unreasonable; and before you +quarrel irretrievably with an old friend, listen quietly to what he +has got to say." + +"Well, sir, well," said Sir Robert Croyland, casting himself into a +chair--"what is it you have got to say?" + +"Why, simply this, my dear friend," answered Mr. Radford, "that you +are not aware of all the circumstances, and therefore cannot judge yet +whether I have acted right or wrong. You and I have decided, I think, +that there can no longer be any delay in the arrangement of our +affairs. I put it plainly to you yesterday, that it was to be now or +never; and you agreed that it should be now. You brought me your +daughter's consent in the afternoon; and so far the matter was +settled. I don't want to injure you; and if you are injured, it is +your own fault--" + +"But I gave no consent," said Sir Robert Croyland, "that she should be +taken to your house. The circumstances--the circumstances, Mr. +Radford!" + +"Presently, presently," replied his companion. "I take it for +granted, that, when you have pledged yourself to a thing, you are +anxious to accomplish it. Now I tell you, there was no sure way of +accomplishing this, but that which I have taken. Do you know who is +the commander of this dragoon regiment which is down here?--No. But I +do. Do you know who is the man, who, like a sub-officer of the +Customs, attacked our friends yesterday morning, took some fifty of +them prisoners, robbed me of some seventy thousand pounds, and is now +hunting after my son, as if he were a fox?--No. But I do; and I will +tell you who he is.--One Harry Leyton, whom you may have heard +of--now, Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Henry Leyton, Knight of the Bath, +forsooth!" + +Sir Robert Croyland gazed upon him in astonishment; but, whatever were +his other sensations, deep grief and bitter regret mingled with them, +when he thought that circumstances should ever have driven or tempted +him to promise his daughter's hand to a low, dissolute, unprincipled +villan, and to put a fatal barrier between her and one whom he had +always known to be generous, honorable, and high principled, and who +had now gained such distinction in the service of his country. He +remained perfectly silent, however; and the expression of surprise and +consternation which his countenance displayed, was misinterpreted by +Mr. Radford to his own advantage. + +"Now, look here, Sir Robert," he continued; "if your daughter were in +your house, you could not help this young man having some +communication with her. He has already been over at your brother's, +and has seen her, I doubt not. Here, then, is your fair daughter Miss +Zara, your guest Sir Edward Digby--his intimate friend, I dare +say--all your maids and half your men servants, even dear Mrs. Barbara +herself, with her sweet meddling ways, would all be ready to fetch and +carry between the lovers. In short, our whole plans would be +overturned; and I should be compelled to do that which would be very +disagreeable to me, and to strike at this upstart Henry Leyton through +the breast of Sir Robert Croyland. In my house, he can have no access +to her; and though some mischief may already have been done, yet it +can go no further." + +"Now I understand what you mean by revenge," said the baronet, in a +low tone, folding his hands together.--"Now I understand." + +"Well, but have I judged rightly or wrongly?" demanded Mr. Radford. + +"Rightly, I suppose," said Sir Robert Croyland, sadly. "It can't be +helped;--but poor Edith, how does she bear it?" + +"Oh, very well," answered Mr. Radford, quietly. "She cried a little at +first, and when she found where they were going, asked the coachman +what he meant. It was my coachman, you know, not yours; and so he +lied, like a good, honest fellow, and said you were waiting for her at +my house. I was obliged to make up a little bit of a story too, and +tell her you knew all about it; but that was no great harm; for I was +resolved, you should know all about it, very soon." + +"Lied like a good honest fellow!" murmured Sir Robert Croyland, to +himself. "Well," he continued, aloud, "at all events I must come over +to-morrow, and try to reconcile the poor girl to it." + +"Do so, do so," answered Mr. Radford; "and in the meantime, I must be +off; for I've still a good deal of work to do to-night. Did you see, +they have withdrawn the dragoons from the wood? They knew it would be +of no use to keep them there. So now, good night--that's all settled." + +"All settled, indeed," murmured Sir Robert Croyland as Mr. Radford +left him; and for nearly half an hour after, he continued sitting in +the library, with his hands clasped upon his knee, exactly in the same +position. + + + + + CHAPTER VI. + + +Sir Edward Digby did not take advantage of the opportunity which Mrs. +Barbara's absence afforded him. This may seem extraordinary conduct in +a good soldier and quick and ready man; but he had his reasons for it. +Not that he was beginning to hesitate, as some men do, when--after +having quite made up their minds--they begin to consider all the +perils of their situation, and retreat, without much regard for their +own consistency, or the feelings of the other persons interested. But, +no--Digby justly remembered that what he had to say might require some +time, and that it might produce some agitation. Moreover, he +recollected that there are few things so disagreeable on earth, as +being interrupted at a time when people's eyes are sparkling or in +tears, when the cheek is flushed or deadly pale; and as he knew not +when Mrs. Barbara might return, and certainly did not anticipate that +she would be long absent, he resolved to wait for another opportunity. + +When he found minute after minute slip by, however, he began to repent +of his determination; and certainly, although the word love never +passed his lips, something very like the reality shone out in his +eyes. Perhaps, had Zara been in any of her usual moods, more serious +words might have followed. Had she been gay and jesting, or calm and +thoughtful, a thousand little incidents might have led on naturally to +the unfolding of the heart of each. But, on the contrary, she was +neither the one nor the other. She was evidently anxious, +apprehensive, ill at ease; and though she conversed rationally enough +for a person whose mind was in such a state, yet she frequently turned +her eyes towards the door of the adjoining room, from which the sound +of her father's voice and that of Mr. Radford might still be heard. + +Sir Edward Digby endeavoured to gain her attention to himself, as much +with a view to withdraw it from unpleasant subjects as anything else; +and it was very natural that--with one so fair and so excellent, one +possessing so much brightness, in spite of a few little spots--it was +natural that his tone should become tenderer every minute. At length, +however, she stopped him, saying, "I am very anxious just now. I fear +there is some mischief going on there, which we cannot prevent, and +may never know. Edith's absence is certainly very strange; and I fear +they may foil us yet." + +In a minute or two after, Mrs. Barbara Croyland returned, but in such +a flutter that she spoilt her embroidery, which she snatched up to +cover her agitation, dropped her finest scissars, and broke the point +off, and finally ran the needle into her finger, which, thereupon, +spotted the silk with blood. She gave no explanation indeed of all +this emotion, but looked several times at Zara with a meaning glance; +and when, at length, Sir Robert Croyland entered the drawing-room, his +whole air and manner did not tend to remove from his daughter's mind +the apprehension which his sister's demeanour had cast over it. + +There is a general tone in every landscape which it never entirely +loses; yet how infinite are the varieties which sunshine and cloud and +storm, and morning, evening, and noon, bring upon it; and thus with +the expression and conduct of every man, although they retain certain +distinctive characteristics, yet innumerable are the varieties +produced by the moods, the passions, and the emotions of the mind. Sir +Robert Croyland was no longer irritably thoughtful; but he was stern, +gloomy, melancholy. He strove to converse, indeed; but the effort was +so apparent, the pain it gave him so evident, that Sir Edward Digby +felt, or fancied, that his presence was a restraint. He had too much +tact, however, to show that he imagined such to be the case; and he +only resolved to retire to his own room as soon as he decently could. +He was wrong in his supposition, indeed, that his host might wish to +communicate something privately to Zara, or to Mrs. Barbara. Sir +Robert had nothing to tell; and therefore the presence of Sir Edward +Digby was rather agreeable to him than not, as shielding him from +inquiries, which it might not have suited him to answer. He would have +talked if he could, and would have done his best to make his house +agreeable to his young guest; but his thoughts still turned, with all +the bitterness of smothered anger, to the indignity he had suffered; +and he asked himself, again and again, "Will the time ever come, when +I shall have vengeance for all this?" + +The evening passed gloomily, and in consequence slowly; and at length, +when the clock showed that it still wanted a quarter to ten, Digby +rose and bade the little party good night, saying that he was somewhat +tired, and had letters to write. + +"I shall go to bed too," said Sir Robert Croyland, ringing for his +candle. But Digby quitted the room first; and Zara could not refrain +from saying, in a low tone, as she took leave of her father for the +night, and went out of the room with him, "There is nothing amiss with +Edith, I trust, my dear father?" + +"Oh dear, no!" answered Sir Robert Croyland, with as careless an air +as he could assume. "Nothing at all, but that she does not come home +to-night, and perhaps may not to-morrow." + +Still unsatisfied, Zara sought her own room; and when her maid had +half performed her usual functions for the night, she dismissed her, +saying, that she would do the rest herself. When alone, however, Zara +Croyland did not proceed to undress, but remained thinking over all +the events of the day, with her head resting on her hand, and her eyes +cast down. The idea of Edith and her fate mingled with other images. +The words that Digby had spoken, the increasing tenderness of his tone +and manner, came back to memory, and made her heart flutter with +sensations unknown till then. She felt alarmed at her own feelings; +she knew not well what they were; but still she said to herself at +every pause of thought--"It is all nonsense!--He will go away and +forget me; and I shall forget him! These soldiers have always some +tale of love for every woman's ear. It is their habit--almost their +nature." Did she believe her own conclusions? Not entirely; but she +tried to believe them; and that was enough for the present. + +Some minutes after, however, when a light knock was heard at the door, +she started almost as if some one had struck her; and Fancy, who is +always drawing upon improbability, made her believe, for an instant, +that it might be Digby. She said, "Come in," however, with tolerable +calmness; and the next instant, the figure of her aunt presented +itself, with eagerness in her looks and importance in her whole air. + +"My dear child!" she said, "I did not know whether your maid was gone; +but I am very happy she is, for I have something to tell you of very +great importance indeed. What do you think that rascal Radford has +done?" and as she spoke, she sank, with a dignified air, into a chair. + +"I really can't tell, my dear aunt," replied Zara, not a little +surprised to hear the bad epithet which her aunt applied to a +gentleman, towards whom she usually displayed great politeness. "I am +sure he is quite capable of anything that is bad." + +"Ah, he is very much afraid of me, and what he calls my sweet meddling +ways," said the old lady; "but, perhaps, if I had meddled before, it +might have been all the better. I am sure I am the very last to +meddle, except when there is an absolute occasion for it, as you well +know, my dear Zara." + +The last proposition was put in some degree as a question; but Zara +did not think fit to answer it, merely saying, "What is it, my dear +aunt?--I am all anxiety and fear regarding Edith." + +"Well you may be, my love," said Mrs. Barbara; and thereupon she +proceeded to tell Zara, how she had overheard the whole conversation +between Mr. Radford and her brother, through the door of the library, +which opened into the little passage, that ran between it and the +rooms beyond. She did not say that she had put her ear to the keyhole; +but that Zara took for granted, and indeed felt somewhat like an +accomplice, while listening to secrets which had been acquired by such +means. + +Thus almost everything that had passed in the library--with a few very +short variations and improvements, but with a good deal of comment, +and a somewhat lengthy detail--was communicated by Mrs. Barbara to her +niece; and when she had done, the old lady added, "There, my dear, now +go to bed and sleep upon it; and we will talk it all over in the +morning, for I am determined that my niece shall not be treated in +such a way by any vagabond smuggler like that. Dear me! one cannot +tell what might happen, with Edith shut up in his house in that way. +Talk of my meddling, indeed! He shall find that I will meddle now to +some purpose! Good night, my dear love--good night!" But Mrs. Barbara +stopped at the door, to explain to Zara that she had not told her +before, "Because, you know," said the good lady, "I could not speak of +such things before a stranger, like Sir Edward Digby; and when he was +gone, I didn't dare say anything to your father. Think of it till +to-morrow, there's a dear girl, and try and devise some plan." + +"I will," said Zara--"I will;" but as soon as her aunt had +disappeared, she clasped her hands together, exclaiming, "Good Heaven! +what plan can I form? Edith is lost! They have her now completely in +their power. Oh, that I had known this before Sir Edward Digby went to +sleep. He might have gone over to Leyton to-morrow, early; and they +might have devised something together. Perhaps he has not gone to rest +yet. He told me to throw off all restraint, to have no ceremony in +case of need. Leyton told me so, too--that I might trust in him--that +he is a man of honour. Oh, yes, I am sure he is a man of honour! but +what will he think?--He promised he would think no harm of anything I +might be called upon to do; and I promised I would trust him. I will +go! He can speak to me in the passage. No one sleeps near, to +overhear. But I will knock softly; for though he said he had letters +to write, he may have gone to bed by this time." + +Leaving the lights standing where they were, Zara cast on a long +dressing-gown, and crept quietly out into the passage, taking care not +to pull the door quite to. All was silent in the house; not a sound +was heard; and with her heart beating as if it would have burst +through her side, she approached Sir Edward Digby's door;--but there +she paused. Had she not paused, but gone on at once, and knocked, all +would have been well; for, so far from being in bed, he was sitting +calmly reading. But ladies' resolutions, and men's, are made of very +much the same materials. The instant her foot stopped, her whole host +of woman's feelings crowded upon her, and barred the way. First, she +thought of modesty, and propriety, and decency; and then, though she +might have overcome the whole of that squadron for Edith's sake, the +remembrance of many words that Digby had spoken, the look, the tone, +the manner, all rose again upon her memory. She felt that he was a +lover; and putting her hand to her brow, she murmured--"I cannot; no, +I cannot. Had he been only a friend, I would.--I will see him early +to-morrow. I will sit up all night, that I may not sleep, and miss the +opportunity; but I cannot go to-night;" and, returning as quietly to +her own chamber as she had come thence, she shut the door and locked +it. She had never locked it in her life before; and she knew not why +she did it. + +Then, drawing the arm-chair to the hearth, Zara Croyland trimmed the +fire, wrapped herself up as warmly as she could; and putting out one +of the candles, that she might not be left in darkness by both being +burnt out together, she took up a book, and began to read. From time +to time, during that long night, her eyes grew heavy, and she fell +asleep; but something always woke her. Either her own thoughts +troubled her in dreams, or else the book fell out of her hand, or the +wind shook the window, or the cold chill that precedes the coming +morning disturbed her; and at length she looked at her watch, and, +finding it past five o'clock, she congratulated herself at having +escaped the power of the drowsy god, and, dressing in haste, undrew +the curtains, and looked out by the light of the dawning day. When she +saw the edge of the sun coming up, she said to herself, "He is often +very early. I will go down." But, bethinking herself that no time was +to be lost, she hurried first to her maid's room, and waking her, told +her to see Sir Edward Digby's servant, as soon as he rose, and to bid +him inform his master that she wanted to speak with him in the +library. "Speak not a word of this to any one else, Eliza," she said; +and then, thinking it necessary to assign some reason for her conduct, +she added, "I am very anxious about my sister; her not coming home +yesterday alarms me, and I want to hear more." + +"Oh dear! you needn't frighten yourself, Miss Zara," replied the +maid--"I dare say there's nothing the matter." + +"But I cannot help frightening myself," replied Zara; and going down +into the library, she unclosed one of the shutters. + +The maid was very willing to gratify her young lady, for Zara was a +favourite with all; but thinking from the look of the sky, that it +would be a long time before the servant rose, and having no such +scruples as her mistress, she went quietly away to his room, and +knocked at his door, saying, "I wish you would get up, Mr. Somers--I +want to speak with you." + +Zara remained alone for twenty minutes in the library, or not much +more, and then she heard Digby's step in the passage. There was a good +deal of alarm and surprise in his look when he entered; but his fair +companion's tale was soon told; and that sufficiently explained her +sudden call for his presence. He made no comment at the moment, but +replied, "Wait for me here one instant. I will order my horse, and be +back directly." + +He was speedily by her side again; and then, taking her hand in his, +he said, "I wish I had known this, last night.--You need not have been +afraid of disturbing me, for I was up till nearly one." + +Zara smiled: "You do not know," she answered, "how near I was to your +door, with the intention of calling you." + +"And why did you not?" asked Digby, eagerly. "Nay, you must tell me, +why you should hesitate when so much was at stake." + +"I can but answer, because my heart failed me," replied Zara. "You +know women's hearts are weak foolish things." + +"Nay," said Digby, "you must explain further.--Why did your heart fail +you? Tell me, Zara. I cannot rest satisfied unless you tell me." + +"Indeed, there is no time now for explanation," she replied, feeling +that her admission had drawn her into more than she had anticipated; +"your horse will soon be here--and--and there is not a moment to +lose." + +"There is time enough for those who will," answered Digby, in a +serious tone; "you promised me that you would not hesitate, whenever +necessity required you to apply to me for counsel or aid--you have +hesitated, Zara. Could you doubt me--could you be apprehensive--could +you suppose that Edward Digby would, in word, deed, or thought, take +advantage of your generous confidence?" + +"No, no--oh, no!" answered Zara, warmly, blushing, and trembling at +the same time, "I did not--I could not, after all you have done--after +all I have seen. No, no; I thought you would think it strange--I +thought----" + +"Then you supposed I would wrong you in thought!" he replied, with +some mortification in his manner; "you do not know me yet." + +"Oh yes, indeed I do," she answered, feeling that she was getting +further and further into difficulties; and then she added, with one of +her sudden bursts of frankness, "I will tell you how it was--candidly +and truly. Just as I was at your door, and about to knock, the memory +of several things you had said--inadvertently, perhaps--crossed my +mind; and, though I felt that I could go at any hour to consult a +friend in such terrible circumstances, I could not--no, I could not do +so with a--with one--You see what harm you have done by such fine +speeches!" + +She thought, that by her last words, she had guarded herself securely +from any immediate consequences of this unreserved confession; but she +was mistaken. She merely hurried on what might yet have rested for a +day or two. + +Sir Edward Digby took her other hand also, and held it gently yet +firmly, as if he was afraid she should escape from him. "Zara," he +said, "dear Zara, I have done harm, by speaking too much, or not +enough. I must remedy it by the only means in my power.--Listen to me +for one moment, for I cannot go till all is said. You must cast off +this reserve--you must act perfectly freely with me; I seek to bind +you by no engagement--I will bear my doubt; I will not construe +anything you do, as an acceptance of my suit; but you must know--nay, +you do know, you do feel, that I am your lover. It was doubt of your +own sensations towards me, that made you hesitate--it was fear that +you should commit yourself, to that which you might, on consideration, +be indisposed to ratify.--You thought that I might plead such +confidence as a tacit promise; and that made you pause. But hear me, +as I pledge myself--upon my honour, as a gentleman--that if you act +fearlessly and freely, in the cause in which we are both engaged--if +you confide in me--trust in me, and never hesitate to put yourself, as +you may think, entirely in my power, I will never look upon anything +as plighting you to me in the slightest degree, till I hear you say +the words, 'Digby, I am yours'--if ever that happy day should come. In +the meantime, however, to set you entirely free from all apprehension +of what others may say, I hold myself bound to you by every promise +that man can make; and this very day I will ask your father's +approbation of my suit. But I am well aware, though circumstances have +shown me in a marvellous short time, that your heart and mind is equal +to your beauty, yet it is not to be expected that such a being can be +won in a few short days, and that I must wait in patience--not without +hope, indeed, but with no presumption. By your conduct, at least, I +shall know, whether I have gained your esteem.--Your love, perhaps, +may follow; and now I leave you, to serve your sister and my friend, +to the best of my power." + +Thus saying, he raised her hand to his lips, kissed it, and moved +towards the door. + +There was a sad struggle in Zara's breast; but as he was laying his +hand upon the lock to open it, she said, "Digby--Digby--Edward!" + +He instantly turned, and ran towards her; for her face had become very +pale. She gave him her hand at once, however, "Kind, generous man!" +she said, "you must not go without hearing my answer. Such a pledge +cannot be all on one part. I am yours, Digby, if you wish it; yet know +me better first before you answer--see all my faults, and all my +failings. Even this must show you how strange a being I am--how unlike +other girls--how unlike perhaps, the woman you would wish to call your +wife!----" + +"Wish it!" answered Digby, casting his arm round her, "from my +heart--from my very soul, Zara. I know enough, I have seen enough, for +I have seen you in circumstances that bring forth the bosom's inmost +feelings; and though you are unlike others--and I have watched many in +their course--that very dissimilarity is to me the surpassing charm. +They are all art, you are all nature--ay, and nature in its sweetest +and most graceful form; and I can boldly say, I never yet saw woman +whom I should desire to call my wife till I saw you. I will not wait, +dear girl; but, pledged to you as you are pledged to me, will not +press this subject further on you, till your sister's fate is sealed. +I must, indeed, speak with your father at once, that there may be no +mistake, no misapprehension; but till all this sad business is +settled, we are brother and sister, Zara; and then a dearer bond." + +"Oh, yes, yes--brother and sister!" cried Zara, clinging to him at a +name which takes fear from woman's heart, "so will we be, Edward; and +now all my doubts and hesitations will be at an end. I shall never +fear more to seek you when it is needful." + +"And my suit will be an excuse and a reason to all others, for free +interviews, and solitary rambles, and private conference, and every +dear communion," answered Digby, pleased, and yet almost amazed at the +simplicity with which she lent herself to the magic of a word, when +the heart led her. + +But Zara saw he was a little extending the brother's privilege; and +with a warm cheek but smiling lip, she answered, "There, leave me now; +I see you are learned in the art of leading on from step to step. Go +on your way, Edward; and, oh! be kind to me, and do not make me feel +this new situation too deeply at first. There, pray take away your +arm; none but a father's or a sister's has been there before; and it +makes my heart beat, as if it were wrong." + +But Digby kept it where it was for a moment or two longer, and gave a +few instants to happiness, in which she shared, though it agitated +her. "Nay, go," she said, at length, in a tone of entreaty, "and I +will lie down and rest for an hour; for I have sat up all night by the +fire, lest I should be too late.--You must go, indeed. There is your +horse upon the terrace; and we must not be selfish, but remember poor +Edith before we think of our own happiness." + +There was a sweet and frank confession in her words that pleased Digby +well; and leaving her with a heart at rest on his own account, he +mounted his horse and rode rapidly away towards the quarters of Sir +Henry Leyton. + + + + + CHAPTER VII. + + +The reader has doubtless remarked--for every reader who peruses a book +to any purpose must remark everything, inasmuch as the most important +events are so often connected with insignificant circumstances, that +the one cannot be understood without the other--the reader has +doubtless remarked, that Mr. Radford, on leaving Sir Robert Croyland, +informed his unhappy victim, that he had still a good deal of business +to do that night. Now, during the day he had--as may well be judged +from his own statement of all the preparations he had already +made--done a great deal of very important business; but the details of +his past proceedings I shall not enter into, and only beg leave to +precede him by a short time, to the scene of those farther operations +which he had laid out as the close of that evening's labours. It is to +the lone house, as it was called, near Iden Green, that I wish to +conduct my companions, and a solitary and gloomy looking spot it was, +at the time I speak of. All that part of the country is now very +thickly inhabited: the ground bears nearly as large a population as it +can support; and though there are still fields, and woods, and +occasional waste places, yet no such events could now happen as those +which occurred eighty or a hundred years ago, when one might travel +miles, in various parts of Kent, without meeting a living soul. The +pressure of a large population crushes out the bolder and more daring +sorts of crime, and leaves small cunning to effect, in secret, what +cannot be accomplished openly, under the police of innumerable eyes. + +But it was not so in those days; and the lone house near Iden Green, +whatever it was originally built for, had become the refuge and the +lurking-place of some of the most fierce and lawless men in the +country. It was a large building, with numerous rooms and passages; +and it had stables behind it, but no walled courtyard; for the close +sweeping round of the wood, a part of which still exists in great +beauty, was a convenience on which its architect seemed to have +calculated. Standing some way off the high road, and about half a mile +from Collyer Green, it was so sheltered by trees that, on whichever +side approached, nothing could be seen but the top of the roof and +part of a garret-window, till one was within a short distance of the +edifice. But that garret-window had its advantages; for it commanded a +view over a great part of the country, on three sides, and especially +gave a prospect of the roads in the neighbourhood. + +The building was not a farm-house, for it had none of the requisites; +it could not well be a public-house, though a sign swung before it; +for the lower windows were boarded up, and the owner or tenant +thereof, if any traveller whom he did not know, stopped at his +door--which was, indeed, a rare occurrence--told him that it was all a +mistake, and cursing the sign, vowed he would have it cut down. +Nevertheless, if the Ramleys, or any of their gang, or, indeed, any +members of a similar fraternity, came thither, the doors opened as if +by magic; and good accommodation for man and horse was sure to be +found within. + +It was also remarked, that many a gentleman in haste went in there, +and was never seen to issue forth again till he appeared in quite a +different part of the country; and, had the master of the house lived +two or three centuries earlier, he might on that very account have +risked the fagot, on a charge of dealing with the devil. As it was, he +was only suspected of being a coiner; but in regard to that charge, +history has left no evidence, pro or con. + +It was in this house, however, on the evening of the day subsequent to +the discomfiture of the smugglers, that six men were assembled in a +small room at the back, all of whom had, more or less, taken part in +the struggle near Woodchurch. The two younger Ramleys were there, as +well as one of the principal members of their gang, and two other men, +who had been long engaged in carrying smuggled goods from the coast, +as a regular profession; but who were, in other respects, much more +respectable persons than those by whom they were surrounded. At the +head of the table, however, was the most important personage of the +whole: no other than Richard Radford himself, who had joined his +comrades an hour or two before. The joy and excitement of his escape +from the wood, the temporary triumph which he had obtained over the +vigilance of the soldiery, and the effect produced upon a disposition +naturally bold, reckless, and daring, by the sudden change from +imminent peril to comparative security, had all raised his spirits to +an excessive pitch; and, indeed, the whole party, instead of seeming +depressed by their late disaster, appeared elevated with that wild and +lawless mirth, which owns no tie or restraint, reverences nothing +sacred or respectable. Spirits and water were circulating freely +amongst them; and they were boasting of their feats in the late +skirmish, or commenting upon its events, with many a jest and many a +falsehood. + +"The Major did very well, too," said Ned Ramley, "for he killed one of +the dragoons, and wounded another, before he went down himself, poor +devil!" + +"Here's to the Major's ghost!" cried young Radford, "and I'll try to +give it satisfaction by avenging him. We'll have vengeance upon them +yet, Ned." + +"Ay, upon all who had any concern in it," answered Jim Ramley, with a +meaning look. + +"And first upon him who betrayed us," rejoined Richard Radford; "and I +will have it, too, in a way that shall punish him more than if we +flogged him to death with horse-whips, as the Sussex men did to Chater +at the Flying Bull, near Hazlemere." + +The elder of the two Ramleys gave a look towards the men who were at +the bottom of the table; and Richard Radford, dropping his voice, +whispered something to Ned Ramley, who replied aloud, with an oath, +"I'd have taken my revenge, whatever came of it." + +"No, no," answered Radford, "the red-coats were too near. However, +all's not lost that's delayed. I wonder where that young devil, little +Starlight's gone to. I sent him three hours ago to Cranbrook with the +clothes, and told him to come back and tell me if she passed. She'll +not go now, that's certain; for she would be in the dark. Have you any +notion, Ned, how many men we could get together in case of need?" + +"Oh, fifty or sixty!" said one of the men from the bottom of the +table, who seemed inclined to have his share in the conversation, as +soon as it turned upon subjects with which he was familiar; "there are +seven or eight hid away down at Cranbrook, and nine or ten at +Tenterden, with some of the goods, too." + +"Ah, that's well!" answered young Radford; "I thought all the goods +had been taken." + +"Oh, dear no," replied Jim Ramley, "we've got a thousand pounds' worth +in this house, and I dare say double as much is scattered about in +different hides. The light things were got off; but they are the most +valuable." + +"I'll tell you what, my men," cried young Radford, "as soon as these +soldiers are gone down to the coast again, we'll all gather together, +and do some devilish high thing, just to show them that they are not +quite masters of the country yet. I've a great mind to burn their inn +at Woodchurch, just for harbouring them. If we don't make these +rascally fellows fear us, the trade will be quite put down in the +county." + +"I swear," exclaimed Ned Ramley, with a horrible blasphemy, "that if I +can catch any one who has peached, even if it be but by one word, I +will split his head like a lobster." + +"And I, too!" answered his brother; and several others joined in the +oath. + +The conversation then took another turn; and while it went on +generally around the table, young Radford spoke several times in a low +voice to the two who sat next to him, and the name of Harding was more +than once mentioned. The glass circulated very freely also; and +although none of them became absolutely intoxicated, yet all of them +were more or less affected by the spirits, when the boy, whom we have +called Little Starlight, crept quietly into the room, and approached +Mr. Radford. + +"She's not come, sir," he said; "I waited a long while, and then went +and asked the old woman of the shop, telling her that I was to be sure +and see that Kate Clare got the bundle; but she said that she +certainly wouldn't come to-night." + +"That's a good boy," said young Radford. "Go and tell the people to +bring us some candles; and then I'll give you a glass of Hollands for +your pains. It's getting infernally dark," he continued, "and as +nothing more is to be done to-day, we may as well make a night of it." + +"No, no," answered one of the men at the bottom of the table, "I've +had enough, and I shall go and turn in." + +Nobody opposed him; and he and his companion soon after left them. A +smile passed round amongst the rest as soon as the two had shut the +door. + +"Now those puny fellows are gone," said Jim Ramley, "we can say what +we like. First, let us talk about the goods, Mr. Radford, for I don't +think they are quite safe here. They had better be got up to your +father's as soon as possible, for if the house were to be searched, we +could get out into the wood, but they could not." + +"Hark!" said young Radford; "there's some one knocking hard at the +house door, I think." + +"Ay, trust all that to Obadiah," said Ned Ramley. "He wont open the +door till he sees who it is." + +The minute after, however, old Mr. Radford stood amongst them; and he +took especial care not to throw any damp upon their spirits, but +rather to encourage them, and make light of the late events. He sat +down for a few minutes by his son, took a glass of Hollands and water, +and then whispered to his hopeful heir that he wanted to speak with +him for a minute. The young man instantly rose, and led the way out +into the room opposite, which was vacant. + +"By Heaven, Dick, this is an awkward job!" said his father; "the loss +is enormous, and never to be recovered." + +"The things are not all lost," answered Richard Radford. "A great +quantity of the goods are about the country. There's a thousand +pounds' worth, they say, in this house." + +"We must have them got together as fast as possible," said Mr. +Radford, "and brought up to our place. All that is here had better be +sent up about three o'clock in the morning." + +"I'll bring them up myself," replied his son. + +"No, no, no!" said Mr. Radford; "you keep quiet where you are, till +to-morrow night." + +"Pooh, nonsense," answered the young man; "I'm not at all +afraid.--Very well--very well, they shall come up, and I'll follow +to-morrow night, if you think I can be at the Hall in safety." + +"I don't intend you to be long at the Hall," answered Mr. Radford: +"you must take a trip over the sea, my boy, till we can make sure of a +pardon for you. There! you need not look so blank. You shan't go +alone. Come up at eleven o'clock; and you will find Edith Croyland +waiting to give you her hand, the next day.--Then a post-chaise and +four, and a good tight boat on the beach, and you are landed in France +in no time. Everything is ready--everything is settled; and with her +fortune, you will have enough to live like a prince, till you can come +back here." + +All this intelligence did not seem to give Richard Radford as much +satisfaction as his father expected. "I would rather have had little +Zara, a devilish deal!" he replied. + +"Very likely," answered his father, with his countenance changing, and +his brow growing dark; "but that wont do, Dick. We have had enough +nonsense of all sorts; and it must now be brought to an end. It's not +the matter of the fortune alone; but I am determined that both you and +I shall have revenge." + +"Revenge!" said his son; "I don't see what revenge has to do with +that." + +"I'll tell you," answered old Mr. Radford, in a low tone, but bitter +in its very lowness. "The man who so cunningly surrounded you and the +rest yesterday morning, who took all my goods, and murdered many of +our friends, is that very Harry Leyton, whom you've heard talk of. He +has come down here on purpose to ruin you and me, if possible, and to +marry Edith Croyland; but he shall never have her, by----," and he +added a fearful oath which I will not repeat. + +"Ay, that alters the case," replied Richard Radford, with a demoniacal +smile; "oh, I'll marry her and make her happy, as the people say. But +I'll tell you what--I'll have my revenge, too, before I go, and upon +one who is worse than the other fellow--I mean the man who betrayed us +all." + +"Who is that?" demanded the father. + +"Harding," answered young Radford--"Harding." + +"Are you sure that it was he?" asked the old gentleman; "I have +suspected him myself, but I have no proof." + +"But I have," replied his son: "he was seen several nights before, by +little Starlight, talking for a long while with this very Colonel of +Dragoons, upon the cliff. Another man was with him, too--most likely +Mowle; and then, again, yesterday evening, some of these good fellows +who were on the look-out to help me, saw him speaking to a dragoon +officer at Widow Clare's door; so he must be a traitor, or they would +have taken him." + +"Then he deserves to be shot," said old Radford, fiercely; "but take +care, Dick: you had better not do it yourself. You'll find him +difficult to get at, and may be caught." + +"Leave him to me--leave him to me," answered his hopeful son; "I've a +plan in my head that will punish him better than a bullet. But the +bullet he shall have, too; for all the men have sworn that they will +take his blood; but that can be done after I'm gone." + +"But what's your plan, my boy?" asked old Mr. Radford. + +"Never mind, never mind!" answered Richard, "I'll find means to +execute it.--I only wish those dragoons were away from Harbourne +Wood." + +"Why, they are," exclaimed his father, laughing. "They were withdrawn +this afternoon, and a party of them, too, marched out of Woodchurch, +as if they were going to Ashford. I dare say, by this time to-morrow +night, they will be all gone to their quarters again." + +"Then it's all safe!" said his son; and after some more conversation +between the two--and various injunctions upon the part of the old man, +as to caution and prudence, upon the part of the young one, they +parted for the time. Young Radford then rejoined his companions, and +remained with them till about one o'clock in the morning, when the +small portion of smuggled goods which had been saved, was sent off, +escorted by two men, towards Radford Hall, where they arrived safely, +and were received by servants well accustomed to such practices. They +consisted of only one horse-load, indeed, so that the journey was +quickly performed; and the two men returned before five. Although +Richard Radford had given his father every assurance that he would +remain quiet, and take every prudent step for his own concealment, his +very first acts showed no disposition to keep his word. Before eight +o'clock in the morning, he, the two Ramleys, and one or two other men, +who had come in during the night, were out amongst the fields and +woods, "reconnoitring," as they called it; but, with a spirit in their +breasts, which rendered them ready for any rash and criminal act that +might suggest itself. Thus occupied, I shall for the present leave +them, and show more of their proceedings at a future period. + + + + + CHAPTER VIII. + + +Having now led the history of a great part of the personages in our +drama up to the same point of time, namely, the third morning after +the defeat of the smugglers, we may as well turn to follow out the +course of Sir Edward Digby, on a day that was destined to be eventful +to all the parties concerned. On arriving at Woodchurch, he found a +small body of dragoons, ready mounted, at the door of the little inn, +and two saddled horses, held waiting for their riders. Without +ceremony, he entered, and went up at once to Leyton's room, where he +found him, booted and spurred to set out, with Mowle the officer +standing by him, looking on, while Sir Henry placed some papers in a +writing-desk, and locked them up. + +The young commander greeted his friend warmly; and then, turning to +the officer of Customs, said, "If you will mount, Mr. Mowle, I will be +down with you directly;" and as soon as Mowle, taking the hint, +departed, he continued, in a quick tone, but with a faint smile upon +his countenance, "I know your errand, Digby, before you tell it. Edith +has been transferred to the good charge and guidance of Mr. Radford; +but that has only prepared me to act more vigorously than ever. My +scruples on Sir Robert Croyland's account are at an end.--Heaven and +earth! Is it possible that a man can be so criminally weak, as to give +his child up--a sweet, gentle girl like that--to the charge of such a +base unprincipled scoundrel!" + +"Nay, nay, we must do Sir Robert justice," answered Digby. "It was +done without his consent--indeed, against his will; and, a more +impudent and shameless piece of trickery was never practised. You must +listen for one moment, Leyton, though you seem in haste;" and he +proceeded to detail to him, as succinctly as possible, all that had +occurred between Mr. Radford and Edith's father on the preceding +evening, stating his authority, and whence Zara had received her +information. + +"That somewhat alters the case, indeed;" answered Leyton; "but it must +not alter my conduct. I am, indeed, in haste, Digby, for I hope, ere +two or three hours are over, to send the young scoundrel, for whose +sake all this is done, a prisoner to the gaol. Mowle has somehow got +information of where he is--from undoubted authority, he says; and we +are away to Iden Green, in consequence. We shall get more information +by the way; and I go with the party for a certain distance, in order +to be at hand, in case of need; but, as it does not do for me, in my +position, to take upon me the capture of half-a-dozen smugglers, the +command of the party will rest with Cornet Joyce. We will deal with +Mr. Radford, the father, afterwards. But, in the meantime, Digby, as +your information certainly gives a different view of the case, from +that which I had before taken, you will greatly oblige me if you can +contrive to ride over to Mr. Croyland's, and see if you can find Mr. +Warde there. Beg him to let me have the directions he promised, by +four o'clock to-day; and if you do not find him, leave word to that +effect, with Mr. Croyland himself." + +"You seem to place great faith in Warde," said Sir Edward Digby, +shaking his head. + +"I have cause--I have cause, Digby," answered his friend. "But I must +go, lest this youth escape me again." + +"Well, God speed you, then," replied Digby. "I will go to Mr. Croyland +at once, and can contrive, I dare say, to get back to Harbourne by +breakfast time. It is not above two or three miles round, and I will +go twenty, at any time, to serve you, Leyton." + +Sir Edward Digby found good Mr. Zachary Croyland walking about in his +garden, in a state of irritation indescribable. He, also, was aware, +by this time, of what had befallen his niece; and such was his +indignation, that he could scarcely find it in his heart to be even +commonly civil to any one. On Sir Edward Digby delivering his message, +as he found that Mr. Warde was not there, the old gentleman burst +forth, exclaiming, "What have I to do with Warde, sir, or your friend +either, sir?--Your friend's a fool! He might have walked out of that +door with Edith Croyland in his hand; and that's no light prize, let +me tell you; but he chose to be delicate, and gentlemanly, and all +that sort of stupidity, and you see what has come of it. And now, +forsooth, he sends over to ask advice and directions from Warde. Well, +I will tell the man, if I see him--though Heaven only knows whether +that will be the case or not." + +"Sir Henry Leyton seems to place great confidence in Mr. Warde," +replied Digby, "which I trust may be justified." + +Mr. Croyland looked at him sharply, for a moment, from under his +cocked hat, and then exclaimed, "Pish! you are a fool, young +man.--There, don't look so fierce. I've given over fighting for these +twenty years; and, besides--you wouldn't come to the duello with +little Zara's uncle, would you? Ha, ha, ha!--Ha, ha, ha!--Ha, ha, ha!" +and he laughed immoderately, but splenetically enough at the same +time. "But I ought to have put my meaning as a question, not as a +proposition," he continued. "Are you such a fool as not to know the +difference between an odd man and a madman, an eccentric man and a +lunatic? If so, you had better get away as fast as possible; for you +and I are likely soon to fall out. I understand what you mean about +Warde, quite well; but I can tell you, that if you think Warde mad, +I'm quite as mad as he is, only that his oddities lie all on the side +of goodness and philanthropy, and mine now and then take a different +course. But get you gone--get you gone; you are better than the rest +of them, I believe. I do hope and trust you'll marry Zara; and then +you'll plague each other's souls, to my heart's content." + +He held his hand out as he spoke; and Digby shook it, laughing +good-humouredly; but, ere he had taken ten steps towards the +door of the house, through which he had to pass before he could +mount his horse, Mr. Croyland called after him, "Digby, Digby!--Sir +Eddard!--Eldest son! I say,--how could you be such a fool as not to +run that fellow through the stomach when you had him at your feet? You +see what a quantity of mischief has come of it. You are all fools +together, you soldiers, I think;--but it's true, a fool does as well +as anything else to be shot at.--How's your shoulder? Better, I +suppose." + +"I have not thought of it for the last two days," replied Digby. + +"Well, that will do," said Mr. Croyland. "Cured by the first +intention. There, you may go: I don't want you. Only, pray tell my +brother, that I think him as great a rascal as old Radford.--He'll +know how much that means.--One's a weak rascal, and the other's a +strong one; that's the only difference between them; and Robert may +fit on which cap he likes best." + +Digby did not think it necessary to stop to justify Sir Robert +Croyland in his brother's opinion; but, mounting his horse, he rode +back across the country towards Harbourne as fast as he could go. He +reached the house before the usual breakfast hour; but he found that +everybody there had been an early riser as well as himself; the table +was laid ready for breakfast; and Sir Robert Croyland was waiting in +the drawing-room with some impatience in his looks. + +"I think I am not too late, Sir Robert," said Digby, taking out his +watch, and bowing with a smile to Zara and Mrs. Barbara. + +"No, oh dear, no, my young friend," replied the baronet; "only in such +a house as this, breakfast is going on all the morning long; and I +thought you would excuse me, if I took mine a little earlier than +usual, as I have got some way to go this morning." + +This was said as they were entering the breakfast-room; but Sir Edward +Digby replied, promptly, "I must ask you to spare me five minutes +before you go, Sir Robert, as I wish to speak with you for a short +time." + +His host looked uneasy; for he was in that nervous and agitated state +of mind, in which anything that is not clear and distinct seems +terrible to the imagination, from the consciousness that many +ill-defined calamities are hanging over us. He said, "Certainly, +certainly!" however, in a polite tone; but he swallowed his breakfast +in haste; and the young officer perceived that his host looked at +every mouthful he took, as if likely to procrastinate the meal. Zara's +face, too, was anxious and thoughtful; and consequently he hurried his +own breakfast as fast as possible, knowing that the signal to rise +would be a relief to all parties. + +"If you will come into my little room, Sir Edward," said the master of +the house, as soon as he saw that his guest was ready, "I shall be +very happy to hear what you have to say." + +Sir Edward Digby followed in silence; and, to tell the truth, his +heart beat a good deal, though it was not one to yield upon slight +occasions. + +"I will not detain you a moment, Sir Robert," he said, when they had +entered, and the door was shut, "for what I have to say will be easily +answered. I am sensible, that yesterday my attention to your youngest +daughter must have been remarked by you, and, indeed, my manner +altogether must have shown you, and herself also, that I feel +differently towards her and other women. I do not think it would be +right to continue such conduct for one moment longer, without your +approbation of my suit; and I can only further say, that if you grant +me your sanction, I feel that I can love her deeply and well, that I +will try to make her happy to the best of my power, and that my +fortune is amply sufficient to maintain her in the station of life in +which she has always moved, and to make such a settlement upon her as +I trust will be satisfactory to you. I will not detain you to +expatiate upon my feelings; but such is a soldier's straightforward +declaration, and I trust you will countenance and approve of my +addressing her." + +Sir Robert Croyland shook him warmly by the hand. "'My dear Sir +Edward," he said, "you are your father's own son--frank, candid, and +honourable. He was one of the most gentlemanly and amiable men I ever +knew; and it will give me heartfelt pleasure to see my dear child +united to his son. But--indeed, I must deal with you as candidly----" +He hesitated for a moment or two, and then went on--"Perhaps you think +that circumstances here are more favourable than they really are. +Things may come to your knowledge--things may have to be +related--Zara's fortune will be----" + +Sir Edward Digby saw that Sir Robert Croyland was greatly embarrassed; +and for an instant--for love is a very irritable sort of state, at +least for the imagination, and he was getting over head and ears in +love, notwithstanding all his good resolutions--for an instant, I say, +he might think that Zara had been engaged before, and that Sir Robert +was about to tell him, that it was not the ever-coveted, first +freshness of the heart he was to possess in her love, even if it were +gained entirely. But a moment's thought, in regard to her father's +situation, together with the baronet's last words, dispelled that +unpleasant vision, and he replied, eagerly, "Oh, my dear sir, that can +make no difference in my estimation. If I can obtain her full and +entire love, no external circumstance whatsoever can at all affect my +views.--I only desire her hand." + +"No external circumstances whatsoever!" said Sir Robert Croyland, +pausing on the words. "Are you sure of your own firmness, Sir Edward +Digby? If her father were to tell you he is a ruined man--if he had +many circumstances to relate which might make it painful to you to +connect yourself with him--I do not say that it is so; but if it +were?" + +"Rather an awkward position!" thought Sir Edward Digby; but his mind +was fully made up; and he replied, without hesitation, "It would still +make no difference in my eyes, Sir Robert. I trust that none of these +terrible things are the case, for your sake; but I should despise +myself, if, with enough of my own, I made fortune any ingredient in my +considerations, or if I could suffer my love for a being perfectly +amiable in herself, to be affected by the circumstances of her +family." + +Sir Robert Croyland wrung his hand hard; and Digby felt that it was a +sort of compact between them. "I fear I must go," said Zara's father, +"and therefore I cannot explain more; but it is absolutely necessary +to tell you that all my unmortgaged property is entailed, and will go +to my brother, that Edith's fortune is totally independent, and that +Zara has but a tithe of what her sister has." + +"Still I say, as I said before," replied Digby, "that nothing of that +kind can make any difference to me; nor will I ever suffer any +consideration, not affecting your daughter personally--and I beg this +may be clearly understood--to make any change in my views. If I can +win her love--her entire, full, hearty love--with your sanction, she +is mine. Have I that sanction. Sir Robert?" + +"Fully, and from my heart," replied Sir Robert Croyland, with the +unwonted tears coursing over his cheeks. "Go to her, my dear +friend--go to her, and make what progress you may, with my best +wishes. This is indeed a great happiness--a great relief!" + +Thus saying, he followed Sir Edward Digby out of the room; and, +mounting a new horse which had been brought up from his bailiff's, he +rode slowly and thoughtfully away. As he went, a faint hope--nay, it +could hardly be called a hope--a vague, wild fancy of explaining his +whole situation to Sir Edward Digby, and gaining the blessed relief of +confidence and counsel, arose in Sir Robert Croyland's breast. + +Alas! what an unhappy state has been brought about by the long +accumulation of sin and deceit which has gathered over human society! +that no man can trust another fully! that we dare not confide our +inmost thoughts to any! that there should be a fear--the necessity for +a fear--of showing the unguarded heart to the near and dear! that +every man should--according to the most accursed axiom of a corrupt +world--live with his friend as if he were one day to be his enemy. Oh, +truths and honour, and sincerity! oh, true Christianity! whither are +ye gone? Timidity soon banished such thoughts from the breast of Sir +Robert Croyland, though there was something in the whole demeanour of +his daughter's lover which showed him that, if ever man was to be +trusted, he might trust there; and had he known how deeply Digby was +already acquainted with much that concerned him, he might perhaps have +gone one step farther, and told him all. As it was, he rode on, and +soon gave himself up to bitter thoughts again. + +In the meantime. Sir Edward Digby returned to Zara and Mrs. Barbara in +the drawing-room, with so well satisfied a look, that it was evident +to both, his conversation with Sir Robert had not referred to any +unpleasant subject, and had not had any unpleasant result. He excited +the elder lady's surprise, however, and produced some slight agitation +in the younger, by taking Zara by the hand, and in good set terms of +almost formal courtesy, requesting a few minutes' private audience. +Her varying colour, and her hesitating look, showed her lover that she +apprehended something more unpleasant than he had to say; and he +whispered, as they went along towards the library, "It is nothing--it +is nothing but to tell you what I have done, and to arrange our plan +of campaign." + +Zara looked up in his face with a glad smile, as if his words took +some terror from her heart; and as soon as he was in the room, he let +go her hand, and turned the key in such a manner in the door, that the +key-hole could not serve the purpose of a perspective glass, even if +it might that of an ear-trumpet. + +"Forgive me, dear Zara," he said, "if I take care to secure our +defences; otherwise, as your good aunt is perfectly certain that I am +about to fall on my knees, and make my declaration, she might be +seized with a desire to witness the scene, not at all aware that it +has been performed already. But not to say 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 entered into any of +my aunt's castles in the air, or that he devised 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 displayed fully all the inmost thoughts which years of +ordinary intercourse might not develop. 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 keeping 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 all were indifferent to me. It +might be natural to me, then; but I do not think I could play the +coquette with the man I loved. At all events, I should act the part +but badly, and should fancy he was always laughing at me in his heart, +and triumphing over poor Zara Croyland, when he knew right well that +he had the strings of the puppet in his hand. However, I will do my +best, if you wish it; and I do believe, from knowing more of this +house than you do, that your plan is a good one. The airs I have given +myself, and the freedom I have taken, have been of service both to +myself and Edith--to her in many ways, and to myself in keeping from +me all serious addresses from men I could not love.--Yours is the +first proposal I have ever had, Digby; so do not let what my uncle has +said, make you believe that you have conquered a queen of hearts, who +has set all others at defiance." + +"No _gentleman_ was ever refused by a _lady_," answered Digby, laying +a strong emphasis on each noun-substantive. + +"So, then, you were quite sure, before you said a word!" cried Zara, +laughing. "Well, that is as frank a confession as any of my own! And +yet you might have been mistaken; for esteeming you as I did, and +circumstanced as I was, I would have trusted you as much, Digby, if +you had been merely a friend." + +"But you would not have shown me the deeper feelings of your heart +upon other indifferent subjects," replied her lover. + +Zara blushed, and looked down; then suddenly changed the course of +conversation, saying, "But you have not told me what Leyton thought of +all this, and what plans you have formed. What is to be done? Was he +not deeply grieved and shocked?" + +Sir Edward Digby told her all that had passed, and then added, "I +intend now to send out my servant, Somers, to reconnoitre. He shall +waylay Leyton on his return, and bring me news of his success. If this +youth be safely lodged in gaol, his pretensions are at an end, at +least for the present; but if he again escape, I think, ere noon +to-morrow, I must interfere myself. I have now a better right to do so +than I have hitherto had; and what I have heard from other quarters +will enable me to speak boldly--even to your father, dear one--without +committing either you or Edith." + +Zara paused and thought; but all was still dark on every side, and she +could extract no ray of light from the gloom. Digby did not fail (as, +how could a lover neglect?) to try to lead her mind to pleasanter +themes; and he did so in some degree. But we have been too long +eaves-dropping upon private intercourse, and we will do so no more. +The rest of the day passed in that mingled light and shade, which has +a finer interest than the mere broad sunshine, till the return of Sir +Robert Croyland, when the deep sadness that overspread his countenance +clouded the happiness of all the rest. + +Shortly after, Zara saw her lover's servant ride up the road, at +considerable speed; and as it wanted but half-an-hour to dinner-time, +Digby, who marked his coming also, retired to dress. When he returned +to the drawing-room, there was a deeper and a sterner gloom upon his +brow than the fair girl had ever seen; but her father and aunt were +both present, and no explanation could take place. After dinner, too, +Sir Robert Croyland and his guest returned to the drawing-room +together; and though the cloud was still upon Digby's countenance, and +he was graver than he had ever before appeared, yet she whom he loved +could gain no tidings. To her he was still all tenderness and +attention; but Zara could not play the part she had undertaken; and +often her eyes rested on his face, with a mute, sad questioning, which +made her aunt say to herself, "Well, Zara is in love at last!" + +Thus passed a couple of hours, during which not above ten words were +uttered by Sir Robert Croyland. At length, lights were brought in, +after they had been for some time necessary; and at the end of about +ten minutes more, the sound of several horses coming at a quick pace +was heard. The feet stopped at the great door, the bell rang, and +voices sounded in the hall. The tones of one, deep, clear, and mellow, +made both Zara and her father start; and in a minute after, the butler +entered--he was an old servant--saying, in a somewhat embarrassed +manner, "Colonel Sir Henry Leyton, sir, wishes to speak with you +immediately on business of importance." + +"Who--who?" demanded Sir Robert, "Sir Henry Leyton!--Well, well, take +him in somewhere!" + +He rose from his chair, but staggered perceptibly for a moment; then, +overcoming the emotion that he could not but feel, he steadied himself +by the arm of his chair, and left the room. Zara gazed at Digby, and +he at her he loved; but this night Mrs. Barbara thought fit to sit +where she was; and Digby, approaching Zara's seat, bent over her, +whispering, "Leyton has a terrible tale to tell; but not affecting +Edith. She is safe.--What more he seeks, I do not know." + + + + + CHAPTER IX. + + +After parting with Sir Edward Digby at Woodchurch, Henry Leyton had +ridden on at a quick pace to Park-gate, and thence along the high +road, to Cranbrook. He himself was habited in the undress of his +regiment, though with pistols at his saddle, and a heavy sword by his +side. One of his servants followed him similarly accoutred, and an +orderly accompanied the servant, while by the young officer's side +appeared our good friend Mr. Mowle, heavily armed, with the somewhat +anomalous equipments of a riding officer of Customs in those days. At +a little distance behind this first group, came Cornet Joyce, and his +party of dragoons; and in this order they all passed through +Cranbrook, about nine o'clock; but a quarter of a mile beyond the +little town they halted, and Mowle rode on for a short way alone, to +the edge of Hangley Wood, which was now close before them. There he +dismounted, and went in amongst the trees; but he was not long absent, +for in less than five minutes he was by the colonel's side again. +"All's right, sir," he said, "the boy assures me that they were all +there still, at six this morning, and that their captain, Radford, +does not move till after dark, to-night. So now we shall have the +worst fellows amongst them--the two Ramleys and all." + +"Well, then," answered Leyton, "you had better go on at once with the +party, keeping through the wood. I will remain behind, coming on +slowly; and if wanted, you will find me somewhere in the Hanger. +Cornet Joyce has his orders in regard to surrounding the house; but of +course he must act according to circumstances." + +No more words were needed: the party of dragoons moved on rapidly, +with Mowle at their head; and Leyton, after pausing for a few minutes +on the road, dismounted, and giving his rein to the servant, walked +slowly on into the wood, telling the two men who accompanied him, to +follow. There was, at that time, as there is now, I believe, a broad +road through Hangley Wood, leading into the cross-road from Biddenden +to Goudhurst; but at that period, instead of being tolerably straight +and good, it was very tortuous, rough, and uneven. Along this forest +path, for so it might be called, the dragoons had taken their way, at +a quick trot; and by it their young colonel followed, with his arms +crossed upon his chest, and his head bent down, in deep and anxious +meditation. The distance across the wood at that part is nearly a +mile; and when he had reached the other side, Leyton turned upon his +steps again, passed his servant and the orderly, and walked slowly on +the road back to Cranbrook. The two men went to the extreme verge of +the wood, and looked out towards Iden Green for a minute or two before +they followed their officer, so that in the turnings of the road, they +were out of sight by the time he had gone a quarter of a mile. + +Leyton's thoughts were busy, as may be well supposed; but at length +they were suddenly interrupted by loud, repeated, and piercing +shrieks, apparently proceeding from a spot at some distance before +him. Darting on, with a single glance behind, and a loud shout to call +the men up, he rushed forward along the road, and the next instant +beheld a sight which made his blood boil with indignation. At first, +he merely perceived a girl, struggling in the hands of some five or +six ruffians, who were maltreating her in the most brutal manner; but +in another instant, as, drawing his sword, he rushed forward, he +recognised--for it can scarcely be said, he saw--poor Kate Clare. With +another loud shout to his men to come up, he darted on without pause +or hesitation; but his approach was observed--the ruffians withdrew +from around their victim; and one of them exclaimed, "Run, run! the +dragoons are coming!" + +"D--me! give her a shot before you go," cried another, "or she'll +peach." + +"Let her," cried young Radford--"but here goes;" and, turning as he +hurried away, he deliberately fired a pistol at the unhappy girl, who +was starting up wildly from the ground. She instantly reeled and fell, +some seconds before Leyton could reach her; for he was still at the +distance of a hundred yards. + +All this had taken place in an inconceivably short space of time; but +the next minute, the panic with which the villains had been seized +subsided a little. One turned to look back--another turned--they +beheld but one man on the road; and all the party were pausing, when +Leyton reached poor Kate Clare, and raised her in his arms. It might +have fared ill with him had he been alone; but just at that moment the +orderly appeared at the turn, coming up at the gallop, with the young +officer's servant behind him; and not doubting that a large party was +following, Radford and his companions fled as fast as they could. + +"On after them, like lightning!" cried Leyton, as the men came up. +"Leave the horse, leave the horse, and away! Watch them wherever they +go, especially the man in the green coat! Take him if you can--shoot +him dead if he resist. Ah, my poor girl!" he cried, with the tears +rising in his eyes, "this is sad, indeed!--Where has he wounded you?" + +"There," said Kate, faintly, taking away her hand, which was pressed +upon her right side; "but that was his kindest act.--Thank God, I am +dying!" + +"Nay, nay," answered Leyton, "I trust not!" But the blood poured +rapidly out, staining all her dress, which was torn and in wild +disorder, and so rapidly did it flow, that Leyton clearly saw her +words would probably prove too true. "Who was that villain?" he cried; +"I will punish him if there be justice on earth!" + +"Don't you know him?" said Kate, her voice growing more and more low. +"I thought you were seeking him--Richard Radford." + +"The atrocious scoundrel!" said Leyton; and drawing his handkerchief +from his breast, he tied it tightly over her side, trying, though he +saw it was nearly in vain, to stanch the blood, while at the same time +he supported her against his knee with one arm thrown round her waist. +Poor Kate closed her eyes with a faint shudder; and for a moment +Leyton thought she was dead. She appeared to be reviving again, +however, when a loud voice, not far distant, exclaimed, "Ha,--halloo! +What the devil is this?" + +Leyton looked suddenly up--for his eyes had been bent upon the poor +girl's face for several minutes--and then beheld, hurrying up the road +with a look of fury in his countenance, Kate's promised husband, +Harding. With a violent oath the man rushed on, exclaiming, "Kate, +what is all this?--Villain, have you misused the girl?" + +"Hush, hush!" cried Leyton, with a stern gesture of his hand; "she is +dying!--I would have saved her if I could; but alas, I came too late!" + +The whole expression of Harding's countenance changed in an instant. +Grief and terror succeeded to rage; and, catching her franticly in his +arms, he exclaimed--"Kate, Kate, speak to me!--Tell me, who has done +this?" + +"I can tell you," answered Leyton--"Richard Radford." + +While he was speaking, Kate Clare opened her eyes again, and gazed on +Harding's face, moving her right hand faintly round and placing it +upon his. + +"Give me that handkerchief from your neck," said Leyton; "if we can +stop the blood, we may save her, yet. I have seen very bad wounds +recovered from----" + +"No, no!" said Kate Clare; "thank God, I am dying--I would rather +die!--Harding, I am not in fault--they caught me in the wood--oh, they +treated me horribly. Mr. Radford said it was revenge--God forgive him, +God forgive him! But I would rather die thus in your arms--do not try +to stop it--it is all in vain." + +Leyton and Harding still persisted, however, and bound another +handkerchief tight over the wound, in some degree diminishing the +stream of blood, but yet, not stopping it entirely. + +"Let us carry her to some house," cried Leyton, "and then send for +assistance. See! her lips are not so pale." + +"I will carry her," cried Harding, raising her in his powerful arms. + +"To my aunt's, then--to my aunt's, Harding," murmured Kate; "I would +sooner die there than in any other place." And on Harding sped, +without reply, while Leyton, sheathing his sword, which he had cast +down, followed him, inquiring, "Is it far?" + +"But a step, sir," answered the smuggler. "Pray, come with us.--This +must be avenged." + +"It shall," replied Leyton, sternly; "but I must stay here for a +minute or two, till you can send somebody to me, to take my place, and +let my men know where I am when they return." + +Harding nodded his head, and then turned his eyes upon the face of the +poor girl whom he bore in his arms, hurrying on without a moment's +pause, till he was lost to the young officer's sight. + +It is needless to describe the feelings of a high-minded and noble man +like Leyton, when left alone to meditate over the horrible outrage +which had been committed under his very eyes. He gave way to no burst +of indignation, indeed, but with a frowning brow walked back upon the +road, caught his horse without difficulty, and mounting, remained +fixed near the spot where poor Kate had received her death-wound, like +a soldier upon guard. In less than ten minutes, a lad ran up, saying, +"Mr. Harding sent me, sir." + +"Well, then, walk up and down here, my good boy," replied Leyton, +"till some one comes to inquire for me. If it should be a servant, or +a single soldier, send him down to the place which you came from, and +wait where you are till a larger party of dragoons come up, when you +must tell them the same--to go down to me there. If the party come +first, wait for the servant and the soldier." + +Having given these directions, he was turning away, but paused again +to inquire his way to the place where Harding was; and then pointing +to a bundle that lay upon the road, he said--"You had better bring +that with you." + +Following the boy's direction, as soon as he issued out of the wood, +Sir Henry Leyton turned through a little field to the left; and seeing +a small farm-house at some distance before him, he leaped his horse +over two fences to abridge the way. Then riding into the farm-yard, he +sprang to the ground, looking round for some one to take his charger. +Several men of different ages were running about with eagerness and +haste in their faces. Horses were being led forth from the stable; +guns were in the hands of several; and one of them--a fine, tall, +powerful young fellow--exclaimed, as soon as he saw Leyton--"We will +catch them, sir--we will catch them! and by----they shall be hanged as +high as Haman for hurting the poor dear girl. Here, take his honour's +horse, Bill." + +"Is she still living?" asked Leyton. + +"Oh dear, yes, sir!" cried the young man; "she seemed somewhat better +for what mother gave her." + +"Well, then," rejoined the young officer, "if you are going to search +for these scoundrels, gallop up to the wood as fast as you can; you +will find my servant and a trooper watching. They will give you +information of which way the villains are gone. I will join you in a +minute or two with a stronger force." + +"Oh, sir, we shall do--we shall do," cried William Harris; "we will +raise the whole county as we go, and will hunt them down like foxes. +Do they think that our sisters and our wives are to be ill-used and +murdered by such scum as they are?" and at the same time he sprang +upon his horse's back. Leyton turned towards the house, but met the +old farmer himself coming out with a great cavalry sword in his hand, +and the butt end of a pistol sticking out of each pocket. "Quick, +quick! to your horses!" he cried, "they shall rue the day--they shall +rue the day!--Ah, sir, go in," he continued, seeing Leyton; "she is +telling my wife and Harding all about it; but I can't stop to hear.--I +will have that young Radford's blood, if I have a soul to be saved!" + +"Better take him alive, and hand him over to justice," said Leyton, +going into the house. + +"D----n him, I'll kill him like a dog!" cried the farmer; and mounting +somewhat less nimbly than his son, he put himself at the head of the +whole party assembled, and rode fast away towards Hangley Wood. + +In the meantime, Leyton entered the kitchen of the farm; but it was +quite vacant. Voices, however, were heard speaking above, and he +ventured to go up and enter the room. Three or four women were +assembled there round good Mrs. Harris's own bed, on which poor Kate +Clare was stretched, with Harding on his knees beside her, and her +hand in his, the hot tears of man's bitterest agony, coursing each +other down his bronzed and weather-beaten cheek. + +"There, there!" said Mrs. Harris; "don't take on so, Harding--you only +keep down her spirits. She might do very well, if she would but take +heart. You see she is better for the cordial stuff I gave her." + +Harding made no reply; but Kate Clare faintly shook her head; and +Leyton, after having gazed on the sad scene for a moment, with bitter +grief and indignation in his heart, drew back, thinking that his +presence would only be a restraint to Kate's family and friends. He +made a sign, however, to one of the women before he went, who followed +him out of the room. + +"I merely wish to tell you," he said, in a low voice, when the woman +joined him at the top of the stairs, "that I am going back to the +wood, to aid in the pursuit of these villains; for I can be of no use +here, and may be there. If any of my people come, tell them where to +find me; bid them follow me instantly, and stop every man on foot they +see quitting the wood, till he gives an account of himself.--But had +you not better send for a surgeon?" + +"One is sent for, sir," replied the woman; "but I think she is not so +bad as she was.--I'll take care and tell your people. I do hope they +will catch them, for this is _too_ bad." + +Without more words Leyton went down, remounted his horse, and galloped +back towards the edge of the wood. The news of what had happened, +however, seemed to have spread over the country with the speed of +lightning; for he saw four or five of the peasantry on horseback, +already riding in the same direction across the fields. Two stout +farmers joined him as he went, and both were already full of the story +of poor Kate Clare. Rage and indignation were universal amongst the +people; but as usual on such occasions, one proposed one plan, and +another the other, so that by want of combination in their operations, +all their resolution and eagerness were likely to be fruitlessly +employed. + +Leyton knew that it was of little use to argue on such points with +undisciplined men; and his only trust was in the speedy arrival of the +soldiers from Iden Green. When he reached the edge of the wood, +however, with his two companions, they came upon farmer Harris's +party, now swelled to twelve or thirteen men; and at the same moment +his own servant rode round, exclaiming, as soon as he saw his master, +"They are still in the wood, sir, if they have not come out this way. +They dispersed so that we could not follow them on horseback, and we +galloped out by different ways to watch." + +"They haven't come here," cried Farmer Harris, "or we should have seen +them. So now we have them safe enough." + +"Ride off towards Iden Green," said Leyton to the servant, "and direct +Cornet Joyce to bring down his men at the gallop to the edge of the +copse. Let him dismount twelve on the north side of the wood, and, +with all the farm-servants and country people he can collect, sweep +it down, while the rest of the mounted men advance, on a line, on +either side.--Stay, I will write;" and tearing a leaf out of his +pocket-book, he put down his orders in pencil. + +The man had just galloped away, when the young farmer, William Harris, +shouted, "There they go--there they go! After them!--after them! Tally +ho!" and instantly set spurs to his horse. All the rest but Leyton +followed at full speed; but he paused, and, directing his eyes along +the edge of the wood, clearly saw, at the distance of somewhat more +than half a mile, three men, who seemed to have issued forth from +amongst the trees, running across the fields as fast as they could go. +It would seem that they had not been aware of the numbers collected to +intercept them, till they had advanced too far to retreat; but +they had got a good start; the country was difficult for any but +well-trained horses; and darting on, they took their way towards +Goudhurst, passing within a hundred yards of the spot where the victim +of their horrid barbarity lay upon the bed of death. + +Taking the narrow paths, leaping the stiles and gates, they at first +seemed to gain upon the mass of peasantry who followed them, though +their pursuers were on horseback and they on foot. But, well knowing +the country, the farmers spread out along the small bridle-roads; and, +while the better mounted horsemen followed direct across the fields, +the others prepared to cut off the ruffians on the right and left. +Gradually a semi-circle, enclosing them within its horns, was thus +formed; and all chance of escape by flight was thus cut off. + +In this dilemma, the three miscreants made straight towards a +farm-house at which they occasionally received hospitality in their +lawless expeditions, and which bears the name of "Smuggler Farm" to +this day; but they knew not that all hearts had been raised against +them by their late atrocities, and that the very tenant of the farm +himself was now one of the foremost in pursuit. Rushing in, then, with +no farther ceremony than casting the door open, they locked and barred +it, just as some of the peasantry were closing in upon them; and then, +hurrying to the kitchen, where the farmer's wife, his sister, and a +servant was collected, Ned Ramley, who was the first, exclaimed, "Have +you no hide, good dame?" + +"Hide!" replied the stout farmer's wife, eyeing him askance--"not for +such villains as you! Give me the spit, Madge; I've a great mind to +run him through." Ned Ramley drew a pistol from his pocket; but at +that moment the window was thrown up, the back door of the house was +cast open, and half-a-dozen of the stout yeomanry rushed in. The +smugglers saw that resistance would be vain; but still they resisted; +and though, in the agitation of the moment, Ned Ramley's pistol was +discharged innocuously, he did not fail to aim it at the head of young +William Harris, who was springing towards him. The stout farmer, +however, instantly levelled him with the ground by a thundering blow +upon the head; and the other two men, after a desperate struggle, were +likewise taken and tied. + +"Lucky for you it was me, and not my father, Master Ramley," said +William Harris. "He'd have blown your brains out; but you're only +saved to be hanged, anyhow.--Ay, here he comes!--Stop, stop, old +gentleman! he's a prisoner; don't you touch him.--Let the law have the +job, as the gentleman said." + +"Oh, you accursed villain--oh, you hellish scoundrel," cried old +Harris, kept back with difficulty by his son and the rest. "You were +one of the foremost of them. But where is the greatest villain of them +all?--where's that limb of the devil, young Radford?--I will have him! +Let me go, Will--I will have him, I say!" + +Ned Ramley laughed aloud: "You wont, though," he answered, bitterly; +"he's been gone this half hour, and will be at the sea, and over the +sea, before you can catch him.--You may do with me what you like, but +he's safe enough." + +"Some one ride off and tell the officer what he says!" cried the +farmer. But when the intelligence was conveyed to Sir Henry Leyton, he +was already aware that some of the men must have made their escape +unobserved; for his servant had met Cornet Joyce and the party of +dragoons by the way, and with the aid of a number of farm servants +from Iden Green and its neighbourhood, the wood had been searched with +such strictness, that the pheasants, which were at that time numerous +there, had flown out in clouds, as if a battue had been going on. He +mistrusted Ned Ramley's information, however; knowing that the +hardened villain would find a sort of pride in misleading the pursuers +of young Radford, even though taken himself. Riding quickly across to +the farm, then, together with Mowle and the Cornet, he interrogated +the men separately, but found they were all in the same story, from +which they varied not in the least--that Richard Radford had crept out +by the hedges near the wood, and had gone first to a place where a +horse was in waiting for him, and thence would make straight to the +sea-side, where a boat was already prepared. Instant measures to +prevent him from executing this plan now became necessary; and Leyton +directed the Cornet to hasten away as fast as possible in pursuit, +sending information from Woodchurch to every point of the coast where +the offender was likely to pass, spreading out his men so as to cover +all the roads to the sea, and only leaving at the farm a sufficient +guard to secure the prisoners. + +On hearing the latter part of this order, however, Farmer Harris +exclaimed, "No, no, sir; no need of that. We've taken them, and we'll +keep them safe enough. I'll see these fellows into prison myself--ay, +and hanged too, please God! and we'll guard them sure, don't you be +afraid." + +Leyton looked to Mowle, saying, "I must abide by your decision, Mr. +Mowle." But the officer answered: "Oh, you may trust them, sir, quite +safely, after all I hear has happened. But I think, Mr. Harris, you +had better have just a few men to help you. You've got no place to +keep them here; and they must be taken before a magistrate first, +before they can be committed." + +"Oh, we'll keep them safe enough," replied the farmer. "We'll put them +in Goudhurst church, till we can send them off, and, in the meantime, +I'll have them up before Squire Broughton. My son's a constable, so +they are in proper hands." + +"Very well," answered Leyton; "in this case I have no right to +interfere; but, of course, you are responsible for their safe +custody." + +"I say, Mowle," cried Ned Ramley, in his usual daring manner, "bid +them give me something to drink, for I'm devilish thirsty; and I'll +give you some information, if you will." + +Mowle obtained some beer for him, and then demanded, "Well, what is +it, Ned?" + +"Why, only this," said Ned Ramley, after they had held the beer to his +lips, and he had taken a deep draught--"you will have your brains +blown out, before ten days are over." + +"I am not afraid," replied Mowle, laughing. + +"That's right," answered Ned Ramley. "But it will happen; for fifty of +us have sworn it. We have had our revenge of your spy, Harding; and we +have only you to settle with now." + +"Harding!" cried Mowle. "He's no spy of mine.--It was not he that +peached, you young scoundrel; it was one of those whom you trusted +more than him." + +"Ah, well," answered Ned Ramley, indifferently; "then he'll have a +sore heart to-night, that he didn't work for. But you'll have your +turn yet, Mr. Mowle, so look that you make good use of your brains, +for they wont be long in your skull." + +"You are a hardened villain," said Sir Henry Leyton. "You had better +march them off as fast as you can, my good friends; take them before a +magistrate; and above all things, get them to prison ere nightfall, or +we may have another rescue." + +"No fear, no fear!" answered Farmer Harris. "To rescue a smuggler is +one thing--I never liked to see them taken myself--but bloodthirsty +villains like these, that would ill use a poor, dear, good girl, and +murder her in cold blood,--why, there is not a man in the county would +not help to hang them. But I wish, sir, you would go yourself, and see +and stop that other great villain. If he isn't hanged too, I don't +think I shall ever rest in my bed again." + +"I will do my best, depend upon it," replied Leyton; "but I must +first, Mr. Harris, go to your house, and see the state of that poor +girl. I have known her since she was a child, and feel for her almost +as if she were a sister." + +"Thank you, sir--thank you!" cried old Harris, shaking him by the +hand. "There, boys," he continued, dashing away the tears from his +eyes--"make a guard, and take these blackguards off in the middle of +you. We'll have them up to Squire Broughton's at once; and then I must +go back, too." + +On his way to the farm, Leyton desired Mowle to return to Woodchurch, +and to wait for him there, taking every step that he might think +necessary, with the aid of Captain Irby. "I will not be long," he +added. + +"Pray don't, sir," rejoined Mowle; "for we have other business to do +to-night;" and, sinking his voice to a whisper, he added, "I've got +the information I wanted, sir. A part of the goods are certainly at +Radford Hall, and if we can seize them there, that, with the +deposition of the men at Woodchurch, will bring him in for the whole +offence." + +"I shall, very likely, overtake you by the way," replied Leyton. "But, +at all events, I shall be there before four." + +Most such calculations are vain, however. Leyton turned aside to the +Harris's farm, where he found poor Kate Clare sinking rapidly. The +curate of the parish had been sent for, and, by his advice, Mr. +Broughton, the magistrate, who had entered the house but two or three +minutes before Leyton himself. Though her voice now scarcely rose +above a whisper, she made her dying declaration with clearness and +accuracy. It is not necessary here to give any of the details; but, as +she concluded, she turned her faint and swimming eyes towards Leyton, +saying, "That gentleman, who has always been such a good friend to me +and mine, can tell you more, sir, for he came up to my help, just as +they shot me." + +The magistrate raised his eyes, and inquired, in a low tone, "Who is +he?" + +"Sir Henry Leyton," replied the poor girl, loud enough for that +officer to hear; and thinking that she asked for him, he approached +nearer, and stood by Harding's side. Kate raised her hand a little +from the bedclothes, as if she would have given it to him; and he took +it kindly in his, speaking some words of comfort. + +"Thank you, sir--thank you, for all your kindness," said Kate. "I am +glad you have come, that I may wish you good-bye, and ask you to be +kind to poor Harding, too. It will soon be over now; and you had +better all leave me. Not you, Harding--not you.--You must close my +eyes, as my poor mother is not here." + +A groan burst from the stout seaman's breast; and giving way to all +his feelings, he sobbed like a child. According to her desire, Leyton +and Mr. Broughton retired from the room; and the young officer +informed the magistrate, that the prisoners who had been taken were +waiting for examination at his house. + +"We shall want your evidence, Sir Henry," said the magistrate. "It is +absolutely necessary, if, as I understand, you were eye-witness to the +murder." + +Leyton saw the propriety of the magistrate's demand, and he yielded +immediately. But the investigation was prolonged by several +circumstances; and, what between the time that it took up, and that +which had been previously spent in the pursuit of the murderers, it +was past three o'clock before Leyton mounted his horse at Mr. +Broughton's door. He paused for an instant at the gate of the Harris's +farm-yard, where a girl was standing with tears in her eyes; but +before he could ask any question, she replied to that which was rising +to his lips. "She is gone, sir," said the girl--"she is gone. She did +not last half-an-hour after you were here." + +With a sad heart, Leyton rode on, passing at a quick pace through +Harbourne Wood, and not trusting himself to stop at Mrs. Clare's +cottage. The windows, however, were closed; and the young officer +concluded from that circumstance, that the tidings of her daughter's +fate must by this time have reached the childless widow. Not far +beyond her gate, he was met by Sir Edward Digby's servant; but eager +to arrive at Woodchurch, Leyton did not stop to speak with him, and +Somers, turning his horse with the orderly and his old companion, +Leyton's servant, gleaned what information he could from them as he +went. + +Notwithstanding all the speed he could use, however, it was half-past +four before Leyton reached Woodchurch; and, on inquiring for Mr. +Warde, he found that gentleman had called, but gone away again, saying +he would return in an hour. + + + + + CHAPTER X. + + +Such as we have described in the last chapter, were the fatal events +to which Sir Edward Digby had alluded in the few words he had spoken +to Zara Croyland; and it may be needless to explain to the reader, +that he had learned the tale from his servant just before he came down +to dinner. + +Sir Robert Croyland, as we have shown, after some agitation and +hesitation, quitted the drawing-room to meet,--the first time for many +years--the son of a man, whom, at the instigation of others, he had +cruelly persecuted. He paused as soon as he got into the passage, +however, to summon courage, and to make up his mind as to the +demeanour which he should assume--always a vain and fruitless task; +for seldom, if ever, do circumstances allow any man to maintain the +aspect which he has predetermined to affect. Sir Robert Croyland +resolved to be cold, stately, and repulsive--to treat Sir Henry Leyton +as a perfect stranger, and if he alluded to their former intimacy, to +cut the conversation short by telling him that, as all the feelings of +those days were at an end, he did not wish to revive their memory in +any shape. He did not calculate, indeed, upon the peculiar state of +Leyton's mind, at the moment--nay, nor even upon the effect of his +former favourite's personal appearance upon himself; and when he +entered the library and saw the tall, powerful, dignified-looking man, +the pale, thoughtful, stern countenance, and the haughty air, he felt +all his predeterminations vain. + +Leyton, on his part, had done the same as Sir Robert Croyland, and in +setting out from Woodchurch had made up his mind to see in the man he +went to visit, nothing but Edith's father--to treat him kindly, +gently, and with compassion for his weakness, rather than anger at his +faults; but as he rode along, and conversed with one who accompanied +him thither, the memory of much that Sir Robert Croyland had done in +former days, came painfully back upon him, and combining with his +treatment of Edith, raised up bitter and indignant feelings that he +could have wished to quell. The scenes which he had passed through +that day, too, had given a tone of sternness to his mind which was not +usual; and the few minutes he had waited in the library, when every +moment seemed of value, added impatience to his other sensations. + +The baronet entered as firmly as he could, bowing his head and +motioning coldly to a chair. But Leyton did not sit down, gazing for +an instant on the countenance of Sir Robert, struck and astonished by +the change that he beheld. That steadfast gaze was painful to its +object, and sank his spirit still farther; but Leyton, the moment +after, began to speak; and the well-known tones of his clear, mellow +voice, awakened the recollection of the days when they were once +pleasant to hear. + +"Sir Robert Croyland," he said, "I have come to you on business of +importance, in which it is necessary for you to act immediately in +your magisterial capacity." + +"I have no clerk with me, sir," answered the baronet, in a hesitating +manner; "at this late hour, it is not usual, except under +circumstances----" + +"The circumstances admit of no delay, Sir Robert Croyland," replied +Leyton. "As the nearest magistrate, I have applied to you in the first +instance; and have done so for many other reasons besides your being +the nearest magistrate." + +"Well, sir, what is your application?" demanded Edith's father. "I +wish, indeed, you had applied to somebody else, at this time of night; +but I will do my duty--oh, yes, I will do my duty." + +"That is all that is required, sir," answered the young officer. "My +application is for a warrant to search the house of one Richard +Radford; and I have to tender you, on oath, information that +customable goods, which have been introduced without the payment +of duty, are concealed on his premises.--One moment more, if you +please--I have also to apply to you, upon similar evidence, for a +warrant to search his house for his son, Richard Radford, charged with +murder; and, in the end, if you would allow me to advise you, you +would instantly mount your horse, and superintend the search +yourself." + +There was a marked and peculiar emphasis on the last few words, which +Sir Robert Croyland did not understand. The manner was not agreeable +to him; but it was scarcely perhaps to be expected that it should be; +for there had been nothing in his own, to invite that kindly candour, +which opens heart to heart. All that had of late years passed between +him and Sir Henry Leyton, had been of a repulsive kind. For one +youthful error, he had not only repelled and shut his house against +the son, but he had persecuted, ruined, and destroyed the father, who +had no part in that fault. Every reason too, which he had given, every +motive he had assigned, for his anger at Henry Leyton's pretensions to +Edith's hand, he had set at nought, or forgotten in the case of him +whom he had chosen for her husband. Even now, although his manner was +wavering and timid, it was cold and harsh; and it was a hard thing for +Henry Leyton to assume the tone of kindness towards Sir Robert +Croyland, or to soften his demeanour towards him, with all the busy +memories of the past and the feelings of the present thronging upon +him, on his first return to the house where he had spent many happy +days in youth. I am painting a man, and nothing more; and he could +not, and did not overcome the sensations of human nature. + +His words did not please Sir Robert Croyland, but they somewhat +alarmed him. Everything that was vague in his present situation, +did produce fear; but after a moment's thought, he replied, +coldly, "Oh dear no, sir, I do not see that it is at all necessary I +should go myself. I really think the application altogether +extraordinary, seeing that it comes from, I am led to imagine, the +lieutenant-colonel, commanding the ---- regiment of dragoons, +quartered in this district, who has no primary power, or authority, or +even duty in such affairs; but can only act as required by the +officers of Customs, to whom he is so far subordinate.--But still I am +ready to receive the informations tendered, and then shall decide in +regard to my own conduct, as the case may require." + +"You are wrong in all respects, but one, Sir Robert Croyland," +answered Leyton, at once; "I am empowered to act very differently from +any officer who has been in command here before me. If my powers are +beyond that which the law authorizes, those who gave them are +responsible to their country; but, for an extraordinary case, +extraordinary means are requisite; and as I require of you nothing but +what the law requires, I shall not pause to argue, whether I am +exactly the proper person to make the application. It might easily be +made by another, who is without: but I have reasons for what I am +doing--and reasons, believe me," he added, after a moment's pause and +reflection, "not unfriendly to Sir Robert Croyland." + +Again his words and manner were peculiar. Sir Robert Croyland began to +feel some apprehension lest he might push his coldness too far. But he +did not see how he could change his tone; and he was proceeding, with +the same distant reserve, to repeat that he was ready to receive the +information in a formal manner, when Leyton suddenly interrupted him, +after a severe struggle with himself. + +"Sir Robert Croyland," he said, "let us speak as friends. Let griefs +and complaints on both sides be forgotten for the moment; let us bury, +for the time, seven years in oblivion. Look upon me, if it be but for +a few minutes, as the Henry Leyton you knew before anything arose to +produce one ill feeling between us; for, believe me, I come to you +with kindly sentiments. Your own fate hangs in the balance at this +hour. I would decide it favourably for you, if you would let me. +But--you must shake off doubt and timidity; you must act boldly and +decidedly, and all will be well." + +"I do not understand what you mean, sir," cried Sir Robert Croyland, +astonished at his change of tone, and without time to collect his +ideas, and calculate the probabilities. "My fate!--How can you affect +my fate?" + +"More than you are aware," answered Leyton; "even now I affect your +fate, by giving you the choice of at once proceeding in the line of +your duty, against a bad man who has overruled your better nature, too +long,--by allowing you to conduct the search, which must be instituted +either by yourself or others.--In one word, Sir Robert Croyland, I +know all; and would serve you, if you would let me." + +"You know all!" exclaimed Edith's father, in a dull, gloomy tone--"you +know all! she has told you, then! That explains it--that shows how she +retracted her consent--how she was willing to-day to sacrifice her +father. You have seen her--you have taught her her part!--Yes, she has +betrayed her parent's confidence." + +Leyton could bear no more. Himself, he could have heard slandered +calmly; but he could not hear such words of her he loved: "It is +false!" he said; "she did not betray your confidence! She told me no +more than was needful to induce me to release her from bonds she was +too faithful and true to break. From her I have heard nothing +more--but from others I have heard all; and now, Sir Robert Croyland, +you have chosen your part, I have but to call in those who must lay +the required information. Our duty must be done, whatever be the +consequences; and as you reject the only means of saving yourself from +much grief--though, I trust, not the danger you apprehend--we must act +without you;" and he rose and walked towards the door. + +"Stay, Leyton--stay!" cried Sir Robert Croyland, catching him eagerly +by the arm--"yet a moment--yet a moment. You say you know all. Do you +know all?--all?--everything?" + +"All!--everything!" answered Leyton, firmly; "every word that was +spoken--every deed that was done--more than you know yourself." + +"Then, at least, you know I am innocent," said the old man. + +A calm but grave serenity took the place, on Sir Henry Leyton's +countenance, of the impetuous look with which he had last spoken. +"Innocent," he said, "of intentional murder; but not innocent of rash +and unnecessary anger; and, oh! Sir Robert Croyland--if I must say +it--most culpable in the consequences which you have suffered to flow +from one hasty act. Mark me; and see the result!--Your own dear child, +against your will, is in the hands of a man whom you hate and abhor. +You are anxious to make her the wife of a being you condemn and +despise! The child of the man that your own hand slew, is now lying a +corpse, murdered by him to whom you would give your daughter! Your own +life is----" + +"What, Kate!--Kate Clare!" exclaimed Sir Robert Croyland, with a +sudden change coming over his countenance--"murdered by Richard +Radford!" + +"By his own hand, after the most brutal usage," replied Leyton. + +Sir Robert Croyland sprang to the bell, and rang it violently, then +threw open the door and called aloud--"My horse!--my horse!--saddle my +horse!--If it cost me land and living, life and honour, she shall be +avenged!" he added, turning to Leyton, and raising his head erect, the +first time for many years. "It is over--the folly, and the weakness, +and crime, are at an end. I have been bowed and broken; but there is a +spark of my former nature yet left. I vowed to God in Heaven, that I +would ever protect and be a father to that child, as an atonement--as +some--some compensation, however small; and I will keep my vow." + +"Oh! Sir Robert," cried Leyton, taking his hand and pressing it in +his, "be ever thus, and how men will love and venerate you!" + +The barrier was broken down--the chain which had so long bound him was +cast away; and Sir Robert returned Leyton's grasp with equal warmth. +"Harry," he said, "I have done you wrong; but I will do so no more. I +was driven--I was goaded along the road to all evil, like a beast +driven to the slaughter. But you have done wrong, too, young +man--yours was the first offence." + +"It was," answered Leyton--"I own it--I did do wrong; and I will make +no excuse, though youth, and love as true as ever man felt, might +afford some. But let me assure you, that I have been willing to make +reparation--I have been willing to sacrifice all the brightest hope of +years to save you, even now. I assured Edith that I would, when she +told me the little she could venture to tell; but it was her misery +that withheld me--it was the life-long wretchedness, to which she was +doomed if I yielded, that made me resist. Nothing else on earth should +have stopped me; but now, Sir Robert, the prospect is more clear for +you." + +"Nay, do not speak of that," replied Sir Robert Croyland; "I will +think of it no more--I have now chosen my path; and I will pursue it, +without looking at the consequences to myself. Let them come when they +must come; for once in life, I will do what is just and right." + +"And by so doing, my dear sir, you will save yourself," answered +Leyton. "Moved by revenge--with no doubt whatsoever of his +motive--after a concealment of six years, this base man's accusation +will be utterly valueless. Your bare statement of the real +circumstances will be enough to dissipate every cloud. I shall require +that all his papers be seized; and I have many just reasons for +wishing that they should be in your hands." + +"I understand you, Harry, and I thank you," said Sir Robert Croyland; +"but with my present feelings I would not----" + +"You do not understand me fully, Sir Robert," replied Leyton. "I wish +you only to act as you will find just, right, and honourable, and wait +for the result. It will be, or I am much mistaken, more favourable to +you, personally, than you imagine. Now, as you have decided on the +true and upright course, let us lose no time in carrying it into +execution. I will call in the men who have to lay the information; and +when you have received it, I will place before you depositions which +will justify the most vigorous measures against both father and son. +In regard to the latter, I must act under your authority in my +military capacity, as I have no civil power there; but in regard to +the former, I am already called upon, by the officers of the revenue, +to aid them in entering his house by force, and searching it +thoroughly." + +"Call them in, Harry--call them in!" replied Sir Robert Croyland; +"every man is justified by the law in apprehending a murderer. But you +shall have full authority.--Kate Clare!--How could this have +happened?" + +"I will explain, as we ride on," answered Leyton, going to the door; +and speaking to one of the servants who was standing in the hall, he +added, "Desire Mr. Mowle to walk in, and bring the boy with him." + +In another minute, Mowle entered the room with another man, holding by +the arm the boy Ray, whom the smugglers had chosen to denominate +Little Starlight. He came, apparently, unwillingly; for though ever +ready, for money, to spy and to inform secretly, he had a great +abhorrence of being brought publicly forward; and when on coming to +Mowle that evening with more information--he was detained and told he +must go before a magistrate, he had made every possible effort to +escape. + +He was now somewhat surprised, on being brought forward after Mowle +had laid the information, to find that he was not questioned upon any +point affecting the smuggling transactions which had lately taken +place, as the evidence upon that subject was sufficient without his +testimony. But in regard to the proceedings of young Radford, and to +the place where he was concealed, he was interrogated closely. It was +all in vain, however. To obtain a straightforward answer from him was +impossible; and although Mowle repeated distinctly that the boy had +casually said, the murderer of poor Kate Clare had gone to his +father's house, Little Starlight lied and prevaricated at every word, +and impudently, though not unskilfully attempted to put another +meaning on his previous admission. + +As time was wearing away, however, Sir Henry Leyton, at length, +interposed--"I think it is unnecessary, Sir Robert," he said, "to push +this inquiry further at present. As the whole house and premises must +be searched on other grounds, we shall discover the villain if he is +there. Mr. Mowle and I have adopted infallible means, I think, to +prevent his escaping from any point of the coast; and the magistrates +at every port were this evening furnished with such information that, +if they act with even a moderate degree of ability, he must be taken." + +"Besides, sir," rejoined Mowle, "the frigate has come round; and she +will take care that, with this wind, not a boat big enough to carry +him over shall get out. We had better set out, your worship, if you +please; for if old Radford gets an inkling of what is going on, he +will double upon us some way." + +"I am quite ready," said Sir Robert Croyland. "I will call my clerk to +accompany us as we go, in case of any further proceedings being +necessary. We must pass through the village where he lives." + +With a firm step he moved towards the door; and, strange as it may +seem, though for six years, while supposing he was taking the only +means of self-preservation, he had lived in constant terror and +anxiety, he felt no fear, no trepidation now, when he had determined +to do what was right at every personal risk. An enfeebling spell +seemed to have been taken off his mind; and the lassitude of doubt and +indecision was gone. But such is almost always the result, even upon +the nerves of our corporeal frame, of a strong effort of mental +energy. It is one thing certainly to resolve, and another to do; but +the very act of resolution, if it be sincerely exerted, affords a +degree of vigour, which is sure to produce as great results as the +means at our disposal can accomplish. Energetic determination will +carry men through things that seem impossible, as a bold heart will +carry them over Alps, that, viewed from their base, appear +insurmountable. + +Sir Robert Croyland did not venture into the drawing-room before he +went; but he told the butler, who was waiting in the hall, to inform +Sir Edward Digby and the family that he had been called away on +business, and feared he should not return till a late hour; and having +left this message, he went out upon the terrace. He found there a +number of persons assembled, with some twenty or thirty of the +dragoons. Five or six officers of the Customs were present, besides +Mowle; but the darkness was too great to admit of their faces being +seen; and Sir Robert Croyland mounted without speaking to any one. Sir +Henry Leyton paused for an instant to give orders, that the boy should +be taken back to Woodchurch, and kept there under a safe guard. He +then spoke a few words to Digby's servant, Somers, and springing on +his horse placed himself at Sir Robert Croyland's side. + +The night was as dark as either of the two which had preceded it; the +same film of cloud covered the sky; not a star was to be seen; the +moon was far below the horizon; and slowly the whole party moved on, +two and two abreast, through the narrow lanes and tortuous roads of +that part of the country. It halted for a minute in the nearest +village, while Sir Robert Croyland stopped at his clerk's house, and +directed him to follow as fast as possible to Mr. Radford's; and then, +resuming their march, the dragoons, and those who accompanied them, +wound on for between four or five miles further, when, as they turned +the angle of a wood, some lights, apparently proceeding from the +windows of a house half way up a gentle slope, were seen shining out +in the midst of the darkness. + +"Halt!" said Sir Henry Leyton; and before he proceeded to give his +orders, for effectually surrounding the house and grounds of Mr. +Radford, he gazed steadfastly for a moment or two upon the building +which contained her who was most dear to him, and whose heart he well +knew was at that moment wrung with the contention of many a painful +feeling. "I promised her I would bring her aid, dear girl," he +thought, "and so I have.--Thanks be to God, who has enabled me!" + +Sir Robert Croyland, too, gazed--with very different feelings, it is +true, but still with a stern determination that was not shaken in the +least. It seemed, when he thought of Kate Clare, that he was atoning +to the spirit of the father, by seeking to avenge the child; and the +whole tale of her wrongs and death, which he had heard from Leyton, as +they came, had raised the desire of so doing almost to an enthusiasm. +Human passions and infirmities, indeed, will mingle with our best +feelings; and as he gazed upon Mr. Radford's house, and remembered all +that he had endured for the last six years, he said to himself, with +some bitterness, "That man shall now taste a portion of the same cup +he has forced upon others." + +Sir Henry Leyton woke from his reverie sooner than his companion; and +turning his horse, he spoke for a few moments with Mowle, somewhat +longer with another person wrapped in a dark horseman's coat behind, +and then gave various distinct orders to the dragoons, who immediately +separated into small parties, and, taking different roads, placed +themselves in such positions as to command every approach to the +house. Then riding forward with Sir Robert Croyland, the officers of +Customs, and one or two soldiers, he turned up the little avenue which +led from the road, consulting with Edith's father as he went. At about +a couple of hundred yards from the house he paused, turning his head +and saying to Mowle, "You had better, I think, all dismount; and, +making fast the horses, get behind the nearest laurels and evergreens, +while Sir Robert and I ride on alone, and ask admission quietly. When +the door is opened, you can come up and make yourselves masters of the +servants till the search is over. I do not anticipate any resistance; +but if the young man be really here, it may be made." + +He then rode on with the baronet at a quicker pace, the noise of their +horses' feet, as they trotted on and approached the great doors, +covering the sound of the movements of the party they left behind. + +The house, to which the actual possessor had given the name of Radford +Hall, was an old-fashioned country mansion, and presented, like many +another building at that time, several large, iron hooks, standing out +from the brickwork on each side of the doorway, on which it was +customary for visitors on horseback to hang their rein while they rang +the bell, or till a servant could be called to take them to the +stable. Sir Robert Croyland was acquainted with this peculiarity +of the house, though Leyton was not, and he whispered to his +companion--"Let us hook up our horses, before we ring." + +This was accordingly done; and then taking the long iron handle +of the bell, Leyton pulled it gently. A minute or two after, a step +sounded in the hall, and a servant appeared--a stout, red-faced, +shrewd-looking fellow, who at first held the great door only half +open. As soon, however, as he saw Sir Robert Croyland's face, he threw +it back, replying, in answer to the baronet's question as to whether +Mr. Radford was at home, "Yes, Sir Robert, he has been home this +hour." + +Leyton had stood back, and, in the darkness, the man did not see him, +or took him for a groom; but when the young officer advanced, and the +uniform of the dragoon regiment became apparent, Mr. Radford's servant +suddenly stretched his hand towards the door again, as if about to +throw it violently to. But Leyton's strong grasp was on his shoulder +in a moment. "You are my prisoner," he said, in a low tone; "not a +word--not a syllable, if you would not suffer for it. No harm will +happen to you, if you are only quiet." + +At the same moment, Mowle and the rest came running across the lawn, +and, giving the man into their hands, Leyton entered the house with +Sir Robert Croyland. + + + + + CHAPTER XI. + + +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 captive--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. Radford'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 of suspense, +irritated by injuries and insult, but not yet roused by indignation to +dare the worst that Mr. Radford could do; and, though he heard her +express her determination never to marry Richard Radford unless set +free from her vows to Henry Leyton, without remonstrance, only begging +her to keep that resolution secret till the last moment, yet, with the +usual resource of weakness, he sought to postpone the evil hour by +seeming to enter into all his enemy's views. + +Thus had passed Edith's time; and it is unnecessary to enter into a +more detailed account of her thoughts and feelings previous to the +period we have mentioned--namely, one hour before the arrival of her +father and Henry Leyton at the door of the house. She was sitting, +then, in that small back drawing-room, with her fair cheek leaning on +her hand, her eyes bent down upon the table, and her mind busy with +the present and the future. "It is foolish," she thought, "thus to +alarm myself. No harm can happen. They dare not show me any violence; +and no clergyman in England will venture to proceed with the service +against my loud dissent. My uncle, and Leyton too, must soon hear of +this, and will interfere.--I will not give way to such terrors any +more." + +As she thus meditated, she heard a rapid step upon the great stairs; +and the next moment Mr. Radford entered--booted, spurred, and dusty, +as from a journey, and with a heavy horsewhip in his hand. His face +betrayed more agitation than she had ever seen it display. There +was a deep line between his brows, as if they had been long bent into +such a frown, that they could not readily be smoothed again. His long +upper-lip was quivering with a sort of impatient vehemence that would +not be restrained; and his eye was flashing, as if under the influence +of some strong passion. + +"Well, Miss Croyland," he said, throwing his horsewhip down upon the +table, and casting himself into a chair, "I hope they have made you +comfortable during my absence?" + +Edith merely bowed her head, without reply. + +"Well, that's civil!" cried Mr. Radford; "but I think every body is +going mad, and so it is no wonder that women do! Miss Croyland, I have +a piece of news for you--there's going to be a wedding in our house, +to-night!" + +Still Edith was silent, and looked towards the fire. + +"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!" exclaimed Mr. Radford, giving her a furious glance +across the table; "then I will tell you something, young woman. Your +consent was given to your father; and I will have no trifling +backwards and forwards. Circumstances have arisen to-day--curses be +upon them all!--which render it necessary that the marriage should +take place four-and-twenty hours before it was first fixed, and it +shall take place, by----!" 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 waiting to hear what I +had to say, or he would not have so deceived himself." + +"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 accusation--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!" 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 resolute, but displayed less excitement +than when he left her. He entered with a slow step, leaving the door +partly open behind him, seated himself, and gazed at her for a moment, +then spread out the small yellow paper on the table, but held his hand +tight upon the lower part, as if he feared she might snatch it up and +destroy it. + +"There, look at that, Miss Croyland!" he said; "you spoke of false +accusations; look at that, and be ashamed of bringing them yourself." + +Edith gave a glance towards it with a sensation of awe, but did not +attempt to read it. Her eye rested upon the words, "Deposition +of--" and upon a stain of blood at the bottom of the page, and she +turned away with a shudder. "I have heard of it before," she answered, +"yet every word in it may be false." + +"False, or not false," replied Mr. Radford, "it sends your father to +gaol to-morrow, and to the gallows a month after--if you do not +instantly sign that!" and he laid another freshly written page open +before her. + +Edith took it in her hand, and read--"I hereby consent and promise, +when called upon, to marry Richard Radford, junior, Esquire, the son +of Richard Radford, of Radford Hall." + +"You have your choice, Miss Croyland," continued her persecutor, in a +low and bitter tone, "either to save your father, or to put him to +death with your own hands; for I swear, by all that I hold sacred, +that if you do not instantly sign that paper--ay, and fulfil its +engagement, I will send off this deposition to the bench of +magistrates, with the letter I have just written, giving an account of +all the circumstances, and explaining how, out of weak kindness and +friendship for Sir Robert Croyland, I have been prevailed upon to keep +back the information until now. Do not deceive yourself, and think +that his fortune or his station will save him. A peer of the realm has +been hanged before now for the murder of his own servant. Neither must +you suppose that upon that deposition alone rests the proof of his +guilt. There was other evidence given at the Coroner's inquest, all +bearing upon the same point, which requires but this light, to be made +plain. The threats your father previously used, the falsehoods he told +regarding where he had been--all these things can be proved, for I +have taken care to preserve that evidence." + +"That was like a friend, indeed!" murmured Edith; "but such are the +friendships of the world." + +"I am acting like a friend to you, Miss Croyland," rejoined Mr. +Radford, apparently neither touched nor hurt by her words, "in letting +you see clearly your father's situation, while I give you the +opportunity of saving him if you will. Do as you please--there is the +paper. Sign it if you like; but sign it quickly; for this night brings +all tergiversation to an end. I will have no more of it; and five +minutes decides your father's life or death. Do not say I do it. It is +you. His pardon is before you. You have nothing to do but to put your +name. If you do not, you sign his death warrant!" + +"Five minutes!" said Edith, with her heart beating violently. + +"Ay, five minutes," answered Mr. Radford, who saw, from the wild look +of her beautiful eyes, and the ashy paleness of her cheek and lips, +how powerfully he had worked upon her--"five minutes, no longer;" and +he laid his watch upon the table. Then, turning somewhat +ostentatiously to a small fixed writing-desk, which stood near, he +took up a stick of sealing-wax, and laid it down beside the letter he +had written, as if determined not to lose a moment beyond the period +he had named. + +Edith gazed upon the paper for an instant, agitated and trembling +through her whole frame; but her eye fell upon the name of Richard +Radford. His image rose up before her, recalling all the horror that +she felt whenever he was in her presence; then came the thought of +Leyton, and of her vows to him yet uncancelled. "Richard Radford!" she +said to herself--"Richard Radford!--marry him--vow that I will love +him--call God to witness, when I know I shall abhor him more and +more--when I love another? I cannot do it--I will not do it!" and she +pushed the paper from her, saying, aloud, "No, I will not sign it!" + +"Very well," said Mr. Radford--"very well. Your parent's blood be upon +your head;" and he proceeded to fold up slowly the deposition he had +shown her, in the letter he had written. But he stopped in the midst; +and then, abandoning the calm, low tone, and stern but quiet demeanour +which he had lately used, he started up, striking the table violently +with his hand, and exclaiming, in a loud and angry tone, "Wretched, +miserable girl, dare you bring upon your head the guilt of parricide? +What was the curse of Cain to that? How will you bear the day of your +father's trial--ay, how bear the day of his death--the lingering agony +of his imprisonment--the public shame of the court of justice--the +agony of the gallows and the cord?--the proud Sir Robert Croyland +become the gaze of hooting boys, the spectacle of the rude multitude, +expiring, through his daughter's fault, by the hand of the common +hangman! Ay, think of it all, for in another minute it will be too +late! Once gone from my hand, this paper can never be recalled." + +Edith uttered a faint cry; but at the same moment a voice behind Mr. +Radford said, "Nor can it, now!" and Sir Robert Croyland himself laid +his hand upon the papers. + +Mr. Radford turned round fiercely, and was darting forward to seize +them from him; but he was held back by a more powerful arm; and the +baronet went on, in a voice grave and sad, but firm and strong--"Sir +Henry Leyton," he said, "I give these papers into your hands to do +with exactly as you may think right, as a man of honour, a gentleman, +and a respecter of the law. I ask not to hold them for one moment." + +"Do not struggle, sir,--do not struggle!" cried Leyton, holding Mr. +Radford fast by the collar--"you are a prisoner." + +"A prisoner!" exclaimed Mr. Radford. "What! in my own house--a +magistrate!" + +"Anywhere, sir," answered Leyton; "and for the time, you are a +magistrate no longer.--Ho! without there!--send some one in!" + +Edith had sunk down in her seat; for she knew not whether to rejoice +or grieve. The first feeling undoubtedly was joy; but the next was +bitter apprehension for her father. At first she covered her eyes with +her hands; for she thought to hear the terrible truth proclaimed +aloud; but when she looked up, Sir Robert Croyland's face was so calm, +so resolute, so unlike what it had ever appeared of late years, that +fear gave way to surprise, and surprise began to verge into hope. As +that bright flame arose again in her heart, she started up, and cast +herself upon her father's bosom, murmuring, while the tears flowed +rapidly from her eyes, "Are you safe--are you safe?" + +"I know not, my dear child," replied Sir Robert Croyland; "but I am +now doing my duty, and that gives me strength." + +In the meantime, a dragoon had appeared at the door, and as soon as +Mr. Radford beheld him, he exclaimed, "This is a base and infamous +plot to defeat the ends of justice. I understand it all: the military +power called in, right willingly, I have no doubt, to take away the +documents which prove that felon's guilt. But this shall be bitterly +repaid, and I hold you responsible, sir, for the production of these +papers." + +"Certainly, Mr. Radford," replied Leyton, with a calm smile, "I will +be responsible. But as you object to the military power, we will hand +you over to the civil. Hart," he continued, speaking to the soldier, +"call up Mowle or Birchett, or any of the other officers, and let them +bring one of the constables with them, for this is not purely a case +for the Customs. Then tell Serjeant Shaw to bring on his men from the +back, as I directed, seeing that nothing--not an inch of ground, not a +shed, not a tool-house, remains unexamined." + +"Of what am I accused, sir, that you dare to pursue such a course in +my house?" demanded Mr. Radford. + +"Of murder, sir," replied Sir Henry Leyton. + +"Murder!" exclaimed Mr. Radford, and then burst into an affected +laugh. + +"Yes, sir," replied the young officer; "and you may find it not so +much a jest as you suppose; for though the law, in consequence of the +practices of yourself and others, has slept long ineffective, it is +not dead. I say for murder! as an accessory before the fact, to the +armed resistance of lawful authority, in which his majesty's subjects +have been killed in the execution of their duty; and as an accessory +after the fact, in harbouring and comforting the actual culprits, +knowing them to be such." + +Mr. Radford's countenance fell; for he perceived that the matter was +much more serious than he at first supposed. He trusted, indeed, from +the laxity with, which the law had lately been carried into execution, +that he might escape from the gravest part of the charge; but still, +if Sir Henry Leyton was in a condition to prove the participation of +which he accused him, in the crimes that had been committed, nothing +short of transportation for life could be anticipated. But he had +other sources of anxiety. His wretched son, he expected to present +himself every minute; and well aware of the foul deed which Richard +Radford had that morning perpetrated, and of his person having been +recognised, he was perfectly certain, that his apprehension would take +place. He would have given worlds to speak for a single instant with +one of his own servants; but none of them appeared; and while these +thoughts were passing rapidly through his brain, the officer Birchett +entered the room with a constable, and several other persons followed +them in. He was startled from his reverie, however, by Sir Henry +Leyton's voice demanding--"Have you brought handcuffs, constable?" + +"Oh, ay, sir," answered the man, "I've got the bracelets." + +"Good evening, Mr. Radford," said Birchett; "we have hold of you at +last, I fancy." + +Mr. Radford was silent, and the young officer demanded, "Have you +found anything else, Birchett?" + +"Oh yes, sir, plenty," answered Birchett, "and besides the run goods, +things enough to prove all the rest even if we had not proof +sufficient before--one of your own dragoon's swords, sir, that must +have been snatched up from some poor fellow who was killed. Corporal +Hart says, he thinks it belonged to a man named Green." + +"Well, there is your prisoner," replied Leyton,--"you and the +constable must take care that he be properly secured. No unnecessary +harshness, I beg; but you know how rescue is sometimes attempted, and +escape effected. You had better remove him to another room; for we +must have all the papers and different articles of smuggled goods +brought hither." + +"I protest against the whole of this proceeding," exclaimed Mr. +Radford, on whom the constable was now unceremoniously fixing a pair +of handcuffs, "and I beg every body will take notice of my protest. +This person, who is, I suppose, a military officer, is quite going +beyond his duty, and acting as if he were a civil magistrate." + +"I am acting under the orders and authority of a magistrate, sir," +replied Sir Henry Leyton, "and according to my instructions.--Dear +Edith," he continued, crossing over to her, and taking her hand as she +still clung to her father; for all that I have described had taken +place with great rapidity--"you had better go into another room till +this is over. We shall have some papers to examine, and I trust +another prisoner before the search is finished.--Had she not better +retire, Sir Robert?" + +But Mr. Radford raised his voice again, as the constable was moving +him towards the door, exclaiming, "At all events, I claim my right to +witness all these extraordinary proceedings. It is most unjust and +illegal for you to seize and do what you will with my private papers, +in my absence." + +"It is a very common occurrence," said Sir Henry Leyton, "in criminal +cases like your own." + +"Let him remain--let him remain!" said Sir Robert Croyland. "He can +but interrupt us a little.--Oh, here is the clerk at last!--Now, +Edith, my love, you had better go; these are no scenes for you." + +Leyton took her by the hand, and led her to the door, bending down his +head and whispering as he went, "Be under no alarm, dear girl. All +will go well." + +"Are you sure, Harry--are you sure?" asked Edith, gazing anxiously in +his face. + +"Certain," he replied; "your father's decision has saved him." + +As he spoke, there was a violent ringing at the bell; and Mr. Radford +said to himself, "It is that unhappy boy; he will be taken, to a +certainty." But the next instant, he thought, "No--no, he would never +come to the front door. It must be some more of their party." + +Sir Robert Croyland, in the meantime, seated himself at the end of the +table, and handed over a number of papers, which Leyton had given him +at his own house, to the clerk, who, by his direction, seated himself +near. "I have no objection, Mr. Radford," he said, turning to the +prisoner, "that you should hear read, if you desire it, the +depositions on which I have granted a warrant for your apprehension, +and, at the requisition of the officers of Customs, have authorized +your premises to be searched for the smuggled goods, a part of which +has been found upon them. The depositions are those of a man named +George Jones, since dead, and of Michael Scalesby, and Edward +Larchant, at present in the hands of justice; and the information is +laid by John Mowle and Stephen Birchett." + +At the recital of the names of several of the men whom he himself had +furnished with arms and directions, Mr. Radford's heart sunk; but the +moment after, a gleam of bitter satisfaction sprang up in his breast, +as the door opened, and Mr. Zachary Croyland entered, exclaiming, +"How's this--how's this? I came to take a dove out of a hawk's nest, +and here I find the dogs unearthing a fox." + +"I am very glad you are come, sir," replied Mr. Radford, before any +one else could speak; "for, though you are the brother of that person +sitting there, you are a man of honour, and an honest man----" + +"More than I can say for you, Radford," grumbled Mr. Croyland. + +"And, moreover, a magistrate for this county," continued Mr. Radford. + +"I never act--I never act!" cried the old gentleman. "I never have +acted; I never will act." + +"But in this case I shall insist upon your acting," said the prisoner; +"for your brother, who is now proceeding thus virulently against me, +does it to shield himself from a charge of murder, which he knew I was +about to bring against him." + +"Fiddlesticks' ends!" cried Mr. Croyland. "This is what people call +turning the tables, I think. But it wont succeed with me, my good +friend. I am an old bird--a very old bird, indeed--and I don't like +chaff at all, Radford. If you have any charge to make against my +brother, you must make it where you are going. I'll have nothing to do +with it. I always knew him to be a fool; but never suspected him of +being anything else." + +"At all events," said Mr. Radford, in a gloomy tone, "since simple +justice is denied me at all hands, I require that the papers which +have been seized in this house, be placed in proper hands, and duly +authenticated. The important evidence of the crime of which I charge +him, has been given by your brother, sir, to one who has but too great +an interest, I believe, to conceal or destroy it. I say it boldly, +those papers are not safe in the keeping of Sir Henry Leyton; and I +demand that they be given up, duly marked by the clerk, and signed by +myself, and some independent person." + +Leyton's eyes flashed for a moment, at the insinuation which the +prisoner threw out; but he overcame his anger instantly, and took the +papers which had been handed him, from his pocket, saying, "I will +most willingly resign these documents, whatever they may be. Mr. +Croyland, this person seems to wish that you should keep them, rather +than myself; but here is another paper on the table, which may throw +some light upon the whole transaction;" and he took up the written +promise, which Mr. Radford had been urging Edith to sign--and on which +his own eyes had been fixed during the last few minutes--and handed +it, with the rest, to her uncle. + +"Stay, stay a moment!" said Mr. Croyland, putting on his spectacles. +"I will be responsible for the safe keeping of nothing of which I do +not know the contents;" and he proceeded to read aloud the engagement +to wed Richard Radford, which Edith had rejected. "Ay, a precious +rascally document, indeed!" said the old gentleman, when he had +concluded; "written in the hand of the said Richard Radford, Esq., +senior, and which, I suppose, Miss Croyland refused to sign under any +threats. Be so good as to put your name on that, at the back, Mr. +Clerk. I will mark it, too, that there be no mistake." + +"And now, sir, since you have read the one, will you be good enough to +read the other?" exclaimed Mr. Radford, with a triumphant smile. +"Even-handed justice, if you please, Mr. Zachary Croyland; the +enclosure first, then the letter, if you will. I see there are a +multitude of persons present; I beg they will all attend." + +"I will read it certainly," replied Mr. Croyland, drawing one of the +candles somewhat nearer. "It seems to be somewhat indistinct." + +Sir Robert Croyland leaned his head upon his hand, and covered his +eyes; and several persons pressed forward, to hear what seemed of +importance--in the eyes of the prisoner, at least. + +Mr. Croyland ran over the writing, as a preliminary to reading it +aloud; but, as he did so, his countenance fell, and he paused and +hesitated. The next moment, however, he exclaimed, "No, hang it! It +shall be read--'The deposition of William Clare, now lying at the +point of death, and with the full assurance that he has not many +minutes to live, made before Richard Radford, Esquire, J. P.; this +24th day of September, in the year of grace 17--;" and he proceeded to +read, with a voice occasionally wavering indeed, but in general firm +and clear, the formal setting forth of the same tale which the reader +has heard before, in the statement of Sir Robert Croyland to his +daughter. + +His brother paused, and held the paper in his hand for a moment after +he had done, while Leyton, who had been standing close beside him, +bore a strange, almost sarcastic smile upon his lip, which strongly +contrasted with the sad and solemn expression of Mr. Croyland's +countenance. + +"What is this great red blot just below the man's name?" asked the old +gentleman, at length, looking to Mr. Radford. + +"That, sir," replied the prisoner, in a calm, grave tone, which had +much effect upon the hearers, "is the poor fellow's own blood, as I +held him up to sign the declaration. He had been pressing his right +hand upon the wound, and where it rested on the paper it gave that +bloody witness to the authenticity of the document." + +There was something too fine in the reply, and Mr. Croyland repeated, +"Bloody witness!--authenticity of the document!" + +But Leyton stretched out his hand, saying, "Will you allow me to look +at the paper, Mr. Croyland?" and then added, as soon as he received +it, "Can any one tell me whether William Clare was left-handed?" + +"No!" replied Sir Robert Croyland, suddenly raising his head--"no, he +was not.--Why do you ask?" + +"That I can answer for," said the constable, coming forward, "for he +carved the stock of a gun for me; and I know he never used his left +hand when he could use his right one." + +"Why do you ask, Harry?--why do you ask?" exclaimed Mr. Croyland. + +"Because, my dear sir," answered Leyton, aloud and clear, "this is the +print of the thumb of a man's right hand. To have made it at all, he +must have held the paper with his right, while he signed with his +left, and even then, he could have done it with difficulty, as it is +so near the signature, that his fingers would not have room to move;" +and as he ended, he fixed his eyes sternly on Mr. Radford's face. + +The prisoner's countenance had changed several times while Sir Henry +Leyton spoke, first becoming fiery red, then deadly pale, then red +again. + +"However it happened, so it was," he said, doggedly. + +"Well!" exclaimed Mr. Croyland, sharply, "your evidence will fetch +what it is worth!--I hope, clerk, you have got down Mr. Radford's +statement." + +"He has written the same down here, your worship," replied the man, +pointing to the letter in which the deposition had been enclosed, and +which, having been cast down by Mr. Zachary, had been busily read by +the clerk. + +"Well, then, we will read that too," observed the old gentleman. +"Silence there!" he continued; for there was a good deal of noise at +the side of the room, as the different persons present conversed over +the events that were passing; "but first, we had better docket this +commodity which we have just perused. Mr. Clerk, will you have the +goodness to sign it also--on the back?" + +"Stay," said a voice from behind the rest, "let me sign it first;" and +the man who had accompanied Leyton thither, wrapped in the dark +horseman's coat, advanced between Mr. Croyland and the clerk. + +"Any one that likes--any one that likes," answered the former. "Ah, is +that you, my old friend?" + +Both Mr. Radford and Sir Robert Croyland gazed, with looks of surprise +not unmingled with more painful feelings, on the countenance of Mr. +Warde, though each doubted his identity with one whom they had known +in former years. But, without noticing any one, the strange-looking +old man took the paper from the clerk, dipped the pen in the ink, and, +in a bold, free hand, wrote some words upon the back. + +"Ha, what is this?" cried Mr. Croyland, taking the paper, and +reading--"An infamous forgery--Henry Osborn!" + +"Villain, you are detected!" cried the person who has been called Mr. +Warde. "I wrote from a distant land to warn you, that I was present +when you knelt by William Clare--that I heard all--that I heard you +try to prompt the dying man to an accusation he would not make--that I +saw you stain the paper with his blood--ay, and sign it, too, after +life had quitted him--I wrote to warn you; for I suspected you, from +all I heard of your poor tool's changed conduct; and I gave you due +notice, that if you ceased not, the day of retribution would arrive. +It is come; and I am here, though you thought me dead! All your shifts +and evasions are at an end. There is no collusion here--there is no +personal interest. I have not conversed with that weak man for many +years--and he it was who persecuted my sister's husband unto death!" + +"At his suggestion--from his threats!" exclaimed Sir Robert Croyland, +pointing with his hand to Mr. Radford. + +"Take me away," said the prisoner, turning to the constable--"I am +faint--I am sick--take me away!" + +Mr. Croyland nodded his head; and, supported by the constable and +Birchett, Mr. Radford was led into the adjoining room. + +The scene that followed is indescribable. It was all confusion; every +one spoke at once; some strove to make themselves heard above the +rest; some seemed little to care whether they were heard or not; if +any man thought he could fix another's attention, he tried to converse +with him apart--many fixed upon the person nearest; but one or two +endeavoured to make others hear across the room; and all order and +common form were at an end. + +I have said every one spoke; but I should have made one exception. Sir +Robert Croyland talked eagerly with his brother, and said a few low +words to Mr. Osborn; but Leyton remained profoundly silent for several +minutes. The din of many voices did not seem to disturb him; the +strange turn that events had taken, appeared to produce no surprise; +but he remained fixed to the same spot, with his eyes bent upon the +table, and his mind evidently absent from all that was passing round. +It was the abstraction of profound emotion; the power which the heart +sometimes exercises over the mind, in withdrawing all its perceptions +and its operative faculties from external things, to fix them +concentrated upon some great problem within. At length, however, a +sense of higher duties made him shake off the thoughts of his own fate +and situation--of the bright and glorious hopes that were rising out +of the previous darkness, like the splendour of the coming star after +a long night--of the dreams of love and joy at length--of the growing +light of "trust in the future," still faintly overshadowed by the dark +objects of the past. With a quick start, as if he had awakened from +sleep, he looked round, and demanded of one of the soldiers, many of +whom were in the room, "Have you found the person accused--Richard +Radford, I mean--has any one been taken in the premises and the house, +besides the servants?" + +"Yes, sir, a person just arrived in a post-chaise," replied the +sergeant. + +"We must have order, Sir Robert," continued Leyton, his powerful voice +rising above the din; "there is much more to be done! Clear the room +of your men, sergeant. They are not wanted here--but stay, I will +speak with Mr. Haveland;" and he went out, followed by the sergeant +and some half-dozen of the dragoons, who had accompanied their +non-commissioned officer into the room. + +Leyton soon returned; but the precautions he had gone to enforce were +vain. The person who had arrived in the chaise, proved to be a +somewhat disreputable clergyman from a distant parish. Young Richard +Radford was not taken; another fate awaited him. A man, indeed, on +horseback, was seen to approach the grounds of Radford Hall towards +eleven o'clock; but the lights, that were apparent through many +windows, seemed to startle him, as he rode along the road. He paused +for a moment, and gazed, and then advanced more slowly; but the +eagerness of the small guard at that point, perhaps, frustrated their +object, for it is not certain to this day who the person was. When he +again halted, and seemed to hesitate, they dashed out after him; but +instantly setting spurs to his horse, he galloped off into the woods; +and knowing the country better than they did, he was soon lost to +their pursuit. + +In the meantime, the result of the search in Mr. Radford's house was +made known, in a formal manner, to the party assembled in the small +drawing-room. Abundant evidence was found of his having been +implicated in all the most criminal parts of the late smuggling +transactions; and the business of the night concluded, by an order to +remand him, to be brought before the bench of magistrates on the +following day; for Sir Robert Croyland declined to commit him on his +own responsibility. + +"He has preferred a charge against me," he said, in the same firm tone +he had lately assumed--"let us see whether he will sustain it +to-morrow." + +Before all was concluded, it was near midnight; and then every one +rose to depart. Mr. Croyland eagerly asked for Edith, saying he would +convey her home in his carriage; but Leyton interposed, replying, "We +will bring her to you in a moment, my dear friend.--Sir Robert, it may +be as well that you and I should seek Miss Croyland alone. I think I +saw her maid below." + +"Certainly," answered her father, "let us go, my dear Henry, for it is +growing very late." + +Mr. Croyland smiled, saying, "Well, well, so be it;" and the other two +left the room. They found Edith, after some search, seated in the +dining hall. She looked pale and anxious; but the expression of +Leyton's face relieved her of her worst apprehensions--not that it was +joyful; for there was a touch of sadness in it; but she knew that his +aspect could not be such, if her father's life were in any real +danger. + +Leyton advanced towards her at once, even before her father, took her +hand in his, and kissed it tenderly. "I told you, dearest Edith," he +said, "that I would bring you aid; and I have, thank God, been able to +redeem that promise; but now I have another task to perform. Your +father's safety is placed beyond doubt--his innocence made clear; and +your happiness, beloved one, is not sacrificed. The chance of +endangering that happiness was the only cause of my not doing what, +perhaps, you desired for his sake--what I do now. Sir Robert Croyland, +I did wrong in years long past--in boyhood and the intemperance of +youthful love and hope--by engaging your daughter to myself by vows, +which she has nobly though painfully kept. As an atonement to you, as +a satisfaction to my own sense of right, I now, as far as in me lies, +set her free from those engagements, leaving to her own self how she +will act, and to you how you will decide. Edith, beloved, you are +free, as far as I can make you so; and, Sir Robert, I ask your +forgiveness for the wrong act I once committed." + +Edith Croyland turned somewhat pale, and looked at her father +earnestly; but Sir Robert did not answer for a moment.--Was it that he +hesitated?--No; but there was an oppressive weight at his heart, when +he thought of all that he had done--all that he had inflicted, not +only on the man before him, but on others guiltless of all offence, +which seemed almost to stop its beating. But at length, he took +Edith's hand and put it in Leyton's, saying, in a low, tremulous +voice, "She is yours, Henry--she is yours; and, oh, forgive the father +for the daughter's sake!" + + + + + CHAPTER XII. + + +There was a solitary light in an upstairs window of Farmer Harris's +house; and, by its dim ray, sat Harding the smuggler, watching the +inanimate form of her upon whom all the strong affections of his heart +had been concentrated. No persuasions could induce him to entrust "the +first watch," as he called it, to others; and there he sat, seldom +taking his eyes from that pale but still beautiful countenance, and +often stooping over to print a kiss upon the cold and clay-like +forehead of the dead. His tears were all shed: he wept not--he spoke +not; but the bitterness which has no end was in his heart, and, with a +sleepless eye, he watched through the livelong night. It was about +three o'clock in the morning, when a hard knocking was heard at the +door of the farm; and, without a change of feature, Harding rose and +went down in the dark. He unlocked the door, and opened it, when a +hand holding a paper was thrust in, and instantly withdrawn, as +Harding took the letter. + +"What is this?" he said; but the messenger ran away without reply; and +the smuggler returned to the chamber of death. + +The paper he had taken was folded in the shape of a note, but neither +sealed nor addressed; and, without ceremony, Harding opened it, and +read. It was written in a free, good hand, which he recognised at +once, with rage and indignation all the more intense because he +restrained them within his own breast. He uttered not a word; his face +betrayed, only in part, the workings of strong passion within him. It +is true, his lip quivered a little, and his brow became contracted, +but it soon relaxed its frown; and, without oath or comment--though +very blasphemous expletives were then tolerated in what was called the +best society, and were prevalent amongst all the inferior classes,--he +proceeded to read the few lines which the letter contained, and which +something--perhaps the emotions he felt--had prevented him from seeing +distinctly at first. + +The epistle was, as we have seen, addressed to no one, and was drawn +up, indeed, more in the form of a general notice than anything else. +Many, of nearly the same import, as was afterwards discovered, had +been delivered at various farm-houses in the neighbourhood; but, as +all were in substance the same, one specimen will suffice. + +"We give you to know," so the letter ran, "that, unless Edward Ramley +and his two comrades are set free before daylight to-morrow, we will +come to Goudhurst, and burn the place. Neither man, woman, nor child, +shall escape. We are many--more than you think--and you know we will +keep our word. So look to it, if you would escape-- + + "Vengeance!" + + +Harding approached the bed, with the letter in his hand, gazed +steadfastly upon the corpse for several minutes, and then, without a +word, quitted the room. He went straight to the chamber which Farmer +Harris and his wife now occupied, and knocked sharply at the door, +exclaiming, "Harris--Harris! I want to speak with you!" + +The good farmer was with difficulty roused; for though no man felt +more warmly, or, indeed, more vehemently, yet the corporeal had its +full share with the mental; and when the body was fatigued with more +than its ordinary portion of labour, the mind did not keep the whole +being waking. At length, however, he came out, still drowsy, and +taking the letter, gazed on it by the light of the candle, "with lack +lustre eye!" But Harding soon brought him to active consciousness, by +saying, "They threaten to burn the village, Harris, unless the +murderers be suffered to escape. I am going up to the church, where +they are kept.--Wake some one to sit up-stairs.--I will die before a +man of them goes out." + +"And so will I," cried Harris; "let me see--let me see! My heart's +asleep still, but I'll soon wake up. Why, where the mischief did this +come from?" and he read the letter over again, with more comprehension +of its contents. When he had done, he swore vehemently, "They shall +find that the men of Goudhurst can match them," he cried; "but we must +set about it quick, Harding, and call up all the young men.--They will +come, that is certain; for the devil himself has not their impudence; +but they must be well received when they do come. We'll give them a +breakfast, Harding, they shan't forget. It shall be called the +Goudhurst breakfast, as long as men can remember. Stay, I'll just put +on my coat, and get out the gun and the pistols--we shall want as many +of those things as we can muster. I'll be back in a minute." + +From that hour till five o'clock, the little village of Goudhurst was +all alive. Intimation of the danger was sent to all the neighbouring +farmers; every labouring man was roused from his bed with directions +to meet the rest in the church-yard; and there, as the sky became +grey, a busy scene was displayed, some sixty stout men being assembled +before the porch, most of them armed with old muskets or fowling +pieces. Amongst those to whom age or habitual authority assigned the +chief place, an eager consultation went on as to their proceedings; +and though there was, as is generally the case in such meetings, a +great difference upon many points, yet three acts were unanimously +decided upon; first, to send all the women and children out of the +village--next, to despatch a messenger to Woodchurch for military +aid--and, next, to set about casting bullets immediately, as no shot +larger than slugs were to be found in the place. + +The reader will probably ask, with a look of surprise, "Is this a +scene in North America, where settlers were daily exposed to the +incursions of the savages?"--and he may add, "This could not have +happened in England!" But I beg to say, this happened in the county of +Kent, less than a century ago; and persons are still living, who +remember having been sent with the women and children out of the +village, that the men might not be impeded by fear for those they +loved, while defending the spot on which they were born. + +A fire of wood was speedily lighted by some of the men in the +church-yard; others applied themselves, with what moulds could be +procured, to the casting of ball; others, again, woke the still +slumbering inhabitants of the cottages and houses round, and warned +the women to remove to the neighbouring farms, and the men to come and +join their friends at the rendezvous; and a few of the best instructed +proceeded to arrange their plan of defence, barricading the gates of +the cemetery, and blocking up a stile, which at that time led from the +right hand wall, with an old grave-stone, against which they piled up +a heap of earth. + +The vestry, in which the prisoners had been confined--after having +been brought from Mr. Broughton's at too late an hour to convey them +to gaol--was luckily protected by strong iron bars over the windows, +and a heavy plated door between it and the church; and the old tower +of the building afforded a strong point in the position of the +villagers, which they flattered themselves could not easily be forced. + +"How many men do you think they can muster, Harding?" asked Farmer +Harris, when their first rude preparations were nearly complete. + +"I can but guess," answered the smuggler; "perhaps two hundred. They +had more than that in the Marsh, of whom I hear some fifty were taken +or killed; but a good many were not there, who may, and will be here +to-day--old Ramley for one, I should think." + +"Then we had better get into the church when they come," replied the +farmer; "they cannot force us there till the soldiers come." + +"Did you send for them?" asked Harding. + +"Oh, yes," answered the farmer, "half-an-hour ago. I sent the young +boy, who would be of no good here, on the pony; and I told him to let +Sir Robert know, as he passed; for I thought the soldiers might not +meddle if they had not a magistrate with them." + +"Very well," replied Harding, and set himself to work away again. + +Six o'clock was now past, seven approached and went by; the hand of +the dial moved half-way on to eight, and yet nothing indicated the +approach of the smugglers. In a few minutes after, however, the sound +of horses' feet galloping was heard; and a young man, who had been +placed in the belfry to look out, shouted down to those below, "Only +two!" and the next moment a horseman in military half dress, with a +servant behind him, rode up at speed to the principal entrance of the +church-yard. + +"I am come to help you, my men," cried Sir Edward Digby, springing to +the ground, and giving his rein to his servant--"Will you let us in to +your redoubt? The dragoons will soon be over; I sent your messenger +on." + +"Perhaps, sir, you may have your trouble for your pains, after all," +answered young Harris, opening the gate, to let Digby and his horses +in; "the fellows have not shown themselves, and very likely wont +come." + +"Oh, yes, they will," said the young baronet, advancing amongst +them, and looking round on every side, "I saw a long line of men on +horseback moving over the hill as I came. Put the horses under cover +of that shed, Somers. You should cut down those thick bushes near the +wall. They will conceal their movements.--Have you any axes?" + +"Here is one," cried a young man, and immediately he set to work, +hewing down the shrubs and bushes to which Digby pointed. + +In the meantime, the young officer ran over the groups with his eye, +calculating their numbers, and at length he said: "You had better +confine yourselves to defending the church--you are not enough to meet +them out here. I counted a hundred and fifty, and there may be more. +Station your best marksmen at the windows and on the roof of the +tower, and put a few stout resolute fellows to guard the door in case +these scoundrels get nearer than we wish them. As we all act upon our +own responsibility, however, we had better be cautious, and abstain +from offensive measures, till they are absolutely necessary for the +defence of ourselves and the security of the prisoners. Besides, if +they are kept at bay for some time, the dragoons will take them in +flank, and a good number may be captured." + +"We can deal with them ourselves," said the voice of Harding, in a +stern tone. He had been standing by, listening, in grave silence, with +a gun in his hand, which he had borrowed at farmer Harris's; and now, +as soon as he had spoken, he turned away, walked into the church, and +climbed to the roof of the tower. There, after examining the priming +of the piece, he seated himself coolly upon the little parapet, and +looked out over the country. The moment after, his voice was heard, +calling from above--"They are coming up, Harris!--Tell the officer." + +Sir Edward Digby had, in the meantime, advanced to the gates to +insure that they were securely fastened; but he heard what Harding +said, and turning his head, exclaimed--"Go into the church; and +garnish the windows with marksmen, as I said! I will be with you in a +moment.--Here, Somers, help me here for a moment. They will soon pull +this down;" and he proceeded calmly to fasten the barricade more +strongly. Before he had accomplished this to his satisfaction, men on +horseback were seen gathering thick in the road, and on the little +open space in front; but he went on without pausing to look at them, +till a loud voice exclaimed--"What are you about there?--Do you intend +to give the men up, or not?" + +Sir Edward Digby then raised his head, and replied: "Certainly +not!--Oh, Mr. Richard Radford--you will have the goodness to remark +that, if you advance one step towards these gates, or attempt to pass +that wall, you will be fired on from the church." + +While he was speaking, he took a step back, and then walked slowly +towards the building, making his servant go first; but half-way +thither he paused, and turning towards the ruffians congregated at a +little distance from the wall, he added aloud, addressing Richard +Radford--"You had better tell your gang what I say, my good friend, +for they will find we will keep our word." + +As he spoke, some one from the mass fired a pistol at him; but the +ball did not take effect, and Digby raised his hand, waving to those +in the church not to fire, and at the same time hurrying his pace a +little till he had passed the door and ordered it to be shut. + +"They have now fair warning," he said to one of the young Harris's, +who was on guard at the door; "but I will go up above and call to you +when I think anything is necessary to be done.--Remember, my good +fellows, that some order must be kept; and as you cannot all be at the +windows, let those who must stand back, load while the rest fire." + +Thus saying, he mounted to the top of the tower with a quick step, and +found Harding and five others on the roof. The horsemen in front of +the church, were all gathered together at a little distance, and +seemed in eager consultation; and amongst them the figures of young +Radford and the two Ramleys, father and son, were conspicuous from the +vehement gestures that they made--now pointing to the top of the +tower, now to the wall of the churchyard. + +"I think we could bring a good many down as they stand now," said +young William Harris, moving his gun towards his shoulder, as if the +inclination to fire were almost irresistible. + +"Stay--stay! not yet," replied Sir Edward Digby; "let it be clearly in +our own defence. Besides, you must remember these are but fowling +pieces. At that distance, few shots would tell." + +"One shall tell, at least, before this day is over," said Harding, who +had remained seated, hardly looking at the party without. "Something +tells me, I shall have vengeance this day." + +"Hallo! they are going to begin!" cried another man; and the same +moment, the gang of miscreants spread out, and while some advanced on +horseback towards the wall, at least fifty, who were armed with guns, +dismounted and aimed deliberately at the tower and the windows. + +"Down with your heads behind the parapet!" cried Digby, though he did +not follow the caution himself; "no use of exposing your lives +needlessly. Down--down, Harding!" + +But Harding sat where he was, saying, bitterly, "They'll not hit +me.--I know it--they've done worse already." As he spoke, a single gun +was fired, and then a volley, from the two sides of the churchyard +wall. One of the balls whizzed close by Sir Edward Digby's head, and +another struck the parapet near Harding; but neither were touched, and +the stout seaman did not move a muscle. + +"Now up, and give it them back!" exclaimed Digby; and, speaking down +the trap that led to the stairs, he called to those below, "Fire now, +and pick them off!--Steadily--steadily!" he continued, addressing his +companions on the roof, who were becoming somewhat too much excited. +"Make every shot tell, if you can--a good aim--a good aim!" + +"Here goes for one!" cried William Harris, aiming at Jim Ramley, and +hitting him in the thigh; and instantly, from the roof and the windows +of the church, blazed forth a sharp fire of musketry, which apparently +was not without severe effect; for the men who had dismounted were +thrown into great confusion, and the horsemen who were advancing +recoiled, with several of their horses plunging violently. + +The only one on the roof who did not fire was Harding, and he remained +with his gun resting on the parapet beside him, gazing, with a stern, +dark brow, upon the scene. + +"There are three down," cried one of the men, "and a lot of horses!" + +But Richard Radford was seen gesticulating vehemently; and at length +taking off his hat, he waved it in the air, shouting, so loud that his +words reached those above, "I will show you the way, then; let every +brave man follow me!" And as he spoke he struck his spurs into his +horse's sides, galloped on, and pushed his beast at the low wall of +the churchyard. + +The animal, a powerful hunter, which had been sent to him by his +father the day before, rose to the leap as if with pride. But just +then, Harding raised his gun, aimed steadily, and pulled the trigger. +The smoke for a moment obscured Digby's view; but the instant after he +saw Richard Radford falling headlong from the saddle, and his shoulder +striking the wall as the horse cleared it. The body then fell over, +bent up, with the head leaning against a tombstone and the legs upon +an adjoining grave. + +"There!--that's done!" said Harding; and laying down the gun again, he +betook himself quietly to his seat upon the parapet once more. + +"The dragoons! the dragoons!" cried a young man from the other side of +the tower. But ere he spoke, the gang of villains were already in +retreat, several galloping away, and the rest wavering. + +Loading as fast as they could, the stout yeomanry in the church +continued firing from the windows and from the roof, accelerating the +movements of their assailants, who seemed only to pause for the +purpose of carrying off their wounded companions. Sir Edward Digby, +however, ran round to the opposite side of the tower, and, clearly +seeing the advance of some cavalry from the side of Cranbrook--though +the trees prevented him from ascertaining their numbers--he bade the +rest follow, and ran down into the body of the church. + +"Now out, and after them!" he exclaimed; "we may make some prisoners!" +But as soon as the large wooden doors were thrown back and the +peasantry were seen pouring forth, old Ramley, who was amongst the +last that lingered, turned his horse and galloped away, his companions +following as fast as they could. Four men were found on the outside of +the churchyard wall, of whom two were living; but Sir Edward Digby +advanced with several others to the spot where Richard Radford was +lying. He did not appear to have moved at all since he fell; and on +raising his head, which had fallen forward on his chest as he lay +propped up by the gravestone, a dark red spot in the centre of the +forehead, from which a small quantity of blood had flowed down over +his eyes and cheeks, told how fatally true the shot had gone to the +mark. + +When he had gazed on him for a moment, Digby turned round again, to +look for Harding; but the man who had slain him, did not approach the +corpse of Richard Radford; and Digby perceived him standing near a low +shed, which at that time encumbered the churchyard of Goudhurst, and +under which the young baronet's horses had been placed. Thither the +strong hunter, which Radford had been riding, had trotted as soon as +his master fell; and Harding had caught it by the bridle, and was +gazing at it with a thoughtful look. + +The last time Sir Edward Digby had seen him, before that morning, he +was in high happiness by the side of poor Kate Clare; and when the +young officer looked at him, as he stood there, with a sort of dull +despair in his whole aspect, he could not but feel strong and painful +sympathy with him, in his deep grief. + +"Mr. Harding," he said, approaching him, "the unhappy man is quite +dead." + +"Oh, yes, sir," answered Harding, "dead enough, I am sure. I hope he +knew whose hand did it." + +"I am sorry to give you any further pain or anxiety, at this moment," +continued Digby, sinking his voice, "but I have heard that you are +supposed to have taken some part in landing the goods which were +captured the other day. For aught we know, there may be information +lodged against you; and probably there will be some officer of Customs +with the troop that is coming up. Would it not be better for you to +retire from this scene for a little?" + +"Thank you, sir,--thank you! That is kind!" answered Harding. "Life's +a load to me; but a prison is another thing. I would have given any of +those clumsy fellows a hundred guineas to have shot me as I sat there +but no man shall ever take me, and clap me up in a cell. I could not +bear that; and my poor Kate lying dead there, too!--I'll go, as you +say." + +But before he could execute his purpose, a small party of dragoons, +commanded by a lieutenant, with Birchett, the riding officer, and two +or three of his companions, came up at a trot, and poured through the +gate of the churchyard, which was now open. + +Sir Edward Digby advanced at once towards them--if the truth must be +told, to cover Harding's retreat; but Birchett's quick, shrewd eye had +run round the place in an instant; and, before the young baronet had +taken two steps along the path, he cried, "Why, there is Harding! Stop +him!--stop him! We have information against him. Don't let him pass!" + +"I _will_ pass, though," cried Harding, leaping at once upon the back +of Richard Radford's horse. "Now, stop me if you can!" and striking it +with his heel, he turned the animal across the churchyard, taking an +angle, away from the dragoons. Birchett spurred after him in a moment; +and the other officers followed; but the soldiers did not move. +Passing close by the spot where young Radford lay, as the officers +tried to cut him off from the gate, Harding cried, with a wild and +bitter laugh, "He is a good leaper, I know!" and instantly pushed his +horse at the wall. + +The gallant beast took it at once, and dashed away with its rider +along the road. The officers of Customs dared not trust their own +cattle with the same feat; but Birchett exclaimed, in a loud and +imperative tone, turning to the lieutenant of dragoons, "I require +your aid in capturing that man. He is one of the most daring smugglers +on the whole coast. We can catch him easily, if we are quick." + +"I do not know that I am authorized," said the lieutenant, not well +pleased with the man's manner; "where no armed resistance is +apprehended, I doubt if----" + +"But there may be resistance, sir," replied Birchett, vehemently; "he +is gone to join his comrades.--Well, the responsibility be on your +head! I claim your aid! Refuse it or not, as you shall think fit.--I +claim and require it instantly!" + +"What do you think, sir?" asked the young officer, turning to Digby. + +"Nay, I am not in command here," answered the other; "you know your +orders." + +"To give all lawful aid and assistance," said the lieutenant. "Well, +take a Serjeant's guard, Mr. Birchett." + +In haste, the men were drawn out, and followed: Birchett leading them +furiously on the pursuit; but ere they had quitted the churchyard, +Harding was half-a-mile upon the road; and that was all he desired. + + + + + CHAPTER XIII. + + +There was a large lugger lying off at no great distance from the +beach, near Sandgate, and a small boat, ready for launching, on the +shore. At the distance of two or three miles out, might be seen a +vessel of considerable size, and of that peculiar rig and build which +denoted, to nautical eyes, that there lay a king's vessel. She was, +indeed, a frigate of inferior class, which had been sent round to +co-operate with the Customs, in the suppression of the daring system +of smuggling, which, as we have shown, was carried on in Romney Marsh, +and the neighbouring country. By the lesser boat, upon the shore, +stood four stout fellows, apparently employed in making ready to put +off; and upon the high ground above, was seen a single officer of +Customs, walking carelessly to and fro, and apparently taking little +heed of the proceedings below. Some movements might be perceived on +board the ship; the sails, which had been furled, now began to flutter +in the wind, which was blowing strong; and it seemed evident that the +little frigate was about to get under weigh. The lugger, however, +remained stationary; and the men near the boat continued their labours +for nearly an hour after they seemed in reality to have nothing more +to do. + +At length, however, coming at a furious pace, down one of the narrow +foot-paths from the high ground above, which led away towards Cheriton +and Newington, was seen a horseman, waving his hand to those below, +and passing within fifty yards of the officer of Customs. The sailors, +who were standing by the boat, instantly pushed her down to the very +verge of the water; the officer hallooed after the bold rider, but +without causing him to pause for an instant in his course; and down, +at thundering speed, across the road, and over the sand and shingle, +Harding, the smuggler, dashed on, till the horse that bore him stood +foaming and panting beside the boat. Instantly springing out of the +saddle, he cast the bridle on the tired beasts neck, and jumped into +the skiff, exclaiming, "Shove her off!" + +"Arn't there some more, Jack?" asked one of the men. + +"None but myself," replied Harding, "and me they shan't catch.--Shove +her off, I say--you'll soon see who are coming after!" + +The men obeyed at once; the boat was launched into the water; and +almost at the same instant, the party of dragoons in pursuit appeared +upon the top of the rise, followed, a moment after, by Birchett, and +another officer of the Customs. The vehement and angry gestures of the +riding officer indicated plainly enough that he saw the prey had +escaped him; but while the dragoons and his fellow officer made their +way slowly down the bank, to the narrow road which at that time ran +along the beach, he galloped off towards a signal-post, which then +stood upon an elevated spot, not far from the place where the +turnpike, on the road between Sandgate and Folkestone, now stands. In +a few minutes various small flags were seen rapidly running up to the +top of the staff; and, as speedily as possible afterwards, signals of +the same kind were displayed on board the frigate. + +In the meantime, however, Harding and his party had rowed rapidly +towards the lugger, the sails of which were already beginning to fill; +and in less than two minutes she was scudding through the water as +fast as the wind would bear her. But the frigate was also under weigh; +and, to both experienced and inexperienced eyes, it seemed that the +bold smuggler had hardly one chance of escape. Between Dungeness +Point, and the royal vessel, there appeared to be no space for any of +those daring man[oe]uvres by which the small vessels, engaged in the +contraband trade, occasionally eluded the pursuit of their larger and +more formidable opponents; but Harding still pursued his course, +striving to get into the open sea, before the frigate could cut him +off. + +Bending under the press of sail, the boat rushed through the waves, +with the uptide running strong against her, and the spray dashing over +her from stem to stern; but still, as she took an angle, though an +acute one, with the course of the frigate, the latter gained upon her +every moment, till at length a shot, whistling across her bows, gave +her the signal to bring to. It is needless to tell the reader, that +signal received no attention; but, still steered with a firm hand, and +carrying every stitch of canvas she could bear, the lugger pursued her +way. A minute had scarcely passed, ere flash and report came again +from the frigate, and once more a ball whistled by. Another and +another followed; but, no longer directed across the lugger's bows, +they were evidently aimed directly at her; and one of them passed +through the foresail, though without doing any farther damage. The +case seemed so hopeless, not only to those who watched the whole +proceeding from the shore, but to most of those who were in the +lugger, that a murmured consultation took place among the men; and +after two or three more shots had been fired, coming each time nearer +and nearer to their flying mark, one of the crew turned to Harding, +who had scarcely uttered a word since he entered the boat, and said, +"Come, sir, I don't think this will do.--We shall only get ourselves +sunk for no good.--We had better douse." + +Harding looked sternly at him for a moment without reply; and a +somewhat bitter answer rose to his lips. But he checked himself, and +said, at length, "There's no use sacrificing your lives. You've got +wives and children--fathers and mothers. I have no one to care for +me.--Get into the boat, and be off. Me they shall never catch, dead or +alive; and if I go to the bottom, it's the best berth for me now. +Here, just help me reeve these tiller-ropes that I may take shelter +under the companion; and then be off as fast as you can." + +The men would fain have remonstrated; but Harding would hear nothing; +and, covering himself as much as he could from the aim of small arms +from the vessel, he insisted that the whole of his crew should go and +leave him. + +A short pause in the lugger's flight was observable from the shore; +and everybody concluded that she had struck. The row-boat, filled with +men, was seen to pull off from her, and the large heavy sails to flap +for an instant in the wind. But then her course was altered in a +moment; the sails filled again with the full breeze; and going like a +swallow over the waves, she dashed on towards the frigate, and, +passing her within pistol-range immediately after, shot across upon +her weather-bow. + +A cloud of smoke ran all along the side of the frigate, as this bold +and extraordinary man[oe]uvre was executed. The faint report of small +arms was wafted by the wind to the shore, as well as the sound of +several cannon; but still, whether Harding was wounded or not wounded, +living or dead, his gallant boat dashed steadily on, and left the +frigate far behind, apparently giving up the chase, as no longer +presenting any chance of success. On, on, went the lugger, diminishing +as it flew over the waves, till at length, to the eyes even of those +who watched from the heights, its dark, tanned sails grouped +themselves into one small speck, and were then lost to the sight. + +The after-fate of that adventurous man, who thus, single and unaided, +trusted himself to the wide waves, is wrapped in obscurity. The writer +of these pages, indeed, did once see a stern-looking old man of the +same name, who had returned some few years before from distant +lands--no one well knew whence--to spend the last few years of a life, +which had been protracted considerably beyond the ordinary term of +human existence, in a seaport not very far from Folkestone. The +conversation of the people of the place pointed him out as one who had +done extraordinary deeds, and seen strange sights; but whether he was, +indeed, the Harding of this tale or not, I cannot say. Of one thing, +however, the reader may be certain, that in all the statements +regarding the smuggler's marvellous escape, the most scrupulous +accuracy has been observed, and that every fact is as true as any part +of history, and a great deal more so than most. + +Having now disposed of one of our principal characters, let me take +the reader gently by the hand, and lead him back to Harbourne House. +The way is somewhat long, but still, not more than a stout man can +walk without fatigue upon a pleasant morning; and it lies, too, +amongst sweet and interesting scenes--which, to you and me, dear +reader, are, I trust, embellished by some of the charms of +association. + +It was about six days after the attack, upon the church at Goudhurst, +when a great number of those personages with whom it has been +necessary to make the reader acquainted, were assembled in the +drawing-room of Sir Robert Croyland's mansion. One or two, indeed, +were wanting, even of the party which might have been expected there, +but their absence shall be accounted for hereafter. The baronet +himself was seated in the arm-chair, which he generally occupied more +as a mark of his state and dignity, than for comfort and convenience. +In the present instance, however, he seemed to need support, for he +leaned heavily upon the arm of the chair, and appeared languid and +feeble. His face was very pale, his lips somewhat livid; and yet, +though suffering evidently under considerable corporeal debility, +there was a look of mental relief in his eyes, and a sweet placidity +about his smile, that no one had seen on his countenance for many +years. + +Mrs. Barbara was, as usual, seated at her everlasting embroidery; and +here we may as well mention a fact which we omitted to mention before, +but which some persons may look upon as indicative of her mental +character--namely, that the embroidery, though it had gone on all her +life, by no means proceeded in an even course of progression. On the +contrary, to inexperienced eyes, it seemed as if no sooner was a +stitch put in than it was drawn out again, the point of the needle +being gently thrust under the loop of the thread, and then the arm +extended with an even sweep, so as to withdraw the silk from its hole +in the canvas. Penelope's web was nothing to Mrs. Barbary Croyland's +embroidery; for the queen of Ithaca only undid what she had previously +done, every night; and Aunt Bab undid it every minute. On the present +occasion, she was more busy in the retroactive process than ever, not +only pulling out the silk she had just put in, but a great deal more; +so that the work of the last three days, was in imminent danger of +total destruction. + +Mr. Zachary Croyland never sat down when he could stand; for there was +about him, a sort of mobility and activity of spirits, which always +inclined him to keep his body ready for action. He so well knew that, +when seated, he was incessantly inclined to start up again, that +probably he thought it of little use to sit down at all; and +consequently he was even now upon his feet, midway between his brother +and his sister, rubbing his hands, and giving a gay, but cynical +glance from one to the other. + +In a chair near the window, with his wild, but fine eye gazing over +the pleasant prospect which the terrace commanded, and apparently +altogether absent in mind from the scene in the drawing-room, was +seated Mr. Osborn; and not far from Mr. Croyland stood Sir Henry +Leyton, in an ordinary riding-dress, with his left hand resting on the +hilt of his sword, speaking in an easy, quiet tone to Sir Robert +Croyland; and nearly opposite to him was Edith, with her arm resting +on the table, and her cheek supported on her hand. Her face was still +pale, though the colour had somewhat returned; and the expression was +grave, though calm. Indeed, she never recovered the gay and sparkling +look which had characterized her countenance in early youth; but the +expression had gained in depth and intensity more than it had lost in +brightness; and then, when she did smile, it was with ineffable +sweetness: a gleam of sunshine upon the deep sea. Her eyes were fixed +upon her lover; and those who knew her well could read in them +satisfaction, love, hope--nay, more than hope--a pride, the only pride +that she could know--that he whom she had chosen in her girlhood, to +whom she had remained true and faithful through years of sorrow and +unexampled trial, had proved himself in every way worthy of her first +affection and her long constancy. + +But where was Zara?--where Sir Edward Digby? for neither of them were +present at the time. From the laws of attraction between different +terrestrial bodies, we have every reason to infer that Digby and Zara +were not very far apart. However, they had been somewhat eccentric +in their orbits; for Zara had gone out about a couple of hours +before--Digby being then absent, no one knew where--upon a charitable +errand, to carry consolation and sympathy to the cottage of poor Mrs. +Clare, whose daughter had been committed to the earth the day before. +How it happened, Heaven only knows, but certain it is, that at the +moment I now speak of, she and Digby were walking home together, +towards Harbourne House, while his servant led his horse at some +distance behind. + +Before they reached the house, however, a long conversation had taken +place between the personages in the drawing-room, of which I shall +only give the last few sentences. + +"It is true, Harry, it is true," said Sir Robert Croyland, in reply to +something just spoken by Leyton; "and we have both things to forgive; +but you far more than I have; and as you have set me an example of +doing good for evil, and atoning, by every means, for a slight error, +I will not be backward to do the same, and to acknowledge that I have +acted most wrongly towards you--for which may Heaven forgive me, as +you have done. I have small means of atoning for much that is past; +but to do so, as far as possible: freely, and with my full consent, +take the most valuable thing I have to give--my dear child's +hand,--nay, hear me yet a moment. I wish your marriage to take place +as soon as possible. I have learned to doubt of time, and never to +trust the future. Say a week--a fortnight, Edith; but let it be +speedily. It is my wish--let me say, for the last time, it is my +command." + +"But, brother Robert," exclaimed Mrs. Barbara, ruining her embroidery +irretrievably in the agitation of the moment, "you know it can't be so +very soon; for there are all the dresses to get ready, and the +settlements to be drawn up, and a thousand things to buy; and our +cousins in Yorkshire must be informed, and----" + +"D--n our cousins in Yorkshire!" exclaimed Mr. Zachary Croyland. "Now, +my dear Bab, tell me candidly, whether you have or have not any nice +little plan ready for spoiling the whole, and throwing us all into +confusion again. Don't you think you could just send Edith to visit +somebody in the small-pox? or get Harry Leyton run through in a duel? +or some other little comfortable consummation, which may make us all +as unhappy as possible?" + +"Really, brother Zachary, I don't know what you mean," said Mrs. +Barbara, looking the picture of injured innocence. + +"I dare say not, Bab," answered Mr. Croyland; "but I understand what +you mean; and I tell you it shall not be. Edith shall fix the day; and +as a good child, she will obey her father, and fix it as early as +possible. When once fixed, it shall not be changed or put off, on any +account or consideration whatever, if my name's Croyland. As for the +dresses, don't you trouble your head about that; I'll undertake the +dresses, and have them all down from London by the coach. Give me the +size of your waist, Edith, upon a piece of string, and your length +from shoulder to heel, and leave all the rest to me. If I don't dress +her like a Mahommedan princess, may I never hear _Bismillah_ again." + +Edith smiled, but answered, "I don't think it will be at all +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 interrupted 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 Leyton, neither of whom she had seen before +during that morning; and then passing by her father, in her way +towards Edith, she whispered a word to him as she went. + +"What, what!" 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 something 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!" 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 terminated 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, indeed, 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 revived 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 to her offer, "no: you can +understand what I feel; but I shall be better presently. Stay here, +and let all this be settled; and remember, Edith, name the earliest +day possible--arrange with Zara and Digby. Theirs can take place at +the same time." + +Thus saying, he went out, and was seen walking slowly to and fro upon +the terrace, for some minutes after. In the meanwhile, the war had +commenced between Mr. Zachary Croyland and his younger niece. "Ah, +Mrs. Madcap!" he exclaimed, "so I hear tales of you. The coquette has +been caught at length! You are going to commit matrimony; and as birds +of a feather flock together, the wild girl and the wild boy must +pair." + +With her usual light, graceful step, and with her usual gay and +brilliant smile, Zara left Sir Edward Digby's side, and crossing over +to her uncle, rested both her hands upon his arm, while he stood as +erect and stiff as a finger post, gazing down upon her with a look of +sour fun, But in Zara's eyes, beautiful and beaming as they were, +there was a look of deeper feeling than they usually displayed when +jesting, as was her wont, with Mr. Croyland. + +"Well, Chit," he said, "well, what do you want?--a new gown, or a +smart hat, or a riding-whip, with a tiger's head in gold at the top?" + +"No, my dear uncle," she answered, "but I want you not to tease me, +nor to laugh at me, nor to abuse me, just now. For once in my life, I +feel that I must be serious; and I think even less teasing than +ordinary might be too much for me. Perhaps, one time or another, you +may find out that poor Zara's coquetry was more apparent than real, +and that though she had an object, it was a better one than you, in +your benevolence, were disposed to think." + +An unwonted drop swam in her eyes as she spoke; and Mr. Croyland gazed +down upon her tenderly for a moment. Then throwing his arms round her, +he kissed her cheek--"I know it, my dear," he said--"I know it. Edith +has told me all; and she who has been a kind, good sister, will, I am +sure, be a kind, good wife. Here, take her away, Digby. A better girl +doesn't live, whatever I may have said. The worst of it is, she is a +great deal too good for you, or any other wild, harem-scarem fellow. +But stay--stay," he continued, as Digby came forward, laughing, and +took Zara's hand; "here's something with her; for, as I am sure you +will be a couple of spendthrifts, it is but fit that you should have +something to set out upon." + +Mr. Croyland, as he spoke, put his hand into the somewhat wide and +yawning pocket of his broad-tailed coat, and produced his pocket-book, +from which he drew forth a small slip of paper. + +Digby took it, and looked at it, but instantly held it out again to +Mr. Croyland, saying, "My dear sir, it is quite unnecessary. I claim +nothing but her hand; and that is mine by promises which I hope will +not be very long ere they are fulfilled." + +"Nonsense, nonsense!" cried Mr. Croyland, putting away the paper with +the back of his hand; "did ever any one see such a fool?--I tell you, +Sir Edward Digby, I'm as proud a man as you are, and you shall not +marry my niece without receiving the same portion as her sister +possesses. I hate all eldest sons, as you well know; and I don't see +why eldest daughters should exist either. I'll have them all equal. No +differences here. I've made up to Zara, the disparity which one fool +of an uncle thought fit to put between her and Edith. Such was always +my intention; and moreover, let it clearly be understood, that when +you have put this old carrion under ground, what I leave is to be +divided between them--all equal, all equal--co-heiresses, of Zachary +Croyland, Esq., surnamed the Nabob, alias the Misanthrope--and then, +if you like it, you may each bear in your arms a crow rampant, on an +escutcheon of pretence." + +"Thank you, thank you, my dear uncle," answered Edith Croyland, while +Zara's gay heart was too full to let her speak--"thank you for such +thought of my sweet sister; for, indeed, to me, during long years of +sorrow and trouble, she has been the spirit of consolation, comfort, +strength--even hope." + +Poor Zara was overpowered; and she burst into tears. It seemed as if +all the feelings, which for the sake of others she had so long +suppressed--all the emotions, anxieties, and cares which she had +conquered or treated lightly, in order to give aid and support to +Edith, rushed upon her at once in the moment of joy, and overwhelmed +her. + +"Why, what's the foolish girl crying about?" exclaimed Mr. Croyland; +but then, drawing her kindly to him, he added, "Come, my dear, we will +make a truce, upon the following conditions--I wont 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 walking 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 bless those acts, which are done under such +impressions." + +The party in the drawing-room heard no more; and, notwithstanding the +kindly efforts of Mrs. Barbara, and a thousand 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, without 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 happier 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 marriage; for I longed to witness it with my own eyes, +yet was unwilling to mingle the happiness of such a union, with the +thought that it took place while I was in sickness and danger. My +brother will be a father to you, I am sure, when I am gone; but still +it is some satisfaction to know that you have both better protectors, +even here on earth, than he or I could be. I trust you are happy; and +believe me, I am not otherwise--though lying here with death before +me." + +Towards four o'clock on the following day, the windows of Harbourne +House were closed; and, about a week after, the mortal remains of Sir +Robert Croyland were conveyed to the family vault in the village +church. Mr. Croyland succeeded to the estates and title of his +brother; but he would not quit the mansion which he himself had built, +leaving Mrs. Barbara, with a handsome income, which he secured to her, +to act the Lady Bountiful of Harbourne House. + +The fate of Edith and Zara we need not farther trace. It was such as +might be expected from the circumstances in which they were now +placed. We will not venture to say that it was purely happy; for when +was ever pure and unalloyed happiness found on earth? There were +cares, there were anxieties, there were griefs, from time to time: for +the splendid visions of young imagination may be prophetic of joys +that shall be ours, if we deserve them in our trial here, but are +never realized within the walls of our mortal prison, and recede +before us, to take their stand for ever beyond the portals of the +tomb. But still they were as happy as human beings, perhaps, ever +were; for no peculiar pangs or sufferings were destined to follow +those which had gone before; and in their domestic life, having chosen +well and wisely, they found--as every one will find, who judges upon +such grounds--that love, when it is pure, and high, and true, is a +possession, to the brightness of which even hope can add no sweetness, +imagination no splendour that it does not in itself possess. + +The reader may be inclined to ask the after fate of some of the other +characters mentioned in this work. In regard to many of them, I must +give an unsatisfactory reply. What became of most, indeed, I do not +know. The name of Mowle, the officer of Customs, is still familiar to +the people of Hythe and its neighbourhood. It is certain that Ramley +and one of his sons were hanged; but the rest of the records of that +respectable family are, I fear, lost to the public. Little Starlight +seems to have disappeared from that part of the country, for some +time; and in truth, I have no certainty that the well-known +pickpocket, Night Ray, who was transported to Botany Bay, some +thirty years after the period of this tale, and was shot in an attempt +to escape, was the same person whose early career is here recorded. +But of one thing the reader maybe perfectly certain, that--whatever +was the fortune which attended any of the persons I have +mentioned--whether worldly prosperity, or temporary adversity befel +them--the real, the solid good, the happiness of spirit, was awarded +in exact proportion to each, as their acts were good, and their hearts +were pure. + + + + THE END. + + + + + T. C. Savill, Printer, 4, Chandos Street, Covent Garden. + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Smuggler: (Vol's I-III), by +G. P. R. 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James"> + +<meta name="Publisher" content="Smith, Elder, and Co."> +<meta name="Date" content="1845"> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1"> +<style type="text/css"> +body {margin-left:10%; + margin-right:10%; background-color:#FFFFFF;} + + +p.normal {text-indent:.25in; text-align: justify;} +.center {margin: auto; text-align:center; margin-top:24pt; margin-bottom:24pt} + + + +p.right {text-align:right; margin-right:20%;} + +p.continue {text-indent: 0in; margin-top:9pt;} +.text10 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:10%; margin-right:0px; font-size:90%;} +.text20 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:20%; margin-right:0px; font-size:90%;} + + +.poem0 { + margin-top: 24pt; margin-left: 0%; + margin-right: 0%; text-align: left; + margin-bottom: 24pt; font-size:90%} + +.poem1 { + margin-top: 24pt; margin-left: 2em; + margin-right: 10%; text-align: left; + margin-bottom: 24pt; font-size:90%} + +.poem2 { + margin-top: 24pt; margin-left: 20%; + margin-right: 20%; text-align: left; + margin-bottom: 24pt; font-size:90%} + +.poem3 { + margin-top: 24pt; margin-left: 30%; + margin-right: 30%; text-align: left; + margin-bottom: 24pt; font-size:90%} + + + + + +figcenter {margin:auto; text-align:center; margin-top:9pt;} +.i6 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px; text-indent:-6pt;} +.i8 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px; text-indent:-8pt;} +.i12 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px; text-indent:-12pt;} + +.t0 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:0em; margin-right:0px;} +.t1 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:1em; margin-right:0px;} +.t2 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:2em; margin-right:0px;} +.t3 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:3em; margin-right:0px;} +.t4 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:4em; margin-right:0px;} +.t5 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:5em; margin-right:0px;} +.t6 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:6em; margin-right:0px;} +.t7 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:7em; margin-right:0px;} +.t8 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:8em; margin-right:0px;} +.t9 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:9em; margin-right:0px;} +.t10 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:10em; margin-right:0px;} +.t11 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:11em; margin-right:0px;} +.t12 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:12em; margin-right:0px;} +.t13 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:13em; margin-right:0px;} +.t14 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:14em; margin-right:0px;} +.t15 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:15em; margin-right:0px;} +.t16 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:16em; margin-right:0px;} + + +.quote {text-indent:.25in; text-align: justify; font-size:90%; margin-top:36pt; margin-bottom:36pt} +.ctrquote {text-align: center; font-size:90%; margin-top:36pt; margin-bottom:36pt} + +.dateline {text-align:right; font-size:90%; margin-right:10%; margin-top:24pt; margin-bottom:24pt} + +h1,h2,h3,h4,h5 {text-align: center;} + +span.sc {font-variant: small-caps; font-size:110%;} +span.sc2 {font-variant: small-caps; font-size:90%;} + +hr.W10 {width:10%; color:black; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt} + +hr.W20 {width:20%; color:black; margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:12pt} + +hr.W50 {width:50%; color:black;} +hr.W90 {width:90%; color:black;} + +p.hang1 {margin-left:3em; text-indent:-3em;} +p.hang2 {margin-left:3em; text-indent:0em;} + + +</style> + +</head> + +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Smuggler: (Vol's I-III), by +G. P. R. (George Payne Rainsford James + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Smuggler: (Vol's I-III) + A Tale + +Author: G. P. R. (George Payne Rainsford James + +Release Date: April 24, 2012 [EBook #39531] +Last Updated: December 12, 2017 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE SMUGGLER: (VOL'S I-III) *** + + + + +Produced by Charles Bowen, from page scans provided by +Google Books (Oxford University) + + + + + + +</pre> + +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<p class="hang1">Transcriber's Notes:<br> +<br> +1. Page scan source:<br> +<br> +http://books.google.com/books?id=q_QDAAAAQAAJ<br> +(Oxford University)</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> +<br> +<h4><a name="div1Ref_ded" href="#div1_ded">DEDICATION.</a></h4> +<br> +<h3><a name="div1Ref_0" href="#div1_0">VOLUME I</a>.</h3> +<br> +<h4><a name="div1Ref_01" href="#div1_01">CHAPTER I.</a></h4> +<h4><a name="div1Ref_02" href="#div1_02">CHAPTER II.</a></h4> +<h4><a name="div1Ref_03" href="#div1_03">CHAPTER III.</a></h4> +<h4><a name="div1Ref_04" href="#div1_04">CHAPTER IV.</a></h4> +<h4><a name="div1Ref_05" href="#div1_05">CHAPTER V.</a></h4> +<h4><a name="div1Ref_06" href="#div1_06">CHAPTER VI.</a></h4> +<h4><a name="div1Ref_07" href="#div1_07">CHAPTER VII.</a></h4> +<h4><a name="div1Ref_08" href="#div1_08">CHAPTER VIII.</a></h4> + +<h4><a name="div1Ref_09" href="#div1_09">CHAPTER IX.</a></h4> +<h4><a name="div1Ref_10" href="#div1_10">CHAPTER X.</a></h4> +<h4><a name="div1Ref_11" href="#div1_11">CHAPTER XI.</a></h4> +<h4><a name="div1Ref_12" href="#div1_12">CHAPTER XII.</a></h4> +<h4><a name="div1Ref_13" href="#div1_13">CHAPTER XIII.</a></h4> + +<br> +<h4><a name="div2Ref_0" href="#div2_0">VOLUME II.</a></h4> +<br> +<h4><a name="div2Ref_01" href="#div2_01">CHAPTER I.</a></h4> +<h4><a name="div2Ref_02" href="#div2_02">CHAPTER II.</a></h4> +<h4><a name="div2Ref_03" href="#div2_03">CHAPTER III.</a></h4> +<h4><a name="div2Ref_04" href="#div2_04">CHAPTER IV.</a></h4> +<h4><a name="div2Ref_05" href="#div2_05">CHAPTER V.</a></h4> +<h4><a name="div2Ref_06" href="#div2_06">CHAPTER VI.</a></h4> +<h4><a name="div2Ref_07" href="#div2_07">CHAPTER VII.</a></h4> +<h4><a name="div2Ref_08" href="#div2_08">CHAPTER VIII.</a></h4> + +<h4><a name="div2Ref_09" href="#div2_09">CHAPTER IX.</a></h4> +<h4><a name="div2Ref_10" href="#div2_10">CHAPTER X.</a></h4> +<h4><a name="div2Ref_11" href="#div2_11">CHAPTER XI.</a></h4> +<h4><a name="div2Ref_12" href="#div2_12">CHAPTER XII.</a></h4> + + +<br> +<h4><a name="div3Ref_0" href="#div3_0">VOLUME III.</a></h4> +<br> +<h4><a name="div3Ref_01" href="#div3_01">CHAPTER I.</a></h4> +<h4><a name="div3Ref_02" href="#div3_02">CHAPTER II.</a></h4> +<h4><a name="div3Ref_03" href="#div3_03">CHAPTER III.</a></h4> +<h4><a name="div3Ref_04" href="#div3_04">CHAPTER IV.</a></h4> +<h4><a name="div3Ref_05" href="#div3_05">CHAPTER V.</a></h4> +<h4><a name="div3Ref_06" href="#div3_06">CHAPTER VI.</a></h4> +<h4><a name="div3Ref_07" href="#div3_07">CHAPTER VII.</a></h4> +<h4><a name="div3Ref_08" href="#div3_08">CHAPTER VIII.</a></h4> + +<h4><a name="div3Ref_09" href="#div3_09">CHAPTER IX.</a></h4> +<h4><a name="div3Ref_10" href="#div3_10">CHAPTER X.</a></h4> +<h4><a name="div3Ref_11" href="#div3_11">CHAPTER XI.</a></h4> +<h4><a name="div3Ref_12" href="#div3_12">CHAPTER XII.</a></h4> +<h4><a name="div3Ref_13" href="#div3_13">CHAPTER XIII.</a></h4> + + + +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> + +<h1>THE SMUGGLER:</h1> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h4>A Tale</h4> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>BY G. P. R. JAMES, ESQ.</h2> + +<h5>AUTHOR OF<br> + +"DARNLEY," "DE L'ORME," "RICHELIEU,"<br> + +ETC. ETC.</h5> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h4>IN THREE VOLUMES.</h4> +<br> +<br> +<h3><a name="div1_0" href="#div1Ref_0">VOL. I.</a></h3> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h4>LONDON:</h4> +<h3>SMITH, ELDER AND CO., 65, CORNHILL.</h3> +<h4>1845.</h4> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="div1_ded" href="#div1Ref_ded">DEDICATION.</a></h2> +<br> +<hr class="W10"> +<br> +<h5>TO</h5> + +<h2>THE HON<sup style="font-size:10pt">BLE</sup> CHARLES EWAN LAW, M.P.</h2> + +<h4>RECORDER OF LONDON,</h4> + +<h4>ETC. ETC. ETC.</h4> +<br> +<hr class="W10"> +<br> +<br> +<p class="continue"><span class="sc">My Dear Sir</span>,</p> + +<p class="normal">It would be almost superfluous to assure you of my esteem and regard; +but feelings of personal friendship are rarely assigned as the sole +motives of a dedication. The qualities, however, which command public +respect, and the services which have secured it to you in so high a +degree, must appear a sufficient motive for offering you this slight +tribute, in the eyes not only of those who know and love you in the +relations of private life, but of all the many who have marked your +career, either as a lawyer, alike eminent in learning and in +eloquence, or as a just, impartial, clear-sighted, and yet merciful +judge.</p> + +<p class="normal">You will willingly accept the book, I know, for the sake of the +author; though, perhaps, you may have neither time nor inclination to +read it. Accept the dedication, also, I beg, as a sincere testimony of +respect from one who, having seen a good deal of the world, and +studied mankind attentively, is not easily induced to reverence or won +to regard.</p> + +<p class="normal">When you look upon this page, it will probably call to your mind some +very pleasant hours, which would doubtless have been as agreeable if I +had not been there. As I write it, it brings up before my eyes many a +various scene, of which you and yours were the embellishment and the +light. At all events, such memories must be pleasant to us both; for +they refer to days almost without a shadow, when the magistrate and +the legislator escaped from care and thought, and the laborious man of +letters cast away his toil.</p> + +<p class="normal">In the following pages you will find more than one place depicted, as +familiar to your remembrance as to mine; and if I have taken some +liberties with a few localities, stolen a mile or two off certain +distances, or deprived various hills and dales of their due +proportions, these faults are of a species of petty larceny, on which +I do not think you will pass a severe sentence, and I hope the public +will imitate your lenity.</p> + +<p class="normal">I trust that no very striking errors will meet your eye, for I believe +I have given a correct picture of the state of society in this good +county of Kent as it existed some eighty or ninety years ago; and, in +regard to the events, if you or any of my readers should be inclined +to exclaim,--"This incident is not probable!" I have an answer ready, +quite satisfactory to myself, whatever it may be to others; namely, +that "the improbable incident" is true. All the more wild, stirring, +and what may be called romantic parts of the tale, are not alone +<i>founded</i> upon fact, but are facts; and the narrative owes me nothing +more than a gown owes to a sempstress--namely, the mere sewing of it +together with a very common-place needle and thread. In short, a few +characters thrown in for relief, a little love, a good deal of +landscape, and a few tiresome reflections, are all that I have added +to a simple relation of transactions well known to many in this part +of the country as having actually happened, a generation or two ago. +Among these recorded incidents are the attack of Goudhurst Church by +the smugglers, its defence by the peasantry, the pursuit, and defeat +of the free-traders of those days by the Dragoons, the implication of +some persons of great wealth in the most heinous parts of the +transaction, the visit of Mowle, the officer, in disguise, to the +meeting-place of his adversaries, his accidental detection by one of +them, and the bold and daring manœuvre of the smuggler, Harding, as +related near the close of the work. Another incident, but too sadly +true--namely, the horrible deed by which some of the persons taking a +chief part in the contraband trade called down upon themselves the +fierce enmity of the peasantry--I have but lightly touched upon, for +reasons you will understand and appreciate. But it is some +satisfaction to know that there were just judges in those days, as +well as at present, and that the perpetrators of one of the most +brutal crimes on record suffered the punishment they so well merited.</p> + +<p class="normal">Happily, my dear sir, a dedication, in these days, is no compliment; +and therefore I can freely offer, and you receive it, as a true and +simple expression of high respect and regard,</p> +<br> +<p style="text-indent:20%">From yours faithfully,</p> + +<p style="text-indent:40%">G. P. R. JAMES.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h1>THE SMUGGLER</h1> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="div1_01" href="#div1Ref_01">CHAPTER I.</a></h2> +<br> + +<p class="normal">It is wonderful what improvements have taken place in clocks and +watches during the last half-century; how accurately the escapements +are constructed, how delicately the springs are formed, how easily the +wheels move, and what good time they keep. After all, society is but a +clock, a very complicated piece of mechanism; and it, too, has +undergone, in many countries, the same improvements that have taken +place in the little ticking machines that we put in our pockets, or +those greater indicators of our progress towards eternity that we hang +upon our walls. From the wooden clock, with its weight and catgut, to +the exquisite chronometer which varies only by a second or two in the +course of the year, what a vast advance! and between even a period +which many still living can remember, and that in which I now write, +what a change has taken place in the machinery and organization of the +land in which we dwell!</p> + +<p class="normal">In the times which I am about to depict, though feudal ages were gone, +though no proud barons ruled the country round from castle and +stronghold, though the tumultuous times of the great rebellion had +also passed away, and men in buff and bandolier no longer preached, or +fought, or robbed, or tyrannized under the name of law and liberty, +though the times of the second Charles and the second James, William +and Mary, and good Queen Anne, falling collars, and hats and plumes, +and floating wigs and broad-tailed coats, were all gone--bundled away +into the great lumber-room of the Past--still, dear reader, there was +a good deal of the wooden clock about the mechanism of society.</p> + +<p class="normal">One of the parts in which rudeness of construction and coarseness of +material were most apparent, was in the Customs system of the country, +and in the impediments which it met with. The escapement was anything +but fine. Nowadays we do things delicately. If we wish to cheat the +government, we forge Exchequer bills, or bribe landing-waiters and +supervisors, or courteously insinuate to a superior officer that a +thousand pounds is not too great a mark of gratitude for enabling us +to pocket twenty thousand at the expense of the Customs. If we wish to +cheat the public, there is chalk for our milk, grains of paradise for +our beer, sago and old rags for our sugar, lime for our linen, and +devils' dust to cover our backs. Chemistry and electricity, steam and +galvanism, all lend their excellent aid to the cheat, the swindler, +and the thief; and if a man is inclined to keep himself within +respectable limits, and deceive himself and others at the same time +with perfect good faith and due decorum, are there not homœopathy, +hydropathy, and mesmerism?</p> + +<p class="normal">In the days I speak of it was not so. There was a grander roughness +and daringness about both our rogues and our theorists. None but a +small villain would consent to be a swindler. We had more robbers than +cheats; and if a man chose to be an impostor, it was with all the +dignity and decision of a Psalmanazor, or a bottle conjuror. Gunpowder +and lead were the only chemical agents employed; a bludgeon was the +animal magnetism most in vogue, and your senses and your person were +attacked and knocked down upon the open road without having the heels +of either delicately tripped up by some one you did not see.</p> + +<p class="normal">Still this difference was more apparent in the system of smuggling +than in anything else, and the whole plan, particulars, course of +action, and results were so completely opposed to anything that is, or +can be in the present day--the scenes, the characters, the very +localities have so totally changed, that it may be necessary to pause +a moment before we go on to tell our tale, in order to give some sort +of description of the state of the country bordering on the sea-coast, +at the period to which I allude.</p> + +<p class="normal">Scarcely any one of the maritime counties was in those days without +its gang of smugglers; for if France was not opposite, Holland was not +far off; and if brandy was not the object, nor silk, nor wine, yet tea +and cinnamon, and hollands, and various East India goods, were things +duly estimated by the British public, especially when they could be +obtained without the payment of Custom-house dues. But besides the +inducements to smuggling which the high price that those dues imposed +upon certain articles, held out, it must be remembered that various +other commodities were totally prohibited, and, as an inevitable +consequence, were desired and sought for more than any others. The +nature of both man and woman, from the time of Adam and Eve down to +the present day, has always been fond of forbidden fruit; and it +mattered not a pin whether the goods were really better or worse, so +that they were prohibited, men would risk their necks to get them. The +system of prevention also was very inefficient, and a few scattered +Custom-House officers, aided by a cruiser here or there upon the +coast, had an excellent opportunity of getting their throats cut or +their heads broken, or of making a decent livelihood by conniving at +the transactions they were sent down to stop, as the peculiar +temperament of each individual might render such operations pleasant +to him. Thus, to use one of the smugglers' own expressions--a +<i>roaring</i> trade in contraband goods was going on along the whole +British coast, with very little let or hindrance.</p> + +<p class="normal">As there are land-sharks and water-sharks, so were there then (and so +are there now) land-smugglers and water-smugglers. The latter brought +the objects of their commerce, either from foreign countries or from +foreign vessels, and landed them on the coast--and a bold, daring, +reckless body of men they were; the former, in gangs, consisting +frequently of many hundreds, generally well mounted and armed, +conveyed the commodities so landed into the interior, and distributed +them to others, who retailed them as occasion required. Nor were these +gentry one whit less fearless, enterprising, and lawless than their +brethren of the sea.</p> + +<p class="normal">We have not yet done, however, with all the ramifications of this vast +and magnificent league, for it extended itself, in the districts where +it existed, to almost every class of society. Each tradesman smuggled +or dealt in smuggled goods; each public house was supported by +smugglers, and gave them in return every facility possible; each +country gentleman on the coast dabbled a little in the interesting +traffic; almost every magistrate shared in the proceeds or partook of +the commodities. Scarcely a house but had its place of concealment, +which would accommodate either kegs or bales, or human beings, as the +case might be; and many streets in sea-port towns had private passages +from one house to another, so that the gentleman inquired for by the +officers at No. 1 was often walking quietly out of No. 20, while they +were searching for him in vain. The back of one street had always +excellent means of communication with the front of another; and the +gardens gave exit to the country with as little delay as possible.</p> + +<p class="normal">Of all counties, however, the most favoured by nature and by art for +the very pleasant and exciting sport of smuggling, was the county of +Kent; its geographical position, its local features, its variety of +coast, all afforded it the greatest advantages; and the daring +character of the natives on the shores of the Channel was sure to turn +those advantages to the purposes in question. Sussex, indeed, was not +without its share of facilities, nor did the Sussex men fail to +improve them; but they were so much farther off from the opposite +coast, that the commerce--which we may well call the regular +trade--was, at Hastings, Rye, and Winchelsea, in no degree to be +compared to that which was carried on from the North Foreland to +Romney Hoy.</p> + +<p class="normal">At one time, the fine level of "The Marsh," a dark night and a fair +wind, afforded a delightful opportunity for landing a cargo and +carrying it rapidly into the interior; at another time, Sandwich Flats +and Pevensey Bay presented a harbour of refuge, and a place of repose +to kegs innumerable and bales of great value; at another period, the +cliffs round Folkestone and near the South Foreland, saw spirits +travelling up by paths which seemed inaccessible to mortal foot; and +at another, the wild and broken ground at the back of Sandgate was +traversed by long trains of horses, escorting or carrying every +description of contraband articles.</p> + +<p class="normal">The interior of the country was not less favourable to the traffic +than the coast: large masses of wood, numerous gentlemen's parks, +hills and dales tossed about in wild confusion; roads such as nothing +but horses could travel, or men on foot, often constructed with felled +trees or broad stones laid side by side; wide tracts of ground, partly +copse and partly moor, called in that county "minnisses;" and a long +extent of the Weald of Kent, through which no high way existed, and +where such thing as coach or carriage was never seen, offered the land +smugglers opportunities of carrying on their transactions with the +degree of secrecy and safety which no other county afforded. Their +numbers, too, were so great, their boldness and violence so notorious, +their powers of injuring or annoying so various, that even those who +took no part in their operations were glad to connive at their +proceedings, and at times to aid in concealing their persons or their +goods. Not a park, not a wood, not a barn, did not at some period +afford them a refuge when pursued, or become a depository for their +commodities; and many a man, on visiting his stable or his cart-shed +early in the morning, found it tenanted by anything but horses or +wagons. The churchyards were frequently crowded at night by other +spirits than those of the dead, and not even the church was exempted +from such visitations.</p> + +<p class="normal">None of the people of the county took notice of, or opposed these +proceedings; the peasantry laughed at, or aided, and very often got a +good day's work, or, at all events, a jug of genuine hollands from the +friendly smugglers; the clerk and the sexton willingly aided and +abetted, and opened the door of vault, or vestry, or church, for the +reception of the passing goods; the clergyman shut his eyes if he saw +tubs or stone jars in his way; and it is remarkable what good brandy +punch was generally to be found at the house of the village pastor. +The magistrates of the county, when called upon to aid in pursuit of +the smugglers, looked grave, and swore in constables very slowly; +despatched servants on horseback to see what was going on, and ordered +the steward or the butler to "<i>send the sheep to the wood</i>," an +intimation that was not lost upon those for whom it was intended. The +magistrates and officers of seaport towns were in general so deeply +implicated in the trade themselves, that smuggling had a fairer chance +than the law, in any case that came before them, and never was a more +hopeless enterprise undertaken, in ordinary circumstances, than that +of convicting a smuggler, unless captured in flagrant delict.</p> + +<p class="normal">Were it only our object to depict the habits and manners of these +worthy people, we might take any given part of the seaward side of +Kent that we chose for particular description, for it was all the +same. No railroads had penetrated through the country then; no coast +blockade was established; even martello-towers were unknown; and in +the general confederacy or understanding which existed throughout the +whole of the county, the officers found it nearly a useless task to +attempt to execute their duty. Nevertheless, as it is a tale I have to +tell, not a picture to paint, I may as well dwell for a few minutes +upon the scene of the principal adventures about to be related. A long +range of hills, varying greatly in height and steepness, runs nearly +down the centre of the county of Kent, throwing out spurs or +buttresses in different directions, and sometimes leaving broad and +beautiful valleys between. The origin or base, if we may so call it, +of this range is the great Surrey chain of hills; not that it is +perfectly connected with that chain, for in many places a separation +is found, through which the Medway, the Stour, and several smaller +rivers wind onward to the Thames or to the sea; but still the general +connexion is sufficiently marked, and from Dover and Folkestone, by +Chart, Lenham, Maidstone, and Westerham on the one side, and Barham, +Harbledown, and Rochester on the other, the road runs generally over a +long line of elevated ground, only dipping down here and there to +visit some town or city of importance which has nested itself in one +of the lateral valleys, or strayed out into the plain.</p> + +<p class="normal">On the northern side of the county, a considerable extent of flat +ground extends along the bank and estuary of the Thames from Greenwich +to Sandwich and Deal. On the southern side, a still wider extent lies +between the high-land and the borders of Sussex. This plain or valley +as perhaps it may be called, terminates at the sea by the renowned +flat of Romney Marsh. Farther up, somewhat narrowing as it goes, it +takes the name of the Weald of Kent, comprising some very rich land +and a number of small villages, with one or two towns of no very great +importance. This Weald of Kent is bordered all along by the southern +side of the hilly range we have mentioned; but strange to say, +although a very level piece of ground was to be had through this +district, the high road perversely pursued its way up and down the +hills, by Lenham and Charing, till it thought fit to descend to +Ashford, and thence once more make its way to Folkestone. Thus a great +part of the Weald of Kent was totally untravelled; and at one village +of considerable size, which now hears almost hourly the panting and +screaming steam-engine whirled by, along its iron course, I have +myself seen the whole population of the place turn out to behold the +wonderful phenomenon of a coach-and-four, the first that was ever +beheld in the place. Close to the sea the hills are bare enough; but +at no great distance inland, they become rich in wood, and the Weald, +whether arable or pasture, or hop-garden or orchard, is so divided +into small fields by numerous hedgerows of fine trees, and so +diversified by patches of woodland, that, seen at a little distance up +the hill--not high enough to view it like a map--it assumes, in the +leafy season, almost the look of a forest partially cleared.</p> + +<p class="normal">Along the southern edge, then, of the hills we have mentioned, and in +the plainer valley that stretches away from their feet, among the +woods, and hedgerows, and villages, and parks which embellish that +district, keeping generally in Kent, but sometimes trespassing a +little upon the fair county of Sussex, lies the scene of the tale +which is to follow, at a period when the high calling, or vocation, of +smuggling was in its most palmy days. But, ere I proceed to conduct +the reader into the actual locality where the principal events here +recorded really took place, I must pause for an instant in the +capital, to introduce him to one or two travelling companions.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="div1_02" href="#div1Ref_02">CHAPTER II.</a></h2> +<br> + +<p class="normal">It was in the gray of the morning--and very gray, indeed, the morning +was, with much more black than white in the air, much more of night +still remaining in the sky than of day appearing in the east--when, +from the old Golden Cross, Charing Cross, or rather from the low and +narrow archway which, at that time, gave exit from its yard into the +open street exactly opposite the statue of King Charles, issued forth +a vehicle which had not long lost the name of diligence, and assumed +that of stage-coach. Do not let the reader delude himself into the +belief that it was like the stage-coach of his own recollections in +any other respect than in having four wheels, and two doors, and +windows. Let not fancy conjure up before him flat sides of a bright +claret colour, and a neat boot as smooth and shining as a looking +glass, four bays, or browns, or greys, three-parts blood, and a +coachman the pink of all propriety. Nothing of the kind was there. The +vehicle was large and roomy, capable of containing within, at least, +six travellers of large size. It was hung in a somewhat straggling +manner upon its almost upright springs, and was elevated far above any +necessary pitch. The top was decorated with round iron rails on either +side; and multitudinous were the packages collected upon the space so +enclosed; while a large cage-like instrument behind contained one or +two travellers, and a quantity of parcels. The colour of the sides was +yellow, but the numerous inscriptions which they bore in white +characters left little of the groundwork to be seen; for the name of +every place at which the coach stopped was there written for the +convenience of travellers who might desire to visit any town upon the +road; so that each side seemed more like a leaf out of a topographical +dictionary of the county of Kent than anything else. Underneath +the carriage was a large wicker basket, or cradle, also filled with +trunk-mails, and various other contrivances for holding the goods and +chattels of passengers; and the appearance of the whole was as +lumbering and heavy as that of a hippopotamus. The coachman mounted on +the box was a very different looking animal even from our friend Mr. +Weller, though the inimitable portrait of that gentleman is now, alas, +but a record of an extinct creature! However, as we have little to do +with the driver of the coach, I shall not pause to give a long account +of his dress or appearance; and, only noticing that the horses before +him formed as rough and shambling a team of nags as ever were seen, +shall proceed to speak of the travellers who occupied the interior of +the vehicle.</p> + +<p class="normal">Although, as we have seen, the coach would have conveniently contained +six, it was now only tenanted by three persons. The first, who had +entered at the Golden Cross, Charing Cross, was a tall, thin, elderly +gentleman, dressed with scrupulous care and neatness. His linen and +his neckcloth were as white as snow, his shoes, his silk stockings, +his coat, his waistcoat, and his breeches as black as jet; his hat was +in the form of a Banbury cake; the buckles in his shoes and at his +knees were large and resplendent; and a gold-headed cane was in his +hand. To keep him from the cold, he had provided himself with a +garment which would either serve for a cloak or a coat, as he might +find agreeable, being extensive enough for the former, and having +sleeves to enable it to answer the purpose of the latter. His hair and +eyebrows were as white as driven snow, but his eyes were still keen, +quick, and lively. His colour was high, his teeth were remarkably +fine, and the expression of his countenance was both intelligent and +benevolent, though there was a certain degree of quickness in the turn +of the eyes, which, together with a sudden contraction of the brow +when anything annoyed him, and a mobility of the lips, seemed to +betoken a rather hasty and irascible spirit.</p> + +<p class="normal">He had not been in the coach more than a minute and a half--but was +beginning to look at a huge watch which he drew from his fob, and to +"pish" at the coachman for being a minute behind his time--when he was +joined by two other travellers of a very different appearance and age +from himself. The one who entered first was a well-made, powerful man, +who might be either six-and-twenty or two-and-thirty. He could not +well be younger than the first of those two terms, for he had all the +breadth and vigorous proportions of fully-developed manhood. He could +not be well older than the latter, for not a trace of passing years, +no wrinkle, no furrow, no grayness of hair, no loss of any youthful +grace was apparent. Although covered by a large rough coat, then +commonly called a wrap-rascal, of the coarsest materials and the +rudest form, there was something in his demeanour and his look which +at once denoted the gentleman. His hat, too, his gloves, and his +boots, which were the only other parts of his dress that the loose +coat we have mentioned suffered to be seen, were all not only good, +but of the best quality. Though his complexion was dark, and his skin +bronzed almost to a mahogany colour by exposure to sun and wind, the +features were all fine and regular, and the expression high toned, but +somewhat grave, and even sad. He seated himself quietly in the corner +of the coach, with his back to the horses; and folding his arms upon +his broad chest, gazed out of the window with an abstracted look, +though his eyes were turned towards a man with a lantern who was +handing something up to the coachman. Thus the old gentleman on the +opposite side had a full view of his countenance, and seemed, by the +gaze which he fixed upon it, to study it attentively.</p> + +<p class="normal">The second of the two gentlemen I have mentioned entered immediately +after the first, and was about the same age, but broader in make, and +not quite so tall. He was dressed in the height of the mode of that +day; and, though not in uniform, bore about him several traces of +military costume, which were, indeed, occasionally affected by the +dapper shopmen of that period, when they rode up Rotten Row or walked +the Mall, but which harmonized so well with his whole appearance and +demeanour, as to leave no doubt of their being justly assumed. His +features were not particularly good, but far from ugly, his complexion +fair, his hair strong and curly; and he would have passed rather for a +handsome man than otherwise, had not a deep scar, as if from a +sabre-wound, traversed his right cheek and part of his upper lip. His +aspect was gay, lively, and good-humoured, and yet there were some +strong lines of thought about his brow, with a slightly sarcastic turn +of the muscles round the corner of his mouth and nostrils. On +entering, he seated himself opposite the second traveller, but without +speaking to him, so that the old gentleman who first tenanted the +coach could not tell whether they came together or not; and the moment +after they had entered, the door was closed, the clerk of the inn +looked at the way-bill, the coachman bestowed two or three strokes of +his heavy whip on the flanks of his dull cattle, and the lumbering +machine moved heavily out, and rolled away towards Westminster Bridge.</p> + +<p class="normal">The lights which were under the archway had enabled the travellers to +see each other's faces, but when once they had got into the street, +the thickness of the air, and the grayness of the dawn, rendered +everything indistinct, except the few scattered globe lamps which +still remained blinking at the sides of the pavement. The old +gentleman sunk back in his corner, wrapped his cloak about him for a +nap, and was soon in the land of forgetfulness. His slumbers did not +continue very long, however; and when he woke up at the Loompit Hill, +he found the sky all rosy with the beams of the rising sun, the +country air light and cheerful, and his two companions talking +together in familiar tones. After rousing himself, and putting down +the window, he passed about five minutes either in contemplating the +hedges by the roadside, all glittering in the morning dew, or in +considering the faces of his two fellow-travellers, and making up his +mind as to their characters and qualities. At the end of that time, as +they had now ceased speaking, he said--</p> + +<p class="normal">"A beautiful day, gentlemen. I was sure it would be so when we set +out."</p> + +<p class="normal">The darker and the graver traveller made no reply, but the other +smiled good-humouredly, and inquired--</p> + +<p class="normal">"May I ask by what you judged, for to me the morning seemed to promise +anything but fine weather?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Two things--two things, my dear sir," answered the gentleman in +black. "An old proverb and a bad almanack."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Indeed!" exclaimed the other. "I should have thought it a very good +almanack if it told me to a certainty what sort of weather it would +be."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ay, but how did it tell me?" rejoined the elderly traveller, leaning +his hand upon the gold head of his cane. "It declared we should have +torrents of rain. Now, sir, the world is composed of a great mass of +fools with a small portion of sensible men, who, like a little +quantity of yeast in a large quantity of dough, make the dumpling not +quite so bad as it might be. Of all the fools that I ever met with, +however, the worst are scientific fools, for they apply themselves to +tell all the other fools in the world that of which they themselves +know nothing, or at all events very little, which is worse. I have +examined carefully, in the course of a long life, how to deal with +these gentry, and I find that if you believe the exact reverse of any +information they give you, you will be right nine hundred and +ninety-seven times out of a thousand. I made a regular calculation of +it some years ago; and although at first sight it would seem that the +chances are equal, that these men should be right or wrong, I found +the result as I have stated, and have acted upon it ever since in +perfect security. If they trusted to mere guess work, the chances +might, perhaps, be equal, but they make such laborious endeavours to +lead themselves wrong, and so studiously avoid everything that could +lead them right, that the proportion is vastly against them."</p> + +<p class="normal">"If such be their course of proceeding, the result will be naturally +as you say," answered the gentleman to whom he spoke; "but I should +think that as the variations of the weather must proceed from natural +causes constantly recurring, observation and calculation might arrive +at some certainty regarding them."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Hold the sea in the hollow of your hand," cried the old gentleman, +impatiently; "make the finite contain the infinite; put twenty +thousand gallons into a pint pot,--and when you have done all that, +then calculate the causes that produce rain to-day and wind to-morrow, +or sunshine one day and clouds the next. Men say the same cause +acting under the same circumstances will always produce the same +effect--good; I grant that, merely for the sake of argument. But I +contend that the same effect may be produced by a thousand causes or +more. A man knocks you down; you fall: that's the effect produced by +one cause; but a fit of apoplexy may make you fall exactly in the same +way. Then apply the cause at the other end if you like, and trip your +foot over a stone, or over some bunches of long grass that mischievous +boys have tied across the path--down you come, just as if a +quarrelsome companion had tapped you on the head. No, no, sir; the +only way of ascertaining what the weather will be from one hour to +another is by a barometer. That's not very sure, and the best I know +of is a cow's tail, or a piece of dried seaweed. But these men of +science, they do nothing but go out mare's-nesting from morning till +night, and a precious number of horses' eggs they have found!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Thus commenced a conversation which lasted for some time, and in which +the younger traveller seemed to find some amusement, plainly +perceiving, what the reader has already discovered, that his elderly +companion was an oddity. The other tenant of the coach made no +observation, but remained with his arms folded on his chest, sometimes +looking out of the window, sometimes gazing down at his own knee in +deep thought. About ten miles from town the coach passed some led +horses, with the grooms that were conducting them; and, as is natural +for young men, both the old gentleman's fellow-travellers put their +heads to the window, and examined the animals with a scrutinizing eye.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Fine creatures, fine creatures--horses!" said the gentleman in black.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Those are very fine ones," answered the graver of the two young men; +"I think I never saw better points about any beast than that black +charger."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ay, sir; you are a judge of horse-flesh, I suppose," rejoined the old +gentleman; "but I was speaking of horses in the abstract. They are +noble creatures indeed; and as matters have fallen out in this world, +I can't help thinking that there is a very bad arrangement, and that +those at the top of the tree should be a good way down. If all +creatures had their rights, man would not be the cock of the walk, as +he is now--a feeble, vain, self-sufficient, sensual monkey, who has no +farther advantages over other apes than being able to speak and cook +his dinner."</p> + +<p class="normal">"May I ask," inquired the livelier of the two young men, "what is the +gentlemanly beast you would put over his head?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"A great many--a great many," replied the other. "Dogs, +horses--elephants, certainly; I think elephants at the top. I am not +sure how I would class lions and tigers, who decidedly have one +advantage over man, that of being stronger and nobler beasts of prey. +He is only at the head of the tribe Simia, and should be described by +naturalists as the largest, cunningest, and most gluttinous of +baboons."</p> + +<p class="normal">The gay traveller laughed aloud; and even his grave companion smiled, +saying, drily, "On my life, I believe there's some truth in it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Truth, sir!" exclaimed the old gentleman. "It's as true as we are +living. How dare man compare himself to a dog? an animal with greater +sagacity, stronger affections, infinitely more honour and honesty, a +longer memory, and a truer heart. I would not be a man if I could be a +dog, I can assure you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Many a man leads the life of a dog," said the gay traveller. "I'm +sure I have, for the last five or six years."</p> + +<p class="normal">"If you have led as honest a life, sir," rejoined the old man, "you +may be very proud of it."</p> + +<p class="normal">What the other would have answered cannot be told, for at that moment +the coach stopped to change horses, which was an operation in those +days, occupying about a quarter of an hour, and the whole party got +out and went into the little inn to obtain some breakfast; for between +London and Folkestone, which was to be the ultimate resting-place of +the vehicle, two hours and a half, upon the whole, were consumed with +breakfast, dinner, tea, and supper. Thus any party of travellers +proceeding together throughout the entire journey, had a much better +opportunity of becoming thoroughly acquainted with each other than +many a man has before marriage with the wife he takes to his bosom.</p> + +<p class="normal">Though the conversation of the old gentleman was, as the reader has +perceived, somewhat morose and misanthropical, he showed himself very +polite and courteous at the breakfast table, made the tea, carved the +ham, and asked every man if he took cream and sugar. What wonderful +things little attentions are--how they smooth down our asperities and +soften us to one another! The two younger gentlemen had looked upon +their elderly companion merely as that curious compound which we have +before mentioned--an oddity, and which, like a pinch of strong snuff, +stimulates us without being very pleasant; but now they began to think +him a very nice old gentleman, and even the graver of the pair +conversed with him almost cheerfully for the short space of time their +meal occupied. When they had finished, and paid the score, the whole +party walked out together to the front of the house, where they found +a poor beggar woman with a child in her arms. Each gave her something, +but the elderly man stopped to inquire farther, and the others walked +up and down for a few minutes, till the coachman, who was making +himself comfortable by the absorption of his breakfast, and the horses +who were undergoing the opposite process in the application of their +harness, at length made their appearance. The two younger gentlemen +turned their eyes from time to time, as they walked, to their elderly +friend, who seemed to be scolding the poor woman most vehemently. His +keen black eyes sparkled, his brow contracted, he spoke with great +volubility, and demonstrated somewhat largely with the forefinger of +his right hand. What were their internal comments upon this conduct +did not appear; but both were a good deal surprised to see him, in the +end, put his hand into his breeches pocket, draw forth a piece of +money--it was not silver for it was yellow, and it was not copper for +it was too bright--and slip it quietly into the poor woman's palm. He +next gave a quiet, almost a timid glance around, to see if any one +were looking, and then stepped rapidly into the coach, as if he were +ashamed of what he had done. During all this proceeding he had taken +no notice of his two companions, nor at all listened to what they were +talking of; but as they entered the vehicle, while the horses were +being put to, the one said to the other, "I think you had better do +so, a great deal. It is as well to have the <i>carte du pays</i> before one +commences operations."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well," replied the other, "you take the lead, Edward. The wound is +still painful, though it is an old one."</p> + +<p class="normal">What they were talking of their companion could not tell; but it +excited, in some degree, his curiosity; and the manners of his two +companions had, to say the truth, pleased him, though he was one of +those men who, with very benevolent feelings at the bottom, are but +little inclined to acknowledge that they are well pleased with +anything or with anybody. For a moment or two all parties were silent; +but the elderly gentleman was the first to begin, saying, in a more +placable and complimentary tone than he was in general accustomed to +use, "I hope I am to have the pleasure of your society, gentlemen, to +the end of my journey?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I rather think we shall be your companions as far as you go," replied +the gayer of the two young men, "for we are wending down to the far, +wild parts of Kent; and it is probable you will not go beyond +Folkestone, unless, indeed, you are about to cross the seas."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not I," exclaimed the old gentleman--"I have crossed the seas enough +in my day, and never intend to set my foot out of my own country +again, till four stout fellows carry me to the churchyard. No, no; +you'll journey beyond me a long way, for I am only going to a little +place called Harbourne, some distance on the Sussex side of +Folkestone: a place quite out of the world, with no bigger a town near +it than Cranbrook, and where we see the face of a human creature above +the rank of a farmer, or a smuggler about once in the year--always +excepting the parson of the parish."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then you turn off from Maidstone?" said the graver traveller, looking +steadfastly in his face.</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, I don't," replied the other. "Never, my dear sir, come to +conclusions where you don't know the premises. I go, on the contrary, +to Ashford, where I intend to sleep. I am there to be joined by a +worthy brother of mine, and then we return together to Cranbrook. You +are quite right, indeed, that my best and straightest road would be, +as you say, from Maidstone; but we can't always take the straightest +road in this world, though young men think they can, and old men only +learn too late that they cannot."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have good reason to know the fact," said the gayer of his two +fellow travellers; "I myself am going to the very same part of the +country you mention, but have to proceed still farther out of my way; +for I must visit Hythe and Folkestone first."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Indeed, indeed!" exclaimed their elderly friend. "Do you know any +body in that part of Kent?--Have you ever been there before?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Never," replied the other; "nor have I ever seen the persons I am +going to see. What sort of a country is it?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Bless the young man's life!" exclaimed the gentleman in black, "does +he expect me to give him a long picturesque description of St. +Augustine's Lathe? If you wish to know my opinion of it, it is as wild +and desolate a part of the world as the backwoods of America, and the +people little better than American savages. You'll find plenty of +trees, a few villages, some farm-houses, one or two gentlemen's +seats--they had better have called them stools--a stream or two, a +number of hills and things of that kind; and your humble servant, who +would be very happy to see you, if you are not a smuggler, and are +coming to that part of the country."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I shall not fail to pay my respects to you," replied the gentleman to +whom he spoke; "but I must first know who I am to inquire for."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Pay your respect where it is due, my dear sir," rejoined the other. +"You can't tell a whit whether I deserve any respect or not. You'll +find out all that by and by. As to what I am called, I could give you +half a dozen names. Some people call me the Bear, some people the +Nabob, some the Misanthrope; but my real name--that which I am known +by at the post-office--is Mr. Zachary Croyland, brother of the man who +has Harbourne House: a younger brother too, by God's blessing--and a +great blessing it is."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is lucky when every man is pleased with his situation," answered +his young acquaintance. "Most elder brothers thank God for making them +such, and I have often had cause to do the same."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It's the greatest misfortune that can happen to a man," exclaimed the +old gentleman, eagerly. "What are elder brothers, but people who are +placed by fate in the most desperate and difficult circumstances. +Spoilt and indulged in their infancy, taught to be vain and idle and +conceited from the cradle, deprived of every inducement to the +exertion of mind, corrupted by having always their own way, sheltered +from all the friendly buffets of the world, and left, like a pond in a +gravel pit, to stagnate or evaporate without stirring. Nine times out +of ten from mere inanition they fall into every sort of vice; forget +that they have duties as well as privileges, think that the slice of +the world that has been given to them is entirely at their own +pleasure and disposal, spend their fortunes, encumber their estates, +bully their wives and their servants, indulge their eldest son till he +is just such a piece of unkneaded dough as themselves, kick out their +younger sons into the world without a farthing, and break their +daughters' hearts by forcing them to marry men they hate. That's what +elder brothers are made for; and to be one, I say again, is the +greatest curse that can fall upon a man. But come, now I have told you +my name, tell me yours. That's but a fair exchange you know, and no +robbery, and I hate going on calling people 'sir' for ever."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Quite a just demand," replied the gentleman whom he addressed, "and +you shall immediately have the whole particulars. My name is Digby, a +poor major in his Majesty's ---- regiment of Dragoons, to whom the two +serious misfortunes have happened of being born an eldest son, and +having a baronetcy thrust upon him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Couldn't be worse--couldn't be worse!" replied the old gentleman, +laughing. "And so you are Sir Edward Digby! Oh yes. I can tell you, +you are expected, and have been so these three weeks. The whole +matter's laid out for you in every house in the country. You are to +marry every unmarried woman in the hundred. The young men expect you +to do nothing but hunt foxes, course hares, and shoot partridges from +morning till night; and the old men have made up their minds that you +shall drink port, claret, or madeira, as the case may be, from night +till morning. I pity you--upon my life, I pity you. What between love +and wine and field sports, you'll have a miserable time of it! Take +care how you speak a single word to any single woman! Don't even smile +upon Aunt Barbara, or she'll make you a low curtsey, and say 'You must +ask my brother about the settlement, my dear Edward.' Ha, ha, ha!" and +he laughed a long, merry, hearty peal, that made the rumbling vehicle +echo again. Then putting the gold-headed cane to his lips, he turned a +sly glance upon the other traveller, who was only moved to a very +faint smile by all the old gentleman's merriment, asking, "Does this +gentleman come with you?--Are you to be made a martyr of too, sir? Are +you to be set running after foxes all day, like a tiger on horseback, +and to have sheep's eyes cast at you all the evening, like a man in +the pillory pelted with eggs? Are you bound to imbibe a butt of claret +in three weeks? Poor young men--poor young men! My bowels of +compassion yearn towards you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I shall fortunately escape all such perils," replied he whom he had +last addressed--"I have no invitation to that part of the country."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Come, then, I'll give you one," said the old gentleman; "if you like +to come and stay a few days with an old bachelor, who will neither +make you drunk nor make you foolish, I shall be glad to see you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am not very likely to get drunk," answered the other, "as an old +wound compels me to be a water drinker. Foolish enough I may be, and +may have been; but, I am sure, that evil would not be increased by +frequenting your society, my dear sir."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I don't know--I don't know, young gentleman," said Mr. Croyland: +"every man has his follies, and I amongst the rest as goodly a +bag-full as one could well desire. But you have not given me an +answer; shall I see you? Will you come with your friend, and take up +your abode at a single man's house, while Sir Edward goes and charms +the ladies."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I cannot come with him, I am afraid," replied the young gentleman, +"for I must remain with the regiment some time; but I will willingly +accept your invitation, and join him in a week or two."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh you're in the same regiment, are you?" asked Mr. Croyland; "it's +not a whole regiment of elder sons, I hope?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh no," answered the other, "I have the still greater misfortune of +being an only son; and the greater one still, of being an orphan."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And may I know your style and denomination?" said Mr. Croyland.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, Osborn, Osborn!" cried Sir Edward Digby, before his friend could +speak, "Captain Osborn of the ---- Dragoons."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will put that down in my note-book," rejoined the old gentleman. +"The best friend I ever had was named Osborn. He couldn't be your +father, though, for he had no children, poor fellow! and was never +married, which was the only blessing Heaven ever granted him, except a +good heart and a well-regulated mind. His sister married my old +schoolfellow, Leyton--but that's a bad story, and a sad story, though +now it's an old story, too."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Indeed!" said Sir Edward Digby; "I'm fond of old stories if they are +good ones."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But, I told you this was a bad one, Sir Ned," rejoined the old +gentleman sharply; "and as my brother behaved very ill to poor Leyton, +the less we say of it the better. The truth is," he continued, for he +was one of those who always refuse to tell a story, and tell it after +all, "Leyton was rector of a living which was in my brother's gift. He +was only to hold it, however, till my youngest nephew was of age to +take it; but when the boy died--as they both did sooner or +later--Leyton held the living on, and thought it was his own, till one +day there came a quarrel between him and my brother, and then Robert +brought forward his letter promising to resign when called upon, and +drove him out. I wasn't here then; but I have heard all about it +since, and a bad affair it was. It should not have happened if I had +been here, for Bob has a shrewd eye to the nabob's money, as well he +may, seeing that he's----but that's no business of mine. If he chooses +to dribble through his fortune, Heaven knows how, I've nothing to do +with it! The two poor girls will suffer."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What, your brother has two fair daughters then, has he?" demanded Sir +Edward Digby. "I suppose it is under the artillery of their glances I +am first to pass; for, doubtless, you know I am going to your +brother's."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, yes, I know--I know all about it!" replied Mr. Croyland. "They +tell me everything as in duty bound--that's to say, everything they +don't wish to conceal. But I'm consulted like an oracle upon all +things unimportant; for he that was kicked out with a sixpence into +the wide world, has grown a wonderful great man since the sixpence has +multiplied itself. As to your having to pass under the artillery of +the girls' glances, however, you must take care of yourself; for you +might stand a less dangerous fire, I can tell you, even in a field of +battle. But I'll give you one warning for your safeguard. You may make +love to little Zara as long as you like--think of the fools calling +her Zara! Though she'll play a pretty game of picquet with you, you +may chance to win it; but you must not dangle after Edith, or you will +burn your fingers. She'll not have you, if you were twenty baronets, +and twenty majors of Dragoons into the bargain. She has got some of +the fancies of the old uncle about her, and is determined to die an +old maid, I can see."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, the difficulty of the enterprise would only be a soldier's reason +for undertaking it!" said Sir Edward Digby.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It wont do--it wont do;" answered Mr. Croyland, laughing; "you may +think yourself very captivating, very conquering, quite a look-and-die +man, as all you people in red jackets fancy yourselves, but it will be +all lost labour with Edith, I can tell you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You excite all the martial ardour in my soul!" exclaimed Digby, with +a gay smile; "and if she be not forty, hump-backed, or one eyed, by +the fates you shall see what you shall see."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Forty!" cried Mr. Croyland; "why she's but two-and-twenty, man!--a +great deal straighter than that crouching wench in white marble they +call the 'Venus de Medici,' and with a pair of eyes, that, on my life, +I think would have made me forswear celibacy, if I had found such +looking at me, any time before I reached fifty!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you hear that, Osborn?" cried Sir Edward Digby. "Here's a fine +field for an adventurous spirit. I shall have the start of you, my +friend; and in the wilds of Kent, what may not be done in ten days or +a fortnight?"</p> + +<p class="normal">His companion only answered by a melancholy smile; and the +conversation went on between the old gentleman and the young baronet +till they reached the small town of Lenham, where they stopped again +to dine. There, however, Mr. Croyland drew Sir Edward Digby aside, and +inquired in a low tone, "Is your friend in love?--He looks mighty +melancholy."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I believe he is," replied Digby. "Love's the only thing that can make +a man melancholy; and when one comes to consider all the attractions +of a squaw of the Chippeway Indians, it is no wonder that my friend is +in such a hopeless case."</p> + +<p class="normal">The old gentleman poked him with his finger, and shook his head with a +laugh, saying--"You are a wag, young gentleman--you are a wag; but it +would be a great deal more reasonable, let me tell you, to fall in +love with a Chippeway squaw, in her feathers and wampam, than with one +of these made-up madams, all paint and satin, and tawdry bits of +embroidery. In the one case you might know something of what your love +is like; in the other, I defy you to know anything about her; and, +nine times out of ten, what, a man marries is little better than a +bale of tow and whalebone, covered over with the excrement of a +silkworm. Man's a strange animal; and one of the strangest of all his +proceedings is, that of covering up his own natural skin with all +manner of contrivances derived from every bird, beast, fish, and +vegetable, that happens to come in his way. If he wants warmth, he +goes and robs a sheep of its great coat; he beats the unfortunate +grass of the field, till he leaves nothing but shreds, to make himself +a shirt; he skins a beaver, to cover his head; and, if he wants to be +exceedingly fine, he pulls the tail of an ostrich, and sticks the +feather in his hat. He's the universal mountebank, depend upon it, +playing his antics for the amusement of creation, and leaving nothing +half so ridiculous as himself."</p> + +<p class="normal">Thus saying, he turned round again, and joined Captain Osborn, in +whom, perhaps, he took a greater interest than even in his livelier +companion. It might be that the associations called up by the name +were pleasant to him, or it might be that there was something in his +face that interested him, for certainly that face was one which seemed +to become each moment more handsome as one grew familiar with it.</p> + +<p class="normal">When, after dinner, they re-entered the vehicle, and rolled away once +more along the high road, Captain Osborn took a greater share in the +conversation than he had previously done; and remarking that Mr. +Croyland had put, as a condition, upon his invitation to Sir Edward, +that he should not be a smuggler, he went on to observe, "You seem to +have a great objection to those gentry, my dear sir; and yet I +understand your county is full of them."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Full of them!" exclaimed Mr. Croyland--"it is running over with them. +They drop down into Sussex, out into Essex, over into Surrey; the +vermin are more numerous than rats in an old barn. Not that, when a +fellow is poor, and wants money, and can get it by no other +means,--not that I think very hard of him when he takes to a life of +risk and adventure, where his neck is not worth sixpence, and his gain +is bought by the sweat of his brow. But your gentleman smuggler is my +abomination--your fellow that risks little but an exchequer process, +and gains ten times what the others do, without their labour or their +danger. Give me your bold, brave fellow, who declares war and fights +it out. There's some spirit in him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Gentlemen smugglers!" said Osborn; "that seems to me to be a strange +sort of anomaly. I was not aware that there were such things."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Pooh! the country is full of them," cried Mr. Croyland. "It is not +here that the peasant treads upon the kybe of the peer; but the +smuggler treads upon the country gentlemen. Many a merchant who never +made a hundred pounds by fair trade, makes thousands and hundreds of +thousands by cheating the Customs. There is not a man in this part of +the country who does not dabble in the traffic more or less. I've no +doubt all my brandied cherries are steeped in stuff that never paid +duty; and if you don't smuggle yourself, your servants do it for you. +But I'll tell you all about it," and he proceeded to give them a true +and faithful exposition of the state of the county, agreeing in all +respects with that which has been furnished to the reader in the first +chapter of this tale.</p> + +<p class="normal">His statement and the various conversation, which arose from different +parts of it, occupied the time fully, till the coach, as it was +growing dark, rolled into Ashford. There Mr. Croyland quitted his two +companions, shaking them each by the hand with right goodwill; and +they pursued their onward course to Hythe and Folkestone, without any +farther incident worthy of notice.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="div1_03" href="#div1Ref_03">CHAPTER III.</a></h2> +<br> + +<p class="normal">At Hythe, to make use of a very extraordinary though not uncommon +expression, the coach stopped to sup--not that the coach itself ate +anything, for, on the contrary, it disgorged that which it had already +taken in; but the travellers who descended from it were furnished with +supper, although the distance to Folkestone might very well have +justified them in going on to the end of their journey without any +other pabulum than that which they had already received. But two or +three things are to be taken into consideration. The distance from +London to Folkestone is now seventy-one miles. It was longer in those +days by several more, besides having the disadvantage of running up +and down over innumerable hills, all of which were a great deal more +steep than they are in the present day. The journey, which the +travellers accomplished, was generally considered a feat both of +difficulty and danger, and the coach which performed that feat in one +day, was supposed to deserve right well the name which it had assumed, +of "The Phenomenon." Before it began to run, seventy-one miles in +seventeen hours was considered an impracticable journey for anything +but a man on horseback, and when first the coach appeared upon the +road, the towns-people and villagers turned out in multitudes, with +admiration and wonder, not unmixed with dread, to see the rapid rate +at which it went--very nearly six miles an hour! The old diligence, +which had preceded it, had slept one night, and sometimes two, upon +the road; and, in its first vain struggles with its more rapid +successor, it had actually once or twice made the journey in +two-and-twenty hours. To beat off this pertinacious rival, the +proprietor of the stage had been obliged to propitiate the inn-keepers +of various important towns, by dividing his favours amongst them; and +thus the traveller was forced to wait nearly one hour at Hythe, during +which he might sup if he liked, although he was only about five miles +from Folkestone.</p> + +<p class="normal">The supper room of the inn was vacant when the two officers of +Dragoons entered, but the table, covered with its neat white cloth, +and all the preparations for a substantial meal, together with a +bright fire sparkling in the grate, rendered its aspect cheerful and +reviving after a long and tedious journey, such as that which had just +been accomplished. Sir Edward Digby looked round well pleased, turned +his back to the fire, spoke to the landlord and his maid about supper, +and seemed disposed to enjoy himself during the period of his stay. He +ordered, too, a pint of claret, which he was well aware was likely to +be procured in great perfection upon the coast of Kent. The landlord +in consequence conceived a high respect for him, and very much +undervalued all the qualities of his companion, who, seating himself +at the table, leaned his head upon his hand, and fell into deep +thought, without giving orders for anything. The host, with his +attendant star, disappeared from the room to procure the requisites +for the travellers' meal, and Sir Edward Digby immediately took +advantage of their absence to say, "Come, come, my dear Colonel, shake +this off. I think all that we have lately heard should have tended to +revive hope, and to give comfort. During all the six years that we +have been more like brothers than friends, I have never seen you so +much cast down as now, when you are taking the field under the most +favourable circumstances, with name, station, reputation, fortune, and +with the best reason to believe those true whom you had been taught to +suppose false."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I cannot tell, Digby," replied his companion; "we shall hear more ere +long, and doubt is always well nigh as painful as the worst certainty. +Besides, I am returning to the scenes of my early youth--scenes +stored, it is true, with many a sweet and happy memory, but full also +of painful recollections. Those memories themselves are but as an +inscription on a tomb, where hopes and pleasures, the bright dreams of +youth, the ardent aspirations of first true love, the sweet +endearments of a happy home, the treasured caresses of the best of +mothers, the counsels, the kindness, the unvarying tenderness of the +noblest and highest minded of fathers, all lie buried. There may be a +pleasure in visiting that tomb, but it is a melancholy one; and when I +think that it was for me--that it was on my account, my father +suffered persecution and wrong, till a powerful mind, and a vigorous +frame gave way, there is a bitterness mingled with all my remembrances +of these scenes, from which I would fain clear my heart. I will do so, +too, but it will require some solitary thought, some renewed +familiarity with all the objects round, to take off the sharpness of +the first effect. You, go on to Folkestone and see that all is right +there, I will remain here and wait for the rest. As soon as you have +ascertained that everything is prepared to act in case we are called +upon--which I hope may not be the case, as I do not like the +service--you may betake yourself to Harbourne House, making me a +report as you pass. When I have so distributed the men that we can +rapidly concentrate a sufficient number upon any spot where they may +be required, I will come on after you to our good old friend's +dwelling. There you can see me, and let me know what is taking place."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I think you had better not let him know who you really are," replied +Sir Edward Digby, "at least till we have seen how the land lies."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not know--I will think of it," answered the other gentleman, +whom for the present we shall continue to call Osborn, though the +learned reader has already discovered that such was not his true name. +"It is evident," he continued, "that old Mr. Croyland does not +remember me, although I saw him frequently when he was in England for +a short time, some six or seven years before he finally quitted India. +However, though I feel I am much changed, it is probable that many +persons will recognise me whenever I appear in the neighbourhood of +Cranbrook, and he might take it ill, that he who was so good and true +a friend both to my uncle and my father, should be left in ignorance. +Perhaps it would be better to confide in him fully, and make him aware +of all my views and purposes."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Under the seal of confession, then," said his friend; "for he is +evidently a very talkative old gentleman. Did you remark how he once +or twice declared he would not tell a story, that it was no business +of his, and then went on to tell it directly."</p> + +<p class="normal">"True, such was always his habit," answered Osborn; "and his oddities +have got somewhat exaggerated during the last twelve years; but he's +as true and faithful as ever man was, and nothing would induce him to +betray a secret confided to him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You know best," replied the other; but the entrance of the landlord +with the claret, and the maid with the supper, broke off the +conversation, and there was no opportunity of renewing it till it was +announced that the horses were to, and the coach was ready. The two +friends then took leave of each other, both coachman and host being +somewhat surprised to find that one of the travellers was about to +remain behind.</p> + +<p class="normal">When, however, a portmanteau, a sword-case, and a large trunk, or mail +as it was then called, had been handed out of the egregious boot, +Osborn walked into the inn once more, and called the landlord to him. +"I shall, most likely," he said, "take up my quarters with you for +some days, so you will be good enough to have a bed room prepared for +me. You must also let me have a room, however small, where I can read, +and write, and receive any persons who may come to see me, for I have +a good deal of business to transact."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, yes, sir--I understand," replied the host, with a knowing +elevation of one eye-brow and a depression of the other, "Quite snug +and private. You shall have a room at the back of the house with two +doors, so that they can come in by the one, and go out through the +other, and nobody know anything about it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I rather suspect you mistake," answered the guest, with a smile, "and +for fear you should say anything, under an error, that you might be +sorry for afterwards, let me tell you at once that I am an officer of +Dragoons, and that the business I speak of is merely regimental +business."</p> + +<p class="normal">The host's face grew amazingly blank; for a smuggler in a large way +was, in his estimation, a much more valuable and important guest than +an officer in the army, even had he been Commander-in-Chief of the +forces; but Osborn proceeded to relieve his mind from some of its +anxieties by saying: "You will understand that I am neither a spy nor +an informer, my good friend, but merely come here to execute whatever +orders I may receive from government as a military man. I tell you who +I am at once, that you may, as far as possible, keep from my sight any +of those little transactions which I am informed are constantly taking +place on this coast. I shall not, of course, step over the line of my +duty, which is purely military, to report anything I see; but still I +should not like that any man should say I was cognizant of proceedings +contrary to the interests of the government. This hint, however, I +doubt not, will be enough."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Sir, you are a gentleman," said the host, "and as a nod is as good as +a wink to a blind horse, I shall take care you have no annoyance. You +must wait a little for your bed-room though, for we did not know you +were going to stay; but we will lose no time getting it ready. Can I +do anything else to serve you, sir?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I think not," replied Osborn. "But one thing will be necessary. I +expect five horses down to-morrow, and there must be found stabling +for them, and accommodation for the servants."</p> + +<p class="normal">The landlord, who was greatly consoled by these latter proofs of his +guest's opulence and importance, was proceeding to assure him that all +manner of conveniences, both for horse and man were to be found at his +inn, when the door of the room opened, and a third person was added to +the party within. The moment the eye of the traveller by the coach +fell upon him, his face lighted up with a well pleased smile, and he +exclaimed, "Ah, my good friend, is that you?--I little expected to +find you in this part of Kent. What brought you hither, after our long +voyage?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"The same that brought you," answered the other: "old memories and +loved associations."</p> + +<p class="normal">But before we proceed to notice what was Osborn's reply, we must, +though very unwilling to give long descriptions either of personal +appearance or of dress, pause to notice briefly those of the stranger +who had just entered.</p> + +<p class="normal">He had originally been a tall man, and probably a powerful one, but he +now stooped considerably, and was extremely thin. His face had no +colour in it, and even the lips were pale, but yet the hue was not +cadaverous, or even what could be called sickly. The features were +generally small and fine, except the eyes, which were large and +bright, with a sort of brilliant but unsafe fire in them, and that +peculiar searching and intense gaze when speaking to any one, which is +common to people of strong imaginations, who try to convey to others +more than they actually say. His forehead, too, was high and grand, +but wrinkled over with the furrows of thought and care; and on the +right side was a deep indentation, with a gash across it, as if the +skull had been driven in by a blow. His hair, which was long and thin, +was milk white, and though his teeth were fine, yet the wrinkles of +his skin, the peculiar roughness of the ear, and the shrivelled hand, +all bore testimony of an advanced age. Yet, perhaps, he might be +younger than he looked, for the light in that eager eye plainly spoke +one of those quick, anxious, ever labouring spirits which wear the +frame by the internal emotions, infinitely more rapidly and more +destructively than any of the external events and circumstances of +life. One thing was very peculiar about him--at least, in this +country--for on another continent such a peculiarity might have called +for no attention. On either cheek, beginning just behind the external +corner of the eye, and proceeding in a graceful wave all along the +cheek bone, turning round, like an acanthus leaf, at the other +extremity upon the cheek itself, was a long line of very minute blue +spots, with another, and another, and another beneath it, till the +whole assumed the appearance of a rather broad arabesque painted in +blue upon his face. His dress in other respects (if this tattooing +might be called a part of his dress) though coarse in texture was +good. The whole, too, was black, except where the white turned-down +collar of his shirt appeared between his coat and his pale brownish +skin. His shoes were large and heavy like those used by the countrymen +in that part of the county, and in them he wore a pair of silver +buckles, not very large, but which in their peculiar form and +ornaments, gave signs of considerable antiquity. Though bent, as we +have said, thin, and pale, he seemed active and energetic. All his +motions were quick and eager, and he grasped the hand which Osborn +extended to him, with a warmth and enthusiasm very different from the +ordinary expression of common friendship.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You mistake," said the young gentleman, in answer to his last +observation. "It was not old memories and loved associations which +brought me here at all, Mr. Warde. It was an order from the +commander-in-chief. Had I not received it, I should not have visited +this place for years--if ever!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, yes, you would," replied the old man; "you could not help +yourself. It was written in the book of your fate. It was not to be +avoided. You were drawn here by an irresistible impulse to undergo +what you have to undergo, to perform that which is assigned you, and +to do and suffer all those things which are written on high."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I wonder to hear <i>you</i> speaking in terms so like those of a fatalist," +answered Osborn--"you whom I have always heard so strenuously assert +man's responsibility for all his actions, and scoff at the idea of his +excusing himself on the plea of his predestination."</p> + +<p class="normal">"True, true," answered the old man whom he called +Warde,--"predestination affords him no excuse for aught that is wrong, +for though it be an inscrutable mystery how those three great facts +are to be reconciled, yet certain it is that Omniscience cannot be +ignorant of that which will take place, any more than of that which +has taken place; that everything which God foreknows, must take place, +and has been pre-determined by his will, and that yet--as every man +must feel within himself--his own actions depend upon his volition, +and if they be evil he alone is to blame. The end is to come, +Osborn--the end is to come when all will be revealed--and doubt not +that it will be for God's glory. I often think," he continued in a +less emphatic tone, "that man with his free will is like a child with +a plaything. We see the babe about to dash it against the wall in mere +wantonness, we know that he will injure it--perhaps break it to +pieces--perhaps hurt himself with it in a degree; we could prevent it, +yet we do not, thinking perhaps that it will be a lesson--one of +those, the accumulation of which makes experience, if not wisdom. At +all events the punishment falls upon him; and, if duly warned, he has +no right to blame us for that which his own will did, though we saw +what he would do, and could have prevented him from doing so. We are +all spoilt children, Osborn, and remain so to the end, though God +gives us warning enough,--but here comes my homely meal."</p> + +<p class="normal">At the same moment the landlord brought in a dish of vegetables, some +milk and some pottage, which he placed upon the table, giving a shrewd +look to the young officer, but saying to his companion, "There, I have +brought what you ordered, sir; but I cannot help thinking you had +better take a bit of meat. You had nothing but the same stuff this +morning, and no dinner that I know of."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Man, I never eat anything that has drawn the breath of life," replied +Warde. "The first of our race brought death into the world and was +permitted to inflict it upon others, for the satisfaction of his own +appetites; but it was a permission, and not an injunction--except for +sacrifice. I will not be one of the tyrants of the whole creation; I +will have no more of the tiger in my nature than is inseparable from +it; and as to gorging myself some five or six times a day with +unnecessary food--am I a swine, do you think, to eat when I am not +hungry, for the sole purpose of devouring? No, no, the simplest food, +and that only for necessity, is best for man's body and his mind. We +all grow too rank and superfluous."</p> + +<p class="normal">Thus saying, he approached the table, said a short grace over that +which was set before him, and then sitting down, ate till he was +satisfied, without exchanging a word with any one during the time that +he was thus engaged. It occupied less than five minutes, however, to +take all that he required, and then starting up suddenly, he thanked +God for what he had given him, took up his hat and turned towards the +door.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am going out, Osborn," he said, "for my evening walk. Will you come +with me?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Willingly for half an hour," answered the young officer, and, telling +the landlord as he passed that he would be back by the time that his +room was ready, he accompanied his eccentric acquaintance out into the +streets of Hythe, and thence, through some narrow walks and lanes, to +the sea-shore.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="div1_04" href="#div1Ref_04">CHAPTER IV.</a></h2> +<br> + +<p class="normal">The sky was clear and bright; the moonlight was sleeping in dream-like +splendour upon the water, and the small waves, thrown up by the tide +more than the wind, came rippling along the beach like a flood of +diamonds. All was still and silent in the sky, and upon the earth; and +the soft rustle of the waters upon the shore seemed but to say "Hush!" +as if nature feared that any louder sound should interrupt her calm +repose. To the west, stretched out the faint low line of coast towards +Dungeness; and to the east, appeared the high cliffs near Folkestone +and Dover--grey and solemn; while the open heaven above looked down +with its tiny stars and lustrous moon upon the wide extended sea, +glittering in the silver veil cast over her sleeping bosom from on +high.</p> + +<p class="normal">Such was the scene presented to the eyes of the two wanderers when +they reached the beach, a little way on the Sandgate side of Hythe, +and both paused to gaze upon it for several minutes in profound +silence.</p> + +<p class="normal">"This is indeed a night to walk forth upon the sands," said the young +officer at length. "It seems to me, that of all the many scenes from +which man can derive both instruction and comfort, in the difficulties +and troubles of life, there is none so elevating, so strengthening, as +that presented by the sea shore on a moonlight night. To behold that +mighty element, so full of destructive and of beneficial power, lying +tranquilly within the bound which God affixed to it, and to remember +the words, 'Thus far shalt thou come, and no farther, and here shall +thy proud waves be stopped,' affords so grand an illustration of his +might, so fine a proof of the truth of his promises, that the heart +must be hard indeed and the mind dull, not to receive confirmation of +faith, and encouragement in hope."</p> + +<p class="normal">"More, far more, may man receive," replied his companion, "if he be +but willing; but that gross and corrupt insect refuses all +instruction, and though the whole universe holds out blessings, still +chooses the curse. Where is there a scene whence man may not receive +benefit? What spot upon the whole earth has not something to speak to +his heart, if he would but listen? In his own busy passions, however, +and in his own fierce contentions, in his sordid creeping after gain, +in his trickery and his knavery, even in his loves and pleasures, man +turns a deaf ear to the great voice speaking to him; and the only +scene of all this earth which cannot benefit the eye that looks upon +it, is that in which human beings are the chief actors. There all is +foulness, or pitifulness, or vice; and one, to live in happiness, and +to take the moral of all nature to his heart, should live alone with +nature. I will find me out such a place, where I can absent myself +entirely, and contemplate nought but the works of God without the +presence of man, for I am sick to death of all that I have seen of him +and his, especially in what is called a civilized state."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You have often threatened to do so, Warde," answered the young +officer, "but yet methinks, though you rail at him, you love man too +much to quit his abodes entirely. I have seen you kind and considerate +to savages of the most horrible class; to men whose daily practice +it is to torture with the most unheard of cruelty the prisoners +whom they take in battle; and will you have less regard for other +fellow-creatures, because they are what you call civilized?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"The savage is at least sincere," replied his companion. "The want of +sincerity is the great and crowning vice of all this portion of the +globe. Cruel the wild hunters may be, but are they more cruel than the +people here? Which is the worst torment, a few hours' agony at the +stake, singing the war-song, all ended by a blow of a hatchet, or long +years of mental torture, when every scorn and contumely, every bitter +injustice, every cruel bereavement that man can inflict or suffer, is +piled upon your head, till the load becomes intolerable. Then, too, it +is done in a smooth and smiling guise. The civilized fiend looks +softly upon you while he wounds you to the heart--makes a pretext of +law, and justice, and equity--would have you fancy him a soft good +man, while there is no act of malevolence and iniquity that he does +not practise. The savage is true, at all events. The man who fractured +my skull with a blow of his tomahawk, made no pretence of friendship +or of right. He did it boldly, as an act customary with his people, +and would have led me to the stake and danced with joy to see me +suffering, had I not been rescued. He was sincere at least: but how +would the Englishman have served me? He would have wrung my heart with +pangs insupportable, and all the time have talked of his great grief +to afflict me, of the necessity of the case, of justice being on his +side, and of a thousand other vain and idle pretexts, but aggravating +the act by mocking me with a show of generosity."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I fear my excellent friend that you have at some time suffered sadly +from man's baseness," said Osborn; "but yet I think you are wrong to +let the memory thereof affect you thus. I, too, have suffered, and +perhaps shall have to suffer more; but yet I would not part with the +best blessings God has given to man, as you have done, for any other +good."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What have I parted with that I could keep?" asked the other, sharply: +"what blessings? I know of none!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Trust--confidence," replied his young companion. "I know you will say +that they have been taken from you; that you have not thrown them +away, that you have been robbed of them. But have you not parted with +them too easily? Have you not yielded at once, without a struggle to +retain what I still call the best blessings of God? There are many +villains in the world--I know it but too well; there are many knaves. +There are still more cold and selfish egotists, who, without +committing actual crimes or injuring others, do good to none; but +there are also many true and upright hearts, many just, noble, and +generous men; and were it a delusion to think so, I would try to +retain it still."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And suffer for it in the hour of need, in the moment of the deepest +confidence," answered Warde. "If you must have confidence, place it in +the humble and the low, in the rudest and least civilized--ay, in the +very outcasts of society--rather than in the polished and the courtly, +the great and high. I would rather trust my life, or my purse, to the +honour of the common robber, and to his generosity, than to the very +gentlemanly man of fashion and high station. Now, if, as you say, you +have not come down hither for old associations, you must be sent to +hunt down honester men than those who sent you--men who break boldly +through an unjust and barbarous system, which denies to our land the +goods of another, and who, knowing that the very knaves who devised +that system, did it but to enrich themselves, stop with a strong hand +a part of the plunder on the way--or, rather, insist at the peril of +their lives, on man's inherent right to trade with his neighbours, and +frustrate the roguish devices of those who would forbid to our land +the use of that produced by another."</p> + +<p class="normal">Osborn smiled at his companion's defence of smuggling, but replied, "I +can conceive a thousand reasons, my good friend, why the trade in +certain things should be totally prohibited, and a high duty for the +interests of the state be placed on others. But I am not going to +argue with you on all our institutions; merely this I will say, that +when we entrust to certain men the power of making laws, we are bound +to obey those laws when they are made; and it were but candid and just +to suppose that those who had made them, after long deliberation, did +so for the general good of the whole."</p> + +<p class="normal">"For their own villanous ends," answered Warde--"for their own selfish +interests. The good of the whole!--what is it in the eyes of any of +these law-givers but the good of a party?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"But do you not think," asked the young officer, "that we ourselves, +who are not law-givers, judge their actions but too often under the +influence of the very motives we attribute to them? Has party no share +in our own bosoms? Has selfishness--have views of our own interests, +in opposition either to the interests of others or the general weal, +no part in the judgment that we form? Each man carps at that which +suits him not, and strives to change it, without the slightest care +whether, in so doing, he be not bringing ruin on the heads of +thousands. But as to what you said just now of my being sent hither to +hunt down the smuggler, such is not the case. I am sent to lend my aid +to the civil power when called upon to do so--but nothing more; and we +all know that the civil power has proved quite ineffective in stopping +a system, which began by violation of a fiscal law, and has gone on to +outrages the most brutal, and the most daring. I shall not step beyond +the line of my duty, my good friend; and I will admit that many of +these very misguided men themselves, who are carrying on an illegal +traffic in this daring manner, fancy themselves justified by such +arguments as you have just now used--nay, more, I do believe that +there are some men amongst them of high and noble feelings, who never +dream that they are dishonest in breaking a law that they dislike. But +if we break one law thus, why should we keep any?--why not add robbery +and murder if it suits us?</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ay, there <i>are</i> high minded and noble men amongst them," answered +Warde, not seeming to heed the latter part of what his companion said, +"and there stands one of them. He has evil in him doubtless; for he is +a man and an Englishman; but I have found none here who has less, and +many who have more. Yet were that man taken in pursuing his +occupation, they would imprison, exile, perhaps hang him, while a +multitude of knaves in gilded coats, would be suffered to go on +committing every sin, and almost every crime, unpunished--a good man, +an excellent man, and yet a smuggler."</p> + +<p class="normal">The young officer knew it was in vain to reason with him, for in the +frequent intercourse they had held together, he had perceived that, +with many generous and noble feelings, with a pure heart, and almost +ascetic severity of life, there was a certain perversity in the course +of Mr. Warde's thoughts, which rendered it impossible to turn them +from the direction which they naturally took. It seemed as if by long +habit they had channelled for themselves so deep a bed, that they +could never be diverted thence; and consequently, without replying at +first, he merely turned his eyes in the direction which the other +pointed out, trying to catch sight of the person of whom he spoke. +They were now on the low sandy shore which runs along between the town +of Hythe and the beautiful little watering place of Sandgate. But it +must be recollected, that at the time I speak of, the latter place +displayed no ornamental villas, no gardens full of flowers, almost +touching on the sea, and consisted merely of a few fishermen's, or +rather smuggler's, huts, with one little public house, and a +low-browed shop, filled with all the necessities that the inhabitants +might require. Thus nothing like the mass of buildings which the +watering place now can boast, lay between them and the Folkestone +cliffs; and the whole line of the coast, except at one point, where +the roof of a house intercepted the view, was open before Osborn's +eyes; yet neither upon the shore itself, nor upon the green upland, +which was broken by rocks and bushes, and covered by thick dry grass, +could he perceive anything resembling a human form. A minute after, +however, he thought he saw something move against the rugged +background, and the next moment, the head and shoulders of a man +rising over the edge of the hill caught his eyes, and as his companion +walked forward in silence, he inquired,</p> + +<p class="normal">"Have you known him long, or is this one of your sudden judgments, my +good friend?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I knew him when he was a boy and a lad," answered Wilmot, "I know him +now that he is a man--so it is no sudden judgment. Come, let us speak +with him, Osborn," and he advanced rapidly, by a narrow path, up the +side of the slope.</p> + +<p class="normal">Osborn paused a single instant, and then followed, saying, "Be upon +your guard, Warde; and remember how I am circumstanced. Neither commit +me nor let him commit himself."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, no, fear not," answered his friend, "I am no smuggler, young +man;" and he strode on before, without pausing for further +consultation. As they climbed the hill, the figure of the man of whom +they had been speaking became more and more distinct, while walking up +and down upon a flat space at the top of the first step or wave of +ground; he seemed to take no notice of their approach. When they came +nearer still, he paused, as if waiting for their coming; and the moon +shining full upon him, displayed his powerful form, standing in an +attitude of easy grace, with the arms folded on the chest, and the +head slightly bent forward. He was not above the middle height; but +broad in the shoulders, and long in the arms; robust and strong--every +muscle was round and swelling, and yet not heavy; for there was the +appearance of great lightness and activity in his whole figure, +strangely combined with that of vigour and power. His head was small, +and well set upon his shoulders; and the very position in which he +stood, the firm planting of his feet on the ground, the motionless +crossing of his arm upon his breast, all seemed to argue to the mind +of Osborn--and he was one not unaccustomed to judge of character by +external signs--a strong and determined spirit, well fitted for the +rough and adventurous life which he had undertaken.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Good night, Harding," said Mr. Warde, as they came up to the spot +where he stood. "What a beautiful evening it is!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Goodnight, sir," answered the man, in a civil tone, and with a voice +of considerable melody. "It is indeed a beautiful evening, though +sometimes I like to see the cloudy sky, too."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And yet I dare say you enjoy a walk by the bright sea, in the calm +moonlight, as much as I do," rejoined Mr. Warde.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ay, that I do, sir," replied the smuggler. "That's what brought me +out to-night, for there's nothing else doing; but I should not rest +quiet, I suppose, in my bed, if I did not take my stroll along the +downs or somewhere, and look over the sea, while she lies panting in +the moonbeams. She's a pretty creature, and I love her dearly. I +wonder how people can live inland."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, there are beautiful scenes enough inland," said Osborn, joining +in the conversation; "both wild and grand, and calm and peaceful."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I know there are, sir, I know there are," answered the smuggler, +gazing at him attentively, "and if ever I were to live away from the +beach, I should say, give me the wild and grand, for I have seen many +a beautiful place inland, especially in Wales; but still it always +seems to me as if there was something wanting when the sea is not +there. I suppose it is natural for an Englishman."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Perhaps it is," rejoined Osborn, "for certainly when Nature rolled +the ocean round us, she intended us for a maritime people. But to +return to what you were saying, if I could choose my own abode, it +should be amongst the calm and peaceful scenes, of which the eye never +tires, and amongst which the mind rests in repose."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ay, if it is repose one is seeking," replied the smuggler, with a +laugh, "well and good. Then a pleasant little valley, with trees and a +running stream, and a neat little church, and the parsonage, may do +well enough. But I dare say you and I, sir, have led very different +lives, and so have got different likings. I have always been +accustomed to the storm and the gale, to a somewhat adventurous life, +and to have that great wide sea before my eyes for ever. You, I dare +say, have been going on quietly and peacefully all your days, perhaps +in London, or in some great town, knowing nothing of hardships or of +dangers; so that is the reason you love quiet places."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Quite the reverse!" answered Osborn, with a smile--"mine has been +nothing but a life of peril and danger, and activity, as far as it +hitherto has gone. From the time I was eighteen till now, the battle +and the skirmish, the march and the retreat, with often the hard +ground for my bed, as frequently the sky for my covering, and at best +a thin piece of canvas to keep off the blast, have been my lot, but it +is that very fact that makes me long for some repose, and love scenes +that give the picture of it to the imagination, if not the reality to +the heart. I should suppose that few men who have passed their time +thus, and known from youth to manhood nothing but strife and hourly +peril, do not sooner or later desire such tranquillity."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I don't know, sir," said the smuggler; "it maybe so, and the time may +come with me; but yet I think habits one is bred to, get such a hold +of the heart that we can't do without them. I often fancy I should +like a month's quiet, too; but then I know before the month was out I +should long to be on the sea again."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Man is a discontented creature," said Warde,--"not even the bounty of +God can satisfy him. I do not believe that he would even rest in +heaven, were he not wearied of change by the events of this life. Well +may they say it is a state of trial."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I hope I shall go to heaven, too," rejoined the smuggler; "but I +should like a few trips first; and I dare say, when I grow an old man, +and stiff and rusty, I shall be well contented to take my walk here in +the sunshine, and talk of days that are gone; but at present, when one +has life and strength, I could no more sit and get cankered in +idleness than I could turn miller. This world's not a place to be +still in; and I say, Blow wind, and push off the boat."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But one may have activity enough without constant excitement and +peril," answered Osborn.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I don't know that there would be half the pleasure in it," replied +the smuggler, laughing--"that we strive for, that we love. Everything +must have its price, and cheap got is little valued. But who is this +coming?" he continued, turning sharply round before either of his +companions heard a sound.</p> + +<p class="normal">The next moment, however, steps running up the face of the bank were +distinguished, and in another minute a boy of twelve or thirteen, +dressed in a sailor's jacket, came hurrying up to the smuggler, and +pulled his sleeve, saying, in a low voice, "Come hither--come hither; +I want to speak to you."</p> + +<p class="normal">The man took a step apart, and bending down his head listened to +something which the boy whispered in his ear. "I will come--I will +come directly," he said, at length, when the lad was done. "Run on and +tell him, little Starlight; for I must get home first for a minute. +Good night, gentlemen," he continued, turning to Mr. Warde and his +companion, "I must go away for a longer walk;" and, without farther +adieu, he began to descend the bank, leaving the two friends to take +their way back to Hythe, conversing, as they went, much in the same +strain as that in which they had indulged while coming thither, +differing in almost every topic, but yet with some undefinable link of +sympathy between them, which nevertheless owed its origin, in the old +man's breast, to very different feelings from those which were +experienced by his younger companion.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="div1_05" href="#div1Ref_05">CHAPTER V.</a></h2> +<br> + +<p class="normal">There was an old house, built in a style which acquired the mint-mark +of fashion of about the reign of George the First, and was considered +by those of the English, or opposite party, to be peculiarly well +qualified for the habitation of Hanover rats. It stood at a little +distance from the then small hamlet of Harbourne, and was plunged into +one of the southern apertures of the wood of that name, having its +gardens and pleasure-grounds around it, with a terrace and a lawn +stretching out to the verge of a small parish road, which passed at +the distance of somewhat less than a quarter of a mile from the +windows. It was all of red brick, and looked square and formal enough, +with the two wings projecting like the a-kimbo arms of some untamed +virago, straight and resolute as a redoubt. The numerous windows, +however, with very tolerable spaces between them; the numerous +chimneys, with every sort of form and angle; the numerous doors, of +every shape and size, and the square precision of the whole, bespoke +it a very capacious building, and the inside justified fully the idea +which the mind of a traveller naturally formed from the outside. It +was, in truth, a roomy, and in some cases a very convenient abode; but +it was laid out upon a particular plan, which it may not be amiss to +write down, for the practical instruction of the reader unlearned in +such edifices.</p> + +<p class="normal">In the centre of the ground-floor was a large hall of a cruciform +shape, each of the limbs being about fifteen feet wide. The two +shorter arms of the cross stretched from side to side of the building +in its width; the two longer from end to end of its length. The +southern termination of the shorter arms was the great hall-door; the +northern arm, which formed the passage between the various ranges of +offices, extended to a door at the back, opening into a court-yard +surrounded by coach-houses, stables, cow-sheds, pig-sties, and +hen-roosts. But the offices, and the passage between them, were shut +off from the main hall and the rest of the mansion by double doors; +and the square of fifteen feet in the centre of the hall was, to the +exent of about two-thirds of the whole, occupied by a large, +low-stepped, broad-ballustraded oaken staircase. The eastern and +western limbs of the cross afforded the means of communicating with +various rooms,--such as library, dining-room, drawing-room, +music-room, magistrate's-room, gentleman's-room, and billiard-room, +with one or two others to which no name had been applied. Many of +these rooms had doors which led into the one adjacent; but this was +not invariably the case, for from the main corridor branched off +several little passages, separating in some instances one chamber from +the other, and leading out upon the terrace by the smaller doors which +we have noticed above. What was the use of these passages and doors +nobody was ever able to divine, and it remains a mystery to the +present day, which I shall not attempt to solve by venturing any +hypothesis upon so recondite a subject. The second floor above was +laid out much in the same way as the one below, except that one of the +limbs of the cross was wanting, the space over the great door being +appropriated to a very tolerable bed-room. From this floor to the +other, descended two or three staircases, the principal one being the +great open flight of steps which I have already mentioned; and the +second, or next in importance, being a stone staircase, which reached +the ground between the double doors, that shut out the main hall from +the offices.</p> + +<p class="normal">Having thus given some idea of the interior of the building, I will +only pause to notice, that, at the period I speak of, it had one very +great defect. It was very much out of repair,--not, indeed, of that +sort of substantial repair which is necessary to comfort, but of that +pleasant repair which is agreeable to the eye. It was well and solidly +built, and was quite wind and water tight; but although the builders +of the day in which it was erected were, as every one knows, +peculiarly neat in their brick-work, yet Time would have his way even +with their constructions, and he had maliciously chiselled out the +pointing from between the sharp, well-cut bricks, scraped away the +mortar from the stone copings, and cracked and blistered the painting +of the wood-work. This labour of his had not only given a venerable, +but also a somewhat dilapidated appearance to the mansion; and some +green mould, with which he had taken the pains to dabble all the white +parts of the edifice, did not decrease the look of decay.</p> + +<p class="normal">Sweeping round from the parish road that we have mentioned was a +branch, leading by the side of the lawn, and a gentle ascent up to the +terrace and to the great door, and carriages on arriving passed along +the whole front of the house by the western angle before they reached +the court-yard behind. But from that courtyard there were various +other means of exit. One to the kitchen garden, one to two or three +other courts, and one into the wood which came within fifty yards of +the enclosure; for, to use the ordinary romance phrase, Harbourne +House was literally "bosomed in wood." The windows, however, and the +front, commanded a fine view of a rich and undulating country, +plentifully garnished with trees, but still, for a considerable +distance, exposed to the eye, from the elevated ground upon which the +mansion was placed. A little hamlet was seen at the distance of about +two miles in front--I rather suspect it was Kenchill--and to the +eastward the house looked over the valley towards the high ground by +Woodchurch and Woodchurch Beacon, catching a blue line which probably +was Romney Marsh. Between, Woodchurch, however, and itself, was seen +standing out, straight and upright, a very trim-looking white +dwelling, flanked by some pleasant groves, and to the west were seen +one or two gentlemen's seats scattered about over the face of the +country. Behind, nothing of course was to be seen but tree-tops, +except from the window of one of the attics, whence the housemaid +could descry Biddenden Windmill and the top of Biddenden Church. +Harbourne Wood was indeed, at that time, very extensive, joining on to +the large piece of woodland, from which it is now separated, and +stretching out as far as that place with an unpleasant name, called +Gallows Green. The whole of this space, and a considerable portion of +the cultivated ground around, was within the manor of the master of +the mansion, Sir Robert Croyland, of Harbourne, the elder brother of +that Mr. Zachary Croyland, whom we have seen travelling down into Kent +with two companions in the newly established stage-coach.</p> + +<p class="normal">About four days after that memorable journey, a traveller on +horseback, followed by a servant leading another horse, and with a +portmanteau behind him, rode up the little parish road we have +mentioned, took the turning which led to the terrace, and drew in his +bridle at the great door of Harbourne House. I would describe him +again, but I have already given the reader so correct and accurate a +picture of Sir Edward Digby, that he cannot make any mistake. The only +change which had taken place in his appearance since he set out from +London, was produced by his being now dressed in a full military +costume; but nevertheless the eyes of a fair lady, who was in the +drawing-room and had a full view of the terrace, conveyed to her mind, +as she saw him ride up, the impression that he was a very handsome man +indeed. In two minutes more, which were occupied by the opening of the +door and sundry directions given by the young baronet to his servant, +Sir Edward Digby was ushered into the drawing-room, and advanced with +a frank, free, military air, though unacquainted with any of the +persons it contained. As his arrival about that hour was expected, the +whole family of Harbourne House was assembled to receive him; and +before we proceed farther, we may as well give some account of the +different persons of whom the little circle was composed.</p> + +<p class="normal">The first whom Sir Edward's eyes fell upon was the master of the +mansion, who had risen, and was coming forward to welcome his guest. +Sir Robert Croyland, however, was so different a person from his +brother, in every point, that the young officer could hardly believe +that he had the baronet before him. He was a large, heavy-looking man, +with good features and expressive eyes, but sallow in complexion, and +though somewhat corpulent, having that look of loose, flabby obesity, +which is generally an indication of bad health. His dress, though +scrupulously clean and in the best fashion of the time, fitted him +ill, being too large even for his large person; and the setting of the +diamond ring which he wore upon his hand was scarcely more yellow than +the hand itself. On his face he bore a look of habitual thought and +care, approaching moroseness, which even the smile he assumed on Sir +Edward's appearance could not altogether dissipate. In his tone, +however, he was courtly and kind, though perhaps a little pompous, +expressed his delight at seeing his old friend's son in Harbourne +House, shook him warmly by the hand, and then led him ceremoniously +forward to introduce him to his sister, Mrs. Barbara Croyland, and his +two daughters.</p> + +<p class="normal">The former lady might very well have had applied to her Fielding's +inimitable description of the old maid. Her appearance was very +similar, her station and occupation much the same; but nevertheless, +in all essential points, Mrs. Barbara Croyland was a very different +person from the sister of Squire Allworthy. She was a kind-hearted +soul as ever existed; gentle in her nature, anxious to do the very +best for every body, a little given to policy for the purpose of +accomplishing that end, and consequently, nine times out of ten, +making folks very uncomfortable in order to make them comfortable, and +doing all manner of mischief for the purpose of setting things right. +No woman ever had a more perfect abnegation of self than Mrs. Barbara +Croyland, in all things of great importance. She had twice missed a +very good opportunity of marriage, by making up a match between one +who was quite ready to be her own lover and one of her female friends, +for whom he cared very little. She had lent the whole of her own +private fortune, except a small annuity, which by some chance had been +settled upon her, to her brother Sir Robert, without taking any +security whatsoever for principal or interest; and she was always +ready, when there was anything in her purse, to give it away to the +worthy or unworthy--rather, indeed, preferring the latter, from a +conviction that they were more likely to be destitute of friends than +those who had some claim upon society.</p> + +<p class="normal">Nevertheless Mrs. Barbara Croyland was not altogether without that +small sort of selfishness which is usually termed vanity. She was +occasionally a little affronted and indignant with her friends, when +they disapproved of her spoiling their whole plans with the intention +of facilitating them. She knew that her design was good; and she +thought it very ungrateful in the world to be angry when her good +designs produced the most opposite results to those which she +intended. She was fully convinced, too, that circumstances were +perversely against her; and yet for her life she could not refrain +from trying to make those circumstances bend to her purpose, +notwithstanding all the nips on the knuckles she received; and she had +still some scheme going on, which, though continually disappointed, +rose up Hydra-like, with a new head springing out as soon as the other +was cut off. As it was at her suggestion, and in favour of certain +plans which she kept deep in the recesses of her own bosom, that Sir +Robert Croyland had claimed acquaintance with Sir Edward Digby on the +strength of an old friendship with his father, and had invited him +down to Harbourne House immediately on the return of his regiment to +England, it may well be supposed that Miss Barbara received him with +her most gracious smiles--which, to say the truth, though the face was +wrinkled with age, and the complexion not very good, were exceedingly +sweet and benignant, springing from a natural kindness of heart, +which, if guided by a sounder discretion, would have rendered her one +of the most amiable persons on the earth.</p> + +<p class="normal">After a few words of simple courtesy on both parts, Sir Edward turned +to the other two persons who were in the room, where he found metal +more attractive--at least, for the eyes. The first to whom he was +introduced was a young lady, who seemed to be about one-and-twenty +years of age, though she had in fact just attained another year; and +though Sir Robert somewhat hurried him on to the next, who was +younger, the keen eye of the young officer marked enough to make him +aware that, if so cold and so little disposed to look on a lover as +her uncle had represented, she might well become a very dangerous +neighbour to a man with a heart not well guarded against the power of +beauty. Her hair, eyes, and eyelashes were almost black, and her +complexion of a clear brown, with the rose blushing faintly in the +cheek; but the eyes were of a deep blue. The whole form of the head, +the fall of the hair, the bend of the neck from the shoulders, were +all exquisitely symmetrical and classical, and nothing could be more +lovely than the line of the brow and the chiselled cutting of the +nose. The upper lip, small and delicately drawn, the under lip full +and slightly apart, shewing the pearl-like teeth beneath; the turn of +the ear, and the graceful line in the throat, might all have served as +models for the sculptor or the painter; for the colouring was as rich +and beautiful as the form; and when she rose and stood to receive him, +with the small hand leaning gently on the arm of the chair, he thought +he had never seen anything more graceful than the figure, or more +harmonious than its calm dignity, with the lofty gravity of her +countenance. If there was a defect in the face, it was perhaps that +the chin was a little too prominent, but yet it suited well with the +whole countenance and with its expression, giving it decision without +harshness, and a look of firmness, which the bright smile that +fluttered for a moment round the lips, deprived of everything that was +not gentle and kind. There was soul, there was thought, there was +feeling, in the whole look; and Digby would fain have paused to see +those features animated in conversation. But her father led him on, +after a single word of introduction, to present him to his younger +daughter, who, with some points of resemblance, offered a strange +contrast to her sister. She, too, was very handsome, and apparently +about two years younger; but hers was the style of beauty which, +though it deserves a better name, is generally termed pretty. All the +features were good, and the hair exceedingly beautiful; but the face +was not so oval, the nose perhaps a little too short, and the lips too +sparkling with smiles to impress the mind, at first sight, so much as +the countenance of the other. She seemed all happiness; and in looking +to the expression and at her bright blue eyes, as they looked out +through the black lashes, like violets from a clump of dark leaves, it +was scarcely possible to fancy that she had ever known a touch of care +or sorrow, or that one of the anxieties of life had ever even brushed +her lightly with its wing. She seemed the flower just opening to the +morning sunshine--the fruit, before the bloom had been washed away by +one shower. Her figure, too, was full of young grace; her movements +were all quicker, more wild and free than her sister's; and as she +rose to receive Sir Edward Digby, it was more with the air of an old +friend than a new acquaintance. Indeed, she was the first of the +family who had seen him, for hers were the eyes which had watched his +approach from the window, so that she felt as if she knew him better +than any of them.</p> + +<p class="normal">There was something very winning in the frank and cordial greeting +with which she met him, and in an instant it had established a sort of +communication between them which would have taken hours, perhaps days, +to bring about with her sister. As Sir Edward Digby did not come there +to fall in love, he would fain have resisted such influences, even at +the beginning; and perhaps the words of old Mr. Croyland had somewhat +put him upon his guard. But it was of no use being upon his guard; +for, fortify himself as strongly as he would, Zara went through all +his defences in an instant; and, seeming to take it for granted that +they were to be great friends, and that there was not the slightest +obstacle whatever to their being perfectly familiar in a ladylike and +gentleman-like manner, of course they were so in five minutes, though +he was a soldier who had seen some service, and she an inexperienced +girl just out of her teens. But all women have a sort of experience of +their own; or, if experience be not the right name, an intuition in +matters where the other sex is concerned, which supplies to them very +rapidly a great part of that which long converse with the world +bestows on men. Too true that it does not always act as a safeguard to +their own hearts--true that it does not always guide them right in +their own actions,--but still it does not fail to teach them the best +means of winning where they wish to win; and if they do not succeed, +it is far more frequently that the cards which they hold are not good, +than that they play the game unskilfully.</p> + +<p class="normal">Whether Sir Robert Croyland had or had not any forethought in his +invitation of Sir Edward Digby, and, like a prudent father, judged +that it would be quite as well his youngest daughter should marry a +wealthy baronet, he was too wise to let anything like design appear; +and though he suffered the young officer to pursue his conversation +with Zara for two or three minutes longer than he had done with her +sister, he soon interposed, by taking the first opportunity of telling +his guest the names of those whom he had invited to meet him that day +at dinner.</p> + +<p class="normal">"We shall have but a small party," he said, in a somewhat apologetic +tone, "for several of our friends are absent just now; but I have +asked my good and eccentric brother Zachary to meet you to-day, Sir +Edward; and also my excellent neighbour, Mr. Radford, of Radford +Hall--a very superior man indeed under the surface, though the manner +may be a little rough. His son, too, I trust will join us;" and he +glanced his eye towards Edith, whose face grew somewhat paler than it +had been before. Sir Robert instantly withdrew his gaze; but the look +of both father and daughter had not been lost upon Digby; and he +replied--"I have the pleasure of knowing your brother already, Sir +Robert. We were fellow-travellers as far as Ashford, four or five days +ago. I hope he is well."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, quite well--quite well," answered the baronet; "but as odd as +ever--nay odder, I think, for his expedition to London. That which +seems to polish and soften other men, but renders him rougher and more +extraordinary. But he was always very odd--very odd indeed, even as a +boy."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ay, but he was always kind-hearted, brother Robert," observed Miss +Barbara; "and though he may be a little odd, he has been in odd +places, you know--India and the like; and besides, it does not do to +talk of his oddity, as you are doing always, for if he heard of it, he +might leave all his money away."</p> + +<p class="normal">"He is only odd, I think," said Edith Croyland, "by being kinder and +better than other men."</p> + +<p class="normal">Sir Edward Digby turned towards her with a warm smile, replying--"So +it struck me, Miss Croyland. He is so good and right-minded himself, +that he is at times a little out of patience with the faults and +follies of others--at least, such was my impression, from all I saw of +him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It was a just one," answered the young lady, "and I am sure, Sir +Edward, the more you see of him the more you will be inclined to +overlook the oddities for the sake of the finer qualities."</p> + +<p class="normal">It seemed to Sir Edward Digby that the commendations of Sir Robert +Croyland's brother did not seem the most grateful of all possible +sounds to the ears of the Baronet, who immediately after announced +that he would have the pleasure of conducting his young guest to his +apartments, adding that they were early people in the country, their +usual dinner-hour being four o'clock, though he found that the +fashionable people of London were now in the habit of dining at +half-past four. Sir Edward accordingly followed him up the great +oaken staircase to a very handsome and comfortable room, with a +dressing-room at the side, in which he found his servant already +busily employed in disburdening his bags and portmanteau of their +contents.</p> + +<p class="normal">Sir Robert paused for a moment--to see that his guest had everything +which he might require, and then left him. But the young baronet did +not proceed immediately to the business of the toilet, seating himself +before the window of the bed-room, and gazing out with a thoughtful +expression, while his servant continued his operations in the next +room. From time to time the man looked in as if he had something to +say, but his master continued in a reverie, of which it may be as well +to take some notice. His first thought was, "I must lay out the plan +of my campaign; but I must take care not to get my wing of the army +defeated while the main body is moving up to give battle. On my life, +I'm a great deal too good-natured to put myself in such a dangerous +position for a friend. The artillery that the old gentleman spoke of +is much more formidable than I expected. My worthy colonel did not use +so much of love's glowing colours in his painting as I supposed; but +after all, there's no danger; I am proof against all such shots, and I +fancy I must use little Zara for the purpose of getting at her +sister's secrets. There can be no harm in making a little love to her, +the least little bit possible. It will do my pretty coquette no harm, +and me none either. It may be well to know how the land lies, however; +and I dare say that fellow of mine has made some discoveries already; +but the surest way to get nothing out of him is to ask him, and so I +must let him take his own way."</p> + +<p class="normal">His thoughts then turned to another branch of the same subject; and he +went on pondering rather than thinking for some minutes more. There is +a state of mind which can scarcely be called thought; for thought is +rapid and progressive, like the flight of a bird, whether it be in the +gyrations of the swallow, or the straightforward course of the rook; +but in the mode or condition of which I speak, the mind seems rather +to hover over a particular object, like the hawk eyeing carefully that +which is beneath it; and this state can no more be called thought than +the hovering of the hawk can be called flight. Such was the occupation +of Sir Edward Digby, as I have said, for several minutes, and then he +went on to his conclusions. "She loves him still," he said to himself; +"of that I feel sure. She is true to him still, and steadfast in her +truth. Whatever may have been said or done has not been hers, and that +is a great point gained; for now, with station, rank, distinction, and +competence at least, he presents himself in a very different position +from any which he could assume before; and unless on account of some +unaccountable prejudice, the old gentleman can have no objection. Oh, +yes, she loves him still, I feel very sure! The calm gravity of that +beautiful face has only been written there so early by some deep and +unchanged feeling. We never see the sparkling brightness of youth so +shadowed but by some powerful and ever-present memory, which, like the +deep bass notes of a fine instrument, gives a solemn tone even to the +liveliest music of life. She can smile, but the brow is still grave: +there is something underneath it; and we must find out exactly what +that is. Yet I cannot doubt; I am sure of it. Here, Somers! are not +those things ready yet? I shall be too late for dinner."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, no, sir;" replied the man, coming in, and putting up the back of +his hand to his head, in military fashion. "Your honour wont be too +late. The great bell rings always half-an-hour before, then Mr. +Radford is always a quarter-of-an-hour behind his time."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I wonder who Mr. Radford is!" said Sir Edward Digby, as if speaking +to himself. "He seems a very important person in the county."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I can tell you, sir," said the man, "he is or was the richest person +in the neighbourhood, and has got Sir Robert quite under his thumb, +they say. He was a merchant, or a shopkeeper, the butler told me, in +Hythe. But there was more money came in than ever went through his +counting-house, and what between trading one way or another, he got +together a great deal of riches, bought this place here in the +neighbourhood, and set up for a gentleman. His son is to be married to +Miss Croyland, they say; but the servants think that she hates him, +and fancy that he would himself rather have her sister."</p> + +<p class="normal">The latter part of this speech was that which interested Sir Edward +Digby the most; but he knew that there was a certain sort of +perversity about his servant, which made him less willing to answer a +distinct question than to volunteer any information; and therefore he +fixed upon another point, inquiring, "What do you mean, Somers, by +saying that he is, or was, the richest man in the country?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why, sir, that is as it may be," answered the man; "but one thing is +certain--Miss Croyland has three times refused to marry this young +Radford, notwithstanding all her father could say; and as for the +young gentleman himself, why he's no gentleman at all, going about +with all the bad characters in the county, and carrying on his +father's old trade, like a highwayman. It has not quite answered so +well though, for they say old Radford lost fully fifty thousand pounds +by his last venture, which was run ashore somewhere about Romney Hoy. +The boats were sunk, part of the goods seized, and the rest sent to +the bottom. You may be sure he's a dare-devil, however, for whenever +the servants speak of him, they sink their voice to a whisper, as if +the fiend were at their elbow."</p> + +<p class="normal">Sir Edward Digby was very well inclined to hear more; but while the +man was speaking, the bell he had mentioned, rang, and the young +baronet, who had a certain regard for his own personal appearance, +hastened to dress and to descend to the drawing-room.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="div1_06" href="#div1Ref_06">CHAPTER VI.</a></h2> +<br> + +<p class="normal">It is sometimes expedient in telling a tale of this kind, to introduce +the different personages quietly to the reader one after the other, +and to suffer him to become familiar with them separately, before they +are all brought to act together, that he may have a clear and definite +notion of their various characters, dispositions, and peculiarities, +and be enabled to judge at once of the motives by which they are +actuated, when we recite the deeds that they perform.</p> + +<p class="normal">Having twice or thrice mentioned one of the prominent persons in this +history, without having brought him visibly upon the scene, (as, in +the natural course of events, I must very soon do,) I shall now follow +the plan above mentioned; and, in order to give the reader a distinct +notion of Mr. Radford, his character and proceedings, will beg those +who have gone on with me thus far, to step back with me to the same +night, on which Mr. Warde and his young friend met the smuggler in his +evening walk along the heights.</p> + +<p class="normal">Not very far from the town of Hythe, not very far from the village of +Sandgate, are still to be found the ruins of an ancient castle, which, +by various deeds that have been performed within its walls, has +acquired a name in English history. The foundation of the building is +beyond our records; and tradition, always fond of the marvellous, +carries back the period when the first stone was laid to the times of +the Roman invaders of Great Britain. Others supposed that it was +erected by the Saxons, but, as it now stands, it presents no trace of +the handiwork of either of those two races of barbarians, and is +simply one of those strongholds constructed by the Normans, or their +close descendants, either to keep their hold of a conquered country, +or to resist the power both of tyrannical monarchs and dangerous +neighbours. Various parts of the building are undoubtedly attributable +to the reign of Henry II.; and if any portion be of an earlier date, +of which I have some doubts, it is but small; but a considerable part +is, I believe, of a still later epoch, and in some places may be +traced the architecture common in the reign of Edward III. and of his +grandson. The space enclosed within the outer walls is very extensive, +and numerous detached buildings, chapels, halls, and apparently a +priory, are still to be found built against those walls themselves, so +that it is probable that the castle in remote days gave shelter to +some religious body, which is rendered still more likely from the fact +of Saltwood Castle and its manor having formerly appertained to the +church and see of Canterbury.</p> + +<p class="normal">Many a remarkable scene has undoubtedly passed in the courts and halls +of that now ruined building, and it is even probable that there the +dark and dreadful deed, which, though probably not of his contriving, +embittered the latter life of the second Henry, was planned and +determined by the murderers of Thomas à Becket. With such deeds, +however, and those ancient times, we have nothing here to do; and at +the period to which this tale refers, the castle, though in a much +more perfect state than at present, was already in ruins. The park, +which formerly surrounded it, had been long thrown open and divided +into fields; but still the character which its formation had given to +the neighbouring scenery had not passed away; and the rich extent of +old pasture, the scattered woods and clumps of trees, the brawling +brook, here and there diverted from its natural course for ornament or +convenience,--all bespoke the former destination of the ground, for +near a mile around on every side, when magnificent Archbishop +Courtenay held the castle of Saltwood as his favourite place of +residence.</p> + +<p class="normal">Though, as I have said, grey ruin had possession of the building, yet +the strength of its construction had enabled it in many parts to +resist the attacks of time; and the great keep, with its two lofty +gate towers and wide-spreading hall, was then but very little decayed. +Nevertheless, at that period no one tenanted the castle of Saltwood +but an old man and his son, who cultivated a small portion of ground +in the neighbourhood; and their dwelling was confined to three rooms +in the keep, though they occupied several others by their implements +of husbandry, occasionally diversified with sacks of grain, stores of +carrots and turnips, and other articles of agricultural produce. Thus, +every night, for a short time, lights were to be seen in Saltwood +Castle, but all the buildings except the keep, were utterly neglected, +and falling rapidly into a state of complete dilapidation.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was towards this building, on the night I speak of, that the +smuggler took his way, about a quarter of an hour after having +suddenly broken off his conversation with Mr. Warde and the young +officer. He walked on with a quick, bold, careless step, apparently +without much thought or consideration of the interview to which he was +summoned. He paused, indeed, more than once, and looked around him; +but it was merely to gaze at the beauty of the scenery, for which he +had a great natural taste. It is no slight mistake to suppose that the +constant intercourse with, and opportunity of enjoying the beauties of +nature, diminish in any degree the pleasures that we thence derive. +The direct contrary is the case. Every other delight, everything that +man has contrived or found for himself, palls upon the taste by +frequent fruition; but not so with those sources of pleasure which are +given us by God himself; and the purer and freer they are from man's +invention, the more permanent are they in their capability of +bestowing happiness, the more extensive seems their quality of +satisfying the ever-increasing desires of the spirit within us. Were +it not so, the ardent attachment which is felt by those who have been +born and brought up in the midst of fine and magnificent scenery to +the place of their nativity, could not exist; and it will always be +found that, other things being equal, those who live most amongst the +beauties of nature, are those who most appreciate them.</p> + +<p class="normal">Many a beautiful prospect presented itself to the smuggler, as he +walked on by the light of the moon. At one place, the woods swept +round him and concealed the rest of the country from his eyes; but +then the moonbeams poured through the branches, or streamed along the +path, and every now and then, between the old trunks and gnarled +roots, he caught a sight of the deeper parts of the woodland, sleeping +in the pale rays. At another, issuing forth upon the side of the hill, +the leafy wilderness lay beneath his feet with the broad round summit +of some piece of high ground, rising dark and flat above; and at some +distance further, he suddenly turned the angle of the valley, and had +the tall grey ruin of Saltwood full before him, with the lines of the +trees and meadows sweeping down into the dell, and the bright sky, +lustrous with the moonlight, extended broad and unclouded behind. +Shortly after, he came to the little stream, rushing in miniature +cascades between its hollow banks, and murmuring with a soft and +musical voice amongst the roots of the shrubs, which here and there +hid it from the beams.</p> + +<p class="normal">He paused but a moment or two, however, at any of these things, and +then walked on again, till at length he climbed the road leading up to +the castle, and passed through the arch-way of the gate. Of the +history of the place he knew nothing, but from vague traditions heard +in his boyhood; and yet, when he stood amongst those old grey walls, +with the high towers rising before him, and the greensward, covering +the decay of centuries, beneath his feet, he could not help feeling a +vague impression of melancholy, not unmingled with awe, fall upon him. +In the presence of ancient things, the link between all mortality +seems most strongly felt. We perceive our association with the dead +more strongly. The character and habits of thought of the person, of +course, render it a more distinct or obscure perception; but still we +all have it. With some, it is as I have before called it, an +impression that we must share the same decay, meet the same fate, fall +into the same tomb as those who have raised or produced the things +that we behold; for every work of man is but a tombstone, if it be +read aright. But with others, an audible voice speaks from the grey +ruin and the ancient church, from the dilapidated houses where our +fathers dwelt or worshipped, and says to every one amongst the living, +"As they were, who built us, so must you be. They enjoyed, and hoped, +and feared, and suffered. So do you. Where are they gone, with all +their thoughts? Where will you go, think you never so highly? All +down, down, to the same dust, whither we too are tending. We have seen +these things, for ages past, and we shall see more."</p> + +<p class="normal">I mean not to say that such was exactly the aspect under which those +ruins presented themselves to the eye of the man who now visited them. +The voice that spoke was not so clear; but yet it was clear enough to +make him feel thoughtful if not sad; and he paused to gaze up at the +high keep, as the moon shone out upon the old stone-work, showing +every loophole and casement. He was not without imagination in a +homely way, and, following the train of thought which the sight of the +castle at that hour suggested, he said to himself, "I dare say many a +pretty girl has looked out of that window to talk to her lover by the +moonlight; and they have grown old, and died like other folks."</p> + +<p class="normal">How long he would have gone on in this musing mood I cannot tell, but +just at that moment the boy who had come down to the beach to call +him, appeared from the old doorway of the chapel, and pointing to one +of the towers in the wall, whispered--"He's up there, waiting for +you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, then, you run home, young Starlight," replied the smuggler. +"I'll be after you in a minute, for he can't have much to say, I +should think. Off with you! and no listening, or I'll break your head, +youngster."</p> + +<p class="normal">The boy laughed, and ran away through the gate; and his companion +turned towards the angle which he had pointed out. Approaching the +wall, he entered what might have been a door, or perhaps a window +looking in upon the court, and communicating with one of those +passages which led from tower to tower, with stairs every here and +there leading to the battlements. He was obliged to bow his head as he +passed; but after climbing a somewhat steep ascent, where the broken +steps were half covered with rubbish, he emerged upon the top of the +wall, where many a sentinel had kept his weary watch in times long +past. At a little distance in advance, standing in the pale moonlight, +was a tall, gaunt figure, leaning against a fragment of one of the +neighbouring towers; and Harding did not pause to look at the +splendour of the view below, though it might well, with its world of +wood and meadow, bounded by the glistening sea, have attracted eyes +less fond of such scenes than his; but on he walked, straight towards +the person before him, who, on his part, hurried forward to meet him, +whenever the sound of his step broke upon the ear.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Good night, Harding," said Mr. Radford, in a low but still harsh +tone; "what a time you have been. It will be one o'clock or more +before I get back."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Past two," answered the smuggler, bluntly; "but I came as soon as I +could. It is not much more than half an hour since I got your +message."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That stupid boy has been playing the fool, then," replied the other; +"I sent him----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, he's not stupid," interrupted the smuggler; "and he's not given +to play the fool either. More like to play the rogue. But what's the +business now, sir? There's no doing anything on such nights as these."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I know that--I know that," rejoined Radford. "But this will soon +change. The moon will be dwindled down to cheese-paring before many +days are over, and the barometer is falling. It is necessary that we +should make all our arrangements beforehand, Harding, and have +everything ready. We must have no more such jobs as the last two."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I had nothing to do with them," rejoined the smuggler. "You chose +your own people, and they failed. I do not mean to say it was their +fault, for I don't think it was. They lost as much, for them, as you +did; and they did their best, I dare say; but still that is nothing to +me. I've undertaken to land the cargo, and I will do it, if I live. If +I die, there's nothing to be said, you know; but I don't say I'll ever +undertake another of the sort. It does not answer, Mr. Radford. It +makes a man think too much, to know that other people have got so much +money staked on such a venture."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ay, but that is the very cause why every one should exert himself," +answered his companion. "I lost fifty thousand pounds by the last +affair, twenty by the other; but I tell you, Harding, I have more than +both upon this, and if this fail----"</p> + +<p class="normal">He paused, and did not finish the sentence; but he set his teeth hard, +and seemed to draw his breath with difficulty.</p> + +<p class="normal">"That's a bad plan," said the smuggler--"a bad plan, in all ways. You +wish to make up all at one run: and so you double the venture: but you +should know by this time, that one out of four pays very well, and we +have seldom failed to do one out of two or three; but the more money +people get the more greedy they are of it; so that because you put +three times as much as enough on one freight, you must needs put five +times on the other, and ten times on the third, risking a greater loss +every time for a greater gain. I'll have to do with no more of these +things. I'm contented with little, and don't like such great +speculations."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, if you are afraid," cried Mr. Radford, "you can give it up! I +dare say we can find some one else to land the goods."</p> + +<p class="normal">"As to being afraid, that I am not," answered Harding; "and having +undertaken the run, I'll do it. I'm not half so much afraid as you +are: for I've not near so much to lose--only my life or liberty and +three hundred pounds. But still, Mr. Radford, I do not like to think +that if anything goes wrong you'll be so much hurt; and it makes a man +feel queer. If I have a few hundreds in a boat, and nothing to lose +but myself and a dozen of tubs, I go about it as gay as a lark and as +cool and quiet as a dogfish; but if anything were to go wrong now, why +it would be----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ruin--utter ruin!" said Mr. Radford.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I dare say it would," rejoined the smuggler; "but, nevertheless, your +coming down here every other day, and sending for me, does no good, +and a great deal of harm. It only teazes me, and sets me always +thinking about it, when the best way is not to think at all, but just +to do the thing and get it over. Besides, you'll have people noticing +your being so often down here, and you'll make them suspect something +is going on."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But it is necessary, my good fellow," answered the other, "that we +should settle all our plans. I must have people ready, and horses and +help, in case of need."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ay, that you must," replied the smuggler, thoughtfully. "I think you +said the cargo was light goods."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Almost all India," said Radford, in return. "Shawls and painted +silks, and other things of great value but small bulk. There are a few +bales of lace, too; but the whole will require well nigh a hundred +horses to carry it, so that we must have a strong muster."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ay, and men who fight, too," rejoined Harding. "You know there are +Dragoons down at Folkestone?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No!--when did they come?" exclaimed Hadford, eagerly. "That's a bad +job--that's a bad job! Perhaps they suspect already. Perhaps some of +those fellows from the other side have given information, and these +soldiers are sent down in consequence--I shouldn't wonder, I shouldn't +wonder."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Pooh--nonsense, Mr. Radford!" replied Harding; "you are always so +suspicious. Some day or another you'll suspect me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I suspect everybody," cried Radford, vehemently, "and I have good +cause. I have known men do such things, for a pitiful gain, as would +hang them, if there were any just punishment for treachery."</p> + +<p class="normal">Harding laughed, but he did not explain the cause of his merriment, +though probably he thought that Mr. Radford himself would do many a +thing for a small gain, which would not lightly touch his soul's +salvation. He soon proceeded, however, to reply, in a grave +tone--"That's a bad plan, Mr. Radford. No man is ever well served by +those whom he suspects. He had better never have anything to do with a +person he doubts; so, if you doubt me, I'm quite willing to give the +business up, for I don't half like it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, no!" said Radford, in a smooth and coaxing tone, "I did not mean +you, Harding; I know you too well for as honest a fellow as ever +lived; but I do doubt those fellows on the other side, and I strongly +suspect they peached about the other two affairs. Besides, you said +something about Dragoons, and we have not had any of that sort of +vermin here for a year or more."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You frighten yourself about nothing," answered Harding. "There is but +a troop of them yet, though they say more are expected. But what good +are Dragoons? I have run many a cargo under their very noses, and hope +I shall live to run many another. As to stopping this traffic, they +are no more good than so many old women!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"But you must get it all over before the rest come," replied Mr. +Radford, in an argumentative manner, taking hold of the lappel of his +companion's jacket; "there's no use of running more risk than needful. +And you must remember that we have a long way to carry the goods after +they are landed. Then is the most dangerous time."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I don't know that," said Harding; "but, however, you must provide for +that, and must also look out for <i>hides</i><a name="div4Ref_01" href="#div4_01"><sup>[1]</sup></a> for the things. I wont +have any of them down with me; and when I have landed them safely, +though I don't mind giving a help to bring them a little way inland, I +wont be answerable for anything more."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, no; that's all settled," answered his companion; "and the hides +are all ready, too. Some can come into my stable, others can be +carried up to the willow cave. Then there's Sir Robert's great barn."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Will Sir Robert consent?" asked Harding, in a doubtful tone. "He +would never have anything to do with these matters himself, and was +always devilish hard upon us. I remember he sent my father to gaol ten +years ago, when I was a youngster."</p> + +<p class="normal">"He must consent," replied Radford, sternly. "He dare as soon refuse +me as cut off his right hand. I tell you, Harding, I have got him in a +vice; and one turn of the lever will make him cry for mercy when I +like. But no more of him. I shall use his barn as if it were my own; +and it is in the middle of the wood, you know, so that it's out of +sight. But even if it were not for that, we've got many another place. +Thank Heaven, there are no want of hides in this county!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ay, but the worst of dry goods, and things of that kind," rejoined +the smuggler, "is that they spoil with a little wet, so that one can't +sink them in a cut or canal till they are wanted, as one can do with +tubs. Who do you intend to send down for them? That's one thing I must +know."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, whoever comes, my son will be with them," answered Mr. Radford. +"As to who the others will be, I cannot tell yet. The Ramleys, +certainly, amongst the rest. They are always ready, and will either +fight or run, as it may be needed."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I don't much like them," replied Harding; "they are a bad set. I wish +they were hanged, or out of the country; for, as you say, they will +either fight, or run, or peach, or anything else that suits them: one +just as soon as another."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, no fear of that--no fear of that!" exclaimed Mr. Radford, in a +confident tone, which seemed somewhat strange to the ears of his +companion, after the suspicions he had heard him so lately express; +but the other instantly added, in explanation, "I shall take care that +they have no means of peaching, for I will tell them nothing about it, +till they are setting off with fifty or sixty others."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That's the best way, and the only way with such fellows as that," +answered Harding; "but if you tell nobody, you'll find it a hard job +to get them all together."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Only let the day be fixed," said Mr. Radford; "and I'll have all +ready--never fear."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That must be your affair," replied Harding; "I'm ready whenever you +like. Give me a dark night and a fair wind, and my part of the job is +soon done."</p> + +<p class="normal">"About this day week, I should think," said Mr. Radford. "The moon +will be nearly out by that time."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not much more than half," replied the smuggler; "and as we have got +to go far,--for the ship, you say, will not stand in,--we had better +have the whole night to ourselves. Even a bit of a moon is a bad +companion on such a trip; especially when there is so much money +risked. No, I think you had better give me three days more: then there +will be wellnigh nothing left of her, and she wont rise till three or +four. We can see what the weather's like, too, about that time; and I +can come up, and let you know. But if you'll take my advice, Mr. +Radford, you'll not be coming down here any more, till it's all over +at least. There's no good of it, and it may do mischief."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, now it's all settled, I shall not need to do so," rejoined the +other; "but I really don't see, Harding, why you should so much wish +me to stay away."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I'll tell you why, Mr. Radford," said Harding, putting his hands into +the pockets of his jacket, "and that very easily. Although you have +become a great gentleman, and live at a fine place inland, people +haven't forgot when you kept a house and a counting-house too, in +Hythe, and all that used to go on in those days; and though you are a +magistrate, and go out hunting and shooting, and all that, the good +folks about have little doubt that you have a hankering after the old +trade yet, only that you do your business on a larger scale than you +did then. It's but the other day, when I was in at South's, the +grocer's, to talk to him about some stuff he wanted, I heard two men +say one to the other, as they saw you pass, 'Ay, there goes old +Radford. I wonder what he's down here for!' 'As great an old smuggler +as ever lived,' said the other; 'and a pretty penny he's made of it. +He's still at it, they say; and I dare say he's down here now upon +some such concern.' So you see, sir, people talk about it, and that's +the reason why I say that the less you are here the better."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Perhaps it is--perhaps it is," answered Mr. Radford, quickly; "and as +we've now settled all we can settle, till you come up, I'll take +myself home. Good night, Harding--good night!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Good night, sir," answered Harding, with something like a smile upon +his lip; and finding their way down again to the court below, they +parted.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I don't like that fellow at all," said Mr. Radford to himself, as he +walked away upon the road to Hythe, where he had left his horse; "he's +more than half inclined to be uncivil. I'll have nothing more to do +with him after this is over."</p> + +<p class="normal">Harding took his way across the fields towards Sandgate, and perhaps +his thoughts were not much more complimentary to his companion than +Mr. Radford's had been to him; but in the meantime, while each +followed his separate course homeward, we must remain for a short +space in the green, moonlight court of Saltwood Castle. All remained +still and silent for about three minutes; but then the ivy, which at +that time had gathered thickly round the old walls, might be seen to +move in the neighbourhood of a small aperture in one of the ruined +flanking towers of the outer wall, to which it had at one time +probably served as a window, though all traces of its original form +were now lost. The tower was close to the spot where Mr. Radford and +his companion had been standing; and although the aperture we have +mentioned looked towards the court, joining on to a projecting wall in +great part overthrown, there was a loop-hole on the other side, +flanking the very parapet on which they had carried on their +conversation.</p> + +<p class="normal">After the ivy had moved for a moment, as I have said, something like a +human head was thrust out, looking cautiously round the court. The +next minute a broad pair of shoulders appeared, and then the whole +form of a tall and powerful man, who, after pausing for an instant on +the top of the broken wall, used its fragments as a means of descent +to the ground below. Just as he reached the level of the court, one of +the loose stones which he had displaced as he came down, rolled after +him and fell at his side; and, with a sudden start at the first sound, +he laid his hand on the butt of a large horse-pistol stuck in a belt +round his waist. As soon as he perceived what it was that had alarmed +him, he took his hand from the weapon again, and walked out into the +moonlight; and thence, after pacing quietly up and down for two or +three minutes, to give time for the two other visitors of the castle +to get to a distance, he sauntered slowly out through the gate. He +then turned under the walls towards the little wood which at that time +occupied a part of the valley; opposite to which he stood gazing for +about five minutes. When he judged all safe, he gave a whistle, upon +which the form of a boy instantly started out from the trees, and came +running across the meadow towards him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Have you heard all, Mr. Mowle?" asked the boy in a whisper, as soon +as he was near.</p> + +<p class="normal">"All that they said, Little Starlight," replied the other. "They +didn't say enough; but yet it will do; and you are a clever little +fellow. But come along," he added, laying his hand on the boy's +shoulder, "you shall have what I promised you, and half-a-crown more; +and if you go on, and tell me all you find out, you shall be well +paid."</p> + +<p class="normal">Thus saying, he walked on with the boy towards Hythe, and the scenery +round Saltwood resumed its silent solitude again.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="div1_07" href="#div1Ref_07">CHAPTER VII.</a></h2> +<br> + +<p class="normal">To a very hungry man, it matters not much what is put upon the table, +so that it be eatable; but with the intellectual appetite the case is +different, and every one is anxious to know who is to be his +companion, or what is to be in his book. Now, Sir Edward Digby was +somewhat of an epicure in human character; and he always felt as great +a curiosity to enjoy any new personage brought before him, as the more +ordinary epicure desires to taste a new dish. He was equally refined, +too, in regard to the taste of his intellectual food. He liked a good +deal of flavour, but not too much: a soupçon of something, he did not +well know what, in a man's demeanour gave it great zest, as a soupçon +of two or three condiments so blended in a salmi as to defy analysis +must have charmed Vatel; and, to say the truth, the little he had seen +or heard of the house in which he now was, together with his knowledge +of some of its antecedents, had awakened a great desire for a farther +taste of its quality.</p> + +<p class="normal">When he went down stairs, then, and opened the dining-room door, his +eye naturally ran round in search of the new guests. Only two, +however, had arrived, in the first of whom he recognised Mr. Zachary +Croyland. The other was a venerable looking old man, in black, whom he +could not conceive to be Mr. Radford, from the previous account which +he had heard of that respectable gentleman's character. It turned out, +however, that the person before him--who had been omitted by Sir +Robert Croyland in the enumeration of his expected visitors--was the +clergyman of the neighbouring village; and being merely a plain, good +man, of very excellent sense, but neither, rich noble, nor thrifty, +was nobody in the opinion of the baronet.</p> + +<p class="normal">As soon as Sir Edward Digby appeared, Mr. Zachary Croyland, with his +back tall, straight, and stiff as a poker, advanced towards him, and +shook him cordially by the hand. "Welcome, welcome, my young friend," +he said; "you've kept your word, I see; and that's a good sign of any +man, especially when he knows that there's neither pleasure, profit, +nor popularity to be gained by so doing; and I'm sure there's none of +either to be had in this remote corner of the world. You have some +object, of course, in coming among us; for every man has an object; +but what it is I can't divine."</p> + +<p class="normal">"A very great object indeed, my dear sir," replied the young officer, +with a smile; "I wish to cultivate the acquaintance of an old friend +of my father's--your brother here, who was kind enough to invite me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"A very unprofitable sort of plant to cultivate," answered Mr. +Croyland, in a voice quite loud enough to be heard by the whole room. +"It wont pay tillage, I should think; but you know your own affairs +best. Here, Edith, my love, I must make you better acquainted with my +young fellow-traveller. Doubtless, he is perfectly competent to talk +as much nonsense to you as any other young man about town, and has +imported, for the express benefit of the young ladies in the country, +all the sweet things and pretty speeches last in vogue. But he can, in +his saner moments, and if you just let him know that you are not quite +a fool, bestow upon you some small portion of common sense, which he +has picked up, Heaven knows how!--He couldn't have it by descent; for +he is an eldest son, and that portion of the family property is always +reserved for the younger children."</p> + +<p class="normal">Mrs. Barbara Croyland, who found that her brother Zachary was riding +his horse somewhat hard, moved across the room--with the superfluity +of whalebone which she had in her stays crackling at every step, as if +expressly to attract attention--and, laying her hand on Mr. Croyland's +arm, she whispered--"Now do, brother, be a little civil and kind. +There's no use of hurting people's feelings; and, if Robert hasn't as +much sense as you, there's no use you should always be telling him +so."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Pish! nonsense! "cried Mr. Croyland, "Hold your tongue, Bab. You're a +good soul as ever lived, but a great fool into the bargain. So don't +meddle. I should think you had burnt your fingers enough with it by +this time."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And I'm sure you're a good soul, too, if you would but let people +know it," replied Mrs. Barbara, anxious to soften and keep down all +the little oddities and asperities of her family circle in the eyes of +Sir Edward Digby.</p> + +<p class="normal">But she only showed them the more by so doing; for Mr. Croyland was +not to be caught by honey; and, besides, the character which she, in +her simplicity, thought fit to attribute to him, was the very last +upon the face of the earth which he coveted. Every man has his vanity; +and it is an imp that takes an infinite variety of different forms, +frequently the most hideous or the most absurd. Now Mr. Croyland's +vanity lay in his oddity and acerbity. There was nothing on earth +which he considered so foolish as good-nature; and he was heartily +ashamed of the large portion with which Heaven had endowed him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I a good soul!" he exclaimed. "Let me tell you, Bab, you are very +much mistaken in that, as in every other thing you say or do. I am +nothing more nor less than a very cross, ill-tempered old man; and you +know it quite well, if you wouldn't be a hypocrite."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, I do believe you are," said the lady, with her own particular +vanity mortified into a state of irritation, "and the only way is to +let you alone."</p> + +<p class="normal">While this conversation had been passing between brother and sister, +Sir Edward Digby, taking advantage of the position in which they +stood, and which masked his own operations from the rest of the party, +bent down to speak a few words to Edith, who, whatever they were, +looked up with a smile, faint and thoughtful indeed, but still +expressing as much cheerfulness as her countenance ever showed. The +topic which he spoke upon might be commonplace, but what he said was +said with grace, and had a degree of originality in it, mingled with +courtliness and propriety of expression, which at once awakened +attention and repaid it. It was not strong beer--it was not strong +spirit--but it was like some delicate kind of wine, which has more +power than the fineness of the flavour suffers to be apparent at the +first taste.</p> + +<p class="normal">Their conversation was not long, however; for by the time that the +young gentleman and lady had exchanged a few sentences, and Mr. +Croyland had finished his discussion with his sister, the name of Mr. +Radford was announced; and Sir Edward Digby turned quickly round to +examine the appearance of the new comer. As he did so, however, his +eye fell for a moment upon the countenance of Edith Croyland, and he +thought he remarked an expression of anxiety not unmingled with pain, +till the door closed after admitting a single figure, when a look of +relief brightened her face, and she gave a glance across the room to +her sister. The younger girl instantly rose; and while her father was +busy receiving Mr. Radford with somewhat profuse attention, she +gracefully crossed the room, and seating herself by Edith, laid her +hand upon her sister's, whispering something to her with a kindly +look.</p> + +<p class="normal">Sir Edward Digby marked it all, and liked it; for there is something +in the bottom of man's heart which has always a sympathy with +affection; but he, nevertheless, did not fail to take a complete +survey of the personage who entered, and whom I must now present to +the reader, somewhat more distinctly than I could do by the moonlight. +Mr. Richard Radford was a tall, thin, but large-boned man, with dark +eyes and overhanging shaggy brows, a hook nose, considerably depressed +towards the point, a mouth somewhat wide, and teeth very fine for his +age, though somewhat straggling and sharklike. His hair was very +thick, and apparently coarse; his arms long and powerful; and his +legs, notwithstanding the meagreness of his body, furnished with very +respectable calves. On the whole, he was a striking but not a +prepossessing person; and there was a look of keenness and cupidity, +we might almost say voracity, in his eye, with a bend in the brow, +which would have given the observer an idea of great quickness of +intellect and decision of character, if it had not been for a certain +degree of weakness about the partly opened mouth, which seemed to be +in opposition to the latter characteristic. He was dressed in the +height of the mode, with large buckles in his shoes and smaller ones +at his knees, a light dress-sword hanging not ungracefully by his +side, and a profusion of lace and embroidery about his apparel.</p> + +<p class="normal">Mr. Radford replied to the courtesies of Sir Robert Croyland +with perfect self-possession--one might almost call it +self-sufficiency--but with no grace and some stiffness. He was then +introduced, in form, to Sir Edward Digby, bowing low, if that could be +called a bow, which was merely an inclination of the rigid spine, from +a perpendicular position to an angle of forty-five with the horizon. +The young officer's demeanour formed a very striking contrast with +that of his new acquaintance, not much in favour of the latter; but he +showed that, as Mr. Croyland had predicated of him, he was quite +prepared to say a great many courteous nothings in a very civil and +obliging tone. Mr. Radford declared himself delighted at the honour of +making his acquaintance, and Sir Edward pronounced himself charmed at +the opportunity of meeting him. Mr. Radford hoped that he was going to +honour their poor place for a considerable length of time, and Sir +Edward felt sure that the beauty of such scenery, and the delights of +such society, would be the cause of much pain to him when he was +compelled to tear himself away.</p> + +<p class="normal">A low but merry laugh from behind them, caused both the gentlemen to +turn their heads; and they found the sparkling eyes of Zara Croyland +fixed upon them. She instantly dropped her eye-lids, however, and +coloured a little, at being detected. It was evident enough that she +had been weighing the compliments she heard, and estimating them at +their right value, which made Mr. Radford look somewhat angry, but +elicited nothing from Sir Edward Digby but a gay glance at the +beautiful little culprit, which she caught, even through the thick +lashes of her downcast eyes, and which served to reassure her.</p> + +<p class="normal">Sir Robert Croyland himself was displeased; but Zara was in a degree a +spoiled child, and had established for herself a privilege of doing +what she liked, unscolded. To turn the conversation, therefore, Sir +Robert, in a tone of great regard, inquired particularly after his +young friend, Richard, and said, he hoped that they were to have the +pleasure of seeing him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I trust so--I trust so, Sir Robert," replied Mr. Radford; "but you +know I am totally unacquainted with his movements. He had gone away +upon some business, the servants told me; and I waited as long as I +could for him; but I did not choose to keep your dinner, Sir Robert; +and if he does not choose to come in time, the young dog must go +without.--Pray do not stop a moment for him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Business!" muttered Mr. Croyland--"either cheating the king's +revenue, or making love to a milkmaid, I'll answer for him;" but the +remark passed unnoticed, for Sir Robert Croyland, who was always +anxious to drown his brother's somewhat too pertinent observations, +without giving the nabob any offence, was loudly pressing Mr. Radford +to let them wait for half an hour, in order to give time for the young +gentleman's arrival.</p> + +<p class="normal">His father, however, would not hear of such a proceeding; and the bell +was rung, and dinner ordered. It was placed upon the table with great +expedition; and the party moved towards the dining-room. Mr. Radford +handed in the baronet's sister, who was, to say the truth, an enigma +to him; for he himself could form no conception of her good-nature, +simplicity, and kindness, and consequently thought that all the +mischief she occasionally caused, must originate in well-concealed +spite, which gave him a great reverence for her character. Sir Edward +Digby, notwithstanding a hint from Sir Robert to take in his youngest +daughter, advanced to Miss Croyland, and secured her, as he thought, +for himself; while the brother of the master of the house followed +with the fair Zara, leaving the clergyman and Sir Robert to come +together. By a manœuvre on the part of Edith, however, favoured by +her father, but nearly frustrated by the busy spirit of her aunt, Miss +Croyland got placed between Sir Robert and the clergyman, while the +youngest daughter of the house was seated by Sir Edward Digby, leaving +a chair vacant between herself and her worthy parent for young +Radford, when he should arrive.</p> + +<p class="normal">All this being arranged, to the satisfaction of everybody but Sir +Edward Digby, grace was said, after a not very decent hint from Sir +Robert Croyland, that it ought not to be too long; and the dinner +commenced with the usual attack upon soup and fish. It must not be +supposed, however, because we have ventured to say that the +arrangement was not to the satisfaction of Sir Edward Digby, that the +young baronet was at all disinclined to enjoy his pretty little +friend's society nearer than the opposite side of the table. Nor must +it be imagined that his sage reflections, in regard to keeping himself +out of danger, had at all made a coward of the gallant soldier. The +truth is, he had a strong desire to study Edith Croyland: not on +account of any benefit which that study could be of to himself, but +with other motives and views, which, upon the whole, were very +laudable. He wished to see into her mind, and, by those slight +indications which were all he could expect her to display--but which, +nevertheless, to a keen observer, often tell a history better than a +whole volume of details--to ascertain some facts, in regard to which +he took a considerable interest. Being somewhat eager in his way, and +not knowing how long he might find it either convenient or safe to +remain in his present quarters, he had determined to commence the +campaign as soon as possible; but, frustrated in his first attack, he +determined to change his plan of operations, and besiege the fair Zara +as one of the enemy's outworks. He accordingly laughed and talked with +her upon almost every subject in the world during the first part of +dinner, skilfully leading her up to the pursuits of her sister and +herself in the country, in order to obtain a clear knowledge of their +habits and course of proceeding, that he might take advantage of it at +an after-period, for purposes of his own.</p> + +<p class="normal">The art of conversation, when properly regarded, forms a regular +system of tactics, in which, notwithstanding the various manœuvres +of your adversary, and the desultory fire kept up by indifferent +persons around, you still endeavour to carry the line of advance in +the direction that you wish, and to frustrate every effort to turn it +towards any point that may not be agreeable to you, rallying it here, +giving it a bend there; presenting a sharp angle at one place, an +obtuse one at another; and raising from time to time a barrier or a +breastwork for the purpose of preventing the adverse force from +turning your flank, and getting into your rear.</p> + +<p class="normal">But the mischief was, in the present instance, that Sir Edward Digby's +breastworks were too low for such an active opponent as Zara Croyland. +They might have appeared a formidable obstacle in the way of a +scientific opponent; but with all the rash valour of youth, which is +so frequently successful where practice and experience fail, she +walked straight up, and jumped over them, taking one line after +another, till Sir Edward Digby found that she had nearly got into the +heart of his camp. It was all so easy and natural, however, so gay and +cheerful, that he could not feel mortified, even at his own want of +success; and though five times she darted away from the subject, and +began to talk of other things, he still renewed it, expatiating upon +the pleasures of a country life, and upon how much more rational, as +well as agreeable it was, when compared to the amusements and whirl of +the town.</p> + +<p class="normal">Mr. Zachary Croyland, indeed, cut across them often, listening to what +they said and sometimes smiling significantly at Sir Edward Digby, or +at other times replying himself to what either of the two thought fit +to discourse upon. Thus, then, when the young baronet was descanting +sagely of the pleasures of the country, as compared with those of the +town, good Mr. Croyland laughed merrily, saying, "You will soon have +enough of it, Sir Edward; or else you are only deceiving that poor +foolish girl; for what have you to do with the country?--you, who have +lived the best part of your life in cities, and amongst their +denizens. I dare say, if the truth were told now, you would give a +guinea to be walking up the Mall, instead of sitting down here, in +this old, crumbling, crazy house, speaking courteous nonsense to a +pretty little milkmaid."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Indeed, my dear sir, you are very much mistaken," replied Sir Edward, +gravely. "You judge all men by yourself; and because you are fond of +cities, and the busy haunts of men, you think I must be so too."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I fond of cities and the busy haunts of men!" cried Mr. Croyland, in +a tone of high indignation; but a laugh that ran round the table, and +in which even the worthy clergyman joined, shewed the old gentleman +that he had been taken in by Sir Edward's quietly-spoken jest; and at +the same time his brother exclaimed, still laughing, "He hit you +fairly there, Zachary. He has found out the full extent of your love +for your fellow-creatures already."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, I forgive him, I forgive him!" said Mr. Croyland, with more +good humour than might have been expected. "I had forgotten that I had +told him, four or five days ago, my hatred for all cities, and +especially for that great mound of greedy emmets, which, +unfortunately, is the capital of this country. I declare I never go +into that vast den of iniquity, and mingle with the stream of +wretched-looking things that call themselves human, which all its +doors are hourly vomiting forth, but they put me in mind of the white +ants in India, just the same squalid-looking, active, and voracious +vermin as themselves, running over everything that obstructs them, +intruding themselves everywhere, destroying everything that comes in +their way, and acting as an incessant torment to every one within +reach. Certainly, the white ants are the less venemous of the two +races, and somewhat prettier to look at; but still there's a wonderful +resemblance."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I don't at all approve of your calling me a milkmaid, uncle," said +Zara, shaking her small delicate finger at Mr. Croyland, across the +table. "It's very wrong and ungrateful of you. See if ever I milk your +cow for you again!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then I'll milk it myself, my dear," replied Mr. Croyland, with a +good-humoured smile at his fair niece.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You cannot, you cannot!" cried Zara. "Fancy, Sir Edward, what a +picture it made when one day I went over to my uncle's, and found him +with a frightful-looking black man, in a turban whom he brought over +from Heaven knows where, trying to milk a cow he had just bought, and +neither of them able to manage it. My uncle was kneeling upon his +cocked hat, amongst the long grass, looking, as he acknowledges, like +a kangaroo; the cow had got one of her feet in the pail, kicking most +violently; and the black man with a white turban round his head, was +upon both his knees before her, beseeching her in some heathen +language to be quiet. It was the finest sight I ever saw, and would +have made a beautiful picture of the Worship of the Cow, which is, as +I am told, customary in the country where both the gentlemen came +from."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Zara, my dear--Zara!" cried Mrs. Barbara, who was frightened to death +lest her niece should deprive herself of all share in Mr. Croyland's +fortune. "You really should not tell such a story of your uncle."</p> + +<p class="normal">But the worthy gentleman himself was laughing till the tears ran down +his cheeks. "It's quite true--it's quite true!" he exclaimed, "and she +did milk the cow, though we couldn't. The ill-tempered devil was as +quiet as a lamb with her, though she is so vicious with every male +thing, that I have actually been obliged to have a woman in the +cottage within a hundred yards of the house, for the express purpose +of milking her."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That's what you should have done at first," said Mr. Radford, putting +down the fork with which he had been diligently devouring a large +plateful of fish. "Instead of having nothing but men about you, you +should have had none but your coachman and footman, and all the rest +women."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ay, and married my cook-maid," replied Mr. Croyland, sarcastically.</p> + +<p class="normal">Sir Robert Croyland looked down into his plate with a quivering lip +and a heavy brow, as if he did not well know whether to laugh or be +angry. The clergyman smiled, Mr. Radford looked furious, but said +nothing, and Mrs. Barbara exclaimed, "Oh, brother, you should not say +such things! and besides, there are many cook-maids who are very nice, +pretty, respectable people."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, sister, I'll think of it," said Mr. Croyland, drily, but with a +good deal of fun twinkling in the corners of his eyes.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was too much for the light heart of Zara Croyland; and holding down +her head, she laughed outright, although she knew that Mr. Radford had +placed himself in the predicament of which her uncle spoke, though he +had been relieved of the immediate consequence for some years.</p> + +<p class="normal">What would have been the result is difficult to say; for Mr. Radford +was waxing wroth; but at that moment the door was flung hastily open, +and a young gentleman entered, of some three or four-and-twenty years +of age, bearing a strong resemblance to Mr. Radford, though +undoubtedly of a much more pleasant and graceful appearance. He was +well dressed, and his coat, lined with white silk of the finest +texture, was cast negligently back from his chest, with an air of +carelessness which was to be traced in all the rest of his apparel. +Everything he wore was as good as it could be, and everything became +him; for he was well formed, and his movements were free and even +graceful; but everything seemed to have been thrown on in a hurry, and +his hair floated wild and straggling round his brow, as if neither +comb nor brush had touched it for many hours. It might have been +supposed that this sort of disarray proceeded from haste when he found +himself too late and his father gone; but there was an expression of +reckless indifference about his face which led Sir Edward Digby to +imagine that this apparent negligence was the habitual characteristic +of his mind, rather than the effect of any accidental circumstance. +His air was quite self-possessed, though hurried; and a flashing +glance of his eye round the table, resting for a moment longer on Sir +Edward Digby than on any one else, seemed directed to ascertain +whether the party assembled was one that pleased him, before he chose +to sit down to the board with them. He made no apology to Sir Robert +Croyland for being too late, but shook hands with him in return for +the very cordial welcome he met with, and then seated himself in the +vacant chair, nodding to Miss Croyland familiarly, and receiving a +cold inclination of the head in return. One of the servants inquired +if he would take soup and fish; but he replied, abruptly, "No; bring +me fish. No soup--I hate such messes."</p> + +<p class="normal">In the meantime, by one of those odd turns which sometimes take place +in conversation, Mr. Croyland, the clergyman, and Mr. Radford himself +were once more talking together: the latter having apparently overcome +his indignation at the nabob's tart rejoinder, in the hope and +expectation of saying something still more biting to him in return. +Like many a great general, however, he had not justly appreciated the +power of his adversary as compared with his own strength. Mr. +Croyland, soured at an early period of life, had acquired by long +practice and experience a habit of repartee when his prejudices or his +opinions (and they are very different things) were assailed, which was +overpowering. A large fund of natural kindness and good humour formed +a curious substratum for the acerbity which had accumulated above it, +and his love of a joke would often shew itself in a hearty peal of +laughter, even at his own expense, when the attack upon him was made +in a good spirit, by one for whom he had any affection or esteem. But +if he despised or disliked his assailant, as was the case with Mr. +Radford, the bitterest possible retort was sure to be given in the +fewest possible words.</p> + +<p class="normal">In order to lead away from the obnoxious subject, the clergyman +returned to Mr. Croyland's hatred of London, saying, not very +advisedly perhaps, just as young Mr. Radford entered, "I cannot +imagine, my dear sir, why you have such an animosity to our +magnificent capital, and to all that it contains, especially when we +all know you to be as beneficent to individuals as you are severe upon +the species collectively."</p> + +<p class="normal">"My dear Cruden, you'll only make a mess of it," replied Mr. Croyland. +"The reason why I do sometimes befriend a poor scoundrel whom I happen +to know, is because it is less pleasant for me to see a rascal suffer +than to do what's just by him. I have no will and no power to punish +all the villany I see, otherwise my arm would be tired enough of +flogging, in this county of Kent. But I do not understand why I should +be called upon to like a great agglomeration of blackguards in a city, +when I can have the same diluted in the country. Here we have about a +hundred scoundrels to the square mile; in London we have a hundred to +the square yard."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Don't you think, sir, that they may be but the worse scoundrels in +the country because they are fewer?" demanded Mr. Radford.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am beginning to fancy so," answered Mr. Croyland, drily, "but I +suppose in London the number makes up for the want of intensity."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, it's a very fine city," rejoined Mr. Radford; "the emporium of +the world, the nurse of arts and sciences, the birth-place and the +theatre of all that is great and majestic in the efforts of human +intellect."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And equally of all that is base and vile," answered his opponent; "it +is the place to which all smuggled goods naturally tend, Radford. +Every uncustomed spirit, every prohibited ware, physical and +intellectual, there finds its mart; and the chief art that is +practised is to cheat as cleverly as may be--the chief science +learned, is how to defraud without being detected. We are improving in +the country, daily--daily; but we have not reached the skill of London +yet. Men make large fortunes in the country in a few years by merely +cheating the Customs; but in London they make large fortunes in a few +months by cheating everybody."</p> + +<p class="normal">"So they do in India," replied Mr. Radford, who thought he had hit the +tender place.</p> + +<p class="normal">"True, true!" cried Mr. Croyland; "and then we go and set up for +country gentlemen, and cheat still. What rogues we are, Radford!--eh? +I see you know the world. It is very well for me to say, I made all my +money by curing men, not by robbing them. Never you believe it, my +good friend. It is not in human nature, is it? No, no! tell that to +the marines. No man ever made a fortune but by plunder, that's a +certain fact."</p> + +<p class="normal">The course of Sir Robert Croyland's dinner-party seemed to promise +very pleasantly at this juncture; but Sir Edward Digby, though +somewhat amused, was not himself fond of sharp words, and had some +compassion upon the ladies at the table. He therefore stepped in; and, +without seeming to have noticed that there was anything passing +between Mr. Radford and the brother of his host, except the most +delicate courtesies, he contrived, by some well-directed questions in +regard to India, to give Mr. Croyland an inducement to deviate from +the sarcastic into the expatiative; and having set him cantering upon +one of his hobbies, he left him to finish his excursion, and returned +to a conversation which had been going on between him and the fair +Zara, in somewhat of a low tone, though not so low as to show any +mutual design of keeping it from the ears of those around. Young +Radford had in the meantime been making up for the loss of time +occasioned by his absence at the commencement of dinner, and he seemed +undoubtedly to have a prodigious appetite. Not a word had passed from +father to son, or son to father; and a stranger might have supposed +them in no degree related to each other. Indeed, the young gentleman +had hitherto spoken to nobody but the servant; and while his mouth was +employed in eating, his quick, large eyes were directed to every face +round the table in succession, making several more tours than the +first investigating glance, which I have already mentioned, and every +time stopping longer at the countenance of Sir Edward Digby than +anywhere else. He now, however, seemed inclined to take part in that +officer's conversation with the youngest Miss Croyland, and did not +appear quite pleased to find her attention so completely engrossed by +a stranger. To Edith he vouchsafed not a single word; but hearing the +fair lady next to him reply to something which Sir Edward Digby had +said. "Oh, we go out once or twice almost every day; sometimes on +horseback; but more frequently to take a walk," he exclaimed, "Do you, +indeed, Miss Zara?--why, I never meet you, and I am always running +about the country. How is that, I wonder?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Zara smiled, and replied, with an arch look, "Because fortune +befriends us, I suppose, Mr. Radford;" but then, well knowing that he +was not one likely to take a jest in good part, she added--"we don't +go out to meet anybody, and therefore always take those paths where we +are least likely to do so."</p> + +<p class="normal">Still young Radford did not seem half to like her reply; but, +nevertheless, he went on in the same tone, continually interrupting +her conversation with Sir Edward Digby, and endeavouring, after a +fashion not at all uncommon, to make himself agreeable by preventing +people from following the course they are inclined to pursue. The +young baronet rather humoured him than otherwise, for he wished to see +as deeply as possible into his character. He asked him to drink wine +with him; he spoke to him once or twice without being called upon to +do so; and he was somewhat amused to see that the fair Zara was a good +deal annoyed at the encouragement he gave to her companion on the left +to join in their conversation.</p> + +<p class="normal">He was soon satisfied, however, in regard to the young man's mind and +character. Richard Radford had evidently received what is called a +good education, which is, in fact, no education at all. He had been +taught a great many things; he knew a good deal; but that which really +and truly constitutes education was totally wanting. He had not +learned how to make use of that which he had acquired, either for his +own benefit or for that of society. He had been instructed, not +educated, and there is the greatest possible difference between the +two. He was shrewd enough, but selfish and conceited to a high degree, +with a sufficient portion of pride to be offensive, with sufficient +vanity to be irritable, with all the wilfulness of a spoiled child, +and with that confusion of ideas in regard to plain right and wrong, +which is always consequent upon the want of moral training and +over-indulgence in youth. To judge from his own conversation, the +whole end and aim of his life seemed to be excitement; he spoke of +field sports with pleasure; but the degree of satisfaction which he +derived from each, appeared to be always in proportion to the danger, +the activity, and the fierceness. Hunting he liked better than +shooting, shooting than fishing, which latter he declared was only +tolerable because there was nothing else to be done in the spring of +the year. But upon the pleasures of the chase he would dilate largely, +and he told several anecdotes of staking a magnificent horse here, and +breaking the back of another there, till poor Zara turned somewhat +pale, and begged him to desist from such themes.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I cannot think how men can be so barbarous," she said. "Their whole +pleasure seems to consist in torturing poor animals or killing them."</p> + +<p class="normal">Young Radford laughed. "What were they made for?" he asked.</p> + +<p class="normal">"To be used by man, I think, not to be tortured by him," the young +lady replied.</p> + +<p class="normal">"No torture at all," said her companion on the left. "The horse takes +as much pleasure in running after the hounds as I do, and if he breaks +his back, or I break my neck, it's our own fault. We have nobody to +thank for it but ourselves. The very chance of killing oneself gives +additional pleasure; and, when one pushes a horse at a leap, the best +fun of the whole is the thought whether he will be able by any +possibility to clear it or not. If it were not for hunting, and one or +two other things of the sort, there would be nothing left for an +English gentleman, but to go to Italy and put himself at the head of a +party of banditti. That must be glorious work!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Don't you think, Mr. Radford," asked Sir Edward Digby, "that active +service in the army might offer equal excitement, and a more +honourable field?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, dear no!" cried the young man. "A life of slavery compared with a +life of freedom; to be drilled and commanded, and made a mere machine +of, and sent about relieving guards and pickets, and doing everything +that one is told like a school-boy! I would not go into the army for +the world. I'm sure if I did I should shoot my commanding officer +within a month!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then I would advise you not," answered the young baronet, "for after +the shooting there would be another step to be taken which would not +be quite so pleasant."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, you mean the hanging," cried young Radford, laughing; "but I +would take care they should never hang me; for I could shoot myself as +easily as I could shoot him; and I have a great dislike to +strangulation. It's one of the few sorts of death that would not +please me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Come, come, Richard!" said Sir Robert Croyland, in a nervous and +displeased tone; "let us talk of some other subject. You will frighten +the ladies from table before the cloth is off."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is very odd," said young Radford, in a low voice, to Sir Edward +Digby, without making any reply to the master of the house--"it is +very odd, how frightened old men are at the very name of death, when +at the best they can have but two or three years to live."</p> + +<p class="normal">The young officer did not reply, but turned the conversation to other +things; and the wine having been liberally supplied, operated as it +usually does, at the point where its use stops short of excess, in +"making glad the heart of man;" and the conclusion of the dinner was +much more cheerful and placable than the commencement.</p> + +<p class="normal">The ladies retired within a few minutes after the desert was set upon +the table; and it soon became evident to Sir Edward Digby, that the +process of deep drinking, so disgracefully common in England at that +time, was about to commence. He was by no means incapable of bearing +as potent libations as most men; for occasionally, in those days, it +was scarcely possible to escape excess without giving mortal offence +to your entertainer; but it was by no means either his habit or his +inclination so to indulge, and for this evening especially he was +anxious to escape. He looked, therefore, across the table to Mr. +Croyland for relief; and that gentleman, clearly understanding what he +meant, gave him a slight nod, and finished his first glass of wine +after dinner. The bottles passed round again, and Mr. Croyland took +his second glass; but after that he rose without calling much +attention: a proceeding which was habitual with him. When, however, +Sir Edward Digby followed his example, there was a general outcry. +Every one declared it was too bad, and Sir Robert said, in a somewhat +mortified tone, that he feared his wine was not so good as that to +which his guest had been accustomed.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is only too good, my dear sir," replied the young baronet, +determined to cut the matter short, at once and for ever. "So good, +indeed, that I have been induced to take two more glasses than I +usually indulge in, and I consequently feel somewhat heated and +uncomfortable. I shall go and refresh myself by a walk through your +woods."</p> + +<p class="normal">Several more efforts were made to induce him to stay; but he was +resolute in his course; and Mr. Croyland also came to his aid, +exclaiming, "Pooh, nonsense, Robert! let every man do as he likes. +Have not I heard you, a thousand times, call your house Liberty Hall? +A pretty sort of liberty, indeed, if a man must get beastly drunk +because you choose to do so!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not intend to do any such thing, brother," replied Sir Robert, +somewhat sharply; and in the meanwhile, during this discussion, Sir +Edward Digby made his escape from the room.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="div1_08" href="#div1Ref_08">CHAPTER VIII.</a></h2> +<br> + +<p class="normal">On entering the drawing-room, towards which Sir Edward Digby +immediately turned his steps, he found it tenanted alone by Mrs. +Barbara Croyland, who sat in the window with her back towards the +door, knitting most diligently, with something pinned to her knee. As +it was quite beyond the good lady's conception that any body would +ever think of quitting the dining-room so early but her younger +brother, no sooner did she hear a step than, jumping at conclusions as +she usually did, she exclaimed aloud, "Isn't he a nice young man, +brother Zachary? I think it will do quite well, if that----"</p> + +<p class="normal">Sir Edward Digby would have given a great deal to hear the conclusion +of the sentence; but his honour was as bright as his sword; and he +never took advantage of a mistake. "It is not your brother, Mrs. +Croyland," he said; and then Mrs. Barbara starting up with a face like +scarlet, tearing her gown at the same time by the tug she gave to the +pin which attached her work to her knee, he added, with the most +benevolent intentions, "I think he might have been made a very nice +young man, if he had been properly treated in his youth. But I should +imagine he was very wild and headstrong now."</p> + +<p class="normal">Mrs. Barbara stared at him with a face full of wonder and confusion; +for her own mind was so completely impressed with the subject on which +she had begun to speak, that she by no means comprehended the turn +that he intended to give it, but thought that he also was talking of +himself, and not of young Radford. How it would have ended, no mere +mortal can tell; for when once Mrs. Barbara got into a scrape, she +floundered most awfully. Luckily, however, her brother was close +enough behind Sir Edward Digby to hear all that passed, and he entered +the room while the consternation was still fresh upon his worthy +sister's countenance.</p> + +<p class="normal">After gazing at her for a moment, with a look of sour merriment, Mr. +Croyland exclaimed, "There! hold your tongue, Bab; you can't get your +fish out of the kettle without burning your fingers!--Now, my young +friend," he continued, taking Sir Edward Digby by the arm, and drawing +him aside, "if you choose to be a great fool, and run the risk of +falling in love with a pretty girl, whom my sister Barbara has +determined you shall marry, whether you like it or not, and who +herself, dear little soul, has no intention in the world but of +playing you like a fish till you are caught, and then laughing at you, +you will find the two girls walking in the wood behind the house, as +they do every day. But if you don't like such amusement, you can stay +here with me and Bab, and be instructed by her in the art and mystery +of setting everything to wrongs with the very best intentions in the +world."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thank you, my dear sir," replied Sir Edward, smiling, "I think I +should prefer the fresh air; and, as to the dangers against which you +warn me, I have no fears. The game of coquetry can be played by two."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ay, but woe to him who loses!" said Mr. Croyland, in a more serious +tone. "But go along with you--go along! You are a rash young man; and +if you will court your fate, you must."</p> + +<p class="normal">The young baronet accordingly walked away, leaving Mrs. Barbara to +recover from her confusion as she best might, and Mr. Croyland to +scold her at his leisure, which Sir Edward did not in the slightest +degree doubt he would do. It was a beautiful summer's afternoon in the +end of August, the very last day of the month, the hour about a +quarter to six, so that the sun had nearly to run a twelfth part of +his course before the time of his setting. It was warm and cheerful, +too, but with a freshness in the air, and a certain golden glow over +the sky, which told that it was evening. Not wishing exactly to pass +before the dining-room windows, Sir Edward endeavoured to find his way +out into the wood behind the house by the stable and farm yards; but +he soon found himself in a labyrinth from which it was difficult to +extricate himself, and in the end was obliged to have recourse to a +stout country lad, who was walking up towards the mansion, with a +large pail of milk tugging at his hand, and bending in the opposite +direction to balance the load. Right willingly, however, the youth set +down the pail; and, leaving it to the tender mercies of some pigs, who +were walking about in the yard and did not fail to inquire into the +nature of its contents, he proceeded to show the way through the +flower and kitchen gardens, by a small door in the wall, to a path +which led out at once amongst the trees.</p> + +<p class="normal">Now, Sir Edward Digby had not the slightest idea of which way the two +young ladies had gone; and it was by no means improbable that, if he +were left without pilotage in going and returning, he might lose his +way in the wood, which, as I have said, was very extensive. But all +true lovers are fond of losing their way; and as he had his sword by +his side, he had not the slightest objection to that characteristic of +an Amadis, having in reality a good deal of the knight-errant about +him, and rather liking a little adventure, if it did not go too far. +His adventures, indeed, were not destined that night to be very +remarkable; for, following the path about a couple of hundred yards, +he was led directly into a good, broad, sandy road, in which he +thought it would be impossible to go astray. A few clouds that passed +over the sky from time to time cast their fitful and fanciful shadows +upon the way; the trees waved on either hand; and, with a small border +of green turf, the yellow path pursued its course through the wood, +forming a fine but pleasant contrast in colour with the verdure of all +the other things around. As he went on, too, the sky overhead, and the +shades amongst the trees, began to assume a rosy hue as the day +declined farther and farther; and the busy little squirrels, as +numerous as mice, were seen running here and there up the trees and +along the branches, with their bright black eyes staring at the +stranger with a saucy activity very little mingled with fear. The +young baronet was fond of such scenes, and fond of the somewhat grave +musing which they very naturally inspire; and he therefore went on, +alternately pondering and admiring, and very well contented with his +walk, whether he met with his fair friends or not. Sir Edward, indeed, +would not allow himself to fancy that he was by any means very anxious +for Zara's company, or for Miss Croyland's either--for he was not in +the slightest hurry either to fall in love or to acknowledge it to +himself even if he were. With regard to Edith, indeed, he felt himself +in no possible danger; for had he continued to think her, as he had +done at first, more beautiful than her sister--which by this time he +did not--he was still guarded in her case by feelings, which, to a man +of his character, were as a triple shield of brass, or anything a +great deal stronger.</p> + +<p class="normal">He walked on, however, and he walked on; not, indeed, with a very slow +pace, but with none of the eager hurry of youth after beauty; till at +length, when he had proceeded for about half an hour, he saw +cultivated fields and hedgerows at the end of the road he was +pursuing, and soon after came to the open country, without meeting +with the slightest trace of Sir Robert Croyland's daughters.</p> + +<p class="normal">On the right hand, as he issued out of the wood, there was a small but +very neat and picturesque cottage, with its little kitchen-garden and +its flower-garden, its wild roses, and its vine.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have certainly missed them," said Sir Edward Digby to himself, "and +I ought to make the best use of my time, for it wont do to stay here +too long. Perhaps they may have gone into the cottage. Girls like +these often seek an object in their walk, and visit this poor person +or that;" and thus thinking, he advanced to the little gate, went into +the garden, and knocked with his knuckles at the door of the house. A +woman's voice bade him come in; and, doing so, he found a room, small +in size, but corresponding in neatness and cleanliness with the +outside of the place. It was tenanted by three persons--a middle-aged +woman, dressed as a widow, with a fine and placid countenance, who was +advancing towards the door as he entered; a very lovely girl of +eighteen or nineteen, who bore a strong resemblance to the widow; and +a stout, powerful, good-looking man, of about thirty, well dressed, +though without any attempt at the appearance of a station above the +middle class, with a clean, fine, checked shirt, having the collar +cast back, and a black silk handkerchief tied lightly in what is +usually termed a sailor's knot. The two latter persons were sitting +very close together, and the girl was smiling gaily at something her +companion had just said.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Two lovers!" thought the young baronet; but, as that was no business +of his, he went on to inquire of the good woman of the house, if she +had seen some young ladies pass that way; and having named them, he +added, to escape scandal, "I am staying at the house, and am afraid, +if I do not meet with them, I shall not easily find my way back."</p> + +<p class="normal">"They were here a minute ago, sir," replied the widow, "and they went +round to the east. They will take the Halden road back, I suppose. If +you make haste, you will catch them easily."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But which is the Halden road, my good lady?" asked Sir Edward Digby; +and she, turning to the man who was sitting by her daughter, said, "I +wish you would shew the gentleman, Mr. Harding."</p> + +<p class="normal">The man rose cheerfully enough--considering the circumstances--and led +the young baronet with a rapid step, by a footpath that wound round +the edge of the wood, to another broad road about three hundred yards +distant from that by which the young officer had come. Then, pointing +with his hand, he said, "There they are, going as slow as a Dutch +butter-tub. You can't miss them, or the road either: for it leads +straight on."</p> + +<p class="normal">Sir Edward Digby thanked him, and walked forward. A few rapid steps +brought him close to the two ladies, who--though they looked upon +every part of the wood as more or less their home, and consequently +felt no fear--turned at the sound of a footfall so near; and the +younger of the two smiled gaily, when she saw who it was.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What! Sir Edward Digby!" she exclaimed. "In the name of all that is +marvellous, how did you escape from the dining-room? Why, you will be +accused of shirking the bottle, cowardice, and milksopism, and crimes +and misdemeanours enough to forfeit your commission."</p> + +<p class="normal">She spoke gaily; but Sir Edward Digby thought that the gaiety was not +exactly sterling; for when first she turned, her face had been nearly +as grave as her sister's. He answered, however, in the same tone, "I +must plead guilty to all such misdemeanours; but if they are to be +rewarded by such pleasure as that of a walk with you, I fear I shall +often commit them."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You must not pay us courtly compliments, Sir Edward," said Miss +Croyland, "for we poor country people do not understand them. I hope, +however, you left the party peaceable: for it promised to be quite the +contrary at one time, and my uncle and Mr. Radford never agree."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, quite peaceable, I can assure you," replied Digby. "I retreated +under cover of your uncle's movements. Perhaps, otherwise, I might not +have got away so easily. He it was who told me where I should find +you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Indeed!" exclaimed Miss Croyland, in a tone of surprise; and then, +casting down her eyes, she fell into thought. Her sister, however, +carried on the conversation in her stead, saying, "Well, you are the +first soldier, Sir Edward, I ever saw, who left the table before +night."</p> + +<p class="normal">"They must have been soldiers who had seen little service, I should +think," replied the young officer; "for a man called upon often for +active exertion, soon finds the necessity of keeping any brains he has +got as clear as possible, in case they should be needed. In many +countries where I have been, too, we could get no wine to drink, even +if we wanted it. Such was the case in Canada, and in some parts of +Germany."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Have you served in Canada?" demanded Miss Croyland suddenly, raising +her eyes to his face with a look of deep interest.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Through almost the whole of the war." replied Sir Edward Digby, +quietly, without noticing, even by a glance, the change of expression +which his words had produced. He then paused for a moment, as if +waiting for some other question; but both Miss Croyland and her sister +remained perfectly silent, and the former turned somewhat pale.</p> + +<p class="normal">As he saw that neither of his two fair companions were likely to carry +the conversation a step further, the young officer proceeded, in a +quiet and even light tone--"This part of the country," he continued, +"is always connected in my mind with Canada; and, indeed, I was glad +to accept your father's invitation at once, when he was kind enough to +ask me to his house; for, in addition to the pleasure of making his +personal acquaintance, I longed to see scenes which I had often heard +mentioned with all the deep affection and delight which only can be +felt by a fine mind for the spot in which our brighter years are +passed."</p> + +<p class="normal">The younger girl looked to her sister, but Edith Croyland was deadly +pale, and said nothing; and Zara inquired in a tone to which she too +evidently laboured to give the gay character of her usual demeanour, +"Indeed, Sir Edward! May I ask who gave you such a flattering account +of our poor country? He must have been a very foolish and prejudiced +person--at least, so I fear you must think, now you have seen it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, no!--oh, no!" cried Digby, earnestly, "anything but that. I had +that account from a person so high-minded, so noble, so full of every +generous quality of heart, and every fine quality of mind, that I was +quite sure, ere I came here, I should find the people whom he +mentioned, and the scenes which he described, all that he had stated; +and I have not been disappointed, Miss Croyland."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But you have not named him, Sir Edward," said Zara; "you are very +tantalizing. Perhaps we may know him, and be sure we shall love him +for his patriotism."</p> + +<p class="normal">"He was an officer in the regiment to which I then belonged." answered +the young baronet, "and my dearest friend. His name was Leyton--a most +distinguished man, who had already gained such a reputation, that, had +his rank in the army admitted it, none could have been more desired to +take the command of the forces when Wolfe fell on the heights of +Abraham. He was too young, however, and had too little interest to +obtain that position.--Miss Croyland, you seem ill. Let me give you my +arm."</p> + +<p class="normal">Edith bowed her head quietly, and leaned upon her sister, but answered +not a word; and Zara gave a glance to Sir Edward Digby which he read +aright. It was a meaning, a sort of relying and imploring look, as if +she would have said, "I beseech you, say no more; she cannot bear it." +And the young officer abruptly turned the conversation, observing, +"The day has been very hot, Miss Croyland. You have walked far, and +over-fatigued yourself."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is nothing--it is nothing," answered Edith, with a deep-drawn +breath; "it will be past in a moment, Sir Edward. I am frequently +thus."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Too frequently," murmured Zara, gazing at her sister; and Sir Edward +Digby replied, "I am sure, if such be the case, you should consult +some physician."</p> + +<p class="normal">Zara shook her head with a melancholy smile, while her sister walked +on, leaning upon her arm in silence, with her eyes bent towards the +ground, as if in deep thought. "I fear that no physician would do her +good," said the younger lady, in a low voice; "the evil is now +confirmed."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nay," replied Digby, gazing at her, "I think I know one who could +cure her entirely."</p> + +<p class="normal">His look said more than his words; and Zara fixed her eyes upon his +face for an instant with an inquiring glance. The expression then +suddenly changed to one of bright intelligence, and she answered, "I +will make you give me his name to-morrow, Sir Edward. Not now--not +now! I shall forget it."</p> + +<p class="normal">Sir Edward Digby was not slow in taking a hint; and he consequently +made no attempt to bring the conversation back to the subject which +had so much affected Miss Croyland; but lest a dead silence should too +plainly mark that he saw into the cause of the faintness which had +come over her, he went on talking to her sister; and Zara soon +resumed, at least to all appearance, her own light spirits again. But +Digby had seen her under a different aspect, which was known to few +besides her sister; and to say the truth, though he had thought her +sparkling frankness very charming, yet the deeper and tenderer +feelings which she had displayed towards Edith were still more to his +taste.</p> + +<p class="normal">"She is not the light coquette her uncle represents her," he thought, +as they walked on: "there is a true and feeling heart beneath--one +whose affections, if strongly excited and then disappointed, might +make her as sad and cheerless as this other poor girl."</p> + +<p class="normal">He had not much time to indulge either in such meditations or in +conversation with his fair companion; for, when they were within about +a mile of the house, old Mr. Croyland was seen advancing towards them +with his usual brisk air and quick pace.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, young people, well," he said, coming forward, "I bring the +soberness of age to temper the lightness of youth."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, we are all very sober, uncle," replied Zara. "It is only those +who stay in the house drinking wine who are otherwise."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have not been drinking wine, saucy girl," answered Mr. Croyland; +"but come, Edith, I want to speak with you; and, as the road is too +narrow for four, we'll pair off, as the rascals who ruin the country +in the House of Commons term it. Troop on, Miss Zara. There's a +gallant cavalier who will give you his arm, doubtless, if you will ask +it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Indeed I shall do no such thing," replied the fair lady, walking on; +and, while Edith and her uncle came slowly after, Sir Edward Digby and +the youngest Miss Croyland proceeded on their way, remaining silent +for some minutes, though each, to say the truth, was busily thinking +how the conversation which had been interrupted might best be renewed. +It was Zara who spoke first, however, looking suddenly up in her +companion's face with one of her bright and sparkling smiles, and +saying, "It is a strange house, is it not, Sir Edward? and we are a +strange family?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nay, I do not see that," replied the young officer. "With every new +person whose acquaintance we make, we are like a traveller for the +first time in a foreign country, and must learn the secrets of the +land before we can find our way rightly."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, secrets enough here!" cried Zara. "Every one has his secret but +myself. I have none, thank God! My good father is full of them; Edith, +you see, has hers; my uncle is loaded with one even now, and eager to +disburden himself; but my aunt's are the most curious of all, for they +are everlasting; and not only that, but though most profound, they are +sure to be known in five minutes to the whole world. Try to conceal +them how she may, they are sure to drop out before the day is over; +and, whatever good schemes she may have against any one, no defence is +needed, for they are sure to frustrate themselves.--What are you +laughing at, Sir Edward? Has she begun upon you already?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nay, not exactly upon me," answered Sir Edward Digby. "She certainly +did let drop some words which showed me, she had some scheme in her +head, though whom it referred to, I am at a loss to divine."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nay, nay, now you are not frank," cried the young lady. "Tell me this +moment, if you would have me hold you good knight and true! Was it me +or Edith that it was all about? Nay, do not shake your head, my good +friend, for I will know, depend upon it; and if you do not tell me, I +will ask my aunt myself----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nay, for Heaven's sake, do not!" exclaimed Sir Edward. "You must not +make your aunt think that I am a tell-tale."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, I know--I know!" exclaimed the fair girl, clapping her hands +eagerly--"I can divine it all in a minute. She has been telling you +what an excellent good girl Zara Croyland is, and what an admirable +wife she would make, especially for any man moving in the highest +society, and hinting, moreover, that she is fond of military men, and, +in short, that Sir Edward Digby could not do better. I know it all--I +know it all, as well as if I had heard it! But now, my dear sir," she +continued, in a graver tone, "put all such nonsense out of your head, +if you would have us such good friends as I think we may be. Leave my +dear aunt's schemes to unravel and defeat themselves, or only think of +them as a matter of amusement, and do not for a moment believe that +Zara Croyland has either any share in them, or any design of +captivating you or any other man whatsoever; for I tell you fairly, +and at once, that I never intend--that nothing would induce me--no, +not if my own dearest happiness depended upon it--to marry, and leave +poor Edith to endure all that she may be called upon to undergo. I +will talk to you more about her another time; for I think that you +already know something beyond what you have said to-day; but we are +too near the house now, and I will only add, that I have spoken +frankly to Sir Edward Digby, because I believe, from all I have seen +and all I have heard, that he is incapable of misunderstanding such +conduct."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You do me justice, Miss Croyland," replied the young officer, much +gratified; "but you have spoken under a wrong impression in regard to +your aunt. I did not interrupt you, for what you said was too +pleasing, too interesting not to induce me to let you go on; but I can +assure you that what I said was perfectly true, and that though some +words which your aunt dropped accidentally showed me that she had some +scheme on foot, she said nothing to indicate what it was."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, never mind it," answered the young lady. "We now understand +each other, I trust; and, after this, I do not think you will easily +mistake me, though, if what I suppose is true, I may have to do a +great many extraordinary things with you, Sir Edward--seek your +society when you may not be very willing to grant it, consult you, +rely upon you, confide in you in a way that few women would do, except +with a brother or an acknowledged lover, which I beg you to understand +you are on no account to be; and I, on my part, will promise that I +will not misunderstand you either, nor take anything that you may do, +at my request, for one very dear to me," (and she gave a glance over +her shoulder towards her sister, who was some way behind,) "as +anything but a sign of your having a kind and generous heart. So now +that's all settled."</p> + +<p class="normal">"There is one thing, Miss Croyland," replied Digby, gravely, "that you +will find very difficult to do, though you say you will try it, +namely, to seek my society when I am unwilling to give it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nay, nay, I will have no such speeches," cried Zara Croyland, "or I +have done with you! I never could put any trust in a man who said +civil things to me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What, not if he sincerely thought them?" demanded her companion.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then I would rather he continued to think them without speaking +them," answered the young lady. "If you did but know, Sir Edward, how +sickened and disgusted a poor girl in the country soon gets with +flattery that means nothing, from men who insult her understanding by +thinking that she can be pleased with such trash, you would excuse me +for being rude and uncivilized enough to wish never to hear a smooth +word from any man whom I am inclined to respect."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Very well," answered the young baronet, laughing, "to please you, I +will be as brutal as possible, and if you like it, scold you as +sharply as your uncle, if you say or do anything that I disapprove +of."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do, do!" cried Zara; "I love him and esteem him, though he does not +understand me in the least; and I would rather a great deal have his +conversation, sharp and snappish as it seems to be, than all the honey +or milk and water of any of the smart young men in the neighbourhood. +But here we are at the house; and only one word more as a warning, and +one word as a question; first, do not let any of my good aunt's +schemes embarrass you in anything you have to do or say. Walk straight +through them as if they did not exist. Take your own course, without, +in the least degree, attending to what she says for or against."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And what is the question?" demanded Sir Edward, as they were now +mounting the steps to the terrace.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Simply this," replied the fair lady,--"are you not acquainted with +more of Edith's history than the people here are aware of?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am," answered Digby; "and to see more of her, to speak with her for +a few minutes in private, if possible, was the great object of my +coming hither."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thanks, thanks!" said Zara, giving him a bright and grateful smile. +"Be guided by me, and you shall have the opportunity. But I must speak +with you first myself, that you may know all. I suppose you are an +early riser?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, yes!" replied Sir Edward; but he added no more; for at that +moment they were overtaken by Edith and Mr. Croyland; and the whole +party entered the house together.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="div1_09" href="#div1Ref_09">CHAPTER IX.</a></h2> +<br> + +<p class="normal">There is a strange similarity--I had nearly called it an +affinity--between the climate of any country and the general character +of its population; and there is a still stronger and more commonly +remarked resemblance between the changes of the weather and the usual +course of human life. From the atmosphere around us, and from the +alterations which affect it, poets and moralists both, have borrowed a +large store of figures; and the words, clouds, and sunshine, light +breezes, and terrible storms, are terms as often used to express the +variations in man's condition as to convey the ideas to which they +were originally applied. But it is the affinity between the climate +and the people of which I wish to speak. The sunny lightness of the +air of France, the burning heat of Italy and Spain, the cold dullness +of the skies of Holland, contrast as strongly with the climate in +which we live, as the characters of the several nations amongst +themselves; and the fiercer tempests of the south, the more foggy and +heavy atmosphere of the north, may well be taken as some compensation +for the continual mutability of the weather in our own most changeable +air. The differences are not so great here as in other lands. We +escape, in general, the tornado and the hurricane, we know little of +the burning heat of summer, or the intense cold of winter, as they are +experienced in other parts of the world; but at all events, the +changes are much more frequent; and we seldom have either a long lapse +of sunny days, or a long continued season of frost, without +interruption. So it is, too, with the people. Moveable and fluctuating +as they always are, seeking novelty, disgusted even with all that is +good as soon as they discover that it is old, our laws, our +institutions, our very manners are continually undergoing some change, +though rarely, very rarely indeed, is it brought about violently and +without due preparation. Sometimes it will occur, indeed, both morally +and physically, that a great and sudden alteration takes place, and a +rash and vehement proceeding will disturb the whole country, and seem +to shake the very foundations of society. In the atmosphere, too, +clouds and storms will gather in a few hours, and darken the whole +heaven.</p> + +<p class="normal">The latter was the case during the first night of Sir Edward Digby's +stay at Harbourne House. The evening preceding, as well as the day, +had been warm and sunshiny; but about nine o'clock the wind suddenly +chopped round to the southward, and when Sir Edward woke on the +following morning, as he usually did, about six, he found a strong +breeze blowing and rattling the casements of the room, and the whole +atmosphere loaded with a heavy sea-mist filled with saline particles, +borne over Romney Marsh to the higher country, in which the house was +placed.</p> + +<p class="normal">"A pleasant day for partridge-shooting," he thought, as he rose from +his bed; "what variations there are in this climate." But +nevertheless, he opened the window and looked out, when, somewhat to +his surprise, he saw fifteen or sixteen horses moving along the road, +heavily laden, with a number of men on horseback following, and eight +or ten on foot driving the weary beasts along. They were going +leisurely enough; there was no affectation of haste or concealment; +but yet all that the young officer had heard of the county and of the +habits of its denizens, led him naturally to suppose that he had a +gang of smugglers before him, escorting from the coast some contraband +goods lately landed.</p> + +<p class="normal">He had soon a more unpleasant proof of the lawless state of that part +of England; for as he continued to lean out of the window, saying to +himself, "Well, it is no business of mine," he saw two or three of the +men pause; and a moment after, a voice shouted--"Take that, old +Croyland, for sending me to gaol last April."</p> + +<p class="normal">The wind bore the sounds to his ear, and made the words distinct; and +scarcely had they been spoken, when a flash broke through the misty +air, followed by a loud report, and a ball whizzed through the window, +just above his head, breaking one of the panes of glass, and lodging +in the cornice at the other side of the room.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Very pleasant!" said Sir Edward Digby to himself; but he was a +somewhat rash young man, and he did not move an inch, thinking--"the +vagabonds shall not have to say they frightened me."</p> + +<p class="normal">They shewed no inclination to repeat the shot, however, riding on at a +somewhat accelerated pace; and as soon as they were out of sight, +Digby withdrew from the window, and began to dress himself. He had not +given his servant, the night before, any orders to call him at a +particular hour; but he knew that the man would not be later than +half-past six; and before he appeared, the young officer was nearly +dressed.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Here, Somers," said his master, "put my gun together, and have +everything ready if I should like to go out to shoot. After that I've +a commission for you, something quite in your own way, which I know +you will execute capitally."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Quite ready, sir," said the man, putting up his hand to his head. +"Always ready to obey orders."</p> + +<p class="normal">"We want intelligence of the enemy, Somers," continued his master. +"Get me every information you can obtain regarding young Mr. Radford, +where he goes, what he does, and all about him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Past, present, or to come, sir?" demanded the man.</p> + +<p class="normal">"All three," answered his master. "Everything you can learn about him, +in short--birth, parentage, and education."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I shall soon have to add his last dying speech and confession, I +think, sir," said the man; "but you shall have it all before +night--from the loose gossip of the post-office down to the full, +true, and particular account of his father's own butler. But bless my +soul, there's a hole through the window, sir."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nothing but a musket-ball, Somers," answered his master, carelessly. +"You've seen such a thing before, I fancy."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, sir, but not often in a gentleman's bedroom," replied the man. +"Who could send it in here, I wonder?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Some smugglers, I suppose they were," replied Sir Edward, "who took +me for Sir Robert Croyland, as I was leaning out of the window, and +gave me a ball as they passed. I never saw a worse shot in my life; +for I was put up like a target, and it went a foot and a half above my +head. Give me those boots, Somers;" and having drawn them on, Sir +Edward Digby descended to the drawing-room, while his servant +commented upon his coolness, by saying, "Well, he's a devilish fine +young fellow, that master of mine, and ought to make a capital general +some of these days!"</p> + +<p class="normal">In the drawing-room, Sir Edward Digby found nobody but a pretty +country girl in a mob-cap sweeping out the dust; and leaving her to +perform her functions undisturbed by his presence, he sauntered +through a door which he had seen open the night before, exposing part +of the interior of a library. That room was quite vacant, and as the +young officer concluded that between it and the drawing-room must lie +the scene of his morning's operations, he entertained himself with +taking down different books, looking into them for a moment or two, +reading a page here and a page there, and then putting them up again. +He was in no mood, to say the truth, either for serious study or light +reading. Gay would not have amused him; Locke would have driven him +mad.</p> + +<p class="normal">He knew not well why it was, but his heart beat when he heard a step +in the neighbouring room. It was nothing but the housemaid, as he was +soon convinced, by her letting the dustpan drop and making a terrible +clatter. He asked himself what his heart could be about, to go on in +such a way, simply because he was waiting, in the not very vague +expectation of seeing a young lady, with whom he had to talk of some +business, in which neither of them were personally concerned.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It must be the uncertainty of whether she will come or not," he +thought; "or else the secrecy of the thing;" and yet he had, often +before, had to wait with still more secrecy and still more +uncertainty, on very dangerous and important occasions, without +feeling any such agitation of his usually calm nerves. She was a very +pretty girl, it was true, with all the fresh graces of youth about +her, light and sunshine in her eyes, health and happiness on her +cheeks and lips, and</p> +<div class="poem2"> +<p class="t0"> +"La grace encore plus belle que la beauté"</p> +</div> + +<p class="continue">in every movement. But then, they perfectly understood each other; +there was no harm, there was no risk, there was no reason why they +should not meet.</p> + +<p class="normal">Did they perfectly understand each other? Did they perfectly +understand themselves? It is a very difficult question to answer; but +one thing is very certain--that, of all things upon this earth, the +most gullible is the human heart; and when it thinks it understands +itself best, it is almost always sure to prove a greater fool than +ever.</p> + +<p class="normal">Sir Edward Digby did not altogether like his own thoughts; and +therefore, after waiting for a quarter of an hour, he walked out into +one of the little passages, which we have already mentioned, running +from the central corridor towards a door or window in the front, +between the library and what was called the music-room. He had not +been there a minute when a step--very different from that of the +housemaid--was heard in the neighbouring room; and, as the officer was +turning thither, he met the younger Miss Croyland coming out, with a +bonnet--or hat, as it was then called,--hanging on her arm by the +ribbons.</p> + +<p class="normal">She held out her hand, frankly, towards him, saying, in a low tone, +"You must think this all very strange, Sir Edward, and perhaps very +improper. I have been taxing myself about it all night; but yet I was +resolved I would not lose the opportunity, trusting to your generosity +to justify me, when you hear all."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It requires no generosity, my dear Miss Croyland," replied the young +baronet; "I am already aware of so much, and see the kind and deep +interest you take in your sister so clearly, that I fully understand +and appreciate your motives."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thank you--thank you," replied Zara, warmly; "that sets my mind at +rest. But come out upon the terrace. There, seen by all the world, I +shall not feel as if I were plotting;" and she unlocked the glass door +at the end of the passage. Sir Edward Digby followed close upon her +steps; and when once fairly on the esplanade before the house, and far +enough from open doors and windows not to be overheard, they commenced +their walk backwards and forwards.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was quite natural that both should be silent for a few moments; for +where there is much to say, and little time to say it in, people are +apt to waste the precious present--or, at least, a part--in +considering how it may best be said. At length the lady raised her +eyes to her companion's face, with a smile more melancholy and +embarrassed than usually found place upon her sweet lips, asking, "How +shall I begin, Sir Edward?--Have you nothing to tell me?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have merely to ask questions," replied Digby; "yet, perhaps that +may be the best commencement. I am aware, my dear Miss Croyland, that +your sister has loved, and has been as deeply beloved as woman ever +was by man. I know the whole tale; but what I seek now to learn is +this--does she or does she not retain the affection of her early +youth? Do former days and former feelings dwell in her heart as still +existing things? or are they but as sad memories of a passion passed +away, darkening instead of lighting the present,--or perhaps as a tie +which she would fain shake off, and which keeps her from a brighter +fate hereafter?"</p> + +<p class="normal">He spoke solemnly, earnestly, with his whole manner changed; and Zara +gazed in his face eagerly and inquiringly as he went on, her face +glowing, but her look becoming less sad, till it beamed with a warm +and relieved smile at the close. "I was right, and she was wrong"--she +said, at length, as if speaking to herself. "But to answer your +question, Sir Edward Digby," she continued, gravely. "You little know +woman's heart, or you would not put it--I mean the heart of a true and +unspoiled woman, a woman worthy of the name. When she loves, she loves +for ever--and it is only when death or unworthiness takes from her him +she loves, that love becomes a memory. You cannot yet judge of Edith, +and therefore I forgive you for asking such a thing; but she is all +that is noble, and good, and bright; and Heaven pardon me, if I almost +doubt that she was meant for happiness below--she seems so fitted for +a higher state!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The tears rose in her eyes as she spoke; but Sir Edward feared +interruption, and went on, asking, somewhat abruptly perhaps, "What +made you say, just now, that you were right and she was wrong?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Because she thought that he was dead, and that you came to announce +it to her," Zara replied. "You spoke of him in the past, you always +said, 'he was;' you said not a word of the present."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Because I knew not what were her present feelings," answered Digby. +"She has never written--she has never answered one letter. All his +have been returned in cold silence to his agents, addressed in her own +hand. And then her father wrote to----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Stay, stay!" cried Zara, putting her hand to her head--"addressed in +her own hand? It must have been a forgery! Yet, no--perhaps not. She +wrote to him twice; once just after he went, and once in answer to a +message. The last letter I gave to the gardener myself, and bade him +post it. That, too, was addressed to his agent's house. Can they have +stopped the letters and used the covers?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is probable," answered Digby, thoughtfully. "Did she receive none +from him?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"None--none," replied Zara, decidedly. "All that she has ever heard of +him was conveyed in that one message; but she doubted not, Sir Edward. +She knew him, it seems, better than he knew her."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Neither did he doubt her," rejoined her companion, "till circumstance +after circumstance occurred to shake his confidence. Her own father +wrote to him--now three years ago--to say that she was engaged, by her +own consent, to this young Radford, and to beg that he would trouble +her peace no more by fruitless letters."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, Heaven!" cried Zara, "did my father say that?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"He did," replied Sir Edward. "And more: everything that poor Leyton +has heard since his return has confirmed the tale. He inquired, too +curiously for his own peace--first, whether she was yet married; next, +whether she was really engaged; and every one gave but one account."</p> + +<p class="normal">"How busy they have been!" said Zara, thoughtfully. "Whoever said it, +it is false, Sir Edward; and he should not have doubted her more than +she doubted him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"She, you admit, had one message," answered Digby; "he had none; and +yet he held a lingering hope--trust would not altogether be crushed +out. Can you tell me the tenour of the letters which she sent?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nay, I did not read them," replied his fair companion; "but she told +me that it was the same story still: that she could not violate her +duty to her parent; but that she should ever consider herself pledged +and plighted to him beyond recall, by what had passed between them."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then there is light at last," said Digby, with a smile. "But what is +this story of young Radford? Is he, or is he not, her lover? He seemed +to pay her little attention,--more, indeed, to yourself."</p> + +<p class="normal">The gay girl laughed. "I will tell you all about it," she answered. +"Richard Radford is not her lover. He cares as little about her as +about the Queen of England, or any body he has never seen; and, as you +say, he would perhaps pay me the compliment of selecting me rather +than Edith, if there was not a very cogent objection: Edith has forty +thousand pounds settled upon herself by my mother's brother, who was +her godfather; I have nothing, or next to nothing--some three or four +thousand pounds, I believe; but I really don't know. However, this +fortune of my poor sister's is old Radford's object; and he and my +father have settled it between them, that the son of the one should +marry the daughter of the other. What possesses my father, I cannot +divine; for he must condemn old Radford, and despise the young one; +but certain it is that he has pressed Edith, nearly to cruelty, to +give her hand to a man she scorns and hates--and presses her still. It +would be worse than it is, I fear, were it not for young Radford +himself, who is not half so eager as his father, and does not wish to +hurry matters on.--I may have some small share in the business," she +continued, laughing again, but colouring at the same time; "for, to +tell the truth, Sir Edward, having nothing else to do, and wishing to +relieve poor Edith as much as possible, I have perhaps foolishly, +perhaps even wrongly, drawn this wretched young man away from her +whenever I had an opportunity. I do not think it was coquetry, as my +uncle calls it--nay, I am sure it was not; for I abhor him as much as +any one; but I thought that as there was no chance of my ever being +driven to marry him, I could bear the infliction of his conversation +better than my poor sister."</p> + +<p class="normal">"The motive was a kind one, at all events," replied Sir Edward Digby; +"but then I may firmly believe that there is no chance whatever of +Miss Croyland giving her hand to Richard Radford?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"None--none whatever," answered his fair companion. But at that point +of their conversation one of the windows above was thrown up, and the +voice of Mrs. Barbara was heard exclaiming--"Zara, my love, put on +your hat; you will catch cold if you walk in that way, with your hat +on your arm, in such a cold, misty morning!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Miss Croyland looked up, nodding to her aunt; and doing as she was +told, like a very good girl as she was. But the next instant she said, +in a low tone, "Good Heaven! there is his face at the window! My +unlucky aunt has roused him by calling to me; and we shall not be long +without him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Who do you mean?" asked the young officer, turning his eyes towards +the house, and seeing no one.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Young Radford," answered Zara. "Did you not know that they had to +carry him to bed last night, unable to stand? So my maid told me; and +I saw his face just now at the window, next to my aunt's. We shall +have little time, Sir Edward, for he is as intrusive as he is +disagreeable; so tell me at once what I am to think regarding poor +Harry Leyton. Does he still love Edith? Is he in a situation to enable +him to seek her, without affording great, and what they would consider +reasonable, causes of objection?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"He loves her as deeply and devotedly as ever," replied Sir Edward +Digby; "and all I have to tell him will but, if possible, increase +that love. Then as to his situation, he is now a superior officer in +the army, highly distinguished, commanding one of our best regiments, +and sharing largely in the late great distribution of prize-money. +There is no position that can be filled by a military man to which he +has not a right to aspire; and, moreover, he has already received, +from the gratitude of his king and his country, the high honour----"</p> + +<p class="normal">But he was not allowed to finish his sentence; for Mrs. Barbara +Croyland, who was most unfortunately matutinal in her habits, now came +out with a shawl for her fair niece, and was uncomfortably civil to +Sir Edward Digby, inquiring how he had slept, whether he had been warm +enough, whether he liked two pillows or one, and a great many other +questions, which lasted till young Radford made his appearance at the +door, and then, with a pale face and sullen brow, came out and joined +the party on the terrace.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well," said Mrs. Barbara--now that she had done as much mischief as +possible--"I'll just go in and make breakfast, as Edith must set out +early, and Mr. Radford wants to get home to shoot."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Edith set off early?" exclaimed Zara; "why, where is she going, my +dear aunt?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, I have just been settling it all with your papa, my love," +replied Mrs. Barbara. "I thought she was looking ill yesterday, and so +I talked to your uncle last night. He said he would be very glad to +have her with him for a few days; but as he expects a Captain Osborn +before the end of the week, she must come at once; and Sir Robert says +she can have the carriage after breakfast, but that it must be back by +one."</p> + +<p class="normal">Zara cast down her eyes, and the whole party, as if by common consent, +took their way back to the house. As they passed in, however, and +proceeded towards the dining-room, where the table was laid for +breakfast, Zara found a moment to say to Sir Edward Digby, in a low +tone, "Was ever anything so unfortunate! I will try to stop it if I +can."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not so unfortunate as it seems," answered the young baronet, in a +whisper; "let it take its course. I will explain hereafter."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Whispering! whispering!" said young Radford, in a rude tone, and with +a sneer curling his lip.</p> + +<p class="normal">Zara's cheek grew crimson; but Digby turned upon him sharply, +demanding, "What is that to you, sir? Pray make no observations upon +my conduct, for depend upon it I shall not tolerate any insolence."</p> + +<p class="normal">At that moment, however, Sir Robert Croyland appeared; and whatever +might have been Richard Radford's intended reply, it was suspended +upon his lips.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="div1_10" href="#div1Ref_10">CHAPTER X.</a></h2> +<br> + +<p class="normal">Before I proceed farther with the events of that morning, I must +return for a time to the evening which preceded it. It was a dark and +somewhat dreary night, when Mr. Radford, leaving his son stupidly +drunk at Sir Robert Croyland's, proceeded to the hall door to mount +his horse; and as he pulled his large riding-boots over his shoes and +stockings, and looked out, he regretted that he had not ordered his +carriage. "Who would have thought," he said, "that such a fine day +would have ended in such a dull evening?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It often happens, my dear Radford," replied Sir Robert Croyland, who +stood beside him, "that everything looks fair and prosperous for a +time; then suddenly the wind shifts, and a gloomy night succeeds."</p> + +<p class="normal">Mr. Radford was not well-pleased with the homily. It touched upon that +which was a sore subject with him at that moment; for, to say the +truth, he was labouring under no light apprehensions regarding the +result of certain speculations of his. He had lately lost a large sum +in one of these wild adventures--far more than was agreeable to a man +of his money-getting turn of mind; and though he was sanguine enough, +from long success, to embark, like a determined gambler, a still +larger amount in the same course, yet the first shadow of reverse +which had fallen upon him, brought home and applied to his own +situation the very commonplace words of Sir Robert Croyland; and he +began to fancy that the bright day of his prosperity might be indeed +over, and a dark and gloomy night about to succeed.</p> + +<p class="normal">As we have said, therefore, he did not at all like the baronet's +homily; and, as very often happens with men of his disposition, he +felt displeased with the person whose words alarmed him. Murmuring +something, therefore, about its being "a devilish ordinary +circumstance indeed," he strode to the door, scarcely wishing the +baronet good night, and mounted a powerful horse, which was held ready +for him. He then rode forward, followed by two servants on horseback, +proceeding slowly at first, but getting into a quicker pace when he +came upon the parish road, and trotting on hard along the edge of +Harbourne Wood. He had drunk as much wine as his son; but his hard and +well-seasoned head was quite insensible to the effects of strong +beverages, and he went on revolving all probable contingencies, +somewhat sullen and out of humour with all that had passed during the +afternoon, and taking a very unpromising view of everybody and +everything.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I've a notion," he thought, "that old scoundrel Croyland is playing +fast and loose about his daughter's marriage with my son. He shall +repent it if he do; and if Dick does not make the girl pay for all her +airs and coldness when he's got her, he's no son of mine. He seems as +great a fool as she is, though, and makes love to her sister without a +penny, never saying a word to a girl who has forty thousand pounds. +The thing shall soon be settled one way or another, however. I'll have +a conference with Sir Robert on Friday, and bring him to book. I'll +not be trifled with any longer. Here we have been kept more than four +years waiting till the girl chooses to make up her mind, and I'll not +stop any longer. It shall be, yes or no, at once."</p> + +<p class="normal">He was still busy with such thoughts when he reached the angle of +Harbourne Wood, and a loud voice exclaimed, "Hi! Mr. Radford!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Who the devil are you?" exclaimed that worthy gentleman, pulling in +his horse, and at the same time putting his hand upon one of the +holsters, which every one at that time carried at his saddle bow.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Harding, sir," answered the voice--"Jack Harding; and I want to speak +a word with you."</p> + +<p class="normal">At the same time the man walked forward; and Mr. Radford immediately +dismounting, gave his horse to the servants, and told them to lead him +quietly on till they came to Tiffenden. Then pausing till the sound of +the hoofs became somewhat faint, he asked, with a certain degree of +alarm, "Well, Harding, what's the matter? What has brought you up in +such a hurry to-night?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No great hurry, sir," answered the smuggler, "I came up about four +o'clock; and finding that you were dining at Sir Robert's, I thought I +would look out for you as you went home, having something to tell you. +I got an inkling last night, that, some how or another, the people +down at Hythe have some suspicion that you are going to try something, +and I doubt that boy very much."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Indeed! indeed!" exclaimed Mr. Radford, evidently under great +apprehension. "What have they found out, Harding?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why, not much, I believe," replied the smuggler; "but merely that +there's something in the wind, and that you have a hand in it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That's bad enough--that's bad enough," repeated Mr. Radford. "We must +put it off, Harding. We must delay it, till this has blown by."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, I think not, sir," answered the smuggler. "It seems to me, on the +contrary, that we ought to hurry it; and I'll tell you why. You see, +the wind changed about five, and if I'm not very much mistaken, we +shall have a cloudy sky and dirty weather for the next week at least. +That's one thing; but then another is this, the Ramleys are going to +make a run this very night. Now, I know that the whole affair is +blown; and though they may get the goods ashore they wont carry them +far. I told them so, just to be friendly; but they wouldn't listen, +and you know their rash way. Bill Ramley answered, they would run the +goods in broad daylight, if they liked, that there was not an officer +in all Kent who would dare to stop them. Now, I know that they will be +caught to-morrow morning, somewhere up about your place. I rather +think, too, your son has a hand in the venture; and if I were you, I +would do nothing to make people believe that it wasn't my own affair +altogether. Let them think what they please; and then they are not so +likely to be on the look-out."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I see--I see," cried Mr. Radford. "If they catch these fellows, and +think that this is my venture, they will never suspect another. It's a +good scheme. We had better set about it to-morrow night."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I don't know," answered Harding. "That cannot well be done, I should +think. First, you must get orders over to the vessel to stand out to +sea; then you must get all your people together, and one half of them +are busy upon this other scheme, the Ramleys and young Chittenden, and +him they call the major, and all their parties. You must see what +comes of that first; for one half of them may be locked up before +to-morrow night.</p> + +<p class="normal">"That's unfortunate, indeed!" said Mr. Radford, thoughtfully.</p> + +<p class="normal">"One must take a little ill luck with plenty of good luck," observed +Harding; "and it's fortunate enough for you that these wild fellows +will carry through this mad scheme, when they know they are found out +before they start. Besides, I'm not sure that it is not best to wait +till the night after, or, may be, the night after that. Then the news +will have spread, that the goods have been either run and hid away, or +seized by the officers. In either case, if you manage well, they will +think that it is your venture; and the fellows on the coast will be +off their guard--especially Mowle, who's the sharpest of them all."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, I'll go down to-morrow and talk to Mowle myself," replied Mr. +Radford. "It will be well worth my while to give him a hundred guineas +to wink a bit."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Don't try it--don't try it!" exclaimed Harding, quickly. "It will do +no good, and a great deal of harm. In the first place, you can do +nothing with Mowle. He never took a penny in his life."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, every man has his price," rejoined Mr. Radford, whose opinion of +human nature, as the reader may have perceived, was not particularly +high. "It's only because he wants to be bid up to. Mr. Mowle thinks +himself above five or ten pounds; but the chink of a hundred guineas +is a very pleasant sound."</p> + +<p class="normal">"He's as honest a fellow as ever lived," answered Harding, "and I tell +you plainly, Mr. Radford, that if you offered him ten times the sum, +he wouldn't take it. You would only shew him that this venture is not +your grand one, without doing yourself the least good. He's a fair, +open enemy, and lets every one know that, as long as he's a +riding-officer here, he will do all he can against us."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then he must be knocked on the head," said Mr. Radford, in a calm and +deliberate tone; "and it shall be done, too, if he meddles with my +affairs."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It will not be I who do it," replied Harding; "unless we come hand to +hand together. Then, every man must take care of himself; but I should +be very sorry, notwithstanding; for he's a straightforward, bold +fellow, as brave as a lion, and with a good heart into the bargain. I +wonder such an honest man ever went into such a rascally service."</p> + +<p class="normal">The last observation of our friend Harding may perhaps sound strangely +to the reader's ears; but some allowance must be made for professional +prejudices, and it is by no means too much to say that the smugglers +of those days, and even of a much later period, looked upon their own +calling as highly honest, honourable, and respectable, regarding the +Customs as a most fraudulent and abominable institution, and all +connected with it more or less in the light of a band of swindlers and +knaves, leagued together for the purpose of preventing honest men from +pursuing their avocations in peace. Such were the feelings which +induced Harding to wonder that so good a man as Mowle could have +anything to do with the prevention of smuggling; for he was so +thoroughly convinced he was in the right himself, that he could not +conceive how any one could see the case in any other point of view.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ay," answered Mr. Radford, "that is a wonder, if he is such a good +sort of man; but that I doubt. However, as you say it would not do to +put oneself in his power, I'll have him looked after, and in the +meanwhile, let us talk of the rest of the business. You say the night +after to-morrow, or the night after that! I must know, however; for +the men must be down. How are we to arrange that?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why, I'll see what the weather is like," was Harding's reply. "Then I +can easily send up to let you know--or, what will be better still, if +you can gather the men together the day after to-morrow, in the +different villages not far off the coast, and I should find it the +right sort of night, and get out to sea, they shall see a light on the +top of Tolsford Hill, as soon as I am near in shore again. That will +serve to guide them and puzzle the officers. Then let them gather, and +come down towards Dymchurch, where they will find somebody from me to +guide them."</p> + +<p class="normal">"They shall gather first at Saltwood," said Mr. Radford, "and then +march down to Dymchurch. But how are we to manage about the ship?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why, you must send an order," answered Harding, "for both days, and +let your skipper know that if he does not see us the first, he will +see us the second."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You had better take it down with you at once," replied Mr. Radford, +"and get it off early to-morrow. If you'll just come up to my house, +I'll write it for you in a minute."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ay, but I'm not going home to-night," said the smuggler; "I can have +a bed at Mrs. Clare's; and I'm going to sleep there, so you can send +it over when you like in the morning, and I'll get it off in time."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I wish you would not go hanging about after that girl, when we've got +such serious business in hand," exclaimed Mr. Radford, in a sharp +tone; but the next moment he added, with a sudden change of voice, "It +doesn't signify to-night, however. There will be time enough; and they +say you are going to marry her, Harding. Is that true?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I should say, that's my business," replied Harding, bluntly, "but +that I look upon it as an honour, Mr. Radford, that she's going to +marry me; for a better girl does not live in the land, and I've known +her a long while now, so I'm never likely to think otherwise."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ay, I've known her a long time, too," answered Mr. Radford--"ever +since her poor father was shot, and before; and a very good girl I +believe she is. But now that you are over here, you may as well wait +and hear what comes of these goods. Couldn't you just ride over to the +Ramleys to-morrow morning--there you'll hear all about it."</p> + +<p class="normal">Harding laughed, but replied the next moment, in a grave tone, "I +don't like the Ramleys, sir, and don't want to have more to do with +them than I can help. I shall hear all about it soon enough, without +going there."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But I sha'n't," answered Mr. Radford.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then you had better send your son, sir," rejoined Harding. "He's +oftener there than I am, a great deal.--Well, the matter is all +settled, then. Either the night after to-morrow, or the night after +that, if the men keep a good look-out, they'll see a light on Tolsford +Hill. Then they must gather as fast as possible at Saltwood, and come +on with anybody they may find there. Good night, Mr. Radford."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Good night, Harding--good night," said Mr. Radford, walking on; and +the other turning his steps back towards Harbourne, made his way, by +the first road on the right, to the cottage where we have seen him in +the earlier part of the day.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was a pleasant aspect that the cottage presented when he went in, +which he did without any of the ceremonies of knocking at the door or +ringing the bell; for he was sure of a welcome. There was but one +candle lighted on the table, for the dwellers in the place were poor; +but the room was small, and that one was quite sufficient to shew the +white walls and the neat shelves covered with crockery, and with +one or two small prints in black frames. Besides, there was the +fire-place, with a bright and cheerful, but not large fire; for +though, in the month of September, English nights are frequently cold +and sometimes frosty, the weather had been as yet tolerably mild. +Nevertheless, the log of fir at the top blazed high, and crackled +amidst the white and red embers below, and the flickering flame, as it +rose and fell, caused the shadows to fall more vaguely or distinctly +upon the walls, with a fanciful uncertainty of outline, that had +something cheerful, yet mysterious in it.</p> + +<p class="normal">The widow was bending over the fire, with her face turned away, and +her figure in the shadow. The daughter was busily working with her +needle, but her eyes were soon raised--and they were very beautiful +eyes--as Harding entered. A smile, too, was upon her lips; and though +even tears may be lovely, and a sad look awaken deep and tender +emotions, yet the smile of affection on a face we love is the +brightest aspect of that bright thing the human countenance. It is +what the sunshine is to the landscape, which may be fair in the rain +or sublime in the storm, but can never harmonize so fully with the +innate longing for happiness which is in the breast of every one, as +when lighted up with the rays that call all its excellence and all its +powers into life and being.</p> + +<p class="normal">Harding sat down beside the girl, and took her hand in his, saying, +"Well, Kate, this day three weeks, then, remember?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"My mother says so," answered the girl, with a cheek somewhat glowing, +"and then, you know, John, you are to give it up altogether. No more +danger--no more secrets?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, as for danger," answered Harding, laughing, "I did not say that, +love. I don't know what life would be worth without danger. Every man +is in danger all day long; and I suppose that we are only given life +just to feel the pleasure of it by the chance of losing it. But no +dangers but the common ones, Kate. I'll give up the trade, as you have +made me promise; and I shall have enough by that time to buy out the +whole vessel, in which I've got shares, and what between that and the +boats, we shall do very well. You put me in mind, with your fears, of +a song that wicked boy, little Starlight, used to sing. I learned it +from hearing him: a more mischievous little dog does not live; but he +has got a sweet pipe."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Sing it, John--sing it!" cried Kate; "I love to hear you sing, for it +seems as if you sing what you are thinking."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, I wont sing it," answered Harding, "for it is a sad sort of song, +and that wont do when I am so happy."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, I like sad songs!" said the girl; "they please me far more than +all the merry ones."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, pray sing it, Harding!" urged the widow; "I am very fond of a +song that makes me cry."</p> + +<p class="normal">"This wont do that," replied the smuggler; "but it is sadder than some +that do, I always think. However, I'll sing it, if you like;" and in a +fine, mellow, bass voice, to a very simple air, with a flattened third +coming in every now and then, like the note of a wintry bird, he went +on:--</p> +<div class="poem2"> +<br> +<p class="t8"><b>SONG.</b></p> +<br> +<p class="i6">"Life's like a boat, +<p class="t4">Rowing--rowing</p> +<p class="t0">Over a bright sea,<br> +On the waves to float,</p> +<p class="t4">Flowing--flowing</p> +<p class="t0">Away from her lea.</p> +<br> +<p class="i6">"Up goes the sheet!</p> +<p class="t4">Sailing--sailing,</p> +<p class="t0">To catch the rising breeze,<br> +While the winds fleet,</p> +<p class="t4">Wailing--wailing,</p> +<p class="t0">Sigh o'er the seas.</p> +<br> +<p class="i6">"She darts through the waves,</p> +<p class="t4">Gaily--gaily,</p> +<p class="t0">Scattering the foam.<br> +Beneath her, open graves,</p> +<p class="t4">Daily--daily,</p> +<p class="t0">The blithest to entomb.</p> +<br> +<p class="i6">"Who heeds the deep,</p> +<p class="t4">Yawning--yawning</p> +<p class="t0">For its destined prey,<br> +When from night's dark sleep,</p> +<p class="t4">Dawning--dawning,</p> +<p class="t0">Wakens the bright day?</p> +<br> +<p class="i6">"Away, o'er the tide!</p> +<p class="t4">Fearless--fearless</p> +<p class="t0">Of all that lies beneath;<br> +Let the waves still hide,</p> +<p class="t4">Cheerless--cheerless,</p> +<p class="t0">All their stores of death.</p> +<br> +<p class="i6">"Stray where we may,</p> +<p class="t4">Roaming--roaming</p> +<p class="t0">Either far or near,<br> +Death is on the way,</p> +<p class="t4">Coming--coming--</p> +<p class="t0">Who's the fool to fear?"</p> +</div> + +<p class="normal">The widow did weep, however, not at the rude song, though the voice +that sung it was fine, and perfect in the melody, but at the +remembrances which it awakened--remembrances on which she loved to +dwell, although they were so sad.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ay, Harding," she said, "it's very true what your song says. Whatever +way one goes, death is near enough; and I don't know that it's a bit +nearer on the sea than anywhere else."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not a whit," replied Harding; "God's hand is upon the sea as well as +upon the land, Mrs. Clare; and if it is his will that we go, why we +go; and if it is his will that we stay, he doesn't want strength to +protect us."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, indeed," answered Mrs. Clare; "and it's that which comforts me, +for I think that what is God's will must be good. I'm sure, when my +poor husband went out in the morning, six years ago come the tenth of +October next, as well and as hearty as a man could be, I never thought +to see him brought home a corpse, and I left a lone widow with my poor +girl, and not knowing where to look for any help. But God raised me up +friends where I least expected them."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why you had every right to expect that Sir Robert would be kind to +you, Mrs. Clare," rejoined Harding, "when your husband had been in his +service for sixteen or seventeen years."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, indeed, I hadn't," said the widow; "for Sir Robert was always, we +thought, a rough, hard master, grumbling continually, till my poor man +could hardly bear it; for he was a free-spoken man, as I dare say you +remember, Mr. Harding, and would say his mind to any one, gentle or +simple."</p> + +<p class="normal">"He was as good a soul as ever lived," answered Harding; "a little +rash and passionate, but none the worse for that."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ay, but it was that which set the head keeper against him," answered +the widow, "and he set Sir Robert, making out that Edward was always +careless and insolent; but he did his duty as well as any man, and +knowing that, he didn't like to be found fault with. However, I don't +blame Sir Robert; for since my poor man's death he has found out what +he was worth; and very kind he has been to me, to be sure. The +cottage, and the garden, and the good bit of ground at the back, and +twelve shillings a-week into the bargain, have we had from him ever +since."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ay, and I am sure nothing can be kinder than the two young ladies," +said Kate; "they are always giving me something; and Miss Edith taught +me all I know. I should have been sadly ignorant if it had not been +for her--and a deal of trouble I gave her."</p> + +<p class="normal">"God bless her!" cried Harding, heartily. "She's a nice young lady, I +believe, though I never saw her but twice, and then she looked very +sad."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ay, she has cause enough, poor thing!" said Mrs. Clare. "Though I +remember her as blithe as the morning lark--a great deal gayer than +Miss Zara, gay as she may be."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ay, I know--they crossed her love," answered Harding; "and that's +enough to make one sad. Though I never heard the rights of the story."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, it was bad enough to break her heart, poor thing!" replied Mrs. +Clare. "You remember young Leyton, the rector's son--a fine, handsome, +bold lad as ever lived, and as good as he was handsome. Well, he was +quite brought up with these young ladies, you know--always up at the +Hall, and Miss Edith always down at the Rectory; and one would have +thought Sir Robert blind or foolish, not to fancy that two such young +things would fall in love with each other; and so they did, to be +sure. Many's the time I've seen them down here, in this very cottage, +laughing and talking, and as fond as a pair of doves--for Sir Robert +used to let them do just whatever they liked, and many a time used to +send young Harry Leyton to take care of Miss Croyland, when she was +going out to walk any distance; so, very naturally, they promised +themselves to each other; and one day--when he was twenty and she just +sixteen--they got a Prayer-Book at the Rectory, and read over the +marriage ceremony together, and took all the vows down upon their +bended knees. I remember it quite well, for I was down at the Rectory +that very day helping the housekeeper; and just as they had done old +Mr. Leyton came in, and found them somewhat confused, and the book +open between them. He would know what it was all about, and they told +him the truth. So then he was in a terrible taking; and he got Miss +Croyland under his arm and went away up to Sir Robert directly, and +told him the whole story without a minute's delay. Every one thought +it would end in being a match; for though Sir Robert was very angry, +and insisted that Harry Leyton should be sent to his regiment +immediately--for he was then just home for a bit, on leave--he did not +show how angry he was at first, but very soon after he turned Mr. +Leyton out of the living, and made him pay, I don't know what, for +dilapidations; so that he was arrested and put in prison--which broke +his heart, poor man, and he died!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Harding gave Sir Robert Croyland a hearty oath; and Mrs. Clare +proceeded to tell her tale, saying--"I did not give much heed to the +matter then; for it was just at that time that my husband was killed, +and I could think of nothing else; but when I came to hear of what was +going on, I found that Sir Robert had promised his daughter to this +young Radford----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"As nasty a vermin as ever lived," said Harding.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, she wont have him, I'm sure," continued the widow, "for it has +been hanging off and on for these six years. People at first said it +was because they were too young. But I know that she has always +refused, and declared that nothing should ever drive her to marry him, +or any one else; for the law might say what it liked, but her own +heart and her own conscience, told her that she was Harry Leyton's +wife, and could not be any other man's, as long as he was living. +Susan, her maid, heard her say so to Sir Robert himself; but he still +keeps teasing her about it, and tells everybody she's engaged to young +Radford."</p> + +<p class="normal">"He'll go the devil," said Harding; "and I'll go to bed, Mrs. Clare, +for I must be up early to-morrow, to get a good many things to rights. +God bless you Kate, my love! I dare say I shall see you before I +go--for I must measure the dear little finger!" And giving her a +hearty kiss, Harding took a candle, and retired to the snug room that +had been prepared for him.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="div1_11" href="#div1Ref_11">CHAPTER XI.</a></h2> +<br> + +<p class="normal">We must change the scene for a while, not only to another part of the +county of Kent, but to very different people from the worthy Widow +Clare and the little party assembled at her cottage. We must pass over +the events of the night also, and of the following morning up to the +hour of nine, proposing shortly to return to Harbourne House, and +trace the course of those assembled there. The dwelling into which we +must now introduce the reader, was a large, old-fashioned Kentish +farm-house, not many miles on the Sussex side of Ashford. It was +built, as many of these farm-houses still are, in the form of a cross, +presenting four limbs of strongly constructed masonry, two stories +high, with latticed windows divided into three partitions, separated +by rather neatly cut divisions of stone. Externally it had a strong +Harry-the-Eighth look about it, and probably had been erected in his +day, or in that of one of his immediate successors, as the residence +of some of the smaller gentry of the time. At the period I speak of, +it was tenanted by a family notorious for their daring and licentious +life, and still renowned in county tradition for many a fierce and +lawless act. Nevertheless, the head of the house, now waxing somewhat +in years, carried on, not only ostensibly but really, the peaceable +occupation of a Kentish farmer. He had his cows and his cattle, and +his sheep and his pigs; he grew wheat and barley, and oats and +turnips; had a small portion of hop-ground, and brewed his own beer. +But this trade of farming was only a small part of his employment, +though, to say the truth, he had given himself up more to it since his +bodily powers had declined, and he was no longer able to bear the +fatigue and exertion which the great strength of his early years had +looked upon as sport. The branch of his business which he was most +fond of was now principally entrusted to his two sons; and two strong, +handsome daughters, which made the number of his family amount to +four, occasionally aided their brothers, dressed in men's clothes, and +mounted upon powerful horses, which they managed as well as any grooms +in the county.</p> + +<p class="normal">The reader must not think that, in this description, we are exercising +indiscreetly our licence for dealing in fiction. We are painting a +true picture of the family of which we speak, as they lived and acted +some eighty or eighty-five years ago.</p> + +<p class="normal">The wife of the farmer had been dead ten or twelve years; and her +children had done just what they liked ever since; but it must be +admitted, that, even if she had lived to superintend their education, +we have no reason to conclude their conduct would have been very +different from what it was. We have merely said that they had done as +they pleased ever since her death, because during her life she had +made them do as she pleased, and beat them, or, as she herself termed +it, "basted" them heartily, if they did not. She was quite capable of +doing so too, to her own perfect satisfaction, for probably few arms +in all Kent were furnished with more sinewy muscles or a stouter fist +than hers could boast. It was only upon minor points of difference, +however, that she and her children ever quarrelled; for of their +general course of conduct she approved most highly; and no one was +more ready to receive packets of lace, tea, or other goods under her +fostering care, or more apt and skilful in stopping a tub of spirits +from "talking," or of puzzling a Custom-House officer when force was +not at hand to resist him.</p> + +<p class="normal">She was naturally of so strong a constitution, and so well built a +frame, that it is wonderful she died at all; but having caught cold +one night, poor thing!--it is supposed, in setting fire to a +neighbouring farm-house, the inmates of which were suspected of having +informed against her husband--her very strength and vigour gave a +tendency to inflammation, which speedily reduced her very low. A +surgeon, who visited the house in fear and trembling, bled her +largely, and forbade the use of all that class of liquids which she +was accustomed to imbibe in considerable quantities; and for three or +four days the fear of death made her follow his injunctions. But at +the end of that period, when the crisis of the disease was imminent, +finding herself no better, and very weak, she declared that the doctor +was a fool, and ought to have his head broken, and directed the maid +to bring her the big green bottle out of the corner cupboard. To this +she applied more than once, and then beginning to get a little +riotous, she sent for her family to witness how soon she had cured +herself. Sitting up in her bed, with a yellow dressing-gown over her +shoulders, and a gay cap overshadowing her burning face, she sung them +a song in praise of good liquor--somewhat panting for breath, it must +be owned--and then declaring that she was "devilish thirsty," which +was probably accurate to the letter, she poured out a large glass from +the big green bottle, which happened to be her bed-fellow for the +time, and raised it to her lips. Half the contents went down her +throat; but, how it happened I do not know, the rest was spilt upon +the bed clothes, and good Mrs. Ramley fell back in a doze, from which +nobody could rouse her. Before two hours were over she slept a still +sounder sleep, which required the undertaker to provide against its +permanence.</p> + +<p class="normal">The bereaved widower comforted himself after a time. We will not say +how many hours it required to effect that process. He was not a +drunken man himself; for the passive participle of the verb to "drink" +was not often actually applicable to his condition. Nevertheless, +there was a great consumption of hollands in the house during the next +week; and, if it was a wet funeral that followed, it was not with +water, salt or fresh.</p> + +<p class="normal">There are compensations for all things; and if Ramley had lost his +wife, and his children a mother, they all lost also a great number of +very good beatings, for, sad to say, he who could thrash all the +country round, submitted very often to be thrashed by his better half, +or at all events underwent the process of either having his head made +closely acquainted with a candlestick, or rendered the means of +breaking a platter. After that period the two boys grew up into as +fine, tall, handsome, dissolute blackguards as one could wish to look +upon; and for the two girls, no term perhaps can be found in the +classical authors of our language; but the vernacular supplies an +epithet particularly applicable, which we must venture to use. They +were two <i>strapping wenches</i>, nearly as tall as their brothers, full, +rounded, and well formed in person, fine and straight cut in features, +with large black shining eyes, a well-turned foot and ancle, and, as +was generally supposed, the invincible arm of their mother.</p> + +<p class="normal">We are not here going to investigate or dwell upon the individual +morality of the two young ladies. It is generally said to have been +better in some respects than either their ordinary habits, their +education, or their language would have led one to expect; and, +perhaps being very full of the stronger passions, the softer ones had +no great dominion over them.</p> + +<p class="normal">There, however, they sat at breakfast on the morning of which we have +spoken, in the kitchen of the farm-house, with their father seated at +the head of the table. He was still a great, tall, raw-boned man, with +a somewhat ogre-ish expression of countenance, and hair more white +than grey. But there were four other men at the table besides himself, +two being servants of the farm, and two acknowledged lovers of the +young ladies--very bold fellows as may well be supposed; for to marry +a she-lion or a demoiselle bear would have been a light undertaking +compared to wedding one of the Miss Ramleys. They seemed to be upon +very intimate terms with those fair personages, however, and perhaps +possessed as much of their affection as could possibly be obtained; +but still the love-making seemed rather of a feline character, for the +caresses, which were pretty prodigal, were mingled with--we must not +say interrupted by--a great deal of grumbling and growling, some +scratching, and more than one pat upon the side of the head, which did +not come with the gentleness of the western wind. The fare upon the +table consisted neither of tea, coffee, cocoa, nor any other kind of +weak beverage, but of beef and strong beer, a diet very harmonious +with the appearance of the persons who partook thereof. It was +seasoned occasionally with roars of laughter, gay and not very +delicate jests, various pieces of fun, which on more than one occasion +went to the very verge of an angry encounter, together with a good +many blasphemous oaths, and those testimonies of affection which I +have before spoken of as liberally bestowed by the young ladies upon +their lovers in the shape of cuffs and scratches. The principal topic +of conversation seemed to be some adventure which was even then going +forward, and in which the sons of the house were taking a part. No +fear, no anxiety, however, was expressed by any one, though they +wondered that Jim and Ned had not yet returned.</p> + +<p class="normal">"If they don't come soon they won't get much beef, Tom, if you swallow +it at that rate," said the youngest Miss Ramley to her sweetheart; +"you've eaten two pounds already, I'm sure."</p> + +<p class="normal">The young gentleman declared that it was all for love of her, but that +he hadn't eaten half so much as she had, whereupon the damsel became +wroth, and appealed to her father, who, for his part, vowed, that, +between them both, they had eaten and swilled enough to fill the big +hog-trough. The dispute might have run high, for Miss Ramley was not +inclined to submit to such observations, even from her father; but, +just as she was beginning in good set terms, which she had learnt from +himself, to condemn her parent's eyes, the old man started up, +exclaiming, "Hark! there's a shot out there!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"To be sure," answered one of the lovers. "It's the first of +September, and all the people are out shooting."</p> + +<p class="normal">Even while he was speaking, however, several more shots were heard, +apparently too many to proceed from sportsmen in search of game, and +the next moment the sound of horses' feet could be heard running quick +upon the road, and then turning into the yard which lay before the +house.</p> + +<p class="normal">"There they are!--there they are!" cried half-a-dozen voices; and, all +rushing out at the front door, they found the two young men with +several companions, and four led horses, heavily laden. Jim, the elder +brother, with the assistance of one of those who accompanied him, was +busily engaged in shutting the two great wooden gates which had been +raised by old Ramley some time before--nobody could tell why--in place +of a five-barred gate, which, with the tall stone wall, formerly shut +out the yard from the road. The other brother, Edward, or Ned Ramley, +as he was called, stood by the side of his horse, holding his head +down over a puddle; and, for a moment, no one could make out what he +was about. On his sister Jane approaching him, however, she perceived +a drop of blood falling every second into the dirty water below, and +exclaimed, "How hast thou broken thy noddle, Ned?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"There, let me alone, Jinny," cried the young man, shaking off the +hand she had laid upon his arm, "or I shall bloody my toggery. One of +those fellows has nearly cracked my skull, that's all; and he'd have +done it, too, if he had but been a bit nearer. This brute shied just +as I was firing my pistol at him, or he'd never have got within arm's +length. It's nothing--it's but a scratch.--Get the goods away; for +they'll be after us quick enough. They are chasing the major and his +people, and that's the way we got off."</p> + +<p class="normal">One of the usual stories of the day was then told by the rest--of how +a cargo had been run the night before, and got safe up into the +country: how, when they thought all danger over, they had passed +before old Bob Croyland's windows, and how Jim had given him a shot as +he stood at one of them; and then they went on to say that, whether it +was the noise of the gun, or that the old man had sent out to call the +officers upon them, they could not tell; but about three miles further +on, they saw a largish party of horse upon their right. Flight had +then become the order of the day; but, finding that they could not +effect it in one body, they were just upon the point of separating, +Ned Ramley declared, when two of the riding officers overtook them, +supported by a number of dragoons. Some firing took place, without +much damage, and, dividing into three bodies, the smugglers scampered +off, the Ramleys and their friends taking their way towards their own +house, and the others in different directions. The former might have +escaped unpursued, it would seem, had not the younger brother, Ned, +determined to give one of the dragoons a shot before he went: thus +bringing on the encounter in which he had received the wound on his +head.</p> + +<p class="normal">While all this was being told to the father, the two girls, their +lovers, the farm-servants, and several of the men, hurried the +smuggled goods into the house, and raising a trap in the floor of the +kitchen--contrived in such a manner that four whole boards moved up at +once on the western side of the room--stowed the different articles +away in places of concealment below, so well arranged, that even if +the trap was discovered, the officers would find nothing but a vacant +space, unless they examined the walls very closely.</p> + +<p class="normal">The horses were then all led to the stable; and Edward Ramley, having +in some degree stopped the bleeding of his wound, moved into the +house, with most of the other men. Old Ramley and the two +farm-servants, however, remained without, occupying themselves in +loading a cart with manure, till the sound of horses galloping down +was heard, and somebody shook the gates violently, calling loudly to +those within to open "in the King's name."</p> + +<p class="normal">The farmer instantly mounted upon the cart, and looked over the wall; +but the party before the gates consisted only of five or six dragoons, +of whom he demanded, in a bold tone, "Who the devil be you, that I +should open for you? Go away, go away, and leave a quiet man at +peace!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"If you don't open the gates, we'll break them down," said one of the +men.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do, if you dare," answered old Ramley, boldly; "and if you do, I'll +shoot the best of you dead.--Bring me my gun, Tom.--Where's your +warrant, young man? You are not an officer, and you've got none with +you, so I shan't let any boiled lobsters enter my yard, I can tell +you."</p> + +<p class="normal">By this time he was provided with the weapon he had sent for; and one +of his men, similarly armed, had got into the cart beside him. The +appearance of resistance was rather ominous, and the dragoons were +well aware that if they did succeed in forcing an entrance, and blood +were spilt, the whole responsibility would rest upon themselves, if no +smuggled goods should be found, as they had neither warrant nor any +officer of the Customs with them.</p> + +<p class="normal">After a short consultation, then, he who had spoken before, called to +old Ramley, saying, "We'll soon bring a warrant. Then look to +yourself;" and, thus speaking, he rode off with his party. Old Ramley +only laughed, however, and turned back into the house, where he made +the party merry at the expense of the dragoons. All the men who had +been out upon the expedition were now seated at the table, dividing +the beef and bread amongst them, and taking hearty draughts from the +tankard. Not the least zealous in this occupation was Edward Ramley, +who seemed to consider the deep gash upon his brow as a mere scratch, +not worth talking about. He laughed and jested with the rest; and when +they had demolished all that the board displayed, he turned to his +father, saying, not in the most reverent tone, "Come, old fellow, +after bringing our venture home safe, I think you ought to send round +the true stuff: we've had beer enough. Let's have some of the +Dutchman."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That you shall, Neddy, my boy," answered the farmer, "only I wish you +had shot that rascal you fired at. However, one can't always have a +steady aim, especially with a fidgetty brute like that you ride;" and +away he went to bring the hollands, which soon circulated very freely +amongst the party, producing, in its course, various degrees of mirth +and joviality, which speedily deviated into song. Some of the ditties +that were sung were good, and some of them very bad; but almost all +were coarse, and the one that was least so was the following:--</p> +<div class="poem1"> +<br> +<p class="t16"><b>SONG.</b></p> +<br> +<p class="i6">"It's wonderful, it's wonderful, is famous London town,</p> +<p class="t12">With its alleys<br> +And its valleys,</p> +<p class="t10">And its houses up and down;</p> +<p class="t0" style="margin-left:3em; text-indent:-3em">But I would give fair London town, its court, and all its +people,</p> +<p class="t0" style="margin-left:3em; text-indent:-3em">For the little town of Biddenden, with the moon above +the steeple.</p> +<br> +<p class="i6">"It's wonderful, it's wonderful, to see what pretty faces</p> +<p class="t12">In London streets<br> +A person meets</p> +<p class="t10">In very funny places;</p> +<p class="t0" style="margin-left:3em; text-indent:-3em">But I wouldn't give for all the eyes in London town one sees,</p> +<p class="t0" style="margin-left:3em; text-indent:-3em">A pair, that by the moonlight, looks out beneath the trees.</p> +<br> +<p class="i6">"It's wonderful, in London town, how soon a man may hold,</p> +<p class="t12">By art and sleight,<br> +Or main and might,</p> +<p class="t10">A pretty sum of gold;</p> +<p class="t0" style="margin-left:3em; text-indent:-3em">Yet give me but a pistol, and one rich squire or two,</p> +<p class="t0" style="margin-left:3em; text-indent:-3em">A moonlight night, a yellow chaise, and the high road will do."</p> +</div> + +<p class="normal">This was not the last song that was sung; but that which followed was +interrupted by one of the pseudo-labourers coming in from the yard, to +say that there was a hard knocking at the gate.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I think it is Mr. Radford's voice," added the man, "but I'm not sure; +and I did not like to get up into the cart to look."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Run up stairs to the window, Jinny!" cried old Ramley, "and you'll +soon see."</p> + +<p class="normal">His daughter did, on this occasion, as she was bid, and soon called +down from above, "It's old Radford, sure enough; but he's got two men +with him!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It's all right, if he's there," said Jim Ramley; and the gates were +opened in a minute, to give that excellent gentleman admission.</p> + +<p class="normal">Now, Mr. Radford, it must be remembered, was a magistrate for the +county of Kent; but his presence created neither alarm nor confusion +in the house of the Ramleys; and when he entered, leaving his men in +the court for a minute, he said, with a laugh, holding the father of +that hopeful family by the arm, "I've come to search, and to stop the +others. Where are the goods?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Safe enough," answered the farmer. "No fear--no fear!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"But can we look under the trap?" asked Mr. Radford, who seemed as +well acquainted with the secrets of the place as the owner thereof.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ay, ay!" replied the old man. "Don't leave 'em too long--that's all."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I'll go down myself," said Radford; "they've got scent of it, or I +wouldn't find it out."</p> + +<p class="normal">"All right--all right!" rejoined the other, in a low voice; and the +magistrate, raising his tone, exclaimed, "Here, Clinch and Adams--you +two fools! why don't you come in? They say there is nothing here; but +we must search. We must not take any man's word; not to say that I +doubt yours, Mr. Ramley; but it is necessary, you know."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, do what you like, sir," replied the farmer. "I don't care!"</p> + +<p class="normal">A very respectable search was then commenced, and pursued from room to +room--one of the men who accompanied Mr. Radford, and who was an +officer of the Customs, giving old Ramley a significant wink with his +right eye as he passed, at which the other grinned. Indeed, had the +whole matter not been very well understood between the great majority +of both parties, it would have been no very pleasant or secure task +for any three men in England to enter the kitchen of that farm-house +on such an errand. At length, however, Mr. Radford and his companions +returned to the kitchen, and the magistrate thought fit to walk +somewhat out of his way towards the left-hand side of the room, when +suddenly stopping, he exclaimed, in a grave tone, "Hallo! Ramley, +what's here? These boards seem loose!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"To be sure they are," answered the farmer; "that's the way to the old +beer cellar. But there's nothing in it, upon my honour!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"But we must look, Ramley, you know," said Mr. Radford. "Come, open +it, whatever it is!</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, with all my heart," replied the man; "but you'll perhaps break +your head. That's your fault, not mine, however,"--and, advancing to +the side of the room, he took a crooked bit of iron from his +pocket--not unlike that used for pulling stones out of a horse's +hoofs--and insinuating it between the skirting-board and the floor, +soon raised the trap-door of which we have spoken before.</p> + +<p class="normal">A vault of about nine feet deep was now exposed, with the top of a +ladder leading into it; and Mr. Radford ordered the men who were with +him to go down first. The one who had given old Ramley the wink in +passing, descended without ceremony; but the other, who was also an +officer, hesitated for a moment.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Go down--go down, Clinch!" said Mr. Radford. "You <i>would</i> have a +search, and so you shall do it thoroughly."</p> + +<p class="normal">The man obeyed, and the magistrate paused a moment to speak with the +smuggling farmer, saying, in a low voice, "I don't mind their knowing +I'm your friend, Ramley. Let them think about that as they like. +Indeed, I'd rather that they did see we understand each other; so give +me a hint if they go too far; I'll bear it out."</p> + +<p class="normal">Thus saying, he descended into the cellar, and old Ramley stood gazing +down upon the three from above, with his gaunt figure bending over the +trap-door. At the end of a minute or two he called down, "There--that +ought to do, I'm sure! We can't be kept bothering here all day!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Something was said in a low tone by one of the men below; but then the +voice of Mr. Radford was heard, exclaiming, "No, no; that will do! +We've had enough of it! Go up, I say! There's no use of irritating +people by unreasonable suspicions, Mr. Clinch. Is it not quite enough, +Adams? Are you satisfied!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh! quite, sir," answered the other officer; "there's nothing but bare +walls and an empty beer barrel."</p> + +<p class="normal">The next moment the party began to reappear from the trap, the officer +Clinch coming up first, with a grave look, and Mr. Radford and the +other following, with a smile upon their faces.</p> + +<p class="normal">"There, all is clear enough," said Mr. Radford; "so you, gentlemen, +can go and pursue your search elsewhere. I must remain here to wait +for my son, whom I sent for to join me with the servants, as you know; +not that I feared any resistance from you, Mr. Ramley; but smuggling +is so sadly prevalent now-a-days, that one must be on one's guard, you +know."</p> + +<p class="normal">A horse laugh burst from the whole party round the table; and in the +midst of it the two officers retired into the yard, where, mounting +their horses, they opened the gates and rode away.</p> + +<p class="normal">As soon as they were gone, Mr. Radford shook old Ramley familiarly by +the hand, exclaiming, "This is the luckiest thing in the world, my +good fellow! If I can but get them to accuse me of conniving at this +job, it will be a piece of good fortune which does not often happen to +a man."</p> + +<p class="normal">Ramley, as well he might, looked a little confounded; but Mr. Radford +drew him aside, and spoke to him for a quarter of an hour, in a voice +raised hardly above a whisper. Numerous laughs, and nods, and signs of +mutual understanding passed between them; and the conversation ended +by Mr. Radford saying, aloud, "I wonder what can keep Dick so long; he +ought to have been here before now! I sent over to him at eight; and +it is past eleven."</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="div1_12" href="#div1Ref_12">CHAPTER XII.</a></h2> +<br> + +<p class="normal">We will now, by the reader's good leave, return for a short time to +Harbourne House, where the party sat down to breakfast, at the +inconveniently early hour of eight. I will not take upon myself to say +that it might not be a quarter-of-an-hour later, for almost everything +is after its time on this globe, and Harbourne House did not differ in +this respect from all the rest of the world. From the face of young +Radford towards the countenance of Sir Edward Digby shot some very +furious glances as they took their places at the breakfast-table; but +those looks gradually sunk down into a dull and sullen frown, as they +met with no return. Sir Edward Digby, indeed, seemed to have forgotten +the words which had passed between them as soon as they had been +uttered; and he laughed, and talked, and conversed with every one as +gaily as if nothing had happened. Edith was some ten minutes behind +the rest at the meal, and seemed even more depressed than the night +before; but Zara had reserved a place for her at her own side; and +taking the first opportunity, while the rest of the party were busily +talking together, she whispered a few words in her ear. Sir Edward +Digby saw her face brighten in a moment, and her eyes turn quickly +towards himself; but he took no notice; and an interval of silence +occurring the next moment, the conversation between the two sisters +was interrupted.</p> + +<p class="normal">During breakfast, a servant brought in a note and laid it on the +side-board, and after the meal was over, Miss Croyland retired to her +own room to make ready for her departure. Zara was about to follow; +but good Mrs. Barbara, who had heard some sharp words pass between the +two gentlemen, and had remarked the angry looks of young Radford, was +determined that they should not quarrel without the presence of +ladies, and consequently called her youngest niece back, saying, in a +whisper, "Stay here, my dear. I have a particular reason why I want +you not to go."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will be back in a moment, my dear aunt," replied Zara; but the +worthy old lady would not suffer her to depart; and the butler +entering at that moment, called the attention of Richard Radford to +the note which had been brought in some half-an-hour before, and which +was, in fact, a sudden summons from his father.</p> + +<p class="normal">The contents seemed to give him no great satisfaction; and, turning to +the servant, he said, "Well, tell them to saddle my horse, and bring +him round;" and as he spoke, he directed a frowning look towards the +young baronet, as if he could scarcely refrain from shewing his anger +till a fitting opportunity occurred for expressing it.</p> + +<p class="normal">Digby, however, continued talking lightly with Zara Croyland, in the +window, till the horse had been brought round, and the young man had +taken leave of the rest of the party. Then sauntering slowly out of +the room, he passed through the hall door, to the side of Richard +Radford's horse, just as the latter was mounting.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Mr. Radford," he said, in a low tone, "you were pleased to make an +impertinent observation upon my conduct, which led me to tell you what +I think of yours. We were interrupted; but I dare say you must wish +for further conversation with me. You can have it when and where you +please."</p> + +<p class="normal">"At three o'clock this afternoon, in the road straight from the back +of the house," replied young Radford, in a low, determined tone, +touching the hilt of his sword.</p> + +<p class="normal">Sir Edward Digby nodded, and then turning on his heel, walked coolly +into the house.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am sure, Sir Edward," cried Mrs. Barbara, as soon as she saw him, +while Zara fixed her eyes somewhat anxiously upon his countenance--"I +am sure you and Mr. Radford have been quarrelling."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh no, my dear madam," replied Sir Edward Digby; "nothing of the +kind, I can assure you. Our words were very ordinary words, and +perfectly civil, upon my word. We had no time to quarrel."</p> + +<p class="normal">"My dear Sir Edward," said Sir Robert Croyland, "you must excuse me +for saying it, I must have no such things here. I am a magistrate for +this county, and bound by my oath to keep the peace. My sister tells +me that high words passed between you and my young friend Radford +before breakfast?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"They were very few, Sir Robert," answered Digby, in a careless tone; +"he thought fit to make an observation upon my saying a few words to +your daughter, here, in a low tone, which I conceive every gentleman +has a right to do to a fair lady. I told him, I thought his conduct +insolent; and that was all that passed. I believe the youth has got a +bad headache from too much of your good wine, Sir Robert; therefore, I +forgive him. I dare say, he'll be sorry enough for what he said, +before the day is over; and if he is not, I cannot help it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, well, if that's all, it is no great matter!" replied the master +of the house; "but here comes round the carriage; run and call Edith, +Zara."</p> + +<p class="normal">Before the young lady could quit the room, however, her sister +appeared; and the only moment they obtained for private conference was +at the door of the carriage, after Edith had got in, and while her +father was giving some directions to the coachman. No great +information could be given or received, indeed, for Sir Robert +returned to the side of the vehicle immediately, bade his daughter +good-bye, and the carriage rolled away.</p> + +<p class="normal">As soon as it was gone, Sir Edward Digby proposed, with the permission +of Sir Robert Croyland, to go out to shoot; for he did not wish to +subject himself to any further cross-examination by the ladies of the +family, and he read many inquiries in fair Zara's eyes, which he +feared might be difficult to answer. Retiring, then, to put on a more +fitting costume, while gamekeepers and dogs were summoned to attend +him, he took the opportunity of writing a short letter, which he +delivered to his servant to post, giving him, at the same time, brief +directions to meet him near the cottage of good Mrs. Clare, about +half-past two, with the sword which the young officer usually wore +when not on military service. Those orders were spoken in so ordinary +and commonplace a tone that none but a very shrewd fellow would have +discovered that anything was going forward different from the usual +occurrences of the day; but Somers was a very shrewd fellow; and in a +few minutes--judging from what he had observed while waiting on his +master during dinner on the preceding day--he settled the whole matter +entirely to his own satisfaction, thinking, according to the +phraseology of those times, "Sir Edward will pink him--and a good +thing too; but it will spoil sport here, I've a notion."</p> + +<p class="normal">As he descended to the hall, in order to join the keepers and their +four-footed coadjutors, the young baronet encountered Mrs. Barbara and +her niece; and he perceived Zara's eyes instantly glance to his +sword-belt, from which he had taken care to remove a weapon that could +only be inconvenient to him in the sport he was about to pursue. She +was not so easily to be deceived as her father; but yet the absence of +the weapon usually employed in those days, as the most efficacious for +killing a fellow-creature, put her mind at ease, at least for the +present; and, although she determined to watch the proceedings of the +young baronet during the two or three following days--as far, at +least, as propriety would permit--she took no further notice at the +moment, being very anxious to prevent her good aunt from interfering +more than necessary in the affairs of Sir Edward Digby.</p> + +<p class="normal">Mrs. Barbara, indeed, was by no means well pleased that Sir Edward was +going to deprive her schemes of the full benefit which might have +accrued from his passing the whole of that day unoccupied, with Zara, +at Harbourne House, and hinted significantly that she trusted if he +did not find good sport he would return early, as her niece was very +fond of a ride over the hills, only that she had no companion.</p> + +<p class="normal">The poor girl coloured warmly, and the more so as Sir Edward could not +refrain from a smile.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I trust, then, I shall have the pleasure of being your companion +to-morrow, Miss Croyland," he said, turning to the young lady. "Why +should we not ride over, and see your excellent uncle and your sister? +I must certainly pay my respects to him; and if I may have the honour +of escorting you, it will give double pleasure to my ride."</p> + +<p class="normal">Zara Croyland was well aware that many a matter, which if treated +seriously may become annoying--if not dangerous, can be carried +lightly off by a gay and dashing jest: "Oh, with all my heart," she +said; "only remember, Sir Edward, we must have plenty of servants with +us, or else all the people in the country will say that you and I are +going to be married; and as I never intend that such a saying should +be verified, it will be as well to nip the pretty little blossom of +gossip in the bud."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It shall be all exactly as you please," replied the young officer, +with a low bow and a meaning smile; but at the very same moment, Mrs. +Barbara thought fit to reprove her niece, wondering how she could talk +so sillily; and Sir Edward took his leave, receiving his host's +excuses, as he passed through the hall, for not accompanying him on +his shooting expedition.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The truth is, my dear sir," said Sir Robert Croyland, "that I am now +too old and too heavy for such sports."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You were kind enough to tell me, this is Liberty Hall," replied the +young baronet, "and you shall see, my dear sir, that I take you at +your word, both in regard to your game and your wine, being resolved, +with your good permission, and for my own health, to kill your birds +and spare your bottles."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Certainly, certainly," answered the master of the mansion--"you shall +do exactly as you like;" and with this licence, Sir Edward set out +shooting, with tolerable success, till towards two o'clock, when, +quite contrary to the advice and opinion of the gamekeepers--who +declared that the dogs would have the wind with them in that +direction, and that as the day was now hot, the birds would not lie a +minute--he directed his course towards the back of Harbourne Wood, +finding, it must be confessed, but very little sport. There, +apparently fatigued and disgusted with walking for a mile or two +without a shot, he gave his gun to one of the men, and bade him take +it back to the house, saying, he would follow speedily. As soon as he +had seen them depart, he tracked round the edge of the wood, towards +Mrs. Clare's cottage, exactly opposite to which he found his trusty +servant, provided as he had directed.</p> + +<p class="normal">Sir Edward then took the sword and fixed it in his belt, saying, "Now, +Somers, you may go!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Certainly, sir," replied the man, touching his hat with a look of +hesitation; but he added, a minute after, "you had better let me know +where it's to be, sir, in case----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well," rejoined Sir Edward Digby, with a smile, "you are an old +soldier and no meddler, Somers; so that I will tell you, 'in +case,'--that the place is in a straight line between this and +Harbourne House. So now, face about to the right, and go back by the +other road."</p> + +<p class="normal">The man touched his hat again, and walked quickly away, while the +young officer turned his steps up the road which he had followed +during the preceding evening in pursuit of the two Miss Croylands. It +was a good broad open way, in which there was plenty of fencing room, +and he thought to himself as he walked on, "I shall not be sorry to +punish this young vagabond a little. I must see what sort of skill he +has, and if possible wound him without hurting him much. If one could +keep him to his bed for a fortnight, we should have the field more +clear for our own campaign; but these things must always be a chance."</p> + +<p class="normal">Thus meditating, and looking at his watch to see how much time he had +to spare, Major Sir Edward Digby walked on till became within sight of +the garden wall and some of the out-buildings of Harbourne House. The +reader, if he has paid attention, will remember that the road did not +go straight to the back of the house itself: a smaller path, which led +to the right, conducting thither; but as the gardens extended for +nearly a quarter of a mile on that side, it followed the course of the +wall to the left to join the parish road which ran in front of the +mansion, leaving the green court, as it was called, or lawn, and the +terrace, on the right hand.</p> + +<p class="normal">As there was no other road in that direction, Sir Edward Digby felt +sure that he must be on the ground appointed, but yet, as is the case +in all moments of expectation, the time seemed so long, that when he +saw the brick-work he took out his watch again, and found there were +still five minutes to spare. He accordingly turned upon his steps, +walking slowly back for about a quarter of a mile, and then returned, +looking sharply out for his opponent, but seeing no one. He was now +sure that the time must be past; but, resolved to afford young Radford +every opportunity, he said to himself, "Watches may differ, and +something may have detained him. I will give him a full half hour, and +then if he does not come I shall understand the matter."</p> + +<p class="normal">As soon, then, as he saw the walls once more, he wheeled round and +re-trod his steps, then looked at his watch, and found that it was a +quarter past three. "Too bad!" he said,--"too bad! The fellow cannot +be coward, too, as well as blackguard. One turn more, and then I've +done with him." But as he advanced on his way towards the house, he +suddenly perceived the flutter of female garments before him, and +saying to himself, "This is awkward!" he gazed round for some path, in +order to get out of the way for a moment, but could perceive none. The +next instant, coming round a shrub which started forward a little +before the rest of the trees, he saw the younger Miss Croyland +advancing with a quick step, and, he could not help thinking, with a +somewhat agitated air. Her colour was heightened, her eyes eagerly +looking on; but, as soon as she saw him, she slackened her pace, and +came forward in a more deliberate manner.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, Sir Edward!" she said, in a calm, sweet tone, "I am glad to see +you. You have finished your shooting early, it seems."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why, the sport was beginning to slacken," answered Sir Edward Digby. +"I had not had a shot for the last half hour, and so thought it best +to give it up."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well then, you shall take a walk with me," cried Zara, gaily. "I am +just going down to a poor friend of ours, called Widow Clare, and you +shall come too."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What! notwithstanding all your sage and prudent apprehensions in +regard to what people might say if we were seen alone together!" +exclaimed Sir Edward Digby, with a smile.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh! I don't mind that," answered Zara. "Great occasions, you know, +Sir Edward, require decisive measures; and I assuredly want an escort +through this terrible forest, to protect me from all the giants and +enchanters it may contain."</p> + +<p class="normal">Sir Edward Digby looked at his watch again, and saw that it wanted but +two minutes to the half hour.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh!" said Zara, affecting a look of pique, "if you have some +important appointment, Sir Edward, it is another affair--only tell me +if it be so?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Sir Edward Digby took her hand in his: "I will tell you, dear lady," +he replied, "if you will first tell me one thing, truly and +sincerely--What brought you here?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Zara trembled and coloured; for with the question put in so direct a +shape, the agitation, which she had previously overcome, mastered her +in turn, and she answered, "Don't, don't, or I shall cry."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, then, tell me at least if I had anything to do with it?" asked +the young baronet.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, you had!" replied Zara; "I can't tell a falsehood. But now, Sir +Edward, don't, as most of you men would do, suppose that it's from any +very tender interest in you, that I did this foolish thing. It was +because I thought--I thought, if you were going to do what I imagined, +it would be the very worst thing in the world for poor Edith."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I shall only suppose that you are all that is kind and good," +answered Digby--perhaps a little piqued at the indifference which she +so studiously assumed; "and even if I thought, Miss Croyland, that you +did take some interest in my poor self, depend upon it, I should not +be inclined to go one step farther in the way of vanity than you +yourself could wish. I am not altogether a coxcomb. But now tell me, +how you were led to suspect anything?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Promise me first," said Zara, "that this affair shall not take place. +Indeed, indeed, Sir Edward, it must not, on every account!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"There is not the slightest chance of any such thing," replied Sir +Edward Digby. "You need not be under the slightest alarm."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What! you do not mean to say," she exclaimed, with her cheeks glowing +and her eyes raised to his face, "that you did not come here to fight +him?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not exactly," answered Sir Edward Digby, laughing; "but what I do +mean to say, my dear young lady, is, that our friend is half an hour +behind his time, and I am not disposed to give him another opportunity +of keeping me waiting."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And if he had been in time," cried Zara, clasping her hands together +and casting down her eyes, "I should have been too late."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But tell me," persisted Sir Edward Digby, "how you heard all this. +Has my servant, Somers, been indiscreet?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, no," replied Zara; "no, I can assure you! I saw you go out in +your shooting dress, and without a sword. Then I thought it was all +over, especially as you had the gamekeepers with you; but some time +ago I found that your servant had gone out, carrying a sword under his +arm, and had come straight up this road. That made me uneasy. When the +gamekeepers came back without you, I was more uneasy still; but I +could not get away from my aunt for a few minutes. When I could, +however, I got my hat and cloak, and hurried away, knowing that you +would not venture to fight in the presence of a woman. As I went out, +all my worst fears were confirmed by seeing your servant come back +without the sword; and then--not very well knowing, indeed, what I was +to say or do--I hurried on as fast as possible. Now you have the whole +story, and you must come away from this place."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Very willingly," answered the young officer; adding, with a smile, +"which way shall we go, Miss Croyland? To Widow Clare's?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, no!" answered Zara, blushing again. "Do not tease me. You do not +know how soon, when a woman is agitated, she is made to weep. My +father is out, indeed," she added, in a gayer tone, "so that I should +have time to bathe my eyes before dinner, which will be half an hour +later than usual; but I should not like my aunt to tell him that I +have been taking a crying walk with Sir Edward Digby."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Heaven forbid that I should ever give you cause for a tear!" answered +the young baronet; and then, with a vague impression that he was doing +something very like making love, he added, "but let us return to the +house, or perhaps we may have your aunt seeking us."</p> + +<p class="normal">"The most likely thing in the world," replied Zara; and taking their +way back, they passed through the gardens and entered the house by one +of the side doors.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="div1_13" href="#div1Ref_13">CHAPTER XIII.</a></h2> +<br> + +<p class="normal">It was a custom of those days, I believe, not altogether done away +with in the present times, for magistrates to assemble in petty +sessions, or to meet at other times for the dispatch of any +extraordinary business, in tavern, public-house, or inn--a custom more +honoured in the breach than the observance, except where no other +place of assembly can be found. It thus happened that, on the day of +which we have been speaking, some half-dozen gentlemen, all justices +of the peace for the county of Kent, were gathered together in a +good-sized room of the inn, at the little town of * * * * * . There +was a table drawn across the room, at which was placed the +magistrates' clerk, with sundry sheets of paper before him, several +printed forms, and two books, one big and the other little. The +magistrates themselves, however, were not seated in due state and +dignity, but, on the contrary, were in general standing about and +talking together, some looking out of the window into the street, some +leaning with their backs against the table and the tails of their +coats turned over their hands, while one occupied an arm-chair placed +sideways at the board, with one knee thrown over the other--a +favourite position which he could not have assumed had he sat with his +face to the table.</p> + +<p class="normal">The latter was Sir Robert Croyland, who had been sent for in haste by +his brother justices, to take part in their proceedings relative to a +daring act of smuggling which had just been perpetrated. Sir Robert +would willingly have avoided giving his assistance upon this occasion; +but the summons had been so urgent that he could not refuse going; and +he was now not a little angry to find that there were more than +sufficient justices present to make a quorum, and to transact all the +necessary business. Some one, however, it would seem, had--as usual in +all county arrangements--been very busy in pressing for as full an +attendance as possible; and those who knew the characters of the +gentlemen assembled might have perceived that the great majority of +them were not very well qualified to sit as judges upon a case of this +nature, as almost every one was under suspicion of leaning towards the +side of the smugglers, most of them having at some time engaged more +or less in the traffic which they were called upon to stop. Sir Robert +Croyland was the least objectionable in this point of view; for he had +always borne a very high name for impartiality in such matters, and +had never had anything personally to do with the illicit traffic +itself. It is probable, therefore, that he was sent for to give a mere +show of justice to the proceedings; for Mr. Radford was expected to be +there; and it was a common observation of the county gentlemen, that +the latter could now lead Sir Robert as he liked. Mr. Radford, indeed, +had not yet arrived, though two messengers had been despatched to +summon him; the answer still being that he had gone over towards +Ashford. Sir Robert, therefore, sat in the midst--not harmonizing much +in feeling with the rest, and looking anxiously for his friend's +appearance, in order to obtain some hint as to how he was to act.</p> + +<p class="normal">At length, a considerable noise was heard in the streets below, and a +sort of constable door-keeper presented himself, to inform the +magistrates that the officers and dragoons had arrived, bringing in +several prisoners. An immediate bustle took place, the worshipful +gentlemen beginning to seat themselves, and one of them--as it is +technically termed--moving Sir Robert into the chair. In order to shew +that this was really as well as metaphysically done, Sir Robert +Croyland rose, sat down again, and wheeled himself round to the table. +A signal was then given to the constable; and a rush of several +persons from without was made into the temporary justice room, which +was at once nearly filled with custom-house officers, soldiers, +smugglers, and the curious of the village.</p> + +<p class="normal">Amongst the latter portion of the auditory,--at least, so he supposed +at first,--Sir Robert Croyland perceived his young friend, Richard +Radford; and he was in the act of beckoning him to come up to the +table, in order to inquire where his father was, and how soon he would +return, when one of the officers of the Customs suddenly thrust the +young gentleman out of the way, exclaiming, "Stand farther back! What +are you pushing forward for? Your turn will come soon enough, I +warrant."</p> + +<p class="normal">Sir Robert Croyland was confounded; and for a moment or two he sat +silent in perplexity and surprise. Not that he ever entertained a +doubt of old Mr. Radford still nourishing all the propensities of his +youth; nor that he was not well aware they had formed part of the +inheritance of the son; but there were certain considerations of some +weight which made Sir Robert feel that it would have been better for +him to be in any other spot of the habitable globe than that where he +was at the moment. Recovering himself, however, after a brief pause of +anxious indecision, he made a sign to the constable door-keeper, and +whispered to him, as soon as the man reached his side, to inquire into +the cause of Mr. Richard Radford's being there. The man was shrewd and +quick, and while half the magistrates were speaking across the table +to half the officers and some of the dragoons, he went and returned to +and from the other side of the room, and then whispered to the +baronet, "For smuggling, sir--caught abetting the others--his name +marked upon some of the goods!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Sir Robert Croyland was not naturally a brilliant man. Though hasty in +temper in his early days, he had always been somewhat obtuse in +intellect; but this was a case of emergency; and there is no greater +sharpener of the wits than necessity. In an instant, he had formed his +plan to gain time, which was his great object at that moment; and, +taking out his watch, he laid it on the table, exclaiming aloud, +"Gentlemen! gentlemen! a little regularity, if you please. My time is +precious. I have an important engagement this afternoon, and I----"</p> + +<p class="normal">But his whole scheme had nearly been frustrated by the impetuosity of +young Radford himself, who at once pushed through officers and +soldiers, saying, "And so have I, Sir Robert, a very important +engagement this afternoon. I claim to be heard as speedily as +possible."</p> + +<p class="normal">Sir Robert, however, was determined to carry his point, and to avoid +having aught to do with the case of his young friend, even at the risk +of giving him offence and annoyance. "Stand back, sir!" he said. "In +this court, there is no friendship or favour. You will have attention +in turn, but not before. Mr. Mowle, bring forward the prisoners one +after the other, as near as possible, in the order of--the order +of--of their capture," he added, at length, after hesitating for a +moment to consider whether it was or was not probable that young +Radford had been amongst those last taken; "and let all the others be +removed, under guard, into the next room."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Wont that make it a long affair, Sir Robert?" asked Mr. Runnington, a +neighbouring squire.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh dear, no!" replied the chairman; "by regularity we shall save +time. Do as you are directed, Mowle!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Young Radford showed a strong disposition to resist, or, at least, to +protest against this arrangement; but the officer to whom the baronet +had spoken, treated the prisoner with very little reverence; and he, +with the rest of the gang, was removed from the room, with the +exception of three, one of whom, with a smart cockade in his hat, such +as was worn at that time by military men in undress, swaggered up to +the table with a bold air, as if he were about to address the +magistrates.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah, major, is that you?" asked a gentleman on Sir Robert's right, +known in the country by the name of Squire Jollyboat, though his +family being originally French, his real appellation was Jollivet.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh yes, squire," answered the prisoner, in a gay, indifferent tone, +"here I am. It is long since I have had the pleasure of seeing your +worship. I think you were not on the bench the last time I was +committed, or I should have fared better."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I don't know that, major," replied the gentleman; "on the former +occasion I gave you a month, I think."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ay, but the blackguards that time gave me two," rejoined the major.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Because it was the second offence," said Squire Jollyboat.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The second! Lord bless you, sir!" answered the major, with a look of +cool contempt; and turning round with a wink to his two companions, +they all three laughed joyously, as if it were the finest joke in the +world.</p> + +<p class="normal">It might not be very interesting to the reader were we to give in +detail the depositions of the various witnesses upon a common case of +smuggling in the last century, or to repeat all the various arguments +which were bandied backwards and forwards between the magistrates, +upon the true interpretation of the law, as expressed in the 9th +George II., cap. 35. It was very evident, indeed, to the officers of +Customs, to the serjeant of dragoons, and even to the prisoners +themselves, that the worthy justices were disposed to take as +favourable a view of smuggling transactions as possible. But the law +was very clear; the case was not less so; Mowle, the principal riding +officer, was a straightforward, determined, and shrewd man; and +although Sir Robert Croyland, simply with a view of protracting the +investigation till Mr. Radford should arrive, started many questions +which he left to the other magistrates to settle, yet in about half an +hour the charge of smuggling, with riot, and armed resistance to the +Custom-House officers, was clearly made out against the major and his +two companions; and as the act left no discretion in such a case, the +resistance raising the act to felony, all three were committed for +trial, and the officers bound over to prosecute.</p> + +<p class="normal">The men were then taken away, laughing and jesting; and Sir Robert +Croyland looked with anxiety for the appearance of the next party; but +two other men were now introduced without Richard Radford; and the +worthy baronet was released for the time. The case brought forward +against these prisoners differed from that against those who preceded +them, inasmuch as no resistance was charged. They had simply been +found aiding and abetting in the carriage of the smuggled goods, and +had fled when they found themselves pursued by the officers, though +not fast enough to avoid capture. The facts were speedily proved, and, +indeed, much more rapidly than suited the views of Sir Robert +Croyland. He therefore raised the question, when the decision of the +magistrates was about to be pronounced, whether this was the first or +the second offence, affecting some remembrance of the face of one of +the men. The officers, also, either really did recollect, or pretended +to do so, that the person of whom he spoke had been convicted before; +but the man himself positively denied it, and defied them to bring +forward any proof. A long discussion thus commenced, and before it was +terminated the baronet was relieved by the appearance of Mr. Radford +himself, who entered booted and spurred, and covered with dust, as if +just returned from a long ride.</p> + +<p class="normal">Shaking hands with his brother magistrates, and especially with Sir +Robert Croyland, he was about to seat himself at the end of that +table, when the baronet rose, saying, "Here, Radford, you had better +take my place, as I must positively get home directly, having +important business to transact."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, no, Sir Robert," replied that respectable magistrate, "we cannot +spare you in this case, nor can I take that place. My son, I hear, is +charged with taking part in this affair; and some sharp words have +been passing between myself and that scoundrel of a fellow called +Clinch, the officer, who applied to me for aid in searching the +Ramleys' house. When I agreed to go with him, and found out a very +snug place for hiding, he was half afraid to go down; and yet, since +then, he has thought fit to insinuate that I had something to do with +the run, and did not conduct the search fairly."</p> + +<p class="normal">The magistrates looked round to each other and smiled; and Radford +himself laughed heartily, very much as if he was acting a part in a +farce, without any hope or expectation of passing off his zeal in the +affair, upon his fellow magistrates, as genuine. Mowle, the officer, +at the same time turned round, and spoke a few words to two men who +had followed Mr. Radford into the room, one of whom shrugged his +shoulders with a laugh, and said nothing, and the other replied +eagerly, but in a low tone.</p> + +<p class="normal">Sir Robert Croyland, however, urged the necessity of his going, put +his watch in his pocket, and buttoned up his coat. But Mr. Radford, +assuming a graver air and a very peculiar tone, replied, "No, no, Sir +Robert; you must stay, indeed. We shall want you. Your known +impartiality will give weight to our decisions, whatever they may be."</p> + +<p class="normal">The baronet sat down again, but evidently with so much unwillingness, +that his brethren marvelled not a little at this fresh instance of the +influence which Mr. Radford exerted over his mind.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Who is the next prisoner, Mr. Mowle?" demanded Sir Robert Croyland, +as soon as he had resumed his seat.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Mr. Richard Radford, I suppose, sir," said Mowle; "but these two men +are not disposed of."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, then," said Mr. Jollivet, who was very well inclined to +commence a career of lenity, "as no proof has been given that this is +the second offence, I think we must send them both for a month. That +seems to me the utmost we can do."</p> + +<p class="normal">The other magistrates concurred in this decision; and the prisoners +were ordered to be removed; but ere they went, the one against whom +the officers had most seriously pressed their charge, turned round +towards the bench, exclaiming, in a gay tone, "Thank you, Squire +Jollyboat. Your worship shall have a chest of tea for this, before I'm +out a fortnight."</p> + +<p class="normal">A roar of laughter ran round the magistrates--for such matters were as +indecently carried on in those days, on almost all occasions, as they +sometimes are now; and in a moment or two after, young Radford was +brought in, with a dark scowl upon his brow.</p> + +<p class="normal">"How is this, Dick?" cried his father. "Have you been dabbling in a +run, and suffered yourself to be caught?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let these vagabonds make their accusation, and bring their +witnesses," replied the young man, sullenly, "and then I'll speak for +myself."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, your worships," said Mowle, coming forward, "the facts are +simply these: I have long had information that goods were to be run +about this time, and that Mr. Radford had some share in the matter. +Last night, a large quantity of goods were landed in the Marsh, though +I had been told it was to be near about Sandgate, or between that and +Hythe, and was consequently on the look-out there. As soon as I got +intimation, however, that the run had been effected, I got together as +many men as I could, sent for a party of dragoons from Folkestone, +and, knowing pretty well which way they would take, came across by +Aldington, Broadoak and Kingsnorth, and then away by Singleton Green, +towards Four-Elms, where, just under the hill, we came upon those two +men who have just been convicted, and two others, who got off. We +captured these two, and three horse-loads they had with them, for +their beasts were tired, and they had lagged behind. There were two or +three chests of tea, and a good many other things, and all of them +were marked, just like honest bales of goods, 'Richard Radford, +Esquire, Junior.' As we found, however, that the great party was on +before, we pursued them as far as Rouse-end, where we overtook them +all; but there they scattered, some galloping off towards Gouldwell, +as if they were going to the Ramleys; some towards Usherhouse, and +some by the wood towards Etchden. Four or five of the dragoons pushed +after those running for Gouldwell, but I and the rest stuck to the +main body, which went away towards the wood, and who showed fight. +There was a good deal of firing amongst the trees, but not much damage +done, except to my horse, who was shot in the shoulder. But just as we +were chasing them out of the wood, up came Mr. Richard Radford, who +was seen for a minute speaking to one of the men who were running, and +riding along beside him for some way. He then turned, and came up to +us, and tried to stop us as we were galloping after them, asking what +the devil we were about, and giving us a great deal of bad language. I +didn't mind him, but rode on, knowing we could take him at any time; +but Mr. Birchett, the other chief officer, who had captured the major +a minute or two before, got angry, and caught him by the collar, +charging him to surrender, when he instantly drew his sword, and +threatened to run him through. One of the dragoons, however, knocked +it out of his hand, and then he was taken. This affray in the middle +of the road enabled the greater part of the rest to get off; and we +only captured two more horses and one man."</p> + +<p class="normal">Several of the other officers, and the dragoons, corroborated Mowle's +testimony; and the magistrates, but especially Sir Robert Croyland, +began to look exceedingly grave. Mr. Radford, however, only laughed, +turning to his son, and asking, "Well, Dick! what have you to say to +all this?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Richard Radford, however, merely tossed up his head, and threw back +his shoulders, without reply, till Sir Robert Croyland addressed him, +saying, "I hope, Mr. Radford, you can clear yourself of this charge, +for you ought to know that armed resistance to the King's officers is +a transportable offence."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will speak to the magistrates," replied young Radford, "when I can +speak freely, without all these people about me. As to the goods they +mention, marked with my name, I know nothing about them."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you wish to speak with the magistrates alone?" demanded old Mr. +Radford.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I must strongly object to any such proceeding," exclaimed Mowle.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Pray, sir, meddle with what concerns you," said old Radford, turning +upon him fiercely, "and do not pretend to dictate here. You gentlemen +are greatly inclined to forget your place. I think that the room had +better be cleared of all but the prisoner, Sir Robert."</p> + +<p class="normal">The baronet bowed his head; Squire Jollivet concurred in the same +opinion; and, though one or two of the others hesitated, they were +ultimately overruled, and the room was cleared of all persons but the +magistrates and the culprit.</p> + +<p class="normal">Scarcely was this done, when, with a bold free air, and contemptuous +smile, young Radford advanced to the side of the table, and laid his +left hand firmly upon it; then, looking round from one to another, he +said, "I will ask you a question, worshipful gentlemen.--Is there any +one of you, here present, who has never, at any time, had anything to +do with a smuggling affair?--Can you swear it upon your oaths?--Can +you, sir?--Can you? Can you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">The magistrates to whom he addressed himself, looked marvellously +rueful, and replied not; and at last, turning to his father, he said, +"Can you, sir? though I, methinks, need hardly ask the question."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, by Jove, Dick, I can't!" replied his father, laughing. "I wish to +Heaven you wouldn't put such awful interrogatories; for I believe, for +that matter, we are all in the same boat."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then I refuse," said young Radford, "to be judged by you. Settle the +matter as you like.--Get out of the scrape as you can; but don't +venture to convict a man when you are more guilty than he is himself. +If you do, I may tell a few tales that may not be satisfactory to any +of you."</p> + +<p class="normal">It had been remarked, that, in putting his questions, the young +gentleman had entirely passed Sir Robert Croyland; and Mr. Jollivet +whispered to the gentleman next him, "I think we had better leave him +and Sir Robert to settle it, for I believe the baronet is quite clear +of the scrape."</p> + +<p class="normal">But Mr. Radford had overheard, and he exclaimed, "No, no; I think the +matter is quite clear how we must proceed. There's not the slightest +proof given that he knew anything about these goods being marked with +his name, or that it was done by his authority. He was not with the +men either, who were carrying the goods; and they were going quite +away from his own dwelling. He happened to come there accidentally, +just when the fray was going on. That I can prove, for I sent him a +note this morning, telling him to join me at Ashford as fast as +possible."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I saw it delivered myself," said Sir Robert Croyland.</p> + +<p class="normal">"To be sure," rejoined Mr. Radford; "and then, as to his talking to +the smugglers when he did come up, I dare say he was telling them to +surrender, or not to resist the law. Wasn't it so, Dick?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not a bit of it," answered Richard Radford, boldly. "I told them to +be off as fast as they could. But I did tell them not to fire any +more. That's true enough!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ay, to be sure," cried Mr. Radford. "He was trying to persuade them +not to resist legitimate authority."</p> + +<p class="normal">Almost all the magistrates burst into a fit of laughter; but, no way +disconcerted, worthy Mr. Radford went on saying--"While he was doing +this, up comes this fellow, Birchett, and seizes him by the collar; +and, I dare say, he abused him into the bargain."</p> + +<p class="normal">"He said I was a d--d smuggling blackguard myself," said young +Radford.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, then, gentlemen, is it at all wonderful that he drew his +sword?" demanded his respectable father. "Is every gentleman in the +county to be ridden over, rough-shod, by these officers and their +dragoons, and called 'd--d smuggling blackguards,' when they are +actually engaged in persuading the smugglers not to fire? I promise +you, my son shall bring an action against that fellow, Birchett, for +an assault. It seems to me that the case is quite clear."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is, at all events, rendered doubtful," said Sir Robert Croyland, +"by what has been suggested. I think the officers had better now be +recalled; and, by your permission, I will put a few questions to +them."</p> + +<p class="normal">In a very few minutes the room was, once more, nearly filled, and the +baronet addressed Mowle, in a grave tone, saying--"A very different +view of this case has been afforded us, Mr. Mowle, from that which you +gave just now. It is distinctly proved, and I myself can in some +degree testify to the fact, that Mr. Radford was on the spot +accidentally, having been sent for by his father to join him at +Ashford----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"At the Ramleys', I suppose you mean, sir," observed Mowle, drily.</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, sir; at Ashford," rejoined Mr. Radford; and Sir Robert Croyland +proceeded to say:</p> + +<p class="normal">"The young gentleman also asserts that he was persuading the smugglers +to submit to lawful authority, or, at all events, not to fire upon +you. Was there any more firing after he came up?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No; there was not," answered Mowle. "They all galloped off as hard as +they could."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Corroborative proof of his statement," observed Sir Robert, solemnly. +"The only question, therefore, remaining, seems to be, as to whether +Mr. Radford, junior, had really anything to do with the placing of his +name upon the goods. Now, one strong reason for supposing such not to +be the case is, that they were not found near his house, or going +towards it, but the contrary."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why, he's as much at home in the Ramleys' house as at his own," said +a voice from behind; but Sir Robert took no notice, and proceeded to +inquire--"Have you proof, Mr. Mowle, that he authorized any one to +mark these goods with his name?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Mr. Radford smiled; and Mowle, the officer, looked a little puzzled. +At length, however, he answered--"No, I can't say we have, Sir Robert; +but one thing is very certain, it is not quite customary to ask for +such proof in this stage of the business, and in the cases of inferior +men."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am sorry to hear it," replied Sir Robert Croyland, in a dignified +and sententious tone, "for it is quite necessary that in all cases the +evidence should be clear and satisfactory to justify the magistrates +in committing any man to prison, even for trial. In this instance +nothing is proved, and not even a fair cause for suspicion made out. +Mr. Radford was there accidentally; the goods were going in a +different direction from his house; he was seized, we think upon +insufficient grounds, while endeavouring to dissuade the smugglers +from resisting the king's officers and troops; and though we may judge +his opposition imprudent, it was not wholly unjustifiable. The +prisoner is therefore discharged."</p> + +<p class="normal">"The goods were going to the Ramleys," said the man, Clinch, who now, +emboldened by the presence of several other officers, spoke loud and +decidedly. "Here are two or three of the dragoons, who can swear that +they followed a party of the smugglers nearly to the house, and had +the gates shut in their face when they came up; and I can't help +saying, that the search of the house by Mr. Radford was not conducted +as it ought to have been. The two officers were left without, while he +went in to speak with old Ramley, and there were a dozen of men, or +more, in the kitchen."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Pooh! nonsense, fellow!" cried Mr. Radford, interrupting him with a +laugh; "I did it for your own security."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And then," continued Clinch, "when we had gone down into the +concealed cellar below, which was as clear a <i>hide</i> for smuggled goods +as ever was seen, he would not let me carry out the search, though I +found that two places at the sides were hollow, and only covered with +boards."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why, you vagabond, you were afraid of going down at all!" said Mr. +Radford. "Where is Adams? He can bear witness of it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Clinch didn't seem to like it much, it must be confessed," said +Adams, without coming forward; "but, then, the place was so full of +men, it was enough to frighten one."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I wasn't frightened," rejoined Mr. Radford.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Because it was clear enough that you and the Ramleys understood each +other," answered Clinch, boldly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Pooh--pooh, nonsense!" said Squire Jollivet. "You must not talk such +stuff here, Mr. Clinch. But, however that may be, the prisoner is +discharged; and now, as I think we have no more business before us, we +may all go home; for it's nearly five o'clock, and I, for one, want my +dinner."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ay, it is nearly five o'clock," said young Radford, who had been +standing with his eyes cast down and his brow knit; "and you do not +know what you have all done, keeping me here in this way."</p> + +<p class="normal">He added an oath, and then flung out of the room, passing through the +crowd of officers and others, in his way towards the door, without +waiting for his father, who had risen with the rest of the +magistrates, and was preparing to depart.</p> + +<p class="normal">Sir Robert Croyland and Mr. Radford descended the stairs of the inn +together; and at the bottom, Mr. Radford shook the baronet heartily by +the hand, saying, loud enough to be heard by everybody. "That was +admirably well done, Sir Robert! Many thanks--many thanks."</p> + +<p class="normal">"None to me, my dear sir," answered Sir Robert Croyland. "It was but +simple justice;" and he turned away to mount his horse.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Very pretty justice, indeed!" said Mowle, in a low voice, to the +sergeant of dragoons; "but I can't help fancying there's something +more under this than meets the eye. Mr. Radford isn't a gentleman who +usually laughs at these matters so lightly. But if he thinks to cheat +me, perhaps he may find himself mistaken."</p> + +<p class="normal">In the meantime the baronet hastened homewards, putting his horse into +a quick pace, and taking the nearest roads through the woods, which +were then somewhat thickly scattered over that part of Kent. He had no +servant with him; and when at about two miles from his own house, he +passed through a wild and desolate part of the country, near what is +now called Chequer Tree, he looked on before and around him on every +side, somewhat anxiously, as if he did not much admire the aspect of +the place.</p> + +<p class="normal">He pushed on, however, entered the wood, and rode rapidly down into a +deep dell, which may still be seen in that neighbourhood, though its +wild and gloomy character is now almost altogether lost. At that time, +tall trees grew up round it on either hand, leaving, in the hollow, a +little patch of about half an acre, filled with long grass and some +stunted willows, while the head of a stream bubbling up in their +shade, poured on its clear waters through a fringe of sedges and +rushes towards some larger river.</p> + +<p class="normal">The sun had yet an hour or two to run before his setting; but it was +only at noon of a summer's day that his rays ever penetrated into that +gloomy and secluded spot; and towards the evening it had a chilly and +desolate aspect, which made one feel as if it were a place debarred +for ever of the bright light of day. The green tints of spring, or the +warmer brown of autumn, seemed to make no difference, for the shades +were always blue, dull and heavy, mingling with the thin filmy mist +that rose up from the plashy ground on either side of the road.</p> + +<p class="normal">A faint sort of shudder came over Sir Robert Croyland, probably from +the damp air; and he urged his horse rapidly down the hill without any +consideration for the beast's knees. He was spurring on towards the +other side, as if eager to get out of it, when a voice was heard from +amongst the trees, exclaiming, in a sad and melancholy tone, "Robert +Croyland! Robert Croyland! what look you for here?"</p> + +<p class="normal">The baronet turned on his saddle with a look of terror and anguish; +but, instead of stopping, he dug his spurs into the horse's sides, and +gallopped up the opposite slope. As if irresistibly impelled to look +at that which he dreaded, he gazed round twice as he ascended, and +each time beheld, standing in the middle of the road, the same figure, +wrapped in a large dark cloak, which he had seen when first the voice +caught his ear. Each time he averted his eyes in an instant, and +spurred on more furiously than ever. His accelerated pace soon carried +him to the top of the hill, where he could see over the trees; and in +about a quarter of an hour, he reached Halden, when he began to check +his horse, and reasoned with himself on his own sensations. There was +a great struggle in his mind; but ere he arrived at Harbourne House he +had gained sufficient mastery over himself to say, "What a strange +thing imagination is!"</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>END OF VOL. I.</h3> +<br> +<br> +<h5>T. C. Savill, Printer, 4, Chandos-street, Covent-garden.</h5> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h1>THE SMUGGLER:</h1> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h4>A Tale</h4> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>BY G. P. R. JAMES, ESQ.</h2> + +<h5>AUTHOR OF<br> + +"DARNLEY," "DE L'ORME," "RICHELIEU,"<br> + +ETC. ETC.</h5> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h4>IN THREE VOLUMES.</h4> +<br> +<br> +<h3><a name="div2_0" href="#div2Ref_0">VOL. II.</a></h3> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h4>LONDON:</h4> +<h3>SMITH, ELDER AND CO., 65, CORNHILL.</h3> +<h4>1845.</h4> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h1>THE SMUGGLER.</h1> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> + +<h2><a name="div2_01" href="#div2Ref_01">CHAPTER I.</a></h2> +<br> + +<p class="normal">What a varying thing is the stream of life! How it sparkles and +glitters! Now it bounds along its pebbly bed, sometimes in sunshine, +and sometimes in shade; sometimes sporting round all things, as if its +essence were merriment and brightness; sometimes flowing solemnly on, +as if it were derived from Lethe itself. Now it runs like a liquid +diamond along the meadow; now it plunges in fume and fury over the +rock; now it is clear and limpid, as youth and innocence can make it; +now it is heavy and turbid, with the varying streams of thought and +memory that are ever flowing into it, each bringing its store of +dulness and pollution as it tends towards the end. Its voice, too, +varies as it goes; now it sings lightly as it dances on; now it roars +amidst the obstacles that oppose its way; and now it has no tone but +the dull low murmur of exhausted energy.</p> + +<p class="normal">Such is the stream of life! yet, perhaps, few of us would wish to +change our portion of it for the calm regularity of a canal--even if +one could be constructed without locks and floodgates upon it to hold +in the pent-up waters of the heart till they are ready to burst +through the banks.</p> + +<p class="normal">Life was in its sparkling aspect with Zara Croyland and Sir Edward +Digby, when they set out on horseback for the house of old Mr. +Croyland, cantering easily along the roads of that part of the +country, which, in the days I speak of, were soft and somewhat sandy. +Two servants followed behind at a discreet distance; and lightly +passing over hill and dale, with all the loveliness of a very bright +portion of our fair land stretched out around them, the young lady and +her companion drew in, through the eyes, fresh sensations of happiness +from all the lovely things of nature. The yellow woods warmed their +hearts; the blue heaven raised their thoughts; the soft air refreshed +and cheered all their feelings; and, when a passing cloud swept over +the sky, it only gave that slight shadowy tone to the mind, which +wakens within us the deep, innate, and elevating movements of the +spirit, that seem to connect the aspect of God's visible creation, +with a higher and a purer state of being. Each had some spring of +happiness in the heart fresh opened; for, to the fair girl who went +bounding along through that gay world, the thought that she was +conveying to a dear sister tidings of hope, was in itself a joy; and +to her companion a new subject of contemplation was presenting itself, +in the very being who accompanied him on the way--a subject quite +untouched and novel, and, to a man of his character and disposition, a +most interesting one.</p> + +<p class="normal">Sir Edward Digby had mingled much with the world; he had seen many +scenes of different kinds; he had visited various countries, the most +opposite to each other; he had frequented courts, and camps, and +cities; and he had known and seen a good deal of woman, and of +woman's heart; but he had never yet met any one like Zara Croyland. +The woman of fashion and of rank in all the few modifications of +character that her circumstances admit--for rank and fashion are sadly +like the famous bed of the robber of Attica, on which all men are cut +down or stretched out to a certain size,--was well known to him, and +looked upon much in the light of an exotic plant, kept in an +artificial state of existence, with many beauties and excellences, +perhaps, mingling with many deformities and faults, but still weakened +and deprived of individuality by long drilling in a round of +conventionalities. He had seen, too, the wild Indian, in the midst of +her native woods, and might have sometimes admired the free grace and +wild energy of uncultivated and unperverted nature; but he was not +very fond of barbarism, and though he might admit the existence of +fine qualities, even in a savage, yet he had not been filled with any +great enthusiasm in favour of Indian life, from what he had seen in +Canada. The truth is, he had never been a very dissolute, or, as it is +termed, a very gay man--he was not sated and surfeited with the vices +of civilization, and consequently was not inclined to seek for new +excitement in the very opposite extreme of primeval rudeness.</p> + +<p class="normal">Most of the gradations between the two, he had seen at different +periods and in different lands; but yet in her who now rode along +beside him, there was something different from any. It was not a want, +but a combination of the qualities he had remarked in others. There +was the polish and the cultivation of high class and finished +training, with a slight touch of the wildness and the originality of +the fresh unsophisticated heart. There was the grace of education, and +the grace of nature; and there seemed to be high natural powers of +intellect, uncurbed by artificial rules, but supplied with materials +by instruction.</p> + +<p class="normal">All this was apparent; but the question with him was, as to the heart +beneath, and its emotions. He gazed upon her as they went on--when she +was not looking that way--he watched her countenance, the habitual +expression of the features, and the varying expression which every +emotion produced. Her face seemed like a bright looking-glass, which a +breath will dim, and a touch will brighten; but there is so much +deceit in the world, and every man who has mingled with that world +must have seen so much of it, and every man, also, has within himself +such internal and convincing proofs of our human nature's fondness for +seeming, that we are all inclined--except in very early youth--to +doubt the first impression, to inquire beyond the external appearance, +and to inquire if the heart of the fruit corresponds with the beauty +of the outside.</p> + +<p class="normal">He asked himself what was she really?--what was true, and what was +false, in that bright and sparkling creature? Whether, was the gaiety +or the sadness the real character of the mind within? or whether the +frequent variation from the one to the other--ay, and from energy to +lightness, from softness to firmness, from gentleness to vigour--were +not all the indications of a character as various as the moods which +it assumed.</p> + +<p class="normal">Sir Edward Digby was resolved not to fall in love, which is the most +dangerous resolution that a man can take: for it is seldom, if ever, +taken, except in a case of great necessity--one of those hasty +outworks thrown up against a powerful enemy, which are generally taken +in a moment and the cannon therein turned against ourselves.</p> + +<p class="normal">Nevertheless, he had resolved, as I have said, not to fall in love; +and he fancied that, strengthened by that resolution, he was quite +secure. It must not be understood, indeed, that Sir Edward Digby never +contemplated marriage. On the contrary, he thought of it as a remote +evil that was likely to fall upon him some day, by an inevitable +necessity. It seemed a sort of duty, indeed, to transmit his name, and +honours, and wealth to another generation; and as duties are not +always very pleasant things, he, from time to time, looked forward to +the execution of his, in this respect, in a calm, philosophical, +determined manner. Thirty-five, he thought, would be a good time to +marry; and when he did so, he had quite made up his mind to do it with +the utmost deliberation and coolness. It should be quite a <i>mariage de +raison</i>. He would take it as a dose of physic--a disagreeable thing, +to be done when necessary, but not a minute before; and in the +meantime, to fall in love, was quite out of the question.</p> + +<p class="normal">No, he was examining and investigating and contemplating Zara +Croyland's character, merely as a matter of interesting speculation; +and a very dangerous speculation it was, Sir Edward Digby! I don't +know which was most perilous, that, or your resolution.</p> + +<p class="normal">It is very strange, he never recollected that, in no other case in his +whole career, had he found it either necessary to take such a +resolution, or pleasant to enter into such a speculation. If he had, +perhaps he might have begun to tremble for himself. Nor did he take +into the calculation the very important fact that Zara Croyland was +both beautiful and pretty--two very different things, reader, as you +will find, if you examine. A person may be very pretty without being +the least beautiful, or very beautiful without being the least pretty; +but when those two qualities are both combined, and when, in one girl, +the beauty of features and of form that excites admiration, is joined +with that prettiness of expression, and colouring, and arrangement +that wakens tenderness and wins affection, Lord have mercy upon the +man who rides along with her through fair scenes, under a bright sky!</p> + +<p class="normal">Digby did not at all find out, that he was in the most dangerous +situation in the world; or, if some fancy ever came upon him, that he +was not quite safe, it was but as one of those vague impressions of +peril that float for a single instant over the mind when we are +engaged in any very bold and exciting undertaking, and pass away again +as fast.</p> + +<p class="normal">Far from guarding himself at all, Sir Edward Digby went on in his +unconsciousness, laying himself more and more open to the enemy. In +pursuit of his scheme of investigation, he proceeded, as they rode +along, to try the mind of his fair companion in a thousand different +ways; and every instant he brought forth some new and dangerous +quality. He found that, in the comparative solitude in which she +lived, she had had time for study as well as thought, and had acquired +far more, and far more varied stores of information, than was common +with the young women of her day. It was not alone that she could read +and spell--which a great many could not, in those times,--but she had +read a number of different works upon a number of different subjects; +knew as much of other lands, and of the habits of other people, as +books could give, and was tastefully proficient in the arts that +brighten life, even where their cultivation is not its object.</p> + +<p class="normal">Thus her conversation had always something new about it. The very +images that suggested themselves to her mind were derived from such +numerous sources, that it kept the fancy on the stretch to follow her +in her flights, and made their whole talk a sort of playful chase, +like that of one bird after another in the air. Now she borrowed a +comparison for something sensible to the eye from the sweet music that +charms the ear--now she found out links of association between the +singing of the birds and some of the fine paintings that she had seen +or heard of--now combined a bright scene, or a peculiar moment of +happiness, with the sweet odours of the flowers or the murmur of the +stream. With everything in nature and art she sported, apparently +unconscious; and often, too, in speaking of the emotions of the heart +or the thoughts of the mind, she would, with a bright flash of +imagination, cast lights upon those dark and hidden things, from +objects in the external world, or from the common events of life.</p> + +<p class="normal">Eagerly Digby led her on--pleased, excited, entertained himself; but +in so doing he produced an effect which he had not calculated upon. He +made a change in her feelings towards himself. She had thought him a +very agreeable man from the first; she had seen that he was a +gentleman by habit, and divined that he was so by nature; but now she +began to think that he was a very high-toned and noble-minded man, +that he was one worthy of high station and of all happiness--she did +not say--of affection, nor let the image of love pass distinctly +before her eyes. There might be a rosy cloud in the far sky wherein +the god was veiled; but she did not see him--or, was it that she would +not? Perhaps it was so; for woman's heart is often as perverse and +blind, in these matters, as man's. But one thing is clear, no two +people can thus pour forth the streams of congenial thought and +feeling--to flow on mingling together in sweet communion--for any +great length of time, without a change of their sensations towards +each other; and, unless the breast be well guarded by passion for +another, it is not alone that mind with mind is blended, but heart +with heart.</p> + +<p class="normal">Though the distance was considerable,--that is to say, some three or +four miles, and they made it more than twice as long by turning up +towards the hills, to catch a fine view of the wooded world below, on +whose beauty Zara expatiated eloquently,--and though they talked of a +thousand different subjects, which I have not paused to mention here, +lest the detail should seem all too tedious, yet their ride passed +away briefly, like a dream. At length, coming through some green +lanes, overhung by young saplings and a crown of brambles and other +hedge-row shrubs--no longer, alas, in flower--they caught sight of the +chimneys of a house a little way farther on, and Zara said, with a +sigh, "There is my uncle's house."</p> + +<p class="normal">Sir Edward Digby asked himself, "Why does she sigh?" and as he did so, +felt inclined to sigh, too; for the ride had seemed too short, and had +now become as a pleasant thing passed away. But then he thought, "We +shall enjoy it once again as we return;" and he took advantage of +their slackened pace to say, "As I know you are anxious to speak with +your sister, Miss Croyland, I will contrive to occupy your uncle for a +time, if we find him at home. I fear I shall not be able to obtain an +opportunity of talking with her myself on the subjects that so deeply +interest her, as at one time I hoped to do; but I am quite sure, from +what I see of you, that I may depend upon what you tell me, and act +accordingly."</p> + +<p class="normal">As if by mutual consent, they had avoided, during their expedition of +that morning, the subject which was, perhaps, most in the thoughts of +each; but now Zara checked her horse to a slow walk, and replied, +after a moment's thought, "I should think, if you desire it, you could +easily obtain a few minutes' conversation with her at my uncle's.--I +only don't know whether it may agitate her too much or not. Perhaps +you had better let me speak with her first, and then, if she wishes +it, she will easily find the means. You may trust to me, indeed, Sir +Edward, in Edith's case, though I do not always say exactly what I +mean about myself. Not that I have done otherwise with you; for, +indeed, I have neither had time nor occasion; but with the people that +occasionally come to the house, sometimes it is necessary, and +sometimes I am tempted, out of pure perversity, to make them think me +very different from what I am. It is not always with those that I hate +or despise either, but sometimes with people that I like and esteem +very much. Now, I dare say poor Harry Leyton has given you a very sad +account of me?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, indeed," answered Sir Edward Digby; "you do him wrong; I have not +the least objection to tell you exactly what he said."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, do--do!" cried Zara; "I should like to hear very much, for I am +afraid I used to tease him terribly."</p> + +<p class="normal">"He said," replied Digby, "that when last he saw you, you were a gay, +kind-hearted girl of fourteen, and that he was sure, if I spoke to you +about him, you would tell me all that I wanted to know with truth and +candour."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That was kind of him," said Zara, with some emotion, "that was very +kind. I am glad he knows me; and yet that very candour, Sir Edward, +some people call affectation, and some impudence. I am afraid that +those who know much of the world never judge rightly of those who know +little of it. Sincerity is a commodity so very rare, I am told, in the +best society, that those who meet with it never believe that they have +got the genuine article."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I know a good deal of the world," replied the young baronet, "but +yet, my dear Miss Croyland, I do not think that I have judged you +wrongly;" and he fell into thought.</p> + +<p class="normal">The next moment they turned up to the house of old Mr. Croyland; and +while the servants were holding the horses, and Zara, with the aid of +Sir Edward Digby, dismounting at the door, they saw, to her horror and +consternation, a large, yellow coach coming down the hill towards the +house, which she instantly recognised as her father's family vehicle.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My aunt, my aunt, upon my life!" exclaimed Zara, with a rueful shake +of the head. "I must speak one word with Edith before she comes; so +forgive me, Sir Edward," and she darted into the house, asking a black +servant, in a shawl turban and a long white gown, where Miss Croyland +was to be found.</p> + +<p class="normal">"She out in de garden, pretty missy," replied the man; and Zara ran on +through the vestibule before her. Unfortunately, vestibules will have +doors communicating with them, which, I have often remarked, have an +unhappy propensity to open when any one is anxious to pass by them +quietly. It was so in the present instance: roused from a reverie by +the ringing of the bell, and the sound of voices without, Mr. Croyland +issued forth just at the moment when Zara's light foot was carrying +her across to the garden; and catching her by the arm, he detained +her, asking, "What brought you here, saucy girl, and whither are you +running so fast?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Now Zara, though she was not good Mr. Zachary's favourite, had a very +just appreciation of her uncle's character, and knew that the simple +truth was less dangerous with him than with nine hundred and +ninety-nine persons out of a thousand in civilized society. She, +therefore, replied at once. "Don't stop me, uncle, there's a good man! +I came to speak a few words to Edith, and wish to speak them before my +aunt arrives."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What! plot and counterplot, I will warrant!" exclaimed Mr. Croyland, +freeing her arm. "Well, get you gone, you graceless monkey! Ha! who +have we here? Why, my young friend, the half-bottle man! Are you one +of the plotters too, Sir Edward?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, I am a complete master in the art of domestic strategy, I assure +you," answered the young officer, "and I propose--having heard what +Miss Croyland has just said--that we take up a position across these +glass doors, in order to favour her operations. We can then impede +the advance of Mrs. Barbara's corps, by throwing forward the +light-infantry of small-talk, assure her it is a most beautiful day, +tell her that the view from the hill is lovely, and that the slight +yellowness of September gives a fine warmth to the green foliage--with +various other pieces of information which she does not desire--till +the manœuvres in our rear are complete."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah, you are a sad knave," replied Mr. Zachary Croyland, laughing, +"and, I see, are quite ready to aid the young in bamboozling the old."</p> + +<p class="normal">But, alas, the best schemed campaign is subject to accidental +impediments in execution, which will often deprive it of success! +Almost as Mr. Croyland spoke, the carriage rolled up; and not small +was the horror of the master of the house, to see riding behind it, on +a tall grey horse, no other than young Richard Radford. Sir Edward +Digby, though less horrified, was not well pleased; but it was Mr. +Croyland who spoke, and that in rather a sharp and angry tone, +stepping forward, at the same time, over the threshold of his door: +"Mr. Radford," he said--"Mr. Radford, I am surprised to see you! You +must very well know, that although I tolerate, and am obliged to +tolerate, a great many people whom I don't approve, at my brother's +house, your society is not that which I particularly desire."</p> + +<p class="normal">Young Radford's eyes flashed, but, for once in his life, he exercised +some command over himself. "I came here at your sister's suggestion, +sir," he said.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, Barbara, Barbara! barbarous Barbara!" exclaimed Mr. Zachary +Croyland, shaking his head at his sister, who was stepping out of the +carriage. "The devil himself never invented an instrument better +fitted to torment the whole human race, than a woman with the best +intentions in the world."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why, my dear brother," said Mrs. Barbara, with the look of a martyr, +"you know quite well that Robert wishes Mr. Radford to have the +opportunity of paying his addresses to Edith, and so I proposed----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"He shan't have the opportunity here, by Vishnoo!" cried the old +gentleman.</p> + +<p class="normal">"To say the truth," said Mr. Radford, interposing, "such was not my +object in coming hither to-day. I wished to have the honour of saying +a few words to a gentleman I see standing behind you, sir, which was +also the motive of my going over to Harbourne House. Otherwise, well +knowing your prejudices, I should not have troubled you; for, I can +assure you, that <i>your</i> company is not particularly agreeable to +<i>me</i>."</p> + +<p class="normal">"If mine is what you want, sir," replied Sir Edward Digby, stepping +forward and passing Mr. Croyland, "it is very easily obtained; but, as +it seems you are not a welcome guest here, perhaps we had better walk +along the lane together."</p> + +<p class="normal">"A less distance than that will do," answered Richard Radford, +throwing the bridle of his horse to one of the servants, and taking +two or three steps away from the house.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, Zachary, my dear brother, do interfere!" exclaimed Mrs. Barbara. +"I forgot they had quarrelled yesterday morning, and unfortunately let +out that Sir Edward was here. There will be a duel, if you don't stop +them."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not I," cried Mr. Croyland, rubbing his hands; "it's a pleasure to +see two fools cut each other's throats. I'd lay any wager--if I ever +did such a thing as lay wagers at all--that Digby pricks him through +the midriff. There's a nice little spot at the end of the garden quite +fit for such exercises."</p> + +<p class="normal">Mr. Zachary Croyland was merely playing upon his sister's +apprehensions, as the best sort of punishment he could inflict for the +mischief she had brought about; but he never had the slightest idea +that Sir Edward Digby and young Radford would come to anything like +extreme measures in his sister's presence, knowing the one to be a +gentleman, and mistakenly believing the other to be a coward. The +conversation of the two who had walked away was not of long duration: +nor, for a time, did it appear very vehement. Mr. Radford said +something, and the young Baronet replied; Mr. Radford rejoined, and +Digby answered the rejoinder. Then some new observation was made by +the other, which seemed to cause Sir Edward to look round to the +house, and, seeing Mr. Croyland and his sister still on the step, to +make a sign for young Radford to follow to a greater distance. The +latter, however, planted the heel of his boot tight in the gravel, as +if to give emphasis to what he said, and uttered a sentence in a +louder tone, and with a look so fierce, meaning, and contemptuous, +that Mr. Croyland saw the matter was getting serious, and stepped +forward to interfere.</p> + +<p class="normal">In an instant, however, Sir Edward Digby, apparently provoked beyond +bearing, raised the heavy horsewhip which he had in his hand, and laid +it three or four times, with great rapidity, over Mr. Radford's +shoulders. The young man instantly dropped his own whip, drew his +sword, and made a fierce lunge at the young officer's breast. The +motion was so rapid, and the thrust so well aimed, that Digby had +barely time to put it aside with his riding-whip, receiving a wound in +his left shoulder as he did so. But the next moment his sword was also +out of the sheath, and, after three sharp passes, young Radford's +blade was flying over the neighbouring hedge, and a blow in the face +from the hilt of Sir Edward Digby's weapon brought him with his knee +to the ground.</p> + +<p class="normal">The whole of this scene passed as quick as lightning; and I have not +thought fit to interrupt the narration for the purpose of recording, +in order, the four, several, piercing shrieks with which Mrs. Barbara +Croyland accompanied each act of the drama. The first, however, was +loud enough to call Zara from the garden, even before she had found +her sister; and she came up to her aunt's side just at the moment that +young Radford was disarmed, and then struck in the face by his +opponent.</p> + +<p class="normal">Slightly heated, Sir Edward gazed at him with his weapon in his hand; +and the young lady, clasping her hands, exclaimed aloud, "Hold, Sir +Edward! Sir Edward! for Heaven's sake!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Sir Edward Digby turned round with a faint smile, thrust his sword +back into the sheath, and, without bestowing another word on his +adversary, walked slowly back to the door of the house, and apologized +to Mrs. Barbara for what had occurred, saying, "I beg you ten thousand +pardons, my dear madam, for treating you to such a sight as this; but +I can assure you it is not my seeking. That person, who failed to keep +an appointment with me yesterday, thought fit twice just now to call +me coward; and as he would not walk to a little distance, I had no +resource but to horsewhip him where I stood."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Pity you didn't ran him through the liver!" observed Mr. Croyland.</p> + +<p class="normal">While these few words were passing, young Radford rose slowly, paused +for an instant to gaze upon the ground, and then, gnawing his lip, +approached his horse's side. There is, perhaps, no passion of the +human heart more dire, more terrible than impotent revenge, or more +uncontrollable in its effect upon the human countenance. The face of +Richard Radford, handsome as it was in many respects, was at the +moment when he put his foot into the stirrup and swung himself up to +the saddle, perfectly frightful, from the fiend-like expression of +rage and disappointment that it bore. He felt that he was +powerless--for a time, at least; that he had met an adversary greatly +superior to himself, both in skill and strength; and that he had +suffered not only defeat but disgrace, before the eyes of a number of +persons whom his own headstrong fury had made spectators of a scene so +painful to himself. Reining his horse angrily back to clear him of the +carriage, he shook his fist at Sir Edward Digby, exclaiming, "Sooner +or later, I will have revenge!" Then, striking the beast's flank with +his spurs, he turned and galloped away.</p> + +<p class="normal">Digby had, as we have seen, addressed his apologies to Mrs. Barbara +Croyland; but after hearing, with a calm smile, his vanquished +opponent's empty threat, he looked round to the fair companion of his +morning's ride, and saw her standing beside her uncle, with her cheek +very pale and her eyes cast down to the ground.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do not be alarmed. Miss Croyland," he said, bending down his head, +and speaking in a low and gentle tone. "This affair can have no other +results. It is all over now."</p> + +<p class="normal">Zara raised her eyes to his face, but, as she did so, turned more pale +than before; and pointing to his arm--where the cloth of his coat was +cut through, and the blood flowing down over his sleeve and dropping +from the ruffle round his wrist--she exclaimed, "You are hurt, Sir +Edward! Good Heaven! he has wounded you!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"A scratch--a scratch," said Digby; "a mere nothing. A +pocket-handkerchief tied round it, will soon remedy all the mischief +he has done, though not all he intended."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh! come in--come in, and have it examined!" cried Zara, eagerly.</p> + +<p class="normal">The rest of the party gathered round, joined, just at that moment, by +Edith from the garden; and Mr. Croyland, tearing the coat wider open, +looked at the wound with more experienced eyes, saying, "Ah, a flesh +wound! but in rather an awkward place. Not as wide as a church door, +nor as deep as a draw-well, as our friend has it; but if it had been +an inch and a half to the right, it would have divided the subclavian +artery--and then, my dear sir, 'it would have done.' This will get +well soon. But come, Sir Neddy, let us into the house; and I will do +for you what I haven't done for ten or twelve years--<i>id est</i>, dress +your wound myself: and mind, you must not drink any wine to-night."</p> + +<p class="normal">The whole party began to move into the house, Sir Edward Digby keeping +as near the two Miss Croylands as possible, and laying out a little +plan in his head for begging the assistance of Mrs. Barbara while his +wound was dressed, and sending the two young ladies out of the room to +hold their conference together. He was, however, destined to be +frustrated here also. To Zara Croyland, it had been a day of unusual +excitement; she had enjoyed, she had been moved, she had been agitated +and terrified, and she was still under much greater alarm than perhaps +was needful, both regarding Sir Edward Digby's wound and the threat +which young Radford had uttered. She felt her head giddy and her heart +flutter as if oppressed; but she walked on steadily enough for four or +five steps, while her aunt, Mrs. Barbara, was explaining to Edith, in +her own particular way, all that had occurred. But just when the old +lady was saying--"Then, whipping out his sword in an instant, he +thrust at Sir Edward's breast, and I thought to a certainty he was run +through--" Zara sunk slowly down, caught by her sister as she fell, +and the hue of death spread over her face.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Fainted!" cried Mr. Croyland. "I wish to Heaven, Bab, you would hold +your tongue! I will tell Edith about it afterwards. What's the use of +bringing it all up again before the girl's mind, when the thing's done +and over? There, let her lie where she is; the recumbent position is +the right thing. Bring a cushion out of the drawing-room, Edith, my +love, and ask Baba for the hartshorn drops. We'll soon get her better; +and then the best thing you can do, Bab, is to put her into the +carriage, take her home again, and hold your tongue to my brother +about this foolish affair--if anything can hold a woman's tongue. I'll +plaster up the man's arm, and then, like many another piece of damaged +goods, he'll be all right--on the outside at least."</p> + +<p class="normal">Mrs. Barbara Croyland followed devoutly one part of her brother's +injunctions. As soon as Zara was sufficiently recovered, she hurried +her to the carriage, without leaving her alone with Edith for one +moment; and Sir Edward Digby, having had his wound skilfully dressed +by Mr. Zachary Croyland's own hands, thanked the old gentleman +heartily for his care and kindness, mounted his horse, and rode back +to Harbourne House.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="div2_02" href="#div2Ref_02">CHAPTER II.</a></h2> +<br> + +<p class="normal">We must now return to the town of Hythe, and to the little room in the +little inn, which that famous borough boasted as its principal +hostelry, at the period of our tale. It was about eleven o'clock at +night, perhaps a few minutes earlier; and in that room was seated a +gentleman, whom we have left for a long time, though not without +interest in himself and his concerns. But, as in this wayfaring world +we are often destined for weeks, months--ay, and long years--to quit +those whom we love best, and to work for their good in distant scenes, +with many a thought given to them, but few means of communication; so, +in every picture of human life which comprises more than one +character, must we frequently leave those in whom we are most +interested, while we are tracing out the various remote cords and +pulleys of fate, by which the fabric of their destiny is ultimately +reared.</p> + +<p class="normal">The gentleman, then, who had been introduced to Mr. Croyland as +Captain Osborne, was seated at a table, writing. A number of papers, +consisting of letters, accounts, and several printed forms, unfilled +up, were strewed upon the table around, which was moreover encumbered +by a heavy sword and belt, a large pair of thick buckskin gloves, and +a brace of heavy silver-mounted pistols. He looked pale and somewhat +anxious; but nevertheless he went on, with his fine head bent, and +the light falling from above upon his beautifully cut classical +features--sometimes putting down a name, and adding a sum in figures +opposite--sometimes, when he came to the bottom of the page, running +up the column with rapidity and ease, and then inscribing the sum +total at the bottom.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was perhaps, rather an unromantic occupation that the young officer +was employed in; for it was evident that he was making up, with steady +perseverance, some rather lengthy accounts; and all his thoughts +seemed occupied with pounds, shillings, and pence. It was not so, +indeed, though he wished it to be so; but, if the truth must be +spoken, his mind often wandered afar; and his brain seemed to have got +into that state of excitement, which caused sounds and circumstances +that would at any other time have passed without notice, to trouble +him and disturb his ideas on the present occasion.</p> + +<p class="normal">There had been a card and punch club in one of the neighbouring rooms. +The gentlemen had assembled at half-past six or seven, had hung up +their wigs upon pegs provided for the purpose, and had made a great +deal of noise in coming in and arranging themselves. There was then +the brewing of the punch, the lighting of the pipes, and the laughing +and jesting to which those important events generally give rise, at +the meeting of persons of some importance in a country town; and then +the cards were produced, and a great deal of laughing and talking, as +usual, succeeded, in regard to the preliminaries, and also respecting +the course of the game.</p> + +<p class="normal">There had been no slight noise, also, in the lower regions of the inn, +much speaking, and apparently some merriment; and, from all these +things put together--to say nothing of, every now and then, the +pleasures of a comic song, given by one of the parties above or +below--the young officer had been considerably disturbed, and had been +angry with himself for being so. His thoughts, too, would wander, +whether he liked it or not.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Digby must have seen her," he said to himself, "unless she be absent; +and surely he must have found some opportunity of speaking with +herself or her sister by this time. I wonder I have not heard from +him. He promised to write as soon as he had any information; and he is +not a man to forget. Well, it is of no use to think of it;" and he +went on--"five and six are eleven, and four are fifteen, and six are +twenty-one."</p> + +<p class="normal">At this interesting point of his calculation, a dragoon, who was +stationed at the door, put his head into the room, and said, "Mr. +Mowle, sir, wants to speak to you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let him come in," answered the officer; and, laying down his pen, he +looked up with a smile. "Well, Mr. Mowle!" he continued, "what news do +you bring? Have you been successful?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No very good news, and but very little success, sir," answered the +officer of customs, taking a seat to which the other pointed. "We have +captured some of their goods, and taken six of the men, but the +greater part of the cargo, and the greatest villain of them all, have +been got off."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ay, how happened that?" asked the gentleman to whom he spoke. "I gave +you all the men you required; and I should certainly have thought you +were strong enough."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh yes, sir, that was not what we lacked," answered Mowle, in a +somewhat bitter tone; "but I'll tell you what we did want--honest +magistrates, and good information. Knowing the way they were likely to +take, I cut straight across the country by Aldington, Kingsnorth, and +Singleton-green, towards Four Elms----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It would have been better, I should think, to go on by Westhawk," +said the young officer; "for though the road is rather hilly, you +would by that means have cut them off, both from Singleton, Chart +Magna, and Gouldwell, towards which places, I think you said, they +were tending.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, sir," replied the officer of Customs, "but we found, on the +road, that we were rather late in the day, and that our only chance +was by hard riding. We came up with four of them, however, who had +lagged behind, about Four Elms. Two of these we got, and all their +goods; and, from the information they gave, we galloped on as hard as +we could to Rousend."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Did you take the road, or across the country?" demanded the young +officer.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Birchett would take the road," answered Mowle.</p> + +<p class="normal">"He was wrong--he was quite wrong," replied the other. "If you had +passed by Newstreet, then straight over the fields and meadows, up to +the mill, you would have had them in a trap. They could not have +reached Chart, or New Purchase, or Gouldwell, or Etchden, without your +catching them; and if they had fallen back, they must have come upon +the men I stationed at Bethersden, with whom was Adams, the officer."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why, you seem to know the country, sir," said his companion, with +some surprise, "as if you had lived in it all your days."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do know it very well," answered the officer of dragoons; "and you +must be well aware that what I say is right. It was the shortest way, +too, and presents no impediments but a couple of fences, and a ditch."</p> + +<p class="normal">"All very true, sir," answered Mowle, "and so I told Birchett; but +Adams had gone off for another officer, and is very little use to us +himself.--There's no trusting him, sir.--However, we came up with them +at Rousend, but there, after a little bit of a tussle, they +separated;" and he went on to give his account of the affray with the +smugglers, nearly in the same words which he had employed when +speaking to the magistrates, some six or seven hours before. His +hearer listened with grave attention; but when Mowle came to mention +the appearance of Richard Radford, and his capture, the young +officer's eyes flashed, and his brow knit; and as the man went on to +describe the self-evident juggle which had been played, to enable the +youth to evade the reach of justice, he rose from the table, and +walked once or twice hastily up and down the room. Then, seating +himself again, to all appearance as calm as before, he said, "This is +too bad, Mr. Mowle, and shall be reported."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ay, sir; but you have not heard the worst," answered Mowle. "These +worthy justices thought fit to send the five men whom they had +committed, off to gaol in a wagon, with three or four constables to +guard them, and of course you know what took place."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, they were all rescued, of course!" replied the officer.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Before they got to Headcorn," said Mowle. "But the whole affair was +arranged by Mr. Radford; for these fellows say themselves, that it is +better to work for him at half price, than for any one else, because +he always stands by his own, and will see no harm come to them. If +this is to go on, sir, you and I may as well leave the county."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It shall not go on," answered the officer; "but we must have a little +patience, my good friend. Long impunity makes a man rash. This worthy +Mr. Radford seems to have become so already; otherwise, he would never +have risked carrying so large a venture across the country in open +day----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I don't think that, in this, he was rash at all, sir," answered +Mowle, lowering his tone, and speaking in a whisper; "and if you will +listen for a moment, I'll tell you why. My belief is, that the whole +of this matter is but a lure to take us off the right scent; and I +have several reasons for thinking so. In the first place, the run was +but a trifling affair, as far as I can learn--not worth five hundred +pounds. I know that what we have got is not worth a hundred; and it +has cost me as good a horse as I ever rode in my life. Now from all I +hear, the cargo that Mr. Radford expects is the most valuable that +ever was run from Dungeness Point to the North Foreland. So, if my +information is correct, and I am sure it----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Who did you get it from?" demanded the officer, "if the question is a +fair one."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Some such questions might not be," answered Mowle, "but I don't mind +answering this, Colonel. I got it from Mr. Radford himself.--Ay, sir, +you may well look surprised; but I heard him, with my own ears, say +that it was worth at least seventy thousand pounds. So you see my +information is pretty good. Now, knowing this, as soon as I found out +what value was in this lot, I said to myself, this is some little spec +of young Radford's own. But when I came to consider the matter, I +found, that must be a mistake too; for the old man helped the Ramleys +out of their scrape so impudently, and took such pains to let it be +well understood that he had an interest in the affair, that I felt +sure there was some motive at the bottom, sir. In all these things, he +has shown himself from a boy, as cautious as he is daring, and that's +the way he has made such a power of money. He's not a man to appear +too much in a thing, even for his son's sake, if he has not some +purpose to answer; and, depend upon it, I'm right, when I say that +this run was nothing but a trap, or a blind as they call it, to make +us think--in case we've got any information of the great venture--that +the thing is all over. Why did they choose the day, when they might +have done it all at night? Why did Mr. Radford go on laughing with the +magistrates, as if it was a good joke? No, no, sir, the case is clear +enough: they are going to strike their great stroke sooner than we +supposed; and this is but a trifle."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But may you not have made some mistake in regard to Mr. Radford's +words?" demanded the young officer. "I should think it little likely +that so prudent a man, as you represent him to be, would run so great +a risk for such a purpose."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I made no mistake," answered Mowle; "I heard the words clear enough; +and, besides, I've another proof. The man who is to run the goods for +him, had nothing to do with this affair. I've got sharp eyes upon him; +and though he was away from home the other night, he was not at sea. +That I've discovered. He was up in the county, not far from Mr. +Radford's own place, and most likely saw him, though that I can't find +out. However, sir, I shall hear more very soon. Whenever it is to be +done, we shall have sharp work of it, and must have plenty of men."</p> + +<p class="normal">"My orders are to assist you to the best of my power," said the young +officer, "and to give you what men you may require; but as I have been +obliged to quarter them in different places, you had better give me as +speedy information of what force you are likely to demand, and on what +point you wish them to assemble, as you can."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Those are puzzling questions, Colonel," replied Mowle. "I do not +think the attempt will be made to-night; for their own people must be +all knocked up, and they cannot bring down enough to carry as well as +run--at least, I think not. But it will probably be made to-morrow, if +they fancy they have lulled us; and that fancy I shall take care to +indulge, by keeping a sharp look out, without seeming to look out at +all. As to the point, that is what I cannot tell. Harding will start +from the beach here; but where he will land is another affair; and the +troops are as likely to be wanted twenty miles down the coast, or +twenty miles up, as anywhere else. I wish you would give me a general +order for the dragoons to assist me wherever I may want them."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is given already, Mr. Mowle," answered the officer; "such are +the commands we have received; and even the non-commissioned officers +are instructed, on the very first requisition made by a chief officer +of Customs, to turn out and aid in the execution of the law. Wherever +any of the regiment are quartered, you will find them ready to +assist."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ay, but they are so scattered, sir," rejoined Mowle, "that it may be +difficult to get them together in a hurry."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not in the least," replied Osborne; "they are so disposed that I can, +at a very short notice, collect a sufficient force, at any point, to +deal with the largest body of smugglers that ever assembled."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You may, perhaps, sir, but I cannot," answered the Custom-House +officer; "and what I wish is, that you would give them a general order +to march to any place where I require them, and to act as I shall +direct."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nay, Mr. Mowle," said the other, shaking his head, "that, I am +afraid, cannot be. I have no instructions to such effect; and though +the military power is sent here, to assist the civil, it is not put +under the command of the civil. I do not conceal from you that I do +not like the service; but that shall only be a motive with me for +executing my duty the more vigorously; and you have but to give me +intimation of where you wish a force collected, and it shall be done +in the shortest possible time."</p> + +<p class="normal">Mowle did not seem quite satisfied with this answer; and after +musing for a few minutes, he replied, "But suppose I do not know +myself--suppose it should be fifteen or twenty miles from Hythe, and I +myself, on the spot, how am I to get the requisition sent to you--and +how are you to move your men to the place where I may want +them--perhaps, farther still?".</p> + +<p class="normal">"As to my moving my men, you must leave that to me," answered the +young officer; "and as to your obtaining the information, and +communicating it, I might reply, that <i>you</i> must look to that; but as +I sincerely believe you to be a most vigilant and active person, who +will leave no means unemployed to obtain intelligence, I will only +point out, in the first place, that our best efforts sometimes fail, +but that we may always rest at ease, when we have used our best; and, +in the second, I will suggest to you one or two means of ensuring +success. Wherever you may happen to find that the landing of these +goods is intended, or wherever you may be when it is effected, you +will find within a circle of three miles, several parties of dragoons, +who, on the first call, will render you every aid. With them, upon the +system I have laid down for them, you will be able to keep your +adversaries in check, delay their operations, and follow them up. Your +first step, however, should be, to send off a trooper to me with all +speed, charging him, if verbally, with as short and plain a message as +possible--first, stating the point where the 'run,' as you call it, +has been effected; and secondly, in what direction, to the best of +your judgment, the enemy--that is to say, the smugglers--are marching. +If you do that, and are right in your conjecture, they shall not go +far without being attacked. If you are wrong, as any man may be, in +regard to their line of retreat, they shall not be long unpursued. But +as to putting the military under the command of the Customs, as I said +before, I have no orders to that effect, and do not think that any +such will ever be issued. In the next place, in order to obtain the +most speedy information yourself, and to ensure that I shall be +prepared, I would suggest that you direct each officer on the coast, +if a landing should be effected in his district, first, to call for +the aid of the nearest military party, and then to light a beacon on +the next high ground. As soon as the first beacon is lighted, let the +next officer on the side of Hythe, light one also, and, at the same +time, with any force he can collect, proceed towards the first. Easy +means may be found to transmit intelligence of the route of the +smugglers to the bodies coming up; and, in a case like the present, I +shall not scruple to take the command myself, at any point where I may +be assured formidable resistance is likely to be offered."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, sir, I think the plan of the beacons is a good one," answered +Mowle, "and it would be still better, if there were any of the coast +officers on whom we could depend; but a more rascally set of mercenary +knaves does not exist. Not one of them who would not sell the whole of +the King's revenue for a twenty pound or so; and, however clear are +the orders they receive, they find means to mistake them. But I will +go and write the whole down, and have it copied out for each station, +so that if they do not choose to understand, it must be their own +fault. I am afraid, however, that all this preparation will put our +friends upon their guard, and that they will delay their run till they +can draw us off somewhere else."</p> + +<p class="normal">"There is some reason for that apprehension," replied the young +officer, thoughtfully. "You imagine, then, that it is likely to take +place to-morrow night, if we keep quiet?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have little doubt of it," replied Mowle; "or if not, the night +after.--But I think it will be to-morrow. Yes, they won't lose the +opportunity, if they fancy we are slack; and then the superintendent +chose to fall sick to-day, so that the whole rests with me, which will +give me enough to do, as they are well aware."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, then," replied the gentleman to whom he spoke, "leave the +business of the beacons to me. I will give orders that they be lighted +at every post, as soon as application is made for assistance. You will +know what it means when you see one; and, in the meantime, keep quite +quiet--affect a certain degree of indifference, but not too much, and +speak of having partly spoiled Mr. Radford's venture.--Do you think he +will be present himself?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, not he--not he!" answered Mowle. "He is too cunning for that, by +a hundred miles. In any little affair like this of to-day, he might +not, perhaps, be afraid of showing himself--to answer a purpose; but +in a more serious piece of business, where his brother justices could +not contrive to shelter him, and where government would certainly +interfere, he will keep as quiet and still as if he had nought to do +with it. But I will have him, nevertheless, before long; and then all +his ill-gotten wealth shall go, even if we do not contrive to +transport him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"How will you manage that?" asked the young officer; "if he abstains +from taking any active part, you will have no proof, unless, indeed, +one of those he employs should give evidence against him, or inform +beforehand for the sake of the reward."</p> + +<p class="normal">"They wont do that," said Mowle, thoughtfully, "they wont do +that.--I do not know how it is, sir," he continued, after a moment's +pause, "but the difference between the establishment of the Customs +and the smugglers is a very strange one; and I'll tell you what it is: +there is not one of these fellows who run goods upon the coast, or +carry them inland, who will, for any sum that can be offered, inform +against their employers or their comrades; and there's scarce a +Custom-House officer in all Kent, that, for five shillings, would not +betray his brother or sell his country. The riding officers are +somewhat better than the rest; but these fellows at the ports think no +more of taking a bribe to shut their eyes than of drinking a glass of +rum. Now you may attempt to bribe a smuggler for ever--not that I ever +tried; for I don't like to ask men to sell their own souls; but +Birchett has, often. I cannot well make out the cause of this +difference; but certainly there is such a spirit amongst the smugglers +that they wont do a dishonest thing, except in their own way, for any +sum. There are the Ramleys, even--the greatest blackguards in Europe, +smugglers, thieves, and cut-throats--but they wont betray each other. +There is no crime they wont commit but that; and that they would +sooner die than do; while we have a great many men amongst us, come of +respectable parents, well brought up, well educated, who take money +every day to cheat their employers."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I rather suspect that it is the difference of consequences in the two +cases," answered Osborne, "which makes men view the same act in a +different way. A Custom-House officer who betrays his trust, thinks +that he only brings a little loss upon a government which can well +spare it--he is not a bit the less a rogue for that, for honesty makes +no such distinctions--but the smuggler who betrays his comrade or +employer, must be well aware that he is not only ruining him in purse, +but bringing on him corporeal punishment."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ay, sir, but there's a spirit in the thing," said Mowle, shaking his +head; "the very country people in general love the smugglers, and help +them whenever they can. There's not a cottage that will not hide them +or their goods; scarce a gentleman in the county who, if he finds all +the horses out of his stable in the morning, does not take it quietly, +without asking any more questions; scarce a magistrate who does not +give the fellows notice as soon as he knows the officers are after +them. The country folks, indeed, do not like them so well as they did; +but they'll soon make it up."</p> + +<p class="normal">"A strange state, certainly," said the officer of dragoons; "but what +has become of the horses you mention, when they are thus found +absent?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Gone to carry goods, to be sure," answered Mowle. "But one thing is +very clear, all the country is in the smugglers' favour, and I cannot +help thinking that the people do not like the Custom's dues, that they +don't see the good of them, and are resolved to put them down."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ignorant people, and, indeed, all people, do not like taxation of any +kind," replied Osborne; "and every class objects to that tax which +presses on itself, without the slightest regard either for the +necessity of distributing the burdens of the country equally, or any +of the apparently minute but really important considerations upon +which the apportionment has been formed. However, Mr. Mowle, we have +only to do our duty according to our position--you to gain all the +information that you can--I to aid you, to the best of my ability, in +carrying the law into effect."</p> + +<p class="normal">"From the smugglers themselves, little is the information I can get, +sir," answered Mowle, returning to the subject from which their +conversation had deviated, "and often I am obliged to have recourse to +means I am ashamed of. The principal intelligence I receive is from a +boy who offered himself one day--the little devil's imp--and +certainly, by his cunning, and by not much caring myself what risks I +run, I have got some very valuable tidings. But the little vagabond +would betray me, or anyone else, to-morrow. He is the grandson of an +old hag who lives at a little but just by Saltwood, who puts him up to +it all; and if ever there was an old demon in the world she is one. +She is always brewing mischief, and chuckling over it all the time, as +if it were her sport to see men tear each other to pieces, and to make +innocent girls as bad as she was herself, and as her own daughter was, +too,--the mother of this boy. The girl was killed by a chance shot, +one day, in a riot between the smugglers and the Customs people; and +the old woman always says it was a smuggler's shot. Oh! I could tell +you such stories of that old witch."</p> + +<p class="normal">The stories of Mr. Mowle, however, were cut short by the entrance of a +servant carrying a letter, which the young officer took and opened +with a look of eager anxiety. The contents were brief; but they seemed +important, for various were the changes which came over his fine +countenance while he read them. The predominant expression, however, +was joy, though there was a look of thoughtful consideration--perhaps +in a degree of embarrassment, too, on his face; and as he laid the +letter down on the table, and beat the paper with his fingers, gazing +up into vacancy, Mowle, judging that his presence was not desired, +rose to retire.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Stay a moment. Mr. Mowle--stay a moment," said Osborne. "This letter +requires some consideration. It contains a call to a part of Kent some +fifteen or sixteen miles distant; but as it is upon private business, +I must not let that interfere with my public duty. You say that this +enterprise of Mr. Radford's is likely to be put in execution to-morrow +night."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I cannot be sure, colonel," answered the officer: "but I think there +is every chance of it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then I must return before nightfall to-morrow," replied the +gentleman, with a sigh.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your presence will be very necessary, sir," said the Custom-House +officer. "There is not one of your officers who seems up to the +business, except Major Digby and yourself. All the rest are such fine +gentlemen that one can't get on with them."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let me consider for a moment," rejoined the other; but Mowle went on +in the same strain, saying, "Then, sir, if you were to be absent all +to-morrow, I might get very important information, and not be able to +give it to you, nor arrange anything with you either."</p> + +<p class="normal">Osborne still meditated with a grave brow for some time. "I will +write," he said, at length. "It will be better--it will be only just +and honourable. I will write instead of going to-morrow, Mr. Mowle; +and if this affair should not take place to-morrow night, as you +suppose, I will make such arrangements for the following day--on which +I must go over to Woodchurch--as will enable you to communicate with +me without delay, should you have any message to send. At all events, +I will return to Hythe before night. Now good evening;" and while +Mowle made his bow and retired, the young officer turned to the letter +again, and read it over with glistening eyes.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="div2_03" href="#div2Ref_03">CHAPTER III.</a></h2> +<br> + +<p class="normal">I wonder if the reader ever wandered from Saltwood Castle back to the +good old town of Hythe, on a fine summer's day, with a fair companion, +as full of thought and mind as grace and beauty, and with a dear child +just at the age when all the world is fresh and lovely--and then +missed his way, and strayed--far from the track--towards Sandgate, +till dinner was kept waiting at the inn, and the party who would not +plod on foot, were all tired and wondering at their friend's delay!--I +wonder if the reader ever did all this. I have--and a very pleasant +thing it is to do. Yes, all of it, reader. For, surely, to go from +waving wood to green field, and from green field to hill-side and wood +again, and to trace along the brook which we know must lead to the +sea-shore, with one companion of high soul, who can answer thought for +thought, and another in life's early morning, who can bring back +before your eyes the picture of young enjoyment--ay, and to know that +those you love most dearly and esteem most highly, are looking for +your coming, with a little anxiety, not even approaching the bounds of +apprehension, is all very pleasant indeed.</p> + +<p class="normal">You, dear and excellent lady, who were one of my companions on the +way, may perhaps recollect a little cottage--near the spot where we +sprung a solitary partridge--whither I went to inquire the shortest +road to Hythe. That cottage was standing there at the period of which +I now write; and at the bottom of that hill, amongst the wood, and +close by the little stream nearly where the foot-bridge now carries +the traveller over dryshod, was another hut, half concealed by the +trees, and covered over with well nigh as much moss and houseleek as +actual thatch.</p> + +<p class="normal">It has been long swept away, as well as its tenants; and certainly a +wretched and ill-constructed place it was. Would to Heaven that all +such were gone from our rich and productive land, and that every +labourer, in a country which owes so much to the industry of her +children, had a dwelling better fitted to a human being! But, alas, +many such still exist! and it is not always, as it was in this case, +that vice is the companion of misery. This is no book of idle twaddle, +to represent all the wealthy as cold, hard, and vicious, and the poor +all good, forbearing, and laborious; for evil is pretty equally +distributed through all classes--though, God knows, the rich, with all +their opportunities, ought to shew a smaller proportion of wickedness, +and the poor might perhaps be expected, from their temptations, to be +worse than they are! Still it is hard to think that many as honest a +man as ever lived--ay, and as industrious a man, too--returns, after +his hard day's toil, to find his wife and children, well nigh in +starvation, in such a place as I am about to describe--and none to +help them.</p> + +<p class="normal">The hut--for it did not deserve the name of cottage--was but of one +floor, which was formed of beaten clay, but a little elevated above +the surrounding soil. It contained two rooms. The one opened into what +had been a garden before it, running down nearly to the brookside; and +the other communicated with the first, but had a door which gave exit +into the wood behind. Windows the hut had two, one on either side; but +neither contained more than two complete panes of glass. The spaces, +where glass had once been, were now filled up in a strange variety of +ways. Here was a piece of board nailed in; there a coarse piece of +cloth kept out the wind; another broken pane was filled up with paper; +and another, where some fragments of the original substance remained, +was stopped with an old stocking stuffed with straw. In the garden, as +it was still called, appeared a few cabbages and onions, with more +cabbage-stalks than either, and a small patch of miserable potatoes. +But weeds were the most plentiful of all, and chickweed and groundsel +enough appeared there to have supplied a whole forest of singing +birds. It had been once fenced in, that miserable garden; but the wood +had been pulled down and burned for firing by its present tenants, or +others as wretched in circumstances as themselves; and nought remained +but a strong post here and there, with sometimes a many-coloured rag +of coarse cotton fluttering upon some long, rusty nail, which had +snatched a shred from passing poverty. Three or four stunted +gooseberry bushes, however, marked out the limit on one side; a path +ran in front between the garden and the brook; and on the other side +there was a constant petty warfare between the farmer and the +inhabitant of the hovel as to the possession of the border-land; and +like a great and small state contending, the more powerful always +gained some advantage in despite of right, but lost perhaps as much by +the spiteful incursions of the foe, as if he had yielded the contested +territory.</p> + +<p class="normal">On the night of which I speak--the same on which Mowle visited the +commanding officer of the dragoons at Hythe--the cottage itself, the +garden, and all the squalid-looking things about the place, were +hidden in the deep darkness which had again fallen over the earth as +soon as night had fallen. The morning, it may be remembered--it +was the same on which Sir Edward Digby had been fired at by the +smugglers--had been somewhat cold and foggy; but about eleven, the day +had brightened, and the evening had been sultry. No sooner, however, +did the sun reach the horizon than mists began to rise, and before +seven o'clock the whole sky was under cloud and the air filled with +fog. He must have been well acquainted with every step of the country +who could find his way from town to town. Nevertheless, any one who +approached Galley Ray's cottage, as it was called, would, at the +distance of at least a hundred yards, have perceived something to lead +him on; for a light, red as that of a baleful meteor, was streaming +through the two glazed squares of the window into the misty air, +making them look like the eyes of some wild animal in a dark forest.</p> + +<p class="normal">We must pause here, however, for a moment, to explain to the reader +who Galley Ray was, and how she acquired the first of her two +appellations, which certainly was not that which she had received at +her baptism. Galley Ray, then, was the old woman of whom Mr. Mowle had +given that favourable account, which may be seen in the last chapter; +and, to say the truth, he had but done her justice. Her name was +originally Gillian Ray; but, amongst a number of corrupt associates, +with whom her early life was spent, the first of the two appellations +was speedily transformed to Gilly or Gill. Some time afterwards--when +youth began to wane, and whatever youthful graces she possessed were +deviating into the virago qualities of the middle age--while watching +one night the approach of a party of smugglers, with whom she had some +intimacy, she perceived three or four Custom-House officers coming +down to launch a galley, which they had upon the beach, for the +purpose of cutting off the free-traders. But Gilly Ray instantly +sprang in, and with the boat-hook set them all at defiance, till they +threatened to launch her into the sea, boat and all.</p> + +<p class="normal">It is true, she was reported to have been drunk at the time; but her +daring saved the smugglers, and conveyed her for two months to jail, +whence, as may be supposed, she returned not much improved in her +morals. One of those whom she had befriended in the time of need, +bestowed on her the name of Galley, by an easy transition from her +original prænomen; and it remained by her to the last day of her life.</p> + +<p class="normal">The reader has doubtless remarked, that amongst the lawless and the +rash, there is a certain fondness for figures of speech, and that +tropes and metaphors, simile and synecdoche, are far more prevalent +amongst them than amongst the more orderly classes of society. Whether +it is or not, that they wish to get rid of a precise apprehension of +their own acts, I cannot say; but certain it is, that they do indulge +in such flowers of rhetoric, and sometimes, in the midst of humour, +quaintness, and even absurdity, reach the point of wit, and at times +soar into the sublime. Galley Ray had, as we have seen, one daughter, +whose fate has been related; and that daughter left one son, who, +after his reputed father, one Mark Nightingale, was baptized +Nightingale Ray. His mother, and after her death his grandmother, used +to call him Little Nighty and Little Night; but following their +fanciful habits, the smugglers who used to frequent the house found +out an association between "Night Ray" and the beams of the bright and +mystical orbs that shine upon us from afar; and some one gave him the +name of Little Starlight, which remained with him, as that of Galley +had adhered to his grandmother. The cottage or hut of the latter, +then, beamed with an unwonted blaze upon the night I have spoken of, +till long after the hour when Mowle had left the inn where his +conference with the young officer had taken place. But let not the +reader suppose that this illumination proceeded from any great expense +of wax or oil. Only one small tallow candle, stuck into a long-necked, +square-sided Dutch bottle, spread its rays through the interior of the +hovel, and that was a luxury; but in the fireplace blazed an immense +pile of mingled wood and driftcoal; and over it hung a large hissing +pot, as huge and capacious as that of the witches in Macbeth, or of +the no less famous Meg Merrilies. Galley Ray, however, was a very +different person in appearance from the heroine of "Guy Mannering;" +and we must endeavour to call up her image as she stood by the +fire-side, watching the cauldron and a kettle which stood close to it.</p> + +<p class="normal">The red and fitful light flashed upon no tall, gaunt form, and lighted +up no wild and commanding features. There was nothing at all poetical +in her aspect: it was such as may be seen every day in the haunts of +misery and vice. Originally of the middle height, though once strong +and upright, she had somewhat sunk down under the hand of Time, and +was now rather short than otherwise. About fifty she had grown fat and +heavy; but fifteen years more had robbed her flesh of firmness and her +skin of its plumped out smoothness; and though she had not yet reached +the period when emaciation accompanies decrepitude, her muscles were +loose and hanging, her face withered and sallow. Her hair, once as +black as jet, was now quite grey, not silver--but with the white +greatly predominating over the black. Yet, strange to say, her eyes +were still clear and bright, though small, and somewhat red round the +lids; and, stranger still, her front teeth were white as ivory, +offering a strange contrast to the wrinkled and yellow skin. Her look +was keen; but there was that sort of habitual jocularity about it, +which in people of her caste is often partly assumed--as an ever ready +excuse for evading a close question, or covering a dangerous +suggestion by a jest--and partly natural, or at least springing from a +fearful kind of philosophy, gained by the exhaustion of all sorts of +criminal pleasures, which leaves behind, too surely, the impression +that everything is but a mockery on earth. Those who have adopted that +philosophy never give a thought beyond this world. Her figure was +somewhat bowed, and over her shoulders she had the fragments of a +coarse woollen shawl, from beneath which appeared, as she stirred the +pot, her sharp yellow elbows and long arms. On her head she wore a +cap, which had remained there, night and day, for months; and, thrust +back from her forehead, which was low and heavy, appeared the +dishevelled grey hair, while beneath the thick and beetling brows came +the keen eyes, and a nose somewhat aquiline and depressed at the +point.</p> + +<p class="normal">Near her, on the opposite side of the hearth, was the boy whom the +reader has already seen, and who has been called little Starlight; +and, even at that late hour, for it was near midnight, he seemed as +brisk and active as ever. Night and day, indeed, appeared to him the +same; for he had none of the habits of childhood. The setting sun +brought no drowsiness to his eyelids: mid-day often found him sleeping +after a night of watchfulness and activity. The whole course of his +existence and his thoughts had been tainted: there was nothing of +youth either in his mind or his ways. The old beldam called him, and +thought him, the shrewdest boy that ever lived; but, in truth, she had +left him no longer a boy, in aught but size and looks. Often--indeed +generally--he would assume the tone of his years, for he found it +served his purpose best; but he only laughed at those who thought him +a child, and prided himself on the cunning of the artifice.</p> + +<p class="normal">There might be, it is true, some lingering of the faults of youth, but +that was all. He was greedy and voracious, loved sweet things as well +as strong drink, and could not always curb the truant and erratic +spirit of childhood; but still, even in his wanderings there was a +purpose, and often a malevolence. He would go to see what one person +was about; he would stay away because another wanted him. It may be +asked, was this natural wickedness?--was his heart so formed +originally? Oh no, reader; never believe such things. There are +certainly infinite varieties of human character; and I admit that the +mind of man is not the blank sheet of paper on which we can write what +we please, as has been vainly represented. Or, if it be, the +experience of every man must have shown him, that that paper is of +every different kind and quality--some that will retain the finest +line, some that will scarce receive the broadest trace. But still +education has immense power for good or evil. By education I do not +mean teaching. I mean that great and wonderful process by which, +commencing at the earliest period of infancy--ay, at the mother's +breast--the raw material of the mind is manufactured into all the +varieties that we see. I mean the sum of every line with which the +paper is written as it passes from hand to hand. That is education; +and most careful should we be that, at an early period, nought should +be written but good, for every word once impressed is well nigh +indelible.</p> + +<p class="normal">Now what education had that poor boy received? The people of the +neighbouring village would have said a very good one; for there was +what is called a charity school in the neighbourhood, where he had +been taught to read and write, and cast accounts. But this was +<i>teaching</i>, not <i>education</i>. Oh, fatal mistake! when will Englishmen +learn to discriminate between the two? His education had been at +home--in that miserable hut--by that wretched woman--by her companions +in vice and crime! What had all the teaching he had received at the +school done for him, but placed weapons in the hand of wickedness? Had +education formed any part of the system of the school where he was +instructed--had he been taught how best to use the gifts that were +imparted--had he been inured to regulate the mind that was stored--had +he been habituated to draw just conclusions from all he read, instead +of merely being taught to read, that would have been in some degree +education, and it might have corrected, to a certain point, the darker +schooling he received at home. Well might the great philosopher, who +in some things most grossly misused the knowledge he himself +possessed, pronounce that "Knowledge is power;" but, alas, he forgot +to add, that it is power <i>for good or evil!</i> That poor child had been +taught that which to him might have been either a blessing or a bane; +but all his real education had been for evil; and there he stood, +corrupted to the heart's core.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I say, Mother Ray," he exclaimed, "that smells cursed nice--can't you +give us a drop before the coves come?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, no, you young devil," replied the old woman with a grin, "one +can't tell when they'll show their mugs at the door; and it wouldn't +do for them to find you gobbling up their stuff. But bring me that big +porringer, and we'll put by enough for you and me. I've nimmed one +half of the yellow-boy they sent, so we'll have a quart of moonshine +to-morrow to help it down."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I could get it very well down without," answered little Starlight, +bringing her a large earthen pot, with a cracked cover, into which she +ladled out about half a gallon of the soup.</p> + +<p class="normal">"There, take and put that far under the bed in t'other room," said the +old woman, adding several expletives of so peculiar and unpleasant a +character, that I must omit them; and, indeed, trusting to the +reader's imagination, I shall beg leave to soften, as far as possible, +the terms of both the boy and his grandmother for the future, merely +premising, that when conversing alone together, hardly a sentence +escaped their lips without an oath or a blasphemy.</p> + +<p class="normal">Little Starlight soon received the pot from the hands of his worthy +ancestress, and conveyed it into the other room, where he stayed so +long that she called him to come forth, in what, to ordinary ears, +would have seemed the most abusive language, but which, on her lips, +was merely the tone of endearment. He had waited, indeed, to cool the +soup, in order to steal a portion of the stolen food; but finding that +he should be detected if he remained longer, he ventured to put his +finger in to taste it. The result was that he scalded his hand; but he +was sufficiently Spartan to utter no cry or indication of pain; and he +escaped all inquiry; for the moment after he had returned, the door +burst violently open, and some ten or twelve men came pouring in, +nearly filling the little room.</p> + +<p class="normal">Various were their garbs, and strangely different from each other were +they in demeanour as well as dress. Some were clad in smock-frocks, +and some in sailors' jackets; some looked like respectable tradesmen, +some were clothed in a sort of fanciful costume of their own, smacking +a little of the brigand; and one appeared in the ordinary riding-dress +of a gentleman of that period; but all were well armed, without much +concealment of the pistols, which they carried about them in addition +to the sword that was not uncommonly borne by more than one class in +England at that time. They were all young men except one or two; and +three of the number bore evident marks of some recent affray. One had +a broad strip of plaster all the way down his forehead, another had +his upper lip terribly cut, and a third--the gentleman, as I am bound +to call him, as he assumed the title of Major--had a patch over his +eye, from beneath which appeared several rings of various colours, +which showed that the aforesaid patch was not merely a means of +disguise.</p> + +<p class="normal">They were all quite familiar with Galley Ray and her grandson; some +slapped her on the shoulder; some pulled her ear; some abused her +horribly in jocular tones; and all called upon her eagerly to set +their supper before them, vowing that they had come twenty miles since +seven o'clock that night, and were as hungry as fox-hunters.</p> + +<p class="normal">To each and all Galley Ray had something to say in their own +particular way. To some she was civil and coaxing, addressed them as +"gentlemen," and to others slang and abusive, though quite in good +humour, calling them, "you blackguards," and "you varmint," with +sundry other delectable epithets, which I shall forbear to transcribe.</p> + +<p class="normal">To give value to her entertainment, she of course started every +objection and difficulty in the world against receiving them, asking +how, in the name of the fiend, they could expect her to take in so +many? where she was to get porringers or plates for them all? and +hoping heartily that such a troop weren't going to stay above half an +hour.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Till to-morrow night, Galley, my chicken," replied the Major. "Come, +don't make a fuss. It must be so, and you shall be well paid. We shall +stay in here to-night; and to-morrow we shall take to cover in the +wood; but young Radford will come down some time in the day, and then +you must send up little Starlight to us, to let me know."</p> + +<p class="normal">The matter of the supper was soon arranged to their contentment. Some +had tea-cups, and some saucers; some had earthen pans, some wooden +platters. Two were honoured with china plates; and the large pot being +taken off the fire, and set on the ground in the midst of them, each +helped himself, and went on with his meal. A grand brewing of smuggled +spirits and water then commenced; and a number of horn cups were +handed round, not enough, indeed, for all the guests; but each vessel +was made to serve two or three; and the first silence of hunger being +over, a wild, rambling, and desultory conversation ensued, to which +both Galley Ray and her grandson lent an attentive ear.</p> + +<p class="normal">The Major said something to the man with the cut upon his brow, to +which the other replied, by condemning his own soul, if he did not +blow Harding's brains out--if it were true. "But, I don't believe it," +he continued. "He's no friend of mine; but he's not such a blackguard +as to peach."</p> + +<p class="normal">"So I think; but Dick Radford says he is sure he did," answered the +Major; "Dick fancies that he's jealous of not having had yesterday's +job too, and that's why he spoiled it. We know he was up about that +part of the country on the pretence of his seeing his Dolly; but +Radford says he went to inform, and that he'll wring his liver out, as +soon as this job of his father's is over."</p> + +<p class="normal">A torrent of blasphemies poured forth by almost every person present +followed, and they all called down the most horrid condemnation on +their own heads, if they did not each lend a hand to punish the +informer. In the midst of this storm of big words, Galley Ray put her +mouth to the Major's ear, saying, "I could tell young Radford how he +could wring his heart out, and that's better than his liver. There's +no use of trying to kill him, for he doesn't care two straws about +that. Sharp steel and round lead are what he looks for every day. But +I could show you how to plague him worse."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why, you old brute," replied the Major, "you're a friend of his!--But +you may tell him, if you like. We have all sworn it, and we'll do it; +only hold your tongue till after to-morrow night, or I'll cure your +bacon for you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I'm no friend of his," cried Galley Ray. "The infernal devil, wasn't +it he that shot my girl, Meg? Ay, ay, I know he says he didn't, and +that he didn't fire a pistol that day, but kept all to the cutlash; +but he did, I'm sure, and a-purpose too; for didn't he turn to, that +morning, and abuse her like the very dirt under his feet, because she +came, a little in liquor, down to his boat-side?--Ay, I'll have my +revenge--I've been looking for it long, but now it's a-coming--it's +a-coming very fast; and afore I've done with him, I'll wring him out +like a wet cloth, till he's not got one pleasure left in his whole +carcase, nor one thing to look to, for as long as he may live!--Ay, +ay, he thinks an old woman nothing; but he shall see--he shall see;" +and the beldam wagged her frightful head backwards and forwards with a +look of well-contented malice that made it more horrible than ever.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What an old devil!" cried the Major, glancing round the table with a +look of mock surprise; and then they all burst into a roar of laughter +which shook the miserable hovel in which they sat.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Come, granny, give us some more lush, and leave off preaching," cried +Ned Ramley, the man with the cut upon his brow. "You can tell it all +to Dick Radford, to-morrow; for he's fond of cutting up people's +hearts."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But how is it--how is it?" asked the Major. "I should like to hear."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ay, but you shan't hear all," answered Galley Ray. "Let Dick do his +part, and I'll do mine, so we'll both have our revenge; but I know one +thing, if I were a gentleman, and wanted a twist at Jack Harding, I'd +get his Kate away from him. She's a light-hearted lass, and would +listen to a gentleman, I dare say; but, however, I'll have her away +some way, and then kick her out into Folkestone streets, to get her +bread like many a better woman than herself."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Pooh, nonsense!" said Ned Ramley--"that's all stuff. Harding is going +to marry her; and she knows better than to play the fool."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ay," answered the old woman, with a look of spite, "I shouldn't +wonder if Harding spoiled this job for old Radford, too."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not he!" cried Ramley, "he would pinch himself there, old tiger; for +his own pay depends upon it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ay, upon landing the stuff safely," answered the old woman, with a +grin, "but not upon getting it clear up into the Weald. He may have +both, Neddy, my dear--he may have both pays; first for landing and +then for peaching. Play booty for ever!--that's the way to make money; +and who knows but you may get another crack of your own pretty skull, +or have your brains sent flying out, like the inside of an egg against +the pillory."</p> + +<p class="normal">"By the fiend, he had better not," said Ned Ramley, "for there will be +some of us left, at all events, to pay him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Come, speak out, old woman," cried another of the men; "have you or +your imp there got any inkling that the Custom House blackguards have +nosed the job. If we find they have, and you don't tell, I'll send you +into as much thick loam as will cover you well, I can tell you;" and +he added a horrible oath to give force to his words.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not they, as yet," answered the beldam, "of that I am quite sure; for +as soon as the guinea and the message came, I went down to buy the +beef, and mutton, and the onions; and there I saw Mowle talking to +Gurney the grocer, and heard him say that he had spoiled Mr. Radford's +venture this morning, for one turn at least; and after that, I sent +down little Nighty there, to watch him and his cronies; and they all +seemed very jolly, he said, when he came back half an hour ago, and +crowing like so many young cocks, as if they had done a mighty deal. +Didn't they, my dear?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ay, that they did, Granny," replied the boy, with a look of +simplicity; "and when I went to the tap of the Dragon to get +twopennorth, I heard the landlord say that Mowle was up with the +dragoon Colonel, telling him all about the fine morning's work they +had made."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Devilish fine, indeed!" cried Ned Ramley. "Why they did not get one +quarter of the things; and if we can save a third, that's enough to +pay very well, I can tell them."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, no! they know nothing as yet," continued the old woman, with a +sapient shake of the head; "I can't say what they may hear before +to-morrow night; but, if they do hear anything, I know where it will +come from--that's all. People may be blind if they like; but I'm not, +that's one thing."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, no! you see sharp enough, Galley Ray," answered the Major. "But +hark, is not that the sound of a horse coming down?"</p> + +<p class="normal">All the men started up; and some one exclaimed, "I shouldn't wonder if +it were Mowle himself.--He's always spying about."</p> + +<p class="normal">"If it is, I'll blow his brains out," said Ned Ramley, motioning to +the rest to make their way into the room behind.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ay, you had best, I think, Neddy," said Galley Ray, in a quiet, +considerate tone, answering his rash threat as coolly as if she had +been speaking of the catching of a trout. "You'll have him here all +snug, and may never get such another chance. 'Dead men tell no tales,' +Neddy. But, get back--'tis a horse, sure enough! You can take your own +time, if you go in there."</p> + +<p class="normal">The young man retreated; and bending down her lips to the boy's ear, +the old witch inquired in a whisper, "Is t'other door locked, and the +window fast?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes," said the boy, in the same tone; "and the key hid in the +sacking."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then if there are enough to take 'em," murmured Gaily Ray to +herself--"take 'em they shall!--If there's no one but Mowle, he must +go--that's clear. Stretch out that bit o' sail, boy, to catch the +blood."</p> + +<p class="normal">But before the boy could obey her whisper, the door of the hut was +thrown open; and instead of Mowle there appeared the figure of Richard +Radford.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Here, little Starlight!" he cried, "hold my horse--why, where are all +the men? Have they not come?"</p> + +<p class="normal">The old woman arranged her face in an instant into the sweetest smile +it was capable of assuming, and replied, instantly, "Oh dear, yes: +bless your beautiful face, Mr. Radford, but we didn't expect you +to-night, and thought it was some of the Custom-House blackguards when +we heard the horse. Here, Neddy!--Major!--It's only Mr. Radford."</p> + +<p class="normal">Ere she had uttered the call, the men, hearing a well-known voice, +were entering the room again; and young Radford shook hands with +several of them familiarly, congratulating the late prisoners on their +escape.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I found I couldn't come to-morrow morning," he said, "and so I rode +down to-night. It's all settled for to-morrow, and by this time +Harding's at sea. He'll keep over on the other side till the sun is +low; and we must be ready for work by ten, though I don't think he'll +get close in before midnight."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Are you quite sure of Harding, Mr. Radford?" asked the Major. "I +thought you had doubts of him about this other venture."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ay, and so I have still," answered Richard Radford, a dark scowl +coming over his face, "but we must get this job over first. My father +says, he will have no words about it, till this is all clear, and +after that I may do as I like. Then, Major, then----"</p> + +<p class="normal">He did not finish the sentence; but those who heard him knew very well +what he meant; and the Major inquired, "But is he quite safe in this +business? The old woman thinks not."</p> + +<p class="normal">Young Radford mused with a heavy brow for a minute or two, and then +replied, after a sudden start, "But it's no use now--he's at sea by +this time; and we can't mend it. Have you heard anything certain of +him, Galley Ray?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, nothing quite for certain, my beauty," said the old woman; "but +one thing I know: he was seen there upon the cliffs, with two strange +men, a-talking away at a great rate; and that was the very night he +saw your father, too; but that clear little cunning devil, my boy, +Nighty--he's the shrewdest lad that ever lived--found it all out."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What did he find out?" demanded young Radford, sharply.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why, who the one was, he could never be sure," answered the +beldam--"a nasty-looking ugly brute, all tattooed in the face, like a +wild Indian; but the other was the colonel of dragoons--that's +certain, so Nighty says--he is the shrewdest boy that----"</p> + +<p class="normal">Richard Radford and his companions gazed at each other with very +meaning and very ill-satisfied looks; but the former, at length, said, +"Well, we shall see--we shall see! and if he does, he shall rue it. In +the meantime, Major, what we must do is, to have force enough to set +them, dragoons and all, at defiance. My father has got already a +hundred men, and I'll beat up for more to-morrow.--I can get fifty or +sixty out of Sussex. We'll all be down with you early. The soldiers +are scattered about in little parties, so they can never have very +many together; and the devil's in it, if we can't beat a handful of +them."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Give us a hundred men," said Ned Ramley, "and we'll beat the whole +regiment of them."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why, there are not to be found twenty of them together in any one +place," answered young Radford, "except at Folkestone, and we shan't +have the run within fifteen or sixteen miles of that; so we shall +easily do for them; and I should like to give those rascals a +licking."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then, what's to be done with Harding?" asked Ned Ramley.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Leave him to me--leave him to me, Ned," replied the young gentleman, +"I'll find a way of settling accounts with him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why, the old woman was talking something about it," said the Major. +"Come, speak up, old brute!--What is it you've got to say?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, I'll tell him quietly when he's a going," answered Galley Ray. +"It's no business of yours, Major."</p> + +<p class="normal">"She hates him like poison," said the Major, in a whisper, to young +Radford; "so that you must not believe all she says about him."</p> + +<p class="normal">The young man gave a gloomy smile, and then, after a few words more, +unceremoniously turned the old woman out of her own hovel, telling her +he would come and speak to her in a moment. As soon as the hut was +clear of her presence, he proceeded to make all his final arrangements +with the lawless set who were gathered together within.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I thought that Harding was not to set off till to-morrow morning," +said one of the more staid-looking of the party, at length; "I wonder +your father lets him make such changes, Mr. Radford--it looks +suspicious, to my thinking."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, no; it was by my father's own orders," said young Radford; +"there's nothing wrong in that. I saw the note sent this evening; so +that's all right. By some contrivance of his own, Harding is to give +notice to one of the people on Tolsford Hill, when he is well in land +and all is safe; and then we shall see a fire lighted on the top, +which is to be our signal, to gather down on the beach. It's all right +in that respect, at least.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I'm glad to hear it," answered the other; "and now, as all is +settled, had you not better take a glass of grog before you go."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, no," replied the young man, "I'll keep my head cool for +to-morrow; for I've got a job to do in the morning that may want a +clear eye and a steady hand."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, then, good luck to you!" said Ned Ramley, laughing; and with +this benediction, the young gentleman opened the cottage door.</p> + +<p class="normal">He found Galley Ray holding his horse alone; and, as soon as she saw +him, she said, "I've sent the boy away, Mr. Radford, because I wanted +to have a chat with you for a minute, all alone, about that +blackguard, Harding;" and sinking her voice to a whisper, she +proceeded for several minutes, detailing her own diabolical notions, +of how young Radford might best revenge himself on Harding, with a +coaxing manner, and sweet tone, which contrasted strangely and +horribly, both with the words which she occasionally used, and the +general course of her suggestions. Young Radford sometimes laughed, +with a harsh sort of bitter, unpleasant merriment, and sometimes asked +questions, but more frequently remained listening attentively to what +she said.</p> + +<p class="normal">Thus passed some ten minutes, at the end of which time, he exclaimed, +with an oath, "I'll do it!" and then, mounting his horse, he rode away +slowly and cautiously, on account of the thick fog and the narrow and +stony road.</p> + +<p class="normal">No sooner was he gone, than little Starlight crept out from between +the cottage and a pile of dried furze-bushes, which had been cast down +on the left of the hut--at once affording fuel to the inhabitants, and +keeping out the wind from a large crack in the wall, which penetrated +through and through, into the room where young Radford had been +conversing with the smugglers.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Did you hear them, my kiddy?" asked the old woman, as soon as the boy +approached her.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Every word, Mother Ray," answered little Starlight. "But, get in, +get in, or they will be thinking something; and I'll tell you all +to-morrow."</p> + +<p class="normal">The old woman saw the propriety of his suggestion; and, both entering +the hovel, the door was shut. With it, I may close a scene, upon which +I have been obliged to pause longer than I could have wished.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="div2_04" href="#div2Ref_04">CHAPTER IV.</a></h2> +<br> + +<p class="normal">The man who follows a wolf goes straight on after him till he rides +him down; but, in chasing a fox, it is always expedient and fair to +take across the easiest country for your horse or for yourself, to +angle a field, to make for a slope when the neighbouring bank is too +high, to avoid a clay fallow, or to skirt a shaking moss. Very +frequently, however, one beholds an inexperienced sportsman (who does +not well know the country he is riding, and sees the field broken up +into several parties, each taking its own course after the hounds) +pause for several minutes, not knowing which to follow. Such is often +the case with the romance writer also, when the broken nature of the +country over which his course lies, separates his characters, and he +cannot proceed with all of them at once.</p> + +<p class="normal">Now, at the present moment, I would fain follow the smugglers to the +end of their adventure; but, in so doing, dear reader, I should (to +borrow a shred of the figure I have just used) get before my hounds; +or, in other words, I should too greatly violate that strict +chronological order which is necessary in an important history like +the present. I must, therefore, return, by the reader's good leave, to +the house of Mr. Zachary Croyland, almost immediately after Sir Edward +Digby had ridden away, on the day following young Radford's recently +related interview with the smugglers, at which day--with a sad +violation of the chronological order I have mentioned above--I had +already arrived, as the reader must remember, in the first chapter of +the present volume.</p> + +<p class="normal">Mr. Croyland then stood in the little drawing-room, fitted up +according to his own peculiar notions, where Sir Edward's wound had +been dressed; and Edith, his niece, sat at no great distance on one of +the low ottomans, for which he had an oriental predilection. She was a +little excited, both by all that she had witnessed, and all that she +had not; and her bright and beautiful eyes were raised to her uncle's +face, as she inquired, "How did all this happen? You said you would +tell me when they were gone."</p> + +<p class="normal">Mr. Croyland gazed at her with that sort of parental tenderness which +he had long nourished in his heart towards her; and certainly, as she +sat there, leaning lightly upon her arm, and with the sunshine falling +upon her beautiful form, her left hand resting upon her knee, and one +small beautiful foot extended beyond her gown, he could not help +thinking her the loveliest creature he had ever beheld in his life, +and asking himself--"Is such a being as that, so full of grace in +person, and excellence in mind, to be consigned to a rude, brutal +bully, like the man who has just met with deserved chastisement at my +door?"</p> + +<p class="normal">He had just begun to answer her question, thinking how he might best +do so without inflicting more pain upon her than necessary, when the +black servant I have mentioned entered the drawing-room, saying, "A +man want to speak to you, master."</p> + +<p class="normal">"A man!" cried Mr. Croyland, impatiently. "What man? I don't want any +man! I've had enough of men for one morning, surely, with those two +fools fighting just opposite my house!--What sort of a man is it?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Very odd man, indeed, master," answered the Hindoo. "Got great blue +pattern on him's face. Strange looking man. Think him half mad," and +he made a deferential bow, as if submitting his judgment to that of +his master.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, I like odd men," exclaimed Mr. Croyland. "I like strange men +better than any others. I'm not sure I do not like them a <i>leetle</i> +mad--not too much, not too much, you know, Edith, my dear! Not +dangerous; just mad enough to be pleasant, but not furious or +obstreperous.--Where have you put him?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"In de library, master," replied the man; "and he begin taking down +the books directly."</p> + +<p class="normal">"High time I should go and see, who is so studiously inclined," said +Mr. Croyland; "or he may not only take down the books, but take them +away. That wouldn't do, you know, Edith, my dear--that wouldn't do. +Without my niece and my books, what would become of me? I don't intend +to lose either the one or the other. So that you are never to marry, +my love; mind that, you are never to marry!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Edith smiled faintly--very faintly indeed; but for the world she would +not have made her uncle feel that he had touched upon a tender point. +"I do not think I ever shall, my dear uncle," she answered; and +saying, "That's a good girl!" the old gentleman hurried out of the +room to see his unknown visitor.</p> + +<p class="normal">Edith remained for some time where she was, in deep and even painful +thoughts. All that she had learnt from her sister, since Zara's +explanation with Sir Edward Digby, amounted but to this, that he whom +she had so deeply loved--whom she still loved so deeply--was yet +living. Nothing more had reached her; and, though hope, the fast +clinger to the last wreck of probability, yet whispered that he might +love her still--that she might not be forgotten--that she might not be +abandoned, yet fear and despondency far predominated, and their hoarse +tones nearly drowned the feeble whisper of a voice which once had been +loud and gay in her heart.</p> + +<p class="normal">After meditating, then, for some minutes, she rose and left the +drawing-room, passing, on her way to the stairs, the door of the +library to which her uncle had previously gone. She heard him talking +loud as she went along; but the sounds were gay, cheerful, and +anything but angry; and another voice was answering, in mellower +tones, somewhat melancholy, indeed, but still not sad. Going rapidly +by, this was all she distinguished; but after she reached her own +room, which was nearly above the library, the murmur of the voices +still rose up for more than an hour, and at length Mr. Croyland and +his guest came out, and walked through the vestibule to the door.</p> + +<p class="normal">"God bless you, Harry--God bless you!" said Mr. Croyland, with an +appearance of warmth and affection which Edith had seldom known him to +display towards any one; "if you wont stay, I can't help it. But mind +your promise--mind your promise! In three or four days, you know;" and +with another cordial farewell they parted.</p> + +<p class="normal">When the stranger was gone, however, Mr. Croyland remained standing in +the vestibule for several minutes, gazing down upon the floor-cloth, +and murmuring to himself various broken sentences, from time to time. +"Who'd have thought it," he said; "thirty years come Lady-day next, +since we saw each other!--But this isn't quite right of the boy: I +will scold him--I will frighten him, too. He shouldn't deceive--nobody +should deceive--it's not right. But after all, in love and war, every +stratagem is fair, they say; and I'll work for him, that I will. Here, +Edith, my love," he continued, calling up the stairs, for he had heard +his niece's light foot above, "come, and take a walk with me, my dear: +it will do us both good."</p> + +<p class="normal">Edith came down in a moment, with a hat (or bonnet) in her hand; and +although Mr. Croyland affected, on most occasions, to be by no means +communicative, yet there was in his whole manner, and in the +expression of his face, quite sufficient to indicate to his niece, +that he was labouring under the pressure of a secret, which was not a +very sad or dark one.</p> + +<p class="normal">"There, my dear!" he exclaimed, "I said just now that I would not have +you marry; but I shall take off the restriction. I will not prohibit +the banns--only in case you should wish to marry some one I don't +approve. But I've got a husband for you--I've got a husband for you, +better than all the Radfords that ever were christened; though, by the +way, I doubt whether these fellows ever were christened at all--a set +of unbelieving, half-barbarous sceptics. I do not think, upon my +conscience, that old Radford believes in anything but the existence of +his own individuality."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But who is the husband you have got for me?" demanded Edith, forcing +herself to assume a look of gaiety which was not natural to her. "I +hope he's young, handsome, rich, and agreeable."</p> + +<p class="normal">"All, all!" cried Mr. Croyland. "Those are absolute requisites in a +lady's estimation, I know. Never was such a set of grasping monkeys as +you women. Youth, beauty, riches, and a courtly air--you must have +them all, or you are dissatisfied; and the ugliest, plainest, poorest +woman in all Europe, thinks that she has every right to a phœnix +for her companion--an angel--a demi-god. But you shall see--you shall +see; and in the true spirit of a fond parent, if you do not see with +my eyes, hear with my ears, and understand with my understanding--why, +I'll disinherit you.--But who the mischief is this, now?" he +continued, looking out at the door--"another man on horseback, upon my +life, as if we had not had enough of them already. Never, since I have +been in this county of Kent, has my poor, quiet, peaceable door been +besieged in this manner before."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It's only a servant with a note, my dear uncle," said Edith.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah, something more on your account," cried Mr. Croyland. "It's all +because you are here. Baba, Baba! see what that fellow wants!--It's +not your promised husband, my dear, so you need not eye him so +curiously."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, no!" answered Edith, smiling. "I took it for granted that my +promised husband, as you call him, was to be this same odd, +strange-looking gentleman, who has been with you for the last hour."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Pooh--no!" cried Mr. Croyland; "and yet, my lady, I can tell you, you +could not do better in some respects, for he's a very good man--a very +excellent man indeed, and has the advantage of being a <i>leetle</i> mad, +as I said before--that is, he's wise enough not to care what fools +think of him. That's what is called being mad now-a-days. Who is it +from, Baba?</p> + +<p class="normal">"Didn't say, master," answered the Indian, who had just handed him a +note. "He wait an answer."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, very well!" answered Mr. Croyland. "He may get a shorter one than +he expects. I've no time to be answering notes. People in England +spend one half of their lives in writing notes that mean nothing, and +the other half in sealing them. Why can't the fools send a message?"</p> + +<p class="normal">While he had been thus speaking, the worthy old gentleman had been +adjusting the spectacles to his nose, and walking with his usual brisk +step to the window in the passage, against which he planted his back, +so that the light might fall over his shoulder upon the paper; but as +he read, a great change came over his countenance.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah, that's right!--That's well!--That's honest," he said: "I see what +he means, but I'll let him speak out himself. Walk into the garden, +Edith, my love, till I answer this man's note. Baba, bid the fellow +wait for a moment," and stepping into the library, Mr. Croyland sought +for a pen that would write, and then scrawled, in a very rude and +crooked hand, which soon made the paper look like an ancient Greek +manuscript, a few lines, to the beauty of which he added the effect of +bad blotting-paper. Then folding his note up, he sealed and addressed +it, first reading carefully over again the epistle which he had just +received, and with which it may be as well to make the reader +acquainted, though I shall abstain from looking into Mr. Croyland's +answer till it reaches its destination. The letter which the servant +had brought was to the following effect:</p> + +<p class="normal">"The gentleman who had the pleasure of travelling with Mr. Croyland +from London, and who was introduced to him by the name of Captain +Osborn, was about to avail himself of Mr. Croyland's invitation, when +some circumstances came to his knowledge, which seem to render it +expedient that he should have a few minutes' conversation with Mr. +Croyland before he visits his house. He is at present at Woodchurch, +and will remain there till two o'clock, if it is convenient for Mr. +Croyland to see him at that place to-day.--If not, he will return to +Woodchurch to-morrow, towards one, and will wait for Mr. Croyland till +any hour he shall appoint."</p> + +<p class="normal">"There! give that to the gentleman's servant," said Mr. Croyland; and +then depositing his spectacles safely in their case, he walked out +into the garden to seek Edith.</p> + +<p class="normal">The servant, in the meanwhile, went at a rapid pace, over pleasant +hill and dale, till he reached the village of Woodchurch, and stopped +at a little public-house, before the door of which stood three +dragoons, with their horses' bridles over their arms. As speedily as +possible, the man entered the house, and walked up stairs, where he +found his master talking to a man, covered with dust from the road.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Mr. Mowle should have given me farther information," the young +officer said, looking at a paper in his hand. "I could have made my +combinations here as well as at Hythe."</p> + +<p class="normal">"He sent me off in a great hurry, sir," answered the man; "but I'll +tell him what you say."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Stay, stay!" said the officer, holding out his hand to his servant +for the note which he had brought. "I will tell you more in a minute, +and breaking open the seal, he read Mr. Croyland's epistle, which was +to the following effect.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Mr. Croyland presents his compliments to Captain Osborn, and has had +the honour of receiving his letter, although he cannot conceive why +Captain Osborn should wish to speak with him at Woodchurch, when he +could so easily speak with him in his own house, yet Mr. Croyland is +Captain Osborn's very humble servant, and will do as he bids him. As +it is now past one o'clock, as it would take half-an-hour to get Mr. +Croyland's carriage ready, and an hour to reach Woodchurch, and as it +is some years since Mr. Croyland has got upon the back of anything but +an ass, or a hobby-horse,--having moreover no asses at hand with the +proper proportion of legs, though many, deficient in number--it is +impossible for him to reach Woodchurch by the time stated to-day. He +will be over at that place, however, by two o'clock to-morrow, and +hopes that Captain Osborn will be able to return with him, and spend a +few days in an old bachelor's house."</p> + +<p class="normal">The young officer's face was grave as he read the first part of the +letter, but it relaxed into a smile towards the end. He then gave, +perhaps, ten seconds to thought; after which, rousing himself +abruptly, he turned to the dusty messenger from Hythe, and fixing a +somewhat searching glance upon the man's face, he said--"Tell Mr. +Mowle that I will be over with him directly, and as the troops, it +seems, will be required on the side of Folkestone, he must have +everything prepared on his part; for we shall have no time to spare."</p> + +<p class="normal">The man bowed with a stolid look, and withdrew; and after he had left +the room, the officer remained silent for a moment or two, looking out +of the window till he saw him mount his horse and depart. Then, +descending in haste to the inn door, he gave various orders to the +dragoons, who were there waiting. To one they were, "Ride off to +Folkestone as fast as you can go, and tell Captain Irby to march +immediately with his troop to Bilsington, which place he must reach +before two o'clock in the morning." To another: "You gallop off to +Appledore, and bid the sergeant there bring his party down to Brenzet +Corner, in the Marsh, and put himself under the orders of Cornet +Joyce." To the third: "You, Wood, be off to Ashford, and tell +Lieutenant Green to bring down all his men as far as Bromley Green, +taking up the party at Kingsnorth. Let him be there by three; and +remember, these are private orders. Not a word to any one."</p> + +<p class="normal">The men sprang into the saddle, as soon as the last words were spoken, +and rode away in different directions; and, after bidding his servant +bring round his horse, the young officer remained standing at the door +of the inn, with his tall form erect, his arms crossed upon his chest, +and his eyes gazing towards Harbourne House. He was in the midst of +the scenes where his early days had been spent. Every object around +him was familiar to his eye: not a hill, not a wood, not a church +steeple or a farm house, but had its association with some of those +bright things which leave a lustre in the evening sky of life, even +when the day-star of existence has set. There were the pleasant hours +of childhood, the sports of boyhood, the dreams of youth, the love of +early manhood. The light that memory cast upon the whole might not be +so strong and powerful, might not present them in so real and definite +a form, as in the full day of enjoyment; but there is a great +difference between that light of memory, when it brightens a period of +life that may yet renew the joys which have passed away for a time, +and when it shines upon pleasures gone for ever. In the latter case it +is but as the moonlight--a reflected beam, without the warmth of +fruition or the brilliancy of hope; but in the former, it is as the +glow of the descending sun, which sheds a purple lustre through the +vista of the past, and gives a promise of returning joy even as it +sinks away. He stood, then, amongst the scenes of his early years, +with hope refreshed, though still with the remembrance of sorrows +tempering the warmth of expectation, perhaps shading the present. It +wanted, indeed, but some small circumstance, by bearing afar, like +some light wind, the cloud of thought, to give to all around the +bright hues of other days; and that was soon afforded. He had not +remained there above two or three minutes when the landlord of the +public-house came out, and stood directly before him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, I forgot your bill, my good fellow," said the young officer. +"What is my score?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, sir, it is not that," answered the man, "but I think you have +forgotten me. I could not let you go, however, without just asking you +to shake hands with me, though you are a great gentleman now, and I am +much what I was."</p> + +<p class="normal">The young officer gazed at him for a moment, and let his eye run over +the stout limbs and portly person of the landlord, till at length he +said, in a doubtful tone, "Surely, you cannot be young Miles, the son +of my father's clerk?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ay, sir, just the same," replied the host; "but young and old, we +change, just as women do their names when they marry. Not that six or +seven years have made me old either; but I was six and twenty when you +went away, and as thin as a whipping post; now I'm two and thirty, and +as fat as a porker. That makes a wonderful difference, sir. But I'm +glad you don't forget old times."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Forget them, Miles!" said the young officer, holding out his hand to +him, "oh no, they are too deeply written in my heart ever to be +blotted out! I thought I was too much changed myself for any one to +remember me, but those who were most dear to me. What between the +effects of time and labour, sorrow and war, I hardly fancied that any +one in Kent would know me. But you are changed for the better, I for +the worse. Yet I am very glad to see you, Miles; and I shall see you +again to-morrow; for I am coming back here towards two o'clock. In the +meantime, you need not say you have seen me; for I do not wish it to +be known that I am here, till I have learned a little of what +reception I am likely to have."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, I understand, sir--I understand," replied the landlord; "and if +you should want to know how the land lies, I can always tell you; for +you see, I have the parish-clerks' club, which meets here once a week; +and then all the news of the country comes out; and besides, many a +one of them comes in here at other times, to have a gossip with old +Rafe Miles's son, so that I hear everything that goes on in the county +almost as soon as it is done; and right glad shall I be to tell you +anything you want to know, just for old times' sake; when you used to +go shooting snipes by the brooks, and I used to come after for the +sport--that is to say, anything about your own people; not about the +smugglers, you know; for they say you are sent here to put them down; +and I should not like to peach, even to you. I heard that some great +gentleman had come down--a Sir Harry Somebody. But I little thought it +was you, till I saw you just now standing looking so melancholy +towards Harbourne, and thinking, I dare say, of the old house at +Tiffenden."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Indeed I was," answered the young officer, with a sigh. "But as to +the smugglers, my good friend, I want no information. I am sent down +with my regiment merely to aid the civil power, which seems totally +incompetent to stop the daring outrages that are every day committed. +If this were suffered to go on, all law, not only regarding the +revenue, but even that affecting the protection of life and property, +would soon be at an end."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That it would, sir," answered the landlord; "and it's well nigh at an +end already, for that matter."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well," continued the officer, "though the service is not an agreeable +one, and I think, considering all things, might have been entrusted to +another person, yet I have but to obey; and consequently, being here, +am ready whenever called upon to support the officers, either of +justice or the revenue, both by arms and by advice. But I have no +other duty to perform, and indeed would rather not have any +information regarding the proceedings of these misguided men, except +through the proper channels. If I had the absolute command of the +district, with orders to put down smuggling therein, it might be a +different matter; but I have not."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ay, I thought there was a mistake about it," replied Miles; "but here +is your horse, sir. I shall see you to-morrow, then?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Certainly," answered the officer; and having paid his score, he +mounted and rode away.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="div2_05" href="#div2Ref_05">CHAPTER V.</a></h2> +<br> + +<p class="normal">The colonel of the dragoon regiment rode into Hythe coolly and calmly, +followed by his servant; for though, to say the truth, he had pushed +his horse very fast for some part of the way, he judged it expedient +not to cause any bustle in the town by an appearance of haste and +excitement. It was customary in those days for officers in the army in +active service, even when not on actual duty, to appear in their +regimental uniform; but this practice the gentleman in question had +dispensed with since he left London, on many motives, both public and +personal; and though he wore the cockade--at that time the sign and +symbol of a military man, or of one who affected that position, yet he +generally appeared in plain clothes, except when any large body of the +troops were gathered together.</p> + +<p class="normal">At the door of the inn where he had fixed his headquarters, and in the +passage leading from it into the house, were a number of private +soldiers and a sergeant; and amongst them appeared Mr. Mowle, the +Custom-House officer, waiting the arrival of the commander of the +dragoons. As the latter dismounted, Mowle advanced to his side, saying +something in a low voice. The young officer looked at the sky, which +was still glowing bright with the sun, which had about an hour and +a-half to run ere it reached the horizon.</p> + +<p class="normal">"In an hour, Mr. Mowle," replied the officer: "there will be time +enough. Make all your own arrangements in the meanwhile."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But, sir, if you have to send to Folkestone?" said Mowle. "You +misunderstood me, I think."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, no," answered the colonel, "I did not. You misunderstood me. Come +back in an hour.--If you show haste or anxiety, you will put the enemy +on his guard."</p> + +<p class="normal">After having said these few words in a low tone, he entered the house, +gave some orders to the soldiers, several of whom sauntered away +slowly to their quarters, as if the business of the day were over; and +then, proceeding to his own room, he rang the bell and ordered dinner.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I thought there was a bit of a bustle, sir?" said the landlord, +inquiringly, as he put the first dish upon the table.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh dear, no," replied the colonel. "Did you mean about these men who +have escaped?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I didn't know about what, colonel," answered the landlord, "but +seeing Mr. Mowle waiting for you----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You thought it must be about them," added the officer; "but you are +mistaken, my good friend. There is no bustle at all. The men will, +doubtless, soon be taken, one after the other, by the constables. At +all events, that is an affair with which I can have nothing to do."</p> + +<p class="normal">The landlord immediately retreated, loaded with intelligence, and +informed two men who were sipping rum-and-water in the tap-room, that +Mowle had come to ask the colonel to help in apprehending "the Major" +and others who had been rescued, and that the colonel would have +nothing to do with it.</p> + +<p class="normal">The men finished their grog much more rapidly than they had begun it, +and then walked out of the house, probably to convey the tidings +elsewhere. Now, the town of Hythe is composed, as every one knows, of +one large and principal street nearly at the bottom of the hill, with +several back streets--or perhaps lanes we might call them--running +parallel to the first, and a great number of shorter ones running up +and down the hill, and connecting the principal thoroughfare with +those behind it. Many--nay, I might say most--of the houses in the +main street had, at the time I speak of, a back as well as a front +entrance. They might sometimes have even more than one; for there were +trades carried on in Hythe, as the reader has been made aware, which +occasionally required rapid and secret modes of exit. Nor was the +house in which the young commander of dragoons resided without its +conveniences in this respect; but it happened that Mowle, the officer, +was well acquainted with all its different passages and contrivances; +and consequently he took advantage, on his return at the end of an +hour, of one of the small lanes, which led him by a back way into the +inn. Then ascending a narrow staircase without disturbing anybody, he +made his way to the room he sought, where he found the colonel of the +regiment quietly writing some letters after his brief meal was over.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, Mr. Mowle!" said the young officer, folding up, and sealing the +note he had just concluded--"now, let me hear what you have +discovered, and where you wish the troops to be."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am afraid, sir, we have lost time," answered Mowle; "for I can't +tell at what time the landing will take place."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not before midnight," replied his companion; "there is no vessel in +sight, and, with the wind at this quarter, they can't be very quick in +their movements."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why, probably not before midnight, sir," answered Mowle; "but there +are not above fifty of your men within ten miles round, and if you've +to send for them to Folkestone and Ashford, and out almost to +Staplehurst, they will have no time to make ready and march; and the +fellows will be off into the Weald before we can catch them."</p> + +<p class="normal">The young officer smiled: "Then you think fifty men will not be +enough?" he asked.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not half enough," answered Mowle, beginning to set down his companion +as a person of very little intellect or energy--"why, from what I +hear, there will be some two or three hundred of these fellows down, +to carry the goods after they are run, and every one of them equal to +a dragoon, at any time."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, we shall see!" said the young officer, coolly. "You are sure +that Dymchurch is the place?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why, somewhere thereabouts, sir; and that's a long way off," answered +Mowle; "so if you have any arrangements to make, you had better make +them."</p> + +<p class="normal">"They are all made," replied the colonel; "but tell me, Mr. Mowle, +does it not frequently take place that, when smugglers are pursued in +the marsh, they throw their goods into the cuts and canals and creeks +by which it is intersected."</p> + +<p class="normal">"To be sure they do, sir," exclaimed the officer; "and they'll do that +to a certainty, if we can't prevent them landing; and, if we attack +them in the Marsh----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"To prevent them landing," said the gentleman, "seems to me impossible +in the present state of affairs; and I do not know whether it would be +expedient, even if we could. Your object is to seize the goods, both +for your own benefit and that of the state, and to take as many +prisoners as possible. Now, from what you told me yesterday, I find +that you have no force at sea, except a few miserable boats----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I sent off for the revenue cruiser this morning, sir," answered +Mowle.</p> + +<p class="normal">"But she is not come," rejoined the officer; "and, consequently, must +be thrown out of our combinations. If we assemble a large force at any +point of the coast, the smugglers on shore will have warning. They may +easily find means of giving notice of the fact to their comrades at +sea--the landing may be effected at a different point from that now +proposed, and the goods carried clear off before we can reach them. It +seems to me, therefore, better for you to let the landing take place +quietly. As soon as it has taken place, the beacons will be lighted by +my orders; the very fact of a signal they don't understand will throw +the smugglers into some confusion; and they will hurry out of the +Marsh as fast as possible----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"But suppose they separate, and all take different roads," said Mowle.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then all, or almost all, the different parties will be met with and +stopped," replied the officer.</p> + +<p class="normal">"But your men cannot act without a requisition from the Customs, sir," +answered Mowle, "and they are so devilish cautious of committing +themselves----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"But I am not," rejoined the colonel; "and every party along the whole +line has notice that the firing of the beacons is to be taken as a +signal that due requisition has been made, and has orders also to stop +any body of men carrying goods that they may meet with. But I do not +think that these smugglers will separate at all, Mr. Mowle. Their only +chance of safety must seem to them--not knowing how perfectly prepared +we are--to lie in their numbers and their union. While acting +together, their numbers, it appears from your account, would be +sufficient to force any one post opposed to them, according to the +arrangements which they have every reason to believe still exist; and +they will not throw away that chance. It is, therefore, my belief that +they will make their way out of the Marsh in one body. After that, +leave them to me. I will take the responsibility upon myself."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Very well, colonel--very well!" said Mowle; "if you are ready without +my knowing anything about it, all the better. Only the fellow I sent +you brought back word something about Folkestone."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That was merely because I did not like the man's look," replied the +young officer, "and thought you would understand that a message sent +you in so public a manner, upon a business which required secrecy, +must not be read in its direct sense."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, I see, colonel--I see," cried the officer of Customs; "it was +stupid enough not to understand. All my people are ready, however; and +if we could but discover the hour the run is to be made, we should +have a pretty sure game of it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Cannot the same person who gave you so much intelligence, give you +that also?" asked his companion.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why, no; either the imp can't, or he wont," said Mowle. "I had to pay +him ten pounds for what tidings I got, for the little wretch is as +cunning as Satan."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Are you sure the intelligence was correct?" demanded the officer of +dragoons.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh yes, sir," replied Mowle. "His tidings have always been quite +right; and besides, I've the means of testing this myself; for he told +me where they are to meet--at least a large party of them--before +going down to the shore. I've a very great mind to disguise myself, +and creep in among them."</p> + +<p class="normal">"A very hazardous experiment, I should think," said the colonel; "and +I do not see any object worth the risk."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why, the object would be to get information of the hour," answered +Mowle. "If we could learn that, some time before, we could have +everything ready, and have them watched all through the Marsh."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, you must use your own judgment in that particular!" answered +the young officer; "but I tell you, I am quite prepared myself; and +such a large body as you have mentioned cannot cross a considerable +extent of country without attracting attention."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, I'll see, sir--I'll see," answered Mowle; "but had I not better +send off two or three officers towards Dymchurch, to give your men +notice as soon as the goods are landed?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Undoubtedly," answered the colonel. "There's a party at New Romney, +and a party at Burmarsh. They both have their orders, and as soon as +they have intimation, will act upon them. I would have enough men +present, if I were you, to watch the coast well, but with strict +orders to do nothing to create alarm."</p> + +<p class="normal">Some minor arrangements were then entered into, of no great importance +to the tale; and Mowle took his leave, after having promised to give +the colonel the very first intimation he received of the farther +proceedings of the smugglers.</p> + +<p class="normal">The completion of his own arrangements took the Custom-House officer +half an hour more, and at the end of that time he returned to his own +dwelling, and sat down for a while, to think over the next step. He +felt a strong inclination to visit the meeting place of the smugglers +in person. He was, as we have shown, a man of a daring and adventurous +disposition, strong in nerve, firm in heart, and with, perhaps, too +anxious a sense of duty. Indeed, he was rather inclined to be rash +than otherwise, from the apprehension of having anything like fear +attributed to him in the execution of the service he had undertaken; +but still he could not shut his eyes to the fact that the scheme he +meditated was full of peril to himself. The men amongst whom he +proposed to venture were lawless, sanguinary, and unscrupulous; and, +if discovered, he had every reason to believe that his life would be +sacrificed by them without the slightest hesitation or remorse. He was +their most persevering enemy; he had spared them on no occasion; and +although he had dealt fairly by them, yet many of those who were +likely to be present, had suffered severe punishment at his +instigation and by his means. He hesitated a little, and called to +mind what the colonel had said regarding the hazard of the act, and +the want of sufficient object; but then, suddenly starting up, he +looked forward with a frowning brow, exclaiming, "Why, hang it, I'm +not afraid! I'll go, whatever befals me. It's my duty not to leave any +chance for information untried. That young fellow is mighty cool about +the business; and if these men get off, it shall not be any fault of +mine."</p> + +<p class="normal">Thus saying, he lighted a candle, and went into an adjoining room, +where, from a large commode, filled with a strange medley of different +dresses and implements, he chose out a wagoner's frock, a large pair +of leathern leggings, or gaiters, and a straw hat, such as was very +commonly used at that time amongst the peasantry of England. After +gazing at them for a moment or two, and turning them over once or +twice, he put them on, and then, with a pair of sharp scissors, cut +away, in a rough and unceremonious fashion, a considerable quantity of +his black hair, which was generally left rough and floating. High up +over his neck, and round his chin, he tied a large blue handkerchief, +and when thus completely accoutred, gave himself a glance in the +glass, saying, "I don't think I should know myself."</p> + +<p class="normal">He seemed considerably reassured at finding himself so completely +disguised; and then looking at his watch, and perceiving that the hour +named for the meeting was approaching, he put a brace of pistols in +his breast, where they could be easily reached through the opening in +front of the smock-frock.</p> + +<p class="normal">He had already reached the door, when something seemed to strike +him; and saying to himself--"Well, there's no knowing what may +happen!--it's better to prepare against anything," he turned back to +his sitting-room, and wrote down on a sheet of paper:</p> +<br> + +<p class="normal">"Sir,--I am gone up to see what they are about. If I should not be +back by eleven, you may be sure they have caught me, and then you must +do your best with Birchett and the others. If I get off, I'll call in +as I come back, and let you know.</p> + +<p style="text-indent:5%">"Sir, your very obedient servant,</p> + +<p style="text-indent:30%">"<span class="sc">William Mowle</span>."</p> +<br> + +<p class="normal">As soon as this was done, he folded the note up, addressed, and sealed +it; and then, blowing the light out, he called an old female servant +who had lived in his house for many years, and whom he now directed to +carry the epistle to the colonel of dragoons who was up at the inn, +adding that she was to deliver it with her own hand.</p> + +<p class="normal">The old woman took it at once; and knowing well, how usual it was for +the Custom-House officers to disguise their persons in various ways, +she took no notice of the strange change in Mr. Mowle's appearance, +though it was so complete that it could not well escape her eyes, even +in the darkness which reigned throughout the house.</p> + +<p class="normal">This having been all arranged, and the maid on her way to convey the +letter, Mowle himself walked slowly forward through the long narrow +lanes at the back of the town, and along the path up towards Saltwood. +It was dusk when he set out, but not yet quite dark; and as he went, +he met two people of the town, whom he knew well, but who only replied +to the awkward nod of the head which he gave them, by saying, "Good +night, my man," and walked on, evidently unconscious that they were +passing an acquaintance.</p> + +<p class="normal">As he advanced, however, the night grew darker and more dark; and a +fog began to rise, though not so thick as that of the night before. +Mowle muttered to himself, as he observed it creeping up the hill from +the side of the valley, "Ay, this is what the blackguards calculated +upon, and they are always sure to be right about the weather; but it +will serve my turn as well as theirs;" and on he went in the direction +of the castle, keeping the regular road by the side of the hill, and +eschewing especially the dwelling of Galley Ray and her grandson.</p> + +<p class="normal">Born in that part of the country, and perfectly well prepared, both to +find his way about every part of the ruins, and to speak the dialect +of the county in its broadest accent, if he should be questioned, the +darkness was all that he could desire; and it was with pleasure that +he found the obscurity so deep that even he could not see the large +stones which at that time lay in the road, causing him to stumble more +than once as he approached the castle. He was in some hope, indeed, of +reaching the ruins before the smugglers began to assemble, and of +finding a place of concealment whence he could overhear their sayings +and doings; but in this expectation, he discovered, as he approached +the walls, that he should be disappointed; for in the open road +between the castle and the village, he found a number of horses tied, +and two men watching. He trudged on past them, however, with a slow +step and a slouching gait; and when one of the men called out, "Is +that you, Jack?" he answered, "Ay, ay!" without stopping.</p> + +<p class="normal">At the gate of the court he heard a good many voices talking within; +and, it must be acknowledged, that, although as brave a man as ever +lived, he was not without a strong sense of the dangers of his +situation. But he suffered it not to master him in the least; and +advancing resolutely, he soon got the faint outline of several groups +of men--amounting in the whole to about thirty--assembled on the green +between the walls and the keep. Walking resolutely up to one of these +little knots, he looked boldly amongst the persons it comprised as if +seeking for somebody. Their faces could scarcely be distinguished; but +the voices of one or two who were talking together, showed him that +the group was a hazardous one, as it contained several of the most +notorious smugglers of the neighbourhood, who had but too good cause +to be well acquainted with his person and his tongue. He went on, +consequently, to the next little party, which he soon judged, from the +conversation he overheard, to be principally composed of strangers. +One man spoke of how they did those things in Sussex, and told of how +he had aided to haul up, Heaven knows how many bales of goods over the +bare face of the cliff between Hastings and Winchelsea. Judging, +therefore, that he was here in security, the officer attached himself +to this group, and, after a while, ventured to ask, "Do ye know what's +to be the hour, about?"</p> + +<p class="normal">The man he spoke to answered "No!" adding that, they could not tell +anything "till the gentleman came." This, however, commenced a +conversation, and Mowle was speedily identified with that group, +which, consisting entirely of strangers, as he had supposed, did not +mingle much with the rest. Every one present was armed; and he found +that though some had come on foot like himself, the greater part had +journeyed on horseback. He had a good opportunity also of learning +that, notwithstanding every effort made by the Government, the system +of smuggling was carried on along the coast to a much greater extent +than even he himself had been aware of. Many of his brother officers +were spoken of in high terms of commendation, which did not sound very +satisfactory to his ears; and many a hint for his future operations, +he gained from the gossip of those who surrounded him.</p> + +<p class="normal">Still time wore on, and he began to be a little uneasy lest he should +be detained longer than the hour which he had specified in his note to +the colonel of dragoons. But at length, towards ten o'clock, the quick +tramping of a number of horses were heard, and several voices +speaking; and a minute after, five or six and twenty men entered the +grass court, and came up hastily to the rest.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Now, are you all ready?" cried a voice, which Mowle instantly +recognised as that of young Radford.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, we've been waiting these two hours," answered one of those in +the group which the officer had first approached; "but you'll never +have enough here, sir."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Never you mind that," rejoined Richard Radford, "there are eighty +more at Lympne, and a good number down at Dymchurch already, +with plenty of horses. Come, muster, muster, and let us be off, +for the landing will begin at one, and we have a good long way to +go.--Remember, every one," he continued, raising his voice, "that +the way is by Butter's Bridge, and then down and along the shore. If +any one takes the road by Burmarsh he will fall in with the dragoons. +Troop off, my men, troop off. You Ned, and you Major, see that the +court is quite cleared; we must have none lagging behind."</p> + +<p class="normal">This precaution did not at all disconcert our good friend Mowle, for +he judged that he should very easily find the means of detaching +himself from the rest, at the nearest point to Hythe; and accordingly +he walked on with the party he had joined, till they arrived at the +spot where they had seen the horses tied. There, however, the greater +part mounted, and the others joined a different body, which Mowle was +well aware was not quite so safe; for acting as the chief thereof, and +looking very sharply after his party too, was no other than our friend +the Major. Mowle now took good care to keep silence--a prudent step, +which was enjoined upon them all by Mr. Radford and some others, who +seemed to have the direction of the affair. But notwithstanding every +care, the tread of so many men and so many horses made a considerable +noise; and just as they were passing a small cottage, not a quarter of +a mile from Saltwood, the good dame within opened the door to see what +such a bustle could be about. As she did so, the light from the +interior fell full upon Mowle's face, and the eyes of the Major, +turned towards the door at the same moment, rested upon him for an +instant, and were then withdrawn. It were vain to say, that the worthy +officer felt quite as comfortable at that moment as if he had been in +his own house; but when no notice was taken, he comforted himself with +the thought that his disguise had served him well, and trudged on with +the rest, without showing any hesitation or surprise. About half a +mile farther lay the turning which he proposed to take to reach Hythe; +and he contrived to get over to the left side of the party, in order +to drop off in that direction unperceived. When he was within ten +steps of it, however, and was congratulating himself that the party, +having scattered a little, gave him greater facilities for executing +his scheme, an arm was familiarly thrust through his own, and a pair +of lips, close to his ear, said in a low, but very distinct tone, "I +know you--and if you attempt to get off, you are a dead man! Continue +with the party, and you are safe. When the goods are landed and gone, +you shall go; but the least suspicious movement before, shall bring +twenty bullets into your head. You did me a good turn yesterday +morning before the Justices, in not raking up old offences; and I am +willing to do you a good turn now; but this is all I can do for you."</p> + +<p class="normal">Mowle turned round, well knowing the voice, nodded his head, and +walked on with the rest in the direction of Lympne.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="div2_06" href="#div2Ref_06">CHAPTER VI.</a></h2> +<br> + +<p class="normal">Towards half-past ten o'clock at night, the Inn at Hythe was somewhat +quieter than it had been on the evening before. This was not a punch +club night; there was no public dinner going forward; a great many +accustomed guests were absent, and the house was left nearly vacant of +all visitors, except the young commandant of the dragoons, his two or +three servants, and three stout-looking old soldiers, who had come in +about ten, and taken possession of the tap-room, in their full +uniform, scaring away, as it would seem, a sharp-looking man, who had +been previously drinking there in solitude, only cheered by the +occasional visits and brief conversation of the landlord. The officer +himself was up stairs in his room, with a soldier at his door, as +usual, and was supposed by all the household to be busy writing; but, +in the meanwhile, there was a good deal of bustle in the stables; and +about a quarter before eleven, the ostler came in, and informed the +landlord, that they were saddling three of the colonel's horses, and +his two grooms' horses.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Saddling three!" cried the host; "why, he can't ride three horses at +once, anyhow; and where can he be going to ride to-night? I must run +and see if I can pump it out of the fellows;" and away he walked +to the stables, where he found the men--two grooms, and two +helpers--busily engaged in the occupation which the ostler had stated.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah," said the landlord, "so there is something going on to-night?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not that I know of," answered the head groom. "Tie down that holster, +Bill. The thongs are loose--don't you see?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, but there must be something in the wind," rejoined the landlord, +"the colonel wouldn't ride out so late else."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Lord bless you!" replied the man, "little you know of his ways. Why, +sometimes he'll have us all up at two or three in the morning, just to +visit a post of perhaps twenty men. He's a smart officer, I can tell +you; and no one must be caught napping in his regiment, that's +certain."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But you have saddled three horses for him!" said the landlord, +returning to his axiom; "and he can't ride three at once, any how."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ay, but who can tell which he may like to ride?" rejoined the groom, +"we shan't know anything about that, till he comes into the stable, +most likely."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And where is he going to, to-night?" asked the landlord.</p> + +<p class="normal">"We can't tell that he's going anywhere," answered the man; "but if he +does, I should suppose it would be to Folkestone. The major is away on +leave, you know; and it is just as likely as not, that he'll go over +to see that all's right there."</p> + +<p class="normal">The worthy host was not altogether satisfied with the information he +received; but as he clearly saw that he should get no more, he +retired, and went into the tap, to try the dragoons, without being +more successful in that quarter than he had been in the stables.</p> + +<p class="normal">In the meantime, his guest up stairs had finished his letters--had +dressed himself in uniform--armed himself, and laid three brace of +pistols, charged, upon the table, for the holsters of his saddles; and +then taking a large map of the county, he leaned over it, tracing the +different roads, which at that time intersected the Weald of Kent. Two +or three times he took out his watch; and as the hour of eleven drew +near, he began to feel considerable alarm for the fate of poor Mowle.</p> + +<p class="normal">"If they discover him, they will murder him, to a certainty," he +thought; "and I believe a more honest fellow does not live.--It was a +rash and foolish undertaking. The measures I have adopted could not +fail.--Hark! there is the clock striking. We must lose no more time. +We may save him yet, or at all events, avenge him." He then called the +soldier from the door, and sent off a messenger to the house of the +second officer of Customs, named Birchett, who came up in a few +minutes.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Mr. Birchett," said the colonel, "I fear our friend Mowle has got +himself into a scrape;" and he proceeded to detail as many of the +circumstances as were necessary to enable the other to comprehend the +situation of affairs; and ended by asking, "Are you prepared to act in +Mr. Mowle's absence?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, yes, sir," answered Birchett. "Mowle did not tell me the +business; but he said, I must have my horse saddled. He was always a +close fellow, and kept all the intelligence to himself."</p> + +<p class="normal">"In this case it was absolutely necessary," replied the colonel; "but +without any long explanations, I think you had better ride down +towards Dymchurch at once, with all the men you can trust, keeping as +sharp a look-out as you can on the coast, and sending me information +the moment you receive intelligence that the run has been effected. Do +not attempt to attack the smugglers without sufficient force; but +despatch two men by different roads, to intimate the fact to me at +Aldington Knowle, where I shall be found throughout the night."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ay, sir," answered the officer, "but suppose the fellows take along +by Burmarsh, and so up to Hardy Pool. They will pass you, and be off +into the country before anything can be done."</p> + +<p class="normal">"They will be stopped at Burmarsh," replied the colonel; "orders have +been given to barricade the road at nightfall, and to defend the +hamlet against any one coming from the sea. I shall establish another +post at Lympne as I go. Leave all that to me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But you must have a requisition, sir, or I suppose you are not +authorized to act," said the officer. "I will get one for you in a +minute."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have one," answered the Colonel, laying hand on the papers before +him; "but even were it not so, I should act on my own responsibility. +This is no ordinary case, Mr. Birchett. All you have to do is to ride +off towards Dymchurch as fast as you can, to give me notice that the +smugglers have landed their goods as soon as you find that such is the +case, and to add any information that you can gain respecting the +course they have taken. Remember, not to attack them unless you find +that you have sufficient force, but follow and keep them in sight as +far as you can."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It's such a devilish foggy night, sir," said Birchett.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It will be clearer inland," replied the young officer; "and we shall +catch them at day break. We can only fail from want of good +information; so see that I have the most speedy intelligence. But +stay--lest anything should go wrong, or be misunderstood with regard +to the beacons, you may as well, if you have men to spare, send off as +you pass, after the run has been effected, to the different posts at +Brenzet, at Snave, at Ham Street, with merely these words, 'The goods +are landed. The smugglers are at such a place.' The parties will act +upon the orders they have already received. Now away, and lose no +time!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The riding officer hurried off, and the colonel of the regiment +descended to the court-yard. In three minutes more the sound of a +trumpet was heard in the streets of Hythe, and in less than ten, a +party of about thirty dragoons were marching out of the town towards +Lympne. A halt for about five minutes was made at the latter place, +and the small party of soldiers was diminished to about half its +number. Information, too, was there received, from one of the +cottagers, of a large body of men (magnified in his account into three +or four hundred) having gone down into the marshes about half an hour +before; but the commanding officer made no observation in reply, and +having given the orders he thought necessary, rode on towards +Aldington. The fog was thick in all the low ground, but cleared away a +good deal upon the more elevated spots; and as they were rising one of +the hills, the Serjeant who was with the party exclaimed, "There is +something very red up there, sir! It looks as if there were a beacon +lighted up, if we could see it for the fog."</p> + +<p class="normal">The young officer halted for a moment, looked round, and then rode on +till he reached the summit of the hill, whence a great light, clearly +proceeding from a beacon, was discovered to the north-east.</p> + +<p class="normal">"That must be near Postling," he said. "We have no party there. It +must be some signal of their own." And as he rode on, he thought, "It +is not impossible that poor Mowle's rashness may have put these men on +their guard, and thus thwarted the whole scheme. That is clearly some +warning to their boats."</p> + +<p class="normal">But ere a quarter of an hour more had passed, he saw the probability +of still more disastrous effects, resulting from the lighting of the +beacon on Tolsford Hill; for another flame shot up, casting a red +glare through the haze from the side of Burmarsh, and then another and +another, till the dim air seemed all tinged with flame.</p> + +<p class="normal">"An unlucky error," he said to himself. "Serjeant Jackson should have +known that we have no party in that quarter; and the beacons were only +to be lighted, from the first towards Hythe. It is very strange how +the clearest orders are sometimes misunderstood."</p> + +<p class="normal">He rode on, however, at a quick pace, till he reached Aldington +Knowle, and had found the highest ground in the neighbourhood, whence, +after pausing for a minute or two to examine the country, as marked +out by the various fires, he dispatched three of the dragoons in +different directions, with orders to the parties in the villages round +to disregard the lights they saw, and not to act upon the orders +previously given, till they received intimation that the smugglers +were on the march.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was now about midnight, and during nearly two hours the young +officer remained stationed upon the hill without any one approaching, +or any sound breaking the stillness of the night but the stamping of +the horses of his little force and the occasional clang of the +soldiers' arms. At the end of that period, the tramp of horse coming +along the road at a quick pace from the side of Hythe, was heard by +the party on the more elevated ground at a little distance from the +highway. There was a tightening of the bridle and a movement of the +heel amongst the men, to bring their chargers into more regular line; +but not a word was said, and the colonel remained in front, with his +arms crossed upon his chest and his rein thrown down, while what +appeared from the sound to be a considerable body of cavalry, passed +before him. He could not see them, it is true, from the darkness of +the night; but his ear recognised in a moment the jingling of the +dragoons' arms, and he concluded rightly, that the party consisted of +the company which he had ordered from Folkestone down to Bilsington. +As soon as they had gone on, he detached a man to the next cross road +on the same side, with orders, if he perceived any body of men coming +across from the side of the Marsh, to ride forward at once to the +officer in command at Bilsington, and direct him to move to the north, +keeping the Priory wood on the right, till he reached the cross-roads +at the corner, and wait there for further orders. The beacons had by +this time burnt out; and all remained dark and still for about half an +hour more, when the quick galloping of a horse was heard coming from +the side of the Marsh. A pause took place as soon as the animal +reached the high road, as if the rider had halted to look for some one +he had expected; and--dashing down instantly through the gate of the +field, which had been opened by the dragoons to gain the highest point +of ground--the young officer exclaimed, "Who goes there?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah, colonel, is that you?" cried the voice of Birchett. "They are +coming up as fast as they can come, and will pass either by Bilsington +or Bonnington. There's a precious lot of them--I never saw such a +number gathered before. Mowle's gone, poor fellow, to a certainty; for +we've seen nothing of him down there."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nor I either," answered the young officer, with a sigh. "I hope you +have left men to watch them, Mr. Birchett."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh yes, sir," replied the officer. "I thought it better to come up +myself, than trust to any other. But I left Clinch and the rest there, +and sent off, as you told me, to all your posts."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are sure they will come by Bilsington or Bonnington, and not +strike off by Kitsbridge, towards Ham Street or Warehorn?" demanded +the young officer.</p> + +<p class="normal">"If they do, they'll have to turn all the way back," answered +Birchett; "for I saw them to the crossing of the roads, and then came +across by Sherlock's Bridges and the horse-road to Hurst."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And are you quite sure," continued the colonel, "that your messengers +will reach the parties at Brenzet or Snave?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Quite, sir," answered the Custom-House officer; "for I did not send +them off till the blackguards had passed, and the country behind was +clear."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That was judicious; and we have them," rejoined the young officer. "I +trust they may take by Bonnington; but it will be necessary to +ascertain the fact. You shall go down, Mr. Birchett, yourself, with +some of the troopers, and reconnoitre. Go as cautiously as possible; +and if you see or hear them passing, fall back quietly. If they do not +appear in reasonable time, send me intelligence. You can calculate the +distances better than I can."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I believe they will go by Bonnington," said the Customs officer; "for +it's much shorter, and I think they must know of your party at +Bilsington; though, to be sure, they could easily force that, for it +is but a sergeant's guard."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are mistaken," answered the colonel.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Captain Irby is there with his troop; and, together with the parties +moving up, on a line with the smugglers from the Marsh, he will have a +hundred and fifty men, either in Bilsington, or three miles in his +rear. Nevertheless, we must give him help, in case they take that +road; so you had better ride down at once, Mr. Birchett."</p> + +<p class="normal">And, ordering three of the privates to accompany the Custom-House +officer, with renewed injunctions to caution and silence, he resumed +his position on the hill, and waited in expectation of the result.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="div2_07" href="#div2Ref_07">CHAPTER VII.</a></h2> +<br> + +<p class="normal">The cottages round Dymchurch, and the neighbourhood of the Gut, as it +is called, showed many a cheerful light about eleven o'clock, on the +night of which we have just been speaking; and, as the evening had +been cold and damp, it seemed natural enough to the two officers of +Customs stationed in the place--or at least they chose to think +so--that the poor people should have a fire to keep them warm. If they +had judged it expedient to go forth, instead of remaining in the house +appropriated to them, they might indeed have discovered a fragrant +odour of good Hollands, and every now and then a strong smell of +brandy, issuing from any hovel door that happened to open as they +passed. But the two officers did not judge it expedient to go forth; +for it was late, they were warm and comfortable where they were, a +good bowl of punch stood before them, and one of them, as he ladled +out the exhilarating liquor to the other, remarked, with philosophical +sagacity, "It's such a foggy night, who the deuce could see anything +on the water even if they went to look for it?"</p> + +<p class="normal">The other laughed, with a meaning wink of his eye, and perfectly +agreed in the justice of his companion's observation. "Well, we must +go out, Jim, about twelve," he said, "just to let old Mowle see that +we are looking about; but you can go down to High Nook, and I can +pretend I heard something suspicious in the Marsh, farther up. +Otherwise, we shall be broke, to a certainty."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I don't care, if I am broke," answered the other. "I've got all that +I want now, and can set up a shop."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, I should like to hold on a little longer," replied his more +prudent companion; "and besides, if they found us out, they might do +worse than discharge us."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But how the deuce should they find us out?" asked the other. "Nobody +saw me speak to the old gentleman; and nobody saw you. I didn't: nor +did you see me. So we can say nothing, and nobody else can say +anything--I shan't budge."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, I shall!" said the other. "'Tis but a walk; and you know quite +well, Jim, that if we keep to the westward, it's all safe."</p> + +<p class="normal">It was evident to the last speaker that his comrade had drunk quite +enough punch; but still they went on till the bowl was finished; and +then, the one going out, the other did not choose to remain, but +issued forth also, cursing and growling as he went. The murmur of a +good many voices to the eastward of Dymchurch saluted their ears the +moment they quitted the house; but that sound only induced them to +hasten their steps in the opposite direction.</p> + +<p class="normal">The noise which produced this effect upon the officers, had also been +heard by another person, who was keeping his solitary watch on the low +shore, three or four hundred yards from the village; and to him it was +a pleasant sound. He had been on the look-out there for nearly two +hours; and no sight had he seen, nor sound had he heard, but the water +coming up as the tide made, and every now and then driving him further +back to avoid the ripple of the wave. Two or three minutes after, a +step could be distinguished; and some one gave a whistle.</p> + +<p class="normal">The watcher whistled in return; and the next instant he was joined by +another person, somewhat taller than himself, who inquired, "Have you +heard anything of them yet?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, sir," answered the man, in a respectful tone. "Everything has +been as still and as sleepy as an old woman's cat."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then what the devil's the meaning of these fires all over the +country?" asked young Radford; for he it was who had come down.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Fires, sir?" said the man. "Why they were to light one upon Tolsford +Hill, when Harding sent up the rockets; but I have heard of none but +that, and have seen none at all."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why, they are blazing all over the country," cried young Radford, +from Tolsford to Dungeness. "If it's any of our people that have done +it, they must be mad."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, if they have lighted the one at Tolsford,"' answered the man, +"we shall soon have Tom Hazlewood down to tell us more; for he was to +set off and gallop as fast as possible, whenever he saw anything."</p> + +<p class="normal">Young Radford made no reply, but stood musing in silence for two or +three minutes; and then starting, he exclaimed, "Hark! wasn't that a +cheer from the sea?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I didn't hear it," answered the man; "but I thought I heard some one +riding."</p> + +<p class="normal">Young Radford listened; but all seemed still for a moment, till, +coming upon harder ground, a horse's feet sounded distinctly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Tom Hazlewood, I think," cried Radford. "Run up, and see, Bill!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"He'll come straight down here, sir," replied the man; "he knows where +to find me." And almost as he spoke, a man on horseback galloped up, +saying, "They must be well in shore now."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Who the devil lighted all those fires?" exclaimed young Radford. "Why +they will alarm the whole country!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I don't know, sir," answered the man on horseback; "I lighted the one +at Tolsford, but I've nothing to do with the others, and don't know +who lighted them."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then you saw the rockets?" demanded the young gentleman.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Quite clear, sir," replied Hazlewood; "I got upon the highest point +that I could find, and kept looking out over the sea, thinking I +should see nothing; for though it was quite clear up so high, and the +stars shining as bright as possible, yet all underneath was like a +great white cloud rolled about; but suddenly, as I was looking over +this way, I saw something like a star shoot up from the cloud and +burst into a thousand bright sparks, making quite a blaze all round +it; and then came another, and then another. So, being quite sure that +it was Jack Harding at sea, I ran down as hard as I could to where I +had left Peter by the pile of wood and the two old barrels, and taking +the candle out of his lantern, thrust it in. As soon as it was in a +blaze, I got outside my horse and galloped down; for he could not be +more than two or three miles out when I saw the rockets."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then he must be close in now," answered Richard Radford; "and we had +better get all the men down, and spread out."</p> + +<p class="normal">"There will be time enough, sir, I should think," observed the man on +foot, "for he'll get the big boats in, as near as he can, before he +loads the little ones."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will fire a pistol, to let him know where we are," answered young +Radford; and drawing one from his belt, he had cocked it, when the man +on foot stopped him, saying, "There are two officers in Dymchurch, you +know, sir, and they may send off for troops."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Pooh--nonsense!" replied Richard Radford, firing the pistol in the +air; "do you think we would have left them there, if we were not sure +of them?"</p> + +<p class="normal">In somewhat less than a minute, a distinct cheer was heard from the +sea; and at the sound of the pistol, a crowd of men and horses, which +in the mist and darkness seemed innumerable, began to gather down upon +the shore, as near to the water's edge as they could come. A great +many lanterns were produced, and a strange and curious sight it was to +see the number of wild-looking faces which appeared by that dim, +uncertain light.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ned Ramley!" cried young Radford.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Here I am, sir," answered a voice close at hand.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Where's the Major?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Major! Major!" shouted Ramley.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Coming," answered a voice at some distance. "Stand by him, and do as +I told you!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"What's the matter?" demanded Richard Radford, as the Major came up.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, nothing, sir!" replied the other; "only a man I found larking +about. He says he's willing to help; but I thought it best to set a +watch upon him, as I don't know him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That was right," said the young gentleman. "But, hark!--there are the +oars!" And the sound of the regular sweep, and the shifting beat of +the oar against the rowlocks, was distinctly heard by all present. +Some of the men waded down into the water, there being very little sea +running, and soon, through the mist, six boats of a tolerable size +could be seen pulling hard towards the land. In another moment, amidst +various cries and directions, they touched the shore. Several men +jumped out of each into the water, and a number of the party which had +come down to meet them, running in, caught hold of the ropes that were +thrown out of the boats, and with marvellous rapidity they were drawn +up till they were high and dry.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah, Harding, is that you?" said young Radford, addressing the +smuggler, who had been steering the largest boat. "This is capitally +managed. You are even earlier than I expected; and we shall get far +into the country before daylight."</p> + +<p class="normal">"We were obliged to use the sweeps, sir," said Harding, bluntly; "but +don't let's talk. Get the things out, and load the horses; for we +shall have to make two more trips back to the luggers before they are +all cleared."</p> + +<p class="normal">Everything was now bustle and activity; a number of bales and packages +were taken out of the boats and placed upon the horses in one way or +another, not always the most convenient to the poor animals; and as +soon as Harding had made Mr. Radford count the number of the articles +landed, the boats were launched off again to some larger vessels, +which it seems were lying out at a little distance, though +indiscernible in the fog.</p> + +<p class="normal">Harding himself remained ashore; and turning to one or two of those +about him, he asked, "What was all that red blaze I saw half over the +country?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"None of us can tell," answered young Radford. "The moment the fire at +Tolsford was lighted, a dozen more were flaming up, all along to +Dungeness."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That's devilish strange!" said Harding. "It does not look well.--How +many men have you got with you, Mr. Radford?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why, well nigh upon two hundred," answered Ned Ramley, for his +comrade.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah, then you'll do," answered Harding, with a laugh; "but still you +won't be the worse for some more. So I and some of the lads will see +you safe across the Marsh. The Customs have got nothing at sea about +here; so the boats will be safe enough."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thank you, Harding--thank you, Jack;" said several of the voices. +"Once out of the Marsh, with all these ditches and things, and we +shall do very well. How far are the luggers off?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not a hundred fathom," answered Harding. "I would have run them +ashore if there had been any capstan here to have drawn them up. But +they wont be a minute, so have every thing ready. Move off those +horses that are loaded, a bit, my lads, and bring up the others."</p> + +<p class="normal">Harding's minute, however, extended to nearly ten, and then the boats +were again perceived approaching, and the same process was followed as +before. The third trip was then made with equal success and ease. Not +the slightest difficulty occurred, not the slightest obstruction was +offered; the number of packages was declared to be complete, the +horses were all loaded, and the party began to move off in a long +line, across the Marsh, like a caravan threading the mazes of the +desert.</p> + +<p class="normal">Leaving a few men with the boats that were ashore, Harding and the +rest of the seamen, with Mr. Radford, and several of his party, +brought up the rear of the smugglers, talking over the events which +had taken place, and the course of their farther proceedings. All +seemed friendly and good-humoured; but there is such a thing as +seeming, even amongst smugglers, and if Harding could have seen the +real feelings of some of his companions towards him, it is very +probable that he would not have given himself the trouble to accompany +them on the way.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will pay you the money when I get to Bonnington," said young +Radford, addressing his companion. "I can't very well get at it till I +dismount."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, there's no matter for that, sir," replied the smuggler. "Your +father can pay me some other time.--But what are you going to +Bonnington for? I should have thought your best way would have been by +Bilsington, and so straight into the Weald. Then you would have had +the woods round about you the greater part of the way; or I don't know +that I might not have gone farther down still, and so by Orleston."</p> + +<p class="normal">"There's a party of dragoons at Bilsington," said young Radford, "and +another at Ham Street."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ay, that alters the case," answered the smuggler; "but they are all +so scattered about and so few, I should think they could do you no +great harm. However, it will be best for you to go by Bonnington, if +you are sure there are no troops there."</p> + +<p class="normal">"If there are, we must fight: that's all," answered young Radford; and +so ended the conversation for the time. One of those pauses of deep +silence succeeded, which--by the accidental exhaustion of topics and +the recurrence of the mind to the thoughts suggested by what has just +passed--so frequently intervene in the conversation even of great +numbers, whether occupied with light or serious subjects. How often do +we find, amidst the gayest or the busiest assembly, a sudden stillness +pervade the whole, and the ear may detect a pin fall. In the midst of +the silence, however, Harding laid his hand upon young Radford's +bridle, saying, in a low voice, "Hark! do you not hear the galloping +of horses to the east there?"</p> + +<p class="normal">The young man, on the first impulse, put his hand to his holster; but +then withdrew it, and listened. "I think I do," he answered; "but now +it has stopped."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are watched, I suspect," said Harding; "they did not seem many, +however, and may be afraid to attack you. If I were you, I would put +the men into a quicker pace; for these fellows may gather as they +go.--If you had got such things with you as you could throw into the +cuts, it would not much matter; for you could fight it out here, as +well as elsewhere; but, if I understood your father rightly, these +goods would all be spoiled, and so the sooner you are out of the Marsh +the better. Then you will be safe enough, if you are prudent. You may +have to risk a shot or two; but that does not much matter."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And what do you call prudent, Harding?" asked young Radford, in a +wonderfully calm tone, considering his vehement temperament, and the +excitement of the adventure in which he was engaged; "how would you +have me act, when I do get out of the Marsh?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why, that seems clear enough," replied the smuggler. "I would send +all the goods and the men on foot, first, keeping along the straight +road between the woods; and then, with all those who have got horses, +I would hang behind a quarter of a mile or so, till the others had +time to get on and disperse to the different hides, which ought to be +done as soon as possible. Let a number drop off here, and a number +there--one set to the willow cave, close by Woodchurch hill, another +to the old Priory in the wood, and so on: you still keeping behind, +and facing about upon the road, if you are pursued. If you do that, +you are sure to secure the goods, or by far the greater part of them."</p> + +<p class="normal">The advice was so good--as far as young Radford knew of the condition +of the country, and the usual plan of operations which had hitherto +been pursued by the Customs in their pursuit of smugglers--that he +could offer no reasonable argument against it; but when prejudice has +taken possession of a man's mind, it is a busy and skilful framer of +suspicions; and he thought within his own breast, though he did not +speak his intentions aloud, "No! Hang me if I leave the goods till I +see them safe housed. This fellow may want to ruin us, by separating +us into small parties."</p> + +<p class="normal">The rest of the party had, by this time, resumed their conversation; +and both Radford and Harding well knew that it would be vain to +attempt to keep them quiet; for they were a rash and careless set, +inclined to do everything with dash and swagger; and although, in the +presence of actual and apparent danger, they could be induced to +preserve some degree of order and discipline, and to show some +obedience to their leaders, yet as soon as the peril had passed away, +or was no longer immediately before their eyes, they were like +schoolboys in the master's absence, and careless of the consequences +which they did not see. Twice Harding said, in a low voice, "I hear +them again to the east, there!" and twice young Radford urged his men +to a quicker pace; but many of them had come far; horses and men were +tired; every one considered that, as the goods were safely landed, and +no opposition shown, the battle was more than half won; and all forgot +the warning of the day before, as man ever forgets the chastisements +which are inflicted by Heaven for his good, and falls the next day +into the very same errors, for the reproof of which they were sent.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Now," said Harding, as they approached the spot where the Marsh road +opened upon the highway to Bonnington, "spread some of your men out on +the right and left, Mr. Radford, to keep you clear in case the enemy +wish to make an attack. Your people can easily close in, and follow +quickly, as soon as the rest have passed."</p> + +<p class="normal">"If they do make an attack," thought young Radford, "your head shall +be the first I send a ball through;" but the advice was too judicious +to be neglected; and he accordingly gave orders to Ned Ramley and the +Major, with ten men each, to go one or two hundred yards on the road +towards Bilsington on the one hand, and Hurst on the other, and see +that all was safe. A little confusion ensued, as was but natural in so +badly disciplined a body; and in the meanwhile the laden horses +advanced along the road straight into the heart of the country, while +Richard Radford, with the greater part of his mounted men, paused to +support either of his parties in case of attack. He said something in +a low voice regarding the money, to Harding, who replied abruptly, +"There--never mind about that; only look out, and get off as quickly +as you can. You are safe enough now, I think; so good night."</p> + +<p class="normal">Thus saying, he turned, and with the six or eight stout fellows who +accompanied him, trod his way back into the Marsh. What passed through +young Radford's brain at that moment it may be needless to dwell upon; +but Harding escaped a peril that he little dreamed of, solely by the +risk of ruin to the whole scheme which a brawl at that spot and moment +must have entailed.</p> + +<p class="normal">The men who had been detached to the right, advanced along the road to +the distance specified, proceeding slowly in the fog, and looking +eagerly out before. "Look out," said Ned Ramley, at length, to one of +his companions, taking a pistol from his belt at the same time, "I see +men on horseback there, I think."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Only trees in the fog," answered the other.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Hush!" cried Ramley, sharply; but the other men were talking +carelessly, and whether it was the sound of retreating horses or not, +that he heard, he could not discover. After going on about three +hundred yards, Ned Ramley turned, saying, "We had better go back now, +and give warning; for I am very sure those were men I saw."</p> + +<p class="normal">The other differed with him on that point; and, on rejoining Richard +Radford, they found the Major and his party just come back from the +Bilsington road, but with one man short. "That fellow," said the +Major, "has taken himself off. I was sure he was a spy, so we had +better go on as fast as possible. We shall have plenty of time before +he can raise men enough to follow."</p> + +<p class="normal">"There are others to the east, there," replied Ned Ramley. "I saw two +or three, and there is no time to be lost, I say, or we shall have the +whole country upon us. If I were you, Mr. Radford, I'd disperse in as +small numbers as possible whenever we get to the Chequer-tree; and +then if we lose a few of the things, we shall keep the greater +part--unless, indeed, you are minded to stand it out, and have a fight +upon the Green. We are enough to beat them all, I should think."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ay, Ned, that is the gallant way," answered Richard Radford; "but we +must first see what is on before. We must not lose the goods, or risk +them; otherwise nothing would please me better than to drub these +dragoons; but in case it should be dark still when they come near +us--if they do at all--we'll have a blow or two before we have done, I +trust. However, let us forward now, for we must keep up well with the +rest."</p> + +<p class="normal">The party moved on at a quick pace, and soon overtook the train of +loaded horses, and men on foot, which had gone on before. Many a time +a glance was given along the road behind, and many a time an attentive +ear was turned listening for the sound of coming horse; but all was +still and silent; and winding on through the thick woods, which at +that time overspread all the country in the vicinity of their course, +and covered their line of advance right and left, they began to lose +the sense of danger, and to suppose that the sounds which had been +heard, and the forms which had been seen, were but mere creations of +the fancy.</p> + +<p class="normal">About two miles from the border of Romney Marsh, the mist grew +lighter, fading gradually away as the sea air mingled with the clearer +atmosphere of the country. At times a star or two might be seen above; +and though at that hour the moon gave no light, yet there was a +certain degree of brightening in the sky which made some think they +had miscalculated the hour, and that it was nearer the dawn than they +imagined, while others contended that it was produced merely by the +clearing away of the fog. At length, however, they heard a distant +clock strike four. They were now at a spot where three or four roads +branch off in different directions, at a distance of not more than +half-a-mile from Chequer-tree, having a wide extent of rough, +uncultivated land, called Aldington Freight, on their right, and part +of the Priory wood on their left; and it yet wanted somewhat more than +an hour to the actual rising of the sun. A consultation was then held; +and, notwithstanding some differences of opinion, it was resolved to +take the road by Stonecross Green, where they thought they could get +information from some friendly cottagers, and thence through Gilbert's +Wood towards Shaddoxhurst. At that point, they calculated that they +could safely separate in order to convey the goods to the several +<i>hides</i>, or places of concealment, which had been chosen beforehand.</p> + +<p class="normal">At Stonecross Green, they paused again, and knocked hard at a cottage +door, till they brought forth the sleepy tenant from his bed. But the +intelligence gained from him was by no means satisfactory; he spoke of +a large party of dragoons at Kingsnorth, and mentioned reports which +had reached him of a small body having shown itself, at Bromley Green, +late on the preceding night; and it was consequently resolved, after +much debate, to turn off before entering Gilbert's Wood, and, in some +degree retreading their steps towards the Marsh, to make for +Woodchurch beacon and thence to Redbrook Street. The distance was thus +rendered greater, and both men and horses were weary; but the line of +road proposed lay amidst a wild and thinly inhabited part of the +country, where few hamlets or villages offered any quarters for the +dragoons. They calculated, too, that having turned the dragoons who +were quartered at Bilsington, they should thus pass between them and +those at Kingsnorth and Bromley Green: and Richard Radford, himself, +was well aware that there were no soldiers, when he left that part of +the country, in the neighbourhood of High Halden or Bethersden. This +seemed, therefore, the only road that was actually open before them; +and it was accordingly taken, after a general distribution of spirits +amongst the men, and of hay and water to the horses. Still their +progress was slow, for the ground became hilly in that neighbourhood, +and by the time they arrived at an elevated spot, near Woodchurch +Beacon, whence they could see over a wide extent of country round, the +grey light of the dawn was spreading rapidly through the sky, showing +all the varied objects of the fair and beautiful land through which +they wandered.</p> + +<p class="normal">But it is now necessary to turn to another personage in our history, +of whose fate, for some time, we have had no account.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="div2_08" href="#div2Ref_08">CHAPTER VIII.</a></h2> +<br> + +<p class="normal">We left our friend, Mr. Mowle, in no very pleasant situation; for +although the generosity of the Major, in neither divulging the +discovery he had made, to the rest of the smugglers, nor blowing the +brains of the intruder out upon the spot, was, perhaps, much more than +could be expected from a man in his situation and of his habits, yet +it afforded no guarantee whatsoever to the unfortunate Custom-House +officer, that his life would not be sacrificed on the very first +danger or alarm. He also knew, that if such an accident were to happen +again, as that which had at first displayed his features to one of +those into whose nocturnal councils he had intruded, nothing on earth +could save him; for amongst the gang by whom he was surrounded, were a +number of men who had sworn to shed his blood on the very first +opportunity.</p> + +<p class="normal">He walked along, therefore, as the reader may well conceive, with the +feeling of a knife continually at his throat; and a long and weary +march it seemed to him, as, proceeding by tortuous ways and zig-zag +paths, the smugglers descended into Romney Marsh, and advanced +rapidly towards Dymchurch. Mowle was, perhaps, as brave and daring a +man as any that ever existed; but still the sensation of impending +death can never be very pleasant to a person in strong health, and +well-contented with the earth on which he is placed; and Mowle felt +all the disagreeable points in his situation, exactly as any other man +would do. It would not be just to him, however, were we not to state, +that many other considerations crossed his mind, besides that of his +own personal safety. The first of these was his duty to the department +of government which he served; and many a plan suggested itself for +making his escape here or there, in which he regarded the apprehension +of the smugglers, and the seizure of the goods that they were going to +escort into the country, fully as much as his own life.</p> + +<p class="normal">His friend the Major, however, took means to frustrate all such plans, +and seemed equally careful to prevent Mr. Mowle from effecting his +object, and to guard against his being discovered by the other +smugglers. At every turn and corner, at the crossing of every stream +or cut, the Major was by his side; and yet once or twice he whispered +a caution to him to keep out of the way of the lights, more especially +as they approached Dymchurch. When they came near the shore, and a +number of men with lanterns issued forth to aid them from the various +cottages in the vicinity, he told Mowle to keep back with one party, +consisting of hands brought out of Sussex, who were stationed in the +rear with a troop of the horses. But at the same time Mowle heard his +compassionate friend direct two of the men to keep a sharp eye upon +him, as he was a stranger, of whom the leaders were not quite sure, +adding an injunction to blow his brains out at once, if he made the +slightest movement without orders.</p> + +<p class="normal">In the bustle and confusion which ensued, during the landing of the +smuggled goods and the loading of the horses, Mowle once or twice +encouraged a hope that something would favour his escape. But the two +men strictly obeyed the orders they had received, remained close to +his side during more than an hour and a half, which was consumed upon +the beach, and never left him till he was rejoined by the Major, who +told him to march on with the rest.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What's to come of this?" thought Mowle, as he proceeded, "and what can +the fellow intend to do with me?--If he drags me along with them till +daylight, one half of them will know me; and then the game's up--and +yet he can't mean me harm, either. Well, I may have an opportunity of +repaying him some day."</p> + +<p class="normal">When the party arrived at Bonnington, however, and, as we have already +stated, two small bodies were sent off to the right and left, to +reconnoitre the ground on either side, Mowle was one of those selected +by the Major to accompany him on the side of Bilsington. But after +having gone to the prescribed distance, without discovering anything +to create suspicion, the worthy field-officer gave the order to +return; and contriving to disentangle Mowle from the rest, he +whispered in his ear, "Off with you as fast as you can, and take back +by the Marsh, for if you give the least information, or bring the +soldiers upon us, be you sure that some of us will find means to cut +your throat.--Get on, get on fast!" he continued aloud, to the other +men. "We've no time to lose;" and Mowle, taking advantage of the hurry +and confusion of the moment, ran off towards Bilsington as fast as his +legs could carry him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"He's off!" cried one of the men. "Shall I give him a shot?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No--no," answered the Major, "it will only make more row. He's more +frightened than treacherous, I believe. I don't think he'll peach."</p> + +<p class="normal">Thus saying, he rejoined the main body of the smugglers, as we have +seen; and Mowle hurried on his way without pause, running till he was +quite out of breath. Now, the Major, in his parting speech to Mowle, +though a shrewd man, had miscalculated his course, and mistaken the +person with whom he had to deal. Had he put it to the Custom-House +officer, as a matter of honour and generosity, not to inform against +the person who had saved his life, poor Mowle would have been in a +situation of great perplexity; but the threat which had been used, +relieved him of half the difficulty. Not that he did not feel a +repugnance to the task which duty pointed out--not that he did not ask +himself, as soon as he had a moment to think of anything, "What ought +I to do? How ought I to act?" But still the answer was, that his duty +and his oath required him immediately to take steps for the pursuit +and capture of the smugglers; and when he thought of the menace he +said to himself, "No, no; if I don't do what I ought, these fellows +will only say that I was afraid."</p> + +<p class="normal">Having settled the matter in his own mind, he proceeded to execute his +purpose with all speed, and hurried on towards Bilsington, where he +knew there was a small party of dragoons, proposing to send off +messengers immediately to the colonel of the regiment and to all the +different posts around. It was pitch dark, so that he did not perceive +the first houses of the hamlet, till he was within a few yards of +them; and all seemed still and quiet in the place. But after having +passed the lane leading to the church, Mowle heard the stamping of +some horses' feet, and the next instant a voice exclaimed, "Stand! who +goes there?"</p> + +<p class="normal">'"A friend!" answered Mowle. "Where's the sergeant?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Here am I," replied another voice. "Who are you?</p> + +<p class="normal">"My name is Mowle," rejoined our friend, "the chief officer of Customs +at Hythe."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, come along, Mr. Mowle; you are just the man we want," said the +sergeant, advancing a step or two. "Captain Irby is up here, and would +be glad to speak with you."</p> + +<p class="normal">Mowle followed in silence, having, indeed, some occasion to set his +thoughts in order, and to recover his breath. About sixty or seventy +yards farther on, a scene broke upon him, which somewhat surprised +him; for, instead of a dozen dragoons at the most, he perceived, on +turning the corner of the next cottage, a body of at least seventy or +eighty men, as well as he could calculate, standing each beside his +horse, whose breath was seen mingling with the thick fog, by the light +of a single lantern held close to the wall of the house which +concealed the party from the Bonnington Road. Round that lantern were +congregated three or four figures, besides that of the man who held +it; and, fronting the approach, was a young gentleman,<a name="div4Ref_02" href="#div4_02"><sup>[2]</sup></a> dressed in +the usual costume of a dragoon officer of that period. Before him +stood another, apparently a private of the regiment; and the light +shone full upon the faces of both, showing a cold, thoughtful, and +inquiring look upon the countenance of the young officer, and anxious +haste upon that of the inferior soldier.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Here is Mr. Mowle, the chief officer, captain," said the sergeant, as +they advanced.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ha, that is fortunate!" replied Captain Irby. "Now we shall get at +the facts, I suppose. Well, Mr. Mowle, what news?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why, sir, the cargo is landed," exclaimed Mowle, eagerly; "and the +smugglers passed by Bonnington, up towards Chequer-tree, not twenty +minutes ago."</p> + +<p class="normal">"So this man says," rejoined Captain Irby, not the least in the world +in haste. "Have you any fresh orders from the colonel?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, sir; he said all his orders were given when last I saw him," +replied the officer of Customs; "but if you move up quick towards +Chequer-tree, you are sure to overtake them."</p> + +<p class="normal">"How long is it since you saw Sir Henry?" demanded Captain Irby, +without appearing to notice Mowle's suggestion.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, several hours ago," answered the Custom-House agent, somewhat +provoked at the young officer's coolness. "I have been kept prisoner +by the smugglers since ten o'clock--but that is nothing to the +purpose, sir. If you would catch the smugglers, you have nothing for +it but to move up to Chequer-tree after them; and that is what I +require you to do."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have my orders," answered the captain of the troop, with a smile at +the impetuous tone of the Custom-House officer, "and if you bring me +none later, those I shall obey, Mr. Mowle."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, sir, you take the responsibility upon yourself, then," said +Mowle; "I have expressed my opinion, and what I require at your +hands."</p> + +<p class="normal">"The responsibility will rest where it ought," replied Captain Irby, +"on the shoulders of him whom I am bound to obey. For your opinion I +am obliged to you, but it cannot be followed; and as to what you +require, I am under superior authority, which supersedes your +requisition."</p> + +<p class="normal">He then said a word or two to one of the men beside him, who +immediately proceeded to the body of men behind; but all that Mowle +could hear was "Snave" and "Brenzet," repeated once or twice, with +some mention of Woodchurch and the road by Red Brooke Street. The +order was then given to mount, and march; and Mowle remarked that four +troopers rode off at a quick pace before the rest.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Now, Mr. Mowle, we shall want you with us if you please," said +Captain Irby, in a civil tone. "Where is your horse?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Horse!--I have got none;" answered the officer of Customs, a good +deal piqued; "did I not say that I have been a prisoner with the +smugglers for the last five hours? and as to my going with you, sir, I +see no use I can be of, if you do not choose to do what I require, or +follow my advice."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, the greatest--the greatest!" replied the young officer, without +losing his temper for an instant, "and as to a horse, we will soon +supply you."</p> + +<p class="normal">An order was immediately given; and in three minutes the horse of a +dragoon officer, fully caparisoned, was led up to Mowle's side, who, +after a moment's hesitation, mounted, and rode on with the troop. It +must not be denied that he was anything but satisfied, not alone +because he thought that he was not treated with sufficient +deference--although, having for years been accustomed to be obeyed +implicitly by the small parties of dragoons which had been previously +sent down to aid the Customs, it did seem to him very strange that his +opinions should go for nought--but also because he feared that the +public service would suffer, and that the obstinacy, as he called it, +of the young officer, would enable the smugglers to escape. Still more +was his anxiety and indignation raised, when he perceived the slow +pace at which the young officer proceeded, and that instead of taking +the road which he had pointed out, the party kept the Priory Wood on +the right hand, bearing away from Chequer-tree, to which he had +assured himself that Richard Radford and his party were tending.</p> + +<p class="normal">He saw that many precautions were taken, however, which, attributing +them at first to a design of guarding against surprise, he thought +quite unnecessary. Two dragoons were thrown forward at a considerable +distance before the head of the troop; a single private followed about +twenty yards behind them; two more succeeded, and then another, and +last came Captain Irby himself, keeping Mr. Mowle by his side. From +time to time a word was passed down from those who led the advance, +not shouted--but spoken in a tone only loud enough to be heard by the +trooper immediately behind; and this word, for a considerable way, was +merely "All clear!"</p> + +<p class="normal">At length, just at the end of the Priory Wood, where a path, coming +from the east, branched off towards Aldington Freight, and two roads +went away to the north and west, the order to halt was given, to the +surprise and consternation of Mr. Mowle, who conceived that the escape +of the smugglers must be an inevitable result. At length a new word +was passed from the head of the line, which was, "On before." But +still the captain of the troop gave no command to march, and the +soldiers sat idle on their horses for a quarter of an hour longer. +Mowle calculated that it must now be at least half past four or five +o'clock. He thought he perceived the approach of day; and though, in +discontented silence, he ventured to say no more, he would have given +all he had in the world to have had the command of the troop for a +couple of hours. His suspense and anxiety were brought to an end at +length; for just as he was assured, by the greyness of the sky, that +the sun would soon rise, a trooper came dashing down the right-hand +path at full speed, and Captain Irby spurred on to meet him. What +passed between them Mowle could not hear; but the message was soon +delivered, the soldier rode back to the east, by the way he came, and +the order to march was immediately given. Instead, however, of taking +the road to Stonecross, the troop directed its course to the west, but +at a somewhat quicker pace than before. Still a word was passed back +from the head of the line; and, after a short time, the troop was put +into a quick trot, Captain Irby sometimes endeavouring to lead his +companion into general conversation upon any indifferent subject, but +not once alluding to the expedition on which they were engaged. Poor +Mowle was too anxious to talk much. He did not at all comprehend the +plan upon which the young officer was acting; but yet he began to see +that there was some plan in operation, and he repeated to himself more +than once, "There must be something in it, that's clear; but he might +as well tell me what it is, I think."</p> + +<p class="normal">At length he turned frankly round to his companion, and said, "I see +you are going upon some scheme, Captain. I wish to Heaven you would +tell me what it is; for you can't imagine how anxious I am about this +affair."</p> + +<p class="normal">"My good friend," replied Captain Irby, "I know no more of the matter +than you do; so I can tell you nothing about it. I am acting under +orders; and the only difference between you and I is, that you, not +being accustomed to do so, are always puzzling yourself to know what +it all means, while I, being well drilled to such things, do not +trouble my head about it; but do as I am told, quite sure that it will +all go right."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Heaven send it!" answered Mowle; "but here it is broad day-light, and +we seem to be going farther and farther from our object every minute."</p> + +<p class="normal">As if in answer to his last observation, the word was again passed +down from the front, "On, before!" and Captain Irby immediately halted +his troop for about five minutes. At the end of that time, the march +was resumed, and shortly after the whole body issued out upon the side +of one of the hills, a few miles from Woodchurch.</p> + +<p class="normal">The sun was now just risen--the east was glowing with all the hues of +early day--the mist was dispersed or left behind in the neighbourhood +of the Marsh; and a magnificent scene, all filled with golden light, +spread out beneath the eyes of the Custom-House officer. But he had +other objects to contemplate much more interesting to him than the +beauties of the landscape. About three-quarters of a mile in advance, +and in the low ground to the north-west of the hill on which he stood, +appeared a dark, confused mass of men and horses, apparently directing +their course towards Tiffenden; and Mowle's practised eye instantly +perceived that they were the smugglers. At first sight he thought, +"They may escape us yet:" but following the direction in which Captain +Irby's glance was turned, he saw, further on, in the open fields +towards High Halden, a considerable body of horse, whose regular line +at once showed them to be a party of the military. Then turning +towards the little place on his left, called Cuckoo Point, he +perceived, at the distance of about a mile, another troop of dragoons, +who must have marched, he thought, from Brenzet and Appledore.</p> + +<p class="normal">The smugglers seemed to become aware, nearly at the same moment, of +the presence of the troops on the side of High Halden; for they were +observed to halt, to pause for a minute or two, then re-tread their +steps for a short distance, and take their way over the side of the +hill, as if tending towards Plurenden or Little Ingham.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You should cut them off, sir--you should cut them off!" cried Mowle, +addressing Captain Irby, "or, by Jove, they'll be over the hill above +Brook Street; and then we shall never catch them, amongst all the +woods and copses up there. They'll escape, to a certainty!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I think not, if I know my man," answered Captain Irby, coolly; "and, +at all events, Mr. Mowle, I must obey my orders.--But there he comes +over the hill; so that matter's settled. Now let them get out if they +can.--You have heard of a rat-trap, Mr. Mowle?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Mowle turned his eyes in the direction of an opposite hill, about +three-quarters of a mile distant from the spot where he himself stood, +and there, coming up at a rapid pace, appeared an officer in a plain +grey cloak, with two or three others in full regimentals, round him, +while a larger body of cavalry than any he had yet seen, met his eyes, +following their commander about fifty yards behind, and gradually +crowning the summit of the rise, where they halted. The smugglers +could not be at more than half a mile's distance from this party, and +the moment that it appeared, the troops from the side of High Halden +and from Cuckoo Point began to advance at a quick trot, while Captain +Irby descended into the lower ground more slowly, watching, with a +small glass that he carried in his hand, the motions of all the other +bodies, when the view was not cut off by the hedge-rows and copses, as +his position altered. Mowle kept his eyes upon the body of smugglers, +and upon the dragoons on the opposite hill, and he soon perceived a +trooper ride down from the latter group to the former, as if bearing +them some message.</p> + +<p class="normal">The next instant, there was a flash or two, as if the smugglers had +fired upon the soldier sent to them; and then, retreating slowly +towards a large white house, with some gardens and shrubberies and +various outbuildings around it, they manifested a design of occupying +the grounds with the intention of there resisting the attack of the +cavalry. A trooper instantly galloped down, at full speed, towards +Captain Irby, making him a sign with his hand as he came near; and the +troop with whom Mowle had advanced instantly received the command to +charge, while the other, from the hill, came dashing down with +headlong speed towards the confused multitude below.</p> + +<p class="normal">The smugglers were too late in their manœuvre. Embarrassed with a +large quantity of goods and a number of men on foot; they had not time +to reach the shelter of the garden walls, before the party of dragoons +from the hill was amongst them. But still they resisted with fierce +determination, formed with some degree of order, gave the troopers a +sharp discharge of firearms as they came near, and fought hand to hand +with them, even after being broken by their charge.</p> + +<p class="normal">The greater distance which Captain Irby had to advance, prevented his +troop from reaching the scene of strife for a minute or two after the +others; but their arrival spread panic and confusion amongst the +adverse party; and after a brief and unsuccessful struggle, in the +course of which, one of the dragoons was killed, and a considerable +number wounded, nothing was thought of amongst young Radford's band, +but how to escape in the presence of such a force. The goods were +abandoned--all those men who had horses were seen galloping over the +country in different directions; and if any fugitive paused, it was +but to turn and fire a shot at one of the dragoons in pursuit. Almost +every one of the men on foot was taken ere half an hour was over; and +a number of those on horseback were caught and brought back, some +desperately wounded. Several were left dead, or dying, on the spot +where the first encounter had taken place; and amongst the former, +Mowle, with feelings of deep regret, almost approaching remorse, +beheld, as he rode up towards the colonel of the regiment, the body of +his friend, the Major, shot through the head by a pistol-ball. Men of +the Custom-House officer's character, however, soon console themselves +for such things; and Mowle, as he rode on, thought to himself, "After +all, it's just as well! He would only have been hanged--so he's had an +easier death."</p> + +<p class="normal">The young officer in the command of the regiment of dragoons was +seated on horseback, upon the top of a little knoll, with some six or +seven persons immediately around him, while two groups of soldiers, +dismounted, and guarding a number of prisoners, appeared a little in +advance. Amongst those nearest to the Colonel, Mowle remarked his +companion, Birchett, who was pointing, with a discharged pistol, +across the country, and saying, "There he goes, sir, there he goes! +I'll swear that is he, on the strong grey horse. I fired at him--I'm +sure I must have hit him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, you didn't, sir," answered a sergeant of dragoons, who was busily +tying a handkerchief round his own wounded arm. "Your shot went +through his hat."</p> + +<p class="normal">The young officer fixed his eyes keenly upon the road leading to +Harbourne, where a man, on horseback, was seen galloping away, at full +speed, with four or five of the soldiers in pursuit.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Away after him, Sergeant Miles," he said; "take straight across the +country, with six men of Captain Irby's troop. They are fresher. If +you make haste you will cut him off at the corner of the wood; or if +he takes the road through it, in order to avoid you, leave a couple of +men at Tiffenden corner, and round by the path to the left. The +distance will be shorter for you, and you will stop him at Mrs. +Clare's cottage--a hundred guineas to any one who brings him in."</p> + +<p class="normal">His orders were immediately obeyed; and, without noticing Mowle, or +any one else, the colonel continued to gaze after the little party of +dragoons, as, dashing on at the utmost speed of their horses, they +crossed an open part of the ground in front, keeping to the right hand +of the fugitive, and threatening to cut him off from the north side of +the country, towards which he was decidedly tending. Whether, if he +had been able to proceed at the same rate at which he was then going, +they would have been successful in their efforts or not, is difficult +to say; for his horse, though tired, was very powerful, and chosen +expressly for its fleetness. But in a flight and pursuit like that, +the slightest accident will throw the advantage on the one side or the +other; and unfortunately for the fugitive, his horse stumbled, and +came upon its knees. It was up again in a moment, and went on, though +somewhat more slowly; and the young officer observed, in a low tone, +"They will have him.--It is of the utmost importance that he should be +taken.--Ah! Mr. Mowle, is that you? Why, we have given you up for +these many hours. We have been successful, you see; and yet, but half +successful either, if their leader gets away.--You are sure of the +person, Mr. Birchett?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Perfectly, sir," answered the officer of Customs. "I was as near to +him, at one time, as I am now to you; and Mr. Mowle here, too, will +tell you I know him well."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Who,--young Radford?" asked Mowle. "Oh yes, that we all do; and +besides, I can tell you, that is he on the grey horse, for I was along +with him the greater part of last night." And Mowle proceeded to +relate succinctly all that had occurred to him from ten o'clock on the +preceding evening.</p> + +<p class="normal">The young officer, in the meanwhile, continued to follow the soldiers +with his eyes, commenting, by a brief word or two, on the various +turns taken by the pursuit.</p> + +<p class="normal">"He is cut off," he said, in a tone of satisfaction; "the troops, from +Halden, will stop him there.--He is turning to the left, as if he +would make for Tenterden.--Captain Irby, be so good as to detach a +corporal, with as many men as you can spare, to cut him off by Gallows +Green--on the left-hand road, there. Bid them use all speed. Now he's +for Harbourne again! He'll try to get through the wood; but Miles will +be before him."</p> + +<p class="normal">He then applied himself to examine the state of his own men and the +prisoners, and paid every humane attention to both, doing the best +that he could for their wounds, in the absence of surgical assistance, +and ordering carts to be procured from the neighbouring farms, to +carry those most severely injured into the village of Woodchurch. The +smuggled goods he consigned to the charge of the Custom-House +officers, giving them, however, a strong escort, at their express +desire; although, he justly observed, that there was but little chance +of any attempt being made by the smugglers to recover what they had +lost.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I shall now, Mr. Mowle," he continued, "proceed to Woodchurch, and +remain there for a time, to see what other prisoners are brought in, +and make any farther arrangements that may be necessary; but I shall +be in Hythe, in all probability, before night. The custody of the +prisoners I shall take upon myself for the present, as the civil power +is evidently not capable of guarding them."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, sir, you have made a glorious day's work of it," answered +Mowle, "that I must say; and I'm sure if you like to establish your +quarters, for the morning, at Mr. Croyland's there, on just before, he +will make you heartily welcome; for he hates smugglers as much as any +one."</p> + +<p class="normal">The young officer shook his head, saying, "No, I will go to +Woodchurch."</p> + +<p class="normal">But he gazed earnestly at the house for several minutes, before he +turned his horse towards the village; and then, leaving the minor +arrangements to be made by the inferior officers, he rode slowly and +silently away.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="div2_09" href="#div2Ref_09">CHAPTER IX.</a></h2> +<br> + +<p class="normal">We must turn, dear reader, to other persons and to other scenes, but +still keep to that eventful day when the smugglers, who had almost +fancied themselves lords of Kent, first met severe discomfiture at the +hands of those sent to suppress their illicit traffic. Many small +parties had before been defeated, it is true; many a cargo of great +value, insufficiently protected, had been seized. Such, indeed, had +been the case with the preceding venture of Richard Radford; and such +had been, several times, the result of overweening confidence; but the +free-traders of Kent had still, more frequently, been successful in +their resistance of the law; and they had never dreamed that in great +numbers, and with every precaution and care to boot, they could be +hemmed in and overpowered, in a country with every step of which they +were well acquainted. They had now, however, been defeated, as I have +said, for the first time, in a complete and conclusive manner, after +every precaution had been taken, and when every opportunity had been +afforded them of trying their strength with the dragoons, as they had +often boastfully expressed a wish to do.</p> + +<p class="normal">But we must now leave them, and turn to the interior of the house near +which the strife took place. Nay, more, we must enter a fair lady's +chamber, and watch her as she lies, during the night of which we have +already given so many scenes, looking for awhile into her waking +thoughts and slumbering dreams; for that night passed in a strange +mingling of sleepless fancies and of drowsy visions.</p> + +<p class="normal">Far from me to encourage weak and morbid sensibilities, or to +represent life as a dream of sickly feelings, or a stage for the +action of ill-regulated passions;--it is a place of duty and of +action, of obedience to the rule of the one great guide, of endeavour, +and, alas, of trial!--But still human beings are not mere machines: +there is still something within this frame-work of dust and ashes, +besides, and very different from, the bones and muscles, the veins and +nerves, of which it is composed; and Heaven forbid that it should not +be so! There are still loves and affections, sympathies and regards, +associations and memories, and all the linked sweetness of that +strange harmonious whole, where the spirit and the matter, the soul +and the body, blended in mysterious union, act on each other, and +reciprocate, by every sense and every perception, new sources of pain +or of delight. The forms and conventionalities of society, the habits +of the age in which we live, the force of education, habit, example, +may, in very many cases, check the outward show of feeling, and in +some, perhaps, wear down to nothing the reality. But still how many a +bitter heart-ache lies concealed beneath the polished brow and smiling +lip; how many a bright aspiration, how many a tender hope, how many a +passionate throb, hides itself from the eyes of others--from the +foreigners of the heart--under an aspect of gay merriment or of cold +indifference. The silver services of the world are all, believe me, +but of plated goods, and the brightest ornaments that deck the table +or adorn the saloon but of silver-gilt.</p> + +<p class="normal">Could we--as angels may be supposed to do--stand by the bed-side of +many a fair girl who has been laughing through an evening of apparent +merriment, and look through the fair bosom into the heart beneath, see +all the feelings that thrill therein, or trace even the visions that +chequer slumber, what should we behold? Alas! how strange a contrast +to the beaming looks and gladsome smiles which have marked the course +of the day. How often would be seen the bitter repining; the weary +sickness of the heart; the calm, stern grief; the desolation; the +despair--forming a black and gloomy background to the bright seeming +of the hours of light. How often, in the dream, should we behold "the +lost, the loved, the dead, too many, yet how few," rise up before +memory in those moments, when not only the shackles and the handcuffs +of the mind, imposed by the tyrant uses of society, are cast off, but +also when the softer bands are loosened, which the waking spirit +places upon unavailing regrets and aspirations all in vain--in those +hours, when memory, and imagination, and feeling are awake, and when +judgment, and reason, and resolution are all buried in slumber. Can it +be well for us thus to check the expression of all the deeper feelings +of the heart--to shut out all external sympathies--to lock within the +prison of the heart its brightest treasures like the miser's gold, and +only to give up to them the hours of solitude and of slumber?--I know +not; and the question, perhaps, is a difficult one to solve: but such, +however, are the general rules of society; and to its rules we are +slaves and bondsmen.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was to her own chamber that Edith Croyland usually carried her +griefs and memories; and even in the house of her uncle, though she +was aware how deeply he loved her, she could not, or she would not, +venture to speak of her sensations as they really arose.</p> + +<p class="normal">On the eventful day of young Radford's quarrel with Sir Edward Digby, +Edith retired at the sober hour at which the whole household of Mr. +Croyland usually sought repose; but there, for a considerable time, +she meditated as she had often meditated before, on the brief +intelligence she had received on the preceding day. "He is living," +she said to herself: "he is in England, and yet he seeks me not! But +my sister says he loves me still!--It is strange, it is very strange. +He must have greatly changed. So eager, so impetuous as he used to be, +to become timid, cautious, reserved,--never to write, never to +send.--And yet why should I blame him? What has he not met with from +mine, if not from me? What has his love brought upon himself and his? +The ruin of his father--a parent's suffering and death--the +destruction of his own best prospects--a life of toil and danger, and +expulsion from the scenes in which his bright and early days were +spent!--Why should I wonder that he does not come back to a spot where +every object must be hateful to him?--why should I wonder that he does +not seek me, whose image can never be separated from all that is +painful and distressing to him in memory? Poor Henry! Oh, that I could +cheer him, and wipe away the dark and gloomy recollections of the +past."</p> + +<p class="normal">Such were some of her thoughts ere she lay down to rest; and they +pursued her still, long after she had sought her pillow, keeping her +waking for some hours. At length, not long before daybreak, sleep took +possession of her brain; but it was not untroubled sleep. Wild and +whirling images for some time supplied the place of thought; but they +were all vague, and confused, and undefined for a considerable length +of time after sleep had closed her eyes, and she forgot them as soon +as she awoke. But at length a vision of more tangible form presented +itself, which remained impressed upon her memory. In it, the events of +the day mingled with those both of the former and the latter years, +undoubtedly in strange and disorderly shape, but still bearing a +sufficient resemblance to reality to show whence they were derived. +The form of young Radford, bleeding and wounded, seemed before her +eyes; and with one hand clasped tightly round her wrist, he seemed to +drag her down into a grave prepared for himself. Then she saw Sir +Edward Digby with a naked sword in his hand, striving in vain to cut +off the arm that held her, the keen blade passing through and through +the limb of the phantom without dissevering it from the body, or +relaxing its hold upon herself. Then the figure of her father stood +before her, clad in a long mourning cloak, and she heard his voice +crying, in a dark and solemn tone, "Down, down, both of you, to the +grave that you have dug for me!" The next instant the scene was +crowded with figures, both on horseback and on foot. Many a +countenance which she had seen and known at different times was +amongst them; and all seemed urging her on down into the gulf before +her; till suddenly appeared, at the head of a bright and glittering +troop, he whom she had so long and deeply loved, as if advancing at +full speed to her rescue. She called loudly to him; she stretched out +her hand towards him, and onward he came through the throng till he +nearly reached her. Then in an instant her father interposed again and +pushed him back. All became a scene of disarray and confusion, as if a +general battle had been taking place around her. Swords were drawn, +shots were fired, wounds were given and received; there were cries of +agony and loud words of command, till at length, in the midst, her +lover reached her; his arms were cast round her; she was pressed to +his bosom; and with a start, and mingled feelings of joy and terror, +Edith's dream came to an end.</p> + +<p class="normal">Daylight was pouring into her room through the tall window; but yet +she could hardly persuade herself that she was not dreaming still; for +many of the sounds which had transmitted such strange impressions to +her mind, still rang in her ears. She heard shots and galloping horse, +and the loud word of command; and after pausing for an instant or two, +she sprang up, cast something over her, and ran to the window.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was a bright and beautiful morning; and the room which she occupied +looked over Mr. Croyland's garden wall to the country beyond. But +underneath that garden wall was presented a scene, such as Edith had +never before witnessed. Before her eyes, mingled in strange confusion +with a group of men who, from their appearance, she judged to be +smugglers, were a number of the royal dragoons; and, though pistols +were discharged on both sides, and even long guns on the part of the +smugglers, the use of fire-arms was too limited to produce sufficient +smoke to obscure the view. Swords were out, and used vehemently; and +on running her eye over the mass before her, she saw a figure that +strongly brought back her thoughts to former days. Directing the +operations of the troops, seldom using the sword which he carried in +his own hand, yet mingling in the thickest of the fray, appeared a +tall and powerful young man, mounted on a splendid charger, but only +covered with a plain grey cloak.</p> + +<p class="normal">The features she could scarcely discern; but there was something in +the form and in the bearing, that made Edith's heart beat vehemently, +and caused her to raise her voice to Heaven in murmured prayer. The +shots were flying thick: one of them struck the sun-dial in the +garden, and knocked a fragment off; but still she could not withdraw +herself from the window; and with eager and anxious eyes she continued +to watch the fight, till another body of dragoons swept up, and the +smugglers, apparently struck with panic, abandoned resistance, and +were soon seen flying in every direction over the ground.</p> + +<p class="normal">One man, mounted on a strong grey horse, passed close beneath the +garden wall; and in him Edith instantly recognised young Richard +Radford. That sight made her draw back again for a moment from the +window, lest he should recognise her; but the next instant she looked +out again, and then beheld the officer whom she had seen commanding +the dragoons, stretching out his hand and arm in the direction which +the fugitive had taken, as if giving orders for his pursuit. She +watched him with feelings indescribable, and saw him more than once +turn his eyes towards the house where she was, and gaze on it long and +thoughtfully.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Can he know whose dwelling this is?" she asked herself; "can he know +who is in it, and yet ride away?" But so it was. After he had remained +on the ground for about half an hour, she saw him depart, turning his +horse's head slowly towards Woodchurch; and Edith withdrew from the +window, and wept.</p> + +<p class="normal">Her eyes were dry, however, and her manner calm, when she went down to +breakfast; and she heard unmoved, from her uncle, the details of the +skirmish which had taken place between the smugglers and the military.</p> + +<p class="normal">"This must be a tremendous blow to them," said Mr. Croyland; "the +goods are reported to be of immense value, and the whole of them are +stated to have been run by that old infernal villain, Radford. I am +glad that this has happened, trebly--<i>felix ter et amplius</i>, my dear +Edith; first, that a trade which enriches scoundrels to the detriment +of the fair and lawful merchant, has received nearly its death-blow; +secondly, that these audacious vagabonds, who fancied they had all the +world at their command, and that they could do as they pleased in +Kent, have been taught how impotent they are against a powerful hand +and a clear head; and, thirdly, that the most audacious vagabond of +them all, who has amassed a large fortune by defiance of the law, and +by a system which embodies cheatery with robbery--I mean robbery of +the revenue with cheatery of the lawful merchant--has been the person +to suffer. I have heard a great deal of forcing nations to abate their +Customs dues, by smuggling in despite of them; but depend upon it, +whoever advocates such a system is--I will not say, either a rogue or +a fool, as some rash and intemperate persons might say--but a man with +very queer notions of morals, my dear. I dare say, the fellows firing +awoke you, my love. You look pale, as if you had been disturbed."</p> + +<p class="normal">Edith replied, simply, that she had been roused by the noise, but did +not enter into any particulars, though she saw, or fancied she saw, an +inquiring look upon her uncle's face as he spoke.</p> + +<p class="normal">During the morning many were the reports and anecdotes brought in by +the servants, regarding the encounter, which had taken place so close +to the house; and all agreed that never had so terrible a disaster +befallen the smugglers. Their bands were quite broken up, it was said, +their principal leaders taken or killed, and the amount of the +smuggled goods which--with the usual exaggeration of rumour--was +raised to three or four hundred thousand pounds, was universally +reported to be the loss of Mr. Radford. His son had been seen by many +in command of the party of contraband traders; and it was clear that +he had fled to conceal himself, in fear of the very serious +consequences which were likely to ensue.</p> + +<p class="normal">Mr. Croyland rubbed his hands: "I will mark this day in the calendar +with a white stone!" he said. "Seldom, my dear Edith, very seldom, do +so many fortunate circumstances happen together; a party of atrocious +vagabonds discomfited and punished as they deserve; the most audacious +rogue of the whole stripped of his ill-gotten wealth; and a young +ruffian, who has long bullied and abused the whole county, driven from +that society in which he never had any business. This young officer, +this Captain Osborn, must be a very clever, as well as a very gallant +fellow."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Captain Osborn!" murmured Edith; "were they commanded by Captain +Osborn?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, my dear," answered the old gentleman; "I saw him myself over the +garden wall. I know him, my love; I have been introduced to him. +Didn't you hear me say, he is coming to spend a few days with me?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Edith made no reply; but somewhat to her surprise, she heard her +uncle, shortly after, order his carriage to be at the door at +half-past twelve. He gave his fair niece no invitation to accompany +him; and Edith prepared to amuse herself during his absence as +best she might. She calculated, indeed, upon that which, to a +well-regulated mind, is almost always either a relief or a pleasure, +though too often a sad one: the spending of an hour or two in solitary +thought. But all human calculations are vain; and so were those of +poor Edith Croyland. For the present, however, we must leave her to +her fate, and follow her good uncle, Zachary, on his expedition to +Woodchurch, whither, as doubtless the reader has anticipated, his +steps, or rather those of his coach horses, were turned, just as the +hands of the clock in the vestibule pointed to a quarter to one.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="div2_10" href="#div2Ref_10">CHAPTER X.</a></h2> +<br> + +<p class="normal">During the whole forenoon of the 3rd of September, the little village +of Woodchurch presented a busy and bustling, though, in truth, it +could not be called a gay scene. The smart dresses of the dragoons, +the number of men and horses, the soldiers riding quickly along the +road from time to time, the occasional sound of the trumpet, the +groups of villagers and gaping children, all had an animating effect; +but there was, mingled with the other sights which the place +presented, quite a sufficient portion of human misery, in various +forms, to sadden any but a very unfeeling heart. For some time after +the affray was over, every ten minutes, was seen to roll in one of the +small, narrow carts of the country, half filled with straw, and +bearing a wounded man, or at most, two. In the same manner, several +corpses, also, were carried in; and the number of at least fifty +prisoners, in separate detachments, with hanging hands and pinioned +arms, were marched slowly through the street to the houses which had +been marked out as affording the greatest security.</p> + +<p class="normal">The good people of Woodchurch laughed and talked freely with the +dragoons, made many inquiries concerning the events of the skirmish, +and gave every assistance to the wounded soldiers; but it was remarked +with surprise, by several of the officers, that they showed no great +sympathy with the smugglers, either prisoners or wounded--gazed upon +the parties who were brought in with an unfriendly air, and turning +round to each other, commented, in low tones, with very little +appearance of compassion.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ay, that's one of the Ramleys' gang," said the stout blacksmith of +the place, to his friend and neighbour, the wheelwright, as some ten +or twelve men passed before them with their wrists tied.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And that fellow in the smart green coat is another," rejoined the +wheelwright; "he's the man who, I dare say, ham-stringed my mare, +because I wouldn't let them have her for the last run."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That's Tom Angel," observed the blacksmith; "he's to be married to +Jinny Ramley, they say."</p> + +<p class="normal">"He'll be married to a halter first, I've a notion," answered the +wheelwright, "and then instead of an angel he'll make a devil! He's +one of the worst of them, bad as they all are. A pretty gaol delivery +we shall have at the next 'Sizes!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"A good county delivery, too," replied the blacksmith; "as men have +been killed, it's felony, that's clear: so hemp will be dear, Mr. +Slatterly."</p> + +<p class="normal">By the above conversation the feelings of the people of Woodchurch +towards the smugglers, at that particular time, may be easily divined; +but the reader must not suppose that they were influenced alone by the +very common tendency of men's nature to side with the winning party; +for such was not altogether the case, though, perhaps, they would not +have ventured to show their dislike to the smugglers so strongly, had +they been more successful. As long as the worthy gentlemen, who had +now met with so severe a reverse, had contented themselves with merely +running contraband articles--even as long as they had done nothing +more than take a man's horse for their own purposes, without his +leave, or use his premises, whether he liked it or not, as a place of +concealment for their smuggled goods, they were not only indifferent, +but even friendly; for man has always a sufficient portion of the +adventurer at his heart to have a fellow feeling for all his brethren +engaged in rash and perilous enterprises. But the smugglers had grown +insolent and domineering from long success; they had not only felt +themselves lords of the county, but had made others feel it often in +an insulting, and often in a cruel and brutal manner. Crimes of a very +serious character had been lately committed by the Ramleys and others, +which, though not traced home by sufficient evidence to satisfy the +law, were fixed upon them by the general voice of the people; and the +threats of terrible vengeance which they sometimes uttered against all +who opposed them, and the boastful tone in which they indulged, when +speaking of their most criminal exploits, probably gained them credit +for much more wickedness than they really committed.</p> + +<p class="normal">Thus their credit with the country people was certainly on the decline +when they met with the disaster which has been lately recorded; and +their defeat and dispersion was held by the inhabitants of Woodchurch +as an augury of better times, when their women would be able to pass +from village to village, even after dusk, in safety and free from +insult, and their cattle might be left out in the fields all night, +without being injured, either by wantonness, or in lawless uses. It +will be understood, that in thus speaking, I allude alone to the land +smugglers, a race altogether different from their fellow labourers of +the sea, whom the people looked upon with a much more favourable eye, +and who, though rash and daring men enough, were generally a good +humoured free-hearted body, spending the money that they had gained at +the peril of their lives or their freedom, with a liberal hand and in +a kindly spirit.</p> + +<p class="normal">Almost every inhabitant of Woodchurch had some cause of complaint +against the Ramleys' gang; and, to say the truth, Mr. Radford himself +was by no means popular in the county. A selfish and a cunning man is +almost always speedily found out by the lower classes, even when he +makes an effort to conceal it. But Mr. Radford took no such trouble; +for he gloried in his acuteness; and if he had chosen a motto, it +probably would have been "Every man for himself." His selfishness, +too, took several of the most offensive forms. He was ostentatious; he +was haughty; and, on the strength of riches acquired, every one knew +how, he looked upon himself as a very great man, and treated all the +inferior classes, except those of whom he had need, to use their own +expression, "as dirt under his feet." All the villagers, therefore, +were well satisfied to think that he had met with a check at last; and +many of the good folks of Woodchurch speculated upon the probability +of two or three, out of so great a number of prisoners, giving such +evidence as would bring that worthy gentleman within the gripe of the +law.</p> + +<p class="normal">Such were the feelings of the people of that place, as well as those +of many a neighbouring village; and the scene presented by the captive +and wounded smugglers, as they were led along, was viewed with +indifference by some, and with pleasure by others. Two or three of the +women, indeed, bestowed kindly attention upon the wounded men, moved +by that beautiful compassion which is rarely if ever wanting, in a +female heart; but the male part of the population took little share, +if any, in such things, and were quite willing to aid the soldiers in +securing the prisoners, till they could be marched off to prison.</p> + +<p class="normal">The first excitement had subsided before noon, but still, from time to +time, some little bustle took place--a prisoner was caught and brought +in, and carried to the public house where the colonel had established +himself--an orderly galloped through the street--messengers came and +went; and four or five soldiers, with their horses ready saddled, +remained before the door of the inn, ready, at a moment's notice, for +any event. The commanding officer did not appear at all beyond the +doors of his temporary abode; but continued writing, giving orders, +examining the prisoners, and those who brought them, in the same room +which he had entered when first he arrived. As few of the people of +the place had seen him, a good deal of curiosity was excited by his +quietness and reserve. It was whispered amongst the women, that he was +the handsomest man ever seen; and the men said he was a very fine +fellow, and ought to be made a general of. The barmaid communicated to +her intimate friends, that when he took off his cloak, she had seen a +star upon the breast of his coat; and that her master seemed to know +more of him, if he liked to tell; but the landlord was as silent as a +mouse.</p> + +<p class="normal">These circumstances, however, kept up a little crowd before the +entrance of the inn, consisting of persons anxious to behold the hero +of the day; and just at the hour of two, the carriage of Mr. Croyland +rolled in, through the people, at the usual slow and deliberate pace +to which that gentleman accustomed his carriage horses.</p> + +<p class="normal">The large heavy door of the large heavy vehicle, was opened by the two +servants who accompanied it; and out stepped Mr. Croyland, with his +back as straight and stiff as a poker, and his gold-headed cane in his +hand. The landlord, at the sight of an equipage, which he well knew, +came out in haste, bowing low, and welcoming Mr. Croyland in the +hearty good old style. The nabob himself unbent a little to his friend +of the inn, and after asking him how he did, and bestowing a word or +two on the state of the weather, proceeded to say, "And now, Miles, I +wish to speak a word or two with Captain Osborn, who is in your house, +I believe."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, Mr. Croyland," replied the landlord, looking at the visitor with +some surprise, "the captain is not here. He is down at Nelly South's, +and his name's not Osborn, either, but Irby."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then, who the deuce have you got here, with all these soldiers about +the door?" demanded Mr. Croyland.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The colonel of the regiment, sir," answered Miles; "there has only +been one captain here all day; and that's Captain Irby."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not right of the lad--not right of the lad!" exclaimed Mr. Croyland, +rather testily; "no one should keep a man waiting, especially an old +man, and more especially still, a cross old man. But I'll come in and +stop a bit; for I want to see the young gentleman. Where the devil did +he go to, I wonder, after the skirmish?--Halloo, you sir, corporal! +Pray, sir, what's your officer's name?"</p> + +<p class="normal">The man put up his hand in military fashion, and, with a strong +Hibernian accent, demanded, "Is it the colonel you're inquiring about, +sir? Why, then, his name is Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Henry Leyton, +Knight of the Bath--and mighty cold weather it was, too, when he got +the Bath; so I didn't envy him his ducking."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh ho!" said Mr. Croyland, putting his finger sagaciously to the side +of his nose; "be so good as to send up that card to Lieutenant-Colonel +Sir Henry Leyton, Knight of the Bath, and tell him that the gentleman +whose appellation it bears is here, inquiring for one Captain Osborn +whom he once saw."</p> + +<p class="normal">The corporal took the card himself to the top of the stairs, and +delivered the message, with as much precision as his intellect could +muster, to some person who seemed to be waiting on the outside of a +door above. "Why, you fool!" cried a voice, immediately, "I told you, +if Mr. Croyland came, to show him up. Sir Henry will see him." And +immediately a servant, in plain clothes, descended to perform his +function himself.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Very grand!" murmured Mr. Croyland, as he followed.</p> + +<p class="normal">The door above was immediately thrown open, and his name announced; +but, walking slowly, he had not entered the room before the young +officer, who has more than once been before the reader's eyes, was +half across the floor to meet him. He was now dressed in full uniform; +and certainly a finer or more commanding-looking man had seldom, if +ever, met Mr. Croyland's view. Advancing with a frank and pleasant +smile, he led him to the arm-chair which he had just occupied--it was +the only one in the room--and, after thanking him for his visit, +turned to the servant, and bade him shut the door.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am in some surprise, and in some doubt, Sir Henry," said Mr. +Croyland, with his sharp eyes twinkling a little. "I came here to see +one Captain Osborn; and I find a gentleman very like him, in truth, +but certainly a much smarter looking person, whom I am told is +Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Henry Leyton, Knight of the Bath, &c. &c. &c.; +and yet he seems to look upon old Zachary Croyland as a friend, too."</p> + +<p class="normal">"He does, from his heart, I can assure you, Mr. Croyland," replied the +young officer; "and I trust you will ever permit him to do so. But if +it becomes us to deceive no man, it becomes us still more not to +deceive a friend; and on that account it was I asked your presence +here, to explain to you one or two circumstances which I thought it +but just you should know, before I ventured to present myself at your +house."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Pray speak, Sir Henry," replied Mr. Croyland--"I am all ears."</p> + +<p class="normal">The young officer paused for a moment, and a shadow came over his +brow, as if something painful passed through his mind; but then, with +a slight motion of his hand, as if he would have waved away unpleasant +thoughts, he said, "I must first tell you, my dear sir, that I am the +son of the Reverend Henry Leyton, whom you once knew, and the nephew +of that Charles Osborn, with whom you were also intimately +acquainted."</p> + +<p class="normal">"The dearest friend I ever had in the world," replied Mr. Croyland, +blowing his nose violently.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then I trust you will extend the same friendship to his nephew," said +the colonel.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I don't know--I don't know," answered Mr. Croyland; "that must depend +upon circumstances. I'm a very crabbed, tiresome old fellow, Sir +Henry; and my friendships are not very sudden ones. But I have patted +your head many a time when you were a child, and that's something. +Then you are very like your father, and a little like your uncle, +that's something more: so we may get on, I think. But what have you +got to say more? and what in the name of fortune made you call +yourself Captain Osborn, to an old friend of your family like myself?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I did not do so, if you recollect," replied the young officer. "It +was my friend Digby who gave me that name; and you must pardon me, if, +on many accounts, I yielded to the trick; for I was coming down here +on a difficult service--one that I am not accustomed to, and do not +like; and I was very desirous of seeing a little of the country, and +of learning something of the habits of the persons with whom I had to +deal, before I was called upon to act."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And devilish well you did act when you set about it," cried Mr. +Croyland. "I watched you this morning over the wall, and wondered a +little that you did not come on to my house at once."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is upon that subject that I must now speak," said Sir Henry +Leyton, taking a grave tone, "and I must touch upon many painful +subjects in the past. Just when I was about to write to you, Mr. +Croyland, to say that I would come, in accordance with your kind +invitation, I learned that your niece, Miss Croyland, is staying at +your house. Now, I know not whether you have been informed, that long +ago----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, yes, I know all about that," answered Mr. Croyland, quickly. +"There was a great deal of love and courting, and all that sort of boy +and girl's stuff."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It must be man and woman's stuff now, Mr. Croyland," replied the +young officer, "for I must tell you fairly and at once, I love her as +deeply, as truly as ever. Years have made no difference; other scenes +have made no change. The same as I went, in every thought and feeling, +I have returned; and I can never think of her without emotion, which I +can never speak to her without expressing."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Indeed--indeed!" said Mr. Croyland, apparently in some surprise. +"That does make some difference."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is what I feared," continued Sir Henry Leyton. "Your brother +disapproved of our engagement. In consequence of it, he behaved to my +father in a way--on which I will not dwell. You would not have behaved +in such a way, I know; and although I should think any means +justifiable, to see your niece when in her father's mansion, to tell +her how deeply I love her still, and to ask her to sacrifice fortune +and everything to share a soldier's fate, yet I did not think it would +be right or honourable, to come into the house of a friend under a +feigned name, and seek his niece--for seek her I should wherever I +found her--when he might share the same views as his brother, or at +all events think himself bound to support them. In short, Mr. +Croyland, I knew that when you were aware of my real name and of my +real feelings, it would make a difference, and a great one."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not the difference you think, Harry," replied the old gentleman, +holding out his hand to him; "but quite the reverse.--I'll tell you +what, young man, I think you a devilish fine, high-spirited, +honourable fellow, and the only one I ever saw whom I should like to +marry my Edith. So don't say a word more about it. Come and dine with +me to-day, as soon as you've got all this job over. You shall see her; +you shall talk to her; you shall make all your arrangements together; +and if there's a post-chaise in the country, I'll put you in and shut +the door with my own hands. My brother is an old fool, and worse than +an old fool, too--something very like an old rogue--at least, so he +behaved to your father, and not much better to his own child; but I +don't care a straw about him, and never did; and I never intend to +humour one of his whims."</p> + +<p class="normal">Sir Henry Leyton pressed the old gentleman's hand in his, with much +emotion; for the prospect seemed brightening to him, and the dark +clouds which had so long overshadowed his course appeared to be +breaking away. He had been hitherto like a traveller on a strong and +spirited horse, steadfastly pursuing his course, and making his way +onward, with vigour and determination, but with a dark and threatening +sky over head, and not even a gleam of hope to lead him on. +Distinction, honours, competence, command, he had obtained by his own +talents and his own energies; he was looked up to by those below him, +by his equals, even by many of his superiors. The eyes of all who knew +him turned towards him as to one who was destined to be a leading man +in his day. Everything seemed fair and smiling around him, and no eye +could see the cloud that overshadowed him but his own. But what to him +were honours, or wealth, or the world's applause, if the love of his +early years were to remain blighted for ever? and in the tented field, +the city, or the court, the shadow had still remained upon his heart's +best feelings, not checking his energies, but saddening all his +enjoyments. How often is it in the world, that we thus see the bright, +the admired, the powerful, the prosperous, with the grave hue of +painful thoughts upon the brow, the never unmingled smile, the lapses +of gloomy meditation, and ask ourselves, "What is the secret sorrow in +the midst of all this success? what is the fountain of darkness that +turns the stream of sunshine grey? what the canker-worm that preys +upon so bright a flower?" Deep, deep in the recesses of the heart, it +lies gnawing in silence; but never ceasing, and never satisfied. Now, +however, there was a light in the heavens for him; and whether it was +as one of those rays that sometimes break through a storm, and then +pass away, no more to be seen till the day dies in darkness; or +whether it was the first glad harbinger of a serene evening after a +stormy morning, the conclusion of this tale must show.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I'll tell you something, my dear boy," continued Mr. Croyland, +forgetting that he was speaking to the colonel of a dragoon regiment, +and going back at a leap to early days. "Your father was my old +school-fellow and dear companion; your uncle was the best friend I +ever had, and the founder of my fortune; for to his interest I owe my +first appointment to India--ay, and to his generosity the greater part +of my outfit and my passage. To them I am indebted for everything, to +my brother for nothing; and I look upon you as a relation much more +than upon him; so I have no very affectionate motives for +countenancing or assisting him in doing what is not right. I'll tell +you something more, too, Harry; I was sure that you would do what is +honourable and right--not because you have got a good name in the +world; for I am always doubtful of the world's good names, and, +besides, I never heard the name of Sir Harry Leyton till this blessed +day--but because you were the son of one honest man and the nephew of +another, and a good wild frank boy too. So I was quite sure you would +not come to my house under a false name, when my niece was in it, +without, at all events, letting me into the secret; and you have +justified my confidence, young man."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I would not have done such a thing for the world," replied the young +officer; "but may I ask, then, my dear Mr. Croyland, if you recognised +me in the stage coach? for it must be eighteen or nineteen years since +you saw me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Don't call me Mr. Croyland," said the old gentleman, abruptly; "call +me Zachary, or Nabob, or Misanthrope, or Bear, or anything but that. +As to your question, I say, no. I did not recognise you the least in +the world. I saw in your face something like the faces of old friends, +and I liked it on that account. But as for the rest of the matter, +there's a little secret, my boy--a little bit of a puzzle. By one way +or another--it matters not what--I had found out that Captain Osborn +was my old friend Leyton's son; but till I came here to-day, I had no +notion that he was colonel of the regiment, and a Knight of the Bath, +to boot, as your corporal fellow took care to inform me. I thought you +had been going under a false name, perhaps, all this time, and fancied +I should find Captain Osborn quite well known in the regiment. I had a +shrewd notion, too, that you had sent for me to tell the secret; but I +was determined to let you explain yourself without helping you at all; +for I'm a great deal fonder of men's actions than their words, Harry."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is it fair to ask, who told you who I was?" asked Sir Henry Leyton. +"My friend Digby has some----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, no," cried Mr. Croyland; "it wasn't that good, rash, rattle-pate, +coxcomb of a fellow, who is only fit to be caged with little Zara; and +then they may live together very well, like two monkeys in a show-box. +No, he had nothing to do with it, though he has been busy enough since +he came here, shooting partridges, and fighting young Radfords, and +all that sort of thing."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Fighting young Radfords!" exclaimed Sir Henry Leyton, suddenly +grasping the sheath of his sword with his right hand. "He should not +have done that--at least, without letting me know."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why, he knew nothing about it himself," replied Mr. Croyland, "till +the minute it took place. The young vagabond followed him to my house; +so I civilly told my brother's pet that I didn't want to see him; and +he walked away with your friend Digby just across the lawn in front of +the house, when, after a few minutes of pleasant conversation, the +baronet applies me a horsewhip, with considerable unction and +perseverance, to the shoulders of Richard Radford, Esquire, junior; +upon which out come the pinking-irons, and in the course of the +scuffle, Sir Edward receives a little hole in the shoulder, and Mr. +Radford is disarmed and brought upon his knee, with a very unpleasant +and ungentleman-like bump upon his forehead, bestowed, with hearty +good-will, by the hilt of Master Digby's sword. Well, when he had got +him there, instead of quietly poking a hole through him, as any man of +common sense would have done, your friend lets him get up again, and +ride away, just as a man might be supposed to pinch a Cobra that had +bit him, by the tail, and then say, 'Walk off, my friend.' However, so +stands the matter; and young Radford rode away, vowing all sorts of +vengeance. He'll have it, too, if he can get it; for he's as spiteful +as a baboon; so I hope you've caught him, as he was with these +smuggling vagabonds, that's certain."</p> + +<p class="normal">Sir Henry Leyton shook his head. "He has escaped, I am sorry to say," +he replied. "How, I cannot divine; for I took means to catch him that +I thought were infallible. All the roads through Harbourne Wood were +guarded, but yet in that wood, all trace of him was lost. He left his +horse in the midst of it, and must have escaped by some of the +by-paths."</p> + +<p class="normal">"He's concealed in my brother's house, for a hundred guineas!" cried +Mr. Croyland. "Robert's bewitched, to a certainty; for nothing else +but witchcraft could make a man take an owl for a cock pheasant. Oh +yes! there he is, snug in Harbourne House, depend upon it, feeding +upon venison and turbot, and with a magnum of claret and two bottles +of port to keep him comfortable--a drunken, beastly, vicious brute! A +cross between a wolf and a swine, and not without a touch of the fox +either--though the first figure is the best; for his father was the +wolf, and his mother the sow, if all tales be true."</p> + +<p class="normal">"He cannot be in Harbourne House, I should think," replied the +colonel, "for my dragoons searched it, it seems, violating the laws a +little, for they had no competent authority with them; and besides he +would not have put himself within Digby's reach, I imagine."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then he's up in a tree, roosting in the day, like a bird of prey," +rejoined Mr. Croyland, in his quick way. "It's very unlucky he has +escaped--very unlucky indeed."</p> + +<p class="normal">"At all events," answered the young officer, "thus much have we +gained, my dear friend: he dare not shew himself in this county for +years. He was seen, by competent witnesses, at the head of these +smugglers, taking an active part with them in resistance to lawful +authority. Blood has been shed, lives have been sacrificed, and a +felony has been committed; so that if he is wise, and can manage it, +he will get out of England. If he fail of escaping, or venture to show +himself, he will grace the gallows, depend upon it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Heaven be praised!" cried Mr. Croyland. "Give me the first tidings, +when it is to happen, Harry, that I may order four horses, and hire a +window. I would not have him hanged without my seeing it for a hundred +pounds."</p> + +<p class="normal">Sir Henry Leyton smiled faintly, saying, "Those are sad sights, my +dear sir, and we have too many of them in this county; but you have +not told me, from whom you received intimation that Captain Osborn and +Henry Osborn Leyton were the same person."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That's a secret--that's a secret, Hal," answered Mr. Croyland. "So +now tell me when you'll come.--You'll be over to-night. I suppose, or +have time and wisdom tamed the eagerness of love?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh no, my dear sir," answered Leyton; "but I have still some business +to settle here, and have promised to be in Hythe to-night. Before I +go, however, I will ride over for an hour or two, for, till I have +seen that dear girl again, and have heard her feelings and her wishes +from her own lips, my thoughts will be all in confusion. I shall be +calmer and more reasonable afterwards."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Much need!" answered Mr. Croyland. "But now I must leave you. I +shan't say a word about it all, till you come; for preparing people's +minds is all nonsense. It is only drawing them out upon the rack of +expectation, which leaves them bruised and crushed, with no power to +resist whatever is to come afterwards.--But don't be long, Harry, for +remember that delays are dangerous."</p> + +<p class="normal">Leyton promised to set out as soon as one of his messengers, whom he +expected every instant, had returned; and going down with Mr. +Croyland, to the door of his carriage, he bade him adieu, and watched +him as he drove away, gratifying the eyes of the people of Woodchurch +with a view of his fine person, as he stood uncovered at the door. In +the meantime, Mr. Croyland took his way slowly back towards his own +dwelling.</p> + +<p class="normal">What had happened there during his absence, we shall see presently.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="div2_11" href="#div2Ref_11">CHAPTER XI.</a></h2> +<br> + +<p class="normal">All things have their several stages; and, without a knowledge of the +preceding one it is impossible to judge accurately of any event which +is the immediate subject of our contemplation. The life of every one, +the history of the whole world that we inhabit, is but a regular drama +with its scenes and acts, each depending for its interest upon that +which preceded. I therefore judge it necessary, before going on to +detail the events which took place in Mr. Croyland's house during his +absence to visit the dwelling of his brother, and give some account of +that which produced them. On the same eventful morning, then, of which +we have spoken so much already, the inhabitants of Harbourne House +slept quietly during the little engagement between the smugglers and +the dragoons, unaware that things of great importance to their little +circle were passing at no great distance. I have mentioned the +inhabitants of Harbourne House; but perhaps it would have been more +proper to have said the master, his family, and his guest; for a +number of the servants were up; the windows were opened; and the wind, +setting from Woodchurch, brought the sound of firearms thence. The +movement of the troops from the side of High Halden was also remarked +by one of the housemaids and a footman, as the young lady was leaning +out of one of the windows with the young gentleman by her side. In a +minute or two after they perceived, galloping across the country, two +or three parties of men on horseback, as if in flight and pursuit. +Most of these took to the right or left, and were soon lost to the +sight; but at length one solitary horseman came on at a furious speed +towards Harbourne House, with a small party of dragoons following him +direct at a couple of hundred yards' distance, while two or three of +the soldiery were seen scattered away to the right, and a somewhat +larger body appeared moving down at a quick pace to the left, as if to +cut the fugitive off at Gallows Green.</p> + +<p class="normal">The horse of the single rider seemed tired and dirty; and he was +himself without a hat; but nevertheless, they pushed on with such +rapidity, that a few seconds, from the time when they were first seen, +brought steed and horseman into the little parish road which I have +mentioned as running in front of the house, and passing round the +grounds into the wood. As the fugitive drew near, the maid exclaimed, +with a sort of a half scream, "Why, Lord ha' mercy, Matthew, it's +young Mr. Radford!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"To be sure it is," answered the footman; "didn't you see that before, +Betsy? There's a number of the dragoons after him, too. He's been up +to some of his tricks, I'll warrant."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, I hope he wont come in here, at all events," rejoined the maid, +"for I shouldn't like it, if we were to have any fighting in the +house."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I shall go and shut the hall door," said the footman, drily--Richard +Radford not having ingratiated himself as much with the servants as he +had done with their master. But this precaution was rendered +unnecessary; for the young man showed no inclination to enter the +house, but passing along the road with the rapidity of an arrow, was +soon lost in the wood, without even looking up towards the house of +Sir Robert Croyland. Several of the dragoons followed him quickly; but +two of them planted themselves at the corner of the road, and remained +there immovable.</p> + +<p class="normal">The maid then observed, that she thought it high time the gentlefolks +should be called; and she proceeded to execute her laudable purpose, +taking care that tidings of what she had seen concerning Mr. Radford +should be communicated to Sir Robert Croyland, to Zara, and to the +servant of Sir Edward Digby, who again carried the intelligence to his +master. The whole house was soon afoot; and Sir Robert was just out of +his room in his dressing-gown, when three of the soldiers entered the +mansion, expressing their determination to search it, and declaring +their conviction that the smuggler whom they had been pursuing had +taken refuge there.</p> + +<p class="normal">In vain Sir Robert Croyland remonstrated, and inquired if they had a +warrant; in vain the servants assured the dragoons that no person had +entered during the morning. The Serjeant who was at their head, +persisted in asserting that the fugitive must have come in there, just +when he was hid from his pursuers by the trees, assigning as a reason +for this belief, that they had found his horse turned loose not a +hundred yards from the house. They accordingly proceeded to execute +their intention, meeting with no farther impediment till they reached +the room of Sir Edward Digby, who, though he did not choose to +interfere, not being on duty himself, warned the serjeant that he must +be careful of what he was doing, as it appeared that he had neither +magistrate, warrant, nor Custom-House officer with him.</p> + +<p class="normal">The serjeant, however, who was a bold and resolute fellow, and +moreover a little heated and excited by the pursuit, took the +responsibility upon himself, saying that he was fully authorized by +Mr. Birchett to follow, search for, and apprehend one Richard Radford, +and that he had the colonel's orders, too. Certainly, not a nook or +corner of Harbourne House did he leave unexamined before he retired, +grumbling and wondering at his want of success.</p> + +<p class="normal">Previous to his going, Sir Edward Digby charged him with a message to +the colonel, which proved as great an enigma to the soldier as the +escape of Richard Radford. "Tell him," said the young baronet, "that I +am ready to come down if he wants me; but that if he does not, I think +I am quite as well where I am."</p> + +<p class="normal">The breakfast passed in that sort of hurried and desultory +conversation which such a dish of gossip as now poured in from all +quarters usually produces, when served up at the morning meal. Sir +Robert Croyland, indeed, looked ill at ease, laughed and jested in an +unnatural and strained tone upon smugglers and smuggling, and +questioned every servant that came in for further tidings. The reports +that he thus received were as full of falsehood and exaggeration as +all such reports generally are. The property captured was said to be +immense. Two or three hundred smugglers were mentioned as having been +taken, and a whole legion of them killed. Some had made confession, +and clearly proved that the whole property was Mr. Radford's; and some +had fought to the last, and killed an incredible number of the +soldiers. To believe the butler, who received his information from the +hind, who had his from the shepherd, the man called the Major, before +he died, had absolutely breakfasted on dragoons, as if they had been +prawns; but all agreed that never had such a large body of contraband +traders been assembled before, or suffered such a disastrous defeat, +in any of their expeditions.</p> + +<p class="normal">Sir Edward Digby gathered from the whole account, that his friend had +been fully successful, that the smugglers had fought fiercely, that +blood had been shed, and that Richard Radford, after having taken an +active part in the affray, was now a fugitive, and, as the young +baronet fancied, never to appear upon the stage again. But still Sir +Robert Croyland did not seem by any means so well pleased as might +have been wished; and a dark and thoughtful cloud would frequently +come over his heavy brow, while a slight twitching of his lip seemed +to indicate that anxiety had as great a share in his feelings as +mortification.</p> + +<p class="normal">Mrs. Barbara Croyland amused herself, as usual, by doing her best to +tease every one around her, and by saying the most malapropos things +in the world. She spoke with great commiseration of "the poor +smugglers:" every particle of her pity was bestowed upon them. She +talked of the soldiers as if they had been the most fierce and +sanguinary monsters in Europe, who had attacked, unprovoked, a party +of poor men that were doing them no harm; till Zara's glowing cheek +recalled to her mind, that these very blood-thirsty dragoons were Sir +Edward Digby's companions and friends; and then she made the +compliment more pointed by apologizing to the young baronet, and +assuring him that she did not think for a moment he would commit such +acts. Her artillery was next turned against her brother; and, in a +pleasant tone of raillery, she joked him upon the subject of young Mr. +Radford, and of the search the soldiers had made, looking with a +meaning smile at Zara, and saying, "She dared say, Sir Robert could +tell where he was, if he liked."</p> + +<p class="normal">The baronet declared, sharply and truly, that he knew nothing about +the young man; but Mrs. Barbara shook her head and nodded, and looked +knowing, adding various agreeable insinuations of the same kind as +before--all in the best humour possible--till Sir Robert Croyland was +put quite out of temper, and would have retorted violently, had he not +known that to do so always rendered the matter ten times worse. Even +poor Zara did not altogether escape; but, as we are hurrying on to +important events, we must pass over her share of infliction.</p> + +<p class="normal">The conclusion of Mrs. Barbara's field-day was perhaps the most signal +achievement of all. Breakfast had come to an end, though the meal had +been somewhat protracted; and the party were just lingering out a few +minutes before they rose, still talking on the subject of the skirmish +of that morning, when the good lady thought fit to remark--"Well, we +may guess for ever; but we shall soon know more about it, for I dare +say we shall have Mr. Radford over here before an hour is gone, and he +must know if the goods were his."</p> + +<p class="normal">This seemed to startle--nay, to alarm Sir Robert Croyland. He looked +round with a sharp, quick turn of his head, and then rose at once, +saying, "Well, whether he comes or not, I must go out and see about a +good many things. Would you like to take a ride, Sir Edward Digby, or +what will you do?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why, I think I must stay here for the present," replied the young +baronet; "I may have a summons unexpectedly, and ought not to be +absent."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, you will excuse me, I know," answered his entertainer. "I must +leave my sister and Zara to amuse you for an hour or two, till I +return."</p> + +<p class="normal">Thus saying, and evidently in a great bustle, Sir Robert Croyland +quitted the room and ordered his horse. But just as the three whom he +had left in the breakfast-room were sauntering quietly towards the +library--Sir Edward Digby calculating by the way how he might best get +rid of Mrs. Barbara, in order to enjoy the fair Zara's company +undisturbed--they came upon the baronet at the moment when he was +encountered by one of his servants bringing him some unpleasant +intelligence. "Please, Sir Robert," said the man, with a knowing wink +of the eye, "all the horses are out."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Out!" cried the baronet, with a look of fury and consternation. "What +do you mean by out, fellow?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why, they were taken out of the stable last night, sir," replied the +man. "I dare say you know where they went; and they have not come back +again yet."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Pray, have mine been taken also?" demanded Sir Edward Digby, very +well understanding what sort of an expedition Sir Robert Croyland's +horses had gone upon.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh dear, no, sir!" answered the man; "your servant keeps the key of +that stable himself, sir."</p> + +<p class="normal">The young baronet instantly offered his host the use of one of his +steeds, which was gratefully accepted by Sir Robert Croyland, who, +however, thought fit to enter into an exculpation of himself, somewhat +tedious withal, assuring his guest that the horses had been taken +without his approbation or consent, and that he had no knowledge +whatsoever of the transaction in which they were engaged.</p> + +<p class="normal">Sir Edward Digby professed himself quite convinced that such was the +case, and in order to relieve his host from the embarrassment which he +seemed to feel, explained that he was already aware that the Kentish +smugglers were in the habit of borrowing horses without the owner's +consent.</p> + +<p class="normal">In our complicated state of society, however, everything hinges upon +trifles. We have made the watch so fine, that a grain of dust stops +the whole movement; and the best arranged plans are thrown out by the +negligence, the absence, or the folly of a servant, a friend, or a +messenger. Sir Edward Digby's groom could not be found for more than a +quarter of an hour: when he was, at length, brought to light, the +horse had to be saddled. An hour had now nearly elapsed since the +master of the house had given orders for his own horse to be brought +round immediately: he was evidently uneasy at the delay, peevish, +restless, uncomfortable; and in the end, he said he would mount at the +back door, as it was the nearest and the most convenient. He even +waited in the vestibule; but suddenly he turned, walked through the +double doors leading to the stable-yard, and said he heard the horse +coming up.</p> + +<p class="normal">Mrs. Barbara Croyland had, in the meantime, amused herself and her +niece in the library, with the door open; and sometimes she worked a +paroquet, in green, red, and white silk embroidery--a favourite +occupation for ladies in her juvenile days--and sometimes she gazed +out of the window, or listened to the conversation of her brother and +his guest in the vestibule. At the very moment, however, when Sir +Robert was making his exit by the doors between the principal part of +the house and the offices, Mrs. Barbara called loudly after him, +"Brother Robert!--Brother Robert!--Here is Mr. Radford coming."</p> + +<p class="normal">The baronet turned a deaf ear, and shut the door. He would have locked +it, too, if the evasion would not have then been too palpable. But +Mrs. Barbara was resolved that he should know that Mr. Radford was +coming; and up she started, casting down half-a-dozen cards of silk. +Zara tried to stop her; for she knew her father, and all the signs and +indications of his humours; but her efforts were in vain. Mrs. Barbara +dashed past her, rushed through both doors, leaving them open behind +her, and caught her brother's arms just as the horse, which he had +thought fit to hear approach a little before it really did so, was led +up slowly from the stables to the back door of the mansion.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Robert, here is Mr. Radford!" said Mrs. Barbara, aloud. "I knew you +would like to see him."</p> + +<p class="normal">The baronet turned his head, and saw his worthy friend, through the +open doors, just entering the vestibule. To the horror and surprise of +his sister, he uttered a low but bitter curse, adding, in tones quite +distinct enough to reach her ear, "Woman, you have ruined me!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Good gracious!" cried Mrs. Barbara; "why, I thought----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Hush! silence!" said Sir Robert Croyland, in a menacing tone; "not +another word, on your life;" and turning, he met Mr. Radford with the +utmost suavity, but with a certain degree of restraint which he had +not time to banish entirely from his manner.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah, Mr. Radford!" he exclaimed, shaking him, too, heartily by the +hand, "I was just going out to inquire about some things of +importance;" and he gazed at him with a look which he intended to be +very significant of the inquiries he had proposed to institute. But +his glance was hesitating and ill-assured; and Mr. Radford replied, +with the coolest and most self-possessed air possible, and with a +firm, fixed gaze upon the baronet's countenance.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Indeed, Sir Robert!" he said, "perhaps I can satisfy you upon some +points; but, at all events, I must speak with you for a few minutes +before you go. Good morning, Sir Edward Digby: have you had any sport +in the field?--I will not detain you a quarter of an hour, my good +friend. We had better go into your little room."</p> + +<p class="normal">He led the way thither as he spoke; and Sir Robert Croyland followed +with a slow and faltering step. He knew Richard Radford; he knew what +that calm and self-possessed manner meant. He was aware of the +significance of courteous expressions and amicable terms from the man +who called him his good friend; and if there was a being upon earth, +on whose head Sir Robert Croyland would have wished to stamp as on a +viper's, it was the placid benign personage who preceded him.</p> + +<p class="normal">They entered the room in which the baronet usually sat in a morning to +transact his business with his steward, and to arrange his affairs; +and Sir Robert carefully shut the door behind him, trying, during the +one moment that his back was turned upon his unwelcome guest, to +compose his agitated features into the expression of haughty and +self-sufficient tranquillity which they usually wore.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Sit down, Radford," he said--"pray sit down, if it be but for ten +minutes;" and he pointed to the arm-chair on the other side of the +table.</p> + +<p class="normal">Mr. Radford sat down, and leaned his head upon his hand, looking in +the baronet's face with a scrutinizing gaze. If Sir Robert Croyland +understood him well, he also understood Sir Robert Croyland, heart and +mind--every corporeal fibre--every mental peculiarity. He saw clearly +that his companion was terrified; he divined that he had wished to +avoid him; and the satisfaction that he felt at having caught him just +as he was going out, at having frustrated his hope of escape, had a +pleasant malice in it, which compensated for a part of all that he had +suffered during that morning, as report after report reached him of +the utter annihilation of his hopes of immense gain, the loss of a +ruinous sum of money, and the danger and narrow escape of his son. He +had not slept a wink during the whole of the preceding night; and he +had passed the hours in a state of nervous anxiety which would have +totally unmanned many a strong-minded man when his first fears were +realized. But Mr. Radford's mind was of a peculiar construction: +apprehension he might feel, but never, by any chance, discouragement. +All his pain was in anticipation, not in endurance. The moment a blow +was struck, it was over: his thoughts turned to new resources; and, in +reconstructing schemes which had been overthrown, in framing new ones, +or pursuing old ones which had slumbered, he instantly found comfort +for the past. Thus he seemed as fresh, as resolute, as unabashed by +fortune's late frowns, as ever; but there was a rankling bitterness, +an eager, wolf-like energy in his heart, which sprung both from angry +disappointment and from the desperate aspect of his present fortune; +and such feelings naturally communicated some portion of their +acerbity to the expression of his countenance, which no effort could +totally banish.</p> + +<p class="normal">He gazed upon Sir Robert Croyland, then with a keen and inquiring +look, not altogether untinged with that sort of pity which amounts to +scorn; and, after a momentary pause, he said, "Well, Croyland, you +have heard all, I suppose!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, not all--not all, Radford," answered the baronet, hesitating; "I +was going out to inquire."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I can save you the trouble, then," replied Mr. Radford, drily. "I am +ruined. That is to say, in the two last ventures I have lost +considerably more than a hundred thousand pounds."</p> + +<p class="normal">Sir Robert Croyland waved his head sadly, saying, "Terrible, terrible! +but what can be done?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, several things," answered Mr. Radford, "and that is what I have +come to speak to you about, because the first must rest with you, my +excellent good friend."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But where is your son, poor fellow?" asked the baronet, eager to +avoid, as long as possible, the point to which their conversation was +tending. "They tell me he was well nigh taken; and, after there has +been blood shed, that would have been destruction. Do you know they +came and searched this house for him?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, I had not heard of that, Croyland," replied Mr. Radford; "but he +is near enough, well enough, and safe enough to marry your fair +daughter."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ay, yes," answered Sir Robert; "that must be thought of, and----."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh dear, no!" cried the other, interrupting him; "it has been thought +of enough already, Croyland--too much, perhaps; now, it must be done."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, I will go over to Edith at once," said the baronet, "and I will +urge her, by every inducement. I will tell her, that it is her duty, +that it is my will, and that she must and shall obey."</p> + +<p class="normal">Mr. Radford rose slowly off his seat, crossed over the rug to the +place where Sir Robert Croyland was placed; and, leaning his hand upon +the arm of the other's chair, he bent down his head, saying in a low +but very clear voice and perfectly distinct words, "Tell her, her +father's life depends upon it!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Sir Robert Croyland shrank from him, as if an asp had approached his +cheek; and he turned deadly pale. "No, Radford--no," he replied, in a +faltering and deprecatory tone; "you cannot mean such a horrible +thing. I will do all that I can to make her yield--I will, indeed--I +will insist--I will----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Sir Robert Croyland," said Mr. Radford, sternly and slowly, "I will +have no more trifling. I have indulged you too long. Your daughter +must be my son's wife before he quits this country--which must be the +case for a time, till we can get this affair wiped out by our +parliamentary influence. Her fortune must be his, she must be his +wife, I say, before four days are over.--Now, my good friend," he +continued, falling back, in a degree, into his usual manner, which had +generally a touch of sarcastic bitterness in it when addressing his +present companion, "what means you may please to adopt to arrive at +this desirable result I cannot tell; but as the young lady has shown +an aversion to the match, not very flattering to my son----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is it not his own fault?" cried Sir Robert Croyland, roused to some +degree of indignation and resistance--"has he ever, by word or deed, +sought to remove that reluctance? Has he wooed her as woman always +requires to be wooed? Has he not rather shown a preference to her +sister, paid her all attention, courted, admired her?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Pity you suffered it, Sir Robert," answered Radford; "but permit me, +in your courtesy, to go on with what I was saying. As the young lady +has shown this unfortunate reluctance, I anticipate no effect from +your proposed use of parental authority. I believe your requests and +your commands will be equally unavailing; and, therefore, I say, tell +her, her father's life depends upon it; for I will have no more +trifling, Sir Robert--no more delay--no more hesitation. It must be +settled at once--this very day. Before midnight, I must hear that she +consents, or you understand!--and consent she will, if you but employ +the right means. She may show herself obstinate, undutiful, careless +of your wishes and commands; but I do not think that she would like to +be the one to tie a halter round her father's neck, or to bring what I +think you gentlemen of heraldry and coat-armour call a cross-patonce +into the family-bearing--ha, ha, ha!--Do you, Sir Robert?"</p> + +<p class="normal">The unhappy gentleman to whom he spoke covered his eyes with his hand; +but, from beneath, his features could be seen working with the +agitation of various emotions, in which rage, impotent though it might +be, was not without its share. Suddenly, however, a gleam of hope +seemed to shoot across his mind; he withdrew his hand; he looked up +with some light in his eyes. "A thought has struck me, Radford," he +said; "Zara--we have talked of Zara--why not substitute her for Edith? +Listen to me--listen to me. You have not heard all."</p> + +<p class="normal">Mr. Radford shook his head. "It cannot be done," he replied--"it is +quite out of the question."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nay, but hear!" exclaimed the baronet. "Not so much out of the +question as you think. Look at the whole circumstances, Radford. The +great obstacle with Edith, is that unfortunate engagement with young +Leyton. She looks upon herself as his wife; she has told me so a +thousand times; and I doubt even the effect of the terrible course +which you urge upon me so cruelly."</p> + +<p class="normal">Mr. Radford's brow had grown exceedingly dark at the very mention of +the name of Leyton; but he said nothing, and, as if to keep down the +feelings that were swelling in his heart, set his teeth hard in his +under lip. Sir Robert Croyland saw all these marks of anger, but went +on--"Now, the case is different with Zara. Your son has sought her, +and evidently admires her; and she has shown herself by no means +unfavourable towards him. Besides, I can do with her what I like. +There is no such obstacle in her case; and I could bend her to my will +with a word--Yes, but hear me out. I know what you would say: she has +no fortune; all the land that I can dispose of is mortgaged to the +full--the rest goes to my brother, if he survives me.--True, all very +true!--But, Radford, listen--if I can induce my brother to give Zara +the same fortune which Edith possesses--if this night I can bring +it you under his own hand, that she shall have fifty thousand +pounds?--You shake your head; you doubt that he will do it; but I can +tell you that he would willingly give it, to save Edith from your son. +I am ready to pledge you my word, that you shall have that engagement, +under his own hand, this very night, or that Edith shall become your +son's wife within four days. Let us cast aside all idle +circumlocution. It is Edith's fortune for your son, that you require. +You can care nothing personally which of the two he marries. As for +him, he evidently prefers Zara. She is also well inclined to him. I +can--I am sure I can--offer you the same fortune with her. Why should +you object?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Mr. Radford had resumed his seat, and with his arms folded on his +chest, and his head bent, had remained in a listening posture. But +nothing that he heard seemed to produce any change in his countenance; +and when Sir Robert Croyland had concluded, he rose again, took a step +towards him, and replied, through his shut teeth, "You are mistaken, +Sir Robert Croyland--it is not fortune alone I seek.--It is +revenge!--There, ask me no questions, I have told you my determination. +Your daughter Edith shall be my son's wife within four days, or Maidstone +jail, trial, and execution, shall be your lot. The haughty family of +Croyland shall bear the stain of felony upon them to the last +generation; and your daughter shall know--for if you do not tell her, +I will--that it is her obstinacy which sends her father to the +gallows. No more trifling--no more nonsense! Act, sir, as you think +fit; but remember, that the words--once passed my lips--can never be +recalled; that the secret I have kept buried for so many years, shall +to-morrow morning be published to the whole world, if to-night you do +not bring me your daughter's consent to what I demand. I am using no +vain threats, Sir Robert Croyland," he continued, resuming a somewhat +softened tone, "and I do not urge you to this without some degree of +regret. You have been very kind and friendly; you have done me good +service on several occasions; and it will be with great regret that I +become the instrument of your destruction. But still every man has a +conscience of some kind. Even I am occasionally troubled with qualms; +and I frequently reproach myself for concealing what I am bound to +reveal. It is a pity this marriage was not concluded long ago, for +then, connected with you by the closest ties; I should have felt +myself more justified in holding my tongue. Now, however, it is +absolutely necessary that your daughter Edith should become my son's +wife. I have pointed out the means which I think will soonest bring it +to bear; and if you do not use them, you must abide the consequences. +But mark me--no attempt at delay, no prevarication, no hesitation! A +clear, positive, distinct answer this night by twelve o'clock, or you +are lost!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Sir Robert Croyland had leaned his arms upon the table, and pressed +his eyes upon his arms. His whole frame shook with emotion, and the +softer, and seemingly more kindly words of the man before him, were +even bitterer to him than the harsher and the fiercer. Though he did +not see his face, he knew that there was far more sarcasm than +tenderness in them. He had been his slave--his tool, for years--his +tool through the basest and most unmanly of human passions--fear; and +he felt, not only that he was despised, but that at that moment +Radford was revelling in contempt. He could have got up and stabbed +him where he stood; for he was naturally a passionate and violent man. +But fear had still the dominion; and after a bitter struggle with +himself, he conquered his anger, and gave himself up to the thought of +meeting the circumstances in which he was placed, as best he might. He +was silent for several moments, however, after Mr. Radford had ceased +speaking; and then, looking up with an anxious eye and quivering lip, +he said, "But how is it possible, Radford, that the marriage should +take place in four days? The banns could not be published; and even if +you got a licence, your son could not appear at church within the +prescribed hours, without running a fatal risk."</p> + +<p class="normal">"We will have a special licence, my good friend," answered Mr. +Radford, with a contemptuous smile. "Do not trouble yourself about +that. You will have quite enough to do with your daughter, I should +imagine, without annoying yourself with other things. As to my son, I +will manage his part of the affair; and he can marry your daughter in +your drawing-room, or mine, at an hour when there will be no eager +eyes abroad. Money can do all things; and a special licence is not so +very expensive but that I can afford it, still. My drawing-room will +be best; for then we shall be all secure."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But, Radford--Radford!" said Sir Robert Croyland, "if I do--if I +bring Edith at the time appointed--if she become your son's wife--you +will give me up that paper, that fatal deposition?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, yes, assuredly," replied Mr. Radford, with an insulting smile; "I +can hand it over to you as part of the marriage settlement. You need +not be the least afraid!--and now, I think I must go; for I have +business to settle as well as you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Stay, stay a moment, Radford," said the baronet, rising and coming +nearer to him. "You spoke of revenge just now. What is it that you +mean?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I told you to ask no questions," answered the other, sharply.</p> + +<p class="normal">"But at least tell me, if it is on me or mine that you seek revenge!" +exclaimed Sir Robert Croyland. "I am unconscious of ever having +injured or offended you in any way."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh dear, no," replied Mr. Radford. "You have nothing to do with +it--no, nor your daughter either, though she deserves a little +punishment for her ill-treatment to my son. No, but there is one on +whom I will have revenge--deep and bitter revenge, too! But that is my +affair; and I do not choose to say more. You have heard my +resolutions; and you know me well enough, to be sure that I will keep +my word. So now go to your daughter, and manage the matter as you +judge best; but if you will take my advice, you will simply ask her +consent, and make her fully aware that her father's life depends upon +it; and now good-by, my dear friend. Good luck attend you on your +errand; for I would a great deal rather not have any hand in bringing +you, where destiny seems inclined to lead you very soon."</p> + +<p class="normal">Thus saying, he turned and quitted the room; and Sir Robert Croyland +remained musing for several minutes, his thoughts first resting upon +the last part of their conversation. "Revenge!" he said; "he must mean +my brother; and it will be bitter enough, to him, to see Edith married +to this youth. Bitter enough to me, too; but it must be done--it must +be done!"</p> + +<p class="normal">He pressed his hand upon his heart, and then went out to mount his +horse; but pausing in the vestibule, he told the butler to bring him a +glass of brandy. The man hastened to obey; for his master's face was +as pale as death, and he thought that Sir Robert was going to faint. +But when the baronet had swallowed the stimulating liquor, he walked +to the back door with a quick and tolerably steady step, mounted, and +rode away alone.</p> + +<p class="normal">Before I follow him, though anxious to do so as quickly as possible, I +must say a few words in regard to Mr. Radford's course. After he had +reached the parish road I have mentioned,--on which one or two +dragoons were still visible, slowly patrolling round Harbourne +Wood,--the man who had exercised so terrible an influence upon poor +Sir Robert Croyland turned his horse's head upon the path which led +straight through the trees towards the cottage of Widow Clare. His +face was still dark and cloudy; and, trusting to the care and +sure-footedness of his beast, he went on with a loose rein and his +eyes bent down towards his saddle-bow, evidently immersed in deep +thought. When he had got about two-thirds across the wood, he started +and turned round his head; for there was the sound of a horse's feet +behind, and he instantly perceived a dragoon following him, and +apparently keeping him in sight. Mr. Radford rode on, however, till he +came out not far from the gate of Mrs. Clare's garden, when he saw +another soldier riding slowly round the wood. With a careless air, +however, and as if he scarcely perceived these circumstances, he +dismounted, buckled the rein of his bridle slowly over the palings of +the garden, and went into the cottage, closing the door after him. He +found the widow and her daughter busily employed with the needle, +making somewhat smarter clothes than those they wore on ordinary +occasions. It was poor Kate's bridal finery.</p> + +<p class="normal">Mrs. Clare instantly rose, and dropped a low curtsey to Mr. Radford, +who had of late years frequently visited her cottage, and occasionally +contributed a little to her comfort, in a kindly and judicious manner. +Sometimes he had sent her down a load of wood, to keep the house warm; +sometimes he had given her a large roll of woollen cloth, a new gown +for her daughter or herself, or a little present of money. But Mr. +Radford had his object: he always had.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, Mrs. Clare!" said Mr. Radford, in as easy and quiet a tone as +if nothing had happened to agitate his mind or derange his plans; "so, +my pretty little friend, Kate, is going to be married to worthy Jack +Harding, I find."</p> + +<p class="normal">Kate blushed and held down her head, and Mrs. Clare assented with a +faint smile.</p> + +<p class="normal">"There has been a bad business of it this morning, though," said Mr. +Radford, looking in Mrs. Clare's face; "I dare say you've heard all +about it--over there, in the valley by Woodchurch and Redbrook +Street."</p> + +<p class="normal">Mrs. Clare looked alarmed; and Kate forgot her timidity, and +exclaimed--"Oh! is he safe?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, yes, my dear," answered Mr. Radford, in a kindly tone; "you need +not alarm yourself. He was not in it, at all. I don't say he had no +share in running the goods; for that is pretty well known, I believe; +and he did his part of the work well; but the poor fellows who were +bringing up the things, by some folly, or mistake, I do not know +which, got in amongst the dragoons, were attacked, and nearly cut to +pieces."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ay, then, that is what the soldiers are hanging about here for," said +Mrs. Clare.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It's a sad affair for me, indeed!" continued Mr. Radford, +thoughtfully.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am truly sorry to hear that, sir!" exclaimed Mrs. Clare, "for you +have been always very kind to me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, my good lady," replied her visitor, "perhaps you may now be +able to do me a kindness in return," said Mr. Radford. "To tell you +the truth, my son was in this affray. He made his escape when he found +that they could not hold their ground; and it is for him that the +soldiers are now looking--at least, I suspect so. Perhaps you may be +able to give a little help, if he should be concealed about here?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"That I will," said Widow Clare, "if it cost me one of my hands!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, there will be no danger!" answered Mr. Radford; "I only wish you, +in case he should be lying where I think he is, to take care that he +has food till he can get away. It might be better for Kate here, to go +rather than yourself; or one could do it at one time, and the other at +another. With a basket on her arm, and a few eggs at the top, Kate +could trip across the wood as if she were going to Harbourne House. +You could boil the eggs hard, you know, and put some bread and other +things underneath. Then, at the place where I suppose he is, she could +quietly put down the basket and walk on."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But you must tell me where he is, sir," answered Mrs. Clare.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Certainly," replied Mr. Radford--"that is to say, I can tell you +where I think he is. Then, when she gets near it, she can look round +to see if there's any one watching, and if she sees no one, can say +aloud--'Do you want anything?' If he's there he'll answer; and should +he send any message to me, one of you must bring it up. I shan't +forget to repay you for your trouble."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh dear, sir, it isn't for that," said Mrs. Clare--"Kate and I will +both be very glad, indeed, to show our gratitude for your kindness. It +is seldom poor people have the opportunity; and I am sure, after good +Sir Robert Croyland, we owe more to you than to any body."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Sir Robert has been kind to you, I believe, Mrs. Clare!" replied Mr. +Radford, with a peculiar expression of countenance. "Well he may be! +He has not always been so kind to you and yours."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Pray, sir, do not say a word against Sir Robert!" answered the widow; +"though he sometimes used to speak rather cross and angrily in former +times, yet since my poor husband's death, nothing could be more kind +than he has been. I owe him everything, sir."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ay, it's all very well, Mrs. Clare," replied Mr. Radford, shaking his +head with a doubtful smile--"it's all very well! However, I do not +intend to say a word against Sir Robert Croyland. He's my very good +friend, you know; and it's all very well.--Now let us talk about the +place where you or Kate are to go; but, above all things, remember +that you must not utter a word about it to any one, either now or +hereafter; for it might be the ruin of us all if you did."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, no--not for the world, sir!" answered Mrs. Clare; "I know such +places are not to be talked about; and nobody shall ever hear anything +about it from us."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, then," continued Mr. Radford, "you know the way up to Harbourne +House, through the gardens. There's the little path to the right; and +then, half way up that, there's one to the left, which brings you to +the back of the stables. It goes between two sandy banks, you may +recollect; and there's a little pond with a willow growing over it, +and some bushes at the back of the willow. Well, just behind these +bushes there is a deep hole in the bank, high enough to let a man +stand upright in it, when he gets a little way down. It would make a +famous <i>hide</i> if there were a better horse-path up to it, and +sometimes it has been used for small things such as a man can carry on +his back. Now, from what I have heard, my boy Richard must be in +there; for his horse was found, it seems, not above two or three +hundred yards from the house, broken-knee'd and knocked-up. If any one +should follow you as you go, and make inquiries, you must say that you +are going to the house; for there is a door there in the wall of the +stable-yard--though that path is seldom, if ever used now; but, if +there be nobody by, you can just set down the basket by the stump of +the willow, and ask if he wants anything more. If he doesn't answer, +speak again, and try at all events to find out whether he's there or +not, so that I may hear."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, I know the place, quite well!" said Mrs. Clare. "My poor husband +used to get gravel there. But when do you think I had better go, sir? +for if the dragoons are still lingering about, a thousand to one but +they follow me, and, more likely still, may follow Kate; so I shall go +myself to night, at all events."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You had better wait till it is duskish," answered Mr. Radford; "and +then they'll soon lose sight of you amongst the trees; for they can't +go up there on horseback, and if they stop to dismount you can easily +get out of their way. Let me have any message you may get from +Richard; and don't forget, either, if Harding comes up here, to tell +him I want to speak with him very much. He'll be sorry enough for this +affair when he hears of it, for the loss is dreadful!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I'm sure he will, sir," said Kate Clare; "for he was talking about +something that he had to do, and said it would half kill him, if he +did not get it done safely."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ay, he's a very good fellow," answered Mr. Radford, "and you shall +have a wedding-gown from me, Kate.--Look out of the window, there's a +good girl, and see if any of those dragoons are about."</p> + +<p class="normal">Kate did as he bade her, and replied in the negative; and Mr. Radford, +after giving a few more directions, mounted his horse and rode away, +muttering as he went--"Ay, Master Harding, I have a strong suspicion +of you; and I will soon satisfy myself. They must have had good +information, which none could give but you, I think; so look to +yourself, my friend. No man ever injured me yet who had not cause to +repent it."</p> + +<p class="normal">Mr. Radford forgot that he no longer possessed such extensive means of +injuring others as he had formerly done; but the bitter will was as +strong as ever.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="div2_12" href="#div2Ref_12">CHAPTER XII.</a></h2> +<br> + +<p class="normal">The house of Mr. Zachary Croyland was not so large or ostentatious in +appearance as that of his brother; but, nevertheless, it was a very +roomy and comfortable house; and as he was naturally a man of fine +taste--though somewhat singular in his likings and dislikings, as well +in matters of art as in his friendships, and vehement in favour of +particular schools, and in abhorrence of others--his dwelling was +fitted up with all that could refresh the eye or improve the mind. A +very extensive and well-chosen library covered the walls of one room, +in which were also several choice pieces of sculpture; and his +drawing-room was ornamented with a valuable collection of small +pictures, into which not one single Dutch piece was admitted. He was +accustomed to say, when any connoisseur objected to the total +exclusion of a very fine school--"Don't mention it--don't mention it; +I hate it in all its branches and all its styles. I have pictures for +my own satisfaction, not because they are worth a thousand pounds +apiece. I hate to see men represented as like beasts as possible; or +to refresh my eyes with swamps and canals; or, in the climate of +England, which is dull enough of all conscience, to exhilarate myself +with the view of a frozen pond and fields, as flat as a plate, covered +with snow, while half-a-dozen boors, in red night-caps and red noses, +are skating away in ten pairs of breeches--looking, in point of shape, +exactly like hogs set upon their hind legs. It's all very true the +artist may have shown very great talent; but that only shows him to be +the greater fool for wasting his talents upon such subjects."</p> + +<p class="normal">His collection, therefore, consisted almost entirely of the Italian +schools, with a few Flemish, a few English, and one or two exquisite +Spanish pictures. He had two good Murillos and a Velasquez, one or two +fine Vandykes, and four sketches by Rubens of larger pictures. But he +had numerous landscapes, and several very beautiful small paintings of +the Bolognese school; though that on which he prided himself the most, +was an exquisite Correggio.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was in this room that he left his niece Edith when he set out for +Woodchurch; and, as she sat--with her arm fallen somewhat listlessly +over the back of the low sofa, the light coming in from the window +strong upon her left cheek, and the rest in shade, with her rich +colouring and her fine features, the high-toned expression of soul +upon her brow, and the wonderful grace of her whole form and +attitude--she would have made a fine study for any of those dead +artists whose works lived around her.</p> + +<p class="normal">She heard the wheels of the carriage roll away; but she gave no +thought to the question of whither her uncle had gone, or why he took +her not with him, as he usually did. She was glad of it, in fact; and +people seldom reason upon that with which they are well pleased. Her +whole mind was directed to her own situation, and to the feelings +which the few words of conversation she had had with her sister had +aroused. She thought of him she loved, with the intense, eager longing +to behold him once more--but once, if so it must be--which perhaps +only a woman's heart can fully know. To be near him, to hear him +speak, to trace the features she had loved, to mark the traces of +Time's hand, and the lines that care and anxiety, and disappointment +and regret, she knew must be busily working--oh, what a boon it would +be! Then her mind ran on, led by the light hand of Hope, along the +narrow bridge of association, to ask herself--if it would be such +delight to see him and to hear him speak--what would it be to soothe, +to comfort, to give him back to joy and peace!</p> + +<p class="normal">The dream was too bright to last, and it soon faded. He was near her, +and yet he did not come; he was in the same land, in the same +district; he had gazed up to the house where she dwelt; if he had +asked whose it was, the familiar name--the name once so dear--must +have sounded in his ear; and yet he did not come. A few minutes of +time, a few steps of his horse, would have brought him to where she +was; but he had turned away,--and Edith's eyes filled with tears.</p> + +<p class="normal">She rose and wiped them off, saying, "I will think of something else;" +and she went up and gazed at a picture. It was a Salvator Rosa--a fine +painting, though not by one of the finest masters. There was a rocky +scene in front, with trees waving in the wind of a fierce storm, while +two travellers stood beneath a bank and a writhing beech tree, +scarcely seeming to find shelter even there from the large grey +streams of rain that swept across the foreground. But, withal, in the +distance were seen some majestic old towers and columns, with a gleam +of golden light upon the edge of the sky; and Hope, never wearying of +her kindly offices, whispered to Edith's heart, "In life, as in that +picture, there may be sunshine behind the storm."</p> + +<p class="normal">Poor Edith was right willing to listen; and she gave herself up to the +gentle guide. "Perhaps," she thought, "his duty might not admit of his +coming, or perhaps he might not know how he would he received. My +father's anger would be sure to follow such a step. He might think +that insult, injury, would be added. He might imagine even, that I am +changed," and she shook her head, sadly. "Yet why should he not," she +continued, "if I sit here and think so of him? Who can tell what +people may have said?--Who can tell even what falsehoods may have been +spread? Perhaps he's even now thinking of me. Perhaps he has come into +this part of the country to make inquiries, to see with his own eyes, +to satisfy himself. Oh, it must be so--it must be so!" she cried, +giving herself up again to the bright dream. "Ay, and this Sir Edward +Digby, too, he is his dear friend, his companion, may he not have sent +him down to investigate and judge? I thought it strange at the time, +that this young officer should write to inquire after my father's +family, and then instantly accept an invitation; and I marked how he +gazed at that wretched young man and his unworthy father. Perhaps he +will tell Zara more, and I shall hear when I return. Perhaps he has +told her more already. Indeed, it is very probable, for they had a +long ride together yesterday;" and poor Edith began to feel as anxious +to go back to her father's house as she had been glad to quit it. Yet +she saw no way how this could be accomplished, before the period +allotted for her stay was at an end; and she determined to have +recourse to a little simple art, and ask Mr. Croyland to take her over +to Harbourne, on the following morning, with the ostensible purpose of +looking for some article of apparel left behind, but, in truth, to +obtain a few minutes' conversation with her sister.</p> + +<p class="normal">There are times in the life of almost every one--at least, of every +one of feeling and intellect--when it seems as if we could meditate +for ever: when, without motion or change, the spirit within the +earthly tabernacle could pause and ponder over deep subjects of +contemplation for hour after hour, with the doors and windows of the +senses shut, and without any communication with external things. The +matter before us may be any of the strange and perplexing relations of +man's mysterious being; or it may be some obscure circumstance of our +own fate--some period of uncertainty and expectation--some of those +Egyptian darknesses which from time to time come over the future, and +which we gaze on half in terror, half in hope, discovering nothing, +yet speculating still. The latter was the case at that moment with +Edith Croyland; and, as she revolved every separate point of her +situation, it seemed as if fresh wells of thought sprung up to flow on +interminably.</p> + +<p class="normal">She had continued thus during more than half an hour after her uncle's +departure, when she heard a horse stop before the door of the house, +and her heart beat, though she knew not wherefore. Her lover might +have come at length, indeed; but if that dream crossed her mind it was +soon swept away; for the next instant she heard her father's voice, +first inquiring for herself, and then asking, in a lower tone, if his +brother was within. If Edith had felt hope before, she now felt +apprehension; for during several years no private conversation had +taken place between her father and herself without bringing with it +grief and anxiety, harsh words spoken, and answers painful for a child +to give.</p> + +<p class="normal">It seldom happens that fear does not go beyond reality; but such was +not the case in the present instance; for Edith Croyland had to +undergo far more than she expected. Her father entered the room where +she sat, with a slow step and a stern and determined look. His face +was very pale, too; his lips themselves seemed bloodless, and the +terrible emotions which were in his heart showed themselves upon his +countenance by many an intelligible but indescribable sign. As soon as +Edith saw him, she thought, "He has heard of Henry's return to this +country. It is that which has brought him;" and she nerved her heart +for a new struggle; but still she could scarcely prevent her limbs +from shaking, as she rose and advanced to meet her parent.</p> + +<p class="normal">Sir Robert Croyland drew her to him, and kissed her tenderly enough; +for, in truth, he loved her very dearly: and then he led her back to +the sofa, and seated himself beside her.</p> + +<p class="normal">"How low these abominable contrivances are," he said; "I do wish that +Zachary would have some sofas that people can sit upon with comfort, +instead of these beastly things, only fit for a Turkish harem, or a +dog-kennel."</p> + +<p class="normal">Edith made no reply; for she waited in dread of what was to follow, +and could not speak of trifles. But her father presently went on, +saying, "So, my brother is out, and not likely to return for an hour +or two!--Well, I am glad of it, Edith; for I came over to speak with +you on matters of much moment."</p> + +<p class="normal">Still Edith was silent; for she durst not trust her voice with any +reply. She feared that her courage would give way at the first words, +and that she should burst into tears, when she felt sure that all the +resolution she could command, would be required to bear her safely +through. She trusted, indeed, that, as she had often found before, her +spirit would rise with the occasion, and that she should find powers +of resistance within her in the time of need, though she shrank from +the contemplation of what was to come.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have delayed long, Edith," continued Sir Robert Croyland, after a +pause, "to press you upon a subject in regard to which it is now +absolutely necessary you should come to a decision;--too long, indeed; +but I have been actuated by a regard for your feelings, and you owe me +something for my forbearance. There can now, however, be no further +delay. You will easily understand, that I mean your marriage with +Richard Radford."</p> + +<p class="normal">Edith raised her eyes to her father's face, and, after a strong +effort, replied, "My decision, my dear father, has, as you know, been +long made. I cannot, and I will not, marry him--nothing on earth shall +ever induce me!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do not say that, Edith," answered Sir Robert Croyland, with a bitter +smile; "for I could utter words, which, if I know you rightly, would +make you glad and eager to give him your hand, even though you broke +your heart in so doing. But before I speak those things which will +plant a wound in your bosom for life, that nothing can heal or +assuage, I will try every other means. I request you--I intreat you--I +command you, to marry him! By every duty that you owe me--by all the +affection that a child ought to feel for a father, I beseech you to do +so, if you would save me from destruction and despair!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I cannot! I cannot!" said Edith, clasping her hands. "Oh! why should +you drive me to such painful disobedience? In the first place, can I +promise to love a man that I hate, to honour and obey one whom I +despise, and whose commands can never be for good? But still more, my +father,--you must hear me out, for you force me to speak--you force me +to tear open old wounds, to go back to times long past, and to recur +to things bitter to you and to me. I cannot marry him, as I told you +once before; for I hold myself to be the wife of another."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Folly and nonsense!" cried Sir Robert Croyland, angrily, "you are +neither his wife, nor he your husband. What! the wife of a man who has +never sought you for years--who has cast you off, abandoned you, made +no inquiry for you?--The marriage was a farce. You read a ceremony +which you had no right to read, you took vows which you had no power +to take. The law of the land pronounces all such engagements mere +pieces of empty foolery!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"But the law of God," replied Edith, "tells us to keep vows that we +have once made. To those vows, I called God to witness with a true and +sincere heart; and with the same heart, and the same feelings, I will +keep them! I did wrong, my father--I know I did wrong--and Henry did +wrong too; but by what we have done we must abide; and I dare not, I +cannot be the wife of another."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But, I tell you, you shall!" exclaimed her father, vehemently. "I +will compel you to be so; I will over-rule this obstinate folly, and +make you obedient, whether you choose it or not."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nay, nay--not so!" cried Edith. "You could not do, you would not +attempt, so cruel a thing!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will, so help me Heaven!" exclaimed Sir Robert Croyland.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then, thank Heaven," answered his daughter, in a low but solemn +voice, "it is impossible! In this country, there is no clergyman who +would perform the ceremony contrary to my expressed dissent. If I +break the vows that I have taken, it must be my own voluntary act; for +there is not any force that can compel me so to do; and I call Heaven +to witness, that, even if you were to drag me to the altar, I would +say, No, to the last!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Rash, mad, unfeeling girl!" cried her father, starting up, and gazing +upon her with a look in which rage, and disappointment, and perplexity +were all mingled.</p> + +<p class="normal">He stood before her for a moment in silence, and then strode +vehemently backwards and forwards in the room, with his right hand +contracting and expanding, as if grasping at something. "It must be +done!" he said, at length, pressing his hand upon his brow; "it must +be done!" and then he recommenced his silent walk, with the shadows of +many emotions coming over his countenance.</p> + +<p class="normal">When he returned to Edith's side again, the manner and the aspect of +Sir Robert Croyland were both changed. There was an expression of deep +sorrow upon his countenance, of much agitation, but considerable +tenderness; and, to his daughter's surprise, he took her hand in his, +and pressed it affectionately.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Edith," he said, after a short interval of silence, "I have +commanded, I have insisted, I have threatened--but all in vain. Yet, +in so doing, I have had in view to spare you even greater pain than +could be occasioned by a father's sternness. My very love for you, my +child, made me seem wanting in love. But now I must inflict the +greater pain. You require, it seems, inducements stronger than +obedience to a father's earnest commands, and you shall have them, +however terrible for me to speak and you to hear. I will tell you all, +and leave you to judge."</p> + +<p class="normal">Edith gazed at him in surprise and terror. "Oh, do not--do not, sir!" +she said; "do not try to break my heart, and put my duty to you in +opposition to the fulfilment of a most sacred vow--in opposition to +all the dictates of my own heart and my own conscience."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Edith, it must be done," replied Sir Robert Croyland. "I have urged +you to a marriage with young Richard Radford. I now tell you solemnly +that your father's life depends upon it."</p> + +<p class="normal">Edith clasped her hands wildly together, and gazed, for a moment, in +his face, without a word, almost stupified with horror. But Sir Robert +Croyland had deceived her, or attempted to deceive her, on the very +same subject they were now discussing, more than once already. She +knew it; and of course she doubted; for those who have been once false +are never fully believed--those who have been once deceived are always +suspicious of those who have deceived them, even when they speak the +truth. As thought and reflection came back after the first shock, +Edith found much cause to doubt: she could not see how such a thing +was possible--how her refusal of Richard Radford could affect her +father's life; and she replied, after a time, in a hesitating tone, +"How can that be?--I do not understand it.--I do not see how----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will tell you," replied Sir Robert Croyland, in a low and +peculiarly-quiet voice, which had something fearful in it to his +daughter's ear. "It is a long story, Edith; but you must hear it all, +my child. You shall be your father's confidant--his only one. You +shall share the secret, dreadful as it is, which has embittered his +whole existence, rendered his days terrible, his nights sleepless, his +bed a couch of fire."</p> + +<p class="normal">Edith trembled in every limb; and Sir Robert, rising, crossed over and +opened the door of the drawing-room, to see that there were none of +the servants near it. Then closing it again, he returned to her side, +and proceeded, holding her hand in his: "You must have remarked," he +said, "and perhaps often wondered, my dear child, that Mr. Radford, a +man greatly below myself in station, whose manners are repulsive and +disagreeable, whose practices I condemn and reprobate, whose notions +and principles I abhor, has exercised over me for many years an +influence which no other person possesses, that he has induced me to +do many things which my better sense and better feelings disapproved, +that he has even led me to consent that my best-loved daughter should +become the wife of his son, and to urge her to be so at the expense of +all her feelings. You have seen all this, Edith, and wondered. Is it +not so?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have, indeed," murmured Edith. "I have been by no means able to +account for it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Such will not be the case much longer, Edith," replied Sir Robert +Croyland. "I am making my confession, my dear child; and you shall +hear all. I must recur, too, to the story of young Leyton. You know +well that I liked and esteemed him; and although I was offended, as I +justly might be, at his conduct towards yourself, and thought fit to +show that I disapproved, yet at first, and from the first, I +determined, if I saw the attachment continue and prove real and +sincere, to sacrifice all feelings of pride, and all considerations of +fortune, and when you were of a fit age, to confirm the idle ceremony +which had passed between you, by a real and lawful marriage."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, that was kind and generous of you, my dear father. What could +make you change so suddenly and fatally? You must have seen that the +attachment was true and lasting; you must have known that Henry was in +every way calculated to make your daughter happy."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You shall hear, Edith--you shall hear," replied her father. "Very +shortly after the event of which I have spoken, another occurred, of a +dark and terrible character, only known to myself and one other. I was +somewhat irritable at that time. My views and prospects with regard to +yourself were crossed; and although I had taken the resolution I have +mentioned, vexation and disappointment had their effect upon my mind. +Always passionate, I gave way more to my passion than I had ever done +before; and the result was a fatal and terrible one. You may remember +poor Clare, the gamekeeper. He had offended me on the Monday morning; +and I had used violent and angry language towards him before his +companions, threatening to punish him in a way he did not expect. On +the following day, we went out again to shoot--he and I alone +together--and, on our way back, we passed through a little wood, which +lies----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, stop--stop!" cried Edith, covering her eyes with her hands. "Do +not tell me any more!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Her father was not displeased to see her emotion, for it answered his +purpose. Yet, it must not be supposed that the peculiar tone and +manner which he assumed, so different from anything that had been seen +in his demeanour for years, was affected as a means to an end. Such +was not the case. Sir Robert Croyland was now true, in manner and in +words, though it was the first time that he had been entirely so for +many years. There had been a terrible struggle before he could make up +his mind to speak; but yet, when he did begin, it was a relief to him, +to unburthen the overloaded breast, even to his own child. It softened +him; it made his heart expand; it took the chain off long-imprisoned +feelings, and gave a better spirit room to make its presence felt. He +did not forget his object, indeed. To save himself from a death of +horror, from accusation, from disgrace, was still his end; but the +means by which he proposed to seek it were gentler. He even wavered in +his resolution: he fancied that he could summon fortitude to leave the +decision to Edith herself, and that if that decision were against him, +would dare and bear the worst. But still he was pleased to see her +moved; for he thought that she could never hear the whole tale, and +learn his situation fully, without rushing forward to extricate him; +and he went on--"Nay, Edith, now the statement has been begun, it must +be concluded," he said. "You would hear, and you must hear all. You +know the wood I speak of, I dare say--a little to the left of Chequer +Tree?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, yes!" murmured Edith, "where poor Clare was found."</p> + +<p class="normal">The baronet nodded his head: "It was there, indeed," he said. "We went +down to see if there were any snipes, or wild fowl, in the bottom. It +is a deep and gloomy-looking dell, with a pond of water and some +rushes in the hollow, and a little brook running through it, having +tall trees all around, and no road but one narrow path crossing it. As +we came down, I thought I saw the form of a man move amongst the +trees; and I fancied that some one was poaching there. I told Clare to +go round the pond and see, while I watched the road. He did not seem +inclined to go, saying, that he had not remarked anybody, but that the +people round about said the place was haunted. I had been angry with +him the whole morning, and a good deal out of humour with many things; +so I told him to go round instantly, and not make me any answer. The +man did so, in a somewhat slow and sullen humour, I thought, and +returned sooner than I fancied he ought to do, saying that he could +see no trace of any one. I was now very angry, for I fancied he +neglected his duty. I told him that he was a liar, that I had +perceived some one, whom he might have perceived as well, and that my +firm belief was, he was in alliance with the poachers, and deserved to +be immediately discharged. 'Well, Sir Robert,' he said, 'in regard to +discharging me, that is soon settled. I will not stay another day in +your service, after I have a legal right to go. As to being a liar, I +am none; and as to being in league with the poachers, if you say so, +you yourself lie!' Such were his words, or words to that effect. I got +furious at his insolence, though perhaps, Edith--perhaps I provoked it +myself--at least, I have thought so since. However, madly giving way +to rage, I took my gun by the barrel to knock him down. A struggle +ensued; for he caught hold of the weapon in my hand; and how I know +not, but the gun went off, and Clare fell back upon the turf. What +would I not have done then, to recal every hasty word I had spoken! +But it was in vain. I stooped over him; I spoke to him; I told him how +sorry I was for what had happened. But he made no answer, and pressed +his hand upon his right side, where the charge had entered. I was mad +with despair and remorse. I knew not where to go, or what to do. The +man was evidently dying; for his face had grown pale and sharp; and +after trying to make him speak, and beseeching him to answer one word, +I set off running as fast as I could towards the nearest village for +assistance. As I was going, I saw a man on horseback, riding sharply +down towards the very place. He was at some distance from me; but I +easily recognised Mr. Radford, and knew that he must pass by the spot +where the wounded man lay. I comforted myself with thinking that Clare +would get aid without my committing myself; and I crept in amongst the +trees at the edge of the wood, to make sure that Mr. Radford saw him, +and to watch their proceedings. Quietly and stealthily finding my way +through the bushes, I came near; and then I saw that Radford was +kneeling by Clare's side with an inkhorn in his hand, which, with his +old tradesmanlike-habits, he used always at that time to carry about +him. He was writing busily, and I could hear Clare speak, but could +not distinguish what he said. The state of my mind, at that moment, I +cannot describe. It was more like madness than any thing else. Vain +and foolish is it, for any man or any body of men, to argue what would +be their conduct in trying situations which they have never been +placed in. It is worse than folly for them to say, what would +naturally be another man's conduct in any circumstances; for no man +can tell another's character, or understand fully all the fine shades +of feeling or emotion that may influence him. The tale I am telling +you now, Edith, is true--too true, in all respects. I was very wrong, +certainly; but I was not guilty of the man's murder. I never intended +to fire: I never tried to fire; and yet, perhaps, I acted, afterwards, +as if I had been guilty, or at all events in a way that was well +calculated to make people believe I was so. But I was mad at the +time--mad with agitation and grief--and every man, I believe, in +moments of deep emotion is mad, more or less. However, I crept out of +the wood again, and hastened on, determined to leave the man to the +care of Mr. Radford, but with all my thoughts wild and confused, and +no definite line of conduct laid out for myself. Before I had gone a +mile, I began to think what a folly I had committed, that I should +have joined Radford at once; that I should have been present to hear +what the man said, and to give every assistance in my power, although +it might be ineffectual, in order to stanch the blood and save his +life. As soon as these reflections arose, I determined, though late, +to do what I should have done at first; and, turning my steps, I +walked back at a quick pace. Ere I got half way to the top of the hill +which looks down upon the wood, I saw Radford coming out again on +horseback; but I went on, and met him. As soon as he beheld me he +checked his horse, which was going at a rapid rate, and when I came +near, dismounted to speak with me. We were then little more than +common acquaintances, and I had sometimes dealt hardly with him in his +different transactions; but he spoke in a friendly tone, saying, 'This +is a sad business, Sir Robert; but if you will take my advice you will +go home as quickly as you can, and say nothing to any one till you see +me. I will be with you in an hour or so. At present I must ride up to +Middle Quarter, and get down men to carry home the body.' With a +feeling I cannot express, I asked, if he were dead, then. He nodded +his head significantly, and when I was going to put further questions, +he grasped my hand, saying, 'Go home, Sir Robert--go home. I shall say +nothing about the matter to any one, till I see you, except that I +found him dying in the wood. His gun was discharged,' he continued, +'so there is no proof that he did not do it himself!' Little did I +know what a fiend he was, into whose power I was putting myself."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, Heaven!" cried Edith, who had been listening with her head bent +down till her whole face was nearly concealed, "I see it all, now! I +see it all!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, dear child," replied Sir Robert Croyland, in a voice sad and +solemn, but wonderfully calm, "you cannot see it all; no, nor one +thousandth part of what I have suffered. Even the next dreadful three +hours--for he was fully that time ere he came to Harbourne--were full +of horror, inconceivable to any one but to him who endured them. At +length, he made his appearance; calm, grave, self-possessed, with +nought of his somewhat rude and blustering manner, and announced, with +an affectation of feeling to the family, that poor Clare, my keeper, +had been found dying with a wound in his side."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I recollect the day, well!" said Edith, shuddering.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you not remember, then," said Sir Robert Croyland, "that he and I +went into my writing-room--that awful room, which well deserves the +old prison name of the room of torture! We were closeted there for +nearly two hours; and all he said I cannot repeat. His tone, however, +was the most friendly in the world. He professed the greatest interest +in me and in my situation; and he told me that he had come to see me +before he said a word to any one, because he wished to take my opinion +as to how he was to proceed. It was necessary, he said, that I should +know the facts, for, unfortunately they placed me in a very dangerous +situation, which he was most anxious to free me from; and then he went +on to tell me, that when he had come up, poor Clare was perfectly +sensible, and had his speech distinctly. 'As a magistrate,' he +continued, 'I thought it right immediately to take his dying +deposition, for I saw that he had not many minutes to live. Here it +is,' he said, showing his pocket-book; 'and, as I luckily always have +pen and ink with me, I knelt down, and wrote his words from his own +lips. He had strength enough to sign the paper; and, as you may see, +there is the mark of blood from his own hand, which he had been +pressing on his side.' I would fain have taken the paper, but he would +not let me, saying, that he was bound to keep it; and then he went on, +and read the contents. In it, the unfortunate man charged me most +wrongfully with having shot him in a fit of passion; and, moreover, he +said that he had been sure, beforehand, that I would do it, as I had +threatened him on the preceding day, and there were plenty of people +who could prove it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, how dreadful!" cried Edith.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It was false, as I have a soul to be saved!" cried Sir Robert +Croyland. "But Mr. Radford then went on, and, shrugging his shoulders, +said, that he was placed in a very delicate and painful situation, and +that he did not really know how to act with regard to the deposition. +'Put it in the fire!' I exclaimed--'put it in the fire!' But he said, +'No; every man must consider himself in these things, Sir Robert. I +have my own character and reputation to think of--my own duty. I risk +a great deal, you must recollect, by concealing a thing of this kind. +I do not know that I don't put my own life in danger; for this is +clear and conclusive evidence against you, and you know, what it is to +be accessory in a case of murder!' I then told him my own story, +Edith; and he said, that made some difference, indeed. He was sure I +would tell him the truth; but yet he must consider himself in the +matter; and he added hints which I could not mistake, that his +evidence was to be bought off. I offered anything he pleased to name, +and the result was such as you may guess. He exacted that I should +mortgage my estate, as far as it could be mortgaged, and make over the +proceeds to him, and that I should promise to give your hand to his +son. I promised anything, my child; for not only life and death, but +honour or disgrace, were in the balance. If he had asked my life, I +would have held my throat to the knife a thousand times sooner than +have made such sacrifices. But to die the death of a felon, Edith--to +be hanged--to writhe in the face of a grinning and execrating +multitude--to have my name handed down in the annals of crime, as the +man who had been executed for the murder of his own servant,--I could +not bear that, my child; and I promised anything! He kept the paper, +he said, as a security; and, at first, it was to be given to me, to do +with it as I liked--when the money coming from the mortgage was +secretly made over to him; but then, he said, that he had lost one +great hold, and must keep it till the marriage was completed: for by +this time the coroner's inquest was over, and he had withheld the +deposition, merely testifying that he had found the man at the point +of death in the wood, and had gone as fast as possible for assistance. +The jury consisted of his tenants and mine, and they were easily +satisfied; but the fiend who had me in his power was more greedy; and, +by the very exercise of his influence, he seemed to learn to enjoy it. +Day after day, month after month, he took a pleasure in making me do +things that were abhorrent to me. It changed my nature and my +character. He forced me to wink at frauds that I detested; and every +year he pressed for the completion of your marriage with his son. Your +coldness, your dislike, your refusal would, long ere this, have driven +him into fury, I believe, if Richard Radford had been eager for your +hand himself. But now, Edith--now, my child, he will hear of no more +delay. He is ruined in fortune, disappointed in his expectations, and +rendered fierce as a hungry beast by some events that have taken place +this morning. He has just now been over at Harbourne, and used threats +which I know, too well, he will execute. He it was, himself, who told +me to inform you, that if you did not consent, your father's life +would be the sacrifice!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, Heaven!" cried Edith, covering her eyes with her hands, "at +least, give me time to think.--Surely, his word cannot have such +power: a base, notorious criminal himself, one who every day violates +the law, who scoffs at his own oaths, and holds truth and honour but +as names--surely his word will be nothing against Sir Robert +Croyland's."</p> + +<p class="normal">"His word is nothing, would be nothing," replied her father, +earnestly; "but that deposition, Edith! It is that which is my +destruction. Remember, that the words of a dying man, with eternity +and judgment close before his eyes, are held by the law more powerful +than any other kind of evidence; and, besides, there are those still +living, who heard the rash threat I used. Suspicion once pointed at +me, a thousand corroborative circumstances would come forth to prove +that the tale I told of parting with the dead man, some time before, +was false, and that very fact would condemn me. Cast away all such +hopes, Edith--cast away all such expectations. They are vain!--vain! +Look the truth full in the face, my child. This man has your father's +life entirely and totally in his power, and ask yourself, if you will +doom me to death."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, give me time--give me time!" cried Edith, wringing her hands. +"Let me but think over it till to-morrow, or next day."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not an hour ago," replied Sir Robert Croyland, "he swore, by +everything he holds sacred, that if before twelve to-night, he did not +receive your consent----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Stay, stay!" cried Edith, eagerly, placing her hand upon her brow. +"Let me think--let me think. It is but money that he wants--it is but +the pitiful wealth my uncle left me. Let him take it, my father!" she +continued, laying her hand upon Sir Robert's arm, and gazing brightly +in his face, as if the light of hope had suddenly been renewed. "Let +him take it all, every farthing. I would sooner work as a hired +servant in the fields for my daily bread, with the only comfort of +innocence and peace, than break my vows, and marry that bad man. I +will sign a promise this instant that he shall have all."</p> + +<p class="normal">Sir Robert Croyland threw his arms round her, and looked up to Heaven, +as if imploring succour for them both. "My sweet child!--My dear +child!" he said, with the tears streaming down his cheeks. "But I +cannot leave you even this generous hope. This man has other designs. +I offered--I promised to give Zara to his son, and to ensure to her, +with my brother's help, a fortune equal to your own. But he would not +hear of it. He has other views, my Edith. You must know all--you must +see all as it really is. He will keep his word this very night! If +before twelve, he do not receive your consent, the intimation of the +fatal knowledge he possesses will be sent to those who will not fail +to track it through every step, as the bloodhound follows his prey. He +is a desperate man, Edith, and will keep his word, bringing down ruin +upon our heads, even if it overwhelm himself also."</p> + +<p class="normal">Edith Croyland paused without reply for several minutes, her beautiful +face remaining pale, with the exception of one glowing spot in the +centre of her cheek. Her eyes were fixed upon the ground; and her lips +moved, but without speech. She was arguing in her own mind the case +between hope and despair; and the terrible array of circumstances on +every side bewildered her. Delay was her only refuge; and looking up +in her father's face, she said, "But why is he so hasty? Why cannot he +wait a few hours longer? I will fix a time when my answer shall be +given--it shall be shortly, very shortly--this time to-morrow. Surely, +surely, in so terrible a case, I may be allowed a few hours to +think--a short, a very short period, to decide."</p> + +<p class="normal">"He will admit of no more than I have said," answered Sir Robert +Croyland: "it is as vain to entreat him, as to ask the hangman to +delay his fatal work. He is hard as iron, without feeling, without +heart. His reasons, too, are specious, my dear child. His son, it +seems, has taken part this morning in a smuggling affray with the +troops--blood has been shed--some of the soldiers have been +killed--all who have had a share therein are guilty of felony; and it +has become necessary that the young man should be hurried out of the +country without delay. To him such a flight is nothing: he has no +family to blacken with the record of crime--he has no honourable name +to stain--his means are all prepared; his flight is easy, his escape +secure; but his father insists that you shall be his bride before he +goes, or he gives your father up, not to justice, but to the +law--which in pretending to administer justice, but too often commits +the very crimes it seems to punish. Four short days are all that he +allows; and then you are to be that youth's bride."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What! the bride of a felon!" cried Edith, her spirit rising for a +moment--"of one stained with every vice and every crime--to vow +falsely that I will love him whom I must ever hate--to break all my +promises to one I must ever love--to deceive, prove false and forsworn +to the noble and the true, and give myself to the base, the lawless, +and the abhorred! Oh, my father--my father! is it possible that you +can ask such a thing?"</p> + +<p class="normal">The fate of Sir Robert Croyland and his daughter hung in the balance. +One harsh command, one unkind word, with justice and truth on her +side, and feebleness and wrong on his, might have armed her to resist; +but the old man's heart was melted. The struggle that he witnessed in +his child was, for a moment--remark, only for a moment--more terrible +than that within his own breast. There was something in the innocence +and truth, something in the higher attributes of the passions called +into action in her breast, something in the ennobling nature of the +conflicting feelings of her heart--the filial tenderness, the +adherence to her engagements, the abhorrence of the bad, the love of +the good, the truth, the honour, and the piety, all striving one with +the other, that for a time made the mean passion of fear seem small +and insignificant. "I do not ask you, my child," he said--"I do not +urge you--I ask, I urge you no more! The worst bitterness is past. I +have told my own child the tale of my sorrows, my folly, my weakness, +and my danger. I have inflicted the worst upon you, Edith, and on +myself; and I leave it to your own heart to decide. After your +generous, your noble offer, to sacrifice your property and leave +yourself nothing, for my sake, it were cruel--it were, indeed, base, +to urge you farther. To avoid this, dreadful disclosure, to shelter +you and myself from such horrible details, I have often been stern, +and harsh, and menacing.--Forgive me, Edith, but it is past! You now +know what is on the die; and it is your own hand casts it. Your +father's life, the honour of your family, the high name we have ever +borne--these are to be lost and won. But I urge it not--I ask it not. +You only must and can decide."</p> + +<p class="normal">Edith, who had risen, stood before him, pale as ashes, with her hands +clasped so tight that the blood retreated from her fingers, where they +pressed against each other, leaving them as white as those of the +dead--her eyes fixed, straining, but sightless, upon the ground. All +that she saw, all that she knew, all that she felt, was the dreadful +alternative of fates before her. It was more than her frame could +bear--it was more than almost any human heart could endure. To condemn +a father to death, to bring the everlasting regret into her heart, to +wander, as if accurst, over the earth, with a parent's blood crying +out for vengeance! It was a terrible thought indeed. Then again, she +remembered the vows that she had taken, the impossibility of +performing those that were asked of her, the sacrifice of the innocent +to the guilty, the perjury that she must commit, the dark and dreadful +future before her, the self-reproach that stood on either hand to +follow her through life! She felt as if her heart was bursting; and +the next moment, all the blood seemed to fly from it, and leave it +cold and motionless. She strove to speak--her voice was choked; but +then, again, she made an effort; and a few words broke forth, +convulsively--"To save you, my father, I would do anything," she +cried. "I <i>will</i> do anything--but----"</p> + +<p class="normal">She could not finish; her sight failed her; her heart seemed crushed; +her head swam; the colour left her lips; and she fell prone at her +father's feet, without one effort to save herself.</p> + +<p class="normal">Sir Robert Croyland's first proceeding was, to raise her and lay her +on the sofa; but before he called any one, he gazed at her a moment or +two in silence. "She has fainted," he said. "Poor child!--Poor girl!" +But then came another thought: "She said she would do anything," he +murmured; "her words were, 'I will'--It is surely a consent."</p> + +<p class="normal">He forgot--he heeded not--he would not heed, that she had added, +"But----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, it was a consent," he repeated; "it must have been a consent. I +will hasten to tell him. If we can but gain a few days, it is +something. Who can say what a few days may bring? At all events, it is +a relief.--It will obtain the delay she wished--I will tell him.--It +must have been a consent;" and calling the servants and Edith's own +maid, to attend upon her, he hastened out of the house, fearful of +waiting till her senses returned, lest other words should snatch from +him the interpretation he chose to put upon those which had gone +before. In an instant, however, he returned, went into the library, +and wrote down on a scrap of paper:--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thanks, dearest Edith!--thanks! I go in haste to tell Mr. Radford the +promise you have given."</p> + +<p class="normal">Then hurrying out again, he put the paper, which he had folded up, +into the hands of the groom, who held his horse. "That for Miss +Croyland," he said, "when she has quite recovered; but not before;" +and, mounting with speed, he rode away as fast as he could go.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>END OF VOL. II.</h3> +<br> +<br> +<h5>T. C. Savill, Printer, 4, Chandos-street, Covent-garden.</h5> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h1>THE SMUGGLER:</h1> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h4>A Tale</h4> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>BY G. P. R. JAMES, ESQ.</h2> + +<h5>AUTHOR OF<br> + +"DARNLEY," "DE L'ORME," "RICHELIEU,"<br> + +ETC. ETC.</h5> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h4>IN THREE VOLUMES.</h4> +<br> +<br> + +<h3><a name="div3_0" href="#div3Ref_0">VOL. III.</a></h3> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h4>LONDON:</h4> +<h3>SMITH, ELDER AND CO., 65, CORNHILL.</h3> +<h4>1845.</h4> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h1>THE SMUGGLER.</h1> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="div3_01" href="#div3Ref_01">CHAPTER I.</a></h2> +<br> + +<p class="normal">It was two o'clock when Sir Robert Croyland left his daughter; and +Edith, with the aid of her maid, soon recovered from the swoon into +which she had fallen. At first she hardly knew where she was, or what +had taken place. All seemed strange to her; for she had never fainted +before; and though she had more than once seen her sister in the state +in which she herself had just been, yet she did not apply what she had +witnessed in others to explain her own sensations.</p> + +<p class="normal">When she could rise from the sofa, where her father had laid her, and +thought and recollection returned, Edith's first inquiry was for Sir +Robert; and the servant's answer that he had been gone a quarter of an +hour, was at first a relief. But Edith sat and pondered for a while, +applying herself to call to mind all the last words which had been +spoken. As she did so, a fear came over her--a fear that her meaning +might have been mistaken. "No!" she murmured, at length--"no! I said, +<i>but</i>--he must have heard it.--I cannot break those vows--I dare not; +I would do anything to save him--oh, yes, doom myself to wretchedness +for life; but I cannot, unless Henry gives me back my promise.--Poor +Henry! what right have I to make him suffer too?--Yet does he +suffer?--But a father's life--a father's life! That must not be the +sacrifice!--Leave me, Caroline--I am better now!" she continued aloud; +"it is very foolish to faint in this way. It never happened to me +before."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh dear, Miss Edith! it happens to every one now and then," said the +maid, who had been in her service long; "and I am sure all Sir Robert +said to you to-day, was enough to make you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Good heaven!" cried Edith; in alarm, "did you hear?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I could not help hearing a part, Miss Edith," answered the maid; "for +in that little room, where I sit to be out of the way of all the black +fellows, one hears very plain what is said here. There was once a +door, I believe, and it is only just covered over."</p> + +<p class="normal">For a moment, Edith sat mute in consternation; but at length demanded, +"What did you hear? Tell me all, Caroline--every word, if you would +ever have me regard you more."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, it was not much, Miss!" replied the maid; "I heard Sir Robert +twice say, his life depended on it--and I suppose he meant, on your +marrying young Mr. Radford. Then he seemed to tell you a long story; +but I did not hear the whole of that; for I did not try, I can assure +you, Miss Edith; and then I heard you say, 'To save you, my father, I +would do anything--I <i>will</i> do anything, but--' and then you stopped +in the middle, because I suppose you fainted."</p> + +<p class="normal">Edith put her hands before her eyes and thought, or tried to think; +for her ideas were still in sad confusion. "Leave me now, Caroline," +she said; "but, remember, I expect that no part of any conversation +you have overheard between me and my father, will ever be repeated."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh dear, no, Miss Edith," replied the woman, "I would not on any +account;" and she left the room.</p> + +<p class="normal">We all know of what value are ordinary promises of secrecy, even in +the best society, as it is called. Nine times out of ten, there is one +dear friend to whom everything is revealed; and that dear friend has +others; and at each remove, the bond of secrecy is weaker and more +weak, till the whole world is made a hearer of the tale. Now Edith's +maid was a very discreet person; and when she promised not to reveal +what she had heard, she only proposed to herself, to tell it to one +person in the world. Nor was that person her lover, or her friend, or +her fellow-servant; nor was she moved by the spirit of gossip, but +really and truly by a love for her young lady, which was great, and by +a desire to serve her. Thus, she thought, as soon as she had shut the +door, "I will tell it to Miss Zara, though; for it is but right that +she should know how they are driving her sister to marry a man she +hates, as well she may. Miss Zara is active and quick, and may find +some means of helping her."</p> + +<p class="normal">The maid had not been gone a minute, when she returned with the short +note which Sir Robert Croyland had left; and as she handed it to her +young mistress, she watched her countenance eagerly. But Edith took +it, read it, and gazed upon the paper without a word.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Pray, Miss Edith," said the maid, "are you likely to want me soon; +for I wish to go up to the village for something?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, Caroline--no," answered Edith, with an absent air; "I shall not +want you;" and she remained standing with the paper in her hand, and +her eyes fixed upon it.</p> + +<p class="normal">The powers by which volition acts upon the mind, and in what volition +really consists, are mysteries which have never yet, that I have seen, +been explained. Yet certain it is, that there is something within us +which, when the intellectual faculties seem, under the pressure of +circumstances, to lose their functions, can by a great effort compel +them to return to their duty, rally them, and array them, as it were, +against the enemy by whom they have been routed. Edith Croyland made +the effort, and succeeded. She had been taken by surprise, and +overcome; but now she collected all the forces of her mind, and +prepared to fight the battle over again. In a few minutes, she became +calm, and applied herself to consider fully her own situation. There +were filial duty and tenderness on one side--love and a strong vow on +the other. "He has gone to tell Mr. Radford that I have consented," +was her first distinct thought, "but his having mistaken me, must not +make me give that consent when it is wrong. Were it myself alone, I +would sacrifice all for him--I could but die--a few hours of misery +are not much to bear--I have borne many. But I am bound--Good God! +what an alternative!"</p> + +<p class="normal">But I will not follow her thoughts: they can easily be conceived. She +was left alone, with no one to counsel, with no one to aid her. The +fatal secret she possessed was a bar to asking advice from any one. +Buried in her own bosom, the causes of her conduct, the motives upon +which she acted, must ever be secret, whatever course she pursued. +Agony was on either hand. She had to choose between two terrible +alternatives: on the one hand a breach of all her engagements, a few +years, a few weeks, perhaps, of misery, and an early death--for such +she knew must be her fate: and, on the other, a life, with love +certainly to cheer it, but poisoned by the remembrance that she had +sacrificed her father. Yet Edith now thought firmly, weighed, +considered all.</p> + +<p class="normal">She could come to no determination. Between two such gulfs, she shrank +trembling from either.</p> + +<p class="normal">The clock in the hall, with its clear, sharp bell, struck three; and +the moment after, the quick sound of horses' feet was heard. "Can it +be my father?" she thought. "No! he has not had time--unless he has +doubted;" but while she asked herself the question, the horses stopped +at the door, the bell rang; and she went on to say to herself, +"perhaps it is Zara. That would be a comfort indeed, though I cannot +tell her--I must not tell her all."</p> + +<p class="normal">The old Hindoo opened the door, saying "Missy, a gentleman want to see +you--very fine gentleman."</p> + +<p class="normal">Edith could not speak; but she bowed her head, and the servant, +receiving that token as assent, turned to some one behind him and +said, "Walk in, sir."</p> + +<p class="normal">For a moment or two, Edith did not raise her eyes, and her lips moved. +She heard a step in the room, that made her heart flutter; she heard +the door shut; but yet for an instant she remained with her head bent, +and her hands clasped together. Then she looked up. Standing before +her, and gazing intently upon her, was a tall handsome man, dressed in +the splendid uniform of the dragoons of that time, and with a star +upon his left breast--a decoration worn by persons who had the right +to do so, more frequently in those days than at the present time. But +it was to the face that Edith's eyes were turned--to the countenance +well known and deeply loved. Changed though it was--grave where it had +been gay, pale where it had been florid, sterner in the lines, once so +full of gentle youth--still all the features were there, and the +expression too, though saddened, was the same.</p> + +<p class="normal">He gazed on her with a look full of tenderness and love; and their +eyes met. On both of them the feelings of other years seemed to rush +with overpowering force. The interval which had since occurred, for a +moment, was annihilated; the heart went back with the rapid wing of +Memory, to the hours of joy that were gone; and Leyton opened wide his +arms, exclaiming, "Edith! Edith!"</p> + +<p class="normal">She could not resist. She had no power to struggle. Love, stronger +than herself, was master; and, starting up, she cast herself upon his +bosom, and there wept.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Dear, dear girl!" he said, "then you love me still,--then Digby's +assurance is true--then you have not forgotten poor Harry Leyton--then +his preserving hope, his long endurance, his unwavering love, his +efforts, his success, have not been all in vain!--Dear, dear Edith! +This hour repays me for all--for all. Dangers and adversities, and +wounds, and anguish of body and of mind, and sleepless nights, and +days of bitter thought--I would endure them all. All?--ay, tenfold +all--for this one hour!" and he pressed her closer and closer to his +heart.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nay, Harry--nay," cried Edith, still clinging to him; "but hear me, +hear me--or if you speak such words of tenderness, you will break my +heart, or drive me mad."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Good heaven!" exclaimed Leyton, unclasping his arms, "what is it that +you say? Edith--my Edith--my own, my vowed, my bride! But now, you +seemed to share the joy you gave,--to love, as you are loved; and +now----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do love you--oh! I do love you!" cried Edith, vehemently; "add not +a doubt of that to all I suffer. Ever, ever have I loved you, without +change, without thought of change. But yet--but yet--. I may have +fancied that you have forgotten me--I may have thought it strange that +you did not write--that my letters remained unanswered; but still I +loved, still I have been true to you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I did write, my Edith. I received no letters," said Leyton, sadly; +"we have both been wronged, my dear girl. My letters were returned in +a cover directed in your own hand: but that trick I understand--that I +see through. Oh, do not let any one deceive you again, beloved girl! +You have been my chief--I might say my only thought; for the memory of +you has mingled with every other idea, and made the whole your own. In +the camp and in the field, I have endured and fought for Edith; in the +council and in the court, I have struggled and striven for her; she +has been the end and object of every effort, the ruling power of my +whole mind. And now, Edith--now your soldier has returned to you. He +has won every step towards the crowning reward of his endeavours; he +has risen to competence, to command, to some honour in the service of +his country; and he can proudly say to her he loves, Cast from you the +fortune for which men dared to think I sought you--come to your lover, +come to your husband, as dowerless as he was when they parted us; and +let all the world see and know, that it was your love, not your +wealth, I coveted--this dear hand, that dear heart, not base gold, +that I desired. Oh, Edith, in Heaven's name, cast me not now headlong +down from the height of hope and joy to which you have raised me, for +fear a heart and spirit, too long depressed, should never find +strength to rise again."</p> + +<p class="normal">Edith staggered back and sank down upon the sofa, covering her eyes, +and only murmuring--"I do love you, Harry, beyond life itself.--Oh, +that I were dead!--oh, that I were dead!"</p> + +<p class="normal">There was a terrible struggle in Henry Leyton's bosom. He could not +understand the agitation that he witnessed; had it borne anything like +the character of joy, even of surprise, all would have been clear; but +it was evidently very different. It was joy overborne by sorrow. It +was evidently a struggle of love with some influence, perhaps not +stronger, yet terrible in its effect. He was a man of quick decision +and strong resolution--qualities not always combined; and he overcame +himself in a moment. He saw that he was loved--still deeply, truly +loved; and that was a great point. He saw that Edith was grieved to +the soul--he saw that he himself could not feel more intensely the +anguish she inflicted than she did, that she was wringing her own +heart while she was wringing his, and felt a double pang; and that was +a strong motive for calmness, if not for fortitude. Her last words, "I +wish I were dead!" restored him fully to himself; and following her to +the sofa, he seated himself beside her, gently took her hand in his, +and pressed his lips upon it.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Edith," he said--"my own dear Edith, let us be calm! Thank you, my +beloved, for one moment of happiness, the first I have known for +years; and now let us talk, as quietly as may be, of anything that may +have arisen which should justly cause Henry Leyton's return to make +Edith Croyland wish herself dead. Your uncle will not be long ere he +arrives; I left him on the road; and it is by his full consent that I +am here."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh no, Harry--no!" said Edith, turning at first to his comment on her +words, "it is not your return that makes me wish myself dead; but it +is, that circumstances--dark and terrible circumstances--which were +only made known to me an hour before your arrival, have turned all the +joy, the pure, the almost unmixed joy, that I should have felt at +seeing you again, into a well of bitterness. It is that I cannot, that +I dare not explain to you those circumstances--that you will think me +wrong, unkind--fickle, perhaps,--perhaps even mad, in whatsoever way I +may act."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But surely you can say something, dear Edith," said her lover; "you +can give some hint of the cause of all I see. You tell me in one +breath that you love me still, yet wish you were dead; and show +evidently that my coming has been painful to you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, no, Harry," she answered, mournfully, "do not say so. Painful to +me?--oh, no! It would be the purest joy that ever I yet knew, were it +not that--But why did you not come earlier, Harry? Why, when your +horse stood upon that hill, did you not turn his head hither? Would +that you had, would that you had! My fate would have been already +decided. Now it is all clouds and darkness. I knew you instantly. I +could see no feature; I could but trace a figure on horseback, wrapped +in a large cloak; but the instinct of love told me who it was. Oh! why +did you not come then?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Because it would have been dishonest, Edith," answered Leyton, +gravely. "Your uncle had been my father's friend, my uncle's friend. +In a kindly manner he invited me here some time ago, as a perfect +stranger, under the name of Captain Osborn. You were not here then; +and I thought I could not in honour come under his roof, when I found +you were here, without telling him who I really was. He appointed this +day to meet me at Woodchurch at two; and I dared not venture, after +all that has passed between your family and mine, to seek you in his +dwelling, ere I had seen and explained myself to him. I knew you were +here: I gazed up at these windows with a yearning of the heart that +nearly overcame my resolution----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I saw you gaze, Harry," answered Edith; "and I say still, would that +you had come.--Yet you were right.--It might have saved me much +misery; but you were right. And now listen to the fate that is before +me--to the choice I have to make, as far as I can explain it--and yet +what words can I use?--But it must be done. I must not leave anything +unperformed, that can prevent poor Edith Croyland from becoming an +object of hatred and contempt in Henry Leyton's eyes. Little as I can +do to defend myself, I must do it."</p> + +<p class="normal">She paused, gazed up on high for a moment, and then laid her hand upon +his.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Henry, I do love you," she said. "Nay, more, I am yours, plighted to +you by bonds I cannot and I dare not break--vows, I mean, the most +solemn, as well as the ties of long affection. Yet, if I wed you, I am +miserable for life. Self-reproach, eternal self-reproach--the most +terrible of all things--to which no other mental or corporeal pain can +ever reach, would prey upon my heart for ever, and bear me down into +the grave. Peace--rest, I should have none. A voice would be for ever +howling in my ear a name that would poison sleep, and make each waking +moment an hour of agony. I can tell you no more on this side of the +question; but so it is. It seems fated that I should bring misery one +way or another upon him who is dearest to me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I cannot comprehend," exclaimed Leyton, in surprise. "Your father has +heard, I suppose, that I am here, and has menaced you with his curse."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, no!" answered Edith; "far from it. He was here but now; he spoke +of you, Henry, as you deserve. He told me how he had loved you and +esteemed you in your young days; how, though angry at first at our +rash engagement, he would have consented in the end; but--there was a +fatal 'but,' Henry--an impediment not to be surmounted. I must not +tell you what it is--I cannot, I dare not explain. But listen to what +he said besides. You have heard one part of the choice; hear the +other: it is to wed a man whom I abhor--despise--contemn--whose very +look is fearful to me; to ask you to give me back the vows I plighted, +in order--in order," and she spoke very low, "that I may sacrifice +myself for my father, that I may linger out a few weeks of +wretchedness, and then sink into the grave, which is now my only +hope."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And do you ask me, Edith?" inquired Leyton, in a sad and solemn +tone--"do you, Edith Croyland, really and truly ask me to give you +back those vows? Speak, beloved--speak; for my heart is well nigh +bursting."</p> + +<p class="normal">He paused, and she was silent; covering her eyes with her hands, while +her bosom heaved, as if she were struggling for breath. "No, no, no, +Harry!" she cried, at length, as if the effort were vain, "I cannot, I +cannot! Oh, Harry, Harry! I wish that I were dead!" and, casting her +arms round his neck, she wept upon his breast again.</p> + +<p class="normal">Henry Leyton drew her closer to him with his left arm round her waist; +but pressed his right hand on his brow, and gazed on vacancy. Both +remained without speaking for a time; but at length he said, in a +voice more calm than might have been expected, "Let us consider this +matter, Edith. You have been terrified by some means; a tale has +been told you, which has agitated and alarmed you, which has overcome +your resolution, that now has endured more than six years, and +doubtless that tale has been well devised.--Are you sure that it is +true?--Forgive this doubt in regard to one who is near and dear to +you; but when such deceits have been practised, as those which we know +have been used to delude us, I must be suspicious.--Are you sure that +it is true, I say?</p> + +<p class="normal">"Too true, too true!"' answered Edith, shaking her head, +mournfully--"that tale explains all, too,--even those deceits you +mention. No, no, it is but too true--it could not be feigned--besides, +I remember so many things, all tending to the same. It is true--I +cannot doubt it."</p> + +<p class="normal">Sir Henry Leyton paused, and twice began to speak, but twice stopped, +as if the words he was about to utter, cost him a terrible struggle to +speak. At length he said, "And the man, Edith--the man they wish you +to marry--who is he?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ever the same," answered Edith, bending down her head, and her cheek, +which had been as pale as death, glowing like crimson--"the same, +Richard Radford."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What! a felon!" exclaimed Leyton, turning round, with his brows bent; +"a felon, after whom my soldiers and the officers of justice are now +hunting through the country! Sir Robert Croyland must be mad! But I +tell you, Edith, that man shall never stand within a church again, +till it be the chapel of the gaol. Let him make his peace with Heaven; +for if he be caught--and caught he shall be--there is no mercy for him +on earth. But surely there must be some mistake. You cannot have +understood your father rightly, or he cannot know----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh! yes, yes!" replied Edith; "he knows all; and it is the same. Ay, +and within four days, too--that he may take me with him in his +flight."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ere four days be over," answered her lover, sternly, "he shall no +more think of bridals."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And what will become of my father, then!" said Edith, gazing steadily +down upon the ground. "It is I--I that shall have done it. Alas, alas! +which way shall I turn?"</p> + +<p class="normal">There was something more than sorrow in her countenance; there was +anguish--almost agony; and Sir Henry Leyton was much moved. "Turn to +me, Edith," he said; "turn to him who loves you better than life; and +there is no sacrifice that he will not make for you, but his honour. +Tell me, have you made any promise?--have you given your father your +consent?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No," answered Edith, eagerly; "no, I have not. He took my words as +consent, though ere they were half finished, the horror and pain of +all I heard overcame me, and I fainted. But I did not consent, +Harry--I could not consent, without your permission.--Oh, Harry, aid +and support me!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Listen to me, my beloved," replied Leyton; "wealth, got by any means, +is this man's object. I gather from what you say, that your father has +some cause to dread him--give up to him this much-coveted fortune--let +him take it--ay, and share Henry Leyton's little wealth. I desire +nothing but yourself."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Alas, Henry, it is all in vain!" answered Edith; "I have offered it--I +knew your noble, generous heart. I knew that wealth would make no +difference to him I loved, and offered to resign everything. My +father, even before he came hither, offered him my sister--offered to +make her the sacrifice, as she is bound by no promises, and to give +her an equal portion; but it was all refused."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then there is some other object," said her lover; "some object that +may, perhaps, tend even to more misery than you dream of, Edith. +Believe me, my beloved--oh! believe me, did I but see how I could +deliver you--were I sure that any act of mine would give you peace, no +sacrifice on my part would seem too great. At present, however, I see +nothing clearly--all is darkness and shadow around. I know not, that +if I give you back your promise, and free you from your vow, that I +shall not be contributing to make you wretched. How, then, am I to +act? You are sure, dear one, that you have not consented?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Quite sure," answered Edith; "and it so happened, that there was one +who heard my words as well as my father. He, indeed, took them as +consent, and hurried away to Mr. Radford, without giving me time to +recover and say more. Read that, Harry," and she put the note her +father had left into his hands.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is fortunate you were heard by another," replied Leyton. "Hark! +there is your uncle's carriage coming.--Four days, did he say--four +days? Well, then, dear Edith, will you trust in me? Will you leave +your fate in the hands of one who will do anything on earth for your +happiness?--and will you never doubt, though you may be kept in +suspense, that I will so act as to deliver you, if I can, without +bringing ruin on your father."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is worse than ruin," answered Edith, with the tears rolling down +her cheeks--"it is death. But I will trust to you, Henry--I will trust +implicitly. But tell me how to act--tell me what I am to do."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Leave this matter as it is," answered her lover, hearing Mr. +Croyland's carriage stop at the door;--"your father has snatched too +eagerly at your words. Perhaps he has done so to gain time; but, at +all events, the fault is his, not yours. If he speaks to you on the +subject, you must tell the truth, and say you did not consent; but in +everything else be passive--let him do with you what he will--take you +to the altar, if he so pleases; but there must be the final struggle, +Edith. There you must boldly and aloud refuse to wed a man you cannot +love. There let the memory of your vows to me be ever present with +you. It may seem cruel; but I exact it for your own sake. In the +meantime, take means to let me know everything that happens, be it +small or great--cast off all reserve towards Digby; tell him all, +everything that takes place; tell your sister, too, or any one who can +bear me the tidings. I shall be nearer than you think."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, Heaven, how will this end!" cried Edith, putting her hand in +his--"God help me, Harry--God help me!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"He will, dear girl," answered Leyton--"I feel sure he will. But +remember what I have said. Fail not to tell Digby, or Zara, or any one +who can bear the tidings to me, everything that occurs, every word +that is spoken, every step that is taken. Think nothing too trifling. +But there is your uncle's voice in the passage. Can you not inform him +of that which you think yourself bound not to tell me? I mean the +particulars of your father's situation."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No; oh no!" replied Edith--"I dare tell no one, especially not my +uncle. Though kind, and generous, and benevolent, yet he is hasty, and +he might ruin all. Dared I tell any one on earth, Henry, it would be +you; and if I loved you before--oh, how I must love you now, when +instead of the anger, or even heat, which I expected you to display, +you have shown yourself ready to sacrifice all for one who is hardly +worthy of you."</p> + +<p class="normal">Leyton pressed her to his bosom, and replied, "Real love is unselfish, +Edith. I tell you, dearest, that I die if I lose you; yet, Edith +Croyland shall never do what is wrong for Henry Leyton's sake. If in +the past we did commit an error, if I should not have engaged you by +vows without your parent's consent--though God knows that error has +been bitterly visited on my head!--I am still ready to make atonement +to the best of my power; but I will not consent that you should be +causelessly made miserable, or sacrifice yourself and me, without +benefit to any one. Trust to me, Edith--trust to me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will, I will!" answered Edith Croyland; "who can I trust to else?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Mr. Croyland was considerate; and knowing that Sir Henry Leyton was +with his niece--for his young friend had passed him on the road--he +paused for a moment in the vestibule, giving various orders and +directions, in order to afford them a few minutes more of private +conversation. When he went in, he was surprised to find Edith's face +full of deep grief, and her eyes wet with tears, and still more when +Leyton, after kissing her fair cheek, advanced towards him, saying, "I +must go, my dear friend, nor can I accept your kind invitation to stay +here to-night. But I am about to show myself a bold man, and ask you +to give me almost the privilege of a son--that is, of coming and +going, for the four or five next days, at my own will, and without +question."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What's all this?--what's all this?" cried Mr. Croyland; "a lovers' +quarrel?--Ha, Edith? Ha, Harry?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, no," answered Edith, giving her uncle her hand; "there never can +be a quarrel between me and Henry Leyton."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, then, what is it all?" exclaimed Mr. Croyland, turning +from one to the other. "Mystery--mystery! I hate mystery, Harry +Leyton.--However, you shall have your privilege; the doors shall be +open. Come--go--do what you like. But if you are not a great fool, you +will order over a post-chaise and four this very night, put her in, +and be off for Gretna Green. I'll give you my parental benediction."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am afraid, my dear sir," answered Leyton, "that cannot be. Edith +has told me various things since I saw her, which require to be dealt +with in a different way. I trust, that in whatever I do, my conduct +will be such as to give you satisfaction; and whether the result be +fortunate or otherwise, I shall never, till the last hour of life, +forget the kindness you have shown me. And now, my dear sir, adieu for +the present, for I have much to do this night."</p> + +<p class="normal">Thus saying, he shook the old gentleman's hand, and departed with a +heavy heart and anxious mind. During his onward ride, his heart did +not become lighter; his mind was only more burdened with cares. As +long as he was in Edith's presence, he had borne up and struggled +against all that he felt; for he saw that she was already overwhelmed +with grief, and he feared to add to it; but now his thoughts were all +confusion. With incomplete information--in circumstances the most +difficult--anxious to save her he loved, even at any sacrifice on his +own part, yet seeing no distinct means of acting in any direction +without danger to her--he looked around him in vain for any resource; +or, if he formed a plan one moment, he rejected it the next. He knew +Edith's perfect truth, he knew the quiet firmness and power of her +mind too well to doubt one tittle of that which she had stated; and +though at first sight he thought the proofs he possessed of Mr. +Radford's participation in the late smuggling transaction were quite +sufficient to justify that person's immediate arrest, and proposed +that it should take place immediately, yet the next moment he +recollected what might be the result to Sir Robert Croyland, and +hesitated how to act. Then, again, he turned his eyes to the +circumstances in which Edith's father was placed, and asked himself, +what could be the mystery which so terribly overshadowed him? Edith +had said that his life was at stake; and Leyton tortured his +imagination in vain to find some explanation of such a fact.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Can he have been deceiving her?" he asked himself more than once. But +then, again, he answered, "No, it must be true! He can have no +ordinary motive in urging her to such a step; his whole character, his +whole views are against it. Haughty and ostentatious, there must be +some overpowering cause to make him seek to wed his daughter to a low +ruffian--the son of an upstart, who owed his former wealth to fraud, +and who is now, if all tales be true, nearly bankrupt,--to wed Edith, +a being of grace, of beauty, and of excellence, to a villain like +this--a felon and a fugitive--and to send her forth into the wide +world, to share the wanderings of a man she hates! The love of life +must be a strange thing in some men. One would have thought that a +thousand lives were nothing to such a sacrifice. Yet, the tale must be +true; this old man must have Sir Robert's life in his power. But +how--how? that is the question. Perhaps Digby can discover something. +At all events, I must see him without delay."</p> + +<p class="normal">In such thoughts, Sir Henry Leyton rode on fast to Woodchurch, +accomplishing in twenty minutes that which took good Mr. Croyland with +his pampered horses, more than an hour to perform; and springing from +his charger at the door of the inn, he was preparing to go up and +write to Sir Edward Digby, when Captain Irby, on the one hand, and his +own servant on the other, applied for attention.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Mr. Warde is up stairs, sir," said the servant; "he has been waiting +about half an hour."</p> + +<p class="normal">But Leyton turned to the officer, asking, "What is it, Captain Irby?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Two or three of the men, sir, who have been taken," replied Captain +Irby, "have expressed a wish to make a statement. One of them is badly +wounded, too; but I did not know how to act till you arrived, as we +had no magistrate here."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Was it quite voluntary?" demanded the young officer; "no inducements +held out--no questions asked?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Quite voluntary, sir," answered the other. "They sent to ask for you; +and when I went, in your absence, they told me what it was they +desired; but I refused to take the deposition till you arrived, for +fear of getting myself into a scrape."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It must be taken," replied the colonel. "Of whatever value it may be +judged hereafter, we must not refuse it when offered. I will come to +them in a moment, Irby;" and entering the house, but without going up +stairs, he wrote a few lines, in the bar, to Sir Edward Digby, +requesting to see him without delay. Then, calling his servant, he +said, "Tell Mr. Warde I will be with him in a few minutes; after +which, mount yourself, and carry this note over to Harbourne House, to +Sir Edward Digby. Give it into his own hand; but remember, it is my +wish that you should not mention my name there at all. Do you know the +place?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, sir," replied the man; and, leaving him to fulfil his errand, +the colonel returned to the door of the house, to accompany Captain +Irby.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="div3_02" href="#div3Ref_02">CHAPTER II.</a></h2> +<br> + +<p class="normal">We mast now return for a time to Harbourne House, where, after Sir +Robert Croyland's departure, his guest had endeavoured in vain, during +the whole morning, to obtain a few minutes' private conversation with +the baronet's youngest daughter. Now, it was not in the least degree, +that Mrs. Barbara's notions of propriety interfered to prevent the two +young people from being alone together; for, on the contrary, Mrs. +Barbara was a very lenient and gentle-minded person, and thought +it quite right that any two human beings who were likely to fall in +love with each other, should have every opportunity of doing so, to +their hearts' content. But it so happened, from a sort of fatality +which hung over all her plans, that whenever she interfered with +anything,--which, indeed, she always did, with everything she could +lay her hands upon,--the result was sure to be directly the contrary +to that which she intended. It might be, indeed, that she did not +always manage matters quite judiciously, that she acted without +considering all the circumstances of the case; and undoubtedly it +would have been quite as well if she had not acted at all when she was +not asked.</p> + +<p class="normal">In the present instance, when she had remained in the drawing-room +with her niece and Sir Edward, for near half an hour after her brother +had departed, it just struck her that they might wish to be alone +together; for she had made up her mind by this time, that the young +officer's visit was to end in a love affair; and, as the very best +means of accomplishing the desired object, instead of going to speak +with the housekeeper, or to give orders to the dairy-maid, or to talk +to the steward,--as any other prudent, respectable, and well-arranged +aunt would have done--she said to her niece, as if a sudden thought +had occurred to her, "I don't think Sir Edward Digby has ever seen the +library. Zara, my dear, you had better show it to him. There are some +very curious books there, and the manuscript in vellum, with all the +kings' heads painted."</p> + +<p class="normal">Zara felt that it was rather a coarse piece of work which her aunt had +just turned out of hand; and being a little too much susceptible of +ridicule, she did not like to have anything to do with it, although, +to say the truth, she was very anxious herself for the few minutes +that Mrs. Barbara was inclined to give her.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, I dare say, my dear aunt," she replied, "Sir Edward Digby does +not care anything about old books!--I don't believe they have been +opened for these fifty years."</p> + +<p class="normal">"The greater the treasure, Miss Croyland," answered the young officer; +"I can assure you nothing delights me more than an old library; so I +think I shall go and find it out myself, if you are not disposed to +show it to me."</p> + +<p class="normal">Zara Croyland remembered, with a smile, that Sir Edward Digby had met +with no great difficulty in finding it out for himself on a previous +occasion. She rose, however, with her colour a little heightened; for +his invitation was a very palpable one, and she did not know what +conclusions her aunt might be pleased to draw, or to insinuate to +others; and, leading the way towards the library, she opened the door, +expecting to find the room untenanted. There, however, before her +eyes, standing opposite to a book-case, with a large folio volume of +divinity in his hand, stood the clergyman of the parish; and he +instantly turned round his head, with spectacles on nose, and advanced +to pay his respects to Miss Croyland and Sir Edward Digby. Now, the +clergyman was a very worthy man; but he had one of those +peculiarities, which, if peculiarities were systematically classed, +would be referred to the bore genus. He was frequently unaware of when +people had had enough of him; and consequently on the present +occasion--after he had informed Zara, that finding that her father was +out, he had taken the liberty of walking into the library to look at a +book he wanted--he put back that book, and attacked Sir Edward Digby, +totis viribus, upon the state of the weather, the state of the +country, and the state of the smugglers. The later topic, as it was +the predominant one in every man's mind at that moment, and in that +part of the country, occupied him rather longer than a sermon, though +his parishioners occasionally thought his sermons quite sufficiently +extensive for any sleep-resisting powers of the human frame to +withstand; and then, when Sir Edward and Zara, forgetting, in the +interest which they seemed to take in his discourse, that they had +come into the library to look at the books, walked out upon the +terrace, he walked out with them; and as they turned up and down, he +turned up and down also, for full an hour.</p> + +<p class="normal">Zara could almost have cried in the end; but, as out of the basest +refuse of our stable-yards, grow the finest flowers of our gardens, so +good is ever springing up from evil; and in the end the worthy +clergyman gave his two companions the first distinct account which +they had received of the dispersion of Mr. Radford's band of +smugglers, and of the eager pursuit of young Radford which was taking +place throughout the country. Thus passed the morning, with one event +or other of little consequence, presenting obstacles to any free +communication between two people, who were almost as desirous of some +private conversation as if they had been lovers.</p> + +<p class="normal">A little before three o'clock, however, Zara Croyland who had been +looking out of the window, suddenly quitted the drawing-room; and Sir +Edward Digby, who maintained his post, was left to entertain Mrs. +Barbara, which he did to the best of his abilities. He was still in +full career, a little enjoying, to say sooth, some of the good lady's +minor absurdities, when Zara re-entered the room with a quick step, +and a somewhat eager look. Her fair cheek was flushed too; and her +face had in it that sort of determined expression which often betrays +that there has been a struggle in the mind, as to some step about to +be taken, and that victory has not been achieved without an effort.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Sir Edward Digby," she said, in a clear and distinct tone, "I want to +speak with you for a few moments, if you please."</p> + +<p class="normal">Mrs. Barbara looked shocked, and internally wondered that Zara could +not have made some little excuse for engaging Sir Edward in private +conversation.</p> + +<p class="normal">"She might have asked him to go and see a flower, or offered to play +him a tune on the harpsichord, or taken him to look at the dovecot, or +anything," thought Mrs. Barbara.</p> + +<p class="normal">The young officer, however, instantly started up, and accompanied his +fair inviter towards the library, to which she led the way with a +hurried and eager step.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let us come in here!" she said, opening the door; but the moment she +was within, she sank into a chair and clasped her hands together.</p> + +<p class="normal">Sir Edward Digby shut the door, and then advanced towards her, a good +deal surprised and somewhat alarmed by the agitation he saw her +display. She did not speak for a moment, as if completely overpowered, +and feeling for her more deeply than he himself knew, her companion +took her hand and tried to soothe her, saying, "Be calm--be calm, my +dear Miss Croyland! You know you can trust in me, and if I can aid you +in any way, command me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I know not what to do, or what to say," cried Zara; "but I am sure, +Sir Edward, you will find excuses for me; and therefore I will make +none--though I may perhaps seem somewhat bold in dealing thus with one +whom I have only known a few days."</p> + +<p class="normal">"There are circumstances which sometimes make a few days equal to many +years," replied Sir Edward Digby. "It is so, my dear young lady, with +you and I. Therefore, without fear or hesitation, tell me what it is +that agitates you, and how I can serve you. I am not fond of making +professions; but if it be in human power, it shall be done."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I know not, whether it can be done or not," said Zara; "but if not, +there is nothing but ruin and desolation for two people, whom we both +love. You saw my father set out this morning. Did you remark the +course he took? It was over to my uncle's, for I watched him from the +window. He passed back again some time ago, but then struck off +towards Mr. Radford's. All that made me uneasy; but just now, I saw +Edith's maid coming up towards the house; and eager for tidings, I +hurried away.--Good Heavens, what tidings she has borne me!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"They must be evil ones, I see," answered Digby; "but I trust not such +as to preclude all chance of remedying what may have gone wrong. When +two or three people act together zealously, dear lady, there are very +few things they cannot accomplish."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, but how to explain!" exclaimed Zara; "yet I must be short; for +otherwise my aunt will be in upon us. Now, Sir Edward Digby," she +continued, after thinking for a moment, "I know you are a man of +honour--I am sure you are; and I ask you to pledge me that honour, +that you will never reveal to any one what I am going to tell you; for +I know not whether I am about to do right or wrong--whether, in trying +to save one, I may not be bringing down ruin upon others. Do you give +me your honour?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Most assuredly!" answered her companion. "I will never repeat a word +that you say, unless with your permission, on my honour!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, then," replied Zara, in a faint voice, "Mr. Radford has my +father's life in his power. How, I know not--how, I cannot tell. But +so it is; and such are the tidings that Caroline has just brought us. +Mr. Radford's conference with him this morning was not for nothing. +Immediately after, he went over to Edith; he told her some tale which +the girl did not distinctly hear; but, it seems, some paper which Mr. +Radford possesses was spoken of, and the sum of the whole matter was, +that my poor, sweet sister was told, if she did not consent, within +four days, to marry that hateful young man, she would sacrifice her +father's life. He left her fainting, and has ridden over to bear her +consent to Mr. Radford."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But, did she consent?" exclaimed Sir Edward Digby, in surprise and +consternation--"Did she really yield?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No--no!" answered Zara, "she did not! The girl said she heard her +words, and they were not in truth a consent. But my father chose to +take them as such, and left her even before she recovered."</p> + +<p class="normal">I have already shown the effect of the same account upon Sir Henry +Leyton, with all the questions which it suggested to his mind; and the +impression produced upon his friend, as a man of sense and a man of +the world, were so similar, that it may be needless to give any +detailed statement of his first observations or inquiries. Zara soon +satisfied him, however, that the tale her father had told, was not a +mere device to frighten Edith into a compliance with his wishes; and +then came the question, What was to be done?</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is, in truth, a most painful situation in which your sister is +placed," said Digby, after some consideration; "but think you that +this man, this Radford, cannot be bought off? Money must be to him--if +he be as totally ruined as people say--the first consideration; and I +know Leyton so well, that I can venture to promise nothing of that +kind shall stand in the way, if we can but free your sister from the +terrible choice put before her."</p> + +<p class="normal">Zara shook her head sadly, saying, "No; that hope is vain!--The girl +tells me," she added, with a faint smile, which was quickly succeeded +by a blush, "that she heard my father say, he had offered me--poor me! +to Richard Radford, with the same fortune as Edith, but had been +refused."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And would you have consented?" demanded Sir Edward Digby, in a more +eager tone than he had yet used.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nay," replied Zara, "that has nought to do with the present question. +Suffice it, that this proves that gold is not his only object."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nay, but answer me," persevered her companion; "would you have +consented? It may have much to do with the question yet." He fixed his +eyes gravely upon her face, and took the fair, small hand, that lay +upon the arm of the chair, in his.--It was something very like making +love, and Zara felt a strange sensation at her heart; but she turned +away her face, and answered, with a very pale cheek, "I would die for +my father, Sir Edward; but I could not wed Richard Radford."</p> + +<p class="normal">Sir Edward raised her hand to his lips, and pressed them on it. "I +thought so!" he said--"I thought so! And now, heart, and mind, and +hand, and spirit, to save your sister, Zara! I have hunted many a fox +in my day, and I don't think the old one of Radford Hall will escape +me. The greatest difficulty is, not to compromise your father in any +way; but that shall be cared for, too, to the very best of my power, +be assured. Henceforth, dear lady, away with all reserve between us. +While I am in this house, it will be absolutely necessary for you to +communicate with me freely, and probably very often. Have no +hesitation; have no scruple as to hour, or manner, or means. Trust to +my honour as you have trusted this day; and you shall never find it +fail you. I will enter into such explanations with my servant, Somers, +in regard to poor Leyton, as will make him think it nothing strange, +if you send him for me at any time. He is as discreet as a privy +councillor; and you must, therefore, have no hesitation."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will not," answered Zara; "for I would do anything to save my +sister from such a fate; and I do believe you will not think--you will +not imagine----"</p> + +<p class="normal">She paused in some confusion; and Sir Edward Digby answered, with a +smile--but a kindly and a gentlemanly one, "Let my imagination do as +it will, Zara. Depend upon it, it shall do you no wrong; and believe +me when I say, that I can hardly feel so much pain at these +circumstances as I otherwise might, since they bring me into such near +and frequent communication with you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Hush, hush!" she answered, somewhat gravely; "I can think of nothing +now but my poor sister; and you must not, Sir Edward, by one +compliment, or fine speech--nay, nor by one kind speech either," she +added, laying her hand upon his arm, and looking up in his face, with +a glowing cheek--"for I know you mean it as kind--you must not, +indeed, throw any embarrassment over an intercourse, which is +necessary at present, and which is my only hope and resource, in the +circumstances in which we are placed. So now tell me what you are +going to do; for you seemed, but now, as if you were about to set out +somewhere."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am going to Woodchurch instantly," replied Digby. "Sir Henry Leyton +must be there still----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Sir Henry Leyton!" exclaimed Zara; "then he has, indeed, been a +successful campaigner."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Most successful, and most deservedly so," answered his friend. "No +man but Wolfe won more renown; and if he can but gain this battle, +Leyton will have all that he desires on earth. But I will not stay +here, skirmishing on the flanks, dear lady, while the main body is +engaged. I will ride over as fast as possible, see Leyton, consult +with him, and be back, if possible, by dinner time. If not, you must +tell your father not to wait for me, as I was suddenly called away on +business."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But how shall I know the result of your expedition?" demanded Zara; +"we shall be surrounded, I fear, by watchful eyes."</p> + +<p class="normal">"We must trust to fortune and our own efforts to afford us some means +of communication," replied Digby. "But remember, dearest lady, that +for this great object, you have promised to cast away all reserve. For +the time, at least, you must look upon Edward Digby as a brother, and +treat him as such."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That I will!" answered the fair girl, heartily; and Digby, leaving +her to explain their conduct to her aunt as she best might, ordered +his horse, and rode away towards Woodchurch, in haste.</p> + +<p class="normal">Pulling in his rein at the door of the little inn, he inquired which +was Sir Henry Leyton's room, and was directed up stairs; but on +opening the door of the chamber which had been pointed out, he found +no one in it, but the somewhat strange-looking old man, whom we have +once before seen with Leyton, at Hythe.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah, Mr. Warde, you here!" exclaimed Sir Edward Digby. "Leyton told me +you were in England. But where is he? I have business of some +importance to talk with him upon;" and as he spoke, he shook the old +man's hand warmly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I know you have," answered Mr. Warde, gazing upon him--"at least, I +can guess that such is the case.--So have I; and doubtless the subject +is the same."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nay, I should think not," refilled Digby; "mine refers only to +private affairs."</p> + +<p class="normal">The old man smiled; and that sharp featured, rude countenance assumed +an expression of indescribable sweetness: "Mine is the same," he said. +"You come to speak of Edith Croyland--so do I."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Indeed!" cried his companion, a good deal surprised; "you are a +strange being, Mr. Warde. You seem to learn men's secrets, whether +they will or not."</p> + +<p class="normal">"There is nothing strange on earth, but man's blindness," answered the +other; "everything is so simple, when once explained, that its +simplicity remains the only marvel.--But here he comes. Let me +converse with him first. Then, when he is aware of all that I know, +you shall have my absence, or my presence, as it suits you."</p> + +<p class="normal">While he was speaking, the voice of Henry Leyton was heard below, and +then his step upon the stairs; and, before Digby could answer, he was +in the room. His face was grave, but not so cloudy as it had been when +he returned to Woodchurch, half-an-hour before. He welcomed Mr. Warde +frankly, and cordially; but turned immediately to Sir Edward Digby, +saying, "You have been quick indeed, Digby. I could not have conceived +that my letter had reached you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I got no letter," answered Digby; "perhaps it missed me on the way; +for, the corn being down, I came straight across the country."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It matters not--it matters not," answered Leyton; "so you are +here--that is enough. I have much to say to you, and that of immediate +importance."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I know it already," answered Digby. "But here is our good friend, +Warde, who seems to have something to say to you on the same subject."</p> + +<p class="normal">Sir Henry Leyton turned towards the old man with some surprise. "I +think Digby must be mistaken," he said, "for though, I am aware, from +what you told me some little time ago, that you have been in this part +of the country before, yet it must have been long ago, and you can +know nothing of the events which have affected myself since."</p> + +<p class="normal">The old man smiled, and shook his head. "I know more than you +imagine," he answered. "It is, indeed, long since first I was in this +land; but not so long since I was here last; and all its people and +its things, its woods, its villages, its hills, are as familiar to +me--ay, more so than to you. Of yourself, Leyton, and your fate, I +also know much--I might say I know all; for certainly I know more than +you do, can do more than you are able to do, will do more than you +can. To show you what I know; I will give you a brief summary of your +own history--at least, that part of it, of which you think I know +nothing. Young, eager, and impatient, you were thrown constantly into +the society of one, good, beautiful, gentle, and true. You had much +encouragement from those who should not have given it, unless they had +the intention of continuing it to the end. You loved, and were +beloved; and then, in the impatience of your boyish ardour, you bound +Edith Croyland to yourself, without her parent's knowledge and +consent, by vows which, whatever human laws may say, are indissoluble +by the law of Heaven; and therein you did wrong. It was a great +error.--Do I say right?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It was, indeed," answered Sir Henry Leyton, casting down his eyes +sternly on the ground--"it was, indeed."</p> + +<p class="normal">"More--I will tell you more," continued Mr. Warde; "you have bitterly +repented it, and bitterly suffered for it. You are suffering even +now."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not for it," replied the young officer--"not for it. My sufferings +are not consequences of my fault."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are wrong," answered the old man; "wrong, as you will find. But I +will go on, and tell you what you have done this day. Those who have +behaved ill to you have been punished likewise; and their punishment +is working itself out, but sweeping you in within its vortex. You have +been over to see Edith Croyland. She has told you her tale. You have +met in love, and parted in sorrow.--Is it not so? And now you know not +which way to turn for deliverance."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is so, indeed, my good friend," said Leyton, sadly; "but how you +have discovered all this, I cannot divine."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That has nought to do with the subject," answered Warde. "Now tell +me, Leyton, tell me--and remember you are dearer to me than you +know--are you prepared to make atonement for your fault? The only +atonement in your power--to give back to Edith the vows she plighted, +to leave her free to act as she may judge best. I have marked you +well, as you know, for years. I have seen you tried as few men, +perhaps, are tried; and you have come out pure and honest. The last +trial is now arrived; and I ask you here, before your friend, your +worldly friend, if you are ready to act honestly still, and to annul +engagements that you had no right to contract?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am," answered Sir Henry Leyton; "I am, if----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ay, if! There is ever an 'if' when men would serve their own +purposes against their conscience," said Mr. Warde, sternly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nay, but hear me, my good friend," replied the young officer. "I have +every respect for you. Your whole character commands it and deserves +it, as well as your profession; but, at the same time, though I may +think fit to answer you candidly, in matters where I would reject any +other man's interference, yet I must shape my answer as I think +proper, and rule my conduct according to my own views. You must, +therefore, hear me out. I say that I am ready to give back to Edith +Croyland the vows she plighted me, to set her free from all +engagements, to leave her, as far as possible, as if she had never +known Henry Leyton, whatever pang it may cost me--<i>if</i> it can be +proved to me that by so doing I have not given her up to misery, as +well as myself. My own wretchedness I can bear--I have borne it long, +cheered by one little ray of hope. I can bear it still, even though +that light go out; but to know that by any act of mine--however +seemingly generous, or, as you term it, honest--I had yielded her up +to a life of anguish, that I could not bear. Show me that this will +not be the case; and, as I have said before, I am ready to make the +sacrifice, if it cost me life. Nay, more: I returned hither prepared, +if at the last, and with every effort to avert it, I found that +circumstances of which I know not the extent, rendered the keeping of +her vows to me more terrible in its consequences than her union with +another, however hateful he may be,--I came hither prepared, I say, in +such a case, to set her free; and I will do it!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The old man took both his hands, and gazed on him with a look of glad +satisfaction. "Honest to the last," he said--"honest to the last! The +resolution to do this, is as good as the deed; for I know you are not +one to fail where you have resolved.--But those who might exact the +sacrifice are not worthy of it. Your willingness has made the +atonement, Leyton; and I will deliver you from your difficulty."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You, Mr. Warde!" exclaimed Sir Edward Digby; "I cannot suppose that +you really have the power; or, perhaps, after all, you do not know the +whole circumstances."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Hush, hush, young man!" answered Warde, with a wave of the hand; "I +know all, I see all, where you know little or nothing. You are a good +youth, as the world goes--better than most of your bad class and +station; but these matters are above you. Listen to me, Leyton. Did +not Edith tell you that her father had worked upon her, by fears for +his safety--for his honour--for his life, perhaps?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, indeed," exclaimed Leyton, eagerly, and with a ray of hope +beginning to break upon him. "Was the tale not true, then?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I guessed so," answered the old man. "I was sure that would be the +course at last. Nevertheless, the tale he told was true--too true. It +was forced from him by circumstances. Yet, I have said I will deliver +you from your difficulty; and I will. Pursue your own course; as you +have commenced, go on to the end. I ask you not now to give Edith back +her promises. Nay, I tell you, that her misery, her wretchedness--ay, +tenfold more than any you could suffer--would be the consequence, if +you did so. Let her go on firmly in her truth to the last; but tell +her, that deliverance will come. Now I leave you; but, be under no +doubt. Your course is clear; do all you can by your own efforts to +save her; but it is I who must deliver her in the end."</p> + +<p class="normal">Without any further farewell, he turned and left the room; and Sir +Henry Leyton and his friend remained for a minute or two in thought.</p> + +<p class="normal">"His parting advice is the best," said Digby, at length; "and +doubtless you will follow it, Leyton; but, of course, you will not +trust so far to the word of a madman, as to neglect any means that may +present themselves."</p> + +<p class="normal">"He is not mad," answered Leyton, shaking his head. "When first he +joined us in Canada, before the battle of Quebec, I thought as you do; +but he is not mad, Digby. There are various shades of reason; and +there may be a slight aberration in his mind from the common course of +ordinary thought. He may be wrong in his reasonings, rash in his +opinions, somewhat overexcited in imagination; but that is not +madness. His promises give me hope, I will confess; but still I will +act as if they had not been made. Now let us speak of our plans; and +first tell me what has taken place at Harbourne; for you seem to know +all the particulars already, which I sent for you to communicate, +though how you learned them I cannot divine."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, my dear Leyton, if I were to tell you all that has happened," +replied Sir Edward Digby, "I should have to go on as long as a +Presbyterian minister, or a popular orator. I had better keep to the +point;" and he proceeded to relate to his friend the substance of the +conversation which had last taken place between himself and Zara.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is most fortunate," answered Leyton, "that dear girl has thus +become acquainted with the facts; for Edith would not have told her, +and now we have some chance of obtaining information of all that +occurs, which must be our great security. However--since I returned, I +have obtained valuable information, which puts good Mr. Radford's +liberty, if not his life, in my power. Three of the men whom we have +taken, distinctly state that he sent them upon this expedition +himself--armed, and mounted them; and therefore he is a party to the +whole transaction. I have sent off a messenger to Mowle, the +officer--as faithful and as true a fellow as ever lived--begging him +to bring me up, without a moment's delay, a magistrate in whom he can +trust; for one of the men is at the point of death, and all the +justices round this place are so imbued with the spirit of smuggling, +that I do not choose the depositions to be taken by them. I have +received and written down the statements made, before witnesses; and +the men have signed them; but I have no power in this case to +administer an oath. As soon as the matter is in more formal train, I +shall insist upon the apprehension of Mr. Radford, whatever be the +consequences to Sir Robert Croyland; for here my duty to the country +is concerned, and the very powers with which I am entrusted, render it +imperative upon me so to act."</p> + +<p class="normal">"If you can catch him--if you can catch him!" replied Sir Edward +Digby. "But be sure, my dear Leyton, if he once discovers that you +have got such a hold upon him, he will take care to render that matter +difficult. You may find it troublesome, also, to get a magistrate to +act as you desire; for they are all of the same leaven; and I fancy +you have no power to do anything yourself except in aid and support of +the civil authorities. You must be very careful, too, not to exceed +your commission, where people might suspect that personal feelings are +concerned."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Personal feelings shall not bias me, Digby, even in the slightest +degree," replied his friend. "I will act towards Mr. Radford, exactly +as I would towards any other man who had committed this offence; and, +as to the imputation of motives, I can well afford to treat such +things with contempt. Were I, indeed, to act as I wish, I should not +pursue this charge against the chief offender, in order not to bring +down his vengeance suddenly upon Sir Robert Croyland's head, or should +use the knowledge I possess merely to impose silence upon him through +fear. But my duty is plain and straightforward; and it must be done. +As to my powers, they are more extensive than you suppose. Indeed, I +would have sooner thrown up my commission, than have undertaken a +service I disliked, without sufficient authority to execute it +properly. Thus, if no magistrate could be found to act as I might +require, I would not scruple, with the aid of any officer of Customs, +or even without, to apprehend this man on my own responsibility. But I +think we shall easily find one who will do his duty."</p> + +<p class="normal">"At all events," replied Sir Edward Digby, "you had better be +cautious, my dear Leyton. If you are not too quick in your movements, +you may perhaps trap the old bird and the young one together; and that +will be a better day's sport than if you only got a single shot."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Heaven send it may be before these fatal four days are over!" +answered Leyton; "for then the matter will be decided and Edith +delivered."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why, if you were to catch the young one, it would be sufficient for +that object," said his friend.</p> + +<p class="normal">But Leyton shook his head. "I fear not," he replied; "yet that purpose +must not be neglected. Where he has concealed himself I cannot divine. +It would seem certain that he never got out of Harbourne Wood, unless, +indeed, it was by some of the bye-paths; and in that case, he surely +must have been seen. I will have it searched, to-morrow, from end to +end."</p> + +<p class="normal">In the same strain the conversation proceeded for half-an-hour more, +without any feasible plan of action having been decided upon, and with +no further result than the arrangement of means for frequent and +private communication. It was settled, indeed, that Leyton should fix +his head-quarters at Woodchurch, and that two or three of the dragoons +should be billeted at a small public-house on the road to Harbourne. +To them any communication from Sir Edward Digby was to be conveyed by +his servant, Somers, for the purpose of being forwarded to Woodchurch. +Such matters being thus arranged, as far as circumstances admitted, +the two friends parted; and Digby rode back to Harbourne House, which +he reached, as may be supposed, somewhat later than Sir Robert +Croyland's dinner-hour.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="div3_03" href="#div3Ref_03">CHAPTER III.</a></h2> +<br> + +<p class="normal">About six o'clock on the evening of the same day, the cottage of Mrs. +Clare was empty. The good widow herself stood at the garden gate, and +looked up the road into the wood, along which the western sun was +streaming low. After gazing for a moment in that direction, she turned +her eyes to the left, and then down the edge of the wood, which +stretched along in a tolerably even line till it reached the farther +angle. The persevering dragoons were patrolling round it still; and +Mrs. Clare murmured to herself, "How will he ever get out, if they +keep such a watch?"</p> + +<p class="normal">She was then going into the cottage again, when a hurried step caught +her ear, coming apparently from the path which led from the side of +Halden to the back of the house, and thence round the little garden +into the road.</p> + +<p class="normal">"That sounds like Harding's step," thought the widow; and her ear had +not deceived her. In another minute, she beheld him turn the corner of +the fence and come towards her; but there was a heated and angry look +upon his face, which she had never seen there before; and--although +she had acted for the best, and not without much consideration, in +sending Kate upon Mr. Radford's commission, and not going herself--she +feared that her daughter's lover might not be well pleased his bride +should undertake such a task. As he came near, the symptoms of anger +were more apparent still. There was the cloudy brow, the flashing eye, +the hurried and impetuous walk, which she had often seen in her own +husband--a man very similar in character to him who now approached +her--when irritated by harsh words; and Widow Clare prepared to do all +she could to soothe him ere Kate's return.</p> + +<p class="normal">But Harding did not mention her he loved, demanding, while yet at some +distance, "Where is Mr. Radford, Mrs. Clare?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"He is not here, Mr. Harding," replied the widow; "he has not been +here since the morning. But what makes you look so cross, Harding? You +seem angry."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And well I may be," answered Harding, with an oath. "What do you +think they have set about?--That I informed against them, and betrayed +them into the hands of the dragoons: when, they know, I saw them safe +out of the Marsh; and it must have been their own stupidity, or the +old man's babbling fears, that ruined them--always trusting people +that were sure to be treacherous, and doubting those he knew to be +honest. But I'll make him eat his words, or cram them down his throat +with my fist."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why, he spoke quite kindly of you this morning, Harding," said the +widow; "there must be some mistake."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Mistake!" cried the smuggler, sharply; "there is no mistake.--It is +all over Hythe and Folkestone already; and every one says that it came +from him. Can you not tell me where he is gone?--Which way did he +turn?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Towards his own house," replied Mrs. Clare; "but you had better come +in, Harding, and get yourself cool before you go to him. You will +speak angrily now, and mischief may come of it. I am sure there is +some mistake."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I" will not sit down till I have made him own it," answered the +smuggler. "Perhaps he is up at Harbourne. I'll go there. Where is +Kate, Mrs. Clare?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"She has gone towards Harbourne House," said the widow, not choosing, +in the excited state of his feelings, to tell him her daughter's +errand; "but she will be back in one minute, if you will but come in."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No," he replied; "I will come back by-and-by. Perhaps I shall meet +her as I go;" and he was turning towards the wood, when suddenly, at +the spot where the road entered amongst the trees, the pretty figure +of Kate Clare, as trim, and neat, and simple as a wild flower, +appeared walking slowly back towards the cottage. But she was not +alone. By her side was a tall, handsome young man, dressed in full +military costume, with his heavy sword under his arm, and a star upon +his breast. He was bending down, talking to his fair companion with a +friendly air, and she was answering him with a gay smile.</p> + +<p class="normal">A pang shot through Harding's bosom: the first that ever the poor girl +had caused; nor, indeed, would he have felt it then, had he not been +irritated; for his was a frank and confiding heart, open as the day, +in which that foul and dangerous guest, Suspicion, usually could find +no lurking place. At first he did not recognise, in the glittering +personage before his eyes, the grave, plain-looking stranger, who, a +week or two before, had conversed with him for a few minutes on the +cliffs near Sandgate; but he saw, as the two came on, that Kate raised +her eyes; and as soon as she perceived him standing by her mother, a +look of joy lighted up her face, which made him murmur to himself, +"I'm a fool!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The stranger, too, saw him; but it made no change in his demeanour; +and the next moment, to Harding's surprise, the officer came forward +somewhat more quickly, and took Widow Clare by the hand, saying, with +a grave smile, "Do you not know me, Mrs. Clare?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Gracious Heaven!" cried the widow, drawing back and gazing at him, +"Can it be you, sir?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, indeed!" he answered. "Why, Kate here knew me directly, though +she was but ten or eleven, I think, when I went away."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, that was because you were always so fond of her, Mr. Henry," +replied Widow Clare. "Gracious! how you are changed!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Harding was talking to Kate while these few words passed, but he heard +them; nor did he fail to remark that two mounted dragoons, one leading +a horse by the rein, followed the young officer from the wood. He now +recognised him also; and by his dress perceived the rank he held in +the army, though Mrs. Clare called him "Mr. Henry."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, I am changed, indeed!" replied Leyton, to the widow's last +remark, "in body and health, Mrs. Clare, but not in heart, I can +assure you; and as I was obliged to visit this wood, I resolved I +would not be so near you without coming in to see how you were going +on, with your pretty Kate here."</p> + +<p class="normal">"My pretty Kate, very soon!" said Harding, aloud; and the young +officer turned suddenly round, and looked at him more attentively than +before.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah, Mr. Harding!" he exclaimed, "is that you? We have met before, +though perhaps you don't remember me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh yes, I do, sir," replied the smuggler, drily. "But I must go, +Kate;" and he added, in a low tone, "I shall be back by-and-by."</p> + +<p class="normal">Thus saying, he walked away; but before he had taken ten steps, Leyton +followed, and took him by the arm. "What do you want with me, sir?" +asked the smuggler, turning sharply round, and putting his hand in the +bosom of his coat.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Hush!" replied the young officer; "I seek no harm to you--merely +one word. For Heaven's sake, Harding, quit this perilous life of +yours!--at least, before you marry that poor girl--if I have +understood you rightly, that you are about to marry her. I speak as a +friend."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thank you, sir!" answered the smuggler, "I dare say you mean it kind; +but it was hardly fair of you, either, to come and talk with me upon +the cliff, if you are, as I suppose, the Sir Henry Leyton all the +folks are speaking about."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why, my good friend, my talking with you did you no harm," replied +the young officer; "you cannot say that I led you to speak of anything +that could injure either you or others. Besides, I have nothing to do +with you gentlemen of the sea, though I may with your friends on land. +But take the advice of one well disposed towards you; and, above all, +do not linger about this place at present, for it is a dangerous +neighbourhood for any one who has had a share in the late +transactions."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That advice I shall take, at all events," answered Harding, bluntly; +"and perhaps the other too, for I am sick of all this!" And thus +saying, he walked away, passing close by the two dragoons, who offered +no obstruction.</p> + +<p class="normal">In the meanwhile Leyton, returning to Widow Clare and her daughter, +went into the cottage, and talked to them, for a few minutes, of old +days. Gradually, however, he brought the conversation round to the +inhabitants of Harbourne House, and asked if either the widow or Kate +ever went up there.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, Kate goes twice every day, sir," said Mrs. Clare, "for we have +all the finest of the poultry to keep down here. But are you not going +there yourself, Mr. Henry?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Alas, no!" answered Leyton, with a sigh. "Those days have gone by, +Mrs. Clare; and I am now a stranger where I was once loved."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Don't say so, sir," replied the widow, "don't say so! For, I am sure, +where you were best loved of all, there you are best loved still."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That I believe," answered Leyton; "but, at all events, I am not going +there at present; and if Kate would do me a service, she would, the +first time she sees Miss Zara Croyland alone, tell her, that if ever +she rides or walks out along the road by the Chequers, she will find +an old friend by the way."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Miss Zara, sir, did you say?" asked Widow Clare.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, mother--yes," cried Kate; "you forget Miss Edith is not there +now; she is down at Mr. Croyland's."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But remember, Kate," continued Leyton, "I do not wish my name +mentioned to many persons in the house. Indeed, it will be better not +to speak of me at all to any one but Zara. It must be soon known that +I am here, it is true; but I wish to let events take their course till +then. And now, Mrs. Clare, good evening. I shall see you again some +day soon; and you must let me know when Kate's wedding-day is fixed."</p> + +<p class="normal">The mother looked at her daughter with a smile, and Kate blushed and +laughed. "It is to be this day week, sir," answered Mrs. Clare.</p> + +<p class="normal">Leyton nodded his head, saying, "I will not forget," and, mounting his +horse at the door, rode away.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Now, did you find him, Kate?" asked Mrs. Clare, in a low tone, the +moment Sir Henry Leyton was gone.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh yes," replied her daughter; "the dragoons did not follow me, as +you thought they would, mother; and I set down the basket close to the +willow. At first he did not answer when I asked if he wanted anything; +but when I spoke again, he said, 'No. A thousand thanks for what you +have brought;' and he spoke kind and civilly. Then, just as I was +going away, he said, 'Kate, Kate! let me know when the soldiers are +gone.--If you could bring me a woman's dress, I could easily get +away.' I should not be afraid of going any more, mother," the girl +continued; "for he seems quite changed by his misfortune, and not rude +and jesting as he always used to be, whenever I saw him before."</p> + +<p class="normal">The idea of the woman's clothes seemed to strike Mrs. Clare very much; +and the good widow and her daughter set their wits to work, to +consider how all that was necessary could be procured; for a very +serious impediment thrust itself in the way of either mother or child +lending him a suit of their own apparel. Neither of them were very +tall women; and though young Radford was himself not above the middle +height, yet Kate's gown would not have fallen further than half way +down his leg; and the poor girl laughed merrily, to think of what a +figure he would make dressed in her garments. It would have been the +old story of the wolf in sheep's clothing, assuredly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"If we could but accomplish it, and enable him to escape," thought +Mrs. Clare, "especially after Harding has just been up here, it would +show Mr. Radford, clearly enough, that John had nothing to do with +informing against him." But the question, of where fitting apparel was +to be procured, still remained unsettled, till Kate suggested, that +perhaps her aunt's, at Glassenbury, might do. "She is very tall," +continued the girl, "and I am sure she would lend them to me; for she +and my uncle have always been so kind. Suppose I walk over early +to-morrow, and ask her."</p> + +<p class="normal">Now the little farm which Mrs. Clare's brother held, was somewhat more +than seven miles off, on the other side of Cranbrook. But still, what +is the exertion which woman will not make for a fellow-creature in +distress; and Mrs. Clare determined that she would rise betimes, and +go to William Harris's herself, certain of a kind reception and ready +consent from those who had always displayed towards her, in adversity, +the feelings of affection, which the more worldly-minded generally +shower upon prosperity alone.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was far for her daughter to walk, she thought; and besides, Harding +might come, and it would not do for Kate to be absent. Thus had she +settled it in her own mind, when Mr. Radford entered the cottage to +inquire after his son.</p> + +<p class="normal">High were the praises that he bestowed upon Kate and Mrs. Clare, for +their kindness; and he expressed his warm approval of their little +scheme. Nevertheless, he turned the matter in his mind, in order to +see whether he could not save Mrs. Clare the trouble of going nearly +to Goudhurst, by obtaining the necessary articles of female apparel +somewhere else. His own women servants, however, were all short and +stout; the only other persons whom he could think of, as at all +approaching his son in height, he did not choose to trust; and +therefore it was, at length, determined that the original plan should +be followed. But the worthy gentleman laid strict injunctions upon +Mrs. Clare, to be early in her proceedings, as he feared much, from +all he had gathered, that the wood might be more strictly searched, in +the course of the following day.</p> + +<p class="normal">When this was settled, and Mr. Radford had expressed his thanks, more +than once, Mrs. Clare thought it a good opportunity of turning the +conversation to Harding; and she asked Mr. Radford if he had seen him, +adding, "He has gone to look for you, sir, and seems very quick and +angry, because the people down about his place have got a report that +he informed about the run; and he fancies you have said so."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Pooh, nonsense, Mrs. Clare, I never said anything of the kind!" +replied Mr. Radford. "It is a story put about by the Custom-House +officers themselves, just to cover the persons from whom they had the +information. But we shall discover them some day, and pay them +handsomely. Tell Harding not to mind what people say, for I never +thought of such a thing."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That I will, sir," replied the widow; "for I'm sure it will set his +mind at rest.--You must know very well, sir, that he's as honest a man +as ever lived."</p> + +<p class="normal">"To be sure--to be sure," answered Mr. Radford, with great warmth of +manner; "no one knows that better than I do, Mrs. Clare."</p> + +<p class="normal">But whether Mr. Radford really felt the warmth which he assumed, may +be another question. His seemings were not always the best indications +of his real sentiments; and when he left Mrs. Clare's cottage, after +all had been arranged, his first thought was, "We will reckon with Mr. +Harding by-and-by.--The account is not made up yet."</p> + +<p class="normal">Before I proceed to other scenes, it may be as well to go on with the +part assigned in this history to Mrs. Clare and her daughter, at +least, till the morning of the following day. About eight o'clock at +night, Harding returned, still irritable and discontented, having +failed to find Mr. Radford. The account, however, which the widow gave +of her conversation with that gentleman, soothed him a good deal; but +he would not stay the night, as he had done before, saying that he +must absolutely be at home as soon as possible, and would return, +perhaps, the next day, or, at all events, the day after.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I must do the best I can, Mrs. Clare," he continued, "to help these +fellows out of the scrape they've run into. Two or three of them are +good men enough; and, as they risk their necks if they are taken, I +should like to get them down, and give them a passage to the other +side. So you see I shall be going about here a good deal, for the next +four or five days, and will look in, from time to time, to see you and +my dear little Kate."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But are you going to walk all the way back to-night, John?" asked +Kate, as he rose to depart.</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, my love," he answered, "I've got a horse up at Plurendon; but the +beast cast a shoe as I was coming, and I was obliged to leave him at +the blacksmith's."</p> + +<p class="normal">No sooner was Harding gone, than a little kindly contest rose between +mother and daughter, as to which should go over to Glassenbury; but +Mrs. Clare persisted, against all her child's remonstrances; and, in +order that they might rise before daylight, both retired to bed early, +and slept calmly and peacefully, unknowing what the morrow, to which +they both looked anxiously forward, was to bring. The sun was yet some +way below the horizon, when Mrs. Clare set out; but she met with no +impediment, and, walking on stoutly, arrived, at an early hour, at a +little farm-house, inhabited by her brother. She found farmer Harris +and his wife, with their two sons and Mrs. Harris's nephew (three +stout, good humoured, young men) seated at their breakfast; and warm +and joyful was the reception of Aunt Clare; one joking her upon Kate's +approaching marriage; another declaring Jack Harding, whom they all +knew, was a capital fellow; and all striving to make her comfortable, +and pressing her to partake of their morning meal.</p> + +<p class="normal">Every one of the party was eager to obtain some information from her, +who lived so much nearer to the spot, in regard to the late +discomfiture of the smugglers, although none seemed to take any great +interest in them, all declaring that the Ramleys, and their gang, were +the pest of the country, and that young Dick Radford was not a bit +better. Such opinions, regarding that young gentleman, acted as a +warning to Mrs. Clare, not to mention the object of the loan she came +to solicit; and when, after having rested about twenty minutes, she +preferred her petition to Mrs. Harris, it was readily granted by the +tall farmer's wife, although not without some expression of curiosity, +as to what her sister-in-law could want a dress of hers for.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Kate or I will bring it back to-night or to-morrow morning," replied +Mrs. Clare, "and I'll tell you what we want it for, at the wedding, +which, remember, is to be yesterday week."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ay, we will all come down with white favours, and our best buckles," +said young William, the farmer's eldest son; "and I'll have a kiss of +the bride."</p> + +<p class="normal">A gown and cloak of Mrs. Harris's, having been brought down--they were +not her best--and neatly folded up in a shawl-handkerchief, Mrs. Clare +set forward on her way home, hurrying her steps as much as possible, +lest any untoward event should prevent the execution of her scheme. A +stout country woman, accustomed to exercise, the widow accomplished +the walk in as short a time as possible; yet it was nine o'clock +before she reached the cottage, and she instantly dispatched her +daughter to the "hide" in the wood, with the clothes folded up in as +small a space as possible, and laid in the bottom of a basket, covered +over with eggs.</p> + +<p class="normal">The only difficulty was, in regard to a bonnet; and, after earnest +consultation between mother and child, it was determined that, as Mrs. +Clare's head was somewhat larger than Kate's, her bonnet should be put +over her daughter's, which was easily accomplished. Both were of +straw, and both were plain enough; but, to conceal the contrivance +from the eyes of any one whom Kate might meet, Mrs. Clare pinned a +small piece of lace--which had been bought for the wedding--into the +inside of her own bonnet, remarking, that it would do to hide young +Mr. Radford's face a bit.</p> + +<p class="normal">Furnished with all that was needful, and having had the instructions +which Mr. Radford had left, repeated carefully to her, by her mother, +fair Kate Clare set out upon her expedition, passing one of the +dragoons, who were still patrolling round the wood, near the place +where the road entered it. The man said something to her, as she went +by, but did not attempt to follow; and Kate walked on, looking behind +her, from time to time, till she was satisfied that her proceedings +were unwatched. Then, hurrying on, with a quicker step, she turned to +the path, which led to the back of the gardens of Harbourne House, and +approached the old willow, and the brushwood which covered the place +where Richard Radford was concealed.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Mr. Radford," she said, as soon as she was quite close, "Mr. Radford! +Here is what you wanted. Take it as fast as you can."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is there any one near but you, Kate?" asked the voice of Richard +Radford.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, no!" she replied; "but the soldiers are still on the outside of +the wood watching."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I know that," rejoined the voice again, "for I saw them last night, +when I tried to get out. But are you sure that none of them followed +you, Kate?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, quite sure," she answered, "for I looked behind all the way!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, stay and help me to put the things on," said Richard Radford, +issuing forth from behind the bushes, like a snake out of its hole. +Kate Clare willingly agreed to help him, and while the gown and the +cloak were thrown over his other clothes, told him all that his father +had said, desiring him not to come up to Radford Hall till he heard +more; but to go down to the <i>lone house</i>, near Iden Green, where he +would find one or two friends already collected.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why, these are never your own clothes, Kate!" said young Radford, as +she pinned on the gown for him. "They fit as if they were made for +me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not at the back," answered Kate, laughing, "I cannot get the gown to +meet there; but that will be covered up by the cloak, so it does not +matter.--No, they are my aunt's, at Glassenbury; and you must let me +have them back, Mr. Radford, as soon as ever you have got to Iden +Green; for my mother has promised to return them to-night."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I don't know howl shall get them back, Kate," answered Richard +Radford; "for none of our people will like to venture up here. Can't +you come down and fetch them? It is not much out of your way."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, I can't do that," answered Kate, who did not altogether like +going to the lone house she had mentioned; "but you can send them down +to Cranbrook, at all events; and there they can be left for me, at +Mrs. Tims's shop. They'll be quite safe; and I will call for them +either to-night or to-morrow morning."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, I will do that, my love," replied Richard Radford, taking the +bonnet and putting it on his head.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Very well, sir," answered Kate, not well pleased with the epithet he +had bestowed upon her, and taking a step to move away, "I will call +for them there."</p> + +<p class="normal">But young Radford threw his arm round her waist, saying, "Come, Kate! +I must have a kiss before you go.--You give plenty to Harding, I dare +say."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let me go, sir!" cried Kate Clare, indignantly. "You are a base, +ungrateful young man!"</p> + +<p class="normal">But young Radford did not let her go. He took the kiss she struggled +against, by force; and he was proceeding to farther insult, when Kate +exclaimed, "If you do not let me go, I will scream till the soldiers +are upon you.--They are not far."</p> + +<p class="normal">She spoke so loud, that her very tone excited his alarm; and he +withdrew his arm from her waist, but still held her hand tight, +saying, "Come, come, Kate! Nonsense, I did not mean to offend you! Go +up to Harbourne House, there's a good girl, and stay as long as you +can there, till I get out of the wood."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You do offend me--you do offend me!" cried Kate Clare, striving to +withdraw her hand from his grasp.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Will you promise to go up to Harbourne, then?" said Richard Radford, +"and I will let you go."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, yes," answered Kate, "I will go;" and the moment her hand was +free, she darted away, leaving the basket she had brought behind her.</p> + +<p class="normal">As soon as she was gone, Richard Radford cursed her for a saucy jade, +as if the offence had been hers, not his; and then taking up the +basket, he threw it, eggs and all, together with his own hat, into the +deep hole in the sandbank. Advancing along the path till he reached +the open road, he hurried on in the direction of Widow Clare's +cottage. Of a daring and resolute disposition--for his only virtue was +courage--he thought of passing the soldiers, as a good joke rather +than a difficult undertaking; but still recollecting the necessity of +caution, as he came near the edge of the wood he slackened his pace, +tried to shorten his steps, and assumed a more feminine demeanour. +When he was within a couple of hundred yards of the open country, he +saw one of the dragoons slowly pass the end of the road and look up; +and, on issuing forth from the wood, he perceived that the man had +paused, and was gazing back. But at that distance, the female garments +which he wore deceived the soldier; and he was suffered to walk on +unopposed towards Iden Green.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="div3_04" href="#div3Ref_04">CHAPTER IV.</a></h2> +<br> + +<p class="normal">Sir Robert Croyland himself did not return to Harbourne House, till +the hands of the clock pointed out to every one that went through the +hall, that it was twenty minutes past the usual dinner hour; and, +though he tried to be as expeditious as he could, he was yet fully ten +minutes longer in dressing than usual. He was nervous; he was +agitated; all the events of that day had shaken and affected him; he +was angry with his servant; and several times he gave the most +contradictory orders. Although for years he had been undergoing a slow +and gradual change, under the painful circumstances in which he had +been placed, and had, from the gay, rash, somewhat noisy and +overbearing country gentleman, dwindled down into the cold, silent, +pompous, and imperative man of family, yet the alteration during that +day had been so great and peculiar that the valet could not help +remarking it, and wondering if his master was ill.</p> + +<p class="normal">Sir Robert tried to smoothe his look and compose his manner for the +drawing-room, however; and when he entered, he gazed round for Sir +Edward Digby, observing aloud: "Why, I thought soldiers were more +punctual. However, as it happens, to-day I am glad Sir Edward is not +down."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Down!" cried Mrs. Barbara, who had a grand objection to dinners being +delayed; "why, he is out; but you could expect no better; for +yesterday you were so long that the fish was done to rags; so I +ordered it not to be put in till he made his appearance."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I told you, my dear aunt, that he said he might not be back before +dinner," replied her niece, "and, therefore, it will be vain to wait +for him. He desired me to say so, papa."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh yes! Zara knows all about it," said Mrs. Barbara, with a shrewd +look; "they were talking together for ten minutes in the library; and +I cannot get her to tell me what it was about."</p> + +<p class="normal">It is, indeed, conscience that makes cowards of us all; and had the +fair girl's conversation with her new friend been on any other subject +than that to which it related--had it been about love, marriage, arms, +or divinity, she would have found no difficulty in parrying her aunt's +observations, however mal-à-propos they might have been. At present, +however, she was embarrassed by doubts of the propriety of what she +was doing, more especially as she felt sure that her father would be +inquisitive and suspicious, if the tale the maid had told was true. +Acting, however, as she not unfrequently did, in any difficulty, she +met Mrs. Barbara's inuendoes at once, replying, "Indeed I shall not +say anything about it to any one, my dear aunt. I will manage some +matters for myself; and the only thing I shall repeat is Sir Edward's +last dying speech, which was to the effect, that he feared he might be +detained till after our dinner hour, but would be back as soon as ever +he could, and trusted my father would not wait."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you know where he is gone, and why?" asked Sir Robert Croyland, in +a much quieter tone than she expected. But poor Zara was still puzzled +for an answer; and, as her only resource, she replied vaguely, +"Something about some of the smugglers, I believe."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then had he any message or intelligence brought him?" inquired Sir +Robert Croyland.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not know--Oh, yes, I believe he had," replied his daughter, +in a hesitating tone and with a cheek that was beginning to grow red. +"He spoke with one of the soldiers at the corner of the road, I +know;--and, oh yes, I saw a man ride up with a letter."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That was after he was gone," observed Mrs. Barbara; but Sir Robert +paid little attention, and, ringing, ordered dinner to be served. +Could we see into the breasts of others, we should often save +ourselves a great deal of unnecessary anxiety. Zara forgot that +her father was not as well aware that Sir Edward Digby was +Leyton's dearest friend, as she was; but, in truth, all that he +concluded--either from the pertinent remarks of Mrs. Barbara or from +Zara's embarrassment--was, that the young baronet had been making a +little love to his daughter, which, to say sooth, was a consummation +that Sir Robert Croyland was not a little inclined to see.</p> + +<p class="normal">In about a quarter of an hour more, the dinner was announced; and the +master of the house, his sister, and Zara, sat down together. Hardly +had the fish and soup made any progress, when the quick canter of Sir +Edward Digby's horse put his fair confidante out of her anxiety; and, +in a few minutes after, he appeared himself, and apologized gracefully +to his host, for having been too late. "You must have waited for me, I +fear," he added, "for it is near an hour after the time; but I thought +it absolutely necessary, from some circumstances I heard, to go over +and see my colonel before he returned to Hythe, and then I was +detained."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Pray, who does command your regiment?" asked Mrs. Barbara. But Sir +Edward Digby was, at that moment, busily engaged in taking his seat by +Zara's side; and he did not hear. The lady repeated the question when +he was seated; but then he replied, "No, I thank you, my dear madam, +no soup to-day--a solid meal always after a hard ride; and I have +galloped till I have almost broken my horse's wind.--By the way, Sir +Robert, I hope you found my bay a pleasant goer. I have only ridden +him twice since I bought him, though he cost two hundred guineas."</p> + +<p class="normal">"He is well worth the money," replied the Baronet--"a very powerful +animal--bore me like a feather, and I ride a good weight."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Have your own horses come back?" asked the young officer, with a +laugh.</p> + +<p class="normal">Sir Robert Croyland answered in the negative, adding, "And that +reminds me I must write to my brother, to let Edith have his carriage +to-morrow, to bring her back; for mine are gone--coach-horses, and +all."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Edith, to-morrow!" exclaimed Mrs. Barbara, in surprise; "why, I +thought she was going to stay four or five days."</p> + +<p class="normal">"She is coming back to-morrow, Bab," replied Sir Robert, sharply; and +instantly turned the conversation.</p> + +<p class="normal">During the rest of the evening, Sir Edward Digby remained very +constantly by fair Zara's side; and, moreover, he paid her most +particular attention, in so marked a manner, that both Sir Robert +Croyland and Mrs. Barbara thought matters were taking their course +very favourably. The father busied himself in writing a letter and one +or two notes, which he pronounced to be of consequence--as, indeed, +they really were--while the aunt, worked diligently and discreetly at +embroidering, not interrupting the conference of her niece and their +guest above ten times in a minute. Sir Edward, indeed, kept himself +within all due and well-defined rules. He never proceeded beyond what +a great master of the art has pronounced to be "making love"--"a +course of small, quiet, attentions, not so pointed as to alarm, nor so +vague as to be misunderstood." Strange to say, Zara was very much +obliged to him for following such a course, as it gave an especially +good pretext for intimacy, for whispered words and quiet conversation, +and even for a little open seeking for each other's society, which +would have called observation, if not inquiry, upon them, had not her +companion's conduct been what it was. She thought fit to attribute it, +in her own mind, entirely to his desire of communicating to her, +without attracting notice, whatever he had learned, that could in any +way affect her sister's fate; and she judged it a marvellous good +device that they should appear for the time as lovers, with full +powers on both parts to withdraw from that position whenever it suited +them. Poor girl! she knew not how far she was entangling herself.</p> + +<p class="normal">Sir Edward Digby, in the meanwhile, took no alarming advantage of his +situation. The whispered word was almost always of Edith or of Leyton. +He never spoke of Zara herself, or of himself, or of his own feelings; +not a word could denote to her that he was making love, though his +whole demeanour had very much that aspect to those who sat and looked +on. Oh, those who sit and look on, what a world they see! and what a +world they don't see! Ever more than those who play the game, be they +shrewd as they may: ever less than the cards would show, were they +turned up. By fits and snatches, he communicated to his fair +companion, while he was playing with this ball of gold thread, or +winding and unwinding that piece of crimson silk, as much of what had +passed between himself and Sir Henry Leyton, as he thought necessary; +and then he asked her to sing--as her aunt had given him a quiet hint +that her niece did sometimes do such a thing--saying, in a low tone, +while he preferred the request, "Pray, go on with the song, though I +may interrupt you sometimes with questions, not quite relevant to the +subject."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I understand--I quite understand," answered Zara; but it may be a +question whether that sweet girl really quite understood either +herself or him. It is impossible that any two free hearts, can go on +long, holding such intimate and secret communion, on subjects deeply +interesting to both, without being drawn together by closer bonds, +than perhaps they fancy can ever be established between them--unless +there be something inherently repulsive on one part or the other. +Propinquity is certainly much, in the matter of love; but there are +circumstances, not rarely occurring in human life, which mightily +abridge the process; and such are--difficulties and dangers +experienced together--a common struggle for a common object--but more +than all--mutual and secret communion with, and aid of each other in +things of deep interest. The confidence that is required, the +excitement of imagination, the unity of effort, and of purpose, the +rapid exercise of mind to catch the half-uttered thought, the enforced +candour from want of time, which admits of no disguise or +circumlocution, the very mystery itself--all cast that magic chain +around those so circumstanced, within which they can hardly escape +from the power of love. Nine times out of ten, they never try; and, +however Zara Croyland might feel, she rose willingly enough to sing, +while Sir Edward Digby leaned over her chair, as she sat at the +instrument, which in those days supplied the place of that which is +now absurdly enough termed in England, a piano. Her voice, which was +fine though not very powerful, wavered a little as she began, from +emotions of many kinds. She wished to sing well; but she sang worse +than she might have done; yet quite well enough to please Sir Edward +Digby, though his ear was refined by art, and good by nature. +Nevertheless, though he listened with delight, and felt the music +deeply, he forgot not his purpose, and between each stanza asked some +question, obtaining a brief reply. But I will not so interrupt the +course of an old song, and will give the interrogatory a separate +place:</p> +<div class="poem2"> +<br> +<p class="t8"><b>THE LADY'S SONG.</b></p> +<br> +<p class="i6">"Oh! there be many, many griefs,</p> +<p class="t1">In this world's sad career,</p> +<p class="t0">That shun the day, that fly the gaze,</p> +<p class="t1">And never, never meet the ear.</p> +<br> +<p class="t0">But what is darkest--darkest of them all?</p> +<p class="t1">The pang of love betray'd?--</p> +<p class="t0">The hopes of youth all fleeting by--</p> +<p class="t1">Spring flowers that early, early fade?</p> +<br> +<p class="t0">But there are griefs--ay, griefs as deep:</p> +<p class="t1">The friendship turn'd to hate--</p> +<p class="t0">And, deeper still--and deeper still,</p> +<p class="t1">Repentance come too late!--too late!</p> +<br> +<p class="t0">The doubt of those we love; and more</p> +<p class="t1">The rayless, dull despair,</p> +<p class="t0">When trusted hearts are worthless found,</p> +<p class="t1">And all our dreams are air--but air.</p> +<br> +<p class="t0">Deep in each bosom's secret cell,</p> +<p class="t1">The hermit-sorrows lie;</p> +<p class="t0">And thence--unheard on earth--they raise</p> +<p class="t1">The voice of prayer on high--on high.</p> +<br> +<p class="t0">Oh! there be many, many griefs,</p> +<p class="t1">In this world's sad career,</p> +<p class="t0">That shun the day, that fly the gaze,</p> +<p class="t1">And, never, never meet the ear."</p> +</div> + +<p class="normal">Thus sang the lady; and one of her hearers, at least, was delighted +with the sweet voice, and the sweet music, and the expression which +she gave to the whole. But though he listened with deep attention, +both to words and tones, as long as her lips moved, yet, when the mere +instrumental part of the music recommenced, which was the case between +every second and third stanza--and the symphonetic parts of every song +were somewhat long in those days--he instantly remembered the object +with which he had first asked her to sing, (little thinking that such +pleasure would be his reward;) and bending down his head, as if he +were paying her some lover-like compliment on her performance, he +asked her quietly, as I have said before, a question or two, closely +connected with the subject on which both their minds were at that +moment principally bent.</p> + +<p class="normal">Thus, at the first pause, he inquired--"Do you know--did you ever see, +in times long past, a gentleman of the name of Warde--a clergyman--a +good and clever man, but somewhat strange and wild?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No," answered Zara, looking down at the keys of the harpsichord; "I +know no one of that name;" and she recommenced the song.</p> + +<p class="normal">When her voice again ceased, the young officer seemed to have thought +farther; and he asked, in the same low tone, "Did you ever know a +gentleman answering that description--his features must once have been +good--somewhat strongly marked, but fine and of an elevated +expression, with a good deal of wildness in the eye, but a peculiarly +bland and beautiful smile when he is pleased--too remarkable to be +overlooked or forgotten?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Can you be speaking of Mr. Osborn?" asked Zara, in return. "I barely +recollect him in former days; but I and Edith met him about ten days +ago; and he remembered and spoke to her."</p> + +<p class="normal">The song required her attention; and though she would fain have played +the symphony over again, she was afraid her father would remark it, +and went on to sing the last two stanzas. As soon as she had +concluded, however, she said, in a low, quick voice, "He is a very +extraordinary man."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Can you give me any sign by which I should know him?" asked Digby.</p> + +<p class="normal">"He has now got a number of blue lines traced on his face," answered +Zara; "he went abroad to preach to the savages, I have heard. He is a +good man, but very eccentric."</p> + +<p class="normal">At the same moment the voice of her father was raised, saying, "I +wish, my dear, you would not sing such melancholy things as that. +Cannot you find something gayer? I do not like young ladies singing +such dull ditties, only fit for sentimental misses of the true French +school."</p> + +<p class="normal">What was the true French school of his day, I cannot tell. Certainly, +it must have been very different from the present.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Perhaps Sir Edward will sing something more cheerful himself?" +answered Zara.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, I am a very bad musician," replied the young officer; "I cannot +even accompany myself. If you will, and have any of the few things I +know, I shall be very happy.--In everything, one can but try," he +added, in a low voice, "still hoping for the best."</p> + +<p class="normal">Zara looked over her collection of music with him; and at last she +opened one song which was somewhat popular in those times, though it +has long fallen into well-merited oblivion. "Can you venture to sing +that?" she asked, pointing to the words rather than the music; "it is +quite a soldier's song."</p> + +<p class="normal">Sir Edward Digby read the first line; and thinking he observed a +double meaning in her question, he answered, "Oh, yes, that I will, if +you will consent to accompany me."</p> + +<p class="normal">Zara smiled, and sat down to the instrument again; and the reader must +judge from the song itself whether the young officer's conjecture that +her words had an enigmatical sense was just or not.</p> +<div class="poem2"> +<br> +<p class="t4"><b>THE OFFICER'S SONG.</b></p> +<br> +<p class="i6">"A star is still beaming</p> +<p class="t2">Beyond the grey cloud;</p> +<p class="t0">Its light rays are streaming,</p> +<p class="t2">With nothing to shroud;</p> +<p class="t0">And the star shall be there</p> +<p class="t2">When the clouds pass away;</p> +<p class="t0">Its lustre unchanging,</p> +<p class="t2">Immortal its ray.</p> +<br> +<p class="i6">"'Tis the guide of the true heart,</p> +<p class="t2">In field, or on sea;</p> +<p class="t0">'Tis the hope of the slave,</p> +<p class="t2">And the trust of the free;</p> +<p class="t0">The light of the lover,</p> +<p class="t2">Whatever assail;</p> +<p class="t0">The strength of the honest,</p> +<p class="t2">That never can fail.</p> +<br> +<p class="i6">"Waft, waft, thou light wind,</p> +<p class="t2">From the peace-giving ray,</p> +<p class="t0">The vapours of sorrow,</p> +<p class="t2">That over it stray;</p> +<p class="t0">And let it pour forth,</p> +<p class="t2">All unshrouded and bright,</p> +<p class="t0">That those who now mourn,</p> +<p class="t2">May rejoice in its light."</p> +</div> + +<p class="normal">"God grant it!" murmured the voice of Sir Robert Croyland. Zara said, +"Amen," in her heart; and in a minute or two after, her father rose, +and left the room.</p> + +<p class="normal">During the rest of the evening, nothing very important occurred in +Harbourne House. Mrs. Barbara played her usual part, and would +contribute to Sir Edward Digby's amusement in a most uncomfortable +manner. The following morning, too, went by without any incident of +importance, till about ten o'clock, when breakfast just being over, +and Zara having been called from the room by her maid, Sir Robert's +butler announced to his master, that the groom had returned from Mr. +Croyland's.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Where is the note?" demanded his master, eagerly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"He has not brought one, Sir Robert," replied the servant, "only a +message, sir, to say that Mr. Croyland is very sorry he cannot spare +the horses to-day, as they were out a long way yesterday."</p> + +<p class="normal">Sir Robert Croyland started up in a state of fury not at all becoming. +He stamped, he even swore. But we have got rid of a great many of the +vices of those times; and swearing was so common at the period I speak +of, that it did not even startle Mrs. Barbara. Her efforts, however, +to soothe her brother, only served to irritate him the more; and next +he swore at her, which did surprise her mightily.</p> + +<p class="normal">He then fell into a fit of thought, which ended in his saying aloud, +"Yes, that must be the way. It is his business, and so----" But +Sir Robert did not conclude the sentence, retiring to his own +sitting-room, and there writing a letter.</p> + +<p class="normal">When he had done, he paused and meditated, his mind rambling over many +subjects, though still occupied intensely with only one. "I am a most +unfortunate man," he thought. "Nothing since that wretched day has +ever gone right with me. Even trifles combine to frustrate everything +I attempt. Would I had died many years ago! Poor Edith--poor girl--she +must know more sorrow still, and yet it must be done, or I am +lost!--If that wretched youth had been killed in that affray +yesterday, it would have all been over. Was there no bullet that could +find him?--and yet, perhaps, it might not have had the effect.--No, +no; there would have been some new kind of demand from that greedy, +craving scoundrel.--May there not be such even now? Will he give up +that fatal paper?--He shall--by Heaven, he shall!--But I must send the +letter. Sir Edward Digby will think this all very strange. How +unfortunate, that it should have happened just when he was here. Would +to Heaven I had any one to consult with! But I am lone, lone indeed. +My wife, my sons, my friends,--gone, gone, all gone! It is very sad;" +and after having mused for several minutes more, he rang the bell, +gave the servant who appeared the letter which he had just written, +and directed him to take it over to Mr. Radford's as soon as possible.</p> + +<p class="normal">Returning to the room which he had previously left--without bestowing +one word upon Mrs. Barbara, whom he passed in the corridor, Sir +Robert Croyland entered into conversation with Sir Edward Digby, and +strove--though with too evident an effort--to appear careless and +unconcerned.</p> + +<p class="normal">In the meantime, however, we must notice what was passing in the +corridor; for it was of some importance, though, like many other +important things, it was transacted very quietly.</p> + +<p class="normal">Mrs. Barbara had overheard Sir Robert's directions to the servant; and +she had seen the man--as he went away to get ready the pony, which was +usually sent in the morning to the post--deposit the note he had +received upon an antique piece of furniture--a large marble table, +with great sprawling gilt legs--which stood in the hall, close to the +double doors that led to the offices.</p> + +<p class="normal">Now, Mrs. Barbara was one of the most benevolent people upon earth: +she literally overflowed with the milk of human kindness; and, if a +few drops of that same milk occasionally spotted the apron of her +morality, which we cannot help acknowledging was sometimes the case, +she thought, as a great many other people do of a great many other +sins, that "there was no great harm in it, if the motive was good." +This was one of those cases and occasions when the milk was beginning +to run over. She had a deep regard for her brother: she would have +sacrificed her right hand for him; and she was quite sure that +something very sad had happened to vex him, or he never would have +thought of swearing <i>at her</i>. She would have done, she was ready to +do, anything in the world, to help him; but how could she help him, +without knowing what he was vexed about? It is wonderful how many +lines the devil always has out, for those who are disposed to take a +bait. Something whispered to Mrs. Barbara, as she gazed at the letter, +"The whole story is in there!" Ah, Mrs. Barbara, do not take it up, +and look at the address!--It is dangerous--very dangerous.</p> + +<p class="normal">But Mrs. Barbara did take it up, and looked at the address--and then +at the two ends. It was folded as a note, unfortunately; and she +thought--"There can be no harm, I'm sure--I won't open it--though I've +seen him open Edith's letters, poor thing!--I shall hear the man pull +back the inner door, and can put it down in a minute. Nobody else can +see me here; and if I could but find out what is vexing him, I might +have some way of helping him; I'm sure I intend well."</p> + +<p class="normal">All this argumentation in Mrs. Barbara's mind took up the space of +about three seconds; and then the note, pressed between two fingers in +the most approved fashion, was applied as a telescope to her eye, to +get a perspective view of the cause of her brother's irritation. I +must make the reader a party to the transaction, I am afraid, and let +him know the words which Mrs. Barbara read:--</p> + +<p class="normal">"My dear Radford," the note began--"As misfortune would have it, all +my horses have been taken out of the stable, and have not been brought +back. I fear that they have fallen into other hands than those that +borrowed them; and my brother Zachary has one of his crabbed moods +upon him, and will not lend his carriage to bring Edith back. If your +horses have not gone as well as mine, I should feel particularly +obliged by your sending them down here, to take over my coach to +Zachary's and bring Edith back; for I do not wish her to stay there +any longer, as the marriage is to take place so soon. If you can come +over to-morrow, we can settle whether it is to be at your house or +here--though I should prefer it here, if you have no objection."</p> + +<p class="normal">There seemed to be a few words more; but it took Mrs. Barbara longer +to decipher the above lines, in the actual position of the note, than +it might have done, had the paper been spread out fair before her; so +that, just as she was moving it a little, to get at the rest, the +sound of the farther of the two doors being thrown open, interrupted +her proceedings; and, laying down the letter quickly, she darted away, +full of the important intelligence which she had acquired.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="div3_05" href="#div3Ref_05">CHAPTER V.</a></h2> +<br> + +<p class="normal">There are periods in the life of some men, when, either by a +concatenation of unfortunate events, or by the accumulated +consequences of their own errors, the prospect on every side becomes +so clouded, that there is no resource for them, but to shut their eyes +to the menacing aspect of all things, and to take refuge in the moral +blindness of thoughtless inaction, against the pressure of present +difficulties. "I dare not think," is the excuse of many a man, for +continuing in the same course of levity which first brought +misfortunes upon him; but such is not always the case with those who +fly to wretched merriment in the hour of distress; and such was not +the case with Sir Robert Croyland.</p> + +<p class="normal">He had thought for long years, till his very heart sickened at the +name of reflection. He had looked round for help, and had found none. +He had tried to discover some prospect of relief; and all was +darkness. The storm he had long foreseen was now bursting upon his +head; it was no longer to be delayed; it was not to be warded off. His +daughter's misery, or his own destruction, was the only choice before +him; and he was resolved to think no more--to let events take their +course, and to meet them as he best might.</p> + +<p class="normal">But to resolve is one thing--to execute, another; and Edith's father +was not a man who could keep such a determination long. He might +indeed, for a time, cease to think of all the painful particulars of +his situation; but there will ever come moments when thought is forced +even upon the thoughtless, and events will arise, to press reflection +upon any heart. His efforts were, at first, very successful. After he +had despatched the letter to Mr. Radford, he had said, "I must really +pay my visitor some attention. It will serve to occupy my mind, too. +Anything to escape from the torturing consideration of questions, +which must ever be solved in wretchedness." And when he returned to +Sir Edward Digby, his conversation was particularly gay and cheerful. +It first turned to the unpleasant fact of the abstraction of all his +horses; but he now spoke of it in a lighter and less careful manner +than before.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Doubtless," he said, "they have been taken without leave, as usual, +by the smugglers, to use for their own purposes. It is quite a common +practice in this county; and yet we all go on leaving our stable-doors +open, as if to invite all who pass to enter, and choose what they +like. Then, I suppose, they have been captured with other spoil, in +the strife of yesterday morning, and are become the prize of the +conquerors; so that I shall never see them again."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, no!" answered the young officer, "they will be restored, I am +quite sure, upon your identifying them, and proving that they were +taken, without your consent, by the smugglers. I shall go over to +Woodchurch by-and-by; and if you please, I will claim them for you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is scarcely worth while," replied the baronet; "I doubt that I +shall ever get them back. These are little losses which every man in +this neighbourhood must suffer, as a penalty for remaining in a half +savage part of the country.--What are you disposed to do this morning, +Sir Edward? Do you again walk the stubbles?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I fear it 'would be of little use," answered Digby; "there has been +so much galloping lately, that I do not think a partridge has been +left undisturbed in its furrow; and the sun is too high for much +sport."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, then, let us walk in the garden for a little," said Sir Robert; +"it is curious, in some respects, having been laid out long before +this house was built, antiquated as it is."</p> + +<p class="normal">Sir Edward Digby assented, but looked round for Zara, as he certainly +thought her society would be a great addition to her father's. She had +not yet returned to the room, however; and Sir Robert, as if he +divined his young companion's feelings, requested his sister to tell +her niece, when she came, that he and their guest were walking in the +garden. "It is one of her favourite spots, Sir Edward," he continued, +as they went out, "and many a meditative hour she spends there; for, +gay as she is, she has her fits of thought, too."</p> + +<p class="normal">The young baronet internally said, "Well she may, in this house!" but +making a more civil answer to his entertainer, he followed him to the +garden; and so well and even cheerfully did Sir Robert Croyland keep +up the conversation, so learnedly did he descant upon the levelling +and preservation of turf in bowling-greens, and upon the clipping of +old yew-trees--both before and after Zara joined them--that Digby +began to doubt, notwithstanding all he had heard, whether he could +really have such a load upon his heart as he himself had stated to +Edith, and to fancy that, after all, it might be a stratagem to drive +her to compliance with his wishes.</p> + +<p class="normal">A little incident, of no great moment in the eyes of any one but a +very careful observer of his fellow-men--and Digby was far more so +than he seemed--soon settled the doubt. As they were passing under an +old wall of red brick--channelled by time and the shoots of pears and +peaches--which separated the garden from the different courts, a door +suddenly opened behind them, just after they had passed it; and while +Sir Edward's eyes were turned to the face of the master of the house, +Sir Robert's ear instantly caught the sound, and his cheek became as +pale as ashes.</p> + +<p class="normal">"There is some dark terror there!" thought the young officer; but, +turning to Zara, he finished the sentence he had been uttering, while +her father's coachman, who was the person that had opened the door, +came forward to say that one of the horses had returned.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Returned!" exclaimed Sir Robert Croyland; "has been brought back, I +suppose you mean?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ay, Sir Robert," replied the man; "a fellow from the lone house by +Iden Green brought him; and in a sad state the poor beast is. He's got +a cut, like with a knife, all down his shoulder."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your dragoon swords are sharp, Sir Edward," said the old baronet, +gaily, to his guest; "however, I will go and see him myself, and +rejoin you here in a minute."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am so glad to have a moment alone," cried Zara, as soon as her +father was gone, "that you must forgive me if I use it directly. I am +going to ask you a favour, Sir Edward. You must take me a ride, and +lend me a horse. I have just had a message from poor Harry Leyton; he +wishes to see me, but I am afraid to go alone, with so many soldiers +about."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Are they such terrible animals?" asked her companion, with a smile, +adding, however, "I shall be delighted, if your father will consent; +for I have already told him that I am going to Woodchurch this +afternoon."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh! you must ask me yourself, Sir Edward," replied Zara, "quite in a +civil tone; and then when you see that I am willing, you must be very +pressing with my father--quite as if you were a lover; and he will not +refuse you.--I'll bear you harmless, as I have heard Mr. Radford say;" +she added, with a playful smile that was quickly saddened.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You shall command for the time," answered Digby, as gaily; "perhaps +after that, I may take my turn, sweet lady. But I have a good deal to +say to you, too, which I could not fully explain last night."</p> + +<p class="normal">"As we go--as we go," replied Zara; "my father will be back directly, +otherwise I would tell you a long story about my aunt, who has +evidently got some great secret which she is all impatience to +divulge. If I had stayed an hour with her, I might have arrived at it; +but I was afraid of losing my opportunity here.--Oh, that invaluable +thing, opportunity! Once lost, what years of misery does it not +sometimes leave behind.--Would to Heaven that Edith and Leyton had run +away with each other when they were about it.--We should all have been +happier now."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And I should never have known you," replied Digby. Zara smiled, and +shook her head, as if saying, "That is hardly fair;" but Sir Robert +Croyland was seen coming up the walk; and she only replied, "Now do +your <i>devoir</i>, gallant knight, and let me see if you do it zealously."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have been trying in your absence, my dear sir," said Digby, rather +maliciously, as the baronet joined them, "to persuade your fair +daughter to run away with me. But she is very dutiful, and will not +take such a rash step, though the distance is only to Woodchurch, +without your consent. I pray you give it; for I long to mount her on +my quietest horse, and see her try her skill in horsemanship again."</p> + +<p class="normal">Sir Robert Croyland looked grave; and ere the words were half spoken, +Sir Edward Digby felt that he had committed an error in his game; for +he was well aware that when we have a favour to ask, we should not +call up, by speech or look, in the mind of the person who is to grant +it, any association having a contrary tendency.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am afraid that I have no servant whom I could send with you, Sir +Edward," replied her father; "one I have just dispatched to some +distance, and you know I am left without horses, for this poor beast +just come back, is unfit. Neither do I think it would be altogether +consistent with decorum, for Zara to go with you quite alone."</p> + +<p class="normal">Sir Edward Digby mentally sent the word decorum back to the place from +whence it came; but he was resolved to press his point; and when Zara +replied, "Oh, do let me go, papa!" he added, "My servant can accompany +us, to satisfy propriety, Sir Robert; and you know I have quartered +three horses upon you. Then, as I find the fair lady is somewhat +afraid of a multitude of soldiers, I promise most faithfully not even +to dismount in Woodchurch, but to say what I have to say, to the +officer in command there, and then canter back over the country."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Who is the officer in command?" asked Sir Robert Croyland.</p> + +<p class="normal">Zara drew her breath quick, but Sir Edward Digby avoided the dangerous +point. "Irby has one troop there," he replied; "and there are parts of +two others. When I have made interest enough here," he continued, with +a half bow to Zara, "I shall beg to introduce Irby to you, Sir Robert; +you will like him much, I think. I have known him long."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Pray invite him to dinner while he stays," said Sir Robert Croyland; +"it will give me much pleasure to see him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not yet--not yet!" answered Digby, laughing; "I always secure my own +approaches first."</p> + +<p class="normal">Sir Robert Croyland smiled graciously, and, turning to Zara, said, +"Well, my dear, I see no objection, if you wish it. You had better go +and get ready."</p> + +<p class="normal">Zara's cheek was glowing, and she took her father at the first word; +but when she was gone, Sir Robert thought fit to lecture his guest a +little, upon the bad habit of spoiling young ladies which he seemed to +have acquired. He did it jocularly, but with his usual pompous and +grave air; and no one would have recognised in the Sir Robert Croyland +walking in the garden, the father whom we have lately seen humbled +before his own child. There is no part of a man's character which he +keeps up so well to the world as that part which is not his own. The +assertion may seem to be a contradiction in terms; but there is no +other way of expressing the sense clearly; and whether those terms be +correct or not, will depend upon whether character is properly innate +or accumulated.</p> + +<p class="normal">Sir Edward Digby answered gaily, for it was his object to keep his +host in good humour at least, for the time. He denied the possibility +of spoiling a lady, while he acknowledged his propensity to attempt +impossibilities in that direction; and at the same time, with a good +grace, and a frankness, real yet assumed--for his words were true, +though they might not have been spoken just then, under any other +circumstances--he admitted that, of all people whom he should like to +spoil, the fair being who had just left them was the foremost. The +words were too decided to be mistaken. Sir Edward Digby was evidently +a gentleman, and known to be a man of honour. No man of honour trifles +with a woman's affections; and Sir Robert Croyland, wise in this +instance if not in others, did as all wise fathers would do, held his +tongue for a time that the matter might cool and harden, and then +changed the subject.</p> + +<p class="normal">Digby, however, had grown thoughtful. Did he repent what he had said? +No, certainly not. He wished, indeed, that he had not been driven to +say it so soon; for there were doubts in his own mind whether Zara +herself were altogether won. She was frank, she was kind, she trusted +him, she acted with him; but there was at times a shade of reserve +about her, coming suddenly, which seemed to him as a warning. She had +from the first taken such pains to ensure that her confidence--the +confidence of circumstances--should not be misunderstood; she had +responded so little to the first approaches of love, while she had +yielded so readily to those of friendship, that there was a doubt in +his mind which made him uneasy; and, every now and then, her uncle's +account of her character rung in his ear, and made him think--"I have +found this artillery more dangerous than I expected."</p> + +<p class="normal">What a pity it is that uncles will not hold their tongues!</p> + +<p class="normal">At length, he bethought him that it would be as well to order the +horses, which was accordingly done; and some time before they were +ready, the fair girl herself appeared, and continued walking up and +down the garden with her father and their guest, looking very lovely, +both from excitement, which gave a varying colour to her cheek, and +from intense feelings, which, denied the lips, looked out with deeper +soul from the eyes.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I think, Zara," said Sir Robert Croyland, when it was announced that +the horses and the servant were ready, "that you took Sir Edward to +the north, when you went over to your uncle's. You had better, +therefore, in returning--for I know, in your wild spirits, when once +on horseback, you will not be contented with the straight road--you +had better, I say, come by the southwest."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, papa, I could never learn the points of the compass in my life!" +answered Zara, laughing; "I suppose that is the reason why, as my aunt +says, I steer so ill."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I mean--by the lower road," replied her father; and he laid such +emphasis on the words, that Zara received them as a command.</p> + +<p class="normal">They mounted and set out, much to the surprise of Mrs. Barbara +Croyland, who saw them from the window, and thence derived her first +information of their intended expedition; for Zara was afraid of her +aunt's kindnesses, and never encountered them when she could help it. +When they were a hundred yards from the house, the conversation began; +but I will not enter into all the details; for at first they related +to facts with which the reader is already well acquainted. Sir Edward +Digby told her at large, all that had passed between himself and +Leyton on the preceding day, and Zara, in return, informed him of the +message she had received from his friend, and how it had been +conveyed. Their minds then turned to other things, or rather to other +branches of the same subjects; and, what was to be done? was the next +question; for hours were flying--the moment that was to decide the +fate of the two beings in whom each felt a deep though separate +interest, was approaching fast; and no progress had apparently been +made.</p> + +<p class="normal">Zara's feelings seemed as much divided as Edith's had been. She shrank +from the thought, that her sister, whom she loved with a species of +adoration, should sacrifice herself on any account to such a fate as +that which must attend the wife of Richard Radford. She shrank also, +as a young, generous woman's heart must ever shrink, from the thought +of any one wedding the abhorred, and separating for ever from the +beloved; but then, when she came to turn her eyes towards her father, +she trembled for him as much as for Edith; and, with her two hands +resting on the pommel of the saddle, she gazed down in anxious and +bitter thought.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I know not your father as well as you do, my dear Miss Croyland," +said her companion, at length, as he marked these emotions; "and +therefore I cannot tell what might be his conduct under particular +circumstances." Zara suddenly raised her eyes, and fixed them on his +face; but Digby continued. "I do not speak of the past, but of the +future. I take it for granted--not alone as a courtesy, but from all I +have seen--that Sir Robert Croyland cannot have committed any act, +that could justly render him liable to danger from the law."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thank you--thank you!" said Zara, dropping her eyes again; "you judge +rightly, I am sure."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But at the same time," he proceeded, "it is clear that some +unfortunate concurrence of circumstances has placed him either really, +or in imagination, in Mr. Radford's power. Now, would he but act a +bold and decided part--dare the worst--discountenance a bad man and a +villain--even, if necessary, in his magisterial capacity, treat him as +he deserves--he would take away the sting from his malice. Any +accusation this man might bring would have <i>enmity</i> too strongly +written upon it, to carry much weight; and all the evidence in favour +of your father would have double force."</p> + +<p class="normal">"He cannot--he will not," answered Zara, sadly, "unless he be actually +driven. I know no more than you, Sir Edward, how all this has +happened; but I know my father, and I know that he shrinks from +disgrace more than death. An accusation, a public trial, would kill +him by the worst and most terrible kind of torture. Mr. Radford, too, +has wound the toils round him completely--that I can see. He could say +that Sir Robert Croyland has acted contrary to all his own principles, +at his request; and he could point to the cause. He could say that Sir +Robert Croyland suddenly became, and has been for years the most +intimate friend and companion of a man he scorned and avoided; +and he could assert that it was because the proud man was in the +cunning man's power. If, for vengeance, he chooses to avow his own +disgrace--and what is there not Mr. Radford would avow to serve his +ends?--believe me, he has my father in a net, from which it will be +difficult to disentangle him."</p> + +<p class="normal">They both fell into thought again; but Zara did not sink in Digby's +estimation, from the clear and firm view which she took of her +father's position.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well," he said, at length, "let us wait, and hear what poor Leyton +has to tell you. Perhaps he may have gained some further insight, or +may have formed some plan; and now, Zara, let us for a moment speak of +ourselves. You see, to-day, I have been forced to make love to you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Too much," said Zara, gravely. "I am sure you intended it for the +best; but I am sorry it could not be avoided."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And yet it is very pleasant," answered Digby, half jestingly, half +seriously.</p> + +<p class="normal">Zara seemed agitated: "Do not, do not!" she replied; "my mind is too +full of sad things, to think of what might be pleasant or not at +another time;" and she turned a look towards him, in which kindness, +entreaty, and seriousness were all so blended, that it left him in +greater doubt than ever, as to her sensations. "Besides," she added, +the serious predominating in her tone, "consider what a difference one +rash word, on either part, may make between us. Let me regard you, at +least for the present, as a friend--or a brother, as you once said, +Digby; let me take counsel with you, seek your advice, call for your +assistance, without one thought or care to shackle or restrain me. In +pity, do; for you know not how much I need support."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then I am most ready to give it, on your own terms, and in your own +way," answered Digby, warmly; but, immediately afterwards, he fell +into a reverie, and in his own mind thought--"She is wrong in her +view; or indifferent towards me. With a lover to whom all is +acknowledged, and with whom all is decided, she would have greater +confidence, than with a friend, towards whom the dearest feelings of +the heart are in doubt. This must be resolved speedily, but not now; +for it evidently agitates her too much.--Yet, after all, in that +agitation is hope."</p> + +<p class="normal">Just as his meditations had reached this point, they passed by the +little public house of the Chequers, then a very favourite sign in +England, and especially in that part of the country; and in five +minutes after, they perceived a horseman on the road, riding rapidly +towards them.</p> + +<p class="normal">"There is Leyton," said Sir Edward Digby, as he came somewhat nearer; +but Zara gazed forward with surprise, at the tall, manly figure, +dressed in the handsome uniform of the time, the pale but noble +countenance, and the calm commanding air. "Impossible!" she cried. +"Why, he was a gay, slight, florid, young man."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Six or seven years ago," answered Digby; "but that, my dear Miss +Croyland, is Sir Henry Leyton, depend upon it."</p> + +<p class="normal">Now, it may seem strange that Edith should have instantly recognised, +even at a much greater distance, the man whom her sister did not, +though the same period had passed since each had seen him; but, it +must be remembered, that Edith was between two and three years older +than Zara; and those two or three years, at the time of life which +they had reached when Leyton left England, are amongst the most +important in a woman's life--those when new feelings and new thoughts +arise, to impress for ever, on the woman's heart, events and persons +that the girl forgets in an hour.</p> + +<p class="normal">Leyton, however, it certainly was; and when Zara could see his +features distinctly, she recalled the lines. Springing from his horse +as soon as he was near, her sister's lover cast the bridle of his +charger over his arm, and, taking the hand she extended to him, kissed +it affectionately: "Oh, Zara, how you are changed!" he said. "But so +am I; and you have gained, whilst I have lost. It is very kind of you +to come thus speedily."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You could not doubt, Leyton, that I would, if possible," answered +Zara; "but all things are much changed in our house, as well as +ourselves; and that wild liberty which we formerly enjoyed, of running +whithersoever we would, is sadly abridged now. But what have you to +say, Leyton? for I dare not stay long."</p> + +<p class="normal">Digby was dropping behind, apparently to speak to his servant for a +moment; but Leyton called to him, assuring him that he had nothing to +say, which he might not hear.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Presently, presently," answered Zara's companion; and leaving them +alone, he rode up to good Mr. Somers, who, with his usual discretion, +had halted, as they halted, at a very respectful distance. The young +officer seemed to give some orders, which were rather long, and then +returned at a slow pace. In the meantime, the conversation of Leyton +and Zara had gone on; but his only object, it appeared, was to see +her, and to entreat her to aid and support his Edith in any trial she +might be put to. "I spent a short period of chequered happiness with +her last night," he said; "and she then told me, dear Zara, that she +was sure her father would send for her in the course of this day. If +such be the case, keep with her always as far as possible; bid her +still remember Harry Leyton; bid her resist to the end; and assure her +that he will come to her deliverance ultimately. Were it myself alone, +I would sacrifice anything, and set her free; but when I know that, by +so doing, I should make her wretched for ever--that her own heart +would be broken, and nothing but an early death relieve her, I cannot +do it, Zara--no one can expect it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Perhaps not--perhaps not, Leyton;" answered Zara, with the tears in +her eyes; "but yet--my father! However, I cannot advise--I cannot even +ask anything. All is so dark and perplexed, I am lost!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am labouring now, dear Zara," replied the young officer, "to find +or devise means of rendering his safety sure. Already I have the power +to crush the bad man in whose grasp he is, and render his testimony, +whatever it may be, nearly valueless. At all events, the only course +before us, is that which I have pointed out; and while Digby is with +you, you can never want the best and surest counsel and assistance. +You may confide in him fully, Zara. I have now known him many years; +and a more honourable and upright man, or one of greater talent, does +not live."</p> + +<p class="normal">There was something very gratifying to Zara in what he said of his +friend; and had she been in a mood to scrutinize her own feelings +accurately, the pleasure that she experienced in hearing such words +spoken of Sir Edward Digby--the agitated sort of pleasure--might have +given her an insight into her own heart. As it was, it only sent a +passing blush into her cheek, and she replied, "I am sure he is all +you say, Harry; and indeed, it is to his connivance that I owe my +being able to come hither to-day. These smugglers took away all my +father's horses; and I suppose, from what I hear, that some of them +have been captured by your men."</p> + +<p class="normal">"If such is the case they shall be sent back," replied Leyton; "for I +am well aware that the horses being found with the smugglers, is no +proof that they were therewith the owner's consent. To-morrow, I trust +to be able to give you a further insight into my plans, for I am +promised some information of importance to-night; and perhaps, even +before you reach home, I shall have put a bar against Mr. Richard +Radford's claims to Edith, which he may find insurmountable."</p> + +<p class="normal">As he was speaking, Sir Edward Digby returned, quickening his horse's +pace as he came near, and pointing with his hand. "You have got a +detachment out, I see, Leyton," he said--"Is there any new affair +before you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, no," replied the Colonel, "it is merely Irby and a part of his +troop, whom I have despatched to search the wood, for I have certain +intelligence that the man we are seeking is concealed there."</p> + +<p class="normal">"They may save themselves the trouble," replied Zara, shaking her +head; "for though he was certainly there all yesterday, he made his +escape this morning."</p> + +<p class="normal">Leyton hit his lip, and his brow grew clouded. "That is unfortunate," +he said, "most unfortunate!--I do not ask you how you know, Zara; but +are you quite sure?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Perfectly," she answered--"I would not deceive you for the world, +Leyton; and I only say what I have said, because I think that, if you +do search the wood, it may draw attention to your being in this +neighbourhood, which as yet is not known at Harbourne, and it may +embarrass us very much."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am not sure, Leyton," said Sir Edward Digby, "that as far as your +own purposes are concerned, it might not be better to seem, at all +events, to withdraw the troops, or at least a part of them, from this +neighbourhood. Indeed, though I have no right to give you advice upon +the subject, I think also it might be beneficial in other respects, +for as soon as the smugglers think you gone, they will act with more +freedom."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I propose to do so, to-morrow," replied the colonel; "but I have some +information already, and expect more, upon which I must act in the +first place. It will be as well, however, to stop Irby's party, if +there is no end to be obtained by their proceedings."</p> + +<p class="normal">He then took leave of Zara and his friend, mounted his horse, and rode +back to meet the troop that was advancing; while Zara and Sir Edward +Digby, after following the same road up to the first houses of +Woodchurch, turned away to the right, and went back to Harbourne, by +the small country road which leads from Kennardington to Tenterden.</p> + +<p class="normal">Their conversation, as they went, would be of very little interest to +the reader; for it consisted almost altogether of comments upon +Leyton's changed appearance, and discussions of the same questions of +doubt and difficulty which had occupied them before. They went slowly, +however; and when they reached the house it did not want much more +than three quarters of an hour to the usual time of dinner. Sir Robert +Croyland they found looking out of the glass-door, which commanded a +view towards his brother's house, and his first question was, which +way they had returned. Sir Edward Digby gave an easy and unconcerned +reply, describing the road they had followed, and comparing it, +greatly to its disadvantage, with that which they had pursued on their +former expedition.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then you saw nothing of the carriage, Zara?" inquired her father. "It +is very strange that Edith has not come back."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, we saw no carriage of any kind; but a carrier's cart," replied +the young lady. "Perhaps if Edith did not know you were going to send, +she might not be ready."</p> + +<p class="normal">This reason, however, did not seem to satisfy Sir Robert Croyland; and +after talking with him for a few minutes more as he stood, still +gazing forth over the country, Zara and Digby retired to change their +dress before dinner; and the latter received a long report from his +servant of facts which will be shown hereafter. The man was +particularly minute and communicative, because his master asked him no +questions, and suffered him to tell his tale his own way. But that +tale fully occupied the time till the second bell rang, and Digby +hurried down to dinner.</p> + +<p class="normal">Still, Miss Croyland had not returned; and it was evident that Sir +Robert Croyland was annoyed and uneasy. All the suavity and +cheerfulness of the morning was gone; for one importunate source of +care and thought will always carry the recollection back to others; +and he sat at the dinner table in silence and gloom, only broken by +brief intervals of conversation, which he carried on with a laborious +effort.</p> + +<p class="normal">Just as Mrs. Barbara rose to retire, however, the butler re-entered +the room, announcing to Sir Robert Croyland that Mr. Radford had +called, and wished to speak with him. "He would not come in, sir," +continued the man, "for he said he wanted to speak with you alone, so +I showed him into the library."</p> + +<p class="normal">Sir Robert Croyland instantly rose, but looked with a hesitating +glance at his guest, while Mrs. Barbara and Zara retired from the +room.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Pray, do not let me detain you, Sir Robert," said the young officer; +"I have taken as much wine as I ever do, and will go and join the +ladies in the drawing-room."</p> + +<p class="normal">The customs of the day required that the master of the house should +press the bottle upon his guest; and Sir Robert Croyland did not fail +to do so. But Digby remained firm, and, to settle the question, walked +quietly to the door and entered the drawing-room. There, he found Zara +seated; but Mrs. Barbara was standing near the table, and apparently +in a state, for which the English language supplies but one term, and +that not a very classical one. I mean, she was in a <i>fidget</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal">The reader is aware that the library of Harbourne House was adjacent +to the drawing-room, and that there was a door between them. It was a +thick, solid, oaken door, however, such as shut out the wind in the +good old times; and, moreover, it fitted very close. Thus, though the +minute after Sir Edward had entered the room, a low murmur, as of +persons speaking somewhat loud, was heard from the library, not a +single syllable could be distinguished; and Mrs. Barbara looked at the +keyhole, with a longing indescribable. After about thirty seconds' +martyrdom, Mrs. Barbara quitted the room: Zara, who knew her aunt, +candidly trusting, that she had gone to put herself out of temptation; +and Sir Edward Digby never for a moment imagining, that she could have +been in any temptation at all. It may now be necessary, however, to +follow Sir Robert Croyland to the library, and to reveal to the reader +all that Mrs. Barbara was so anxious to learn.</p> + +<p class="normal">He found Mr. Radford, booted and spurred, standing, with his tall, +bony figure, in as easy an attitude as it could assume, by the +fire-place; and the baronet's first question was, "In the name of +Heaven, Radford, what has become of Edith?--Neither she nor the +carriage have returned."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, yes, the carriage has, half an hour ago!" replied Mr. Radford; +"and I met the horses going back as I came.--Didn't you get my message +which I sent by the coachman?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, I must have been at dinner," answered Sir Robert Croyland, "and +the fools did not give it to me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, it is no great matter," rejoined Mr. Radford, in the quietest +possible tone. "It was only to say that I was coming over, and would +explain to you all about Miss Croyland."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But where is she? Why did she not come?" demanded her father, with +some of the old impetuosity of his youth.</p> + +<p class="normal">"She is at my house," answered the other, deliberately; "I thought it +would be a great deal better, Croyland, to bring her there at once, as +you left to me the decision of where the marriage was to be. She could +be quite as comfortable there as here. My son will be up to-morrow; +and the marriage can take place quietly, without any piece of work. +Now, here it would be difficult to manage it; for, in the first place, +it would be dangerous for my son. You have got a stranger in the +house, and a whole heap of servants, who cannot be trusted. I have +arranged everything for the marriage, and for their going off quietly +on their little tour. We shall soon get a pardon for this affair with +the dragoons; and that will be all settled."</p> + +<p class="normal">Sir Robert Croyland had remained mute; not with any calm or tranquil +feelings, but with indignation and astonishment. "Upon my life and +soul," he cried, "this is too bad! Do you mean to say, sir, that you +have ventured, without my knowledge or consent, to change my +daughter's destination, and take her to your house when I wished her +to be brought here?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Undoubtedly," replied Mr. Radford, with the most perfect calmness.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well then, sir," exclaimed the baronet, irritated beyond all +endurance--"I have to tell you, that you have committed a gross, +insolent, and unjustifiable act; and I have to insist that she be +brought back here this very night."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nay, my dear friend--nay," replied Mr. Radford, in a half jeering +tone. "These are harsh words that you use; but you must hear me first, +before I pay any attention to them."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I want to hear nothing, sir," cried Sir Robert Croyland, his anger +still carrying him forward. "But if you do not send her back to her +own home, I will get horses over from Tenterden, and bring her +myself.--Her slavery has not yet commenced, Mr. Radford."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I shall not be able to bring her over," answered Mr. Radford, still +maintaining the same provoking coolness; "because, in case of her +return, I should be obliged to use my horses myself, to lay certain +important facts, which we both know of, before a brother magistrate."</p> + +<p class="normal">He paused, and Sir Robert Croyland winced. But still indignation was +uppermost for the time; and rapidly as lightning the thoughts of +resistance passed through his mind. "This man's conduct is too bad," +he said to himself. "After such a daring act as this, with his +character blackened by so many stains, and so clear a case of revenge, +the magistrates will surely hardly listen to him." But as he continued +to reflect, timidity--the habitual timidity of many years--began to +mingle with and dilute his resolution; and Mr. Radford, who knew him +to the very heart, after having suffered him to reflect just long +enough to shake his firmness, went on in a somewhat different tone, +saying, "Come, Sir Robert! don't be unreasonable; and before you +quarrel irretrievably with an old friend, listen quietly to what he +has got to say."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, sir, well," said Sir Robert Croyland, casting himself into a +chair--"what is it you have got to say?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why, simply this, my dear friend," answered Mr. Radford, "that you +are not aware of all the circumstances, and therefore cannot judge yet +whether I have acted right or wrong. You and I have decided, I think, +that there can no longer be any delay in the arrangement of our +affairs. I put it plainly to you yesterday, that it was to be now or +never; and you agreed that it should be now. You brought me your +daughter's consent in the afternoon; and so far the matter was +settled. I don't want to injure you; and if you are injured, it is +your own fault--"</p> + +<p class="normal">"But I gave no consent," said Sir Robert Croyland, "that she should be +taken to your house. The circumstances--the circumstances, Mr. +Radford!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Presently, presently," replied his companion. "I take it for +granted, that, when you have pledged yourself to a thing, you are +anxious to accomplish it. Now I tell you, there was no sure way of +accomplishing this, but that which I have taken. Do you know who is +the commander of this dragoon regiment which is down here?--No. But I +do. Do you know who is the man, who, like a sub-officer of the +Customs, attacked our friends yesterday morning, took some fifty of +them prisoners, robbed me of some seventy thousand pounds, and is now +hunting after my son, as if he were a fox?--No. But I do; and I will +tell you who he is.--One Harry Leyton, whom you may have heard +of--now, Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Henry Leyton, Knight of the Bath, +forsooth!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Sir Robert Croyland gazed upon him in astonishment; but, whatever were +his other sensations, deep grief and bitter regret mingled with them, +when he thought that circumstances should ever have driven or tempted +him to promise his daughter's hand to a low, dissolute, unprincipled +villan, and to put a fatal barrier between her and one whom he had +always known to be generous, honorable, and high principled, and who +had now gained such distinction in the service of his country. He +remained perfectly silent, however; and the expression of surprise and +consternation which his countenance displayed, was misinterpreted by +Mr. Radford to his own advantage.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Now, look here, Sir Robert," he continued; "if your daughter were in +your house, you could not help this young man having some +communication with her. He has already been over at your brother's, +and has seen her, I doubt not. Here, then, is your fair daughter Miss +Zara, your guest Sir Edward Digby--his intimate friend, I dare +say--all your maids and half your men servants, even dear Mrs. Barbara +herself, with her sweet meddling ways, would all be ready to fetch and +carry between the lovers. In short, our whole plans would be +overturned; and I should be compelled to do that which would be very +disagreeable to me, and to strike at this upstart Henry Leyton through +the breast of Sir Robert Croyland. In my house, he can have no access +to her; and though some mischief may already have been done, yet it +can go no further."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Now I understand what you mean by revenge," said the baronet, in a +low tone, folding his hands together.--"Now I understand."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, but have I judged rightly or wrongly?" demanded Mr. Radford.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Rightly, I suppose," said Sir Robert Croyland, sadly. "It can't be +helped;--but poor Edith, how does she bear it?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, very well," answered Mr. Radford, quietly. "She cried a little at +first, and when she found where they were going, asked the coachman +what he meant. It was my coachman, you know, not yours; and so he +lied, like a good, honest fellow, and said you were waiting for her at +my house. I was obliged to make up a little bit of a story too, and +tell her you knew all about it; but that was no great harm; for I was +resolved, you should know all about it, very soon."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Lied like a good honest fellow!" murmured Sir Robert Croyland, to +himself. "Well," he continued, aloud, "at all events I must come over +to-morrow, and try to reconcile the poor girl to it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do so, do so," answered Mr. Radford; "and in the meantime, I must be +off; for I've still a good deal of work to do to-night. Did you see, +they have withdrawn the dragoons from the wood? They knew it would be +of no use to keep them there. So now, good night--that's all settled."</p> + +<p class="normal">"All settled, indeed," murmured Sir Robert Croyland as Mr. Radford +left him; and for nearly half an hour after, he continued sitting in +the library, with his hands clasped upon his knee, exactly in the same +position.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="div3_06" href="#div3Ref_06">CHAPTER VI.</a></h2> +<br> + +<p class="normal">Sir Edward Digby did not take advantage of the opportunity which Mrs. +Barbara's absence afforded him. This may seem extraordinary conduct in +a good soldier and quick and ready man; but he had his reasons for it. +Not that he was beginning to hesitate, as some men do, when--after +having quite made up their minds--they begin to consider all the +perils of their situation, and retreat, without much regard for their +own consistency, or the feelings of the other persons interested. But, +no--Digby justly remembered that what he had to say might require some +time, and that it might produce some agitation. Moreover, he +recollected that there are few things so disagreeable on earth, as +being interrupted at a time when people's eyes are sparkling or in +tears, when the cheek is flushed or deadly pale; and as he knew not +when Mrs. Barbara might return, and certainly did not anticipate that +she would be long absent, he resolved to wait for another opportunity.</p> + +<p class="normal">When he found minute after minute slip by, however, he began to repent +of his determination; and certainly, although the word love never +passed his lips, something very like the reality shone out in his +eyes. Perhaps, had Zara been in any of her usual moods, more serious +words might have followed. Had she been gay and jesting, or calm and +thoughtful, a thousand little incidents might have led on naturally to +the unfolding of the heart of each. But, on the contrary, she was +neither the one nor the other. She was evidently anxious, +apprehensive, ill at ease; and though she conversed rationally enough +for a person whose mind was in such a state, yet she frequently turned +her eyes towards the door of the adjoining room, from which the sound +of her father's voice and that of Mr. Radford might still be heard.</p> + +<p class="normal">Sir Edward Digby endeavoured to gain her attention to himself, as much +with a view to withdraw it from unpleasant subjects as anything else; +and it was very natural that--with one so fair and so excellent, one +possessing so much brightness, in spite of a few little spots--it was +natural that his tone should become tenderer every minute. At length, +however, she stopped him, saying, "I am very anxious just now. I fear +there is some mischief going on there, which we cannot prevent, and +may never know. Edith's absence is certainly very strange; and I fear +they may foil us yet."</p> + +<p class="normal">In a minute or two after, Mrs. Barbara Croyland returned, but in such +a flutter that she spoilt her embroidery, which she snatched up to +cover her agitation, dropped her finest scissars, and broke the point +off, and finally ran the needle into her finger, which, thereupon, +spotted the silk with blood. She gave no explanation indeed of all +this emotion, but looked several times at Zara with a meaning glance; +and when, at length, Sir Robert Croyland entered the drawing-room, his +whole air and manner did not tend to remove from his daughter's mind +the apprehension which his sister's demeanour had cast over it.</p> + +<p class="normal">There is a general tone in every landscape which it never entirely +loses; yet how infinite are the varieties which sunshine and cloud and +storm, and morning, evening, and noon, bring upon it; and thus with +the expression and conduct of every man, although they retain certain +distinctive characteristics, yet innumerable are the varieties +produced by the moods, the passions, and the emotions of the mind. Sir +Robert Croyland was no longer irritably thoughtful; but he was stern, +gloomy, melancholy. He strove to converse, indeed; but the effort was +so apparent, the pain it gave him so evident, that Sir Edward Digby +felt, or fancied, that his presence was a restraint. He had too much +tact, however, to show that he imagined such to be the case; and he +only resolved to retire to his own room as soon as he decently could. +He was wrong in his supposition, indeed, that his host might wish to +communicate something privately to Zara, or to Mrs. Barbara. Sir +Robert had nothing to tell; and therefore the presence of Sir Edward +Digby was rather agreeable to him than not, as shielding him from +inquiries, which it might not have suited him to answer. He would have +talked if he could, and would have done his best to make his house +agreeable to his young guest; but his thoughts still turned, with all +the bitterness of smothered anger, to the indignity he had suffered; +and he asked himself, again and again, "Will the time ever come, when +I shall have vengeance for all this?"</p> + +<p class="normal">The evening passed gloomily, and in consequence slowly; and at length, +when the clock showed that it still wanted a quarter to ten, Digby +rose and bade the little party good night, saying that he was somewhat +tired, and had letters to write.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I shall go to bed too," said Sir Robert Croyland, ringing for his +candle. But Digby quitted the room first; and Zara could not refrain +from saying, in a low tone, as she took leave of her father for the +night, and went out of the room with him, "There is nothing amiss with +Edith, I trust, my dear father?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh dear, no!" answered Sir Robert Croyland, with as careless an air +as he could assume. "Nothing at all, but that she does not come home +to-night, and perhaps may not to-morrow."</p> + +<p class="normal">Still unsatisfied, Zara sought her own room; and when her maid had +half performed her usual functions for the night, she dismissed her, +saying, that she would do the rest herself. When alone, however, Zara +Croyland did not proceed to undress, but remained thinking over all +the events of the day, with her head resting on her hand, and her eyes +cast down. The idea of Edith and her fate mingled with other images. +The words that Digby had spoken, the increasing tenderness of his tone +and manner, came back to memory, and made her heart flutter with +sensations unknown till then. She felt alarmed at her own feelings; +she knew not well what they were; but still she said to herself at +every pause of thought--"It is all nonsense!--He will go away and +forget me; and I shall forget him! These soldiers have always some +tale of love for every woman's ear. It is their habit--almost their +nature." Did she believe her own conclusions? Not entirely; but she +tried to believe them; and that was enough for the present.</p> + +<p class="normal">Some minutes after, however, when a light knock was heard at the door, +she started almost as if some one had struck her; and Fancy, who is +always drawing upon improbability, made her believe, for an instant, +that it might be Digby. She said, "Come in," however, with tolerable +calmness; and the next instant, the figure of her aunt presented +itself, with eagerness in her looks and importance in her whole air.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My dear child!" she said, "I did not know whether your maid was gone; +but I am very happy she is, for I have something to tell you of very +great importance indeed. What do you think that rascal Radford has +done?" and as she spoke, she sank, with a dignified air, into a chair.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I really can't tell, my dear aunt," replied Zara, not a little +surprised to hear the bad epithet which her aunt applied to a +gentleman, towards whom she usually displayed great politeness. "I am +sure he is quite capable of anything that is bad."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah, he is very much afraid of me, and what he calls my sweet meddling +ways," said the old lady; "but, perhaps, if I had meddled before, it +might have been all the better. I am sure I am the very last to +meddle, except when there is an absolute occasion for it, as you well +know, my dear Zara."</p> + +<p class="normal">The last proposition was put in some degree as a question; but Zara +did not think fit to answer it, merely saying, "What is it, my dear +aunt?--I am all anxiety and fear regarding Edith."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well you may be, my love," said Mrs. Barbara; and thereupon she +proceeded to tell Zara, how she had overheard the whole conversation +between Mr. Radford and her brother, through the door of the library, +which opened into the little passage, that ran between it and the +rooms beyond. She did not say that she had put her ear to the keyhole; +but that Zara took for granted, and indeed felt somewhat like an +accomplice, while listening to secrets which had been acquired by such +means.</p> + +<p class="normal">Thus almost everything that had passed in the library--with a few very +short variations and improvements, but with a good deal of comment, +and a somewhat lengthy detail--was communicated by Mrs. Barbara to her +niece; and when she had done, the old lady added, "There, my dear, now +go to bed and sleep upon it; and we will talk it all over in the +morning, for I am determined that my niece shall not be treated in +such a way by any vagabond smuggler like that. Dear me! one cannot +tell what might happen, with Edith shut up in his house in that way. +Talk of my meddling, indeed! He shall find that I will meddle now to +some purpose! Good night, my dear love--good night!" But Mrs. Barbara +stopped at the door, to explain to Zara that she had not told her +before, "Because, you know," said the good lady, "I could not speak of +such things before a stranger, like Sir Edward Digby; and when he was +gone, I didn't dare say anything to your father. Think of it till +to-morrow, there's a dear girl, and try and devise some plan."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will," said Zara--"I will;" but as soon as her aunt had +disappeared, she clasped her hands together, exclaiming, "Good Heaven! +what plan can I form? Edith is lost! They have her now completely in +their power. Oh, that I had known this before Sir Edward Digby went to +sleep. He might have gone over to Leyton to-morrow, early; and they +might have devised something together. Perhaps he has not gone to rest +yet. He told me to throw off all restraint, to have no ceremony in +case of need. Leyton told me so, too--that I might trust in him--that +he is a man of honour. Oh, yes, I am sure he is a man of honour! but +what will he think?--He promised he would think no harm of anything I +might be called upon to do; and I promised I would trust him. I will +go! He can speak to me in the passage. No one sleeps near, to +overhear. But I will knock softly; for though he said he had letters +to write, he may have gone to bed by this time."</p> + +<p class="normal">Leaving the lights standing where they were, Zara cast on a long +dressing-gown, and crept quietly out into the passage, taking care not +to pull the door quite to. All was silent in the house; not a sound +was heard; and with her heart beating as if it would have burst +through her side, she approached Sir Edward Digby's door;--but there +she paused. Had she not paused, but gone on at once, and knocked, all +would have been well; for, so far from being in bed, he was sitting +calmly reading. But ladies' resolutions, and men's, are made of very +much the same materials. The instant her foot stopped, her whole host +of woman's feelings crowded upon her, and barred the way. First, she +thought of modesty, and propriety, and decency; and then, though she +might have overcome the whole of that squadron for Edith's sake, the +remembrance of many words that Digby had spoken, the look, the tone, +the manner, all rose again upon her memory. She felt that he was a +lover; and putting her hand to her brow, she murmured--"I cannot; no, +I cannot. Had he been only a friend, I would.--I will see him early +to-morrow. I will sit up all night, that I may not sleep, and miss the +opportunity; but I cannot go to-night;" and, returning as quietly to +her own chamber as she had come thence, she shut the door and locked +it. She had never locked it in her life before; and she knew not why +she did it.</p> + +<p class="normal">Then, drawing the arm-chair to the hearth, Zara Croyland trimmed the +fire, wrapped herself up as warmly as she could; and putting out one +of the candles, that she might not be left in darkness by both being +burnt out together, she took up a book, and began to read. From time +to time, during that long night, her eyes grew heavy, and she fell +asleep; but something always woke her. Either her own thoughts +troubled her in dreams, or else the book fell out of her hand, or the +wind shook the window, or the cold chill that precedes the coming +morning disturbed her; and at length she looked at her watch, and, +finding it past five o'clock, she congratulated herself at having +escaped the power of the drowsy god, and, dressing in haste, undrew +the curtains, and looked out by the light of the dawning day. When she +saw the edge of the sun coming up, she said to herself, "He is often +very early. I will go down." But, bethinking herself that no time was +to be lost, she hurried first to her maid's room, and waking her, told +her to see Sir Edward Digby's servant, as soon as he rose, and to bid +him inform his master that she wanted to speak with him in the +library. "Speak not a word of this to any one else, Eliza," she said; +and then, thinking it necessary to assign some reason for her conduct, +she added, "I am very anxious about my sister; her not coming home +yesterday alarms me, and I want to hear more."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh dear! you needn't frighten yourself, Miss Zara," replied the +maid--"I dare say there's nothing the matter."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But I cannot help frightening myself," replied Zara; and going down +into the library, she unclosed one of the shutters.</p> + +<p class="normal">The maid was very willing to gratify her young lady, for Zara was a +favourite with all; but thinking from the look of the sky, that it +would be a long time before the servant rose, and having no such +scruples as her mistress, she went quietly away to his room, and +knocked at his door, saying, "I wish you would get up, Mr. Somers--I +want to speak with you."</p> + +<p class="normal">Zara remained alone for twenty minutes in the library, or not much +more, and then she heard Digby's step in the passage. There was a good +deal of alarm and surprise in his look when he entered; but his fair +companion's tale was soon told; and that sufficiently explained her +sudden call for his presence. He made no comment at the moment, but +replied, "Wait for me here one instant. I will order my horse, and be +back directly."</p> + +<p class="normal">He was speedily by her side again; and then, taking her hand in his, +he said, "I wish I had known this, last night.--You need not have been +afraid of disturbing me, for I was up till nearly one."</p> + +<p class="normal">Zara smiled: "You do not know," she answered, "how near I was to your +door, with the intention of calling you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And why did you not?" asked Digby, eagerly. "Nay, you must tell me, +why you should hesitate when so much was at stake."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I can but answer, because my heart failed me," replied Zara. "You +know women's hearts are weak foolish things."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nay," said Digby, "you must explain further.--Why did your heart fail +you? Tell me, Zara. I cannot rest satisfied unless you tell me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Indeed, there is no time now for explanation," she replied, feeling +that her admission had drawn her into more than she had anticipated; +"your horse will soon be here--and--and there is not a moment to +lose."</p> + +<p class="normal">"There is time enough for those who will," answered Digby, in a +serious tone; "you promised me that you would not hesitate, whenever +necessity required you to apply to me for counsel or aid--you have +hesitated, Zara. Could you doubt me--could you be apprehensive--could +you suppose that Edward Digby would, in word, deed, or thought, take +advantage of your generous confidence?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, no--oh, no!" answered Zara, warmly, blushing, and trembling at +the same time, "I did not--I could not, after all you have done--after +all I have seen. No, no; I thought you would think it strange--I +thought----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then you supposed I would wrong you in thought!" he replied, with +some mortification in his manner; "you do not know me yet."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh yes, indeed I do," she answered, feeling that she was getting +further and further into difficulties; and then she added, with one of +her sudden bursts of frankness, "I will tell you how it was--candidly +and truly. Just as I was at your door, and about to knock, the memory +of several things you had said--inadvertently, perhaps--crossed my +mind; and, though I felt that I could go at any hour to consult a +friend in such terrible circumstances, I could not--no, I could not do +so with a--with one--You see what harm you have done by such fine +speeches!"</p> + +<p class="normal">She thought, that by her last words, she had guarded herself securely +from any immediate consequences of this unreserved confession; but she +was mistaken. She merely hurried on what might yet have rested for a +day or two.</p> + +<p class="normal">Sir Edward Digby took her other hand also, and held it gently yet +firmly, as if he was afraid she should escape from him. "Zara," he +said, "dear Zara, I have done harm, by speaking too much, or not +enough. I must remedy it by the only means in my power.--Listen to me +for one moment, for I cannot go till all is said. You must cast off +this reserve--you must act perfectly freely with me; I seek to bind +you by no engagement--I will bear my doubt; I will not construe +anything you do, as an acceptance of my suit; but you must know--nay, +you do know, you do feel, that I am your lover. It was doubt of your +own sensations towards me, that made you hesitate--it was fear that +you should commit yourself, to that which you might, on consideration, +be indisposed to ratify.--You thought that I might plead such +confidence as a tacit promise; and that made you pause. But hear me, +as I pledge myself--upon my honour, as a gentleman--that if you act +fearlessly and freely, in the cause in which we are both engaged--if +you confide in me--trust in me, and never hesitate to put yourself, as +you may think, entirely in my power, I will never look upon anything +as plighting you to me in the slightest degree, till I hear you say +the words, 'Digby, I am yours'--if ever that happy day should come. In +the meantime, however, to set you entirely free from all apprehension +of what others may say, I hold myself bound to you by every promise +that man can make; and this very day I will ask your father's +approbation of my suit. But I am well aware, though circumstances have +shown me in a marvellous short time, that your heart and mind is equal +to your beauty, yet it is not to be expected that such a being can be +won in a few short days, and that I must wait in patience--not without +hope, indeed, but with no presumption. By your conduct, at least, I +shall know, whether I have gained your esteem.--Your love, perhaps, +may follow; and now I leave you, to serve your sister and my friend, +to the best of my power."</p> + +<p class="normal">Thus saying, he raised her hand to his lips, kissed it, and moved +towards the door.</p> + +<p class="normal">There was a sad struggle in Zara's breast; but as he was laying his +hand upon the lock to open it, she said, "Digby--Digby--Edward!"</p> + +<p class="normal">He instantly turned, and ran towards her; for her face had become very +pale. She gave him her hand at once, however, "Kind, generous man!" +she said, "you must not go without hearing my answer. Such a pledge +cannot be all on one part. I am yours, Digby, if you wish it; yet know +me better first before you answer--see all my faults, and all my +failings. Even this must show you how strange a being I am--how unlike +other girls--how unlike perhaps, the woman you would wish to call your +wife!----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Wish it!" answered Digby, casting his arm round her, "from my +heart--from my very soul, Zara. I know enough, I have seen enough, for +I have seen you in circumstances that bring forth the bosom's inmost +feelings; and though you are unlike others--and I have watched many in +their course--that very dissimilarity is to me the surpassing charm. +They are all art, you are all nature--ay, and nature in its sweetest +and most graceful form; and I can boldly say, I never yet saw woman +whom I should desire to call my wife till I saw you. I will not wait, +dear girl; but, pledged to you as you are pledged to me, will not +press this subject further on you, till your sister's fate is sealed. +I must, indeed, speak with your father at once, that there may be no +mistake, no misapprehension; but till all this sad business is +settled, we are brother and sister, Zara; and then a dearer bond."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, yes, yes--brother and sister!" cried Zara, clinging to him at a +name which takes fear from woman's heart, "so will we be, Edward; and +now all my doubts and hesitations will be at an end. I shall never +fear more to seek you when it is needful."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And my suit will be an excuse and a reason to all others, for free +interviews, and solitary rambles, and private conference, and every +dear communion," answered Digby, pleased, and yet almost amazed at the +simplicity with which she lent herself to the magic of a word, when +the heart led her.</p> + +<p class="normal">But Zara saw he was a little extending the brother's privilege; and +with a warm cheek but smiling lip, she answered, "There, leave me now; +I see you are learned in the art of leading on from step to step. Go +on your way, Edward; and, oh! be kind to me, and do not make me feel +this new situation too deeply at first. There, pray take away your +arm; none but a father's or a sister's has been there before; and it +makes my heart beat, as if it were wrong."</p> + +<p class="normal">But Digby kept it where it was for a moment or two longer, and gave a +few instants to happiness, in which she shared, though it agitated +her. "Nay, go," she said, at length, in a tone of entreaty, "and I +will lie down and rest for an hour; for I have sat up all night by the +fire, lest I should be too late.--You must go, indeed. There is your +horse upon the terrace; and we must not be selfish, but remember poor +Edith before we think of our own happiness."</p> + +<p class="normal">There was a sweet and frank confession in her words that pleased Digby +well; and leaving her with a heart at rest on his own account, he +mounted his horse and rode rapidly away towards the quarters of Sir +Henry Leyton.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="div3_07" href="#div3Ref_07">CHAPTER VII.</a></h2> +<br> + +<p class="normal">The reader has doubtless remarked--for every reader who peruses a book +to any purpose must remark everything, inasmuch as the most important +events are so often connected with insignificant circumstances, that +the one cannot be understood without the other--the reader has +doubtless remarked, that Mr. Radford, on leaving Sir Robert Croyland, +informed his unhappy victim, that he had still a good deal of business +to do that night. Now, during the day he had--as may well be judged +from his own statement of all the preparations he had already +made--done a great deal of very important business; but the details of +his past proceedings I shall not enter into, and only beg leave to +precede him by a short time, to the scene of those farther operations +which he had laid out as the close of that evening's labours. It is to +the lone house, as it was called, near Iden Green, that I wish to +conduct my companions, and a solitary and gloomy looking spot it was, +at the time I speak of. All that part of the country is now very +thickly inhabited: the ground bears nearly as large a population as it +can support; and though there are still fields, and woods, and +occasional waste places, yet no such events could now happen as those +which occurred eighty or a hundred years ago, when one might travel +miles, in various parts of Kent, without meeting a living soul. The +pressure of a large population crushes out the bolder and more daring +sorts of crime, and leaves small cunning to effect, in secret, what +cannot be accomplished openly, under the police of innumerable eyes.</p> + +<p class="normal">But it was not so in those days; and the lone house near Iden Green, +whatever it was originally built for, had become the refuge and the +lurking-place of some of the most fierce and lawless men in the +country. It was a large building, with numerous rooms and passages; +and it had stables behind it, but no walled courtyard; for the close +sweeping round of the wood, a part of which still exists in great +beauty, was a convenience on which its architect seemed to have +calculated. Standing some way off the high road, and about half a mile +from Collyer Green, it was so sheltered by trees that, on whichever +side approached, nothing could be seen but the top of the roof and +part of a garret-window, till one was within a short distance of the +edifice. But that garret-window had its advantages; for it commanded a +view over a great part of the country, on three sides, and especially +gave a prospect of the roads in the neighbourhood.</p> + +<p class="normal">The building was not a farm-house, for it had none of the requisites; +it could not well be a public-house, though a sign swung before it; +for the lower windows were boarded up, and the owner or tenant +thereof, if any traveller whom he did not know, stopped at his +door--which was, indeed, a rare occurrence--told him that it was all a +mistake, and cursing the sign, vowed he would have it cut down. +Nevertheless, if the Ramleys, or any of their gang, or, indeed, any +members of a similar fraternity, came thither, the doors opened as if +by magic; and good accommodation for man and horse was sure to be +found within.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was also remarked, that many a gentleman in haste went in there, +and was never seen to issue forth again till he appeared in quite a +different part of the country; and, had the master of the house lived +two or three centuries earlier, he might on that very account have +risked the fagot, on a charge of dealing with the devil. As it was, he +was only suspected of being a coiner; but in regard to that charge, +history has left no evidence, pro or con.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was in this house, however, on the evening of the day subsequent to +the discomfiture of the smugglers, that six men were assembled in a +small room at the back, all of whom had, more or less, taken part in +the struggle near Woodchurch. The two younger Ramleys were there, as +well as one of the principal members of their gang, and two other men, +who had been long engaged in carrying smuggled goods from the coast, +as a regular profession; but who were, in other respects, much more +respectable persons than those by whom they were surrounded. At the +head of the table, however, was the most important personage of the +whole: no other than Richard Radford himself, who had joined his +comrades an hour or two before. The joy and excitement of his escape +from the wood, the temporary triumph which he had obtained over the +vigilance of the soldiery, and the effect produced upon a disposition +naturally bold, reckless, and daring, by the sudden change from +imminent peril to comparative security, had all raised his spirits to +an excessive pitch; and, indeed, the whole party, instead of seeming +depressed by their late disaster, appeared elevated with that wild and +lawless mirth, which owns no tie or restraint, reverences nothing +sacred or respectable. Spirits and water were circulating freely +amongst them; and they were boasting of their feats in the late +skirmish, or commenting upon its events, with many a jest and many a +falsehood.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The Major did very well, too," said Ned Ramley, "for he killed one of +the dragoons, and wounded another, before he went down himself, poor +devil!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Here's to the Major's ghost!" cried young Radford, "and I'll try to +give it satisfaction by avenging him. We'll have vengeance upon them +yet, Ned."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ay, upon all who had any concern in it," answered Jim Ramley, with a +meaning look.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And first upon him who betrayed us," rejoined Richard Radford; "and I +will have it, too, in a way that shall punish him more than if we +flogged him to death with horse-whips, as the Sussex men did to Chater +at the Flying Bull, near Hazlemere."</p> + +<p class="normal">The elder of the two Ramleys gave a look towards the men who were at +the bottom of the table; and Richard Radford, dropping his voice, +whispered something to Ned Ramley, who replied aloud, with an oath, +"I'd have taken my revenge, whatever came of it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, no," answered Radford, "the red-coats were too near. However, +all's not lost that's delayed. I wonder where that young devil, little +Starlight's gone to. I sent him three hours ago to Cranbrook with the +clothes, and told him to come back and tell me if she passed. She'll +not go now, that's certain; for she would be in the dark. Have you any +notion, Ned, how many men we could get together in case of need?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, fifty or sixty!" said one of the men from the bottom of the +table, who seemed inclined to have his share in the conversation, as +soon as it turned upon subjects with which he was familiar; "there are +seven or eight hid away down at Cranbrook, and nine or ten at +Tenterden, with some of the goods, too."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah, that's well!" answered young Radford; "I thought all the goods +had been taken."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, dear no," replied Jim Ramley, "we've got a thousand pounds' worth +in this house, and I dare say double as much is scattered about in +different hides. The light things were got off; but they are the most +valuable."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I'll tell you what, my men," cried young Radford, "as soon as these +soldiers are gone down to the coast again, we'll all gather together, +and do some devilish high thing, just to show them that they are not +quite masters of the country yet. I've a great mind to burn their inn +at Woodchurch, just for harbouring them. If we don't make these +rascally fellows fear us, the trade will be quite put down in the +county."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I swear," exclaimed Ned Ramley, with a horrible blasphemy, "that if I +can catch any one who has peached, even if it be but by one word, I +will split his head like a lobster."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And I, too!" answered his brother; and several others joined in the +oath.</p> + +<p class="normal">The conversation then took another turn; and while it went on +generally around the table, young Radford spoke several times in a low +voice to the two who sat next to him, and the name of Harding was more +than once mentioned. The glass circulated very freely also; and +although none of them became absolutely intoxicated, yet all of them +were more or less affected by the spirits, when the boy, whom we have +called Little Starlight, crept quietly into the room, and approached +Mr. Radford.</p> + +<p class="normal">"She's not come, sir," he said; "I waited a long while, and then went +and asked the old woman of the shop, telling her that I was to be sure +and see that Kate Clare got the bundle; but she said that she +certainly wouldn't come to-night."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That's a good boy," said young Radford. "Go and tell the people to +bring us some candles; and then I'll give you a glass of Hollands for +your pains. It's getting infernally dark," he continued, "and as +nothing more is to be done to-day, we may as well make a night of it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, no," answered one of the men at the bottom of the table, "I've +had enough, and I shall go and turn in."</p> + +<p class="normal">Nobody opposed him; and he and his companion soon after left them. A +smile passed round amongst the rest as soon as the two had shut the +door.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Now those puny fellows are gone," said Jim Ramley, "we can say what +we like. First, let us talk about the goods, Mr. Radford, for I don't +think they are quite safe here. They had better be got up to your +father's as soon as possible, for if the house were to be searched, we +could get out into the wood, but they could not."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Hark!" said young Radford; "there's some one knocking hard at the +house door, I think."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ay, trust all that to Obadiah," said Ned Ramley. "He wont open the +door till he sees who it is."</p> + +<p class="normal">The minute after, however, old Mr. Radford stood amongst them; and he +took especial care not to throw any damp upon their spirits, but +rather to encourage them, and make light of the late events. He sat +down for a few minutes by his son, took a glass of Hollands and water, +and then whispered to his hopeful heir that he wanted to speak with +him for a minute. The young man instantly rose, and led the way out +into the room opposite, which was vacant.</p> + +<p class="normal">"By Heaven, Dick, this is an awkward job!" said his father; "the loss +is enormous, and never to be recovered."</p> + +<p class="normal">"The things are not all lost," answered Richard Radford. "A great +quantity of the goods are about the country. There's a thousand +pounds' worth, they say, in this house."</p> + +<p class="normal">"We must have them got together as fast as possible," said Mr. +Radford, "and brought up to our place. All that is here had better be +sent up about three o'clock in the morning."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I'll bring them up myself," replied his son.</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, no, no!" said Mr. Radford; "you keep quiet where you are, till +to-morrow night."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Pooh, nonsense," answered the young man; "I'm not at all +afraid.--Very well--very well, they shall come up, and I'll follow +to-morrow night, if you think I can be at the Hall in safety."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I don't intend you to be long at the Hall," answered Mr. Radford: +"you must take a trip over the sea, my boy, till we can make sure of a +pardon for you. There! you need not look so blank. You shan't go +alone. Come up at eleven o'clock; and you will find Edith Croyland +waiting to give you her hand, the next day.--Then a post-chaise and +four, and a good tight boat on the beach, and you are landed in France +in no time. Everything is ready--everything is settled; and with her +fortune, you will have enough to live like a prince, till you can come +back here."</p> + +<p class="normal">All this intelligence did not seem to give Richard Radford as much +satisfaction as his father expected. "I would rather have had little +Zara, a devilish deal!" he replied.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Very likely," answered his father, with his countenance changing, and +his brow growing dark; "but that wont do, Dick. We have had enough +nonsense of all sorts; and it must now be brought to an end. It's not +the matter of the fortune alone; but I am determined that both you and +I shall have revenge."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Revenge!" said his son; "I don't see what revenge has to do with +that."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I'll tell you," answered old Mr. Radford, in a low tone, but bitter +in its very lowness. "The man who so cunningly surrounded you and the +rest yesterday morning, who took all my goods, and murdered many of +our friends, is that very Harry Leyton, whom you've heard talk of. He +has come down here on purpose to ruin you and me, if possible, and to +marry Edith Croyland; but he shall never have her, by----," and he +added a fearful oath which I will not repeat.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ay, that alters the case," replied Richard Radford, with a demoniacal +smile; "oh, I'll marry her and make her happy, as the people say. But +I'll tell you what--I'll have my revenge, too, before I go, and upon +one who is worse than the other fellow--I mean the man who betrayed us +all."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Who is that?" demanded the father.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Harding," answered young Radford--"Harding."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Are you sure that it was he?" asked the old gentleman; "I have +suspected him myself, but I have no proof."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But I have," replied his son: "he was seen several nights before, by +little Starlight, talking for a long while with this very Colonel of +Dragoons, upon the cliff. Another man was with him, too--most likely +Mowle; and then, again, yesterday evening, some of these good fellows +who were on the look-out to help me, saw him speaking to a dragoon +officer at Widow Clare's door; so he must be a traitor, or they would +have taken him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then he deserves to be shot," said old Radford, fiercely; "but take +care, Dick: you had better not do it yourself. You'll find him +difficult to get at, and may be caught."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Leave him to me--leave him to me," answered his hopeful son; "I've a +plan in my head that will punish him better than a bullet. But the +bullet he shall have, too; for all the men have sworn that they will +take his blood; but that can be done after I'm gone."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But what's your plan, my boy?" asked old Mr. Radford.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Never mind, never mind!" answered Richard, "I'll find means to +execute it.--I only wish those dragoons were away from Harbourne +Wood."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why, they are," exclaimed his father, laughing. "They were withdrawn +this afternoon, and a party of them, too, marched out of Woodchurch, +as if they were going to Ashford. I dare say, by this time to-morrow +night, they will be all gone to their quarters again."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then it's all safe!" said his son; and after some more conversation +between the two--and various injunctions upon the part of the old man, +as to caution and prudence, upon the part of the young one, they +parted for the time. Young Radford then rejoined his companions, and +remained with them till about one o'clock in the morning, when the +small portion of smuggled goods which had been saved, was sent off, +escorted by two men, towards Radford Hall, where they arrived safely, +and were received by servants well accustomed to such practices. They +consisted of only one horse-load, indeed, so that the journey was +quickly performed; and the two men returned before five. Although +Richard Radford had given his father every assurance that he would +remain quiet, and take every prudent step for his own concealment, his +very first acts showed no disposition to keep his word. Before eight +o'clock in the morning, he, the two Ramleys, and one or two other men, +who had come in during the night, were out amongst the fields and +woods, "reconnoitring," as they called it; but, with a spirit in their +breasts, which rendered them ready for any rash and criminal act that +might suggest itself. Thus occupied, I shall for the present leave +them, and show more of their proceedings at a future period.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="div3_08" href="#div3Ref_08">CHAPTER VIII.</a></h2> +<br> + +<p class="normal">Having now led the history of a great part of the personages in our +drama up to the same point of time, namely, the third morning after +the defeat of the smugglers, we may as well turn to follow out the +course of Sir Edward Digby, on a day that was destined to be eventful +to all the parties concerned. On arriving at Woodchurch, he found a +small body of dragoons, ready mounted, at the door of the little inn, +and two saddled horses, held waiting for their riders. Without +ceremony, he entered, and went up at once to Leyton's room, where he +found him, booted and spurred to set out, with Mowle the officer +standing by him, looking on, while Sir Henry placed some papers in a +writing-desk, and locked them up.</p> + +<p class="normal">The young commander greeted his friend warmly; and then, turning to +the officer of Customs, said, "If you will mount, Mr. Mowle, I will be +down with you directly;" and as soon as Mowle, taking the hint, +departed, he continued, in a quick tone, but with a faint smile upon +his countenance, "I know your errand, Digby, before you tell it. Edith +has been transferred to the good charge and guidance of Mr. Radford; +but that has only prepared me to act more vigorously than ever. My +scruples on Sir Robert Croyland's account are at an end.--Heaven and +earth! Is it possible that a man can be so criminally weak, as to give +his child up--a sweet, gentle girl like that--to the charge of such a +base unprincipled scoundrel!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nay, nay, we must do Sir Robert justice," answered Digby. "It was +done without his consent--indeed, against his will; and, a more +impudent and shameless piece of trickery was never practised. You must +listen for one moment, Leyton, though you seem in haste;" and he +proceeded to detail to him, as succinctly as possible, all that had +occurred between Mr. Radford and Edith's father on the preceding +evening, stating his authority, and whence Zara had received her +information.</p> + +<p class="normal">"That somewhat alters the case, indeed;" answered Leyton; "but it must +not alter my conduct. I am, indeed, in haste, Digby, for I hope, ere +two or three hours are over, to send the young scoundrel, for whose +sake all this is done, a prisoner to the gaol. Mowle has somehow got +information of where he is--from undoubted authority, he says; and we +are away to Iden Green, in consequence. We shall get more information +by the way; and I go with the party for a certain distance, in order +to be at hand, in case of need; but, as it does not do for me, in my +position, to take upon me the capture of half-a-dozen smugglers, the +command of the party will rest with Cornet Joyce. We will deal with +Mr. Radford, the father, afterwards. But, in the meantime, Digby, as +your information certainly gives a different view of the case, from +that which I had before taken, you will greatly oblige me if you can +contrive to ride over to Mr. Croyland's, and see if you can find Mr. +Warde there. Beg him to let me have the directions he promised, by +four o'clock to-day; and if you do not find him, leave word to that +effect, with Mr. Croyland himself."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You seem to place great faith in Warde," said Sir Edward Digby, +shaking his head.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have cause--I have cause, Digby," answered his friend. "But I must +go, lest this youth escape me again."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, God speed you, then," replied Digby. "I will go to Mr. Croyland +at once, and can contrive, I dare say, to get back to Harbourne by +breakfast time. It is not above two or three miles round, and I will +go twenty, at any time, to serve you, Leyton."</p> + +<p class="normal">Sir Edward Digby found good Mr. Zachary Croyland walking about in his +garden, in a state of irritation indescribable. He, also, was aware, +by this time, of what had befallen his niece; and such was his +indignation, that he could scarcely find it in his heart to be even +commonly civil to any one. On Sir Edward Digby delivering his message, +as he found that Mr. Warde was not there, the old gentleman burst +forth, exclaiming, "What have I to do with Warde, sir, or your friend +either, sir?--Your friend's a fool! He might have walked out of that +door with Edith Croyland in his hand; and that's no light prize, let +me tell you; but he chose to be delicate, and gentlemanly, and all +that sort of stupidity, and you see what has come of it. And now, +forsooth, he sends over to ask advice and directions from Warde. Well, +I will tell the man, if I see him--though Heaven only knows whether +that will be the case or not."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Sir Henry Leyton seems to place great confidence in Mr. Warde," +replied Digby, "which I trust may be justified."</p> + +<p class="normal">Mr. Croyland looked at him sharply, for a moment, from under his +cocked hat, and then exclaimed, "Pish! you are a fool, young +man.--There, don't look so fierce. I've given over fighting for these +twenty years; and, besides--you wouldn't come to the duello with +little Zara's uncle, would you? Ha, ha, ha!--Ha, ha, ha!--Ha, ha, ha!" +and he laughed immoderately, but splenetically enough at the same +time. "But I ought to have put my meaning as a question, not as a +proposition," he continued. "Are you such a fool as not to know the +difference between an odd man and a madman, an eccentric man and a +lunatic? If so, you had better get away as fast as possible; for you +and I are likely soon to fall out. I understand what you mean about +Warde, quite well; but I can tell you, that if you think Warde mad, +I'm quite as mad as he is, only that his oddities lie all on the side +of goodness and philanthropy, and mine now and then take a different +course. But get you gone--get you gone; you are better than the rest +of them, I believe. I do hope and trust you'll marry Zara; and then +you'll plague each other's souls, to my heart's content."</p> + +<p class="normal">He held his hand out as he spoke; and Digby shook it, laughing +good-humouredly; but, ere he had taken ten steps towards the +door of the house, through which he had to pass before he could +mount his horse, Mr. Croyland called after him, "Digby, Digby!--Sir +Eddard!--Eldest son! I say,--how could you be such a fool as not to +run that fellow through the stomach when you had him at your feet? You +see what a quantity of mischief has come of it. You are all fools +together, you soldiers, I think;--but it's true, a fool does as well +as anything else to be shot at.--How's your shoulder? Better, I +suppose."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have not thought of it for the last two days," replied Digby.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, that will do," said Mr. Croyland. "Cured by the first +intention. There, you may go: I don't want you. Only, pray tell my +brother, that I think him as great a rascal as old Radford.--He'll +know how much that means.--One's a weak rascal, and the other's a +strong one; that's the only difference between them; and Robert may +fit on which cap he likes best."</p> + +<p class="normal">Digby did not think it necessary to stop to justify Sir Robert +Croyland in his brother's opinion; but, mounting his horse, he rode +back across the country towards Harbourne as fast as he could go. He +reached the house before the usual breakfast hour; but he found that +everybody there had been an early riser as well as himself; the table +was laid ready for breakfast; and Sir Robert Croyland was waiting in +the drawing-room with some impatience in his looks.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I think I am not too late, Sir Robert," said Digby, taking out his +watch, and bowing with a smile to Zara and Mrs. Barbara.</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, oh dear, no, my young friend," replied the baronet; "only in such +a house as this, breakfast is going on all the morning long; and I +thought you would excuse me, if I took mine a little earlier than +usual, as I have got some way to go this morning."</p> + +<p class="normal">This was said as they were entering the breakfast-room; but Sir Edward +Digby replied, promptly, "I must ask you to spare me five minutes +before you go, Sir Robert, as I wish to speak with you for a short +time."</p> + +<p class="normal">His host looked uneasy; for he was in that nervous and agitated state +of mind, in which anything that is not clear and distinct seems +terrible to the imagination, from the consciousness that many +ill-defined calamities are hanging over us. He said, "Certainly, +certainly!" however, in a polite tone; but he swallowed his breakfast +in haste; and the young officer perceived that his host looked at +every mouthful he took, as if likely to procrastinate the meal. Zara's +face, too, was anxious and thoughtful; and consequently he hurried his +own breakfast as fast as possible, knowing that the signal to rise +would be a relief to all parties.</p> + +<p class="normal">"If you will come into my little room, Sir Edward," said the master of +the house, as soon as he saw that his guest was ready, "I shall be +very happy to hear what you have to say."</p> + +<p class="normal">Sir Edward Digby followed in silence; and, to tell the truth, his +heart beat a good deal, though it was not one to yield upon slight +occasions.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will not detain you a moment, Sir Robert," he said, when they had +entered, and the door was shut, "for what I have to say will be easily +answered. I am sensible, that yesterday my attention to your youngest +daughter must have been remarked by you, and, indeed, my manner +altogether must have shown you, and herself also, that I feel +differently towards her and other women. I do not think it would be +right to continue such conduct for one moment longer, without your +approbation of my suit; and I can only further say, that if you grant +me your sanction, I feel that I can love her deeply and well, that I +will try to make her happy to the best of my power, and that my +fortune is amply sufficient to maintain her in the station of life in +which she has always moved, and to make such a settlement upon her as +I trust will be satisfactory to you. I will not detain you to +expatiate upon my feelings; but such is a soldier's straightforward +declaration, and I trust you will countenance and approve of my +addressing her."</p> + +<p class="normal">Sir Robert Croyland shook him warmly by the hand. "'My dear Sir +Edward," he said, "you are your father's own son--frank, candid, and +honourable. He was one of the most gentlemanly and amiable men I ever +knew; and it will give me heartfelt pleasure to see my dear child +united to his son. But--indeed, I must deal with you as candidly----" +He hesitated for a moment or two, and then went on--"Perhaps you think +that circumstances here are more favourable than they really are. +Things may come to your knowledge--things may have to be +related--Zara's fortune will be----"</p> + +<p class="normal">Sir Edward Digby saw that Sir Robert Croyland was greatly embarrassed; +and for an instant--for love is a very irritable sort of state, at +least for the imagination, and he was getting over head and ears in +love, notwithstanding all his good resolutions--for an instant, I say, +he might think that Zara had been engaged before, and that Sir Robert +was about to tell him, that it was not the ever-coveted, first +freshness of the heart he was to possess in her love, even if it were +gained entirely. But a moment's thought, in regard to her father's +situation, together with the baronet's last words, dispelled that +unpleasant vision, and he replied, eagerly, "Oh, my dear sir, that can +make no difference in my estimation. If I can obtain her full and +entire love, no external circumstance whatsoever can at all affect my +views.--I only desire her hand."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No external circumstances whatsoever!" said Sir Robert Croyland, +pausing on the words. "Are you sure of your own firmness, Sir Edward +Digby? If her father were to tell you he is a ruined man--if he had +many circumstances to relate which might make it painful to you to +connect yourself with him--I do not say that it is so; but if it +were?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Rather an awkward position!" thought Sir Edward Digby; but his mind +was fully made up; and he replied, without hesitation, "It would still +make no difference in my eyes, Sir Robert. I trust that none of these +terrible things are the case, for your sake; but I should despise +myself, if, with enough of my own, I made fortune any ingredient in my +considerations, or if I could suffer my love for a being perfectly +amiable in herself, to be affected by the circumstances of her +family."</p> + +<p class="normal">Sir Robert Croyland wrung his hand hard; and Digby felt that it was a +sort of compact between them. "I fear I must go," said Zara's father, +"and therefore I cannot explain more; but it is absolutely necessary +to tell you that all my unmortgaged property is entailed, and will go +to my brother, that Edith's fortune is totally independent, and that +Zara has but a tithe of what her sister has."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Still I say, as I said before," replied Digby, "that nothing of that +kind can make any difference to me; nor will I ever suffer any +consideration, not affecting your daughter personally--and I beg this +may be clearly understood--to make any change in my views. If I can +win her love--her entire, full, hearty love--with your sanction, she +is mine. Have I that sanction. Sir Robert?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Fully, and from my heart," replied Sir Robert Croyland, with the +unwonted tears coursing over his cheeks. "Go to her, my dear +friend--go to her, and make what progress you may, with my best +wishes. This is indeed a great happiness--a great relief!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Thus saying, he followed Sir Edward Digby out of the room; and, +mounting a new horse which had been brought up from his bailiff's, he +rode slowly and thoughtfully away. As he went, a faint hope--nay, it +could hardly be called a hope--a vague, wild fancy of explaining his +whole situation to Sir Edward Digby, and gaining the blessed relief of +confidence and counsel, arose in Sir Robert Croyland's breast.</p> + +<p class="normal">Alas! what an unhappy state has been brought about by the long +accumulation of sin and deceit which has gathered over human society! +that no man can trust another fully! that we dare not confide our +inmost thoughts to any! that there should be a fear--the necessity for +a fear--of showing the unguarded heart to the near and dear! that +every man should--according to the most accursed axiom of a corrupt +world--live with his friend as if he were one day to be his enemy. Oh, +truths and honour, and sincerity! oh, true Christianity! whither are +ye gone? Timidity soon banished such thoughts from the breast of Sir +Robert Croyland, though there was something in the whole demeanour of +his daughter's lover which showed him that, if ever man was to be +trusted, he might trust there; and had he known how deeply Digby was +already acquainted with much that concerned him, he might perhaps have +gone one step farther, and told him all. As it was, he rode on, and +soon gave himself up to bitter thoughts again.</p> + +<p class="normal">In the meantime. Sir Edward Digby returned to Zara and Mrs. Barbara in +the drawing-room, with so well satisfied a look, that it was evident +to both, his conversation with Sir Robert had not referred to any +unpleasant subject, and had not had any unpleasant result. He excited +the elder lady's surprise, however, and produced some slight agitation +in the younger, by taking Zara by the hand, and in good set terms of +almost formal courtesy, requesting a few minutes' private audience. +Her varying colour, and her hesitating look, showed her lover that she +apprehended something more unpleasant than he had to say; and he +whispered, as they went along towards the library, "It is nothing--it +is nothing but to tell you what I have done, and to arrange our plan +of campaign."</p> + +<p class="normal">Zara looked up in his face with a glad smile, as if his words took +some terror from her heart; and as soon as he was in the room, he let +go her hand, and turned the key in such a manner in the door, that the +key-hole could not serve the purpose of a perspective glass, even if +it might that of an ear-trumpet.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Forgive me, dear Zara," he said, "if I take care to secure our +defences; otherwise, as your good aunt is perfectly certain that I am +about to fall on my knees, and make my declaration, she might be +seized with a desire to witness the scene, not at all aware that it +has been performed already. But not to say 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."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I was sure he would," answered Zara; "not that he entered into any of +my aunt's castles in the air, or that he devised 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."</p> + +<p class="normal">"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."</p> + +<p class="normal">"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?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"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 displayed fully all the inmost thoughts which years of +ordinary intercourse might not develop. 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 keeping 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."</p> + +<p class="normal">"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 all were indifferent to me. It +might be natural to me, then; but I do not think I could play the +coquette with the man I loved. At all events, I should act the part +but badly, and should fancy he was always laughing at me in his heart, +and triumphing over poor Zara Croyland, when he knew right well that +he had the strings of the puppet in his hand. However, I will do my +best, if you wish it; and I do believe, from knowing more of this +house than you do, that your plan is a good one. The airs I have given +myself, and the freedom I have taken, have been of service both to +myself and Edith--to her in many ways, and to myself in keeping from +me all serious addresses from men I could not love.--Yours is the +first proposal I have ever had, Digby; so do not let what my uncle has +said, make you believe that you have conquered a queen of hearts, who +has set all others at defiance."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No <i>gentleman</i> was ever refused by a <i>lady</i>," answered Digby, laying +a strong emphasis on each noun-substantive.</p> + +<p class="normal">"So, then, you were quite sure, before you said a word!" cried Zara, +laughing. "Well, that is as frank a confession as any of my own! And +yet you might have been mistaken; for esteeming you as I did, and +circumstanced as I was, I would have trusted you as much, Digby, if +you had been merely a friend."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But you would not have shown me the deeper feelings of your heart +upon other indifferent subjects," replied her lover.</p> + +<p class="normal">Zara blushed, and looked down; then suddenly changed the course of +conversation, saying, "But you have not told me what Leyton thought of +all this, and what plans you have formed. What is to be done? Was he +not deeply grieved and shocked?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Sir Edward Digby told her all that had passed, and then added, "I +intend now to send out my servant, Somers, to reconnoitre. He shall +waylay Leyton on his return, and bring me news of his success. If this +youth be safely lodged in gaol, his pretensions are at an end, at +least for the present; but if he again escape, I think, ere noon +to-morrow, I must interfere myself. I have now a better right to do so +than I have hitherto had; and what I have heard from other quarters +will enable me to speak boldly--even to your father, dear one--without +committing either you or Edith."</p> + +<p class="normal">Zara paused and thought; but all was still dark on every side, and she +could extract no ray of light from the gloom. Digby did not fail (as, +how could a lover neglect?) to try to lead her mind to pleasanter +themes; and he did so in some degree. But we have been too long +eaves-dropping upon private intercourse, and we will do so no more. +The rest of the day passed in that mingled light and shade, which has +a finer interest than the mere broad sunshine, till the return of Sir +Robert Croyland, when the deep sadness that overspread his countenance +clouded the happiness of all the rest.</p> + +<p class="normal">Shortly after, Zara saw her lover's servant ride up the road, at +considerable speed; and as it wanted but half-an-hour to dinner-time, +Digby, who marked his coming also, retired to dress. When he returned +to the drawing-room, there was a deeper and a sterner gloom upon his +brow than the fair girl had ever seen; but her father and aunt were +both present, and no explanation could take place. After dinner, too, +Sir Robert Croyland and his guest returned to the drawing-room +together; and though the cloud was still upon Digby's countenance, and +he was graver than he had ever before appeared, yet she whom he loved +could gain no tidings. To her he was still all tenderness and +attention; but Zara could not play the part she had undertaken; and +often her eyes rested on his face, with a mute, sad questioning, which +made her aunt say to herself, "Well, Zara is in love at last!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Thus passed a couple of hours, during which not above ten words were +uttered by Sir Robert Croyland. At length, lights were brought in, +after they had been for some time necessary; and at the end of about +ten minutes more, the sound of several horses coming at a quick pace +was heard. The feet stopped at the great door, the bell rang, and +voices sounded in the hall. The tones of one, deep, clear, and mellow, +made both Zara and her father start; and in a minute after, the butler +entered--he was an old servant--saying, in a somewhat embarrassed +manner, "Colonel Sir Henry Leyton, sir, wishes to speak with you +immediately on business of importance."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Who--who?" demanded Sir Robert, "Sir Henry Leyton!--Well, well, take +him in somewhere!"</p> + +<p class="normal">He rose from his chair, but staggered perceptibly for a moment; then, +overcoming the emotion that he could not but feel, he steadied himself +by the arm of his chair, and left the room. Zara gazed at Digby, and +he at her he loved; but this night Mrs. Barbara thought fit to sit +where she was; and Digby, approaching Zara's seat, bent over her, +whispering, "Leyton has a terrible tale to tell; but not affecting +Edith. She is safe.--What more he seeks, I do not know."</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="div3_09" href="#div3Ref_09">CHAPTER IX.</a></h2> +<br> + +<p class="normal">After parting with Sir Edward Digby at Woodchurch, Henry Leyton had +ridden on at a quick pace to Park-gate, and thence along the high +road, to Cranbrook. He himself was habited in the undress of his +regiment, though with pistols at his saddle, and a heavy sword by his +side. One of his servants followed him similarly accoutred, and an +orderly accompanied the servant, while by the young officer's side +appeared our good friend Mr. Mowle, heavily armed, with the somewhat +anomalous equipments of a riding officer of Customs in those days. At +a little distance behind this first group, came Cornet Joyce, and his +party of dragoons; and in this order they all passed through +Cranbrook, about nine o'clock; but a quarter of a mile beyond the +little town they halted, and Mowle rode on for a short way alone, to +the edge of Hangley Wood, which was now close before them. There he +dismounted, and went in amongst the trees; but he was not long absent, +for in less than five minutes he was by the colonel's side again. +"All's right, sir," he said, "the boy assures me that they were all +there still, at six this morning, and that their captain, Radford, +does not move till after dark, to-night. So now we shall have the +worst fellows amongst them--the two Ramleys and all."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, then," answered Leyton, "you had better go on at once with the +party, keeping through the wood. I will remain behind, coming on +slowly; and if wanted, you will find me somewhere in the Hanger. +Cornet Joyce has his orders in regard to surrounding the house; but of +course he must act according to circumstances."</p> + +<p class="normal">No more words were needed: the party of dragoons moved on rapidly, +with Mowle at their head; and Leyton, after pausing for a few minutes +on the road, dismounted, and giving his rein to the servant, walked +slowly on into the wood, telling the two men who accompanied him, to +follow. There was, at that time, as there is now, I believe, a broad +road through Hangley Wood, leading into the cross-road from Biddenden +to Goudhurst; but at that period, instead of being tolerably straight +and good, it was very tortuous, rough, and uneven. Along this forest +path, for so it might be called, the dragoons had taken their way, at +a quick trot; and by it their young colonel followed, with his arms +crossed upon his chest, and his head bent down, in deep and anxious +meditation. The distance across the wood at that part is nearly a +mile; and when he had reached the other side, Leyton turned upon his +steps again, passed his servant and the orderly, and walked slowly on +the road back to Cranbrook. The two men went to the extreme verge of +the wood, and looked out towards Iden Green for a minute or two before +they followed their officer, so that in the turnings of the road, they +were out of sight by the time he had gone a quarter of a mile.</p> + +<p class="normal">Leyton's thoughts were busy, as may be well supposed; but at length +they were suddenly interrupted by loud, repeated, and piercing +shrieks, apparently proceeding from a spot at some distance before +him. Darting on, with a single glance behind, and a loud shout to call +the men up, he rushed forward along the road, and the next instant +beheld a sight which made his blood boil with indignation. At first, +he merely perceived a girl, struggling in the hands of some five or +six ruffians, who were maltreating her in the most brutal manner; but +in another instant, as, drawing his sword, he rushed forward, he +recognised--for it can scarcely be said, he saw--poor Kate Clare. With +another loud shout to his men to come up, he darted on without pause +or hesitation; but his approach was observed--the ruffians withdrew +from around their victim; and one of them exclaimed, "Run, run! the +dragoons are coming!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"D--me! give her a shot before you go," cried another, "or she'll +peach."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let her," cried young Radford--"but here goes;" and, turning as he +hurried away, he deliberately fired a pistol at the unhappy girl, who +was starting up wildly from the ground. She instantly reeled and fell, +some seconds before Leyton could reach her; for he was still at the +distance of a hundred yards.</p> + +<p class="normal">All this had taken place in an inconceivably short space of time; but +the next minute, the panic with which the villains had been seized +subsided a little. One turned to look back--another turned--they +beheld but one man on the road; and all the party were pausing, when +Leyton reached poor Kate Clare, and raised her in his arms. It might +have fared ill with him had he been alone; but just at that moment the +orderly appeared at the turn, coming up at the gallop, with the young +officer's servant behind him; and not doubting that a large party was +following, Radford and his companions fled as fast as they could.</p> + +<p class="normal">"On after them, like lightning!" cried Leyton, as the men came up. +"Leave the horse, leave the horse, and away! Watch them wherever they +go, especially the man in the green coat! Take him if you can--shoot +him dead if he resist. Ah, my poor girl!" he cried, with the tears +rising in his eyes, "this is sad, indeed!--Where has he wounded you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"There," said Kate, faintly, taking away her hand, which was pressed +upon her right side; "but that was his kindest act.--Thank God, I am +dying!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nay, nay," answered Leyton, "I trust not!" But the blood poured +rapidly out, staining all her dress, which was torn and in wild +disorder, and so rapidly did it flow, that Leyton clearly saw her +words would probably prove too true. "Who was that villain?" he cried; +"I will punish him if there be justice on earth!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Don't you know him?" said Kate, her voice growing more and more low. +"I thought you were seeking him--Richard Radford."</p> + +<p class="normal">"The atrocious scoundrel!" said Leyton; and drawing his handkerchief +from his breast, he tied it tightly over her side, trying, though he +saw it was nearly in vain, to stanch the blood, while at the same time +he supported her against his knee with one arm thrown round her waist. +Poor Kate closed her eyes with a faint shudder; and for a moment +Leyton thought she was dead. She appeared to be reviving again, +however, when a loud voice, not far distant, exclaimed, "Ha,--halloo! +What the devil is this?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Leyton looked suddenly up--for his eyes had been bent upon the poor +girl's face for several minutes--and then beheld, hurrying up the road +with a look of fury in his countenance, Kate's promised husband, +Harding. With a violent oath the man rushed on, exclaiming, "Kate, +what is all this?--Villain, have you misused the girl?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Hush, hush!" cried Leyton, with a stern gesture of his hand; "she is +dying!--I would have saved her if I could; but alas, I came too late!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The whole expression of Harding's countenance changed in an instant. +Grief and terror succeeded to rage; and, catching her franticly in his +arms, he exclaimed--"Kate, Kate, speak to me!--Tell me, who has done +this?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I can tell you," answered Leyton--"Richard Radford."</p> + +<p class="normal">While he was speaking, Kate Clare opened her eyes again, and gazed on +Harding's face, moving her right hand faintly round and placing it +upon his.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Give me that handkerchief from your neck," said Leyton; "if we can +stop the blood, we may save her, yet. I have seen very bad wounds +recovered from----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, no!" said Kate Clare; "thank God, I am dying--I would rather +die!--Harding, I am not in fault--they caught me in the wood--oh, they +treated me horribly. Mr. Radford said it was revenge--God forgive him, +God forgive him! But I would rather die thus in your arms--do not try +to stop it--it is all in vain."</p> + +<p class="normal">Leyton and Harding still persisted, however, and bound another +handkerchief tight over the wound, in some degree diminishing the +stream of blood, but yet, not stopping it entirely.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let us carry her to some house," cried Leyton, "and then send for +assistance. See! her lips are not so pale."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will carry her," cried Harding, raising her in his powerful arms.</p> + +<p class="normal">"To my aunt's, then--to my aunt's, Harding," murmured Kate; "I would +sooner die there than in any other place." And on Harding sped, +without reply, while Leyton, sheathing his sword, which he had cast +down, followed him, inquiring, "Is it far?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"But a step, sir," answered the smuggler. "Pray, come with us.--This +must be avenged."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It shall," replied Leyton, sternly; "but I must stay here for a +minute or two, till you can send somebody to me, to take my place, and +let my men know where I am when they return."</p> + +<p class="normal">Harding nodded his head, and then turned his eyes upon the face of the +poor girl whom he bore in his arms, hurrying on without a moment's +pause, till he was lost to the young officer's sight.</p> + +<p class="normal">It is needless to describe the feelings of a high-minded and noble man +like Leyton, when left alone to meditate over the horrible outrage +which had been committed under his very eyes. He gave way to no burst +of indignation, indeed, but with a frowning brow walked back upon the +road, caught his horse without difficulty, and mounting, remained +fixed near the spot where poor Kate had received her death-wound, like +a soldier upon guard. In less than ten minutes, a lad ran up, saying, +"Mr. Harding sent me, sir."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, then, walk up and down here, my good boy," replied Leyton, +"till some one comes to inquire for me. If it should be a servant, or +a single soldier, send him down to the place which you came from, and +wait where you are till a larger party of dragoons come up, when you +must tell them the same--to go down to me there. If the party come +first, wait for the servant and the soldier."</p> + +<p class="normal">Having given these directions, he was turning away, but paused again +to inquire his way to the place where Harding was; and then pointing +to a bundle that lay upon the road, he said--"You had better bring +that with you."</p> + +<p class="normal">Following the boy's direction, as soon as he issued out of the wood, +Sir Henry Leyton turned through a little field to the left; and seeing +a small farm-house at some distance before him, he leaped his horse +over two fences to abridge the way. Then riding into the farm-yard, he +sprang to the ground, looking round for some one to take his charger. +Several men of different ages were running about with eagerness and +haste in their faces. Horses were being led forth from the stable; +guns were in the hands of several; and one of them--a fine, tall, +powerful young fellow--exclaimed, as soon as he saw Leyton--"We will +catch them, sir--we will catch them! and by----they shall be hanged as +high as Haman for hurting the poor dear girl. Here, take his honour's +horse, Bill."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is she still living?" asked Leyton.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh dear, yes, sir!" cried the young man; "she seemed somewhat better +for what mother gave her."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, then," rejoined the young officer, "if you are going to search +for these scoundrels, gallop up to the wood as fast as you can; you +will find my servant and a trooper watching. They will give you +information of which way the villains are gone. I will join you in a +minute or two with a stronger force."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, sir, we shall do--we shall do," cried William Harris; "we will +raise the whole county as we go, and will hunt them down like foxes. +Do they think that our sisters and our wives are to be ill-used and +murdered by such scum as they are?" and at the same time he sprang +upon his horse's back. Leyton turned towards the house, but met the +old farmer himself coming out with a great cavalry sword in his hand, +and the butt end of a pistol sticking out of each pocket. "Quick, +quick! to your horses!" he cried, "they shall rue the day--they shall +rue the day!--Ah, sir, go in," he continued, seeing Leyton; "she is +telling my wife and Harding all about it; but I can't stop to hear.--I +will have that young Radford's blood, if I have a soul to be saved!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Better take him alive, and hand him over to justice," said Leyton, +going into the house.</p> + +<p class="normal">"D----n him, I'll kill him like a dog!" cried the farmer; and mounting +somewhat less nimbly than his son, he put himself at the head of the +whole party assembled, and rode fast away towards Hangley Wood.</p> + +<p class="normal">In the meantime, Leyton entered the kitchen of the farm; but it was +quite vacant. Voices, however, were heard speaking above, and he +ventured to go up and enter the room. Three or four women were +assembled there round good Mrs. Harris's own bed, on which poor Kate +Clare was stretched, with Harding on his knees beside her, and her +hand in his, the hot tears of man's bitterest agony, coursing each +other down his bronzed and weather-beaten cheek.</p> + +<p class="normal">"There, there!" said Mrs. Harris; "don't take on so, Harding--you only +keep down her spirits. She might do very well, if she would but take +heart. You see she is better for the cordial stuff I gave her."</p> + +<p class="normal">Harding made no reply; but Kate Clare faintly shook her head; and +Leyton, after having gazed on the sad scene for a moment, with bitter +grief and indignation in his heart, drew back, thinking that his +presence would only be a restraint to Kate's family and friends. He +made a sign, however, to one of the women before he went, who followed +him out of the room.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I merely wish to tell you," he said, in a low voice, when the woman +joined him at the top of the stairs, "that I am going back to the +wood, to aid in the pursuit of these villains; for I can be of no use +here, and may be there. If any of my people come, tell them where to +find me; bid them follow me instantly, and stop every man on foot they +see quitting the wood, till he gives an account of himself.--But had +you not better send for a surgeon?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"One is sent for, sir," replied the woman; "but I think she is not so +bad as she was.--I'll take care and tell your people. I do hope they +will catch them, for this is <i>too</i> bad."</p> + +<p class="normal">Without more words Leyton went down, remounted his horse, and galloped +back towards the edge of the wood. The news of what had happened, +however, seemed to have spread over the country with the speed of +lightning; for he saw four or five of the peasantry on horseback, +already riding in the same direction across the fields. Two stout +farmers joined him as he went, and both were already full of the story +of poor Kate Clare. Rage and indignation were universal amongst the +people; but as usual on such occasions, one proposed one plan, and +another the other, so that by want of combination in their operations, +all their resolution and eagerness were likely to be fruitlessly +employed.</p> + +<p class="normal">Leyton knew that it was of little use to argue on such points with +undisciplined men; and his only trust was in the speedy arrival of the +soldiers from Iden Green. When he reached the edge of the wood, +however, with his two companions, they came upon farmer Harris's +party, now swelled to twelve or thirteen men; and at the same moment +his own servant rode round, exclaiming, as soon as he saw his master, +"They are still in the wood, sir, if they have not come out this way. +They dispersed so that we could not follow them on horseback, and we +galloped out by different ways to watch."</p> + +<p class="normal">"They haven't come here," cried Farmer Harris, "or we should have seen +them. So now we have them safe enough."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ride off towards Iden Green," said Leyton to the servant, "and direct +Cornet Joyce to bring down his men at the gallop to the edge of the +copse. Let him dismount twelve on the north side of the wood, and, +with all the farm-servants and country people he can collect, sweep +it down, while the rest of the mounted men advance, on a line, on +either side.--Stay, I will write;" and tearing a leaf out of his +pocket-book, he put down his orders in pencil.</p> + +<p class="normal">The man had just galloped away, when the young farmer, William Harris, +shouted, "There they go--there they go! After them!--after them! Tally +ho!" and instantly set spurs to his horse. All the rest but Leyton +followed at full speed; but he paused, and, directing his eyes along +the edge of the wood, clearly saw, at the distance of somewhat more +than half a mile, three men, who seemed to have issued forth from +amongst the trees, running across the fields as fast as they could go. +It would seem that they had not been aware of the numbers collected to +intercept them, till they had advanced too far to retreat; but +they had got a good start; the country was difficult for any but +well-trained horses; and darting on, they took their way towards +Goudhurst, passing within a hundred yards of the spot where the victim +of their horrid barbarity lay upon the bed of death.</p> + +<p class="normal">Taking the narrow paths, leaping the stiles and gates, they at first +seemed to gain upon the mass of peasantry who followed them, though +their pursuers were on horseback and they on foot. But, well knowing +the country, the farmers spread out along the small bridle-roads; and, +while the better mounted horsemen followed direct across the fields, +the others prepared to cut off the ruffians on the right and left. +Gradually a semi-circle, enclosing them within its horns, was thus +formed; and all chance of escape by flight was thus cut off.</p> + +<p class="normal">In this dilemma, the three miscreants made straight towards a +farm-house at which they occasionally received hospitality in their +lawless expeditions, and which bears the name of "Smuggler Farm" to +this day; but they knew not that all hearts had been raised against +them by their late atrocities, and that the very tenant of the farm +himself was now one of the foremost in pursuit. Rushing in, then, with +no farther ceremony than casting the door open, they locked and barred +it, just as some of the peasantry were closing in upon them; and then, +hurrying to the kitchen, where the farmer's wife, his sister, and a +servant was collected, Ned Ramley, who was the first, exclaimed, "Have +you no hide, good dame?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Hide!" replied the stout farmer's wife, eyeing him askance--"not for +such villains as you! Give me the spit, Madge; I've a great mind to +run him through." Ned Ramley drew a pistol from his pocket; but at +that moment the window was thrown up, the back door of the house was +cast open, and half-a-dozen of the stout yeomanry rushed in. The +smugglers saw that resistance would be vain; but still they resisted; +and though, in the agitation of the moment, Ned Ramley's pistol was +discharged innocuously, he did not fail to aim it at the head of young +William Harris, who was springing towards him. The stout farmer, +however, instantly levelled him with the ground by a thundering blow +upon the head; and the other two men, after a desperate struggle, were +likewise taken and tied.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Lucky for you it was me, and not my father, Master Ramley," said +William Harris. "He'd have blown your brains out; but you're only +saved to be hanged, anyhow.--Ay, here he comes!--Stop, stop, old +gentleman! he's a prisoner; don't you touch him.--Let the law have the +job, as the gentleman said."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, you accursed villain--oh, you hellish scoundrel," cried old +Harris, kept back with difficulty by his son and the rest. "You were +one of the foremost of them. But where is the greatest villain of them +all?--where's that limb of the devil, young Radford?--I will have him! +Let me go, Will--I will have him, I say!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Ned Ramley laughed aloud: "You wont, though," he answered, bitterly; +"he's been gone this half hour, and will be at the sea, and over the +sea, before you can catch him.--You may do with me what you like, but +he's safe enough."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Some one ride off and tell the officer what he says!" cried the +farmer. But when the intelligence was conveyed to Sir Henry Leyton, he +was already aware that some of the men must have made their escape +unobserved; for his servant had met Cornet Joyce and the party of +dragoons by the way, and with the aid of a number of farm servants +from Iden Green and its neighbourhood, the wood had been searched with +such strictness, that the pheasants, which were at that time numerous +there, had flown out in clouds, as if a battue had been going on. He +mistrusted Ned Ramley's information, however; knowing that the +hardened villain would find a sort of pride in misleading the pursuers +of young Radford, even though taken himself. Riding quickly across to +the farm, then, together with Mowle and the Cornet, he interrogated +the men separately, but found they were all in the same story, from +which they varied not in the least--that Richard Radford had crept out +by the hedges near the wood, and had gone first to a place where a +horse was in waiting for him, and thence would make straight to the +sea-side, where a boat was already prepared. Instant measures to +prevent him from executing this plan now became necessary; and Leyton +directed the Cornet to hasten away as fast as possible in pursuit, +sending information from Woodchurch to every point of the coast where +the offender was likely to pass, spreading out his men so as to cover +all the roads to the sea, and only leaving at the farm a sufficient +guard to secure the prisoners.</p> + +<p class="normal">On hearing the latter part of this order, however, Farmer Harris +exclaimed, "No, no, sir; no need of that. We've taken them, and we'll +keep them safe enough. I'll see these fellows into prison myself--ay, +and hanged too, please God! and we'll guard them sure, don't you be +afraid."</p> + +<p class="normal">Leyton looked to Mowle, saying, "I must abide by your decision, Mr. +Mowle." But the officer answered: "Oh, you may trust them, sir, quite +safely, after all I hear has happened. But I think, Mr. Harris, you +had better have just a few men to help you. You've got no place to +keep them here; and they must be taken before a magistrate first, +before they can be committed."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, we'll keep them safe enough," replied the farmer. "We'll put them +in Goudhurst church, till we can send them off, and, in the meantime, +I'll have them up before Squire Broughton. My son's a constable, so +they are in proper hands."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Very well," answered Leyton; "in this case I have no right to +interfere; but, of course, you are responsible for their safe +custody."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I say, Mowle," cried Ned Ramley, in his usual daring manner, "bid +them give me something to drink, for I'm devilish thirsty; and I'll +give you some information, if you will."</p> + +<p class="normal">Mowle obtained some beer for him, and then demanded, "Well, what is +it, Ned?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why, only this," said Ned Ramley, after they had held the beer to his +lips, and he had taken a deep draught--"you will have your brains +blown out, before ten days are over."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am not afraid," replied Mowle, laughing.</p> + +<p class="normal">"That's right," answered Ned Ramley. "But it will happen; for fifty of +us have sworn it. We have had our revenge of your spy, Harding; and we +have only you to settle with now."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Harding!" cried Mowle. "He's no spy of mine.--It was not he that +peached, you young scoundrel; it was one of those whom you trusted +more than him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah, well," answered Ned Ramley, indifferently; "then he'll have a +sore heart to-night, that he didn't work for. But you'll have your +turn yet, Mr. Mowle, so look that you make good use of your brains, +for they wont be long in your skull."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are a hardened villain," said Sir Henry Leyton. "You had better +march them off as fast as you can, my good friends; take them before a +magistrate; and above all things, get them to prison ere nightfall, or +we may have another rescue."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No fear, no fear!" answered Farmer Harris. "To rescue a smuggler is +one thing--I never liked to see them taken myself--but bloodthirsty +villains like these, that would ill use a poor, dear, good girl, and +murder her in cold blood,--why, there is not a man in the county would +not help to hang them. But I wish, sir, you would go yourself, and see +and stop that other great villain. If he isn't hanged too, I don't +think I shall ever rest in my bed again."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will do my best, depend upon it," replied Leyton; "but I must +first, Mr. Harris, go to your house, and see the state of that poor +girl. I have known her since she was a child, and feel for her almost +as if she were a sister."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thank you, sir--thank you!" cried old Harris, shaking him by the +hand. "There, boys," he continued, dashing away the tears from his +eyes--"make a guard, and take these blackguards off in the middle of +you. We'll have them up to Squire Broughton's at once; and then I must +go back, too."</p> + +<p class="normal">On his way to the farm, Leyton desired Mowle to return to Woodchurch, +and to wait for him there, taking every step that he might think +necessary, with the aid of Captain Irby. "I will not be long," he +added.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Pray don't, sir," rejoined Mowle; "for we have other business to do +to-night;" and, sinking his voice to a whisper, he added, "I've got +the information I wanted, sir. A part of the goods are certainly at +Radford Hall, and if we can seize them there, that, with the +deposition of the men at Woodchurch, will bring him in for the whole +offence."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I shall, very likely, overtake you by the way," replied Leyton. "But, +at all events, I shall be there before four."</p> + +<p class="normal">Most such calculations are vain, however. Leyton turned aside to the +Harris's farm, where he found poor Kate Clare sinking rapidly. The +curate of the parish had been sent for, and, by his advice, Mr. +Broughton, the magistrate, who had entered the house but two or three +minutes before Leyton himself. Though her voice now scarcely rose +above a whisper, she made her dying declaration with clearness and +accuracy. It is not necessary here to give any of the details; but, as +she concluded, she turned her faint and swimming eyes towards Leyton, +saying, "That gentleman, who has always been such a good friend to me +and mine, can tell you more, sir, for he came up to my help, just as +they shot me."</p> + +<p class="normal">The magistrate raised his eyes, and inquired, in a low tone, "Who is +he?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Sir Henry Leyton," replied the poor girl, loud enough for that +officer to hear; and thinking that she asked for him, he approached +nearer, and stood by Harding's side. Kate raised her hand a little +from the bedclothes, as if she would have given it to him; and he took +it kindly in his, speaking some words of comfort.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thank you, sir--thank you, for all your kindness," said Kate. "I am +glad you have come, that I may wish you good-bye, and ask you to be +kind to poor Harding, too. It will soon be over now; and you had +better all leave me. Not you, Harding--not you.--You must close my +eyes, as my poor mother is not here."</p> + +<p class="normal">A groan burst from the stout seaman's breast; and giving way to all +his feelings, he sobbed like a child. According to her desire, Leyton +and Mr. Broughton retired from the room; and the young officer +informed the magistrate, that the prisoners who had been taken were +waiting for examination at his house.</p> + +<p class="normal">"We shall want your evidence, Sir Henry," said the magistrate. "It is +absolutely necessary, if, as I understand, you were eye-witness to the +murder."</p> + +<p class="normal">Leyton saw the propriety of the magistrate's demand, and he yielded +immediately. But the investigation was prolonged by several +circumstances; and, what between the time that it took up, and that +which had been previously spent in the pursuit of the murderers, it +was past three o'clock before Leyton mounted his horse at Mr. +Broughton's door. He paused for an instant at the gate of the Harris's +farm-yard, where a girl was standing with tears in her eyes; but +before he could ask any question, she replied to that which was rising +to his lips. "She is gone, sir," said the girl--"she is gone. She did +not last half-an-hour after you were here."</p> + +<p class="normal">With a sad heart, Leyton rode on, passing at a quick pace through +Harbourne Wood, and not trusting himself to stop at Mrs. Clare's +cottage. The windows, however, were closed; and the young officer +concluded from that circumstance, that the tidings of her daughter's +fate must by this time have reached the childless widow. Not far +beyond her gate, he was met by Sir Edward Digby's servant; but eager +to arrive at Woodchurch, Leyton did not stop to speak with him, and +Somers, turning his horse with the orderly and his old companion, +Leyton's servant, gleaned what information he could from them as he +went.</p> + +<p class="normal">Notwithstanding all the speed he could use, however, it was half-past +four before Leyton reached Woodchurch; and, on inquiring for Mr. +Warde, he found that gentleman had called, but gone away again, saying +he would return in an hour.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="div3_10" href="#div3Ref_10">CHAPTER X.</a></h2> +<br> + +<p class="normal">Such as we have described in the last chapter, were the fatal events +to which Sir Edward Digby had alluded in the few words he had spoken +to Zara Croyland; and it may be needless to explain to the reader, +that he had learned the tale from his servant just before he came down +to dinner.</p> + +<p class="normal">Sir Robert Croyland, as we have shown, after some agitation and +hesitation, quitted the drawing-room to meet,--the first time for many +years--the son of a man, whom, at the instigation of others, he had +cruelly persecuted. He paused as soon as he got into the passage, +however, to summon courage, and to make up his mind as to the +demeanour which he should assume--always a vain and fruitless task; +for seldom, if ever, do circumstances allow any man to maintain the +aspect which he has predetermined to affect. Sir Robert Croyland +resolved to be cold, stately, and repulsive--to treat Sir Henry Leyton +as a perfect stranger, and if he alluded to their former intimacy, to +cut the conversation short by telling him that, as all the feelings of +those days were at an end, he did not wish to revive their memory in +any shape. He did not calculate, indeed, upon the peculiar state of +Leyton's mind, at the moment--nay, nor even upon the effect of his +former favourite's personal appearance upon himself; and when he +entered the library and saw the tall, powerful, dignified-looking man, +the pale, thoughtful, stern countenance, and the haughty air, he felt +all his predeterminations vain.</p> + +<p class="normal">Leyton, on his part, had done the same as Sir Robert Croyland, and in +setting out from Woodchurch had made up his mind to see in the man he +went to visit, nothing but Edith's father--to treat him kindly, +gently, and with compassion for his weakness, rather than anger at his +faults; but as he rode along, and conversed with one who accompanied +him thither, the memory of much that Sir Robert Croyland had done in +former days, came painfully back upon him, and combining with his +treatment of Edith, raised up bitter and indignant feelings that he +could have wished to quell. The scenes which he had passed through +that day, too, had given a tone of sternness to his mind which was not +usual; and the few minutes he had waited in the library, when every +moment seemed of value, added impatience to his other sensations.</p> + +<p class="normal">The baronet entered as firmly as he could, bowing his head and +motioning coldly to a chair. But Leyton did not sit down, gazing for +an instant on the countenance of Sir Robert, struck and astonished by +the change that he beheld. That steadfast gaze was painful to its +object, and sank his spirit still farther; but Leyton, the moment +after, began to speak; and the well-known tones of his clear, mellow +voice, awakened the recollection of the days when they were once +pleasant to hear.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Sir Robert Croyland," he said, "I have come to you on business of +importance, in which it is necessary for you to act immediately in +your magisterial capacity."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have no clerk with me, sir," answered the baronet, in a hesitating +manner; "at this late hour, it is not usual, except under +circumstances----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"The circumstances admit of no delay, Sir Robert Croyland," replied +Leyton. "As the nearest magistrate, I have applied to you in the first +instance; and have done so for many other reasons besides your being +the nearest magistrate."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, sir, what is your application?" demanded Edith's father. "I +wish, indeed, you had applied to somebody else, at this time of night; +but I will do my duty--oh, yes, I will do my duty."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is all that is required, sir," answered the young officer. "My +application is for a warrant to search the house of one Richard +Radford; and I have to tender you, on oath, information that +customable goods, which have been introduced without the payment +of duty, are concealed on his premises.--One moment more, if you +please--I have also to apply to you, upon similar evidence, for a +warrant to search his house for his son, Richard Radford, charged with +murder; and, in the end, if you would allow me to advise you, you +would instantly mount your horse, and superintend the search +yourself."</p> + +<p class="normal">There was a marked and peculiar emphasis on the last few words, which +Sir Robert Croyland did not understand. The manner was not agreeable +to him; but it was scarcely perhaps to be expected that it should be; +for there had been nothing in his own, to invite that kindly candour, +which opens heart to heart. All that had of late years passed between +him and Sir Henry Leyton, had been of a repulsive kind. For one +youthful error, he had not only repelled and shut his house against +the son, but he had persecuted, ruined, and destroyed the father, who +had no part in that fault. Every reason too, which he had given, every +motive he had assigned, for his anger at Henry Leyton's pretensions to +Edith's hand, he had set at nought, or forgotten in the case of him +whom he had chosen for her husband. Even now, although his manner was +wavering and timid, it was cold and harsh; and it was a hard thing for +Henry Leyton to assume the tone of kindness towards Sir Robert +Croyland, or to soften his demeanour towards him, with all the busy +memories of the past and the feelings of the present thronging upon +him, on his first return to the house where he had spent many happy +days in youth. I am painting a man, and nothing more; and he could +not, and did not overcome the sensations of human nature.</p> + +<p class="normal">His words did not please Sir Robert Croyland, but they somewhat +alarmed him. Everything that was vague in his present situation, +did produce fear; but after a moment's thought, he replied, +coldly, "Oh dear no, sir, I do not see that it is at all necessary I +should go myself. I really think the application altogether +extraordinary, seeing that it comes from, I am led to imagine, the +lieutenant-colonel, commanding the ---- regiment of dragoons, +quartered in this district, who has no primary power, or authority, or +even duty in such affairs; but can only act as required by the +officers of Customs, to whom he is so far subordinate.--But still I am +ready to receive the informations tendered, and then shall decide in +regard to my own conduct, as the case may require."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are wrong in all respects, but one, Sir Robert Croyland," +answered Leyton, at once; "I am empowered to act very differently from +any officer who has been in command here before me. If my powers are +beyond that which the law authorizes, those who gave them are +responsible to their country; but, for an extraordinary case, +extraordinary means are requisite; and as I require of you nothing but +what the law requires, I shall not pause to argue, whether I am +exactly the proper person to make the application. It might easily be +made by another, who is without: but I have reasons for what I am +doing--and reasons, believe me," he added, after a moment's pause and +reflection, "not unfriendly to Sir Robert Croyland."</p> + +<p class="normal">Again his words and manner were peculiar. Sir Robert Croyland began to +feel some apprehension lest he might push his coldness too far. But he +did not see how he could change his tone; and he was proceeding, with +the same distant reserve, to repeat that he was ready to receive the +information in a formal manner, when Leyton suddenly interrupted him, +after a severe struggle with himself.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Sir Robert Croyland," he said, "let us speak as friends. Let griefs +and complaints on both sides be forgotten for the moment; let us bury, +for the time, seven years in oblivion. Look upon me, if it be but for +a few minutes, as the Henry Leyton you knew before anything arose to +produce one ill feeling between us; for, believe me, I come to you +with kindly sentiments. Your own fate hangs in the balance at this +hour. I would decide it favourably for you, if you would let me. +But--you must shake off doubt and timidity; you must act boldly and +decidedly, and all will be well."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not understand what you mean, sir," cried Sir Robert Croyland, +astonished at his change of tone, and without time to collect his +ideas, and calculate the probabilities. "My fate!--How can you affect +my fate?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"More than you are aware," answered Leyton; "even now I affect your +fate, by giving you the choice of at once proceeding in the line of +your duty, against a bad man who has overruled your better nature, too +long,--by allowing you to conduct the search, which must be instituted +either by yourself or others.--In one word, Sir Robert Croyland, I +know all; and would serve you, if you would let me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You know all!" exclaimed Edith's father, in a dull, gloomy tone--"you +know all! she has told you, then! That explains it--that shows how she +retracted her consent--how she was willing to-day to sacrifice her +father. You have seen her--you have taught her her part!--Yes, she has +betrayed her parent's confidence."</p> + +<p class="normal">Leyton could bear no more. Himself, he could have heard slandered +calmly; but he could not hear such words of her he loved: "It is +false!" he said; "she did not betray your confidence! She told me no +more than was needful to induce me to release her from bonds she was +too faithful and true to break. From her I have heard nothing +more--but from others I have heard all; and now, Sir Robert Croyland, +you have chosen your part, I have but to call in those who must lay +the required information. Our duty must be done, whatever be the +consequences; and as you reject the only means of saving yourself from +much grief--though, I trust, not the danger you apprehend--we must act +without you;" and he rose and walked towards the door.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Stay, Leyton--stay!" cried Sir Robert Croyland, catching him eagerly +by the arm--"yet a moment--yet a moment. You say you know all. Do you +know all?--all?--everything?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"All!--everything!" answered Leyton, firmly; "every word that was +spoken--every deed that was done--more than you know yourself."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then, at least, you know I am innocent," said the old man.</p> + +<p class="normal">A calm but grave serenity took the place, on Sir Henry Leyton's +countenance, of the impetuous look with which he had last spoken. +"Innocent," he said, "of intentional murder; but not innocent of rash +and unnecessary anger; and, oh! Sir Robert Croyland--if I must say +it--most culpable in the consequences which you have suffered to flow +from one hasty act. Mark me; and see the result!--Your own dear child, +against your will, is in the hands of a man whom you hate and abhor. +You are anxious to make her the wife of a being you condemn and +despise! The child of the man that your own hand slew, is now lying a +corpse, murdered by him to whom you would give your daughter! Your own +life is----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"What, Kate!--Kate Clare!" exclaimed Sir Robert Croyland, with a +sudden change coming over his countenance--"murdered by Richard +Radford!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"By his own hand, after the most brutal usage," replied Leyton.</p> + +<p class="normal">Sir Robert Croyland sprang to the bell, and rang it violently, then +threw open the door and called aloud--"My horse!--my horse!--saddle my +horse!--If it cost me land and living, life and honour, she shall be +avenged!" he added, turning to Leyton, and raising his head erect, the +first time for many years. "It is over--the folly, and the weakness, +and crime, are at an end. I have been bowed and broken; but there is a +spark of my former nature yet left. I vowed to God in Heaven, that I +would ever protect and be a father to that child, as an atonement--as +some--some compensation, however small; and I will keep my vow."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh! Sir Robert," cried Leyton, taking his hand and pressing it in +his, "be ever thus, and how men will love and venerate you!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The barrier was broken down--the chain which had so long bound him was +cast away; and Sir Robert returned Leyton's grasp with equal warmth. +"Harry," he said, "I have done you wrong; but I will do so no more. I +was driven--I was goaded along the road to all evil, like a beast +driven to the slaughter. But you have done wrong, too, young +man--yours was the first offence."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It was," answered Leyton--"I own it--I did do wrong; and I will make +no excuse, though youth, and love as true as ever man felt, might +afford some. But let me assure you, that I have been willing to make +reparation--I have been willing to sacrifice all the brightest hope of +years to save you, even now. I assured Edith that I would, when she +told me the little she could venture to tell; but it was her misery +that withheld me--it was the life-long wretchedness, to which she was +doomed if I yielded, that made me resist. Nothing else on earth should +have stopped me; but now, Sir Robert, the prospect is more clear for +you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nay, do not speak of that," replied Sir Robert Croyland; "I will +think of it no more--I have now chosen my path; and I will pursue it, +without looking at the consequences to myself. Let them come when they +must come; for once in life, I will do what is just and right."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And by so doing, my dear sir, you will save yourself," answered +Leyton. "Moved by revenge--with no doubt whatsoever of his +motive--after a concealment of six years, this base man's accusation +will be utterly valueless. Your bare statement of the real +circumstances will be enough to dissipate every cloud. I shall require +that all his papers be seized; and I have many just reasons for +wishing that they should be in your hands."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I understand you, Harry, and I thank you," said Sir Robert Croyland; +"but with my present feelings I would not----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You do not understand me fully, Sir Robert," replied Leyton. "I wish +you only to act as you will find just, right, and honourable, and wait +for the result. It will be, or I am much mistaken, more favourable to +you, personally, than you imagine. Now, as you have decided on the +true and upright course, let us lose no time in carrying it into +execution. I will call in the men who have to lay the information; and +when you have received it, I will place before you depositions which +will justify the most vigorous measures against both father and son. +In regard to the latter, I must act under your authority in my +military capacity, as I have no civil power there; but in regard to +the former, I am already called upon, by the officers of the revenue, +to aid them in entering his house by force, and searching it +thoroughly."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Call them in, Harry--call them in!" replied Sir Robert Croyland; +"every man is justified by the law in apprehending a murderer. But you +shall have full authority.--Kate Clare!--How could this have +happened?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will explain, as we ride on," answered Leyton, going to the door; +and speaking to one of the servants who was standing in the hall, he +added, "Desire Mr. Mowle to walk in, and bring the boy with him."</p> + +<p class="normal">In another minute, Mowle entered the room with another man, holding by +the arm the boy Ray, whom the smugglers had chosen to denominate +Little Starlight. He came, apparently, unwillingly; for though ever +ready, for money, to spy and to inform secretly, he had a great +abhorrence of being brought publicly forward; and when on coming to +Mowle that evening with more information--he was detained and told he +must go before a magistrate, he had made every possible effort to +escape.</p> + +<p class="normal">He was now somewhat surprised, on being brought forward after Mowle +had laid the information, to find that he was not questioned upon any +point affecting the smuggling transactions which had lately taken +place, as the evidence upon that subject was sufficient without his +testimony. But in regard to the proceedings of young Radford, and to +the place where he was concealed, he was interrogated closely. It was +all in vain, however. To obtain a straightforward answer from him was +impossible; and although Mowle repeated distinctly that the boy had +casually said, the murderer of poor Kate Clare had gone to his +father's house, Little Starlight lied and prevaricated at every word, +and impudently, though not unskilfully attempted to put another +meaning on his previous admission.</p> + +<p class="normal">As time was wearing away, however, Sir Henry Leyton, at length, +interposed--"I think it is unnecessary, Sir Robert," he said, "to push +this inquiry further at present. As the whole house and premises must +be searched on other grounds, we shall discover the villain if he is +there. Mr. Mowle and I have adopted infallible means, I think, to +prevent his escaping from any point of the coast; and the magistrates +at every port were this evening furnished with such information that, +if they act with even a moderate degree of ability, he must be taken."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Besides, sir," rejoined Mowle, "the frigate has come round; and she +will take care that, with this wind, not a boat big enough to carry +him over shall get out. We had better set out, your worship, if you +please; for if old Radford gets an inkling of what is going on, he +will double upon us some way."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am quite ready," said Sir Robert Croyland. "I will call my clerk to +accompany us as we go, in case of any further proceedings being +necessary. We must pass through the village where he lives."</p> + +<p class="normal">With a firm step he moved towards the door; and, strange as it may +seem, though for six years, while supposing he was taking the only +means of self-preservation, he had lived in constant terror and +anxiety, he felt no fear, no trepidation now, when he had determined +to do what was right at every personal risk. An enfeebling spell +seemed to have been taken off his mind; and the lassitude of doubt and +indecision was gone. But such is almost always the result, even upon +the nerves of our corporeal frame, of a strong effort of mental +energy. It is one thing certainly to resolve, and another to do; but +the very act of resolution, if it be sincerely exerted, affords a +degree of vigour, which is sure to produce as great results as the +means at our disposal can accomplish. Energetic determination will +carry men through things that seem impossible, as a bold heart will +carry them over Alps, that, viewed from their base, appear +insurmountable.</p> + +<p class="normal">Sir Robert Croyland did not venture into the drawing-room before he +went; but he told the butler, who was waiting in the hall, to inform +Sir Edward Digby and the family that he had been called away on +business, and feared he should not return till a late hour; and having +left this message, he went out upon the terrace. He found there a +number of persons assembled, with some twenty or thirty of the +dragoons. Five or six officers of the Customs were present, besides +Mowle; but the darkness was too great to admit of their faces being +seen; and Sir Robert Croyland mounted without speaking to any one. Sir +Henry Leyton paused for an instant to give orders, that the boy should +be taken back to Woodchurch, and kept there under a safe guard. He +then spoke a few words to Digby's servant, Somers, and springing on +his horse placed himself at Sir Robert Croyland's side.</p> + +<p class="normal">The night was as dark as either of the two which had preceded it; the +same film of cloud covered the sky; not a star was to be seen; the +moon was far below the horizon; and slowly the whole party moved on, +two and two abreast, through the narrow lanes and tortuous roads of +that part of the country. It halted for a minute in the nearest +village, while Sir Robert Croyland stopped at his clerk's house, and +directed him to follow as fast as possible to Mr. Radford's; and then, +resuming their march, the dragoons, and those who accompanied them, +wound on for between four or five miles further, when, as they turned +the angle of a wood, some lights, apparently proceeding from the +windows of a house half way up a gentle slope, were seen shining out +in the midst of the darkness.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Halt!" said Sir Henry Leyton; and before he proceeded to give his +orders, for effectually surrounding the house and grounds of Mr. +Radford, he gazed steadfastly for a moment or two upon the building +which contained her who was most dear to him, and whose heart he well +knew was at that moment wrung with the contention of many a painful +feeling. "I promised her I would bring her aid, dear girl," he +thought, "and so I have.--Thanks be to God, who has enabled me!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Sir Robert Croyland, too, gazed--with very different feelings, it is +true, but still with a stern determination that was not shaken in the +least. It seemed, when he thought of Kate Clare, that he was atoning +to the spirit of the father, by seeking to avenge the child; and the +whole tale of her wrongs and death, which he had heard from Leyton, as +they came, had raised the desire of so doing almost to an enthusiasm. +Human passions and infirmities, indeed, will mingle with our best +feelings; and as he gazed upon Mr. Radford's house, and remembered all +that he had endured for the last six years, he said to himself, with +some bitterness, "That man shall now taste a portion of the same cup +he has forced upon others."</p> + +<p class="normal">Sir Henry Leyton woke from his reverie sooner than his companion; and +turning his horse, he spoke for a few moments with Mowle, somewhat +longer with another person wrapped in a dark horseman's coat behind, +and then gave various distinct orders to the dragoons, who immediately +separated into small parties, and, taking different roads, placed +themselves in such positions as to command every approach to the +house. Then riding forward with Sir Robert Croyland, the officers of +Customs, and one or two soldiers, he turned up the little avenue which +led from the road, consulting with Edith's father as he went. At about +a couple of hundred yards from the house he paused, turning his head +and saying to Mowle, "You had better, I think, all dismount; and, +making fast the horses, get behind the nearest laurels and evergreens, +while Sir Robert and I ride on alone, and ask admission quietly. When +the door is opened, you can come up and make yourselves masters of the +servants till the search is over. I do not anticipate any resistance; +but if the young man be really here, it may be made."</p> + +<p class="normal">He then rode on with the baronet at a quicker pace, the noise of their +horses' feet, as they trotted on and approached the great doors, +covering the sound of the movements of the party they left behind.</p> + +<p class="normal">The house, to which the actual possessor had given the name of Radford +Hall, was an old-fashioned country mansion, and presented, like many +another building at that time, several large, iron hooks, standing out +from the brickwork on each side of the doorway, on which it was +customary for visitors on horseback to hang their rein while they rang +the bell, or till a servant could be called to take them to the +stable. Sir Robert Croyland was acquainted with this peculiarity +of the house, though Leyton was not, and he whispered to his +companion--"Let us hook up our horses, before we ring."</p> + +<p class="normal">This was accordingly done; and then taking the long iron handle +of the bell, Leyton pulled it gently. A minute or two after, a step +sounded in the hall, and a servant appeared--a stout, red-faced, +shrewd-looking fellow, who at first held the great door only half +open. As soon, however, as he saw Sir Robert Croyland's face, he threw +it back, replying, in answer to the baronet's question as to whether +Mr. Radford was at home, "Yes, Sir Robert, he has been home this +hour."</p> + +<p class="normal">Leyton had stood back, and, in the darkness, the man did not see him, +or took him for a groom; but when the young officer advanced, and the +uniform of the dragoon regiment became apparent, Mr. Radford's servant +suddenly stretched his hand towards the door again, as if about to +throw it violently to. But Leyton's strong grasp was on his shoulder +in a moment. "You are my prisoner," he said, in a low tone; "not a +word--not a syllable, if you would not suffer for it. No harm will +happen to you, if you are only quiet."</p> + +<p class="normal">At the same moment, Mowle and the rest came running across the lawn, +and, giving the man into their hands, Leyton entered the house with +Sir Robert Croyland.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="div3_11" href="#div3Ref_11">CHAPTER XI.</a></h2> +<br> + +<p class="normal">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 captive--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. Radford'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.</p> + +<p class="normal">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.</p> + +<p class="normal">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 of suspense, +irritated by injuries and insult, but not yet roused by indignation to +dare the worst that Mr. Radford could do; and, though he heard her +express her determination never to marry Richard Radford unless set +free from her vows to Henry Leyton, without remonstrance, only begging +her to keep that resolution secret till the last moment, yet, with the +usual resource of weakness, he sought to postpone the evil hour by +seeming to enter into all his enemy's views.</p> + +<p class="normal">Thus had passed Edith's time; and it is unnecessary to enter into a +more detailed account of her thoughts and feelings previous to the +period we have mentioned--namely, one hour before the arrival of her +father and Henry Leyton at the door of the house. She was sitting, +then, in that small back drawing-room, with her fair cheek leaning on +her hand, her eyes bent down upon the table, and her mind busy with +the present and the future. "It is foolish," she thought, "thus to +alarm myself. No harm can happen. They dare not show me any violence; +and no clergyman in England will venture to proceed with the service +against my loud dissent. My uncle, and Leyton too, must soon hear of +this, and will interfere.--I will not give way to such terrors any +more."</p> + +<p class="normal">As she thus meditated, she heard a rapid step upon the great stairs; +and the next moment Mr. Radford entered--booted, spurred, and dusty, +as from a journey, and with a heavy horsewhip in his hand. His face +betrayed more agitation than she had ever seen it display. There +was a deep line between his brows, as if they had been long bent into +such a frown, that they could not readily be smoothed again. His long +upper-lip was quivering with a sort of impatient vehemence that would +not be restrained; and his eye was flashing, as if under the influence +of some strong passion.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, Miss Croyland," he said, throwing his horsewhip down upon the +table, and casting himself into a chair, "I hope they have made you +comfortable during my absence?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Edith merely bowed her head, without reply.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, that's civil!" cried Mr. Radford; "but I think every body is +going mad, and so it is no wonder that women do! Miss Croyland, I have +a piece of news for you--there's going to be a wedding in our house, +to-night!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Still Edith was silent, and looked towards the fire.</p> + +<p class="normal">"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."</p> + +<p class="normal">"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."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You do, do you!" exclaimed Mr. Radford, giving her a furious glance +across the table; "then I will tell you something, young woman. Your +consent was given to your father; and I will have no trifling +backwards and forwards. Circumstances have arisen to-day--curses be +upon them all!--which render it necessary that the marriage should +take place four-and-twenty hours before it was first fixed, and it +shall take place, by----!" and he added a terrible oath.</p> + +<p class="normal">"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 waiting to hear what I +had to say, or he would not have so deceived himself."</p> + +<p class="normal">"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."</p> + +<p class="normal">"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 accusation--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."</p> + +<p class="normal">"A false accusation!" 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.</p> + +<p class="normal">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 resolute, but displayed less excitement +than when he left her. He entered with a slow step, leaving the door +partly open behind him, seated himself, and gazed at her for a moment, +then spread out the small yellow paper on the table, but held his hand +tight upon the lower part, as if he feared she might snatch it up and +destroy it.</p> + +<p class="normal">"There, look at that, Miss Croyland!" he said; "you spoke of false +accusations; look at that, and be ashamed of bringing them yourself."</p> + +<p class="normal">Edith gave a glance towards it with a sensation of awe, but did not +attempt to read it. Her eye rested upon the words, "Deposition +of--" and upon a stain of blood at the bottom of the page, and she +turned away with a shudder. "I have heard of it before," she answered, +"yet every word in it may be false."</p> + +<p class="normal">"False, or not false," replied Mr. Radford, "it sends your father to +gaol to-morrow, and to the gallows a month after--if you do not +instantly sign that!" and he laid another freshly written page open +before her.</p> + +<p class="normal">Edith took it in her hand, and read--"I hereby consent and promise, +when called upon, to marry Richard Radford, junior, Esquire, the son +of Richard Radford, of Radford Hall."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You have your choice, Miss Croyland," continued her persecutor, in a +low and bitter tone, "either to save your father, or to put him to +death with your own hands; for I swear, by all that I hold sacred, +that if you do not instantly sign that paper--ay, and fulfil its +engagement, I will send off this deposition to the bench of +magistrates, with the letter I have just written, giving an account of +all the circumstances, and explaining how, out of weak kindness and +friendship for Sir Robert Croyland, I have been prevailed upon to keep +back the information until now. Do not deceive yourself, and think +that his fortune or his station will save him. A peer of the realm has +been hanged before now for the murder of his own servant. Neither must +you suppose that upon that deposition alone rests the proof of his +guilt. There was other evidence given at the Coroner's inquest, all +bearing upon the same point, which requires but this light, to be made +plain. The threats your father previously used, the falsehoods he told +regarding where he had been--all these things can be proved, for I +have taken care to preserve that evidence."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That was like a friend, indeed!" murmured Edith; "but such are the +friendships of the world."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am acting like a friend to you, Miss Croyland," rejoined Mr. +Radford, apparently neither touched nor hurt by her words, "in letting +you see clearly your father's situation, while I give you the +opportunity of saving him if you will. Do as you please--there is the +paper. Sign it if you like; but sign it quickly; for this night brings +all tergiversation to an end. I will have no more of it; and five +minutes decides your father's life or death. Do not say I do it. It is +you. His pardon is before you. You have nothing to do but to put your +name. If you do not, you sign his death warrant!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Five minutes!" said Edith, with her heart beating violently.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ay, five minutes," answered Mr. Radford, who saw, from the wild look +of her beautiful eyes, and the ashy paleness of her cheek and lips, +how powerfully he had worked upon her--"five minutes, no longer;" and +he laid his watch upon the table. Then, turning somewhat +ostentatiously to a small fixed writing-desk, which stood near, he +took up a stick of sealing-wax, and laid it down beside the letter he +had written, as if determined not to lose a moment beyond the period +he had named.</p> + +<p class="normal">Edith gazed upon the paper for an instant, agitated and trembling +through her whole frame; but her eye fell upon the name of Richard +Radford. His image rose up before her, recalling all the horror that +she felt whenever he was in her presence; then came the thought of +Leyton, and of her vows to him yet uncancelled. "Richard Radford!" she +said to herself--"Richard Radford!--marry him--vow that I will love +him--call God to witness, when I know I shall abhor him more and +more--when I love another? I cannot do it--I will not do it!" and she +pushed the paper from her, saying, aloud, "No, I will not sign it!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Very well," said Mr. Radford--"very well. Your parent's blood be upon +your head;" and he proceeded to fold up slowly the deposition he had +shown her, in the letter he had written. But he stopped in the midst; +and then, abandoning the calm, low tone, and stern but quiet demeanour +which he had lately used, he started up, striking the table violently +with his hand, and exclaiming, in a loud and angry tone, "Wretched, +miserable girl, dare you bring upon your head the guilt of parricide? +What was the curse of Cain to that? How will you bear the day of your +father's trial--ay, how bear the day of his death--the lingering agony +of his imprisonment--the public shame of the court of justice--the +agony of the gallows and the cord?--the proud Sir Robert Croyland +become the gaze of hooting boys, the spectacle of the rude multitude, +expiring, through his daughter's fault, by the hand of the common +hangman! Ay, think of it all, for in another minute it will be too +late! Once gone from my hand, this paper can never be recalled."</p> + +<p class="normal">Edith uttered a faint cry; but at the same moment a voice behind Mr. +Radford said, "Nor can it, now!" and Sir Robert Croyland himself laid +his hand upon the papers.</p> + +<p class="normal">Mr. Radford turned round fiercely, and was darting forward to seize +them from him; but he was held back by a more powerful arm; and the +baronet went on, in a voice grave and sad, but firm and strong--"Sir +Henry Leyton," he said, "I give these papers into your hands to do +with exactly as you may think right, as a man of honour, a gentleman, +and a respecter of the law. I ask not to hold them for one moment."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do not struggle, sir,--do not struggle!" cried Leyton, holding Mr. +Radford fast by the collar--"you are a prisoner."</p> + +<p class="normal">"A prisoner!" exclaimed Mr. Radford. "What! in my own house--a +magistrate!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Anywhere, sir," answered Leyton; "and for the time, you are a +magistrate no longer.--Ho! without there!--send some one in!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Edith had sunk down in her seat; for she knew not whether to rejoice +or grieve. The first feeling undoubtedly was joy; but the next was +bitter apprehension for her father. At first she covered her eyes with +her hands; for she thought to hear the terrible truth proclaimed +aloud; but when she looked up, Sir Robert Croyland's face was so calm, +so resolute, so unlike what it had ever appeared of late years, that +fear gave way to surprise, and surprise began to verge into hope. As +that bright flame arose again in her heart, she started up, and cast +herself upon her father's bosom, murmuring, while the tears flowed +rapidly from her eyes, "Are you safe--are you safe?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I know not, my dear child," replied Sir Robert Croyland; "but I am +now doing my duty, and that gives me strength."</p> + +<p class="normal">In the meantime, a dragoon had appeared at the door, and as soon as +Mr. Radford beheld him, he exclaimed, "This is a base and infamous +plot to defeat the ends of justice. I understand it all: the military +power called in, right willingly, I have no doubt, to take away the +documents which prove that felon's guilt. But this shall be bitterly +repaid, and I hold you responsible, sir, for the production of these +papers."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Certainly, Mr. Radford," replied Leyton, with a calm smile, "I will +be responsible. But as you object to the military power, we will hand +you over to the civil. Hart," he continued, speaking to the soldier, +"call up Mowle or Birchett, or any of the other officers, and let them +bring one of the constables with them, for this is not purely a case +for the Customs. Then tell Serjeant Shaw to bring on his men from the +back, as I directed, seeing that nothing--not an inch of ground, not a +shed, not a tool-house, remains unexamined."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Of what am I accused, sir, that you dare to pursue such a course in +my house?" demanded Mr. Radford.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Of murder, sir," replied Sir Henry Leyton.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Murder!" exclaimed Mr. Radford, and then burst into an affected +laugh.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, sir," replied the young officer; "and you may find it not so +much a jest as you suppose; for though the law, in consequence of the +practices of yourself and others, has slept long ineffective, it is +not dead. I say for murder! as an accessory before the fact, to the +armed resistance of lawful authority, in which his majesty's subjects +have been killed in the execution of their duty; and as an accessory +after the fact, in harbouring and comforting the actual culprits, +knowing them to be such."</p> + +<p class="normal">Mr. Radford's countenance fell; for he perceived that the matter was +much more serious than he at first supposed. He trusted, indeed, from +the laxity with, which the law had lately been carried into execution, +that he might escape from the gravest part of the charge; but still, +if Sir Henry Leyton was in a condition to prove the participation of +which he accused him, in the crimes that had been committed, nothing +short of transportation for life could be anticipated. But he had +other sources of anxiety. His wretched son, he expected to present +himself every minute; and well aware of the foul deed which Richard +Radford had that morning perpetrated, and of his person having been +recognised, he was perfectly certain, that his apprehension would take +place. He would have given worlds to speak for a single instant with +one of his own servants; but none of them appeared; and while these +thoughts were passing rapidly through his brain, the officer Birchett +entered the room with a constable, and several other persons followed +them in. He was startled from his reverie, however, by Sir Henry +Leyton's voice demanding--"Have you brought handcuffs, constable?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, ay, sir," answered the man, "I've got the bracelets."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Good evening, Mr. Radford," said Birchett; "we have hold of you at +last, I fancy."</p> + +<p class="normal">Mr. Radford was silent, and the young officer demanded, "Have you +found anything else, Birchett?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh yes, sir, plenty," answered Birchett, "and besides the run goods, +things enough to prove all the rest even if we had not proof +sufficient before--one of your own dragoon's swords, sir, that must +have been snatched up from some poor fellow who was killed. Corporal +Hart says, he thinks it belonged to a man named Green."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, there is your prisoner," replied Leyton,--"you and the +constable must take care that he be properly secured. No unnecessary +harshness, I beg; but you know how rescue is sometimes attempted, and +escape effected. You had better remove him to another room; for we +must have all the papers and different articles of smuggled goods +brought hither."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I protest against the whole of this proceeding," exclaimed Mr. +Radford, on whom the constable was now unceremoniously fixing a pair +of handcuffs, "and I beg every body will take notice of my protest. +This person, who is, I suppose, a military officer, is quite going +beyond his duty, and acting as if he were a civil magistrate."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am acting under the orders and authority of a magistrate, sir," +replied Sir Henry Leyton, "and according to my instructions.--Dear +Edith," he continued, crossing over to her, and taking her hand as she +still clung to her father; for all that I have described had taken +place with great rapidity--"you had better go into another room till +this is over. We shall have some papers to examine, and I trust +another prisoner before the search is finished.--Had she not better +retire, Sir Robert?"</p> + +<p class="normal">But Mr. Radford raised his voice again, as the constable was moving +him towards the door, exclaiming, "At all events, I claim my right to +witness all these extraordinary proceedings. It is most unjust and +illegal for you to seize and do what you will with my private papers, +in my absence."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is a very common occurrence," said Sir Henry Leyton, "in criminal +cases like your own."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let him remain--let him remain!" said Sir Robert Croyland. "He can +but interrupt us a little.--Oh, here is the clerk at last!--Now, +Edith, my love, you had better go; these are no scenes for you."</p> + +<p class="normal">Leyton took her by the hand, and led her to the door, bending down his +head and whispering as he went, "Be under no alarm, dear girl. All +will go well."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Are you sure, Harry--are you sure?" asked Edith, gazing anxiously in +his face.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Certain," he replied; "your father's decision has saved him."</p> + +<p class="normal">As he spoke, there was a violent ringing at the bell; and Mr. Radford +said to himself, "It is that unhappy boy; he will be taken, to a +certainty." But the next instant, he thought, "No--no, he would never +come to the front door. It must be some more of their party."</p> + +<p class="normal">Sir Robert Croyland, in the meantime, seated himself at the end of the +table, and handed over a number of papers, which Leyton had given him +at his own house, to the clerk, who, by his direction, seated himself +near. "I have no objection, Mr. Radford," he said, turning to the +prisoner, "that you should hear read, if you desire it, the +depositions on which I have granted a warrant for your apprehension, +and, at the requisition of the officers of Customs, have authorized +your premises to be searched for the smuggled goods, a part of which +has been found upon them. The depositions are those of a man named +George Jones, since dead, and of Michael Scalesby, and Edward +Larchant, at present in the hands of justice; and the information is +laid by John Mowle and Stephen Birchett."</p> + +<p class="normal">At the recital of the names of several of the men whom he himself had +furnished with arms and directions, Mr. Radford's heart sunk; but the +moment after, a gleam of bitter satisfaction sprang up in his breast, +as the door opened, and Mr. Zachary Croyland entered, exclaiming, +"How's this--how's this? I came to take a dove out of a hawk's nest, +and here I find the dogs unearthing a fox."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am very glad you are come, sir," replied Mr. Radford, before any +one else could speak; "for, though you are the brother of that person +sitting there, you are a man of honour, and an honest man----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"More than I can say for you, Radford," grumbled Mr. Croyland.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And, moreover, a magistrate for this county," continued Mr. Radford.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I never act--I never act!" cried the old gentleman. "I never have +acted; I never will act."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But in this case I shall insist upon your acting," said the prisoner; +"for your brother, who is now proceeding thus virulently against me, +does it to shield himself from a charge of murder, which he knew I was +about to bring against him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Fiddlesticks' ends!" cried Mr. Croyland. "This is what people call +turning the tables, I think. But it wont succeed with me, my good +friend. I am an old bird--a very old bird, indeed--and I don't like +chaff at all, Radford. If you have any charge to make against my +brother, you must make it where you are going. I'll have nothing to do +with it. I always knew him to be a fool; but never suspected him of +being anything else."</p> + +<p class="normal">"At all events," said Mr. Radford, in a gloomy tone, "since simple +justice is denied me at all hands, I require that the papers which +have been seized in this house, be placed in proper hands, and duly +authenticated. The important evidence of the crime of which I charge +him, has been given by your brother, sir, to one who has but too great +an interest, I believe, to conceal or destroy it. I say it boldly, +those papers are not safe in the keeping of Sir Henry Leyton; and I +demand that they be given up, duly marked by the clerk, and signed by +myself, and some independent person."</p> + +<p class="normal">Leyton's eyes flashed for a moment, at the insinuation which the +prisoner threw out; but he overcame his anger instantly, and took the +papers which had been handed him, from his pocket, saying, "I will +most willingly resign these documents, whatever they may be. Mr. +Croyland, this person seems to wish that you should keep them, rather +than myself; but here is another paper on the table, which may throw +some light upon the whole transaction;" and he took up the written +promise, which Mr. Radford had been urging Edith to sign--and on which +his own eyes had been fixed during the last few minutes--and handed +it, with the rest, to her uncle.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Stay, stay a moment!" said Mr. Croyland, putting on his spectacles. +"I will be responsible for the safe keeping of nothing of which I do +not know the contents;" and he proceeded to read aloud the engagement +to wed Richard Radford, which Edith had rejected. "Ay, a precious +rascally document, indeed!" said the old gentleman, when he had +concluded; "written in the hand of the said Richard Radford, Esq., +senior, and which, I suppose, Miss Croyland refused to sign under any +threats. Be so good as to put your name on that, at the back, Mr. +Clerk. I will mark it, too, that there be no mistake."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And now, sir, since you have read the one, will you be good enough to +read the other?" exclaimed Mr. Radford, with a triumphant smile. +"Even-handed justice, if you please, Mr. Zachary Croyland; the +enclosure first, then the letter, if you will. I see there are a +multitude of persons present; I beg they will all attend."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will read it certainly," replied Mr. Croyland, drawing one of the +candles somewhat nearer. "It seems to be somewhat indistinct."</p> + +<p class="normal">Sir Robert Croyland leaned his head upon his hand, and covered his +eyes; and several persons pressed forward, to hear what seemed of +importance--in the eyes of the prisoner, at least.</p> + +<p class="normal">Mr. Croyland ran over the writing, as a preliminary to reading it +aloud; but, as he did so, his countenance fell, and he paused and +hesitated. The next moment, however, he exclaimed, "No, hang it! It +shall be read--'The deposition of William Clare, now lying at the +point of death, and with the full assurance that he has not many +minutes to live, made before Richard Radford, Esquire, J. P.; this +24th day of September, in the year of grace 17--;" and he proceeded to +read, with a voice occasionally wavering indeed, but in general firm +and clear, the formal setting forth of the same tale which the reader +has heard before, in the statement of Sir Robert Croyland to his +daughter.</p> + +<p class="normal">His brother paused, and held the paper in his hand for a moment after +he had done, while Leyton, who had been standing close beside him, +bore a strange, almost sarcastic smile upon his lip, which strongly +contrasted with the sad and solemn expression of Mr. Croyland's +countenance.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What is this great red blot just below the man's name?" asked the old +gentleman, at length, looking to Mr. Radford.</p> + +<p class="normal">"That, sir," replied the prisoner, in a calm, grave tone, which had +much effect upon the hearers, "is the poor fellow's own blood, as I +held him up to sign the declaration. He had been pressing his right +hand upon the wound, and where it rested on the paper it gave that +bloody witness to the authenticity of the document."</p> + +<p class="normal">There was something too fine in the reply, and Mr. Croyland repeated, +"Bloody witness!--authenticity of the document!"</p> + +<p class="normal">But Leyton stretched out his hand, saying, "Will you allow me to look +at the paper, Mr. Croyland?" and then added, as soon as he received +it, "Can any one tell me whether William Clare was left-handed?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No!" replied Sir Robert Croyland, suddenly raising his head--"no, he +was not.--Why do you ask?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"That I can answer for," said the constable, coming forward, "for he +carved the stock of a gun for me; and I know he never used his left +hand when he could use his right one."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why do you ask, Harry?--why do you ask?" exclaimed Mr. Croyland.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Because, my dear sir," answered Leyton, aloud and clear, "this is the +print of the thumb of a man's right hand. To have made it at all, he +must have held the paper with his right, while he signed with his +left, and even then, he could have done it with difficulty, as it is +so near the signature, that his fingers would not have room to move;" +and as he ended, he fixed his eyes sternly on Mr. Radford's face.</p> + +<p class="normal">The prisoner's countenance had changed several times while Sir Henry +Leyton spoke, first becoming fiery red, then deadly pale, then red +again.</p> + +<p class="normal">"However it happened, so it was," he said, doggedly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well!" exclaimed Mr. Croyland, sharply, "your evidence will fetch +what it is worth!--I hope, clerk, you have got down Mr. Radford's +statement."</p> + +<p class="normal">"He has written the same down here, your worship," replied the man, +pointing to the letter in which the deposition had been enclosed, and +which, having been cast down by Mr. Zachary, had been busily read by +the clerk.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, then, we will read that too," observed the old gentleman. +"Silence there!" he continued; for there was a good deal of noise at +the side of the room, as the different persons present conversed over +the events that were passing; "but first, we had better docket this +commodity which we have just perused. Mr. Clerk, will you have the +goodness to sign it also--on the back?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Stay," said a voice from behind the rest, "let me sign it first;" and +the man who had accompanied Leyton thither, wrapped in the dark +horseman's coat, advanced between Mr. Croyland and the clerk.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Any one that likes--any one that likes," answered the former. "Ah, is +that you, my old friend?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Both Mr. Radford and Sir Robert Croyland gazed, with looks of surprise +not unmingled with more painful feelings, on the countenance of Mr. +Warde, though each doubted his identity with one whom they had known +in former years. But, without noticing any one, the strange-looking +old man took the paper from the clerk, dipped the pen in the ink, and, +in a bold, free hand, wrote some words upon the back.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ha, what is this?" cried Mr. Croyland, taking the paper, and +reading--"An infamous forgery--Henry Osborn!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Villain, you are detected!" cried the person who has been called Mr. +Warde. "I wrote from a distant land to warn you, that I was present +when you knelt by William Clare--that I heard all--that I heard you +try to prompt the dying man to an accusation he would not make--that I +saw you stain the paper with his blood--ay, and sign it, too, after +life had quitted him--I wrote to warn you; for I suspected you, from +all I heard of your poor tool's changed conduct; and I gave you due +notice, that if you ceased not, the day of retribution would arrive. +It is come; and I am here, though you thought me dead! All your shifts +and evasions are at an end. There is no collusion here--there is no +personal interest. I have not conversed with that weak man for many +years--and he it was who persecuted my sister's husband unto death!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"At his suggestion--from his threats!" exclaimed Sir Robert Croyland, +pointing with his hand to Mr. Radford.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Take me away," said the prisoner, turning to the constable--"I am +faint--I am sick--take me away!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Mr. Croyland nodded his head; and, supported by the constable and +Birchett, Mr. Radford was led into the adjoining room.</p> + +<p class="normal">The scene that followed is indescribable. It was all confusion; every +one spoke at once; some strove to make themselves heard above the +rest; some seemed little to care whether they were heard or not; if +any man thought he could fix another's attention, he tried to converse +with him apart--many fixed upon the person nearest; but one or two +endeavoured to make others hear across the room; and all order and +common form were at an end.</p> + +<p class="normal">I have said every one spoke; but I should have made one exception. Sir +Robert Croyland talked eagerly with his brother, and said a few low +words to Mr. Osborn; but Leyton remained profoundly silent for several +minutes. The din of many voices did not seem to disturb him; the +strange turn that events had taken, appeared to produce no surprise; +but he remained fixed to the same spot, with his eyes bent upon the +table, and his mind evidently absent from all that was passing round. +It was the abstraction of profound emotion; the power which the heart +sometimes exercises over the mind, in withdrawing all its perceptions +and its operative faculties from external things, to fix them +concentrated upon some great problem within. At length, however, a +sense of higher duties made him shake off the thoughts of his own fate +and situation--of the bright and glorious hopes that were rising out +of the previous darkness, like the splendour of the coming star after +a long night--of the dreams of love and joy at length--of the growing +light of "trust in the future," still faintly overshadowed by the dark +objects of the past. With a quick start, as if he had awakened from +sleep, he looked round, and demanded of one of the soldiers, many of +whom were in the room, "Have you found the person accused--Richard +Radford, I mean--has any one been taken in the premises and the house, +besides the servants?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, sir, a person just arrived in a post-chaise," replied the +sergeant.</p> + +<p class="normal">"We must have order, Sir Robert," continued Leyton, his powerful voice +rising above the din; "there is much more to be done! Clear the room +of your men, sergeant. They are not wanted here--but stay, I will +speak with Mr. Haveland;" and he went out, followed by the sergeant +and some half-dozen of the dragoons, who had accompanied their +non-commissioned officer into the room.</p> + +<p class="normal">Leyton soon returned; but the precautions he had gone to enforce were +vain. The person who had arrived in the chaise, proved to be a +somewhat disreputable clergyman from a distant parish. Young Richard +Radford was not taken; another fate awaited him. A man, indeed, on +horseback, was seen to approach the grounds of Radford Hall towards +eleven o'clock; but the lights, that were apparent through many +windows, seemed to startle him, as he rode along the road. He paused +for a moment, and gazed, and then advanced more slowly; but the +eagerness of the small guard at that point, perhaps, frustrated their +object, for it is not certain to this day who the person was. When he +again halted, and seemed to hesitate, they dashed out after him; but +instantly setting spurs to his horse, he galloped off into the woods; +and knowing the country better than they did, he was soon lost to +their pursuit.</p> + +<p class="normal">In the meantime, the result of the search in Mr. Radford's house was +made known, in a formal manner, to the party assembled in the small +drawing-room. Abundant evidence was found of his having been +implicated in all the most criminal parts of the late smuggling +transactions; and the business of the night concluded, by an order to +remand him, to be brought before the bench of magistrates on the +following day; for Sir Robert Croyland declined to commit him on his +own responsibility.</p> + +<p class="normal">"He has preferred a charge against me," he said, in the same firm tone +he had lately assumed--"let us see whether he will sustain it +to-morrow."</p> + +<p class="normal">Before all was concluded, it was near midnight; and then every one +rose to depart. Mr. Croyland eagerly asked for Edith, saying he would +convey her home in his carriage; but Leyton interposed, replying, "We +will bring her to you in a moment, my dear friend.--Sir Robert, it may +be as well that you and I should seek Miss Croyland alone. I think I +saw her maid below."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Certainly," answered her father, "let us go, my dear Henry, for it is +growing very late."</p> + +<p class="normal">Mr. Croyland smiled, saying, "Well, well, so be it;" and the other two +left the room. They found Edith, after some search, seated in the +dining hall. She looked pale and anxious; but the expression of +Leyton's face relieved her of her worst apprehensions--not that it was +joyful; for there was a touch of sadness in it; but she knew that his +aspect could not be such, if her father's life were in any real +danger.</p> + +<p class="normal">Leyton advanced towards her at once, even before her father, took her +hand in his, and kissed it tenderly. "I told you, dearest Edith," he +said, "that I would bring you aid; and I have, thank God, been able to +redeem that promise; but now I have another task to perform. Your +father's safety is placed beyond doubt--his innocence made clear; and +your happiness, beloved one, is not sacrificed. The chance of +endangering that happiness was the only cause of my not doing what, +perhaps, you desired for his sake--what I do now. Sir Robert Croyland, +I did wrong in years long past--in boyhood and the intemperance of +youthful love and hope--by engaging your daughter to myself by vows, +which she has nobly though painfully kept. As an atonement to you, as +a satisfaction to my own sense of right, I now, as far as in me lies, +set her free from those engagements, leaving to her own self how she +will act, and to you how you will decide. Edith, beloved, you are +free, as far as I can make you so; and, Sir Robert, I ask your +forgiveness for the wrong act I once committed."</p> + +<p class="normal">Edith Croyland turned somewhat pale, and looked at her father +earnestly; but Sir Robert did not answer for a moment.--Was it that he +hesitated?--No; but there was an oppressive weight at his heart, when +he thought of all that he had done--all that he had inflicted, not +only on the man before him, but on others guiltless of all offence, +which seemed almost to stop its beating. But at length, he took +Edith's hand and put it in Leyton's, saying, in a low, tremulous +voice, "She is yours, Henry--she is yours; and, oh, forgive the father +for the daughter's sake!"</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="div3_12" href="#div3Ref_12">CHAPTER XII.</a></h2> +<br> + +<p class="normal">There was a solitary light in an upstairs window of Farmer Harris's +house; and, by its dim ray, sat Harding the smuggler, watching the +inanimate form of her upon whom all the strong affections of his heart +had been concentrated. No persuasions could induce him to entrust "the +first watch," as he called it, to others; and there he sat, seldom +taking his eyes from that pale but still beautiful countenance, and +often stooping over to print a kiss upon the cold and clay-like +forehead of the dead. His tears were all shed: he wept not--he spoke +not; but the bitterness which has no end was in his heart, and, with a +sleepless eye, he watched through the livelong night. It was about +three o'clock in the morning, when a hard knocking was heard at the +door of the farm; and, without a change of feature, Harding rose and +went down in the dark. He unlocked the door, and opened it, when a +hand holding a paper was thrust in, and instantly withdrawn, as +Harding took the letter.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What is this?" he said; but the messenger ran away without reply; and +the smuggler returned to the chamber of death.</p> + +<p class="normal">The paper he had taken was folded in the shape of a note, but neither +sealed nor addressed; and, without ceremony, Harding opened it, and +read. It was written in a free, good hand, which he recognised at +once, with rage and indignation all the more intense because he +restrained them within his own breast. He uttered not a word; his face +betrayed, only in part, the workings of strong passion within him. It +is true, his lip quivered a little, and his brow became contracted, +but it soon relaxed its frown; and, without oath or comment--though +very blasphemous expletives were then tolerated in what was called the +best society, and were prevalent amongst all the inferior classes,--he +proceeded to read the few lines which the letter contained, and which +something--perhaps the emotions he felt--had prevented him from seeing +distinctly at first.</p> + +<p class="normal">The epistle was, as we have seen, addressed to no one, and was drawn +up, indeed, more in the form of a general notice than anything else. +Many, of nearly the same import, as was afterwards discovered, had +been delivered at various farm-houses in the neighbourhood; but, as +all were in substance the same, one specimen will suffice.</p> + +<p class="normal">"We give you to know," so the letter ran, "that, unless Edward Ramley +and his two comrades are set free before daylight to-morrow, we will +come to Goudhurst, and burn the place. Neither man, woman, nor child, +shall escape. We are many--more than you think--and you know we will +keep our word. So look to it, if you would escape--</p> + +<p style="text-indent:40%">"<span class="sc">Vengeance!</span>"</p> +<br> + +<p class="normal">Harding approached the bed, with the letter in his hand, gazed +steadfastly upon the corpse for several minutes, and then, without a +word, quitted the room. He went straight to the chamber which Farmer +Harris and his wife now occupied, and knocked sharply at the door, +exclaiming, "Harris--Harris! I want to speak with you!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The good farmer was with difficulty roused; for though no man felt +more warmly, or, indeed, more vehemently, yet the corporeal had its +full share with the mental; and when the body was fatigued with more +than its ordinary portion of labour, the mind did not keep the whole +being waking. At length, however, he came out, still drowsy, and +taking the letter, gazed on it by the light of the candle, "with lack +lustre eye!" But Harding soon brought him to active consciousness, by +saying, "They threaten to burn the village, Harris, unless the +murderers be suffered to escape. I am going up to the church, where +they are kept.--Wake some one to sit up-stairs.--I will die before a +man of them goes out."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And so will I," cried Harris; "let me see--let me see! My heart's +asleep still, but I'll soon wake up. Why, where the mischief did this +come from?" and he read the letter over again, with more comprehension +of its contents. When he had done, he swore vehemently, "They shall +find that the men of Goudhurst can match them," he cried; "but we must +set about it quick, Harding, and call up all the young men.--They will +come, that is certain; for the devil himself has not their impudence; +but they must be well received when they do come. We'll give them a +breakfast, Harding, they shan't forget. It shall be called the +Goudhurst breakfast, as long as men can remember. Stay, I'll just put +on my coat, and get out the gun and the pistols--we shall want as many +of those things as we can muster. I'll be back in a minute."</p> + +<p class="normal">From that hour till five o'clock, the little village of Goudhurst was +all alive. Intimation of the danger was sent to all the neighbouring +farmers; every labouring man was roused from his bed with directions +to meet the rest in the church-yard; and there, as the sky became +grey, a busy scene was displayed, some sixty stout men being assembled +before the porch, most of them armed with old muskets or fowling +pieces. Amongst those to whom age or habitual authority assigned the +chief place, an eager consultation went on as to their proceedings; +and though there was, as is generally the case in such meetings, a +great difference upon many points, yet three acts were unanimously +decided upon; first, to send all the women and children out of the +village--next, to despatch a messenger to Woodchurch for military +aid--and, next, to set about casting bullets immediately, as no shot +larger than slugs were to be found in the place.</p> + +<p class="normal">The reader will probably ask, with a look of surprise, "Is this a +scene in North America, where settlers were daily exposed to the +incursions of the savages?"--and he may add, "This could not have +happened in England!" But I beg to say, this happened in the county of +Kent, less than a century ago; and persons are still living, who +remember having been sent with the women and children out of the +village, that the men might not be impeded by fear for those they +loved, while defending the spot on which they were born.</p> + +<p class="normal">A fire of wood was speedily lighted by some of the men in the +church-yard; others applied themselves, with what moulds could be +procured, to the casting of ball; others, again, woke the still +slumbering inhabitants of the cottages and houses round, and warned +the women to remove to the neighbouring farms, and the men to come and +join their friends at the rendezvous; and a few of the best instructed +proceeded to arrange their plan of defence, barricading the gates of +the cemetery, and blocking up a stile, which at that time led from the +right hand wall, with an old grave-stone, against which they piled up +a heap of earth.</p> + +<p class="normal">The vestry, in which the prisoners had been confined--after having +been brought from Mr. Broughton's at too late an hour to convey them +to gaol--was luckily protected by strong iron bars over the windows, +and a heavy plated door between it and the church; and the old tower +of the building afforded a strong point in the position of the +villagers, which they flattered themselves could not easily be forced.</p> + +<p class="normal">"How many men do you think they can muster, Harding?" asked Farmer +Harris, when their first rude preparations were nearly complete.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I can but guess," answered the smuggler; "perhaps two hundred. They +had more than that in the Marsh, of whom I hear some fifty were taken +or killed; but a good many were not there, who may, and will be here +to-day--old Ramley for one, I should think."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then we had better get into the church when they come," replied the +farmer; "they cannot force us there till the soldiers come."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Did you send for them?" asked Harding.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, yes," answered the farmer, "half-an-hour ago. I sent the young +boy, who would be of no good here, on the pony; and I told him to let +Sir Robert know, as he passed; for I thought the soldiers might not +meddle if they had not a magistrate with them."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Very well," replied Harding, and set himself to work away again.</p> + +<p class="normal">Six o'clock was now past, seven approached and went by; the hand of +the dial moved half-way on to eight, and yet nothing indicated the +approach of the smugglers. In a few minutes after, however, the sound +of horses' feet galloping was heard; and a young man, who had been +placed in the belfry to look out, shouted down to those below, "Only +two!" and the next moment a horseman in military half dress, with a +servant behind him, rode up at speed to the principal entrance of the +church-yard.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am come to help you, my men," cried Sir Edward Digby, springing to +the ground, and giving his rein to his servant--"Will you let us in to +your redoubt? The dragoons will soon be over; I sent your messenger +on."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Perhaps, sir, you may have your trouble for your pains, after all," +answered young Harris, opening the gate, to let Digby and his horses +in; "the fellows have not shown themselves, and very likely wont +come."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, yes, they will," said the young baronet, advancing amongst +them, and looking round on every side, "I saw a long line of men on +horseback moving over the hill as I came. Put the horses under cover +of that shed, Somers. You should cut down those thick bushes near the +wall. They will conceal their movements.--Have you any axes?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Here is one," cried a young man, and immediately he set to work, +hewing down the shrubs and bushes to which Digby pointed.</p> + +<p class="normal">In the meantime, the young officer ran over the groups with his eye, +calculating their numbers, and at length he said: "You had better +confine yourselves to defending the church--you are not enough to meet +them out here. I counted a hundred and fifty, and there may be more. +Station your best marksmen at the windows and on the roof of the +tower, and put a few stout resolute fellows to guard the door in case +these scoundrels get nearer than we wish them. As we all act upon our +own responsibility, however, we had better be cautious, and abstain +from offensive measures, till they are absolutely necessary for the +defence of ourselves and the security of the prisoners. Besides, if +they are kept at bay for some time, the dragoons will take them in +flank, and a good number may be captured."</p> + +<p class="normal">"We can deal with them ourselves," said the voice of Harding, in a +stern tone. He had been standing by, listening, in grave silence, with +a gun in his hand, which he had borrowed at farmer Harris's; and now, +as soon as he had spoken, he turned away, walked into the church, and +climbed to the roof of the tower. There, after examining the priming +of the piece, he seated himself coolly upon the little parapet, and +looked out over the country. The moment after, his voice was heard, +calling from above--"They are coming up, Harris!--Tell the officer."</p> + +<p class="normal">Sir Edward Digby had, in the meantime, advanced to the gates to +insure that they were securely fastened; but he heard what Harding +said, and turning his head, exclaimed--"Go into the church; and +garnish the windows with marksmen, as I said! I will be with you in a +moment.--Here, Somers, help me here for a moment. They will soon pull +this down;" and he proceeded calmly to fasten the barricade more +strongly. Before he had accomplished this to his satisfaction, men on +horseback were seen gathering thick in the road, and on the little +open space in front; but he went on without pausing to look at them, +till a loud voice exclaimed--"What are you about there?--Do you intend +to give the men up, or not?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Sir Edward Digby then raised his head, and replied: "Certainly +not!--Oh, Mr. Richard Radford--you will have the goodness to remark +that, if you advance one step towards these gates, or attempt to pass +that wall, you will be fired on from the church."</p> + +<p class="normal">While he was speaking, he took a step back, and then walked slowly +towards the building, making his servant go first; but half-way +thither he paused, and turning towards the ruffians congregated at a +little distance from the wall, he added aloud, addressing Richard +Radford--"You had better tell your gang what I say, my good friend, +for they will find we will keep our word."</p> + +<p class="normal">As he spoke, some one from the mass fired a pistol at him; but the +ball did not take effect, and Digby raised his hand, waving to those +in the church not to fire, and at the same time hurrying his pace a +little till he had passed the door and ordered it to be shut.</p> + +<p class="normal">"They have now fair warning," he said to one of the young Harris's, +who was on guard at the door; "but I will go up above and call to you +when I think anything is necessary to be done.--Remember, my good +fellows, that some order must be kept; and as you cannot all be at the +windows, let those who must stand back, load while the rest fire."</p> + +<p class="normal">Thus saying, he mounted to the top of the tower with a quick step, and +found Harding and five others on the roof. The horsemen in front of +the church, were all gathered together at a little distance, and +seemed in eager consultation; and amongst them the figures of young +Radford and the two Ramleys, father and son, were conspicuous from the +vehement gestures that they made--now pointing to the top of the +tower, now to the wall of the churchyard.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I think we could bring a good many down as they stand now," said +young William Harris, moving his gun towards his shoulder, as if the +inclination to fire were almost irresistible.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Stay--stay! not yet," replied Sir Edward Digby; "let it be clearly in +our own defence. Besides, you must remember these are but fowling +pieces. At that distance, few shots would tell."</p> + +<p class="normal">"One shall tell, at least, before this day is over," said Harding, who +had remained seated, hardly looking at the party without. "Something +tells me, I shall have vengeance this day."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Hallo! they are going to begin!" cried another man; and the same +moment, the gang of miscreants spread out, and while some advanced on +horseback towards the wall, at least fifty, who were armed with guns, +dismounted and aimed deliberately at the tower and the windows.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Down with your heads behind the parapet!" cried Digby, though he did +not follow the caution himself; "no use of exposing your lives +needlessly. Down--down, Harding!"</p> + +<p class="normal">But Harding sat where he was, saying, bitterly, "They'll not hit +me.--I know it--they've done worse already." As he spoke, a single gun +was fired, and then a volley, from the two sides of the churchyard +wall. One of the balls whizzed close by Sir Edward Digby's head, and +another struck the parapet near Harding; but neither were touched, and +the stout seaman did not move a muscle.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Now up, and give it them back!" exclaimed Digby; and, speaking down +the trap that led to the stairs, he called to those below, "Fire now, +and pick them off!--Steadily--steadily!" he continued, addressing his +companions on the roof, who were becoming somewhat too much excited. +"Make every shot tell, if you can--a good aim--a good aim!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Here goes for one!" cried William Harris, aiming at Jim Ramley, and +hitting him in the thigh; and instantly, from the roof and the windows +of the church, blazed forth a sharp fire of musketry, which apparently +was not without severe effect; for the men who had dismounted were +thrown into great confusion, and the horsemen who were advancing +recoiled, with several of their horses plunging violently.</p> + +<p class="normal">The only one on the roof who did not fire was Harding, and he remained +with his gun resting on the parapet beside him, gazing, with a stern, +dark brow, upon the scene.</p> + +<p class="normal">"There are three down," cried one of the men, "and a lot of horses!"</p> + +<p class="normal">But Richard Radford was seen gesticulating vehemently; and at length +taking off his hat, he waved it in the air, shouting, so loud that his +words reached those above, "I will show you the way, then; let every +brave man follow me!" And as he spoke he struck his spurs into his +horse's sides, galloped on, and pushed his beast at the low wall of +the churchyard.</p> + +<p class="normal">The animal, a powerful hunter, which had been sent to him by his +father the day before, rose to the leap as if with pride. But just +then, Harding raised his gun, aimed steadily, and pulled the trigger. +The smoke for a moment obscured Digby's view; but the instant after he +saw Richard Radford falling headlong from the saddle, and his shoulder +striking the wall as the horse cleared it. The body then fell over, +bent up, with the head leaning against a tombstone and the legs upon +an adjoining grave.</p> + +<p class="normal">"There!--that's done!" said Harding; and laying down the gun again, he +betook himself quietly to his seat upon the parapet once more.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The dragoons! the dragoons!" cried a young man from the other side of +the tower. But ere he spoke, the gang of villains were already in +retreat, several galloping away, and the rest wavering.</p> + +<p class="normal">Loading as fast as they could, the stout yeomanry in the church +continued firing from the windows and from the roof, accelerating the +movements of their assailants, who seemed only to pause for the +purpose of carrying off their wounded companions. Sir Edward Digby, +however, ran round to the opposite side of the tower, and, clearly +seeing the advance of some cavalry from the side of Cranbrook--though +the trees prevented him from ascertaining their numbers--he bade the +rest follow, and ran down into the body of the church.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Now out, and after them!" he exclaimed; "we may make some prisoners!" +But as soon as the large wooden doors were thrown back and the +peasantry were seen pouring forth, old Ramley, who was amongst the +last that lingered, turned his horse and galloped away, his companions +following as fast as they could. Four men were found on the outside of +the churchyard wall, of whom two were living; but Sir Edward Digby +advanced with several others to the spot where Richard Radford was +lying. He did not appear to have moved at all since he fell; and on +raising his head, which had fallen forward on his chest as he lay +propped up by the gravestone, a dark red spot in the centre of the +forehead, from which a small quantity of blood had flowed down over +his eyes and cheeks, told how fatally true the shot had gone to the +mark.</p> + +<p class="normal">When he had gazed on him for a moment, Digby turned round again, to +look for Harding; but the man who had slain him, did not approach the +corpse of Richard Radford; and Digby perceived him standing near a low +shed, which at that time encumbered the churchyard of Goudhurst, and +under which the young baronet's horses had been placed. Thither the +strong hunter, which Radford had been riding, had trotted as soon as +his master fell; and Harding had caught it by the bridle, and was +gazing at it with a thoughtful look.</p> + +<p class="normal">The last time Sir Edward Digby had seen him, before that morning, he +was in high happiness by the side of poor Kate Clare; and when the +young officer looked at him, as he stood there, with a sort of dull +despair in his whole aspect, he could not but feel strong and painful +sympathy with him, in his deep grief.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Mr. Harding," he said, approaching him, "the unhappy man is quite +dead."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, yes, sir," answered Harding, "dead enough, I am sure. I hope he +knew whose hand did it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am sorry to give you any further pain or anxiety, at this moment," +continued Digby, sinking his voice, "but I have heard that you are +supposed to have taken some part in landing the goods which were +captured the other day. For aught we know, there may be information +lodged against you; and probably there will be some officer of Customs +with the troop that is coming up. Would it not be better for you to +retire from this scene for a little?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thank you, sir,--thank you! That is kind!" answered Harding. "Life's +a load to me; but a prison is another thing. I would have given any of +those clumsy fellows a hundred guineas to have shot me as I sat there +but no man shall ever take me, and clap me up in a cell. I could not +bear that; and my poor Kate lying dead there, too!--I'll go, as you +say."</p> + +<p class="normal">But before he could execute his purpose, a small party of dragoons, +commanded by a lieutenant, with Birchett, the riding officer, and two +or three of his companions, came up at a trot, and poured through the +gate of the churchyard, which was now open.</p> + +<p class="normal">Sir Edward Digby advanced at once towards them--if the truth must be +told, to cover Harding's retreat; but Birchett's quick, shrewd eye had +run round the place in an instant; and, before the young baronet had +taken two steps along the path, he cried, "Why, there is Harding! Stop +him!--stop him! We have information against him. Don't let him pass!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I <i>will</i> pass, though," cried Harding, leaping at once upon the back +of Richard Radford's horse. "Now, stop me if you can!" and striking it +with his heel, he turned the animal across the churchyard, taking an +angle, away from the dragoons. Birchett spurred after him in a moment; +and the other officers followed; but the soldiers did not move. +Passing close by the spot where young Radford lay, as the officers +tried to cut him off from the gate, Harding cried, with a wild and +bitter laugh, "He is a good leaper, I know!" and instantly pushed his +horse at the wall.</p> + +<p class="normal">The gallant beast took it at once, and dashed away with its rider +along the road. The officers of Customs dared not trust their own +cattle with the same feat; but Birchett exclaimed, in a loud and +imperative tone, turning to the lieutenant of dragoons, "I require +your aid in capturing that man. He is one of the most daring smugglers +on the whole coast. We can catch him easily, if we are quick."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not know that I am authorized," said the lieutenant, not well +pleased with the man's manner; "where no armed resistance is +apprehended, I doubt if----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"But there may be resistance, sir," replied Birchett, vehemently; "he +is gone to join his comrades.--Well, the responsibility be on your +head! I claim your aid! Refuse it or not, as you shall think fit.--I +claim and require it instantly!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"What do you think, sir?" asked the young officer, turning to Digby.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nay, I am not in command here," answered the other; "you know your +orders."</p> + +<p class="normal">"To give all lawful aid and assistance," said the lieutenant. "Well, +take a Serjeant's guard, Mr. Birchett."</p> + +<p class="normal">In haste, the men were drawn out, and followed: Birchett leading them +furiously on the pursuit; but ere they had quitted the churchyard, +Harding was half-a-mile upon the road; and that was all he desired.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="div3_13" href="#div3Ref_13">CHAPTER XIII.</a></h2> +<br> + +<p class="normal">There was a large lugger lying off at no great distance from the +beach, near Sandgate, and a small boat, ready for launching, on the +shore. At the distance of two or three miles out, might be seen a +vessel of considerable size, and of that peculiar rig and build which +denoted, to nautical eyes, that there lay a king's vessel. She was, +indeed, a frigate of inferior class, which had been sent round to +co-operate with the Customs, in the suppression of the daring system +of smuggling, which, as we have shown, was carried on in Romney Marsh, +and the neighbouring country. By the lesser boat, upon the shore, +stood four stout fellows, apparently employed in making ready to put +off; and upon the high ground above, was seen a single officer of +Customs, walking carelessly to and fro, and apparently taking little +heed of the proceedings below. Some movements might be perceived on +board the ship; the sails, which had been furled, now began to flutter +in the wind, which was blowing strong; and it seemed evident that the +little frigate was about to get under weigh. The lugger, however, +remained stationary; and the men near the boat continued their labours +for nearly an hour after they seemed in reality to have nothing more +to do.</p> + +<p class="normal">At length, however, coming at a furious pace, down one of the narrow +foot-paths from the high ground above, which led away towards Cheriton +and Newington, was seen a horseman, waving his hand to those below, +and passing within fifty yards of the officer of Customs. The sailors, +who were standing by the boat, instantly pushed her down to the very +verge of the water; the officer hallooed after the bold rider, but +without causing him to pause for an instant in his course; and down, +at thundering speed, across the road, and over the sand and shingle, +Harding, the smuggler, dashed on, till the horse that bore him stood +foaming and panting beside the boat. Instantly springing out of the +saddle, he cast the bridle on the tired beasts neck, and jumped into +the skiff, exclaiming, "Shove her off!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Arn't there some more, Jack?" asked one of the men.</p> + +<p class="normal">"None but myself," replied Harding, "and me they shan't catch.--Shove +her off, I say--you'll soon see who are coming after!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The men obeyed at once; the boat was launched into the water; and +almost at the same instant, the party of dragoons in pursuit appeared +upon the top of the rise, followed, a moment after, by Birchett, and +another officer of the Customs. The vehement and angry gestures of the +riding officer indicated plainly enough that he saw the prey had +escaped him; but while the dragoons and his fellow officer made their +way slowly down the bank, to the narrow road which at that time ran +along the beach, he galloped off towards a signal-post, which then +stood upon an elevated spot, not far from the place where the +turnpike, on the road between Sandgate and Folkestone, now stands. In +a few minutes various small flags were seen rapidly running up to the +top of the staff; and, as speedily as possible afterwards, signals of +the same kind were displayed on board the frigate.</p> + +<p class="normal">In the meantime, however, Harding and his party had rowed rapidly +towards the lugger, the sails of which were already beginning to fill; +and in less than two minutes she was scudding through the water as +fast as the wind would bear her. But the frigate was also under weigh; +and, to both experienced and inexperienced eyes, it seemed that the +bold smuggler had hardly one chance of escape. Between Dungeness +Point, and the royal vessel, there appeared to be no space for any of +those daring manœuvres by which the small vessels, engaged in the +contraband trade, occasionally eluded the pursuit of their larger and +more formidable opponents; but Harding still pursued his course, +striving to get into the open sea, before the frigate could cut him +off.</p> + +<p class="normal">Bending under the press of sail, the boat rushed through the waves, +with the uptide running strong against her, and the spray dashing over +her from stem to stern; but still, as she took an angle, though an +acute one, with the course of the frigate, the latter gained upon her +every moment, till at length a shot, whistling across her bows, gave +her the signal to bring to. It is needless to tell the reader, that +signal received no attention; but, still steered with a firm hand, and +carrying every stitch of canvas she could bear, the lugger pursued her +way. A minute had scarcely passed, ere flash and report came again +from the frigate, and once more a ball whistled by. Another and +another followed; but, no longer directed across the lugger's bows, +they were evidently aimed directly at her; and one of them passed +through the foresail, though without doing any farther damage. The +case seemed so hopeless, not only to those who watched the whole +proceeding from the shore, but to most of those who were in the +lugger, that a murmured consultation took place among the men; and +after two or three more shots had been fired, coming each time nearer +and nearer to their flying mark, one of the crew turned to Harding, +who had scarcely uttered a word since he entered the boat, and said, +"Come, sir, I don't think this will do.--We shall only get ourselves +sunk for no good.--We had better douse."</p> + +<p class="normal">Harding looked sternly at him for a moment without reply; and a +somewhat bitter answer rose to his lips. But he checked himself, and +said, at length, "There's no use sacrificing your lives. You've got +wives and children--fathers and mothers. I have no one to care for +me.--Get into the boat, and be off. Me they shall never catch, dead or +alive; and if I go to the bottom, it's the best berth for me now. +Here, just help me reeve these tiller-ropes that I may take shelter +under the companion; and then be off as fast as you can."</p> + +<p class="normal">The men would fain have remonstrated; but Harding would hear nothing; +and, covering himself as much as he could from the aim of small arms +from the vessel, he insisted that the whole of his crew should go and +leave him.</p> + +<p class="normal">A short pause in the lugger's flight was observable from the shore; +and everybody concluded that she had struck. The row-boat, filled with +men, was seen to pull off from her, and the large heavy sails to flap +for an instant in the wind. But then her course was altered in a +moment; the sails filled again with the full breeze; and going like a +swallow over the waves, she dashed on towards the frigate, and, +passing her within pistol-range immediately after, shot across upon +her weather-bow.</p> + +<p class="normal">A cloud of smoke ran all along the side of the frigate, as this bold +and extraordinary manœuvre was executed. The faint report of small +arms was wafted by the wind to the shore, as well as the sound of +several cannon; but still, whether Harding was wounded or not wounded, +living or dead, his gallant boat dashed steadily on, and left the +frigate far behind, apparently giving up the chase, as no longer +presenting any chance of success. On, on, went the lugger, diminishing +as it flew over the waves, till at length, to the eyes even of those +who watched from the heights, its dark, tanned sails grouped +themselves into one small speck, and were then lost to the sight.</p> + +<p class="normal">The after-fate of that adventurous man, who thus, single and unaided, +trusted himself to the wide waves, is wrapped in obscurity. The writer +of these pages, indeed, did once see a stern-looking old man of the +same name, who had returned some few years before from distant +lands--no one well knew whence--to spend the last few years of a life, +which had been protracted considerably beyond the ordinary term of +human existence, in a seaport not very far from Folkestone. The +conversation of the people of the place pointed him out as one who had +done extraordinary deeds, and seen strange sights; but whether he was, +indeed, the Harding of this tale or not, I cannot say. Of one thing, +however, the reader may be certain, that in all the statements +regarding the smuggler's marvellous escape, the most scrupulous +accuracy has been observed, and that every fact is as true as any part +of history, and a great deal more so than most.</p> + +<p class="normal">Having now disposed of one of our principal characters, let me take +the reader gently by the hand, and lead him back to Harbourne House. +The way is somewhat long, but still, not more than a stout man can +walk without fatigue upon a pleasant morning; and it lies, too, +amongst sweet and interesting scenes--which, to you and me, dear +reader, are, I trust, embellished by some of the charms of +association.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was about six days after the attack, upon the church at Goudhurst, +when a great number of those personages with whom it has been +necessary to make the reader acquainted, were assembled in the +drawing-room of Sir Robert Croyland's mansion. One or two, indeed, +were wanting, even of the party which might have been expected there, +but their absence shall be accounted for hereafter. The baronet +himself was seated in the arm-chair, which he generally occupied more +as a mark of his state and dignity, than for comfort and convenience. +In the present instance, however, he seemed to need support, for he +leaned heavily upon the arm of the chair, and appeared languid and +feeble. His face was very pale, his lips somewhat livid; and yet, +though suffering evidently under considerable corporeal debility, +there was a look of mental relief in his eyes, and a sweet placidity +about his smile, that no one had seen on his countenance for many +years.</p> + +<p class="normal">Mrs. Barbara was, as usual, seated at her everlasting embroidery; and +here we may as well mention a fact which we omitted to mention before, +but which some persons may look upon as indicative of her mental +character--namely, that the embroidery, though it had gone on all her +life, by no means proceeded in an even course of progression. On the +contrary, to inexperienced eyes, it seemed as if no sooner was a +stitch put in than it was drawn out again, the point of the needle +being gently thrust under the loop of the thread, and then the arm +extended with an even sweep, so as to withdraw the silk from its hole +in the canvas. Penelope's web was nothing to Mrs. Barbary Croyland's +embroidery; for the queen of Ithaca only undid what she had previously +done, every night; and Aunt Bab undid it every minute. On the present +occasion, she was more busy in the retroactive process than ever, not +only pulling out the silk she had just put in, but a great deal more; +so that the work of the last three days, was in imminent danger of +total destruction.</p> + +<p class="normal">Mr. Zachary Croyland never sat down when he could stand; for there was +about him, a sort of mobility and activity of spirits, which always +inclined him to keep his body ready for action. He so well knew that, +when seated, he was incessantly inclined to start up again, that +probably he thought it of little use to sit down at all; and +consequently he was even now upon his feet, midway between his brother +and his sister, rubbing his hands, and giving a gay, but cynical +glance from one to the other.</p> + +<p class="normal">In a chair near the window, with his wild, but fine eye gazing over +the pleasant prospect which the terrace commanded, and apparently +altogether absent in mind from the scene in the drawing-room, was +seated Mr. Osborn; and not far from Mr. Croyland stood Sir Henry +Leyton, in an ordinary riding-dress, with his left hand resting on the +hilt of his sword, speaking in an easy, quiet tone to Sir Robert +Croyland; and nearly opposite to him was Edith, with her arm resting +on the table, and her cheek supported on her hand. Her face was still +pale, though the colour had somewhat returned; and the expression was +grave, though calm. Indeed, she never recovered the gay and sparkling +look which had characterized her countenance in early youth; but the +expression had gained in depth and intensity more than it had lost in +brightness; and then, when she did smile, it was with ineffable +sweetness: a gleam of sunshine upon the deep sea. Her eyes were fixed +upon her lover; and those who knew her well could read in them +satisfaction, love, hope--nay, more than hope--a pride, the only pride +that she could know--that he whom she had chosen in her girlhood, to +whom she had remained true and faithful through years of sorrow and +unexampled trial, had proved himself in every way worthy of her first +affection and her long constancy.</p> + +<p class="normal">But where was Zara?--where Sir Edward Digby? for neither of them were +present at the time. From the laws of attraction between different +terrestrial bodies, we have every reason to infer that Digby and Zara +were not very far apart. However, they had been somewhat eccentric +in their orbits; for Zara had gone out about a couple of hours +before--Digby being then absent, no one knew where--upon a charitable +errand, to carry consolation and sympathy to the cottage of poor Mrs. +Clare, whose daughter had been committed to the earth the day before. +How it happened, Heaven only knows, but certain it is, that at the +moment I now speak of, she and Digby were walking home together, +towards Harbourne House, while his servant led his horse at some +distance behind.</p> + +<p class="normal">Before they reached the house, however, a long conversation had taken +place between the personages in the drawing-room, of which I shall +only give the last few sentences.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is true, Harry, it is true," said Sir Robert Croyland, in reply to +something just spoken by Leyton; "and we have both things to forgive; +but you far more than I have; and as you have set me an example of +doing good for evil, and atoning, by every means, for a slight error, +I will not be backward to do the same, and to acknowledge that I have +acted most wrongly towards you--for which may Heaven forgive me, as +you have done. I have small means of atoning for much that is past; +but to do so, as far as possible: freely, and with my full consent, +take the most valuable thing I have to give--my dear child's +hand,--nay, hear me yet a moment. I wish your marriage to take place +as soon as possible. I have learned to doubt of time, and never to +trust the future. Say a week--a fortnight, Edith; but let it be +speedily. It is my wish--let me say, for the last time, it is my +command."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But, brother Robert," exclaimed Mrs. Barbara, ruining her embroidery +irretrievably in the agitation of the moment, "you know it can't be so +very soon; for there are all the dresses to get ready, and the +settlements to be drawn up, and a thousand things to buy; and our +cousins in Yorkshire must be informed, and----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"D--n our cousins in Yorkshire!" exclaimed Mr. Zachary Croyland. "Now, +my dear Bab, tell me candidly, whether you have or have not any nice +little plan ready for spoiling the whole, and throwing us all into +confusion again. Don't you think you could just send Edith to visit +somebody in the small-pox? or get Harry Leyton run through in a duel? +or some other little comfortable consummation, which may make us all +as unhappy as possible?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Really, brother Zachary, I don't know what you mean," said Mrs. +Barbara, looking the picture of injured innocence.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I dare say not, Bab," answered Mr. Croyland; "but I understand what +you mean; and I tell you it shall not be. Edith shall fix the day; and +as a good child, she will obey her father, and fix it as early as +possible. When once fixed, it shall not be changed or put off, on any +account or consideration whatever, if my name's Croyland. As for the +dresses, don't you trouble your head about that; I'll undertake the +dresses, and have them all down from London by the coach. Give me the +size of your waist, Edith, upon a piece of string, and your length +from shoulder to heel, and leave all the rest to me. If I don't dress +her like a Mahommedan princess, may I never hear <i>Bismillah</i> again."</p> + +<p class="normal">Edith smiled, but answered, "I don't think it will be at all +necessary, my dear uncle, to put you to the trouble; and I do not +think it would answer its purpose if you took it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"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."</p> + +<p class="normal">As he spoke, the farther progress of the discussion was interrupted 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 Leyton, neither of whom she had seen before +during that morning; and then passing by her father, in her way +towards Edith, she whispered a word to him as she went.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What, what!" 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 something important to tell me, Sir +Edward.--Pray speak! I have no secrets from those who are around me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am sure, what I have to say will shock all present!" 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 terminated a career of crime, by the greatest that he +could commit."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, there's one rascal less in the world--that's some comfort," +said Mr. Zachary Croyland; "I would rather, indeed, 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?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Sir Robert Croyland did not reply, but made a faint sign to open the +window, which was immediately done; and he revived under the influence +of the air.</p> + +<p class="normal">"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 to her offer, "no: you can +understand what I feel; but I shall be better presently. Stay here, +and let all this be settled; and remember, Edith, name the earliest +day possible--arrange with Zara and Digby. Theirs can take place at +the same time."</p> + +<p class="normal">Thus saying, he went out, and was seen walking slowly to and fro upon +the terrace, for some minutes after. In the meanwhile, the war had +commenced between Mr. Zachary Croyland and his younger niece. "Ah, +Mrs. Madcap!" he exclaimed, "so I hear tales of you. The coquette has +been caught at length! You are going to commit matrimony; and as birds +of a feather flock together, the wild girl and the wild boy must +pair."</p> + +<p class="normal">With her usual light, graceful step, and with her usual gay and +brilliant smile, Zara left Sir Edward Digby's side, and crossing over +to her uncle, rested both her hands upon his arm, while he stood as +erect and stiff as a finger post, gazing down upon her with a look of +sour fun, But in Zara's eyes, beautiful and beaming as they were, +there was a look of deeper feeling than they usually displayed when +jesting, as was her wont, with Mr. Croyland.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, Chit," he said, "well, what do you want?--a new gown, or a +smart hat, or a riding-whip, with a tiger's head in gold at the top?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, my dear uncle," she answered, "but I want you not to tease me, +nor to laugh at me, nor to abuse me, just now. For once in my life, I +feel that I must be serious; and I think even less teasing than +ordinary might be too much for me. Perhaps, one time or another, you +may find out that poor Zara's coquetry was more apparent than real, +and that though she had an object, it was a better one than you, in +your benevolence, were disposed to think."</p> + +<p class="normal">An unwonted drop swam in her eyes as she spoke; and Mr. Croyland gazed +down upon her tenderly for a moment. Then throwing his arms round her, +he kissed her cheek--"I know it, my dear," he said--"I know it. Edith +has told me all; and she who has been a kind, good sister, will, I am +sure, be a kind, good wife. Here, take her away, Digby. A better girl +doesn't live, whatever I may have said. The worst of it is, she is a +great deal too good for you, or any other wild, harem-scarem fellow. +But stay--stay," he continued, as Digby came forward, laughing, and +took Zara's hand; "here's something with her; for, as I am sure you +will be a couple of spendthrifts, it is but fit that you should have +something to set out upon."</p> + +<p class="normal">Mr. Croyland, as he spoke, put his hand into the somewhat wide and +yawning pocket of his broad-tailed coat, and produced his pocket-book, +from which he drew forth a small slip of paper.</p> + +<p class="normal">Digby took it, and looked at it, but instantly held it out again to +Mr. Croyland, saying, "My dear sir, it is quite unnecessary. I claim +nothing but her hand; and that is mine by promises which I hope will +not be very long ere they are fulfilled."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nonsense, nonsense!" cried Mr. Croyland, putting away the paper with +the back of his hand; "did ever any one see such a fool?--I tell you, +Sir Edward Digby, I'm as proud a man as you are, and you shall not +marry my niece without receiving the same portion as her sister +possesses. I hate all eldest sons, as you well know; and I don't see +why eldest daughters should exist either. I'll have them all equal. No +differences here. I've made up to Zara, the disparity which one fool +of an uncle thought fit to put between her and Edith. Such was always +my intention; and moreover, let it clearly be understood, that when +you have put this old carrion under ground, what I leave is to be +divided between them--all equal, all equal--co-heiresses, of Zachary +Croyland, Esq., surnamed the Nabob, alias the Misanthrope--and then, +if you like it, you may each bear in your arms a crow rampant, on an +escutcheon of pretence."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thank you, thank you, my dear uncle," answered Edith Croyland, while +Zara's gay heart was too full to let her speak--"thank you for such +thought of my sweet sister; for, indeed, to me, during long years of +sorrow and trouble, she has been the spirit of consolation, comfort, +strength--even hope."</p> + +<p class="normal">Poor Zara was overpowered; and she burst into tears. It seemed as if +all the feelings, which for the sake of others she had so long +suppressed--all the emotions, anxieties, and cares which she had +conquered or treated lightly, in order to give aid and support to +Edith, rushed upon her at once in the moment of joy, and overwhelmed +her.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why, what's the foolish girl crying about?" exclaimed Mr. Croyland; +but then, drawing her kindly to him, he added, "Come, my dear, we will +make a truce, upon the following conditions--I wont 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.</p> + +<p class="normal">While this gayer conversation had been going on within, Mr. Osborn had +passed through the glass doors, and was walking 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.</p> + +<p class="normal">"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."</p> + +<p class="normal">"If such be your view," replied Mr. Osborn, "you are right, Sir +Robert; and Heaven bless those acts, which are done under such +impressions."</p> + +<p class="normal">The party in the drawing-room heard no more; and, notwithstanding the +kindly efforts of Mrs. Barbara, and a thousand 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, without 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.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My dear children," he said, in a feeble voice, "I have often longed +for this hour; and though life has become happier 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 marriage; for I longed to witness it with my own eyes, +yet was unwilling to mingle the happiness of such a union, with the +thought that it took place while I was in sickness and danger. My +brother will be a father to you, I am sure, when I am gone; but still +it is some satisfaction to know that you have both better protectors, +even here on earth, than he or I could be. I trust you are happy; and +believe me, I am not otherwise--though lying here with death before +me."</p> + +<p class="normal">Towards four o'clock on the following day, the windows of Harbourne +House were closed; and, about a week after, the mortal remains of Sir +Robert Croyland were conveyed to the family vault in the village +church. Mr. Croyland succeeded to the estates and title of his +brother; but he would not quit the mansion which he himself had built, +leaving Mrs. Barbara, with a handsome income, which he secured to her, +to act the Lady Bountiful of Harbourne House.</p> + +<p class="normal">The fate of Edith and Zara we need not farther trace. It was such as +might be expected from the circumstances in which they were now +placed. We will not venture to say that it was purely happy; for when +was ever pure and unalloyed happiness found on earth? There were +cares, there were anxieties, there were griefs, from time to time: for +the splendid visions of young imagination may be prophetic of joys +that shall be ours, if we deserve them in our trial here, but are +never realized within the walls of our mortal prison, and recede +before us, to take their stand for ever beyond the portals of the +tomb. But still they were as happy as human beings, perhaps, ever +were; for no peculiar pangs or sufferings were destined to follow +those which had gone before; and in their domestic life, having chosen +well and wisely, they found--as every one will find, who judges upon +such grounds--that love, when it is pure, and high, and true, is a +possession, to the brightness of which even hope can add no sweetness, +imagination no splendour that it does not in itself possess.</p> + +<p class="normal">The reader may be inclined to ask the after fate of some of the other +characters mentioned in this work. In regard to many of them, I must +give an unsatisfactory reply. What became of most, indeed, I do not +know. The name of Mowle, the officer of Customs, is still familiar to +the people of Hythe and its neighbourhood. It is certain that Ramley +and one of his sons were hanged; but the rest of the records of that +respectable family are, I fear, lost to the public. Little Starlight +seems to have disappeared from that part of the country, for some +time; and in truth, I have no certainty that the well-known +pickpocket, Night Ray, who was transported to Botany Bay, some +thirty years after the period of this tale, and was shot in an attempt +to escape, was the same person whose early career is here recorded. +But of one thing the reader maybe perfectly certain, that--whatever +was the fortune which attended any of the persons I have +mentioned--whether worldly prosperity, or temporary adversity befel +them--the real, the solid good, the happiness of spirit, was awarded +in exact proportion to each, as their acts were good, and their hearts +were pure.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>FOOTNOTES</h3> +<br> +<p class="hang1"><a name="div4_01" href="#div4Ref_01">Footnote 1</a>: It may be as well to explain to the uninitiated reader, +that the secret places where smugglers conceal their goods after +landing, are known by the name of "Hides."</p> +<br> +<p class="hang1"><a name="div4_02" href="#div4Ref_02">Footnote 2</a>: It will be seen that I have represented all my officers +as young men, even up to the very colonel of the regiment; but it must +be remembered, that, in those days, promotion in the service was +regulated in a very different manner from the present system. I +remember a droll story, of a visitor at a nobleman's house, inquiring +of the butler what was the cause of an obstreperous roaring he heard +up stairs, when the servant replied, "Oh, sir, it is nothing but the +little general crying for his pap."</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> + +<h3>THE END.</h3> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h5>T. C. Savill, Printer, 4, Chandos Street, Covent Garden.</h5> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Smuggler: (Vol's I-III), by +G. P. R. 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(George Payne Rainsford James + +Release Date: April 24, 2012 [EBook #39531] +Last Updated: December 12, 2017 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE SMUGGLER: (VOL'S I-III) *** + + + + +Produced by Charles Bowen, from page scans provided by +Google Books (Oxford University) + + + + + + + + + + + +Transcriber's Notes: + + 1. Page scan source: + http://books.google.com/books?id=q_QDAAAAQAAJ + (Oxford University) + + 2. The diphthong oe is represented by [oe]. + + + + + + + THE SMUGGLER: + + + + A Tale + + + + BY G. P. R. JAMES, ESQ. + + AUTHOR OF + + "DARNLEY," "DE L'ORME," "RICHELIEU," + + ETC. ETC. + + + + IN THREE VOLUMES. + + + VOL. I. + + + + + LONDON: + SMITH, ELDER AND CO., 65, CORNHILL. + 1845. + + + + + + + DEDICATION. + + * * * + + TO + + THE HON. CHARLES EWAN LAW, M.P. + + RECORDER OF LONDON, + + ETC. ETC. ETC. + + * * * + + +My Dear Sir, + +It would be almost superfluous to assure you of my esteem and regard; +but feelings of personal friendship are rarely assigned as the sole +motives of a dedication. The qualities, however, which command public +respect, and the services which have secured it to you in so high a +degree, must appear a sufficient motive for offering you this slight +tribute, in the eyes not only of those who know and love you in the +relations of private life, but of all the many who have marked your +career, either as a lawyer, alike eminent in learning and in +eloquence, or as a just, impartial, clear-sighted, and yet merciful +judge. + +You will willingly accept the book, I know, for the sake of the +author; though, perhaps, you may have neither time nor inclination to +read it. Accept the dedication, also, I beg, as a sincere testimony of +respect from one who, having seen a good deal of the world, and +studied mankind attentively, is not easily induced to reverence or won +to regard. + +When you look upon this page, it will probably call to your mind some +very pleasant hours, which would doubtless have been as agreeable if I +had not been there. As I write it, it brings up before my eyes many a +various scene, of which you and yours were the embellishment and the +light. At all events, such memories must be pleasant to us both; for +they refer to days almost without a shadow, when the magistrate and +the legislator escaped from care and thought, and the laborious man of +letters cast away his toil. + +In the following pages you will find more than one place depicted, as +familiar to your remembrance as to mine; and if I have taken some +liberties with a few localities, stolen a mile or two off certain +distances, or deprived various hills and dales of their due +proportions, these faults are of a species of petty larceny, on which +I do not think you will pass a severe sentence, and I hope the public +will imitate your lenity. + +I trust that no very striking errors will meet your eye, for I believe +I have given a correct picture of the state of society in this good +county of Kent as it existed some eighty or ninety years ago; and, in +regard to the events, if you or any of my readers should be inclined +to exclaim,--"This incident is not probable!" I have an answer ready, +quite satisfactory to myself, whatever it may be to others; namely, +that "the improbable incident" is true. All the more wild, stirring, +and what may be called romantic parts of the tale, are not alone +_founded_ upon fact, but are facts; and the narrative owes me nothing +more than a gown owes to a sempstress--namely, the mere sewing of it +together with a very common-place needle and thread. In short, a few +characters thrown in for relief, a little love, a good deal of +landscape, and a few tiresome reflections, are all that I have added +to a simple relation of transactions well known to many in this part +of the country as having actually happened, a generation or two ago. +Among these recorded incidents are the attack of Goudhurst Church by +the smugglers, its defence by the peasantry, the pursuit, and defeat +of the free-traders of those days by the Dragoons, the implication of +some persons of great wealth in the most heinous parts of the +transaction, the visit of Mowle, the officer, in disguise, to the +meeting-place of his adversaries, his accidental detection by one of +them, and the bold and daring man[oe]uvre of the smuggler, Harding, as +related near the close of the work. Another incident, but too sadly +true--namely, the horrible deed by which some of the persons taking a +chief part in the contraband trade called down upon themselves the +fierce enmity of the peasantry--I have but lightly touched upon, for +reasons you will understand and appreciate. But it is some +satisfaction to know that there were just judges in those days, as +well as at present, and that the perpetrators of one of the most +brutal crimes on record suffered the punishment they so well merited. + +Happily, my dear sir, a dedication, in these days, is no compliment; +and therefore I can freely offer, and you receive it, as a true and +simple expression of high respect and regard, + + From yours faithfully, + + G. P. R. JAMES. + + + + + + THE SMUGGLER + + + + + CHAPTER I. + + +It is wonderful what improvements have taken place in clocks and +watches during the last half-century; how accurately the escapements +are constructed, how delicately the springs are formed, how easily the +wheels move, and what good time they keep. After all, society is but a +clock, a very complicated piece of mechanism; and it, too, has +undergone, in many countries, the same improvements that have taken +place in the little ticking machines that we put in our pockets, or +those greater indicators of our progress towards eternity that we hang +upon our walls. From the wooden clock, with its weight and catgut, to +the exquisite chronometer which varies only by a second or two in the +course of the year, what a vast advance! and between even a period +which many still living can remember, and that in which I now write, +what a change has taken place in the machinery and organization of the +land in which we dwell! + +In the times which I am about to depict, though feudal ages were gone, +though no proud barons ruled the country round from castle and +stronghold, though the tumultuous times of the great rebellion had +also passed away, and men in buff and bandolier no longer preached, or +fought, or robbed, or tyrannized under the name of law and liberty, +though the times of the second Charles and the second James, William +and Mary, and good Queen Anne, falling collars, and hats and plumes, +and floating wigs and broad-tailed coats, were all gone--bundled away +into the great lumber-room of the Past--still, dear reader, there was +a good deal of the wooden clock about the mechanism of society. + +One of the parts in which rudeness of construction and coarseness of +material were most apparent, was in the Customs system of the country, +and in the impediments which it met with. The escapement was anything +but fine. Nowadays we do things delicately. If we wish to cheat the +government, we forge Exchequer bills, or bribe landing-waiters and +supervisors, or courteously insinuate to a superior officer that a +thousand pounds is not too great a mark of gratitude for enabling us +to pocket twenty thousand at the expense of the Customs. If we wish to +cheat the public, there is chalk for our milk, grains of paradise for +our beer, sago and old rags for our sugar, lime for our linen, and +devils' dust to cover our backs. Chemistry and electricity, steam and +galvanism, all lend their excellent aid to the cheat, the swindler, +and the thief; and if a man is inclined to keep himself within +respectable limits, and deceive himself and others at the same time +with perfect good faith and due decorum, are there not hom[oe]opathy, +hydropathy, and mesmerism? + +In the days I speak of it was not so. There was a grander roughness +and daringness about both our rogues and our theorists. None but a +small villain would consent to be a swindler. We had more robbers than +cheats; and if a man chose to be an impostor, it was with all the +dignity and decision of a Psalmanazor, or a bottle conjuror. Gunpowder +and lead were the only chemical agents employed; a bludgeon was the +animal magnetism most in vogue, and your senses and your person were +attacked and knocked down upon the open road without having the heels +of either delicately tripped up by some one you did not see. + +Still this difference was more apparent in the system of smuggling +than in anything else, and the whole plan, particulars, course of +action, and results were so completely opposed to anything that is, or +can be in the present day--the scenes, the characters, the very +localities have so totally changed, that it may be necessary to pause +a moment before we go on to tell our tale, in order to give some sort +of description of the state of the country bordering on the sea-coast, +at the period to which I allude. + +Scarcely any one of the maritime counties was in those days without +its gang of smugglers; for if France was not opposite, Holland was not +far off; and if brandy was not the object, nor silk, nor wine, yet tea +and cinnamon, and hollands, and various East India goods, were things +duly estimated by the British public, especially when they could be +obtained without the payment of Custom-house dues. But besides the +inducements to smuggling which the high price that those dues imposed +upon certain articles, held out, it must be remembered that various +other commodities were totally prohibited, and, as an inevitable +consequence, were desired and sought for more than any others. The +nature of both man and woman, from the time of Adam and Eve down to +the present day, has always been fond of forbidden fruit; and it +mattered not a pin whether the goods were really better or worse, so +that they were prohibited, men would risk their necks to get them. The +system of prevention also was very inefficient, and a few scattered +Custom-House officers, aided by a cruiser here or there upon the +coast, had an excellent opportunity of getting their throats cut or +their heads broken, or of making a decent livelihood by conniving at +the transactions they were sent down to stop, as the peculiar +temperament of each individual might render such operations pleasant +to him. Thus, to use one of the smugglers' own expressions--a +_roaring_ trade in contraband goods was going on along the whole +British coast, with very little let or hindrance. + +As there are land-sharks and water-sharks, so were there then (and so +are there now) land-smugglers and water-smugglers. The latter brought +the objects of their commerce, either from foreign countries or from +foreign vessels, and landed them on the coast--and a bold, daring, +reckless body of men they were; the former, in gangs, consisting +frequently of many hundreds, generally well mounted and armed, +conveyed the commodities so landed into the interior, and distributed +them to others, who retailed them as occasion required. Nor were these +gentry one whit less fearless, enterprising, and lawless than their +brethren of the sea. + +We have not yet done, however, with all the ramifications of this vast +and magnificent league, for it extended itself, in the districts where +it existed, to almost every class of society. Each tradesman smuggled +or dealt in smuggled goods; each public house was supported by +smugglers, and gave them in return every facility possible; each +country gentleman on the coast dabbled a little in the interesting +traffic; almost every magistrate shared in the proceeds or partook of +the commodities. Scarcely a house but had its place of concealment, +which would accommodate either kegs or bales, or human beings, as the +case might be; and many streets in sea-port towns had private passages +from one house to another, so that the gentleman inquired for by the +officers at No. 1 was often walking quietly out of No. 20, while they +were searching for him in vain. The back of one street had always +excellent means of communication with the front of another; and the +gardens gave exit to the country with as little delay as possible. + +Of all counties, however, the most favoured by nature and by art for +the very pleasant and exciting sport of smuggling, was the county of +Kent; its geographical position, its local features, its variety of +coast, all afforded it the greatest advantages; and the daring +character of the natives on the shores of the Channel was sure to turn +those advantages to the purposes in question. Sussex, indeed, was not +without its share of facilities, nor did the Sussex men fail to +improve them; but they were so much farther off from the opposite +coast, that the commerce--which we may well call the regular +trade--was, at Hastings, Rye, and Winchelsea, in no degree to be +compared to that which was carried on from the North Foreland to +Romney Hoy. + +At one time, the fine level of "The Marsh," a dark night and a fair +wind, afforded a delightful opportunity for landing a cargo and +carrying it rapidly into the interior; at another time, Sandwich Flats +and Pevensey Bay presented a harbour of refuge, and a place of repose +to kegs innumerable and bales of great value; at another period, the +cliffs round Folkestone and near the South Foreland, saw spirits +travelling up by paths which seemed inaccessible to mortal foot; and +at another, the wild and broken ground at the back of Sandgate was +traversed by long trains of horses, escorting or carrying every +description of contraband articles. + +The interior of the country was not less favourable to the traffic +than the coast: large masses of wood, numerous gentlemen's parks, +hills and dales tossed about in wild confusion; roads such as nothing +but horses could travel, or men on foot, often constructed with felled +trees or broad stones laid side by side; wide tracts of ground, partly +copse and partly moor, called in that county "minnisses;" and a long +extent of the Weald of Kent, through which no high way existed, and +where such thing as coach or carriage was never seen, offered the land +smugglers opportunities of carrying on their transactions with the +degree of secrecy and safety which no other county afforded. Their +numbers, too, were so great, their boldness and violence so notorious, +their powers of injuring or annoying so various, that even those who +took no part in their operations were glad to connive at their +proceedings, and at times to aid in concealing their persons or their +goods. Not a park, not a wood, not a barn, did not at some period +afford them a refuge when pursued, or become a depository for their +commodities; and many a man, on visiting his stable or his cart-shed +early in the morning, found it tenanted by anything but horses or +wagons. The churchyards were frequently crowded at night by other +spirits than those of the dead, and not even the church was exempted +from such visitations. + +None of the people of the county took notice of, or opposed these +proceedings; the peasantry laughed at, or aided, and very often got a +good day's work, or, at all events, a jug of genuine hollands from the +friendly smugglers; the clerk and the sexton willingly aided and +abetted, and opened the door of vault, or vestry, or church, for the +reception of the passing goods; the clergyman shut his eyes if he saw +tubs or stone jars in his way; and it is remarkable what good brandy +punch was generally to be found at the house of the village pastor. +The magistrates of the county, when called upon to aid in pursuit of +the smugglers, looked grave, and swore in constables very slowly; +despatched servants on horseback to see what was going on, and ordered +the steward or the butler to "_send the sheep to the wood_," an +intimation that was not lost upon those for whom it was intended. The +magistrates and officers of seaport towns were in general so deeply +implicated in the trade themselves, that smuggling had a fairer chance +than the law, in any case that came before them, and never was a more +hopeless enterprise undertaken, in ordinary circumstances, than that +of convicting a smuggler, unless captured in flagrant delict. + +Were it only our object to depict the habits and manners of these +worthy people, we might take any given part of the seaward side of +Kent that we chose for particular description, for it was all the +same. No railroads had penetrated through the country then; no coast +blockade was established; even martello-towers were unknown; and in +the general confederacy or understanding which existed throughout the +whole of the county, the officers found it nearly a useless task to +attempt to execute their duty. Nevertheless, as it is a tale I have to +tell, not a picture to paint, I may as well dwell for a few minutes +upon the scene of the principal adventures about to be related. A long +range of hills, varying greatly in height and steepness, runs nearly +down the centre of the county of Kent, throwing out spurs or +buttresses in different directions, and sometimes leaving broad and +beautiful valleys between. The origin or base, if we may so call it, +of this range is the great Surrey chain of hills; not that it is +perfectly connected with that chain, for in many places a separation +is found, through which the Medway, the Stour, and several smaller +rivers wind onward to the Thames or to the sea; but still the general +connexion is sufficiently marked, and from Dover and Folkestone, by +Chart, Lenham, Maidstone, and Westerham on the one side, and Barham, +Harbledown, and Rochester on the other, the road runs generally over a +long line of elevated ground, only dipping down here and there to +visit some town or city of importance which has nested itself in one +of the lateral valleys, or strayed out into the plain. + +On the northern side of the county, a considerable extent of flat +ground extends along the bank and estuary of the Thames from Greenwich +to Sandwich and Deal. On the southern side, a still wider extent lies +between the high-land and the borders of Sussex. This plain or valley +as perhaps it may be called, terminates at the sea by the renowned +flat of Romney Marsh. Farther up, somewhat narrowing as it goes, it +takes the name of the Weald of Kent, comprising some very rich land +and a number of small villages, with one or two towns of no very great +importance. This Weald of Kent is bordered all along by the southern +side of the hilly range we have mentioned; but strange to say, +although a very level piece of ground was to be had through this +district, the high road perversely pursued its way up and down the +hills, by Lenham and Charing, till it thought fit to descend to +Ashford, and thence once more make its way to Folkestone. Thus a great +part of the Weald of Kent was totally untravelled; and at one village +of considerable size, which now hears almost hourly the panting and +screaming steam-engine whirled by, along its iron course, I have +myself seen the whole population of the place turn out to behold the +wonderful phenomenon of a coach-and-four, the first that was ever +beheld in the place. Close to the sea the hills are bare enough; but +at no great distance inland, they become rich in wood, and the Weald, +whether arable or pasture, or hop-garden or orchard, is so divided +into small fields by numerous hedgerows of fine trees, and so +diversified by patches of woodland, that, seen at a little distance up +the hill--not high enough to view it like a map--it assumes, in the +leafy season, almost the look of a forest partially cleared. + +Along the southern edge, then, of the hills we have mentioned, and in +the plainer valley that stretches away from their feet, among the +woods, and hedgerows, and villages, and parks which embellish that +district, keeping generally in Kent, but sometimes trespassing a +little upon the fair county of Sussex, lies the scene of the tale +which is to follow, at a period when the high calling, or vocation, of +smuggling was in its most palmy days. But, ere I proceed to conduct +the reader into the actual locality where the principal events here +recorded really took place, I must pause for an instant in the +capital, to introduce him to one or two travelling companions. + + + + + CHAPTER II. + + +It was in the gray of the morning--and very gray, indeed, the morning +was, with much more black than white in the air, much more of night +still remaining in the sky than of day appearing in the east--when, +from the old Golden Cross, Charing Cross, or rather from the low and +narrow archway which, at that time, gave exit from its yard into the +open street exactly opposite the statue of King Charles, issued forth +a vehicle which had not long lost the name of diligence, and assumed +that of stage-coach. Do not let the reader delude himself into the +belief that it was like the stage-coach of his own recollections in +any other respect than in having four wheels, and two doors, and +windows. Let not fancy conjure up before him flat sides of a bright +claret colour, and a neat boot as smooth and shining as a looking +glass, four bays, or browns, or greys, three-parts blood, and a +coachman the pink of all propriety. Nothing of the kind was there. The +vehicle was large and roomy, capable of containing within, at least, +six travellers of large size. It was hung in a somewhat straggling +manner upon its almost upright springs, and was elevated far above any +necessary pitch. The top was decorated with round iron rails on either +side; and multitudinous were the packages collected upon the space so +enclosed; while a large cage-like instrument behind contained one or +two travellers, and a quantity of parcels. The colour of the sides was +yellow, but the numerous inscriptions which they bore in white +characters left little of the groundwork to be seen; for the name of +every place at which the coach stopped was there written for the +convenience of travellers who might desire to visit any town upon the +road; so that each side seemed more like a leaf out of a topographical +dictionary of the county of Kent than anything else. Underneath +the carriage was a large wicker basket, or cradle, also filled with +trunk-mails, and various other contrivances for holding the goods and +chattels of passengers; and the appearance of the whole was as +lumbering and heavy as that of a hippopotamus. The coachman mounted on +the box was a very different looking animal even from our friend Mr. +Weller, though the inimitable portrait of that gentleman is now, alas, +but a record of an extinct creature! However, as we have little to do +with the driver of the coach, I shall not pause to give a long account +of his dress or appearance; and, only noticing that the horses before +him formed as rough and shambling a team of nags as ever were seen, +shall proceed to speak of the travellers who occupied the interior of +the vehicle. + +Although, as we have seen, the coach would have conveniently contained +six, it was now only tenanted by three persons. The first, who had +entered at the Golden Cross, Charing Cross, was a tall, thin, elderly +gentleman, dressed with scrupulous care and neatness. His linen and +his neckcloth were as white as snow, his shoes, his silk stockings, +his coat, his waistcoat, and his breeches as black as jet; his hat was +in the form of a Banbury cake; the buckles in his shoes and at his +knees were large and resplendent; and a gold-headed cane was in his +hand. To keep him from the cold, he had provided himself with a +garment which would either serve for a cloak or a coat, as he might +find agreeable, being extensive enough for the former, and having +sleeves to enable it to answer the purpose of the latter. His hair and +eyebrows were as white as driven snow, but his eyes were still keen, +quick, and lively. His colour was high, his teeth were remarkably +fine, and the expression of his countenance was both intelligent and +benevolent, though there was a certain degree of quickness in the turn +of the eyes, which, together with a sudden contraction of the brow +when anything annoyed him, and a mobility of the lips, seemed to +betoken a rather hasty and irascible spirit. + +He had not been in the coach more than a minute and a half--but was +beginning to look at a huge watch which he drew from his fob, and to +"pish" at the coachman for being a minute behind his time--when he was +joined by two other travellers of a very different appearance and age +from himself. The one who entered first was a well-made, powerful man, +who might be either six-and-twenty or two-and-thirty. He could not +well be younger than the first of those two terms, for he had all the +breadth and vigorous proportions of fully-developed manhood. He could +not be well older than the latter, for not a trace of passing years, +no wrinkle, no furrow, no grayness of hair, no loss of any youthful +grace was apparent. Although covered by a large rough coat, then +commonly called a wrap-rascal, of the coarsest materials and the +rudest form, there was something in his demeanour and his look which +at once denoted the gentleman. His hat, too, his gloves, and his +boots, which were the only other parts of his dress that the loose +coat we have mentioned suffered to be seen, were all not only good, +but of the best quality. Though his complexion was dark, and his skin +bronzed almost to a mahogany colour by exposure to sun and wind, the +features were all fine and regular, and the expression high toned, but +somewhat grave, and even sad. He seated himself quietly in the corner +of the coach, with his back to the horses; and folding his arms upon +his broad chest, gazed out of the window with an abstracted look, +though his eyes were turned towards a man with a lantern who was +handing something up to the coachman. Thus the old gentleman on the +opposite side had a full view of his countenance, and seemed, by the +gaze which he fixed upon it, to study it attentively. + +The second of the two gentlemen I have mentioned entered immediately +after the first, and was about the same age, but broader in make, and +not quite so tall. He was dressed in the height of the mode of that +day; and, though not in uniform, bore about him several traces of +military costume, which were, indeed, occasionally affected by the +dapper shopmen of that period, when they rode up Rotten Row or walked +the Mall, but which harmonized so well with his whole appearance and +demeanour, as to leave no doubt of their being justly assumed. His +features were not particularly good, but far from ugly, his complexion +fair, his hair strong and curly; and he would have passed rather for a +handsome man than otherwise, had not a deep scar, as if from a +sabre-wound, traversed his right cheek and part of his upper lip. His +aspect was gay, lively, and good-humoured, and yet there were some +strong lines of thought about his brow, with a slightly sarcastic turn +of the muscles round the corner of his mouth and nostrils. On +entering, he seated himself opposite the second traveller, but without +speaking to him, so that the old gentleman who first tenanted the +coach could not tell whether they came together or not; and the moment +after they had entered, the door was closed, the clerk of the inn +looked at the way-bill, the coachman bestowed two or three strokes of +his heavy whip on the flanks of his dull cattle, and the lumbering +machine moved heavily out, and rolled away towards Westminster Bridge. + +The lights which were under the archway had enabled the travellers to +see each other's faces, but when once they had got into the street, +the thickness of the air, and the grayness of the dawn, rendered +everything indistinct, except the few scattered globe lamps which +still remained blinking at the sides of the pavement. The old +gentleman sunk back in his corner, wrapped his cloak about him for a +nap, and was soon in the land of forgetfulness. His slumbers did not +continue very long, however; and when he woke up at the Loompit Hill, +he found the sky all rosy with the beams of the rising sun, the +country air light and cheerful, and his two companions talking +together in familiar tones. After rousing himself, and putting down +the window, he passed about five minutes either in contemplating the +hedges by the roadside, all glittering in the morning dew, or in +considering the faces of his two fellow-travellers, and making up his +mind as to their characters and qualities. At the end of that time, as +they had now ceased speaking, he said-- + +"A beautiful day, gentlemen. I was sure it would be so when we set +out." + +The darker and the graver traveller made no reply, but the other +smiled good-humouredly, and inquired-- + +"May I ask by what you judged, for to me the morning seemed to promise +anything but fine weather?" + +"Two things--two things, my dear sir," answered the gentleman in +black. "An old proverb and a bad almanack." + +"Indeed!" exclaimed the other. "I should have thought it a very good +almanack if it told me to a certainty what sort of weather it would +be." + +"Ay, but how did it tell me?" rejoined the elderly traveller, leaning +his hand upon the gold head of his cane. "It declared we should have +torrents of rain. Now, sir, the world is composed of a great mass of +fools with a small portion of sensible men, who, like a little +quantity of yeast in a large quantity of dough, make the dumpling not +quite so bad as it might be. Of all the fools that I ever met with, +however, the worst are scientific fools, for they apply themselves to +tell all the other fools in the world that of which they themselves +know nothing, or at all events very little, which is worse. I have +examined carefully, in the course of a long life, how to deal with +these gentry, and I find that if you believe the exact reverse of any +information they give you, you will be right nine hundred and +ninety-seven times out of a thousand. I made a regular calculation of +it some years ago; and although at first sight it would seem that the +chances are equal, that these men should be right or wrong, I found +the result as I have stated, and have acted upon it ever since in +perfect security. If they trusted to mere guess work, the chances +might, perhaps, be equal, but they make such laborious endeavours to +lead themselves wrong, and so studiously avoid everything that could +lead them right, that the proportion is vastly against them." + +"If such be their course of proceeding, the result will be naturally +as you say," answered the gentleman to whom he spoke; "but I should +think that as the variations of the weather must proceed from natural +causes constantly recurring, observation and calculation might arrive +at some certainty regarding them." + +"Hold the sea in the hollow of your hand," cried the old gentleman, +impatiently; "make the finite contain the infinite; put twenty +thousand gallons into a pint pot,--and when you have done all that, +then calculate the causes that produce rain to-day and wind to-morrow, +or sunshine one day and clouds the next. Men say the same cause +acting under the same circumstances will always produce the same +effect--good; I grant that, merely for the sake of argument. But I +contend that the same effect may be produced by a thousand causes or +more. A man knocks you down; you fall: that's the effect produced by +one cause; but a fit of apoplexy may make you fall exactly in the same +way. Then apply the cause at the other end if you like, and trip your +foot over a stone, or over some bunches of long grass that mischievous +boys have tied across the path--down you come, just as if a +quarrelsome companion had tapped you on the head. No, no, sir; the +only way of ascertaining what the weather will be from one hour to +another is by a barometer. That's not very sure, and the best I know +of is a cow's tail, or a piece of dried seaweed. But these men of +science, they do nothing but go out mare's-nesting from morning till +night, and a precious number of horses' eggs they have found!" + +Thus commenced a conversation which lasted for some time, and in which +the younger traveller seemed to find some amusement, plainly +perceiving, what the reader has already discovered, that his elderly +companion was an oddity. The other tenant of the coach made no +observation, but remained with his arms folded on his chest, sometimes +looking out of the window, sometimes gazing down at his own knee in +deep thought. About ten miles from town the coach passed some led +horses, with the grooms that were conducting them; and, as is natural +for young men, both the old gentleman's fellow-travellers put their +heads to the window, and examined the animals with a scrutinizing eye. + +"Fine creatures, fine creatures--horses!" said the gentleman in black. + +"Those are very fine ones," answered the graver of the two young men; +"I think I never saw better points about any beast than that black +charger." + +"Ay, sir; you are a judge of horse-flesh, I suppose," rejoined the old +gentleman; "but I was speaking of horses in the abstract. They are +noble creatures indeed; and as matters have fallen out in this world, +I can't help thinking that there is a very bad arrangement, and that +those at the top of the tree should be a good way down. If all +creatures had their rights, man would not be the cock of the walk, as +he is now--a feeble, vain, self-sufficient, sensual monkey, who has no +farther advantages over other apes than being able to speak and cook +his dinner." + +"May I ask," inquired the livelier of the two young men, "what is the +gentlemanly beast you would put over his head?" + +"A great many--a great many," replied the other. "Dogs, +horses--elephants, certainly; I think elephants at the top. I am not +sure how I would class lions and tigers, who decidedly have one +advantage over man, that of being stronger and nobler beasts of prey. +He is only at the head of the tribe Simia, and should be described by +naturalists as the largest, cunningest, and most gluttinous of +baboons." + +The gay traveller laughed aloud; and even his grave companion smiled, +saying, drily, "On my life, I believe there's some truth in it." + +"Truth, sir!" exclaimed the old gentleman. "It's as true as we are +living. How dare man compare himself to a dog? an animal with greater +sagacity, stronger affections, infinitely more honour and honesty, a +longer memory, and a truer heart. I would not be a man if I could be a +dog, I can assure you." + +"Many a man leads the life of a dog," said the gay traveller. "I'm +sure I have, for the last five or six years." + +"If you have led as honest a life, sir," rejoined the old man, "you +may be very proud of it." + +What the other would have answered cannot be told, for at that moment +the coach stopped to change horses, which was an operation in those +days, occupying about a quarter of an hour, and the whole party got +out and went into the little inn to obtain some breakfast; for between +London and Folkestone, which was to be the ultimate resting-place of +the vehicle, two hours and a half, upon the whole, were consumed with +breakfast, dinner, tea, and supper. Thus any party of travellers +proceeding together throughout the entire journey, had a much better +opportunity of becoming thoroughly acquainted with each other than +many a man has before marriage with the wife he takes to his bosom. + +Though the conversation of the old gentleman was, as the reader has +perceived, somewhat morose and misanthropical, he showed himself very +polite and courteous at the breakfast table, made the tea, carved the +ham, and asked every man if he took cream and sugar. What wonderful +things little attentions are--how they smooth down our asperities and +soften us to one another! The two younger gentlemen had looked upon +their elderly companion merely as that curious compound which we have +before mentioned--an oddity, and which, like a pinch of strong snuff, +stimulates us without being very pleasant; but now they began to think +him a very nice old gentleman, and even the graver of the pair +conversed with him almost cheerfully for the short space of time their +meal occupied. When they had finished, and paid the score, the whole +party walked out together to the front of the house, where they found +a poor beggar woman with a child in her arms. Each gave her something, +but the elderly man stopped to inquire farther, and the others walked +up and down for a few minutes, till the coachman, who was making +himself comfortable by the absorption of his breakfast, and the horses +who were undergoing the opposite process in the application of their +harness, at length made their appearance. The two younger gentlemen +turned their eyes from time to time, as they walked, to their elderly +friend, who seemed to be scolding the poor woman most vehemently. His +keen black eyes sparkled, his brow contracted, he spoke with great +volubility, and demonstrated somewhat largely with the forefinger of +his right hand. What were their internal comments upon this conduct +did not appear; but both were a good deal surprised to see him, in the +end, put his hand into his breeches pocket, draw forth a piece of +money--it was not silver for it was yellow, and it was not copper for +it was too bright--and slip it quietly into the poor woman's palm. He +next gave a quiet, almost a timid glance around, to see if any one +were looking, and then stepped rapidly into the coach, as if he were +ashamed of what he had done. During all this proceeding he had taken +no notice of his two companions, nor at all listened to what they were +talking of; but as they entered the vehicle, while the horses were +being put to, the one said to the other, "I think you had better do +so, a great deal. It is as well to have the _carte du pays_ before one +commences operations." + +"Well," replied the other, "you take the lead, Edward. The wound is +still painful, though it is an old one." + +What they were talking of their companion could not tell; but it +excited, in some degree, his curiosity; and the manners of his two +companions had, to say the truth, pleased him, though he was one of +those men who, with very benevolent feelings at the bottom, are but +little inclined to acknowledge that they are well pleased with +anything or with anybody. For a moment or two all parties were silent; +but the elderly gentleman was the first to begin, saying, in a more +placable and complimentary tone than he was in general accustomed to +use, "I hope I am to have the pleasure of your society, gentlemen, to +the end of my journey?" + +"I rather think we shall be your companions as far as you go," replied +the gayer of the two young men, "for we are wending down to the far, +wild parts of Kent; and it is probable you will not go beyond +Folkestone, unless, indeed, you are about to cross the seas." + +"Not I," exclaimed the old gentleman--"I have crossed the seas enough +in my day, and never intend to set my foot out of my own country +again, till four stout fellows carry me to the churchyard. No, no; +you'll journey beyond me a long way, for I am only going to a little +place called Harbourne, some distance on the Sussex side of +Folkestone: a place quite out of the world, with no bigger a town near +it than Cranbrook, and where we see the face of a human creature above +the rank of a farmer, or a smuggler about once in the year--always +excepting the parson of the parish." + +"Then you turn off from Maidstone?" said the graver traveller, looking +steadfastly in his face. + +"No, I don't," replied the other. "Never, my dear sir, come to +conclusions where you don't know the premises. I go, on the contrary, +to Ashford, where I intend to sleep. I am there to be joined by a +worthy brother of mine, and then we return together to Cranbrook. You +are quite right, indeed, that my best and straightest road would be, +as you say, from Maidstone; but we can't always take the straightest +road in this world, though young men think they can, and old men only +learn too late that they cannot." + +"I have good reason to know the fact," said the gayer of his two +fellow travellers; "I myself am going to the very same part of the +country you mention, but have to proceed still farther out of my way; +for I must visit Hythe and Folkestone first." + +"Indeed, indeed!" exclaimed their elderly friend. "Do you know any +body in that part of Kent?--Have you ever been there before?" + +"Never," replied the other; "nor have I ever seen the persons I am +going to see. What sort of a country is it?" + +"Bless the young man's life!" exclaimed the gentleman in black, "does +he expect me to give him a long picturesque description of St. +Augustine's Lathe? If you wish to know my opinion of it, it is as wild +and desolate a part of the world as the backwoods of America, and the +people little better than American savages. You'll find plenty of +trees, a few villages, some farm-houses, one or two gentlemen's +seats--they had better have called them stools--a stream or two, a +number of hills and things of that kind; and your humble servant, who +would be very happy to see you, if you are not a smuggler, and are +coming to that part of the country." + +"I shall not fail to pay my respects to you," replied the gentleman to +whom he spoke; "but I must first know who I am to inquire for." + +"Pay your respect where it is due, my dear sir," rejoined the other. +"You can't tell a whit whether I deserve any respect or not. You'll +find out all that by and by. As to what I am called, I could give you +half a dozen names. Some people call me the Bear, some people the +Nabob, some the Misanthrope; but my real name--that which I am known +by at the post-office--is Mr. Zachary Croyland, brother of the man who +has Harbourne House: a younger brother too, by God's blessing--and a +great blessing it is." + +"It is lucky when every man is pleased with his situation," answered +his young acquaintance. "Most elder brothers thank God for making them +such, and I have often had cause to do the same." + +"It's the greatest misfortune that can happen to a man," exclaimed the +old gentleman, eagerly. "What are elder brothers, but people who are +placed by fate in the most desperate and difficult circumstances. +Spoilt and indulged in their infancy, taught to be vain and idle and +conceited from the cradle, deprived of every inducement to the +exertion of mind, corrupted by having always their own way, sheltered +from all the friendly buffets of the world, and left, like a pond in a +gravel pit, to stagnate or evaporate without stirring. Nine times out +of ten from mere inanition they fall into every sort of vice; forget +that they have duties as well as privileges, think that the slice of +the world that has been given to them is entirely at their own +pleasure and disposal, spend their fortunes, encumber their estates, +bully their wives and their servants, indulge their eldest son till he +is just such a piece of unkneaded dough as themselves, kick out their +younger sons into the world without a farthing, and break their +daughters' hearts by forcing them to marry men they hate. That's what +elder brothers are made for; and to be one, I say again, is the +greatest curse that can fall upon a man. But come, now I have told you +my name, tell me yours. That's but a fair exchange you know, and no +robbery, and I hate going on calling people 'sir' for ever." + +"Quite a just demand," replied the gentleman whom he addressed, "and +you shall immediately have the whole particulars. My name is Digby, a +poor major in his Majesty's ---- regiment of Dragoons, to whom the two +serious misfortunes have happened of being born an eldest son, and +having a baronetcy thrust upon him." + +"Couldn't be worse--couldn't be worse!" replied the old gentleman, +laughing. "And so you are Sir Edward Digby! Oh yes. I can tell you, +you are expected, and have been so these three weeks. The whole +matter's laid out for you in every house in the country. You are to +marry every unmarried woman in the hundred. The young men expect you +to do nothing but hunt foxes, course hares, and shoot partridges from +morning till night; and the old men have made up their minds that you +shall drink port, claret, or madeira, as the case may be, from night +till morning. I pity you--upon my life, I pity you. What between love +and wine and field sports, you'll have a miserable time of it! Take +care how you speak a single word to any single woman! Don't even smile +upon Aunt Barbara, or she'll make you a low curtsey, and say 'You must +ask my brother about the settlement, my dear Edward.' Ha, ha, ha!" and +he laughed a long, merry, hearty peal, that made the rumbling vehicle +echo again. Then putting the gold-headed cane to his lips, he turned a +sly glance upon the other traveller, who was only moved to a very +faint smile by all the old gentleman's merriment, asking, "Does this +gentleman come with you?--Are you to be made a martyr of too, sir? Are +you to be set running after foxes all day, like a tiger on horseback, +and to have sheep's eyes cast at you all the evening, like a man in +the pillory pelted with eggs? Are you bound to imbibe a butt of claret +in three weeks? Poor young men--poor young men! My bowels of +compassion yearn towards you." + +"I shall fortunately escape all such perils," replied he whom he had +last addressed--"I have no invitation to that part of the country." + +"Come, then, I'll give you one," said the old gentleman; "if you like +to come and stay a few days with an old bachelor, who will neither +make you drunk nor make you foolish, I shall be glad to see you." + +"I am not very likely to get drunk," answered the other, "as an old +wound compels me to be a water drinker. Foolish enough I may be, and +may have been; but, I am sure, that evil would not be increased by +frequenting your society, my dear sir." + +"I don't know--I don't know, young gentleman," said Mr. Croyland: +"every man has his follies, and I amongst the rest as goodly a +bag-full as one could well desire. But you have not given me an +answer; shall I see you? Will you come with your friend, and take up +your abode at a single man's house, while Sir Edward goes and charms +the ladies." + +"I cannot come with him, I am afraid," replied the young gentleman, +"for I must remain with the regiment some time; but I will willingly +accept your invitation, and join him in a week or two." + +"Oh you're in the same regiment, are you?" asked Mr. Croyland; "it's +not a whole regiment of elder sons, I hope?" + +"Oh no," answered the other, "I have the still greater misfortune of +being an only son; and the greater one still, of being an orphan." + +"And may I know your style and denomination?" said Mr. Croyland. + +"Oh, Osborn, Osborn!" cried Sir Edward Digby, before his friend could +speak, "Captain Osborn of the ---- Dragoons." + +"I will put that down in my note-book," rejoined the old gentleman. +"The best friend I ever had was named Osborn. He couldn't be your +father, though, for he had no children, poor fellow! and was never +married, which was the only blessing Heaven ever granted him, except a +good heart and a well-regulated mind. His sister married my old +schoolfellow, Leyton--but that's a bad story, and a sad story, though +now it's an old story, too." + +"Indeed!" said Sir Edward Digby; "I'm fond of old stories if they are +good ones." + +"But, I told you this was a bad one, Sir Ned," rejoined the old +gentleman sharply; "and as my brother behaved very ill to poor Leyton, +the less we say of it the better. The truth is," he continued, for he +was one of those who always refuse to tell a story, and tell it after +all, "Leyton was rector of a living which was in my brother's gift. He +was only to hold it, however, till my youngest nephew was of age to +take it; but when the boy died--as they both did sooner or +later--Leyton held the living on, and thought it was his own, till one +day there came a quarrel between him and my brother, and then Robert +brought forward his letter promising to resign when called upon, and +drove him out. I wasn't here then; but I have heard all about it +since, and a bad affair it was. It should not have happened if I had +been here, for Bob has a shrewd eye to the nabob's money, as well he +may, seeing that he's----but that's no business of mine. If he chooses +to dribble through his fortune, Heaven knows how, I've nothing to do +with it! The two poor girls will suffer." + +"What, your brother has two fair daughters then, has he?" demanded Sir +Edward Digby. "I suppose it is under the artillery of their glances I +am first to pass; for, doubtless, you know I am going to your +brother's." + +"Oh, yes, I know--I know all about it!" replied Mr. Croyland. "They +tell me everything as in duty bound--that's to say, everything they +don't wish to conceal. But I'm consulted like an oracle upon all +things unimportant; for he that was kicked out with a sixpence into +the wide world, has grown a wonderful great man since the sixpence has +multiplied itself. As to your having to pass under the artillery of +the girls' glances, however, you must take care of yourself; for you +might stand a less dangerous fire, I can tell you, even in a field of +battle. But I'll give you one warning for your safeguard. You may make +love to little Zara as long as you like--think of the fools calling +her Zara! Though she'll play a pretty game of picquet with you, you +may chance to win it; but you must not dangle after Edith, or you will +burn your fingers. She'll not have you, if you were twenty baronets, +and twenty majors of Dragoons into the bargain. She has got some of +the fancies of the old uncle about her, and is determined to die an +old maid, I can see." + +"Oh, the difficulty of the enterprise would only be a soldier's reason +for undertaking it!" said Sir Edward Digby. + +"It wont do--it wont do;" answered Mr. Croyland, laughing; "you may +think yourself very captivating, very conquering, quite a look-and-die +man, as all you people in red jackets fancy yourselves, but it will be +all lost labour with Edith, I can tell you." + +"You excite all the martial ardour in my soul!" exclaimed Digby, with +a gay smile; "and if she be not forty, hump-backed, or one eyed, by +the fates you shall see what you shall see." + +"Forty!" cried Mr. Croyland; "why she's but two-and-twenty, man!--a +great deal straighter than that crouching wench in white marble they +call the 'Venus de Medici,' and with a pair of eyes, that, on my life, +I think would have made me forswear celibacy, if I had found such +looking at me, any time before I reached fifty!" + +"Do you hear that, Osborn?" cried Sir Edward Digby. "Here's a fine +field for an adventurous spirit. I shall have the start of you, my +friend; and in the wilds of Kent, what may not be done in ten days or +a fortnight?" + +His companion only answered by a melancholy smile; and the +conversation went on between the old gentleman and the young baronet +till they reached the small town of Lenham, where they stopped again +to dine. There, however, Mr. Croyland drew Sir Edward Digby aside, and +inquired in a low tone, "Is your friend in love?--He looks mighty +melancholy." + +"I believe he is," replied Digby. "Love's the only thing that can make +a man melancholy; and when one comes to consider all the attractions +of a squaw of the Chippeway Indians, it is no wonder that my friend is +in such a hopeless case." + +The old gentleman poked him with his finger, and shook his head with a +laugh, saying--"You are a wag, young gentleman--you are a wag; but it +would be a great deal more reasonable, let me tell you, to fall in +love with a Chippeway squaw, in her feathers and wampam, than with one +of these made-up madams, all paint and satin, and tawdry bits of +embroidery. In the one case you might know something of what your love +is like; in the other, I defy you to know anything about her; and, +nine times out of ten, what, a man marries is little better than a +bale of tow and whalebone, covered over with the excrement of a +silkworm. Man's a strange animal; and one of the strangest of all his +proceedings is, that of covering up his own natural skin with all +manner of contrivances derived from every bird, beast, fish, and +vegetable, that happens to come in his way. If he wants warmth, he +goes and robs a sheep of its great coat; he beats the unfortunate +grass of the field, till he leaves nothing but shreds, to make himself +a shirt; he skins a beaver, to cover his head; and, if he wants to be +exceedingly fine, he pulls the tail of an ostrich, and sticks the +feather in his hat. He's the universal mountebank, depend upon it, +playing his antics for the amusement of creation, and leaving nothing +half so ridiculous as himself." + +Thus saying, he turned round again, and joined Captain Osborn, in +whom, perhaps, he took a greater interest than even in his livelier +companion. It might be that the associations called up by the name +were pleasant to him, or it might be that there was something in his +face that interested him, for certainly that face was one which seemed +to become each moment more handsome as one grew familiar with it. + +When, after dinner, they re-entered the vehicle, and rolled away once +more along the high road, Captain Osborn took a greater share in the +conversation than he had previously done; and remarking that Mr. +Croyland had put, as a condition, upon his invitation to Sir Edward, +that he should not be a smuggler, he went on to observe, "You seem to +have a great objection to those gentry, my dear sir; and yet I +understand your county is full of them." + +"Full of them!" exclaimed Mr. Croyland--"it is running over with them. +They drop down into Sussex, out into Essex, over into Surrey; the +vermin are more numerous than rats in an old barn. Not that, when a +fellow is poor, and wants money, and can get it by no other +means,--not that I think very hard of him when he takes to a life of +risk and adventure, where his neck is not worth sixpence, and his gain +is bought by the sweat of his brow. But your gentleman smuggler is my +abomination--your fellow that risks little but an exchequer process, +and gains ten times what the others do, without their labour or their +danger. Give me your bold, brave fellow, who declares war and fights +it out. There's some spirit in him." + +"Gentlemen smugglers!" said Osborn; "that seems to me to be a strange +sort of anomaly. I was not aware that there were such things." + +"Pooh! the country is full of them," cried Mr. Croyland. "It is not +here that the peasant treads upon the kybe of the peer; but the +smuggler treads upon the country gentlemen. Many a merchant who never +made a hundred pounds by fair trade, makes thousands and hundreds of +thousands by cheating the Customs. There is not a man in this part of +the country who does not dabble in the traffic more or less. I've no +doubt all my brandied cherries are steeped in stuff that never paid +duty; and if you don't smuggle yourself, your servants do it for you. +But I'll tell you all about it," and he proceeded to give them a true +and faithful exposition of the state of the county, agreeing in all +respects with that which has been furnished to the reader in the first +chapter of this tale. + +His statement and the various conversation, which arose from different +parts of it, occupied the time fully, till the coach, as it was +growing dark, rolled into Ashford. There Mr. Croyland quitted his two +companions, shaking them each by the hand with right goodwill; and +they pursued their onward course to Hythe and Folkestone, without any +farther incident worthy of notice. + + + + + CHAPTER III. + + +At Hythe, to make use of a very extraordinary though not uncommon +expression, the coach stopped to sup--not that the coach itself ate +anything, for, on the contrary, it disgorged that which it had already +taken in; but the travellers who descended from it were furnished with +supper, although the distance to Folkestone might very well have +justified them in going on to the end of their journey without any +other pabulum than that which they had already received. But two or +three things are to be taken into consideration. The distance from +London to Folkestone is now seventy-one miles. It was longer in those +days by several more, besides having the disadvantage of running up +and down over innumerable hills, all of which were a great deal more +steep than they are in the present day. The journey, which the +travellers accomplished, was generally considered a feat both of +difficulty and danger, and the coach which performed that feat in one +day, was supposed to deserve right well the name which it had assumed, +of "The Phenomenon." Before it began to run, seventy-one miles in +seventeen hours was considered an impracticable journey for anything +but a man on horseback, and when first the coach appeared upon the +road, the towns-people and villagers turned out in multitudes, with +admiration and wonder, not unmixed with dread, to see the rapid rate +at which it went--very nearly six miles an hour! The old diligence, +which had preceded it, had slept one night, and sometimes two, upon +the road; and, in its first vain struggles with its more rapid +successor, it had actually once or twice made the journey in +two-and-twenty hours. To beat off this pertinacious rival, the +proprietor of the stage had been obliged to propitiate the inn-keepers +of various important towns, by dividing his favours amongst them; and +thus the traveller was forced to wait nearly one hour at Hythe, during +which he might sup if he liked, although he was only about five miles +from Folkestone. + +The supper room of the inn was vacant when the two officers of +Dragoons entered, but the table, covered with its neat white cloth, +and all the preparations for a substantial meal, together with a +bright fire sparkling in the grate, rendered its aspect cheerful and +reviving after a long and tedious journey, such as that which had just +been accomplished. Sir Edward Digby looked round well pleased, turned +his back to the fire, spoke to the landlord and his maid about supper, +and seemed disposed to enjoy himself during the period of his stay. He +ordered, too, a pint of claret, which he was well aware was likely to +be procured in great perfection upon the coast of Kent. The landlord +in consequence conceived a high respect for him, and very much +undervalued all the qualities of his companion, who, seating himself +at the table, leaned his head upon his hand, and fell into deep +thought, without giving orders for anything. The host, with his +attendant star, disappeared from the room to procure the requisites +for the travellers' meal, and Sir Edward Digby immediately took +advantage of their absence to say, "Come, come, my dear Colonel, shake +this off. I think all that we have lately heard should have tended to +revive hope, and to give comfort. During all the six years that we +have been more like brothers than friends, I have never seen you so +much cast down as now, when you are taking the field under the most +favourable circumstances, with name, station, reputation, fortune, and +with the best reason to believe those true whom you had been taught to +suppose false." + +"I cannot tell, Digby," replied his companion; "we shall hear more ere +long, and doubt is always well nigh as painful as the worst certainty. +Besides, I am returning to the scenes of my early youth--scenes +stored, it is true, with many a sweet and happy memory, but full also +of painful recollections. Those memories themselves are but as an +inscription on a tomb, where hopes and pleasures, the bright dreams of +youth, the ardent aspirations of first true love, the sweet +endearments of a happy home, the treasured caresses of the best of +mothers, the counsels, the kindness, the unvarying tenderness of the +noblest and highest minded of fathers, all lie buried. There may be a +pleasure in visiting that tomb, but it is a melancholy one; and when I +think that it was for me--that it was on my account, my father +suffered persecution and wrong, till a powerful mind, and a vigorous +frame gave way, there is a bitterness mingled with all my remembrances +of these scenes, from which I would fain clear my heart. I will do so, +too, but it will require some solitary thought, some renewed +familiarity with all the objects round, to take off the sharpness of +the first effect. You, go on to Folkestone and see that all is right +there, I will remain here and wait for the rest. As soon as you have +ascertained that everything is prepared to act in case we are called +upon--which I hope may not be the case, as I do not like the +service--you may betake yourself to Harbourne House, making me a +report as you pass. When I have so distributed the men that we can +rapidly concentrate a sufficient number upon any spot where they may +be required, I will come on after you to our good old friend's +dwelling. There you can see me, and let me know what is taking place." + +"I think you had better not let him know who you really are," replied +Sir Edward Digby, "at least till we have seen how the land lies." + +"I do not know--I will think of it," answered the other gentleman, +whom for the present we shall continue to call Osborn, though the +learned reader has already discovered that such was not his true name. +"It is evident," he continued, "that old Mr. Croyland does not +remember me, although I saw him frequently when he was in England for +a short time, some six or seven years before he finally quitted India. +However, though I feel I am much changed, it is probable that many +persons will recognise me whenever I appear in the neighbourhood of +Cranbrook, and he might take it ill, that he who was so good and true +a friend both to my uncle and my father, should be left in ignorance. +Perhaps it would be better to confide in him fully, and make him aware +of all my views and purposes." + +"Under the seal of confession, then," said his friend; "for he is +evidently a very talkative old gentleman. Did you remark how he once +or twice declared he would not tell a story, that it was no business +of his, and then went on to tell it directly." + +"True, such was always his habit," answered Osborn; "and his oddities +have got somewhat exaggerated during the last twelve years; but he's +as true and faithful as ever man was, and nothing would induce him to +betray a secret confided to him." + +"You know best," replied the other; but the entrance of the landlord +with the claret, and the maid with the supper, broke off the +conversation, and there was no opportunity of renewing it till it was +announced that the horses were to, and the coach was ready. The two +friends then took leave of each other, both coachman and host being +somewhat surprised to find that one of the travellers was about to +remain behind. + +When, however, a portmanteau, a sword-case, and a large trunk, or mail +as it was then called, had been handed out of the egregious boot, +Osborn walked into the inn once more, and called the landlord to him. +"I shall, most likely," he said, "take up my quarters with you for +some days, so you will be good enough to have a bed room prepared for +me. You must also let me have a room, however small, where I can read, +and write, and receive any persons who may come to see me, for I have +a good deal of business to transact." + +"Oh, yes, sir--I understand," replied the host, with a knowing +elevation of one eye-brow and a depression of the other, "Quite snug +and private. You shall have a room at the back of the house with two +doors, so that they can come in by the one, and go out through the +other, and nobody know anything about it." + +"I rather suspect you mistake," answered the guest, with a smile, "and +for fear you should say anything, under an error, that you might be +sorry for afterwards, let me tell you at once that I am an officer of +Dragoons, and that the business I speak of is merely regimental +business." + +The host's face grew amazingly blank; for a smuggler in a large way +was, in his estimation, a much more valuable and important guest than +an officer in the army, even had he been Commander-in-Chief of the +forces; but Osborn proceeded to relieve his mind from some of its +anxieties by saying: "You will understand that I am neither a spy nor +an informer, my good friend, but merely come here to execute whatever +orders I may receive from government as a military man. I tell you who +I am at once, that you may, as far as possible, keep from my sight any +of those little transactions which I am informed are constantly taking +place on this coast. I shall not, of course, step over the line of my +duty, which is purely military, to report anything I see; but still I +should not like that any man should say I was cognizant of proceedings +contrary to the interests of the government. This hint, however, I +doubt not, will be enough." + +"Sir, you are a gentleman," said the host, "and as a nod is as good as +a wink to a blind horse, I shall take care you have no annoyance. You +must wait a little for your bed-room though, for we did not know you +were going to stay; but we will lose no time getting it ready. Can I +do anything else to serve you, sir?" + +"I think not," replied Osborn. "But one thing will be necessary. I +expect five horses down to-morrow, and there must be found stabling +for them, and accommodation for the servants." + +The landlord, who was greatly consoled by these latter proofs of his +guest's opulence and importance, was proceeding to assure him that all +manner of conveniences, both for horse and man were to be found at his +inn, when the door of the room opened, and a third person was added to +the party within. The moment the eye of the traveller by the coach +fell upon him, his face lighted up with a well pleased smile, and he +exclaimed, "Ah, my good friend, is that you?--I little expected to +find you in this part of Kent. What brought you hither, after our long +voyage?" + +"The same that brought you," answered the other: "old memories and +loved associations." + +But before we proceed to notice what was Osborn's reply, we must, +though very unwilling to give long descriptions either of personal +appearance or of dress, pause to notice briefly those of the stranger +who had just entered. + +He had originally been a tall man, and probably a powerful one, but he +now stooped considerably, and was extremely thin. His face had no +colour in it, and even the lips were pale, but yet the hue was not +cadaverous, or even what could be called sickly. The features were +generally small and fine, except the eyes, which were large and +bright, with a sort of brilliant but unsafe fire in them, and that +peculiar searching and intense gaze when speaking to any one, which is +common to people of strong imaginations, who try to convey to others +more than they actually say. His forehead, too, was high and grand, +but wrinkled over with the furrows of thought and care; and on the +right side was a deep indentation, with a gash across it, as if the +skull had been driven in by a blow. His hair, which was long and thin, +was milk white, and though his teeth were fine, yet the wrinkles of +his skin, the peculiar roughness of the ear, and the shrivelled hand, +all bore testimony of an advanced age. Yet, perhaps, he might be +younger than he looked, for the light in that eager eye plainly spoke +one of those quick, anxious, ever labouring spirits which wear the +frame by the internal emotions, infinitely more rapidly and more +destructively than any of the external events and circumstances of +life. One thing was very peculiar about him--at least, in this +country--for on another continent such a peculiarity might have called +for no attention. On either cheek, beginning just behind the external +corner of the eye, and proceeding in a graceful wave all along the +cheek bone, turning round, like an acanthus leaf, at the other +extremity upon the cheek itself, was a long line of very minute blue +spots, with another, and another, and another beneath it, till the +whole assumed the appearance of a rather broad arabesque painted in +blue upon his face. His dress in other respects (if this tattooing +might be called a part of his dress) though coarse in texture was +good. The whole, too, was black, except where the white turned-down +collar of his shirt appeared between his coat and his pale brownish +skin. His shoes were large and heavy like those used by the countrymen +in that part of the county, and in them he wore a pair of silver +buckles, not very large, but which in their peculiar form and +ornaments, gave signs of considerable antiquity. Though bent, as we +have said, thin, and pale, he seemed active and energetic. All his +motions were quick and eager, and he grasped the hand which Osborn +extended to him, with a warmth and enthusiasm very different from the +ordinary expression of common friendship. + +"You mistake," said the young gentleman, in answer to his last +observation. "It was not old memories and loved associations which +brought me here at all, Mr. Warde. It was an order from the +commander-in-chief. Had I not received it, I should not have visited +this place for years--if ever!" + +"Yes, yes, you would," replied the old man; "you could not help +yourself. It was written in the book of your fate. It was not to be +avoided. You were drawn here by an irresistible impulse to undergo +what you have to undergo, to perform that which is assigned you, and +to do and suffer all those things which are written on high." + +"I wonder to hear _you_ speaking in terms so like those of a fatalist," +answered Osborn--"you whom I have always heard so strenuously assert +man's responsibility for all his actions, and scoff at the idea of his +excusing himself on the plea of his predestination." + +"True, true," answered the old man whom he called +Warde,--"predestination affords him no excuse for aught that is wrong, +for though it be an inscrutable mystery how those three great facts +are to be reconciled, yet certain it is that Omniscience cannot be +ignorant of that which will take place, any more than of that which +has taken place; that everything which God foreknows, must take place, +and has been pre-determined by his will, and that yet--as every man +must feel within himself--his own actions depend upon his volition, +and if they be evil he alone is to blame. The end is to come, +Osborn--the end is to come when all will be revealed--and doubt not +that it will be for God's glory. I often think," he continued in a +less emphatic tone, "that man with his free will is like a child with +a plaything. We see the babe about to dash it against the wall in mere +wantonness, we know that he will injure it--perhaps break it to +pieces--perhaps hurt himself with it in a degree; we could prevent it, +yet we do not, thinking perhaps that it will be a lesson--one of +those, the accumulation of which makes experience, if not wisdom. At +all events the punishment falls upon him; and, if duly warned, he has +no right to blame us for that which his own will did, though we saw +what he would do, and could have prevented him from doing so. We are +all spoilt children, Osborn, and remain so to the end, though God +gives us warning enough,--but here comes my homely meal." + +At the same moment the landlord brought in a dish of vegetables, some +milk and some pottage, which he placed upon the table, giving a shrewd +look to the young officer, but saying to his companion, "There, I have +brought what you ordered, sir; but I cannot help thinking you had +better take a bit of meat. You had nothing but the same stuff this +morning, and no dinner that I know of." + +"Man, I never eat anything that has drawn the breath of life," replied +Warde. "The first of our race brought death into the world and was +permitted to inflict it upon others, for the satisfaction of his own +appetites; but it was a permission, and not an injunction--except for +sacrifice. I will not be one of the tyrants of the whole creation; I +will have no more of the tiger in my nature than is inseparable from +it; and as to gorging myself some five or six times a day with +unnecessary food--am I a swine, do you think, to eat when I am not +hungry, for the sole purpose of devouring? No, no, the simplest food, +and that only for necessity, is best for man's body and his mind. We +all grow too rank and superfluous." + +Thus saying, he approached the table, said a short grace over that +which was set before him, and then sitting down, ate till he was +satisfied, without exchanging a word with any one during the time that +he was thus engaged. It occupied less than five minutes, however, to +take all that he required, and then starting up suddenly, he thanked +God for what he had given him, took up his hat and turned towards the +door. + +"I am going out, Osborn," he said, "for my evening walk. Will you come +with me?" + +"Willingly for half an hour," answered the young officer, and, telling +the landlord as he passed that he would be back by the time that his +room was ready, he accompanied his eccentric acquaintance out into the +streets of Hythe, and thence, through some narrow walks and lanes, to +the sea-shore. + + + + + CHAPTER IV. + + +The sky was clear and bright; the moonlight was sleeping in dream-like +splendour upon the water, and the small waves, thrown up by the tide +more than the wind, came rippling along the beach like a flood of +diamonds. All was still and silent in the sky, and upon the earth; and +the soft rustle of the waters upon the shore seemed but to say "Hush!" +as if nature feared that any louder sound should interrupt her calm +repose. To the west, stretched out the faint low line of coast towards +Dungeness; and to the east, appeared the high cliffs near Folkestone +and Dover--grey and solemn; while the open heaven above looked down +with its tiny stars and lustrous moon upon the wide extended sea, +glittering in the silver veil cast over her sleeping bosom from on +high. + +Such was the scene presented to the eyes of the two wanderers when +they reached the beach, a little way on the Sandgate side of Hythe, +and both paused to gaze upon it for several minutes in profound +silence. + +"This is indeed a night to walk forth upon the sands," said the young +officer at length. "It seems to me, that of all the many scenes from +which man can derive both instruction and comfort, in the difficulties +and troubles of life, there is none so elevating, so strengthening, as +that presented by the sea shore on a moonlight night. To behold that +mighty element, so full of destructive and of beneficial power, lying +tranquilly within the bound which God affixed to it, and to remember +the words, 'Thus far shalt thou come, and no farther, and here shall +thy proud waves be stopped,' affords so grand an illustration of his +might, so fine a proof of the truth of his promises, that the heart +must be hard indeed and the mind dull, not to receive confirmation of +faith, and encouragement in hope." + +"More, far more, may man receive," replied his companion, "if he be +but willing; but that gross and corrupt insect refuses all +instruction, and though the whole universe holds out blessings, still +chooses the curse. Where is there a scene whence man may not receive +benefit? What spot upon the whole earth has not something to speak to +his heart, if he would but listen? In his own busy passions, however, +and in his own fierce contentions, in his sordid creeping after gain, +in his trickery and his knavery, even in his loves and pleasures, man +turns a deaf ear to the great voice speaking to him; and the only +scene of all this earth which cannot benefit the eye that looks upon +it, is that in which human beings are the chief actors. There all is +foulness, or pitifulness, or vice; and one, to live in happiness, and +to take the moral of all nature to his heart, should live alone with +nature. I will find me out such a place, where I can absent myself +entirely, and contemplate nought but the works of God without the +presence of man, for I am sick to death of all that I have seen of him +and his, especially in what is called a civilized state." + +"You have often threatened to do so, Warde," answered the young +officer, "but yet methinks, though you rail at him, you love man too +much to quit his abodes entirely. I have seen you kind and considerate +to savages of the most horrible class; to men whose daily practice +it is to torture with the most unheard of cruelty the prisoners +whom they take in battle; and will you have less regard for other +fellow-creatures, because they are what you call civilized?" + +"The savage is at least sincere," replied his companion. "The want of +sincerity is the great and crowning vice of all this portion of the +globe. Cruel the wild hunters may be, but are they more cruel than the +people here? Which is the worst torment, a few hours' agony at the +stake, singing the war-song, all ended by a blow of a hatchet, or long +years of mental torture, when every scorn and contumely, every bitter +injustice, every cruel bereavement that man can inflict or suffer, is +piled upon your head, till the load becomes intolerable. Then, too, it +is done in a smooth and smiling guise. The civilized fiend looks +softly upon you while he wounds you to the heart--makes a pretext of +law, and justice, and equity--would have you fancy him a soft good +man, while there is no act of malevolence and iniquity that he does +not practise. The savage is true, at all events. The man who fractured +my skull with a blow of his tomahawk, made no pretence of friendship +or of right. He did it boldly, as an act customary with his people, +and would have led me to the stake and danced with joy to see me +suffering, had I not been rescued. He was sincere at least: but how +would the Englishman have served me? He would have wrung my heart with +pangs insupportable, and all the time have talked of his great grief +to afflict me, of the necessity of the case, of justice being on his +side, and of a thousand other vain and idle pretexts, but aggravating +the act by mocking me with a show of generosity." + +"I fear my excellent friend that you have at some time suffered sadly +from man's baseness," said Osborn; "but yet I think you are wrong to +let the memory thereof affect you thus. I, too, have suffered, and +perhaps shall have to suffer more; but yet I would not part with the +best blessings God has given to man, as you have done, for any other +good." + +"What have I parted with that I could keep?" asked the other, sharply: +"what blessings? I know of none!" + +"Trust--confidence," replied his young companion. "I know you will say +that they have been taken from you; that you have not thrown them +away, that you have been robbed of them. But have you not parted with +them too easily? Have you not yielded at once, without a struggle to +retain what I still call the best blessings of God? There are many +villains in the world--I know it but too well; there are many knaves. +There are still more cold and selfish egotists, who, without +committing actual crimes or injuring others, do good to none; but +there are also many true and upright hearts, many just, noble, and +generous men; and were it a delusion to think so, I would try to +retain it still." + +"And suffer for it in the hour of need, in the moment of the deepest +confidence," answered Warde. "If you must have confidence, place it in +the humble and the low, in the rudest and least civilized--ay, in the +very outcasts of society--rather than in the polished and the courtly, +the great and high. I would rather trust my life, or my purse, to the +honour of the common robber, and to his generosity, than to the very +gentlemanly man of fashion and high station. Now, if, as you say, you +have not come down hither for old associations, you must be sent to +hunt down honester men than those who sent you--men who break boldly +through an unjust and barbarous system, which denies to our land the +goods of another, and who, knowing that the very knaves who devised +that system, did it but to enrich themselves, stop with a strong hand +a part of the plunder on the way--or, rather, insist at the peril of +their lives, on man's inherent right to trade with his neighbours, and +frustrate the roguish devices of those who would forbid to our land +the use of that produced by another." + +Osborn smiled at his companion's defence of smuggling, but replied, "I +can conceive a thousand reasons, my good friend, why the trade in +certain things should be totally prohibited, and a high duty for the +interests of the state be placed on others. But I am not going to +argue with you on all our institutions; merely this I will say, that +when we entrust to certain men the power of making laws, we are bound +to obey those laws when they are made; and it were but candid and just +to suppose that those who had made them, after long deliberation, did +so for the general good of the whole." + +"For their own villanous ends," answered Warde--"for their own selfish +interests. The good of the whole!--what is it in the eyes of any of +these law-givers but the good of a party?" + +"But do you not think," asked the young officer, "that we ourselves, +who are not law-givers, judge their actions but too often under the +influence of the very motives we attribute to them? Has party no share +in our own bosoms? Has selfishness--have views of our own interests, +in opposition either to the interests of others or the general weal, +no part in the judgment that we form? Each man carps at that which +suits him not, and strives to change it, without the slightest care +whether, in so doing, he be not bringing ruin on the heads of +thousands. But as to what you said just now of my being sent hither to +hunt down the smuggler, such is not the case. I am sent to lend my aid +to the civil power when called upon to do so--but nothing more; and we +all know that the civil power has proved quite ineffective in stopping +a system, which began by violation of a fiscal law, and has gone on to +outrages the most brutal, and the most daring. I shall not step beyond +the line of my duty, my good friend; and I will admit that many of +these very misguided men themselves, who are carrying on an illegal +traffic in this daring manner, fancy themselves justified by such +arguments as you have just now used--nay, more, I do believe that +there are some men amongst them of high and noble feelings, who never +dream that they are dishonest in breaking a law that they dislike. But +if we break one law thus, why should we keep any?--why not add robbery +and murder if it suits us? + +"Ay, there _are_ high minded and noble men amongst them," answered +Warde, not seeming to heed the latter part of what his companion said, +"and there stands one of them. He has evil in him doubtless; for he is +a man and an Englishman; but I have found none here who has less, and +many who have more. Yet were that man taken in pursuing his +occupation, they would imprison, exile, perhaps hang him, while a +multitude of knaves in gilded coats, would be suffered to go on +committing every sin, and almost every crime, unpunished--a good man, +an excellent man, and yet a smuggler." + +The young officer knew it was in vain to reason with him, for in the +frequent intercourse they had held together, he had perceived that, +with many generous and noble feelings, with a pure heart, and almost +ascetic severity of life, there was a certain perversity in the course +of Mr. Warde's thoughts, which rendered it impossible to turn them +from the direction which they naturally took. It seemed as if by long +habit they had channelled for themselves so deep a bed, that they +could never be diverted thence; and consequently, without replying at +first, he merely turned his eyes in the direction which the other +pointed out, trying to catch sight of the person of whom he spoke. +They were now on the low sandy shore which runs along between the town +of Hythe and the beautiful little watering place of Sandgate. But it +must be recollected, that at the time I speak of, the latter place +displayed no ornamental villas, no gardens full of flowers, almost +touching on the sea, and consisted merely of a few fishermen's, or +rather smuggler's, huts, with one little public house, and a +low-browed shop, filled with all the necessities that the inhabitants +might require. Thus nothing like the mass of buildings which the +watering place now can boast, lay between them and the Folkestone +cliffs; and the whole line of the coast, except at one point, where +the roof of a house intercepted the view, was open before Osborn's +eyes; yet neither upon the shore itself, nor upon the green upland, +which was broken by rocks and bushes, and covered by thick dry grass, +could he perceive anything resembling a human form. A minute after, +however, he thought he saw something move against the rugged +background, and the next moment, the head and shoulders of a man +rising over the edge of the hill caught his eyes, and as his companion +walked forward in silence, he inquired, + +"Have you known him long, or is this one of your sudden judgments, my +good friend?" + +"I knew him when he was a boy and a lad," answered Wilmot, "I know him +now that he is a man--so it is no sudden judgment. Come, let us speak +with him, Osborn," and he advanced rapidly, by a narrow path, up the +side of the slope. + +Osborn paused a single instant, and then followed, saying, "Be upon +your guard, Warde; and remember how I am circumstanced. Neither commit +me nor let him commit himself." + +"No, no, fear not," answered his friend, "I am no smuggler, young +man;" and he strode on before, without pausing for further +consultation. As they climbed the hill, the figure of the man of whom +they had been speaking became more and more distinct, while walking up +and down upon a flat space at the top of the first step or wave of +ground; he seemed to take no notice of their approach. When they came +nearer still, he paused, as if waiting for their coming; and the moon +shining full upon him, displayed his powerful form, standing in an +attitude of easy grace, with the arms folded on the chest, and the +head slightly bent forward. He was not above the middle height; but +broad in the shoulders, and long in the arms; robust and strong--every +muscle was round and swelling, and yet not heavy; for there was the +appearance of great lightness and activity in his whole figure, +strangely combined with that of vigour and power. His head was small, +and well set upon his shoulders; and the very position in which he +stood, the firm planting of his feet on the ground, the motionless +crossing of his arm upon his breast, all seemed to argue to the mind +of Osborn--and he was one not unaccustomed to judge of character by +external signs--a strong and determined spirit, well fitted for the +rough and adventurous life which he had undertaken. + +"Good night, Harding," said Mr. Warde, as they came up to the spot +where he stood. "What a beautiful evening it is!" + +"Goodnight, sir," answered the man, in a civil tone, and with a voice +of considerable melody. "It is indeed a beautiful evening, though +sometimes I like to see the cloudy sky, too." + +"And yet I dare say you enjoy a walk by the bright sea, in the calm +moonlight, as much as I do," rejoined Mr. Warde. + +"Ay, that I do, sir," replied the smuggler. "That's what brought me +out to-night, for there's nothing else doing; but I should not rest +quiet, I suppose, in my bed, if I did not take my stroll along the +downs or somewhere, and look over the sea, while she lies panting in +the moonbeams. She's a pretty creature, and I love her dearly. I +wonder how people can live inland." + +"Oh, there are beautiful scenes enough inland," said Osborn, joining +in the conversation; "both wild and grand, and calm and peaceful." + +"I know there are, sir, I know there are," answered the smuggler, +gazing at him attentively, "and if ever I were to live away from the +beach, I should say, give me the wild and grand, for I have seen many +a beautiful place inland, especially in Wales; but still it always +seems to me as if there was something wanting when the sea is not +there. I suppose it is natural for an Englishman." + +"Perhaps it is," rejoined Osborn, "for certainly when Nature rolled +the ocean round us, she intended us for a maritime people. But to +return to what you were saying, if I could choose my own abode, it +should be amongst the calm and peaceful scenes, of which the eye never +tires, and amongst which the mind rests in repose." + +"Ay, if it is repose one is seeking," replied the smuggler, with a +laugh, "well and good. Then a pleasant little valley, with trees and a +running stream, and a neat little church, and the parsonage, may do +well enough. But I dare say you and I, sir, have led very different +lives, and so have got different likings. I have always been +accustomed to the storm and the gale, to a somewhat adventurous life, +and to have that great wide sea before my eyes for ever. You, I dare +say, have been going on quietly and peacefully all your days, perhaps +in London, or in some great town, knowing nothing of hardships or of +dangers; so that is the reason you love quiet places." + +"Quite the reverse!" answered Osborn, with a smile--"mine has been +nothing but a life of peril and danger, and activity, as far as it +hitherto has gone. From the time I was eighteen till now, the battle +and the skirmish, the march and the retreat, with often the hard +ground for my bed, as frequently the sky for my covering, and at best +a thin piece of canvas to keep off the blast, have been my lot, but it +is that very fact that makes me long for some repose, and love scenes +that give the picture of it to the imagination, if not the reality to +the heart. I should suppose that few men who have passed their time +thus, and known from youth to manhood nothing but strife and hourly +peril, do not sooner or later desire such tranquillity." + +"I don't know, sir," said the smuggler; "it maybe so, and the time may +come with me; but yet I think habits one is bred to, get such a hold +of the heart that we can't do without them. I often fancy I should +like a month's quiet, too; but then I know before the month was out I +should long to be on the sea again." + +"Man is a discontented creature," said Warde,--"not even the bounty of +God can satisfy him. I do not believe that he would even rest in +heaven, were he not wearied of change by the events of this life. Well +may they say it is a state of trial." + +"I hope I shall go to heaven, too," rejoined the smuggler; "but I +should like a few trips first; and I dare say, when I grow an old man, +and stiff and rusty, I shall be well contented to take my walk here in +the sunshine, and talk of days that are gone; but at present, when one +has life and strength, I could no more sit and get cankered in +idleness than I could turn miller. This world's not a place to be +still in; and I say, Blow wind, and push off the boat." + +"But one may have activity enough without constant excitement and +peril," answered Osborn. + +"I don't know that there would be half the pleasure in it," replied +the smuggler, laughing--"that we strive for, that we love. Everything +must have its price, and cheap got is little valued. But who is this +coming?" he continued, turning sharply round before either of his +companions heard a sound. + +The next moment, however, steps running up the face of the bank were +distinguished, and in another minute a boy of twelve or thirteen, +dressed in a sailor's jacket, came hurrying up to the smuggler, and +pulled his sleeve, saying, in a low voice, "Come hither--come hither; +I want to speak to you." + +The man took a step apart, and bending down his head listened to +something which the boy whispered in his ear. "I will come--I will +come directly," he said, at length, when the lad was done. "Run on and +tell him, little Starlight; for I must get home first for a minute. +Good night, gentlemen," he continued, turning to Mr. Warde and his +companion, "I must go away for a longer walk;" and, without farther +adieu, he began to descend the bank, leaving the two friends to take +their way back to Hythe, conversing, as they went, much in the same +strain as that in which they had indulged while coming thither, +differing in almost every topic, but yet with some undefinable link of +sympathy between them, which nevertheless owed its origin, in the old +man's breast, to very different feelings from those which were +experienced by his younger companion. + + + + + CHAPTER V. + + +There was an old house, built in a style which acquired the mint-mark +of fashion of about the reign of George the First, and was considered +by those of the English, or opposite party, to be peculiarly well +qualified for the habitation of Hanover rats. It stood at a little +distance from the then small hamlet of Harbourne, and was plunged into +one of the southern apertures of the wood of that name, having its +gardens and pleasure-grounds around it, with a terrace and a lawn +stretching out to the verge of a small parish road, which passed at +the distance of somewhat less than a quarter of a mile from the +windows. It was all of red brick, and looked square and formal enough, +with the two wings projecting like the a-kimbo arms of some untamed +virago, straight and resolute as a redoubt. The numerous windows, +however, with very tolerable spaces between them; the numerous +chimneys, with every sort of form and angle; the numerous doors, of +every shape and size, and the square precision of the whole, bespoke +it a very capacious building, and the inside justified fully the idea +which the mind of a traveller naturally formed from the outside. It +was, in truth, a roomy, and in some cases a very convenient abode; but +it was laid out upon a particular plan, which it may not be amiss to +write down, for the practical instruction of the reader unlearned in +such edifices. + +In the centre of the ground-floor was a large hall of a cruciform +shape, each of the limbs being about fifteen feet wide. The two +shorter arms of the cross stretched from side to side of the building +in its width; the two longer from end to end of its length. The +southern termination of the shorter arms was the great hall-door; the +northern arm, which formed the passage between the various ranges of +offices, extended to a door at the back, opening into a court-yard +surrounded by coach-houses, stables, cow-sheds, pig-sties, and +hen-roosts. But the offices, and the passage between them, were shut +off from the main hall and the rest of the mansion by double doors; +and the square of fifteen feet in the centre of the hall was, to the +exent of about two-thirds of the whole, occupied by a large, +low-stepped, broad-ballustraded oaken staircase. The eastern and +western limbs of the cross afforded the means of communicating with +various rooms,--such as library, dining-room, drawing-room, +music-room, magistrate's-room, gentleman's-room, and billiard-room, +with one or two others to which no name had been applied. Many of +these rooms had doors which led into the one adjacent; but this was +not invariably the case, for from the main corridor branched off +several little passages, separating in some instances one chamber from +the other, and leading out upon the terrace by the smaller doors which +we have noticed above. What was the use of these passages and doors +nobody was ever able to divine, and it remains a mystery to the +present day, which I shall not attempt to solve by venturing any +hypothesis upon so recondite a subject. The second floor above was +laid out much in the same way as the one below, except that one of the +limbs of the cross was wanting, the space over the great door being +appropriated to a very tolerable bed-room. From this floor to the +other, descended two or three staircases, the principal one being the +great open flight of steps which I have already mentioned; and the +second, or next in importance, being a stone staircase, which reached +the ground between the double doors, that shut out the main hall from +the offices. + +Having thus given some idea of the interior of the building, I will +only pause to notice, that, at the period I speak of, it had one very +great defect. It was very much out of repair,--not, indeed, of that +sort of substantial repair which is necessary to comfort, but of that +pleasant repair which is agreeable to the eye. It was well and solidly +built, and was quite wind and water tight; but although the builders +of the day in which it was erected were, as every one knows, +peculiarly neat in their brick-work, yet Time would have his way even +with their constructions, and he had maliciously chiselled out the +pointing from between the sharp, well-cut bricks, scraped away the +mortar from the stone copings, and cracked and blistered the painting +of the wood-work. This labour of his had not only given a venerable, +but also a somewhat dilapidated appearance to the mansion; and some +green mould, with which he had taken the pains to dabble all the white +parts of the edifice, did not decrease the look of decay. + +Sweeping round from the parish road that we have mentioned was a +branch, leading by the side of the lawn, and a gentle ascent up to the +terrace and to the great door, and carriages on arriving passed along +the whole front of the house by the western angle before they reached +the court-yard behind. But from that courtyard there were various +other means of exit. One to the kitchen garden, one to two or three +other courts, and one into the wood which came within fifty yards of +the enclosure; for, to use the ordinary romance phrase, Harbourne +House was literally "bosomed in wood." The windows, however, and the +front, commanded a fine view of a rich and undulating country, +plentifully garnished with trees, but still, for a considerable +distance, exposed to the eye, from the elevated ground upon which the +mansion was placed. A little hamlet was seen at the distance of about +two miles in front--I rather suspect it was Kenchill--and to the +eastward the house looked over the valley towards the high ground by +Woodchurch and Woodchurch Beacon, catching a blue line which probably +was Romney Marsh. Between, Woodchurch, however, and itself, was seen +standing out, straight and upright, a very trim-looking white +dwelling, flanked by some pleasant groves, and to the west were seen +one or two gentlemen's seats scattered about over the face of the +country. Behind, nothing of course was to be seen but tree-tops, +except from the window of one of the attics, whence the housemaid +could descry Biddenden Windmill and the top of Biddenden Church. +Harbourne Wood was indeed, at that time, very extensive, joining on to +the large piece of woodland, from which it is now separated, and +stretching out as far as that place with an unpleasant name, called +Gallows Green. The whole of this space, and a considerable portion of +the cultivated ground around, was within the manor of the master of +the mansion, Sir Robert Croyland, of Harbourne, the elder brother of +that Mr. Zachary Croyland, whom we have seen travelling down into Kent +with two companions in the newly established stage-coach. + +About four days after that memorable journey, a traveller on +horseback, followed by a servant leading another horse, and with a +portmanteau behind him, rode up the little parish road we have +mentioned, took the turning which led to the terrace, and drew in his +bridle at the great door of Harbourne House. I would describe him +again, but I have already given the reader so correct and accurate a +picture of Sir Edward Digby, that he cannot make any mistake. The only +change which had taken place in his appearance since he set out from +London, was produced by his being now dressed in a full military +costume; but nevertheless the eyes of a fair lady, who was in the +drawing-room and had a full view of the terrace, conveyed to her mind, +as she saw him ride up, the impression that he was a very handsome man +indeed. In two minutes more, which were occupied by the opening of the +door and sundry directions given by the young baronet to his servant, +Sir Edward Digby was ushered into the drawing-room, and advanced with +a frank, free, military air, though unacquainted with any of the +persons it contained. As his arrival about that hour was expected, the +whole family of Harbourne House was assembled to receive him; and +before we proceed farther, we may as well give some account of the +different persons of whom the little circle was composed. + +The first whom Sir Edward's eyes fell upon was the master of the +mansion, who had risen, and was coming forward to welcome his guest. +Sir Robert Croyland, however, was so different a person from his +brother, in every point, that the young officer could hardly believe +that he had the baronet before him. He was a large, heavy-looking man, +with good features and expressive eyes, but sallow in complexion, and +though somewhat corpulent, having that look of loose, flabby obesity, +which is generally an indication of bad health. His dress, though +scrupulously clean and in the best fashion of the time, fitted him +ill, being too large even for his large person; and the setting of the +diamond ring which he wore upon his hand was scarcely more yellow than +the hand itself. On his face he bore a look of habitual thought and +care, approaching moroseness, which even the smile he assumed on Sir +Edward's appearance could not altogether dissipate. In his tone, +however, he was courtly and kind, though perhaps a little pompous, +expressed his delight at seeing his old friend's son in Harbourne +House, shook him warmly by the hand, and then led him ceremoniously +forward to introduce him to his sister, Mrs. Barbara Croyland, and his +two daughters. + +The former lady might very well have had applied to her Fielding's +inimitable description of the old maid. Her appearance was very +similar, her station and occupation much the same; but nevertheless, +in all essential points, Mrs. Barbara Croyland was a very different +person from the sister of Squire Allworthy. She was a kind-hearted +soul as ever existed; gentle in her nature, anxious to do the very +best for every body, a little given to policy for the purpose of +accomplishing that end, and consequently, nine times out of ten, +making folks very uncomfortable in order to make them comfortable, and +doing all manner of mischief for the purpose of setting things right. +No woman ever had a more perfect abnegation of self than Mrs. Barbara +Croyland, in all things of great importance. She had twice missed a +very good opportunity of marriage, by making up a match between one +who was quite ready to be her own lover and one of her female friends, +for whom he cared very little. She had lent the whole of her own +private fortune, except a small annuity, which by some chance had been +settled upon her, to her brother Sir Robert, without taking any +security whatsoever for principal or interest; and she was always +ready, when there was anything in her purse, to give it away to the +worthy or unworthy--rather, indeed, preferring the latter, from a +conviction that they were more likely to be destitute of friends than +those who had some claim upon society. + +Nevertheless Mrs. Barbara Croyland was not altogether without that +small sort of selfishness which is usually termed vanity. She was +occasionally a little affronted and indignant with her friends, when +they disapproved of her spoiling their whole plans with the intention +of facilitating them. She knew that her design was good; and she +thought it very ungrateful in the world to be angry when her good +designs produced the most opposite results to those which she +intended. She was fully convinced, too, that circumstances were +perversely against her; and yet for her life she could not refrain +from trying to make those circumstances bend to her purpose, +notwithstanding all the nips on the knuckles she received; and she had +still some scheme going on, which, though continually disappointed, +rose up Hydra-like, with a new head springing out as soon as the other +was cut off. As it was at her suggestion, and in favour of certain +plans which she kept deep in the recesses of her own bosom, that Sir +Robert Croyland had claimed acquaintance with Sir Edward Digby on the +strength of an old friendship with his father, and had invited him +down to Harbourne House immediately on the return of his regiment to +England, it may well be supposed that Miss Barbara received him with +her most gracious smiles--which, to say the truth, though the face was +wrinkled with age, and the complexion not very good, were exceedingly +sweet and benignant, springing from a natural kindness of heart, +which, if guided by a sounder discretion, would have rendered her one +of the most amiable persons on the earth. + +After a few words of simple courtesy on both parts, Sir Edward turned +to the other two persons who were in the room, where he found metal +more attractive--at least, for the eyes. The first to whom he was +introduced was a young lady, who seemed to be about one-and-twenty +years of age, though she had in fact just attained another year; and +though Sir Robert somewhat hurried him on to the next, who was +younger, the keen eye of the young officer marked enough to make him +aware that, if so cold and so little disposed to look on a lover as +her uncle had represented, she might well become a very dangerous +neighbour to a man with a heart not well guarded against the power of +beauty. Her hair, eyes, and eyelashes were almost black, and her +complexion of a clear brown, with the rose blushing faintly in the +cheek; but the eyes were of a deep blue. The whole form of the head, +the fall of the hair, the bend of the neck from the shoulders, were +all exquisitely symmetrical and classical, and nothing could be more +lovely than the line of the brow and the chiselled cutting of the +nose. The upper lip, small and delicately drawn, the under lip full +and slightly apart, shewing the pearl-like teeth beneath; the turn of +the ear, and the graceful line in the throat, might all have served as +models for the sculptor or the painter; for the colouring was as rich +and beautiful as the form; and when she rose and stood to receive him, +with the small hand leaning gently on the arm of the chair, he thought +he had never seen anything more graceful than the figure, or more +harmonious than its calm dignity, with the lofty gravity of her +countenance. If there was a defect in the face, it was perhaps that +the chin was a little too prominent, but yet it suited well with the +whole countenance and with its expression, giving it decision without +harshness, and a look of firmness, which the bright smile that +fluttered for a moment round the lips, deprived of everything that was +not gentle and kind. There was soul, there was thought, there was +feeling, in the whole look; and Digby would fain have paused to see +those features animated in conversation. But her father led him on, +after a single word of introduction, to present him to his younger +daughter, who, with some points of resemblance, offered a strange +contrast to her sister. She, too, was very handsome, and apparently +about two years younger; but hers was the style of beauty which, +though it deserves a better name, is generally termed pretty. All the +features were good, and the hair exceedingly beautiful; but the face +was not so oval, the nose perhaps a little too short, and the lips too +sparkling with smiles to impress the mind, at first sight, so much as +the countenance of the other. She seemed all happiness; and in looking +to the expression and at her bright blue eyes, as they looked out +through the black lashes, like violets from a clump of dark leaves, it +was scarcely possible to fancy that she had ever known a touch of care +or sorrow, or that one of the anxieties of life had ever even brushed +her lightly with its wing. She seemed the flower just opening to the +morning sunshine--the fruit, before the bloom had been washed away by +one shower. Her figure, too, was full of young grace; her movements +were all quicker, more wild and free than her sister's; and as she +rose to receive Sir Edward Digby, it was more with the air of an old +friend than a new acquaintance. Indeed, she was the first of the +family who had seen him, for hers were the eyes which had watched his +approach from the window, so that she felt as if she knew him better +than any of them. + +There was something very winning in the frank and cordial greeting +with which she met him, and in an instant it had established a sort of +communication between them which would have taken hours, perhaps days, +to bring about with her sister. As Sir Edward Digby did not come there +to fall in love, he would fain have resisted such influences, even at +the beginning; and perhaps the words of old Mr. Croyland had somewhat +put him upon his guard. But it was of no use being upon his guard; +for, fortify himself as strongly as he would, Zara went through all +his defences in an instant; and, seeming to take it for granted that +they were to be great friends, and that there was not the slightest +obstacle whatever to their being perfectly familiar in a ladylike and +gentleman-like manner, of course they were so in five minutes, though +he was a soldier who had seen some service, and she an inexperienced +girl just out of her teens. But all women have a sort of experience of +their own; or, if experience be not the right name, an intuition in +matters where the other sex is concerned, which supplies to them very +rapidly a great part of that which long converse with the world +bestows on men. Too true that it does not always act as a safeguard to +their own hearts--true that it does not always guide them right in +their own actions,--but still it does not fail to teach them the best +means of winning where they wish to win; and if they do not succeed, +it is far more frequently that the cards which they hold are not good, +than that they play the game unskilfully. + +Whether Sir Robert Croyland had or had not any forethought in his +invitation of Sir Edward Digby, and, like a prudent father, judged +that it would be quite as well his youngest daughter should marry a +wealthy baronet, he was too wise to let anything like design appear; +and though he suffered the young officer to pursue his conversation +with Zara for two or three minutes longer than he had done with her +sister, he soon interposed, by taking the first opportunity of telling +his guest the names of those whom he had invited to meet him that day +at dinner. + +"We shall have but a small party," he said, in a somewhat apologetic +tone, "for several of our friends are absent just now; but I have +asked my good and eccentric brother Zachary to meet you to-day, Sir +Edward; and also my excellent neighbour, Mr. Radford, of Radford +Hall--a very superior man indeed under the surface, though the manner +may be a little rough. His son, too, I trust will join us;" and he +glanced his eye towards Edith, whose face grew somewhat paler than it +had been before. Sir Robert instantly withdrew his gaze; but the look +of both father and daughter had not been lost upon Digby; and he +replied--"I have the pleasure of knowing your brother already, Sir +Robert. We were fellow-travellers as far as Ashford, four or five days +ago. I hope he is well." + +"Oh, quite well--quite well," answered the baronet; "but as odd as +ever--nay odder, I think, for his expedition to London. That which +seems to polish and soften other men, but renders him rougher and more +extraordinary. But he was always very odd--very odd indeed, even as a +boy." + +"Ay, but he was always kind-hearted, brother Robert," observed Miss +Barbara; "and though he may be a little odd, he has been in odd +places, you know--India and the like; and besides, it does not do to +talk of his oddity, as you are doing always, for if he heard of it, he +might leave all his money away." + +"He is only odd, I think," said Edith Croyland, "by being kinder and +better than other men." + +Sir Edward Digby turned towards her with a warm smile, replying--"So +it struck me, Miss Croyland. He is so good and right-minded himself, +that he is at times a little out of patience with the faults and +follies of others--at least, such was my impression, from all I saw of +him." + +"It was a just one," answered the young lady, "and I am sure, Sir +Edward, the more you see of him the more you will be inclined to +overlook the oddities for the sake of the finer qualities." + +It seemed to Sir Edward Digby that the commendations of Sir Robert +Croyland's brother did not seem the most grateful of all possible +sounds to the ears of the Baronet, who immediately after announced +that he would have the pleasure of conducting his young guest to his +apartments, adding that they were early people in the country, their +usual dinner-hour being four o'clock, though he found that the +fashionable people of London were now in the habit of dining at +half-past four. Sir Edward accordingly followed him up the great +oaken staircase to a very handsome and comfortable room, with a +dressing-room at the side, in which he found his servant already +busily employed in disburdening his bags and portmanteau of their +contents. + +Sir Robert paused for a moment--to see that his guest had everything +which he might require, and then left him. But the young baronet did +not proceed immediately to the business of the toilet, seating himself +before the window of the bed-room, and gazing out with a thoughtful +expression, while his servant continued his operations in the next +room. From time to time the man looked in as if he had something to +say, but his master continued in a reverie, of which it may be as well +to take some notice. His first thought was, "I must lay out the plan +of my campaign; but I must take care not to get my wing of the army +defeated while the main body is moving up to give battle. On my life, +I'm a great deal too good-natured to put myself in such a dangerous +position for a friend. The artillery that the old gentleman spoke of +is much more formidable than I expected. My worthy colonel did not use +so much of love's glowing colours in his painting as I supposed; but +after all, there's no danger; I am proof against all such shots, and I +fancy I must use little Zara for the purpose of getting at her +sister's secrets. There can be no harm in making a little love to her, +the least little bit possible. It will do my pretty coquette no harm, +and me none either. It may be well to know how the land lies, however; +and I dare say that fellow of mine has made some discoveries already; +but the surest way to get nothing out of him is to ask him, and so I +must let him take his own way." + +His thoughts then turned to another branch of the same subject; and he +went on pondering rather than thinking for some minutes more. There is +a state of mind which can scarcely be called thought; for thought is +rapid and progressive, like the flight of a bird, whether it be in the +gyrations of the swallow, or the straightforward course of the rook; +but in the mode or condition of which I speak, the mind seems rather +to hover over a particular object, like the hawk eyeing carefully that +which is beneath it; and this state can no more be called thought than +the hovering of the hawk can be called flight. Such was the occupation +of Sir Edward Digby, as I have said, for several minutes, and then he +went on to his conclusions. "She loves him still," he said to himself; +"of that I feel sure. She is true to him still, and steadfast in her +truth. Whatever may have been said or done has not been hers, and that +is a great point gained; for now, with station, rank, distinction, and +competence at least, he presents himself in a very different position +from any which he could assume before; and unless on account of some +unaccountable prejudice, the old gentleman can have no objection. Oh, +yes, she loves him still, I feel very sure! The calm gravity of that +beautiful face has only been written there so early by some deep and +unchanged feeling. We never see the sparkling brightness of youth so +shadowed but by some powerful and ever-present memory, which, like the +deep bass notes of a fine instrument, gives a solemn tone even to the +liveliest music of life. She can smile, but the brow is still grave: +there is something underneath it; and we must find out exactly what +that is. Yet I cannot doubt; I am sure of it. Here, Somers! are not +those things ready yet? I shall be too late for dinner." + +"Oh, no, sir;" replied the man, coming in, and putting up the back of +his hand to his head, in military fashion. "Your honour wont be too +late. The great bell rings always half-an-hour before, then Mr. +Radford is always a quarter-of-an-hour behind his time." + +"I wonder who Mr. Radford is!" said Sir Edward Digby, as if speaking +to himself. "He seems a very important person in the county." + +"I can tell you, sir," said the man, "he is or was the richest person +in the neighbourhood, and has got Sir Robert quite under his thumb, +they say. He was a merchant, or a shopkeeper, the butler told me, in +Hythe. But there was more money came in than ever went through his +counting-house, and what between trading one way or another, he got +together a great deal of riches, bought this place here in the +neighbourhood, and set up for a gentleman. His son is to be married to +Miss Croyland, they say; but the servants think that she hates him, +and fancy that he would himself rather have her sister." + +The latter part of this speech was that which interested Sir Edward +Digby the most; but he knew that there was a certain sort of +perversity about his servant, which made him less willing to answer a +distinct question than to volunteer any information; and therefore he +fixed upon another point, inquiring, "What do you mean, Somers, by +saying that he is, or was, the richest man in the country?" + +"Why, sir, that is as it may be," answered the man; "but one thing is +certain--Miss Croyland has three times refused to marry this young +Radford, notwithstanding all her father could say; and as for the +young gentleman himself, why he's no gentleman at all, going about +with all the bad characters in the county, and carrying on his +father's old trade, like a highwayman. It has not quite answered so +well though, for they say old Radford lost fully fifty thousand pounds +by his last venture, which was run ashore somewhere about Romney Hoy. +The boats were sunk, part of the goods seized, and the rest sent to +the bottom. You may be sure he's a dare-devil, however, for whenever +the servants speak of him, they sink their voice to a whisper, as if +the fiend were at their elbow." + +Sir Edward Digby was very well inclined to hear more; but while the +man was speaking, the bell he had mentioned, rang, and the young +baronet, who had a certain regard for his own personal appearance, +hastened to dress and to descend to the drawing-room. + + + + + CHAPTER VI. + + +It is sometimes expedient in telling a tale of this kind, to introduce +the different personages quietly to the reader one after the other, +and to suffer him to become familiar with them separately, before they +are all brought to act together, that he may have a clear and definite +notion of their various characters, dispositions, and peculiarities, +and be enabled to judge at once of the motives by which they are +actuated, when we recite the deeds that they perform. + +Having twice or thrice mentioned one of the prominent persons in this +history, without having brought him visibly upon the scene, (as, in +the natural course of events, I must very soon do,) I shall now follow +the plan above mentioned; and, in order to give the reader a distinct +notion of Mr. Radford, his character and proceedings, will beg those +who have gone on with me thus far, to step back with me to the same +night, on which Mr. Warde and his young friend met the smuggler in his +evening walk along the heights. + +Not very far from the town of Hythe, not very far from the village of +Sandgate, are still to be found the ruins of an ancient castle, which, +by various deeds that have been performed within its walls, has +acquired a name in English history. The foundation of the building is +beyond our records; and tradition, always fond of the marvellous, +carries back the period when the first stone was laid to the times of +the Roman invaders of Great Britain. Others supposed that it was +erected by the Saxons, but, as it now stands, it presents no trace of +the handiwork of either of those two races of barbarians, and is +simply one of those strongholds constructed by the Normans, or their +close descendants, either to keep their hold of a conquered country, +or to resist the power both of tyrannical monarchs and dangerous +neighbours. Various parts of the building are undoubtedly attributable +to the reign of Henry II.; and if any portion be of an earlier date, +of which I have some doubts, it is but small; but a considerable part +is, I believe, of a still later epoch, and in some places may be +traced the architecture common in the reign of Edward III. and of his +grandson. The space enclosed within the outer walls is very extensive, +and numerous detached buildings, chapels, halls, and apparently a +priory, are still to be found built against those walls themselves, so +that it is probable that the castle in remote days gave shelter to +some religious body, which is rendered still more likely from the fact +of Saltwood Castle and its manor having formerly appertained to the +church and see of Canterbury. + +Many a remarkable scene has undoubtedly passed in the courts and halls +of that now ruined building, and it is even probable that there the +dark and dreadful deed, which, though probably not of his contriving, +embittered the latter life of the second Henry, was planned and +determined by the murderers of Thomas a Becket. With such deeds, +however, and those ancient times, we have nothing here to do; and at +the period to which this tale refers, the castle, though in a much +more perfect state than at present, was already in ruins. The park, +which formerly surrounded it, had been long thrown open and divided +into fields; but still the character which its formation had given to +the neighbouring scenery had not passed away; and the rich extent of +old pasture, the scattered woods and clumps of trees, the brawling +brook, here and there diverted from its natural course for ornament or +convenience,--all bespoke the former destination of the ground, for +near a mile around on every side, when magnificent Archbishop +Courtenay held the castle of Saltwood as his favourite place of +residence. + +Though, as I have said, grey ruin had possession of the building, yet +the strength of its construction had enabled it in many parts to +resist the attacks of time; and the great keep, with its two lofty +gate towers and wide-spreading hall, was then but very little decayed. +Nevertheless, at that period no one tenanted the castle of Saltwood +but an old man and his son, who cultivated a small portion of ground +in the neighbourhood; and their dwelling was confined to three rooms +in the keep, though they occupied several others by their implements +of husbandry, occasionally diversified with sacks of grain, stores of +carrots and turnips, and other articles of agricultural produce. Thus, +every night, for a short time, lights were to be seen in Saltwood +Castle, but all the buildings except the keep, were utterly neglected, +and falling rapidly into a state of complete dilapidation. + +It was towards this building, on the night I speak of, that the +smuggler took his way, about a quarter of an hour after having +suddenly broken off his conversation with Mr. Warde and the young +officer. He walked on with a quick, bold, careless step, apparently +without much thought or consideration of the interview to which he was +summoned. He paused, indeed, more than once, and looked around him; +but it was merely to gaze at the beauty of the scenery, for which he +had a great natural taste. It is no slight mistake to suppose that the +constant intercourse with, and opportunity of enjoying the beauties of +nature, diminish in any degree the pleasures that we thence derive. +The direct contrary is the case. Every other delight, everything that +man has contrived or found for himself, palls upon the taste by +frequent fruition; but not so with those sources of pleasure which are +given us by God himself; and the purer and freer they are from man's +invention, the more permanent are they in their capability of +bestowing happiness, the more extensive seems their quality of +satisfying the ever-increasing desires of the spirit within us. Were +it not so, the ardent attachment which is felt by those who have been +born and brought up in the midst of fine and magnificent scenery to +the place of their nativity, could not exist; and it will always be +found that, other things being equal, those who live most amongst the +beauties of nature, are those who most appreciate them. + +Many a beautiful prospect presented itself to the smuggler, as he +walked on by the light of the moon. At one place, the woods swept +round him and concealed the rest of the country from his eyes; but +then the moonbeams poured through the branches, or streamed along the +path, and every now and then, between the old trunks and gnarled +roots, he caught a sight of the deeper parts of the woodland, sleeping +in the pale rays. At another, issuing forth upon the side of the hill, +the leafy wilderness lay beneath his feet with the broad round summit +of some piece of high ground, rising dark and flat above; and at some +distance further, he suddenly turned the angle of the valley, and had +the tall grey ruin of Saltwood full before him, with the lines of the +trees and meadows sweeping down into the dell, and the bright sky, +lustrous with the moonlight, extended broad and unclouded behind. +Shortly after, he came to the little stream, rushing in miniature +cascades between its hollow banks, and murmuring with a soft and +musical voice amongst the roots of the shrubs, which here and there +hid it from the beams. + +He paused but a moment or two, however, at any of these things, and +then walked on again, till at length he climbed the road leading up to +the castle, and passed through the arch-way of the gate. Of the +history of the place he knew nothing, but from vague traditions heard +in his boyhood; and yet, when he stood amongst those old grey walls, +with the high towers rising before him, and the greensward, covering +the decay of centuries, beneath his feet, he could not help feeling a +vague impression of melancholy, not unmingled with awe, fall upon him. +In the presence of ancient things, the link between all mortality +seems most strongly felt. We perceive our association with the dead +more strongly. The character and habits of thought of the person, of +course, render it a more distinct or obscure perception; but still we +all have it. With some, it is as I have before called it, an +impression that we must share the same decay, meet the same fate, fall +into the same tomb as those who have raised or produced the things +that we behold; for every work of man is but a tombstone, if it be +read aright. But with others, an audible voice speaks from the grey +ruin and the ancient church, from the dilapidated houses where our +fathers dwelt or worshipped, and says to every one amongst the living, +"As they were, who built us, so must you be. They enjoyed, and hoped, +and feared, and suffered. So do you. Where are they gone, with all +their thoughts? Where will you go, think you never so highly? All +down, down, to the same dust, whither we too are tending. We have seen +these things, for ages past, and we shall see more." + +I mean not to say that such was exactly the aspect under which those +ruins presented themselves to the eye of the man who now visited them. +The voice that spoke was not so clear; but yet it was clear enough to +make him feel thoughtful if not sad; and he paused to gaze up at the +high keep, as the moon shone out upon the old stone-work, showing +every loophole and casement. He was not without imagination in a +homely way, and, following the train of thought which the sight of the +castle at that hour suggested, he said to himself, "I dare say many a +pretty girl has looked out of that window to talk to her lover by the +moonlight; and they have grown old, and died like other folks." + +How long he would have gone on in this musing mood I cannot tell, but +just at that moment the boy who had come down to the beach to call +him, appeared from the old doorway of the chapel, and pointing to one +of the towers in the wall, whispered--"He's up there, waiting for +you." + +"Well, then, you run home, young Starlight," replied the smuggler. +"I'll be after you in a minute, for he can't have much to say, I +should think. Off with you! and no listening, or I'll break your head, +youngster." + +The boy laughed, and ran away through the gate; and his companion +turned towards the angle which he had pointed out. Approaching the +wall, he entered what might have been a door, or perhaps a window +looking in upon the court, and communicating with one of those +passages which led from tower to tower, with stairs every here and +there leading to the battlements. He was obliged to bow his head as he +passed; but after climbing a somewhat steep ascent, where the broken +steps were half covered with rubbish, he emerged upon the top of the +wall, where many a sentinel had kept his weary watch in times long +past. At a little distance in advance, standing in the pale moonlight, +was a tall, gaunt figure, leaning against a fragment of one of the +neighbouring towers; and Harding did not pause to look at the +splendour of the view below, though it might well, with its world of +wood and meadow, bounded by the glistening sea, have attracted eyes +less fond of such scenes than his; but on he walked, straight towards +the person before him, who, on his part, hurried forward to meet him, +whenever the sound of his step broke upon the ear. + +"Good night, Harding," said Mr. Radford, in a low but still harsh +tone; "what a time you have been. It will be one o'clock or more +before I get back." + +"Past two," answered the smuggler, bluntly; "but I came as soon as I +could. It is not much more than half an hour since I got your +message." + +"That stupid boy has been playing the fool, then," replied the other; +"I sent him----" + +"Oh, he's not stupid," interrupted the smuggler; "and he's not given +to play the fool either. More like to play the rogue. But what's the +business now, sir? There's no doing anything on such nights as these." + +"I know that--I know that," rejoined Radford. "But this will soon +change. The moon will be dwindled down to cheese-paring before many +days are over, and the barometer is falling. It is necessary that we +should make all our arrangements beforehand, Harding, and have +everything ready. We must have no more such jobs as the last two." + +"I had nothing to do with them," rejoined the smuggler. "You chose +your own people, and they failed. I do not mean to say it was their +fault, for I don't think it was. They lost as much, for them, as you +did; and they did their best, I dare say; but still that is nothing to +me. I've undertaken to land the cargo, and I will do it, if I live. If +I die, there's nothing to be said, you know; but I don't say I'll ever +undertake another of the sort. It does not answer, Mr. Radford. It +makes a man think too much, to know that other people have got so much +money staked on such a venture." + +"Ay, but that is the very cause why every one should exert himself," +answered his companion. "I lost fifty thousand pounds by the last +affair, twenty by the other; but I tell you, Harding, I have more than +both upon this, and if this fail----" + +He paused, and did not finish the sentence; but he set his teeth hard, +and seemed to draw his breath with difficulty. + +"That's a bad plan," said the smuggler--"a bad plan, in all ways. You +wish to make up all at one run: and so you double the venture: but you +should know by this time, that one out of four pays very well, and we +have seldom failed to do one out of two or three; but the more money +people get the more greedy they are of it; so that because you put +three times as much as enough on one freight, you must needs put five +times on the other, and ten times on the third, risking a greater loss +every time for a greater gain. I'll have to do with no more of these +things. I'm contented with little, and don't like such great +speculations." + +"Oh, if you are afraid," cried Mr. Radford, "you can give it up! I +dare say we can find some one else to land the goods." + +"As to being afraid, that I am not," answered Harding; "and having +undertaken the run, I'll do it. I'm not half so much afraid as you +are: for I've not near so much to lose--only my life or liberty and +three hundred pounds. But still, Mr. Radford, I do not like to think +that if anything goes wrong you'll be so much hurt; and it makes a man +feel queer. If I have a few hundreds in a boat, and nothing to lose +but myself and a dozen of tubs, I go about it as gay as a lark and as +cool and quiet as a dogfish; but if anything were to go wrong now, why +it would be----" + +"Ruin--utter ruin!" said Mr. Radford. + +"I dare say it would," rejoined the smuggler; "but, nevertheless, your +coming down here every other day, and sending for me, does no good, +and a great deal of harm. It only teazes me, and sets me always +thinking about it, when the best way is not to think at all, but just +to do the thing and get it over. Besides, you'll have people noticing +your being so often down here, and you'll make them suspect something +is going on." + +"But it is necessary, my good fellow," answered the other, "that we +should settle all our plans. I must have people ready, and horses and +help, in case of need." + +"Ay, that you must," replied the smuggler, thoughtfully. "I think you +said the cargo was light goods." + +"Almost all India," said Radford, in return. "Shawls and painted +silks, and other things of great value but small bulk. There are a few +bales of lace, too; but the whole will require well nigh a hundred +horses to carry it, so that we must have a strong muster." + +"Ay, and men who fight, too," rejoined Harding. "You know there are +Dragoons down at Folkestone?" + +"No!--when did they come?" exclaimed Hadford, eagerly. "That's a bad +job--that's a bad job! Perhaps they suspect already. Perhaps some of +those fellows from the other side have given information, and these +soldiers are sent down in consequence--I shouldn't wonder, I shouldn't +wonder." + +"Pooh--nonsense, Mr. Radford!" replied Harding; "you are always so +suspicious. Some day or another you'll suspect me." + +"I suspect everybody," cried Radford, vehemently, "and I have good +cause. I have known men do such things, for a pitiful gain, as would +hang them, if there were any just punishment for treachery." + +Harding laughed, but he did not explain the cause of his merriment, +though probably he thought that Mr. Radford himself would do many a +thing for a small gain, which would not lightly touch his soul's +salvation. He soon proceeded, however, to reply, in a grave +tone--"That's a bad plan, Mr. Radford. No man is ever well served by +those whom he suspects. He had better never have anything to do with a +person he doubts; so, if you doubt me, I'm quite willing to give the +business up, for I don't half like it." + +"Oh, no!" said Radford, in a smooth and coaxing tone, "I did not mean +you, Harding; I know you too well for as honest a fellow as ever +lived; but I do doubt those fellows on the other side, and I strongly +suspect they peached about the other two affairs. Besides, you said +something about Dragoons, and we have not had any of that sort of +vermin here for a year or more." + +"You frighten yourself about nothing," answered Harding. "There is but +a troop of them yet, though they say more are expected. But what good +are Dragoons? I have run many a cargo under their very noses, and hope +I shall live to run many another. As to stopping this traffic, they +are no more good than so many old women!" + +"But you must get it all over before the rest come," replied Mr. +Radford, in an argumentative manner, taking hold of the lappel of his +companion's jacket; "there's no use of running more risk than needful. +And you must remember that we have a long way to carry the goods after +they are landed. Then is the most dangerous time." + +"I don't know that," said Harding; "but, however, you must provide for +that, and must also look out for _hides_[1] for the things. I wont +have any of them down with me; and when I have landed them safely, +though I don't mind giving a help to bring them a little way inland, I +wont be answerable for anything more." + + +--------------------- + +[Footnote 1: It may be as well to explain to the uninitiated reader, +that the secret places where smugglers conceal their goods after +landing, are known by the name of "Hides."] + +--------------------- + + +"No, no; that's all settled," answered his companion; "and the hides +are all ready, too. Some can come into my stable, others can be +carried up to the willow cave. Then there's Sir Robert's great barn." + +"Will Sir Robert consent?" asked Harding, in a doubtful tone. "He +would never have anything to do with these matters himself, and was +always devilish hard upon us. I remember he sent my father to gaol ten +years ago, when I was a youngster." + +"He must consent," replied Radford, sternly. "He dare as soon refuse +me as cut off his right hand. I tell you, Harding, I have got him in a +vice; and one turn of the lever will make him cry for mercy when I +like. But no more of him. I shall use his barn as if it were my own; +and it is in the middle of the wood, you know, so that it's out of +sight. But even if it were not for that, we've got many another place. +Thank Heaven, there are no want of hides in this county!" + +"Ay, but the worst of dry goods, and things of that kind," rejoined +the smuggler, "is that they spoil with a little wet, so that one can't +sink them in a cut or canal till they are wanted, as one can do with +tubs. Who do you intend to send down for them? That's one thing I must +know." + +"Oh, whoever comes, my son will be with them," answered Mr. Radford. +"As to who the others will be, I cannot tell yet. The Ramleys, +certainly, amongst the rest. They are always ready, and will either +fight or run, as it may be needed." + +"I don't much like them," replied Harding; "they are a bad set. I wish +they were hanged, or out of the country; for, as you say, they will +either fight, or run, or peach, or anything else that suits them: one +just as soon as another." + +"Oh, no fear of that--no fear of that!" exclaimed Mr. Radford, in a +confident tone, which seemed somewhat strange to the ears of his +companion, after the suspicions he had heard him so lately express; +but the other instantly added, in explanation, "I shall take care that +they have no means of peaching, for I will tell them nothing about it, +till they are setting off with fifty or sixty others." + +"That's the best way, and the only way with such fellows as that," +answered Harding; "but if you tell nobody, you'll find it a hard job +to get them all together." + +"Only let the day be fixed," said Mr. Radford; "and I'll have all +ready--never fear." + +"That must be your affair," replied Harding; "I'm ready whenever you +like. Give me a dark night and a fair wind, and my part of the job is +soon done." + +"About this day week, I should think," said Mr. Radford. "The moon +will be nearly out by that time." + +"Not much more than half," replied the smuggler; "and as we have got +to go far,--for the ship, you say, will not stand in,--we had better +have the whole night to ourselves. Even a bit of a moon is a bad +companion on such a trip; especially when there is so much money +risked. No, I think you had better give me three days more: then there +will be wellnigh nothing left of her, and she wont rise till three or +four. We can see what the weather's like, too, about that time; and I +can come up, and let you know. But if you'll take my advice, Mr. +Radford, you'll not be coming down here any more, till it's all over +at least. There's no good of it, and it may do mischief." + +"Well, now it's all settled, I shall not need to do so," rejoined the +other; "but I really don't see, Harding, why you should so much wish +me to stay away." + +"I'll tell you why, Mr. Radford," said Harding, putting his hands into +the pockets of his jacket, "and that very easily. Although you have +become a great gentleman, and live at a fine place inland, people +haven't forgot when you kept a house and a counting-house too, in +Hythe, and all that used to go on in those days; and though you are a +magistrate, and go out hunting and shooting, and all that, the good +folks about have little doubt that you have a hankering after the old +trade yet, only that you do your business on a larger scale than you +did then. It's but the other day, when I was in at South's, the +grocer's, to talk to him about some stuff he wanted, I heard two men +say one to the other, as they saw you pass, 'Ay, there goes old +Radford. I wonder what he's down here for!' 'As great an old smuggler +as ever lived,' said the other; 'and a pretty penny he's made of it. +He's still at it, they say; and I dare say he's down here now upon +some such concern.' So you see, sir, people talk about it, and that's +the reason why I say that the less you are here the better." + +"Perhaps it is--perhaps it is," answered Mr. Radford, quickly; "and as +we've now settled all we can settle, till you come up, I'll take +myself home. Good night, Harding--good night!" + +"Good night, sir," answered Harding, with something like a smile upon +his lip; and finding their way down again to the court below, they +parted. + +"I don't like that fellow at all," said Mr. Radford to himself, as he +walked away upon the road to Hythe, where he had left his horse; "he's +more than half inclined to be uncivil. I'll have nothing more to do +with him after this is over." + +Harding took his way across the fields towards Sandgate, and perhaps +his thoughts were not much more complimentary to his companion than +Mr. Radford's had been to him; but in the meantime, while each +followed his separate course homeward, we must remain for a short +space in the green, moonlight court of Saltwood Castle. All remained +still and silent for about three minutes; but then the ivy, which at +that time had gathered thickly round the old walls, might be seen to +move in the neighbourhood of a small aperture in one of the ruined +flanking towers of the outer wall, to which it had at one time +probably served as a window, though all traces of its original form +were now lost. The tower was close to the spot where Mr. Radford and +his companion had been standing; and although the aperture we have +mentioned looked towards the court, joining on to a projecting wall in +great part overthrown, there was a loop-hole on the other side, +flanking the very parapet on which they had carried on their +conversation. + +After the ivy had moved for a moment, as I have said, something like a +human head was thrust out, looking cautiously round the court. The +next minute a broad pair of shoulders appeared, and then the whole +form of a tall and powerful man, who, after pausing for an instant on +the top of the broken wall, used its fragments as a means of descent +to the ground below. Just as he reached the level of the court, one of +the loose stones which he had displaced as he came down, rolled after +him and fell at his side; and, with a sudden start at the first sound, +he laid his hand on the butt of a large horse-pistol stuck in a belt +round his waist. As soon as he perceived what it was that had alarmed +him, he took his hand from the weapon again, and walked out into the +moonlight; and thence, after pacing quietly up and down for two or +three minutes, to give time for the two other visitors of the castle +to get to a distance, he sauntered slowly out through the gate. He +then turned under the walls towards the little wood which at that time +occupied a part of the valley; opposite to which he stood gazing for +about five minutes. When he judged all safe, he gave a whistle, upon +which the form of a boy instantly started out from the trees, and came +running across the meadow towards him. + +"Have you heard all, Mr. Mowle?" asked the boy in a whisper, as soon +as he was near. + +"All that they said, Little Starlight," replied the other. "They +didn't say enough; but yet it will do; and you are a clever little +fellow. But come along," he added, laying his hand on the boy's +shoulder, "you shall have what I promised you, and half-a-crown more; +and if you go on, and tell me all you find out, you shall be well +paid." + +Thus saying, he walked on with the boy towards Hythe, and the scenery +round Saltwood resumed its silent solitude again. + + + + + CHAPTER VII. + + +To a very hungry man, it matters not much what is put upon the table, +so that it be eatable; but with the intellectual appetite the case is +different, and every one is anxious to know who is to be his +companion, or what is to be in his book. Now, Sir Edward Digby was +somewhat of an epicure in human character; and he always felt as great +a curiosity to enjoy any new personage brought before him, as the more +ordinary epicure desires to taste a new dish. He was equally refined, +too, in regard to the taste of his intellectual food. He liked a good +deal of flavour, but not too much: a soupcon of something, he did not +well know what, in a man's demeanour gave it great zest, as a soupcon +of two or three condiments so blended in a salmi as to defy analysis +must have charmed Vatel; and, to say the truth, the little he had seen +or heard of the house in which he now was, together with his knowledge +of some of its antecedents, had awakened a great desire for a farther +taste of its quality. + +When he went down stairs, then, and opened the dining-room door, his +eye naturally ran round in search of the new guests. Only two, +however, had arrived, in the first of whom he recognised Mr. Zachary +Croyland. The other was a venerable looking old man, in black, whom he +could not conceive to be Mr. Radford, from the previous account which +he had heard of that respectable gentleman's character. It turned out, +however, that the person before him--who had been omitted by Sir +Robert Croyland in the enumeration of his expected visitors--was the +clergyman of the neighbouring village; and being merely a plain, good +man, of very excellent sense, but neither, rich noble, nor thrifty, +was nobody in the opinion of the baronet. + +As soon as Sir Edward Digby appeared, Mr. Zachary Croyland, with his +back tall, straight, and stiff as a poker, advanced towards him, and +shook him cordially by the hand. "Welcome, welcome, my young friend," +he said; "you've kept your word, I see; and that's a good sign of any +man, especially when he knows that there's neither pleasure, profit, +nor popularity to be gained by so doing; and I'm sure there's none of +either to be had in this remote corner of the world. You have some +object, of course, in coming among us; for every man has an object; +but what it is I can't divine." + +"A very great object indeed, my dear sir," replied the young officer, +with a smile; "I wish to cultivate the acquaintance of an old friend +of my father's--your brother here, who was kind enough to invite me." + +"A very unprofitable sort of plant to cultivate," answered Mr. +Croyland, in a voice quite loud enough to be heard by the whole room. +"It wont pay tillage, I should think; but you know your own affairs +best. Here, Edith, my love, I must make you better acquainted with my +young fellow-traveller. Doubtless, he is perfectly competent to talk +as much nonsense to you as any other young man about town, and has +imported, for the express benefit of the young ladies in the country, +all the sweet things and pretty speeches last in vogue. But he can, in +his saner moments, and if you just let him know that you are not quite +a fool, bestow upon you some small portion of common sense, which he +has picked up, Heaven knows how!--He couldn't have it by descent; for +he is an eldest son, and that portion of the family property is always +reserved for the younger children." + +Mrs. Barbara Croyland, who found that her brother Zachary was riding +his horse somewhat hard, moved across the room--with the superfluity +of whalebone which she had in her stays crackling at every step, as if +expressly to attract attention--and, laying her hand on Mr. Croyland's +arm, she whispered--"Now do, brother, be a little civil and kind. +There's no use of hurting people's feelings; and, if Robert hasn't as +much sense as you, there's no use you should always be telling him +so." + +"Pish! nonsense! "cried Mr. Croyland, "Hold your tongue, Bab. You're a +good soul as ever lived, but a great fool into the bargain. So don't +meddle. I should think you had burnt your fingers enough with it by +this time." + +"And I'm sure you're a good soul, too, if you would but let people +know it," replied Mrs. Barbara, anxious to soften and keep down all +the little oddities and asperities of her family circle in the eyes of +Sir Edward Digby. + +But she only showed them the more by so doing; for Mr. Croyland was +not to be caught by honey; and, besides, the character which she, in +her simplicity, thought fit to attribute to him, was the very last +upon the face of the earth which he coveted. Every man has his vanity; +and it is an imp that takes an infinite variety of different forms, +frequently the most hideous or the most absurd. Now Mr. Croyland's +vanity lay in his oddity and acerbity. There was nothing on earth +which he considered so foolish as good-nature; and he was heartily +ashamed of the large portion with which Heaven had endowed him. + +"I a good soul!" he exclaimed. "Let me tell you, Bab, you are very +much mistaken in that, as in every other thing you say or do. I am +nothing more nor less than a very cross, ill-tempered old man; and you +know it quite well, if you wouldn't be a hypocrite." + +"Well, I do believe you are," said the lady, with her own particular +vanity mortified into a state of irritation, "and the only way is to +let you alone." + +While this conversation had been passing between brother and sister, +Sir Edward Digby, taking advantage of the position in which they +stood, and which masked his own operations from the rest of the party, +bent down to speak a few words to Edith, who, whatever they were, +looked up with a smile, faint and thoughtful indeed, but still +expressing as much cheerfulness as her countenance ever showed. The +topic which he spoke upon might be commonplace, but what he said was +said with grace, and had a degree of originality in it, mingled with +courtliness and propriety of expression, which at once awakened +attention and repaid it. It was not strong beer--it was not strong +spirit--but it was like some delicate kind of wine, which has more +power than the fineness of the flavour suffers to be apparent at the +first taste. + +Their conversation was not long, however; for by the time that the +young gentleman and lady had exchanged a few sentences, and Mr. +Croyland had finished his discussion with his sister, the name of Mr. +Radford was announced; and Sir Edward Digby turned quickly round to +examine the appearance of the new comer. As he did so, however, his +eye fell for a moment upon the countenance of Edith Croyland, and he +thought he remarked an expression of anxiety not unmingled with pain, +till the door closed after admitting a single figure, when a look of +relief brightened her face, and she gave a glance across the room to +her sister. The younger girl instantly rose; and while her father was +busy receiving Mr. Radford with somewhat profuse attention, she +gracefully crossed the room, and seating herself by Edith, laid her +hand upon her sister's, whispering something to her with a kindly +look. + +Sir Edward Digby marked it all, and liked it; for there is something +in the bottom of man's heart which has always a sympathy with +affection; but he, nevertheless, did not fail to take a complete +survey of the personage who entered, and whom I must now present to +the reader, somewhat more distinctly than I could do by the moonlight. +Mr. Richard Radford was a tall, thin, but large-boned man, with dark +eyes and overhanging shaggy brows, a hook nose, considerably depressed +towards the point, a mouth somewhat wide, and teeth very fine for his +age, though somewhat straggling and sharklike. His hair was very +thick, and apparently coarse; his arms long and powerful; and his +legs, notwithstanding the meagreness of his body, furnished with very +respectable calves. On the whole, he was a striking but not a +prepossessing person; and there was a look of keenness and cupidity, +we might almost say voracity, in his eye, with a bend in the brow, +which would have given the observer an idea of great quickness of +intellect and decision of character, if it had not been for a certain +degree of weakness about the partly opened mouth, which seemed to be +in opposition to the latter characteristic. He was dressed in the +height of the mode, with large buckles in his shoes and smaller ones +at his knees, a light dress-sword hanging not ungracefully by his +side, and a profusion of lace and embroidery about his apparel. + +Mr. Radford replied to the courtesies of Sir Robert Croyland +with perfect self-possession--one might almost call it +self-sufficiency--but with no grace and some stiffness. He was then +introduced, in form, to Sir Edward Digby, bowing low, if that could be +called a bow, which was merely an inclination of the rigid spine, from +a perpendicular position to an angle of forty-five with the horizon. +The young officer's demeanour formed a very striking contrast with +that of his new acquaintance, not much in favour of the latter; but he +showed that, as Mr. Croyland had predicated of him, he was quite +prepared to say a great many courteous nothings in a very civil and +obliging tone. Mr. Radford declared himself delighted at the honour of +making his acquaintance, and Sir Edward pronounced himself charmed at +the opportunity of meeting him. Mr. Radford hoped that he was going to +honour their poor place for a considerable length of time, and Sir +Edward felt sure that the beauty of such scenery, and the delights of +such society, would be the cause of much pain to him when he was +compelled to tear himself away. + +A low but merry laugh from behind them, caused both the gentlemen to +turn their heads; and they found the sparkling eyes of Zara Croyland +fixed upon them. She instantly dropped her eye-lids, however, and +coloured a little, at being detected. It was evident enough that she +had been weighing the compliments she heard, and estimating them at +their right value, which made Mr. Radford look somewhat angry, but +elicited nothing from Sir Edward Digby but a gay glance at the +beautiful little culprit, which she caught, even through the thick +lashes of her downcast eyes, and which served to reassure her. + +Sir Robert Croyland himself was displeased; but Zara was in a degree a +spoiled child, and had established for herself a privilege of doing +what she liked, unscolded. To turn the conversation, therefore, Sir +Robert, in a tone of great regard, inquired particularly after his +young friend, Richard, and said, he hoped that they were to have the +pleasure of seeing him. + +"I trust so--I trust so, Sir Robert," replied Mr. Radford; "but you +know I am totally unacquainted with his movements. He had gone away +upon some business, the servants told me; and I waited as long as I +could for him; but I did not choose to keep your dinner, Sir Robert; +and if he does not choose to come in time, the young dog must go +without.--Pray do not stop a moment for him." + +"Business!" muttered Mr. Croyland--"either cheating the king's +revenue, or making love to a milkmaid, I'll answer for him;" but the +remark passed unnoticed, for Sir Robert Croyland, who was always +anxious to drown his brother's somewhat too pertinent observations, +without giving the nabob any offence, was loudly pressing Mr. Radford +to let them wait for half an hour, in order to give time for the young +gentleman's arrival. + +His father, however, would not hear of such a proceeding; and the bell +was rung, and dinner ordered. It was placed upon the table with great +expedition; and the party moved towards the dining-room. Mr. Radford +handed in the baronet's sister, who was, to say the truth, an enigma +to him; for he himself could form no conception of her good-nature, +simplicity, and kindness, and consequently thought that all the +mischief she occasionally caused, must originate in well-concealed +spite, which gave him a great reverence for her character. Sir Edward +Digby, notwithstanding a hint from Sir Robert to take in his youngest +daughter, advanced to Miss Croyland, and secured her, as he thought, +for himself; while the brother of the master of the house followed +with the fair Zara, leaving the clergyman and Sir Robert to come +together. By a man[oe]uvre on the part of Edith, however, favoured by +her father, but nearly frustrated by the busy spirit of her aunt, Miss +Croyland got placed between Sir Robert and the clergyman, while the +youngest daughter of the house was seated by Sir Edward Digby, leaving +a chair vacant between herself and her worthy parent for young +Radford, when he should arrive. + +All this being arranged, to the satisfaction of everybody but Sir +Edward Digby, grace was said, after a not very decent hint from Sir +Robert Croyland, that it ought not to be too long; and the dinner +commenced with the usual attack upon soup and fish. It must not be +supposed, however, because we have ventured to say that the +arrangement was not to the satisfaction of Sir Edward Digby, that the +young baronet was at all disinclined to enjoy his pretty little +friend's society nearer than the opposite side of the table. Nor must +it be imagined that his sage reflections, in regard to keeping himself +out of danger, had at all made a coward of the gallant soldier. The +truth is, he had a strong desire to study Edith Croyland: not on +account of any benefit which that study could be of to himself, but +with other motives and views, which, upon the whole, were very +laudable. He wished to see into her mind, and, by those slight +indications which were all he could expect her to display--but which, +nevertheless, to a keen observer, often tell a history better than a +whole volume of details--to ascertain some facts, in regard to which +he took a considerable interest. Being somewhat eager in his way, and +not knowing how long he might find it either convenient or safe to +remain in his present quarters, he had determined to commence the +campaign as soon as possible; but, frustrated in his first attack, he +determined to change his plan of operations, and besiege the fair Zara +as one of the enemy's outworks. He accordingly laughed and talked with +her upon almost every subject in the world during the first part of +dinner, skilfully leading her up to the pursuits of her sister and +herself in the country, in order to obtain a clear knowledge of their +habits and course of proceeding, that he might take advantage of it at +an after-period, for purposes of his own. + +The art of conversation, when properly regarded, forms a regular +system of tactics, in which, notwithstanding the various man[oe]uvres +of your adversary, and the desultory fire kept up by indifferent +persons around, you still endeavour to carry the line of advance in +the direction that you wish, and to frustrate every effort to turn it +towards any point that may not be agreeable to you, rallying it here, +giving it a bend there; presenting a sharp angle at one place, an +obtuse one at another; and raising from time to time a barrier or a +breastwork for the purpose of preventing the adverse force from +turning your flank, and getting into your rear. + +But the mischief was, in the present instance, that Sir Edward Digby's +breastworks were too low for such an active opponent as Zara Croyland. +They might have appeared a formidable obstacle in the way of a +scientific opponent; but with all the rash valour of youth, which is +so frequently successful where practice and experience fail, she +walked straight up, and jumped over them, taking one line after +another, till Sir Edward Digby found that she had nearly got into the +heart of his camp. It was all so easy and natural, however, so gay and +cheerful, that he could not feel mortified, even at his own want of +success; and though five times she darted away from the subject, and +began to talk of other things, he still renewed it, expatiating upon +the pleasures of a country life, and upon how much more rational, as +well as agreeable it was, when compared to the amusements and whirl of +the town. + +Mr. Zachary Croyland, indeed, cut across them often, listening to what +they said and sometimes smiling significantly at Sir Edward Digby, or +at other times replying himself to what either of the two thought fit +to discourse upon. Thus, then, when the young baronet was descanting +sagely of the pleasures of the country, as compared with those of the +town, good Mr. Croyland laughed merrily, saying, "You will soon have +enough of it, Sir Edward; or else you are only deceiving that poor +foolish girl; for what have you to do with the country?--you, who have +lived the best part of your life in cities, and amongst their +denizens. I dare say, if the truth were told now, you would give a +guinea to be walking up the Mall, instead of sitting down here, in +this old, crumbling, crazy house, speaking courteous nonsense to a +pretty little milkmaid." + +"Indeed, my dear sir, you are very much mistaken," replied Sir Edward, +gravely. "You judge all men by yourself; and because you are fond of +cities, and the busy haunts of men, you think I must be so too." + +"I fond of cities and the busy haunts of men!" cried Mr. Croyland, in +a tone of high indignation; but a laugh that ran round the table, and +in which even the worthy clergyman joined, shewed the old gentleman +that he had been taken in by Sir Edward's quietly-spoken jest; and at +the same time his brother exclaimed, still laughing, "He hit you +fairly there, Zachary. He has found out the full extent of your love +for your fellow-creatures already." + +"Well, I forgive him, I forgive him!" said Mr. Croyland, with more +good humour than might have been expected. "I had forgotten that I had +told him, four or five days ago, my hatred for all cities, and +especially for that great mound of greedy emmets, which, +unfortunately, is the capital of this country. I declare I never go +into that vast den of iniquity, and mingle with the stream of +wretched-looking things that call themselves human, which all its +doors are hourly vomiting forth, but they put me in mind of the white +ants in India, just the same squalid-looking, active, and voracious +vermin as themselves, running over everything that obstructs them, +intruding themselves everywhere, destroying everything that comes in +their way, and acting as an incessant torment to every one within +reach. Certainly, the white ants are the less venemous of the two +races, and somewhat prettier to look at; but still there's a wonderful +resemblance." + +"I don't at all approve of your calling me a milkmaid, uncle," said +Zara, shaking her small delicate finger at Mr. Croyland, across the +table. "It's very wrong and ungrateful of you. See if ever I milk your +cow for you again!" + +"Then I'll milk it myself, my dear," replied Mr. Croyland, with a +good-humoured smile at his fair niece. + +"You cannot, you cannot!" cried Zara. "Fancy, Sir Edward, what a +picture it made when one day I went over to my uncle's, and found him +with a frightful-looking black man, in a turban whom he brought over +from Heaven knows where, trying to milk a cow he had just bought, and +neither of them able to manage it. My uncle was kneeling upon his +cocked hat, amongst the long grass, looking, as he acknowledges, like +a kangaroo; the cow had got one of her feet in the pail, kicking most +violently; and the black man with a white turban round his head, was +upon both his knees before her, beseeching her in some heathen +language to be quiet. It was the finest sight I ever saw, and would +have made a beautiful picture of the Worship of the Cow, which is, as +I am told, customary in the country where both the gentlemen came +from." + +"Zara, my dear--Zara!" cried Mrs. Barbara, who was frightened to death +lest her niece should deprive herself of all share in Mr. Croyland's +fortune. "You really should not tell such a story of your uncle." + +But the worthy gentleman himself was laughing till the tears ran down +his cheeks. "It's quite true--it's quite true!" he exclaimed, "and she +did milk the cow, though we couldn't. The ill-tempered devil was as +quiet as a lamb with her, though she is so vicious with every male +thing, that I have actually been obliged to have a woman in the +cottage within a hundred yards of the house, for the express purpose +of milking her." + +"That's what you should have done at first," said Mr. Radford, putting +down the fork with which he had been diligently devouring a large +plateful of fish. "Instead of having nothing but men about you, you +should have had none but your coachman and footman, and all the rest +women." + +"Ay, and married my cook-maid," replied Mr. Croyland, sarcastically. + +Sir Robert Croyland looked down into his plate with a quivering lip +and a heavy brow, as if he did not well know whether to laugh or be +angry. The clergyman smiled, Mr. Radford looked furious, but said +nothing, and Mrs. Barbara exclaimed, "Oh, brother, you should not say +such things! and besides, there are many cook-maids who are very nice, +pretty, respectable people." + +"Well, sister, I'll think of it," said Mr. Croyland, drily, but with a +good deal of fun twinkling in the corners of his eyes. + +It was too much for the light heart of Zara Croyland; and holding down +her head, she laughed outright, although she knew that Mr. Radford had +placed himself in the predicament of which her uncle spoke, though he +had been relieved of the immediate consequence for some years. + +What would have been the result is difficult to say; for Mr. Radford +was waxing wroth; but at that moment the door was flung hastily open, +and a young gentleman entered, of some three or four-and-twenty years +of age, bearing a strong resemblance to Mr. Radford, though +undoubtedly of a much more pleasant and graceful appearance. He was +well dressed, and his coat, lined with white silk of the finest +texture, was cast negligently back from his chest, with an air of +carelessness which was to be traced in all the rest of his apparel. +Everything he wore was as good as it could be, and everything became +him; for he was well formed, and his movements were free and even +graceful; but everything seemed to have been thrown on in a hurry, and +his hair floated wild and straggling round his brow, as if neither +comb nor brush had touched it for many hours. It might have been +supposed that this sort of disarray proceeded from haste when he found +himself too late and his father gone; but there was an expression of +reckless indifference about his face which led Sir Edward Digby to +imagine that this apparent negligence was the habitual characteristic +of his mind, rather than the effect of any accidental circumstance. +His air was quite self-possessed, though hurried; and a flashing +glance of his eye round the table, resting for a moment longer on Sir +Edward Digby than on any one else, seemed directed to ascertain +whether the party assembled was one that pleased him, before he chose +to sit down to the board with them. He made no apology to Sir Robert +Croyland for being too late, but shook hands with him in return for +the very cordial welcome he met with, and then seated himself in the +vacant chair, nodding to Miss Croyland familiarly, and receiving a +cold inclination of the head in return. One of the servants inquired +if he would take soup and fish; but he replied, abruptly, "No; bring +me fish. No soup--I hate such messes." + +In the meantime, by one of those odd turns which sometimes take place +in conversation, Mr. Croyland, the clergyman, and Mr. Radford himself +were once more talking together: the latter having apparently overcome +his indignation at the nabob's tart rejoinder, in the hope and +expectation of saying something still more biting to him in return. +Like many a great general, however, he had not justly appreciated the +power of his adversary as compared with his own strength. Mr. +Croyland, soured at an early period of life, had acquired by long +practice and experience a habit of repartee when his prejudices or his +opinions (and they are very different things) were assailed, which was +overpowering. A large fund of natural kindness and good humour formed +a curious substratum for the acerbity which had accumulated above it, +and his love of a joke would often shew itself in a hearty peal of +laughter, even at his own expense, when the attack upon him was made +in a good spirit, by one for whom he had any affection or esteem. But +if he despised or disliked his assailant, as was the case with Mr. +Radford, the bitterest possible retort was sure to be given in the +fewest possible words. + +In order to lead away from the obnoxious subject, the clergyman +returned to Mr. Croyland's hatred of London, saying, not very +advisedly perhaps, just as young Mr. Radford entered, "I cannot +imagine, my dear sir, why you have such an animosity to our +magnificent capital, and to all that it contains, especially when we +all know you to be as beneficent to individuals as you are severe upon +the species collectively." + +"My dear Cruden, you'll only make a mess of it," replied Mr. Croyland. +"The reason why I do sometimes befriend a poor scoundrel whom I happen +to know, is because it is less pleasant for me to see a rascal suffer +than to do what's just by him. I have no will and no power to punish +all the villany I see, otherwise my arm would be tired enough of +flogging, in this county of Kent. But I do not understand why I should +be called upon to like a great agglomeration of blackguards in a city, +when I can have the same diluted in the country. Here we have about a +hundred scoundrels to the square mile; in London we have a hundred to +the square yard." + +"Don't you think, sir, that they may be but the worse scoundrels in +the country because they are fewer?" demanded Mr. Radford. + +"I am beginning to fancy so," answered Mr. Croyland, drily, "but I +suppose in London the number makes up for the want of intensity." + +"Well, it's a very fine city," rejoined Mr. Radford; "the emporium of +the world, the nurse of arts and sciences, the birth-place and the +theatre of all that is great and majestic in the efforts of human +intellect." + +"And equally of all that is base and vile," answered his opponent; "it +is the place to which all smuggled goods naturally tend, Radford. +Every uncustomed spirit, every prohibited ware, physical and +intellectual, there finds its mart; and the chief art that is +practised is to cheat as cleverly as may be--the chief science +learned, is how to defraud without being detected. We are improving in +the country, daily--daily; but we have not reached the skill of London +yet. Men make large fortunes in the country in a few years by merely +cheating the Customs; but in London they make large fortunes in a few +months by cheating everybody." + +"So they do in India," replied Mr. Radford, who thought he had hit the +tender place. + +"True, true!" cried Mr. Croyland; "and then we go and set up for +country gentlemen, and cheat still. What rogues we are, Radford!--eh? +I see you know the world. It is very well for me to say, I made all my +money by curing men, not by robbing them. Never you believe it, my +good friend. It is not in human nature, is it? No, no! tell that to +the marines. No man ever made a fortune but by plunder, that's a +certain fact." + +The course of Sir Robert Croyland's dinner-party seemed to promise +very pleasantly at this juncture; but Sir Edward Digby, though +somewhat amused, was not himself fond of sharp words, and had some +compassion upon the ladies at the table. He therefore stepped in; and, +without seeming to have noticed that there was anything passing +between Mr. Radford and the brother of his host, except the most +delicate courtesies, he contrived, by some well-directed questions in +regard to India, to give Mr. Croyland an inducement to deviate from +the sarcastic into the expatiative; and having set him cantering upon +one of his hobbies, he left him to finish his excursion, and returned +to a conversation which had been going on between him and the fair +Zara, in somewhat of a low tone, though not so low as to show any +mutual design of keeping it from the ears of those around. Young +Radford had in the meantime been making up for the loss of time +occasioned by his absence at the commencement of dinner, and he seemed +undoubtedly to have a prodigious appetite. Not a word had passed from +father to son, or son to father; and a stranger might have supposed +them in no degree related to each other. Indeed, the young gentleman +had hitherto spoken to nobody but the servant; and while his mouth was +employed in eating, his quick, large eyes were directed to every face +round the table in succession, making several more tours than the +first investigating glance, which I have already mentioned, and every +time stopping longer at the countenance of Sir Edward Digby than +anywhere else. He now, however, seemed inclined to take part in that +officer's conversation with the youngest Miss Croyland, and did not +appear quite pleased to find her attention so completely engrossed by +a stranger. To Edith he vouchsafed not a single word; but hearing the +fair lady next to him reply to something which Sir Edward Digby had +said. "Oh, we go out once or twice almost every day; sometimes on +horseback; but more frequently to take a walk," he exclaimed, "Do you, +indeed, Miss Zara?--why, I never meet you, and I am always running +about the country. How is that, I wonder?" + +Zara smiled, and replied, with an arch look, "Because fortune +befriends us, I suppose, Mr. Radford;" but then, well knowing that he +was not one likely to take a jest in good part, she added--"we don't +go out to meet anybody, and therefore always take those paths where we +are least likely to do so." + +Still young Radford did not seem half to like her reply; but, +nevertheless, he went on in the same tone, continually interrupting +her conversation with Sir Edward Digby, and endeavouring, after a +fashion not at all uncommon, to make himself agreeable by preventing +people from following the course they are inclined to pursue. The +young baronet rather humoured him than otherwise, for he wished to see +as deeply as possible into his character. He asked him to drink wine +with him; he spoke to him once or twice without being called upon to +do so; and he was somewhat amused to see that the fair Zara was a good +deal annoyed at the encouragement he gave to her companion on the left +to join in their conversation. + +He was soon satisfied, however, in regard to the young man's mind and +character. Richard Radford had evidently received what is called a +good education, which is, in fact, no education at all. He had been +taught a great many things; he knew a good deal; but that which really +and truly constitutes education was totally wanting. He had not +learned how to make use of that which he had acquired, either for his +own benefit or for that of society. He had been instructed, not +educated, and there is the greatest possible difference between the +two. He was shrewd enough, but selfish and conceited to a high degree, +with a sufficient portion of pride to be offensive, with sufficient +vanity to be irritable, with all the wilfulness of a spoiled child, +and with that confusion of ideas in regard to plain right and wrong, +which is always consequent upon the want of moral training and +over-indulgence in youth. To judge from his own conversation, the +whole end and aim of his life seemed to be excitement; he spoke of +field sports with pleasure; but the degree of satisfaction which he +derived from each, appeared to be always in proportion to the danger, +the activity, and the fierceness. Hunting he liked better than +shooting, shooting than fishing, which latter he declared was only +tolerable because there was nothing else to be done in the spring of +the year. But upon the pleasures of the chase he would dilate largely, +and he told several anecdotes of staking a magnificent horse here, and +breaking the back of another there, till poor Zara turned somewhat +pale, and begged him to desist from such themes. + +"I cannot think how men can be so barbarous," she said. "Their whole +pleasure seems to consist in torturing poor animals or killing them." + +Young Radford laughed. "What were they made for?" he asked. + +"To be used by man, I think, not to be tortured by him," the young +lady replied. + +"No torture at all," said her companion on the left. "The horse takes +as much pleasure in running after the hounds as I do, and if he breaks +his back, or I break my neck, it's our own fault. We have nobody to +thank for it but ourselves. The very chance of killing oneself gives +additional pleasure; and, when one pushes a horse at a leap, the best +fun of the whole is the thought whether he will be able by any +possibility to clear it or not. If it were not for hunting, and one or +two other things of the sort, there would be nothing left for an +English gentleman, but to go to Italy and put himself at the head of a +party of banditti. That must be glorious work!" + +"Don't you think, Mr. Radford," asked Sir Edward Digby, "that active +service in the army might offer equal excitement, and a more +honourable field?" + +"Oh, dear no!" cried the young man. "A life of slavery compared with a +life of freedom; to be drilled and commanded, and made a mere machine +of, and sent about relieving guards and pickets, and doing everything +that one is told like a school-boy! I would not go into the army for +the world. I'm sure if I did I should shoot my commanding officer +within a month!" + +"Then I would advise you not," answered the young baronet, "for after +the shooting there would be another step to be taken which would not +be quite so pleasant." + +"Oh, you mean the hanging," cried young Radford, laughing; "but I +would take care they should never hang me; for I could shoot myself as +easily as I could shoot him; and I have a great dislike to +strangulation. It's one of the few sorts of death that would not +please me." + +"Come, come, Richard!" said Sir Robert Croyland, in a nervous and +displeased tone; "let us talk of some other subject. You will frighten +the ladies from table before the cloth is off." + +"It is very odd," said young Radford, in a low voice, to Sir Edward +Digby, without making any reply to the master of the house--"it is +very odd, how frightened old men are at the very name of death, when +at the best they can have but two or three years to live." + +The young officer did not reply, but turned the conversation to other +things; and the wine having been liberally supplied, operated as it +usually does, at the point where its use stops short of excess, in +"making glad the heart of man;" and the conclusion of the dinner was +much more cheerful and placable than the commencement. + +The ladies retired within a few minutes after the desert was set upon +the table; and it soon became evident to Sir Edward Digby, that the +process of deep drinking, so disgracefully common in England at that +time, was about to commence. He was by no means incapable of bearing +as potent libations as most men; for occasionally, in those days, it +was scarcely possible to escape excess without giving mortal offence +to your entertainer; but it was by no means either his habit or his +inclination so to indulge, and for this evening especially he was +anxious to escape. He looked, therefore, across the table to Mr. +Croyland for relief; and that gentleman, clearly understanding what he +meant, gave him a slight nod, and finished his first glass of wine +after dinner. The bottles passed round again, and Mr. Croyland took +his second glass; but after that he rose without calling much +attention: a proceeding which was habitual with him. When, however, +Sir Edward Digby followed his example, there was a general outcry. +Every one declared it was too bad, and Sir Robert said, in a somewhat +mortified tone, that he feared his wine was not so good as that to +which his guest had been accustomed. + +"It is only too good, my dear sir," replied the young baronet, +determined to cut the matter short, at once and for ever. "So good, +indeed, that I have been induced to take two more glasses than I +usually indulge in, and I consequently feel somewhat heated and +uncomfortable. I shall go and refresh myself by a walk through your +woods." + +Several more efforts were made to induce him to stay; but he was +resolute in his course; and Mr. Croyland also came to his aid, +exclaiming, "Pooh, nonsense, Robert! let every man do as he likes. +Have not I heard you, a thousand times, call your house Liberty Hall? +A pretty sort of liberty, indeed, if a man must get beastly drunk +because you choose to do so!" + +"I do not intend to do any such thing, brother," replied Sir Robert, +somewhat sharply; and in the meanwhile, during this discussion, Sir +Edward Digby made his escape from the room. + + + + + CHAPTER VIII. + + +On entering the drawing-room, towards which Sir Edward Digby +immediately turned his steps, he found it tenanted alone by Mrs. +Barbara Croyland, who sat in the window with her back towards the +door, knitting most diligently, with something pinned to her knee. As +it was quite beyond the good lady's conception that any body would +ever think of quitting the dining-room so early but her younger +brother, no sooner did she hear a step than, jumping at conclusions as +she usually did, she exclaimed aloud, "Isn't he a nice young man, +brother Zachary? I think it will do quite well, if that----" + +Sir Edward Digby would have given a great deal to hear the conclusion +of the sentence; but his honour was as bright as his sword; and he +never took advantage of a mistake. "It is not your brother, Mrs. +Croyland," he said; and then Mrs. Barbara starting up with a face like +scarlet, tearing her gown at the same time by the tug she gave to the +pin which attached her work to her knee, he added, with the most +benevolent intentions, "I think he might have been made a very nice +young man, if he had been properly treated in his youth. But I should +imagine he was very wild and headstrong now." + +Mrs. Barbara stared at him with a face full of wonder and confusion; +for her own mind was so completely impressed with the subject on which +she had begun to speak, that she by no means comprehended the turn +that he intended to give it, but thought that he also was talking of +himself, and not of young Radford. How it would have ended, no mere +mortal can tell; for when once Mrs. Barbara got into a scrape, she +floundered most awfully. Luckily, however, her brother was close +enough behind Sir Edward Digby to hear all that passed, and he entered +the room while the consternation was still fresh upon his worthy +sister's countenance. + +After gazing at her for a moment, with a look of sour merriment, Mr. +Croyland exclaimed, "There! hold your tongue, Bab; you can't get your +fish out of the kettle without burning your fingers!--Now, my young +friend," he continued, taking Sir Edward Digby by the arm, and drawing +him aside, "if you choose to be a great fool, and run the risk of +falling in love with a pretty girl, whom my sister Barbara has +determined you shall marry, whether you like it or not, and who +herself, dear little soul, has no intention in the world but of +playing you like a fish till you are caught, and then laughing at you, +you will find the two girls walking in the wood behind the house, as +they do every day. But if you don't like such amusement, you can stay +here with me and Bab, and be instructed by her in the art and mystery +of setting everything to wrongs with the very best intentions in the +world." + +"Thank you, my dear sir," replied Sir Edward, smiling, "I think I +should prefer the fresh air; and, as to the dangers against which you +warn me, I have no fears. The game of coquetry can be played by two." + +"Ay, but woe to him who loses!" said Mr. Croyland, in a more serious +tone. "But go along with you--go along! You are a rash young man; and +if you will court your fate, you must." + +The young baronet accordingly walked away, leaving Mrs. Barbara to +recover from her confusion as she best might, and Mr. Croyland to +scold her at his leisure, which Sir Edward did not in the slightest +degree doubt he would do. It was a beautiful summer's afternoon in the +end of August, the very last day of the month, the hour about a +quarter to six, so that the sun had nearly to run a twelfth part of +his course before the time of his setting. It was warm and cheerful, +too, but with a freshness in the air, and a certain golden glow over +the sky, which told that it was evening. Not wishing exactly to pass +before the dining-room windows, Sir Edward endeavoured to find his way +out into the wood behind the house by the stable and farm yards; but +he soon found himself in a labyrinth from which it was difficult to +extricate himself, and in the end was obliged to have recourse to a +stout country lad, who was walking up towards the mansion, with a +large pail of milk tugging at his hand, and bending in the opposite +direction to balance the load. Right willingly, however, the youth set +down the pail; and, leaving it to the tender mercies of some pigs, who +were walking about in the yard and did not fail to inquire into the +nature of its contents, he proceeded to show the way through the +flower and kitchen gardens, by a small door in the wall, to a path +which led out at once amongst the trees. + +Now, Sir Edward Digby had not the slightest idea of which way the two +young ladies had gone; and it was by no means improbable that, if he +were left without pilotage in going and returning, he might lose his +way in the wood, which, as I have said, was very extensive. But all +true lovers are fond of losing their way; and as he had his sword by +his side, he had not the slightest objection to that characteristic of +an Amadis, having in reality a good deal of the knight-errant about +him, and rather liking a little adventure, if it did not go too far. +His adventures, indeed, were not destined that night to be very +remarkable; for, following the path about a couple of hundred yards, +he was led directly into a good, broad, sandy road, in which he +thought it would be impossible to go astray. A few clouds that passed +over the sky from time to time cast their fitful and fanciful shadows +upon the way; the trees waved on either hand; and, with a small border +of green turf, the yellow path pursued its course through the wood, +forming a fine but pleasant contrast in colour with the verdure of all +the other things around. As he went on, too, the sky overhead, and the +shades amongst the trees, began to assume a rosy hue as the day +declined farther and farther; and the busy little squirrels, as +numerous as mice, were seen running here and there up the trees and +along the branches, with their bright black eyes staring at the +stranger with a saucy activity very little mingled with fear. The +young baronet was fond of such scenes, and fond of the somewhat grave +musing which they very naturally inspire; and he therefore went on, +alternately pondering and admiring, and very well contented with his +walk, whether he met with his fair friends or not. Sir Edward, indeed, +would not allow himself to fancy that he was by any means very anxious +for Zara's company, or for Miss Croyland's either--for he was not in +the slightest hurry either to fall in love or to acknowledge it to +himself even if he were. With regard to Edith, indeed, he felt himself +in no possible danger; for had he continued to think her, as he had +done at first, more beautiful than her sister--which by this time he +did not--he was still guarded in her case by feelings, which, to a man +of his character, were as a triple shield of brass, or anything a +great deal stronger. + +He walked on, however, and he walked on; not, indeed, with a very slow +pace, but with none of the eager hurry of youth after beauty; till at +length, when he had proceeded for about half an hour, he saw +cultivated fields and hedgerows at the end of the road he was +pursuing, and soon after came to the open country, without meeting +with the slightest trace of Sir Robert Croyland's daughters. + +On the right hand, as he issued out of the wood, there was a small but +very neat and picturesque cottage, with its little kitchen-garden and +its flower-garden, its wild roses, and its vine. + +"I have certainly missed them," said Sir Edward Digby to himself, "and +I ought to make the best use of my time, for it wont do to stay here +too long. Perhaps they may have gone into the cottage. Girls like +these often seek an object in their walk, and visit this poor person +or that;" and thus thinking, he advanced to the little gate, went into +the garden, and knocked with his knuckles at the door of the house. A +woman's voice bade him come in; and, doing so, he found a room, small +in size, but corresponding in neatness and cleanliness with the +outside of the place. It was tenanted by three persons--a middle-aged +woman, dressed as a widow, with a fine and placid countenance, who was +advancing towards the door as he entered; a very lovely girl of +eighteen or nineteen, who bore a strong resemblance to the widow; and +a stout, powerful, good-looking man, of about thirty, well dressed, +though without any attempt at the appearance of a station above the +middle class, with a clean, fine, checked shirt, having the collar +cast back, and a black silk handkerchief tied lightly in what is +usually termed a sailor's knot. The two latter persons were sitting +very close together, and the girl was smiling gaily at something her +companion had just said. + +"Two lovers!" thought the young baronet; but, as that was no business +of his, he went on to inquire of the good woman of the house, if she +had seen some young ladies pass that way; and having named them, he +added, to escape scandal, "I am staying at the house, and am afraid, +if I do not meet with them, I shall not easily find my way back." + +"They were here a minute ago, sir," replied the widow, "and they went +round to the east. They will take the Halden road back, I suppose. If +you make haste, you will catch them easily." + +"But which is the Halden road, my good lady?" asked Sir Edward Digby; +and she, turning to the man who was sitting by her daughter, said, "I +wish you would shew the gentleman, Mr. Harding." + +The man rose cheerfully enough--considering the circumstances--and led +the young baronet with a rapid step, by a footpath that wound round +the edge of the wood, to another broad road about three hundred yards +distant from that by which the young officer had come. Then, pointing +with his hand, he said, "There they are, going as slow as a Dutch +butter-tub. You can't miss them, or the road either: for it leads +straight on." + +Sir Edward Digby thanked him, and walked forward. A few rapid steps +brought him close to the two ladies, who--though they looked upon +every part of the wood as more or less their home, and consequently +felt no fear--turned at the sound of a footfall so near; and the +younger of the two smiled gaily, when she saw who it was. + +"What! Sir Edward Digby!" she exclaimed. "In the name of all that is +marvellous, how did you escape from the dining-room? Why, you will be +accused of shirking the bottle, cowardice, and milksopism, and crimes +and misdemeanours enough to forfeit your commission." + +She spoke gaily; but Sir Edward Digby thought that the gaiety was not +exactly sterling; for when first she turned, her face had been nearly +as grave as her sister's. He answered, however, in the same tone, "I +must plead guilty to all such misdemeanours; but if they are to be +rewarded by such pleasure as that of a walk with you, I fear I shall +often commit them." + +"You must not pay us courtly compliments, Sir Edward," said Miss +Croyland, "for we poor country people do not understand them. I hope, +however, you left the party peaceable: for it promised to be quite the +contrary at one time, and my uncle and Mr. Radford never agree." + +"Oh, quite peaceable, I can assure you," replied Digby. "I retreated +under cover of your uncle's movements. Perhaps, otherwise, I might not +have got away so easily. He it was who told me where I should find +you." + +"Indeed!" exclaimed Miss Croyland, in a tone of surprise; and then, +casting down her eyes, she fell into thought. Her sister, however, +carried on the conversation in her stead, saying, "Well, you are the +first soldier, Sir Edward, I ever saw, who left the table before +night." + +"They must have been soldiers who had seen little service, I should +think," replied the young officer; "for a man called upon often for +active exertion, soon finds the necessity of keeping any brains he has +got as clear as possible, in case they should be needed. In many +countries where I have been, too, we could get no wine to drink, even +if we wanted it. Such was the case in Canada, and in some parts of +Germany." + +"Have you served in Canada?" demanded Miss Croyland suddenly, raising +her eyes to his face with a look of deep interest. + +"Through almost the whole of the war." replied Sir Edward Digby, +quietly, without noticing, even by a glance, the change of expression +which his words had produced. He then paused for a moment, as if +waiting for some other question; but both Miss Croyland and her sister +remained perfectly silent, and the former turned somewhat pale. + +As he saw that neither of his two fair companions were likely to carry +the conversation a step further, the young officer proceeded, in a +quiet and even light tone--"This part of the country," he continued, +"is always connected in my mind with Canada; and, indeed, I was glad +to accept your father's invitation at once, when he was kind enough to +ask me to his house; for, in addition to the pleasure of making his +personal acquaintance, I longed to see scenes which I had often heard +mentioned with all the deep affection and delight which only can be +felt by a fine mind for the spot in which our brighter years are +passed." + +The younger girl looked to her sister, but Edith Croyland was deadly +pale, and said nothing; and Zara inquired in a tone to which she too +evidently laboured to give the gay character of her usual demeanour, +"Indeed, Sir Edward! May I ask who gave you such a flattering account +of our poor country? He must have been a very foolish and prejudiced +person--at least, so I fear you must think, now you have seen it." + +"No, no!--oh, no!" cried Digby, earnestly, "anything but that. I had +that account from a person so high-minded, so noble, so full of every +generous quality of heart, and every fine quality of mind, that I was +quite sure, ere I came here, I should find the people whom he +mentioned, and the scenes which he described, all that he had stated; +and I have not been disappointed, Miss Croyland." + +"But you have not named him, Sir Edward," said Zara; "you are very +tantalizing. Perhaps we may know him, and be sure we shall love him +for his patriotism." + +"He was an officer in the regiment to which I then belonged." answered +the young baronet, "and my dearest friend. His name was Leyton--a most +distinguished man, who had already gained such a reputation, that, had +his rank in the army admitted it, none could have been more desired to +take the command of the forces when Wolfe fell on the heights of +Abraham. He was too young, however, and had too little interest to +obtain that position.--Miss Croyland, you seem ill. Let me give you my +arm." + +Edith bowed her head quietly, and leaned upon her sister, but answered +not a word; and Zara gave a glance to Sir Edward Digby which he read +aright. It was a meaning, a sort of relying and imploring look, as if +she would have said, "I beseech you, say no more; she cannot bear it." +And the young officer abruptly turned the conversation, observing, +"The day has been very hot, Miss Croyland. You have walked far, and +over-fatigued yourself." + +"It is nothing--it is nothing," answered Edith, with a deep-drawn +breath; "it will be past in a moment, Sir Edward. I am frequently +thus." + +"Too frequently," murmured Zara, gazing at her sister; and Sir Edward +Digby replied, "I am sure, if such be the case, you should consult +some physician." + +Zara shook her head with a melancholy smile, while her sister walked +on, leaning upon her arm in silence, with her eyes bent towards the +ground, as if in deep thought. "I fear that no physician would do her +good," said the younger lady, in a low voice; "the evil is now +confirmed." + +"Nay," replied Digby, gazing at her, "I think I know one who could +cure her entirely." + +His look said more than his words; and Zara fixed her eyes upon his +face for an instant with an inquiring glance. The expression then +suddenly changed to one of bright intelligence, and she answered, "I +will make you give me his name to-morrow, Sir Edward. Not now--not +now! I shall forget it." + +Sir Edward Digby was not slow in taking a hint; and he consequently +made no attempt to bring the conversation back to the subject which +had so much affected Miss Croyland; but lest a dead silence should too +plainly mark that he saw into the cause of the faintness which had +come over her, he went on talking to her sister; and Zara soon +resumed, at least to all appearance, her own light spirits again. But +Digby had seen her under a different aspect, which was known to few +besides her sister; and to say the truth, though he had thought her +sparkling frankness very charming, yet the deeper and tenderer +feelings which she had displayed towards Edith were still more to his +taste. + +"She is not the light coquette her uncle represents her," he thought, +as they walked on: "there is a true and feeling heart beneath--one +whose affections, if strongly excited and then disappointed, might +make her as sad and cheerless as this other poor girl." + +He had not much time to indulge either in such meditations or in +conversation with his fair companion; for, when they were within about +a mile of the house, old Mr. Croyland was seen advancing towards them +with his usual brisk air and quick pace. + +"Well, young people, well," he said, coming forward, "I bring the +soberness of age to temper the lightness of youth." + +"Oh, we are all very sober, uncle," replied Zara. "It is only those +who stay in the house drinking wine who are otherwise." + +"I have not been drinking wine, saucy girl," answered Mr. Croyland; +"but come, Edith, I want to speak with you; and, as the road is too +narrow for four, we'll pair off, as the rascals who ruin the country +in the House of Commons term it. Troop on, Miss Zara. There's a +gallant cavalier who will give you his arm, doubtless, if you will ask +it." + +"Indeed I shall do no such thing," replied the fair lady, walking on; +and, while Edith and her uncle came slowly after, Sir Edward Digby and +the youngest Miss Croyland proceeded on their way, remaining silent +for some minutes, though each, to say the truth, was busily thinking +how the conversation which had been interrupted might best be renewed. +It was Zara who spoke first, however, looking suddenly up in her +companion's face with one of her bright and sparkling smiles, and +saying, "It is a strange house, is it not, Sir Edward? and we are a +strange family?" + +"Nay, I do not see that," replied the young officer. "With every new +person whose acquaintance we make, we are like a traveller for the +first time in a foreign country, and must learn the secrets of the +land before we can find our way rightly." + +"Oh, secrets enough here!" cried Zara. "Every one has his secret but +myself. I have none, thank God! My good father is full of them; Edith, +you see, has hers; my uncle is loaded with one even now, and eager to +disburden himself; but my aunt's are the most curious of all, for they +are everlasting; and not only that, but though most profound, they are +sure to be known in five minutes to the whole world. Try to conceal +them how she may, they are sure to drop out before the day is over; +and, whatever good schemes she may have against any one, no defence is +needed, for they are sure to frustrate themselves.--What are you +laughing at, Sir Edward? Has she begun upon you already?" + +"Nay, not exactly upon me," answered Sir Edward Digby. "She certainly +did let drop some words which showed me, she had some scheme in her +head, though whom it referred to, I am at a loss to divine." + +"Nay, nay, now you are not frank," cried the young lady. "Tell me this +moment, if you would have me hold you good knight and true! Was it me +or Edith that it was all about? Nay, do not shake your head, my good +friend, for I will know, depend upon it; and if you do not tell me, I +will ask my aunt myself----" + +"Nay, for Heaven's sake, do not!" exclaimed Sir Edward. "You must not +make your aunt think that I am a tell-tale." + +"Oh, I know--I know!" exclaimed the fair girl, clapping her hands +eagerly--"I can divine it all in a minute. She has been telling you +what an excellent good girl Zara Croyland is, and what an admirable +wife she would make, especially for any man moving in the highest +society, and hinting, moreover, that she is fond of military men, and, +in short, that Sir Edward Digby could not do better. I know it all--I +know it all, as well as if I had heard it! But now, my dear sir," she +continued, in a graver tone, "put all such nonsense out of your head, +if you would have us such good friends as I think we may be. Leave my +dear aunt's schemes to unravel and defeat themselves, or only think of +them as a matter of amusement, and do not for a moment believe that +Zara Croyland has either any share in them, or any design of +captivating you or any other man whatsoever; for I tell you fairly, +and at once, that I never intend--that nothing would induce me--no, +not if my own dearest happiness depended upon it--to marry, and leave +poor Edith to endure all that she may be called upon to undergo. I +will talk to you more about her another time; for I think that you +already know something beyond what you have said to-day; but we are +too near the house now, and I will only add, that I have spoken +frankly to Sir Edward Digby, because I believe, from all I have seen +and all I have heard, that he is incapable of misunderstanding such +conduct." + +"You do me justice, Miss Croyland," replied the young officer, much +gratified; "but you have spoken under a wrong impression in regard to +your aunt. I did not interrupt you, for what you said was too +pleasing, too interesting not to induce me to let you go on; but I can +assure you that what I said was perfectly true, and that though some +words which your aunt dropped accidentally showed me that she had some +scheme on foot, she said nothing to indicate what it was." + +"Well, never mind it," answered the young lady. "We now understand +each other, I trust; and, after this, I do not think you will easily +mistake me, though, if what I suppose is true, I may have to do a +great many extraordinary things with you, Sir Edward--seek your +society when you may not be very willing to grant it, consult you, +rely upon you, confide in you in a way that few women would do, except +with a brother or an acknowledged lover, which I beg you to understand +you are on no account to be; and I, on my part, will promise that I +will not misunderstand you either, nor take anything that you may do, +at my request, for one very dear to me," (and she gave a glance over +her shoulder towards her sister, who was some way behind,) "as +anything but a sign of your having a kind and generous heart. So now +that's all settled." + +"There is one thing, Miss Croyland," replied Digby, gravely, "that you +will find very difficult to do, though you say you will try it, +namely, to seek my society when I am unwilling to give it." + +"Nay, nay, I will have no such speeches," cried Zara Croyland, "or I +have done with you! I never could put any trust in a man who said +civil things to me." + +"What, not if he sincerely thought them?" demanded her companion. + +"Then I would rather he continued to think them without speaking +them," answered the young lady. "If you did but know, Sir Edward, how +sickened and disgusted a poor girl in the country soon gets with +flattery that means nothing, from men who insult her understanding by +thinking that she can be pleased with such trash, you would excuse me +for being rude and uncivilized enough to wish never to hear a smooth +word from any man whom I am inclined to respect." + +"Very well," answered the young baronet, laughing, "to please you, I +will be as brutal as possible, and if you like it, scold you as +sharply as your uncle, if you say or do anything that I disapprove +of." + +"Do, do!" cried Zara; "I love him and esteem him, though he does not +understand me in the least; and I would rather a great deal have his +conversation, sharp and snappish as it seems to be, than all the honey +or milk and water of any of the smart young men in the neighbourhood. +But here we are at the house; and only one word more as a warning, and +one word as a question; first, do not let any of my good aunt's +schemes embarrass you in anything you have to do or say. Walk straight +through them as if they did not exist. Take your own course, without, +in the least degree, attending to what she says for or against." + +"And what is the question?" demanded Sir Edward, as they were now +mounting the steps to the terrace. + +"Simply this," replied the fair lady,--"are you not acquainted with +more of Edith's history than the people here are aware of?" + +"I am," answered Digby; "and to see more of her, to speak with her for +a few minutes in private, if possible, was the great object of my +coming hither." + +"Thanks, thanks!" said Zara, giving him a bright and grateful smile. +"Be guided by me, and you shall have the opportunity. But I must speak +with you first myself, that you may know all. I suppose you are an +early riser?" + +"Oh, yes!" replied Sir Edward; but he added no more; for at that +moment they were overtaken by Edith and Mr. Croyland; and the whole +party entered the house together. + + + + + CHAPTER IX. + + +There is a strange similarity--I had nearly called it an +affinity--between the climate of any country and the general character +of its population; and there is a still stronger and more commonly +remarked resemblance between the changes of the weather and the usual +course of human life. From the atmosphere around us, and from the +alterations which affect it, poets and moralists both, have borrowed a +large store of figures; and the words, clouds, and sunshine, light +breezes, and terrible storms, are terms as often used to express the +variations in man's condition as to convey the ideas to which they +were originally applied. But it is the affinity between the climate +and the people of which I wish to speak. The sunny lightness of the +air of France, the burning heat of Italy and Spain, the cold dullness +of the skies of Holland, contrast as strongly with the climate in +which we live, as the characters of the several nations amongst +themselves; and the fiercer tempests of the south, the more foggy and +heavy atmosphere of the north, may well be taken as some compensation +for the continual mutability of the weather in our own most changeable +air. The differences are not so great here as in other lands. We +escape, in general, the tornado and the hurricane, we know little of +the burning heat of summer, or the intense cold of winter, as they are +experienced in other parts of the world; but at all events, the +changes are much more frequent; and we seldom have either a long lapse +of sunny days, or a long continued season of frost, without +interruption. So it is, too, with the people. Moveable and fluctuating +as they always are, seeking novelty, disgusted even with all that is +good as soon as they discover that it is old, our laws, our +institutions, our very manners are continually undergoing some change, +though rarely, very rarely indeed, is it brought about violently and +without due preparation. Sometimes it will occur, indeed, both morally +and physically, that a great and sudden alteration takes place, and a +rash and vehement proceeding will disturb the whole country, and seem +to shake the very foundations of society. In the atmosphere, too, +clouds and storms will gather in a few hours, and darken the whole +heaven. + +The latter was the case during the first night of Sir Edward Digby's +stay at Harbourne House. The evening preceding, as well as the day, +had been warm and sunshiny; but about nine o'clock the wind suddenly +chopped round to the southward, and when Sir Edward woke on the +following morning, as he usually did, about six, he found a strong +breeze blowing and rattling the casements of the room, and the whole +atmosphere loaded with a heavy sea-mist filled with saline particles, +borne over Romney Marsh to the higher country, in which the house was +placed. + +"A pleasant day for partridge-shooting," he thought, as he rose from +his bed; "what variations there are in this climate." But +nevertheless, he opened the window and looked out, when, somewhat to +his surprise, he saw fifteen or sixteen horses moving along the road, +heavily laden, with a number of men on horseback following, and eight +or ten on foot driving the weary beasts along. They were going +leisurely enough; there was no affectation of haste or concealment; +but yet all that the young officer had heard of the county and of the +habits of its denizens, led him naturally to suppose that he had a +gang of smugglers before him, escorting from the coast some contraband +goods lately landed. + +He had soon a more unpleasant proof of the lawless state of that part +of England; for as he continued to lean out of the window, saying to +himself, "Well, it is no business of mine," he saw two or three of the +men pause; and a moment after, a voice shouted--"Take that, old +Croyland, for sending me to gaol last April." + +The wind bore the sounds to his ear, and made the words distinct; and +scarcely had they been spoken, when a flash broke through the misty +air, followed by a loud report, and a ball whizzed through the window, +just above his head, breaking one of the panes of glass, and lodging +in the cornice at the other side of the room. + +"Very pleasant!" said Sir Edward Digby to himself; but he was a +somewhat rash young man, and he did not move an inch, thinking--"the +vagabonds shall not have to say they frightened me." + +They shewed no inclination to repeat the shot, however, riding on at a +somewhat accelerated pace; and as soon as they were out of sight, +Digby withdrew from the window, and began to dress himself. He had not +given his servant, the night before, any orders to call him at a +particular hour; but he knew that the man would not be later than +half-past six; and before he appeared, the young officer was nearly +dressed. + +"Here, Somers," said his master, "put my gun together, and have +everything ready if I should like to go out to shoot. After that I've +a commission for you, something quite in your own way, which I know +you will execute capitally." + +"Quite ready, sir," said the man, putting up his hand to his head. +"Always ready to obey orders." + +"We want intelligence of the enemy, Somers," continued his master. +"Get me every information you can obtain regarding young Mr. Radford, +where he goes, what he does, and all about him." + +"Past, present, or to come, sir?" demanded the man. + +"All three," answered his master. "Everything you can learn about him, +in short--birth, parentage, and education." + +"I shall soon have to add his last dying speech and confession, I +think, sir," said the man; "but you shall have it all before +night--from the loose gossip of the post-office down to the full, +true, and particular account of his father's own butler. But bless my +soul, there's a hole through the window, sir." + +"Nothing but a musket-ball, Somers," answered his master, carelessly. +"You've seen such a thing before, I fancy." + +"Yes, sir, but not often in a gentleman's bedroom," replied the man. +"Who could send it in here, I wonder?" + +"Some smugglers, I suppose they were," replied Sir Edward, "who took +me for Sir Robert Croyland, as I was leaning out of the window, and +gave me a ball as they passed. I never saw a worse shot in my life; +for I was put up like a target, and it went a foot and a half above my +head. Give me those boots, Somers;" and having drawn them on, Sir +Edward Digby descended to the drawing-room, while his servant +commented upon his coolness, by saying, "Well, he's a devilish fine +young fellow, that master of mine, and ought to make a capital general +some of these days!" + +In the drawing-room, Sir Edward Digby found nobody but a pretty +country girl in a mob-cap sweeping out the dust; and leaving her to +perform her functions undisturbed by his presence, he sauntered +through a door which he had seen open the night before, exposing part +of the interior of a library. That room was quite vacant, and as the +young officer concluded that between it and the drawing-room must lie +the scene of his morning's operations, he entertained himself with +taking down different books, looking into them for a moment or two, +reading a page here and a page there, and then putting them up again. +He was in no mood, to say the truth, either for serious study or light +reading. Gay would not have amused him; Locke would have driven him +mad. + +He knew not well why it was, but his heart beat when he heard a step +in the neighbouring room. It was nothing but the housemaid, as he was +soon convinced, by her letting the dustpan drop and making a terrible +clatter. He asked himself what his heart could be about, to go on in +such a way, simply because he was waiting, in the not very vague +expectation of seeing a young lady, with whom he had to talk of some +business, in which neither of them were personally concerned. + +"It must be the uncertainty of whether she will come or not," he +thought; "or else the secrecy of the thing;" and yet he had, often +before, had to wait with still more secrecy and still more +uncertainty, on very dangerous and important occasions, without +feeling any such agitation of his usually calm nerves. She was a very +pretty girl, it was true, with all the fresh graces of youth about +her, light and sunshine in her eyes, health and happiness on her +cheeks and lips, and + + + "La grace encore plus belle que la beaute" + + +in every movement. But then, they perfectly understood each other; +there was no harm, there was no risk, there was no reason why they +should not meet. + +Did they perfectly understand each other? Did they perfectly +understand themselves? It is a very difficult question to answer; but +one thing is very certain--that, of all things upon this earth, the +most gullible is the human heart; and when it thinks it understands +itself best, it is almost always sure to prove a greater fool than +ever. + +Sir Edward Digby did not altogether like his own thoughts; and +therefore, after waiting for a quarter of an hour, he walked out into +one of the little passages, which we have already mentioned, running +from the central corridor towards a door or window in the front, +between the library and what was called the music-room. He had not +been there a minute when a step--very different from that of the +housemaid--was heard in the neighbouring room; and, as the officer was +turning thither, he met the younger Miss Croyland coming out, with a +bonnet--or hat, as it was then called,--hanging on her arm by the +ribbons. + +She held out her hand, frankly, towards him, saying, in a low tone, +"You must think this all very strange, Sir Edward, and perhaps very +improper. I have been taxing myself about it all night; but yet I was +resolved I would not lose the opportunity, trusting to your generosity +to justify me, when you hear all." + +"It requires no generosity, my dear Miss Croyland," replied the young +baronet; "I am already aware of so much, and see the kind and deep +interest you take in your sister so clearly, that I fully understand +and appreciate your motives." + +"Thank you--thank you," replied Zara, warmly; "that sets my mind at +rest. But come out upon the terrace. There, seen by all the world, I +shall not feel as if I were plotting;" and she unlocked the glass door +at the end of the passage. Sir Edward Digby followed close upon her +steps; and when once fairly on the esplanade before the house, and far +enough from open doors and windows not to be overheard, they commenced +their walk backwards and forwards. + +It was quite natural that both should be silent for a few moments; for +where there is much to say, and little time to say it in, people are +apt to waste the precious present--or, at least, a part--in +considering how it may best be said. At length the lady raised her +eyes to her companion's face, with a smile more melancholy and +embarrassed than usually found place upon her sweet lips, asking, "How +shall I begin, Sir Edward?--Have you nothing to tell me?" + +"I have merely to ask questions," replied Digby; "yet, perhaps that +may be the best commencement. I am aware, my dear Miss Croyland, that +your sister has loved, and has been as deeply beloved as woman ever +was by man. I know the whole tale; but what I seek now to learn is +this--does she or does she not retain the affection of her early +youth? Do former days and former feelings dwell in her heart as still +existing things? or are they but as sad memories of a passion passed +away, darkening instead of lighting the present,--or perhaps as a tie +which she would fain shake off, and which keeps her from a brighter +fate hereafter?" + +He spoke solemnly, earnestly, with his whole manner changed; and Zara +gazed in his face eagerly and inquiringly as he went on, her face +glowing, but her look becoming less sad, till it beamed with a warm +and relieved smile at the close. "I was right, and she was wrong"--she +said, at length, as if speaking to herself. "But to answer your +question, Sir Edward Digby," she continued, gravely. "You little know +woman's heart, or you would not put it--I mean the heart of a true and +unspoiled woman, a woman worthy of the name. When she loves, she loves +for ever--and it is only when death or unworthiness takes from her him +she loves, that love becomes a memory. You cannot yet judge of Edith, +and therefore I forgive you for asking such a thing; but she is all +that is noble, and good, and bright; and Heaven pardon me, if I almost +doubt that she was meant for happiness below--she seems so fitted for +a higher state!" + +The tears rose in her eyes as she spoke; but Sir Edward feared +interruption, and went on, asking, somewhat abruptly perhaps, "What +made you say, just now, that you were right and she was wrong?" + +"Because she thought that he was dead, and that you came to announce +it to her," Zara replied. "You spoke of him in the past, you always +said, 'he was;' you said not a word of the present." + +"Because I knew not what were her present feelings," answered Digby. +"She has never written--she has never answered one letter. All his +have been returned in cold silence to his agents, addressed in her own +hand. And then her father wrote to----" + +"Stay, stay!" cried Zara, putting her hand to her head--"addressed in +her own hand? It must have been a forgery! Yet, no--perhaps not. She +wrote to him twice; once just after he went, and once in answer to a +message. The last letter I gave to the gardener myself, and bade him +post it. That, too, was addressed to his agent's house. Can they have +stopped the letters and used the covers?" + +"It is probable," answered Digby, thoughtfully. "Did she receive none +from him?" + +"None--none," replied Zara, decidedly. "All that she has ever heard of +him was conveyed in that one message; but she doubted not, Sir Edward. +She knew him, it seems, better than he knew her." + +"Neither did he doubt her," rejoined her companion, "till circumstance +after circumstance occurred to shake his confidence. Her own father +wrote to him--now three years ago--to say that she was engaged, by her +own consent, to this young Radford, and to beg that he would trouble +her peace no more by fruitless letters." + +"Oh, Heaven!" cried Zara, "did my father say that?" + +"He did," replied Sir Edward. "And more: everything that poor Leyton +has heard since his return has confirmed the tale. He inquired, too +curiously for his own peace--first, whether she was yet married; next, +whether she was really engaged; and every one gave but one account." + +"How busy they have been!" said Zara, thoughtfully. "Whoever said it, +it is false, Sir Edward; and he should not have doubted her more than +she doubted him." + +"She, you admit, had one message," answered Digby; "he had none; and +yet he held a lingering hope--trust would not altogether be crushed +out. Can you tell me the tenour of the letters which she sent?" + +"Nay, I did not read them," replied his fair companion; "but she told +me that it was the same story still: that she could not violate her +duty to her parent; but that she should ever consider herself pledged +and plighted to him beyond recall, by what had passed between them." + +"Then there is light at last," said Digby, with a smile. "But what is +this story of young Radford? Is he, or is he not, her lover? He seemed +to pay her little attention,--more, indeed, to yourself." + +The gay girl laughed. "I will tell you all about it," she answered. +"Richard Radford is not her lover. He cares as little about her as +about the Queen of England, or any body he has never seen; and, as you +say, he would perhaps pay me the compliment of selecting me rather +than Edith, if there was not a very cogent objection: Edith has forty +thousand pounds settled upon herself by my mother's brother, who was +her godfather; I have nothing, or next to nothing--some three or four +thousand pounds, I believe; but I really don't know. However, this +fortune of my poor sister's is old Radford's object; and he and my +father have settled it between them, that the son of the one should +marry the daughter of the other. What possesses my father, I cannot +divine; for he must condemn old Radford, and despise the young one; +but certain it is that he has pressed Edith, nearly to cruelty, to +give her hand to a man she scorns and hates--and presses her still. It +would be worse than it is, I fear, were it not for young Radford +himself, who is not half so eager as his father, and does not wish to +hurry matters on.--I may have some small share in the business," she +continued, laughing again, but colouring at the same time; "for, to +tell the truth, Sir Edward, having nothing else to do, and wishing to +relieve poor Edith as much as possible, I have perhaps foolishly, +perhaps even wrongly, drawn this wretched young man away from her +whenever I had an opportunity. I do not think it was coquetry, as my +uncle calls it--nay, I am sure it was not; for I abhor him as much as +any one; but I thought that as there was no chance of my ever being +driven to marry him, I could bear the infliction of his conversation +better than my poor sister." + +"The motive was a kind one, at all events," replied Sir Edward Digby; +"but then I may firmly believe that there is no chance whatever of +Miss Croyland giving her hand to Richard Radford?" + +"None--none whatever," answered his fair companion. But at that point +of their conversation one of the windows above was thrown up, and the +voice of Mrs. Barbara was heard exclaiming--"Zara, my love, put on +your hat; you will catch cold if you walk in that way, with your hat +on your arm, in such a cold, misty morning!" + +Miss Croyland looked up, nodding to her aunt; and doing as she was +told, like a very good girl as she was. But the next instant she said, +in a low tone, "Good Heaven! there is his face at the window! My +unlucky aunt has roused him by calling to me; and we shall not be long +without him." + +"Who do you mean?" asked the young officer, turning his eyes towards +the house, and seeing no one. + +"Young Radford," answered Zara. "Did you not know that they had to +carry him to bed last night, unable to stand? So my maid told me; and +I saw his face just now at the window, next to my aunt's. We shall +have little time, Sir Edward, for he is as intrusive as he is +disagreeable; so tell me at once what I am to think regarding poor +Harry Leyton. Does he still love Edith? Is he in a situation to enable +him to seek her, without affording great, and what they would consider +reasonable, causes of objection?" + +"He loves her as deeply and devotedly as ever," replied Sir Edward +Digby; "and all I have to tell him will but, if possible, increase +that love. Then as to his situation, he is now a superior officer in +the army, highly distinguished, commanding one of our best regiments, +and sharing largely in the late great distribution of prize-money. +There is no position that can be filled by a military man to which he +has not a right to aspire; and, moreover, he has already received, +from the gratitude of his king and his country, the high honour----" + +But he was not allowed to finish his sentence; for Mrs. Barbara +Croyland, who was most unfortunately matutinal in her habits, now came +out with a shawl for her fair niece, and was uncomfortably civil to +Sir Edward Digby, inquiring how he had slept, whether he had been warm +enough, whether he liked two pillows or one, and a great many other +questions, which lasted till young Radford made his appearance at the +door, and then, with a pale face and sullen brow, came out and joined +the party on the terrace. + +"Well," said Mrs. Barbara--now that she had done as much mischief as +possible--"I'll just go in and make breakfast, as Edith must set out +early, and Mr. Radford wants to get home to shoot." + +"Edith set off early?" exclaimed Zara; "why, where is she going, my +dear aunt?" + +"Oh, I have just been settling it all with your papa, my love," +replied Mrs. Barbara. "I thought she was looking ill yesterday, and so +I talked to your uncle last night. He said he would be very glad to +have her with him for a few days; but as he expects a Captain Osborn +before the end of the week, she must come at once; and Sir Robert says +she can have the carriage after breakfast, but that it must be back by +one." + +Zara cast down her eyes, and the whole party, as if by common consent, +took their way back to the house. As they passed in, however, and +proceeded towards the dining-room, where the table was laid for +breakfast, Zara found a moment to say to Sir Edward Digby, in a low +tone, "Was ever anything so unfortunate! I will try to stop it if I +can." + +"Not so unfortunate as it seems," answered the young baronet, in a +whisper; "let it take its course. I will explain hereafter." + +"Whispering! whispering!" said young Radford, in a rude tone, and with +a sneer curling his lip. + +Zara's cheek grew crimson; but Digby turned upon him sharply, +demanding, "What is that to you, sir? Pray make no observations upon +my conduct, for depend upon it I shall not tolerate any insolence." + +At that moment, however, Sir Robert Croyland appeared; and whatever +might have been Richard Radford's intended reply, it was suspended +upon his lips. + + + + + CHAPTER X. + + +Before I proceed farther with the events of that morning, I must +return for a time to the evening which preceded it. It was a dark and +somewhat dreary night, when Mr. Radford, leaving his son stupidly +drunk at Sir Robert Croyland's, proceeded to the hall door to mount +his horse; and as he pulled his large riding-boots over his shoes and +stockings, and looked out, he regretted that he had not ordered his +carriage. "Who would have thought," he said, "that such a fine day +would have ended in such a dull evening?" + +"It often happens, my dear Radford," replied Sir Robert Croyland, who +stood beside him, "that everything looks fair and prosperous for a +time; then suddenly the wind shifts, and a gloomy night succeeds." + +Mr. Radford was not well-pleased with the homily. It touched upon that +which was a sore subject with him at that moment; for, to say the +truth, he was labouring under no light apprehensions regarding the +result of certain speculations of his. He had lately lost a large sum +in one of these wild adventures--far more than was agreeable to a man +of his money-getting turn of mind; and though he was sanguine enough, +from long success, to embark, like a determined gambler, a still +larger amount in the same course, yet the first shadow of reverse +which had fallen upon him, brought home and applied to his own +situation the very commonplace words of Sir Robert Croyland; and he +began to fancy that the bright day of his prosperity might be indeed +over, and a dark and gloomy night about to succeed. + +As we have said, therefore, he did not at all like the baronet's +homily; and, as very often happens with men of his disposition, he +felt displeased with the person whose words alarmed him. Murmuring +something, therefore, about its being "a devilish ordinary +circumstance indeed," he strode to the door, scarcely wishing the +baronet good night, and mounted a powerful horse, which was held ready +for him. He then rode forward, followed by two servants on horseback, +proceeding slowly at first, but getting into a quicker pace when he +came upon the parish road, and trotting on hard along the edge of +Harbourne Wood. He had drunk as much wine as his son; but his hard and +well-seasoned head was quite insensible to the effects of strong +beverages, and he went on revolving all probable contingencies, +somewhat sullen and out of humour with all that had passed during the +afternoon, and taking a very unpromising view of everybody and +everything. + +"I've a notion," he thought, "that old scoundrel Croyland is playing +fast and loose about his daughter's marriage with my son. He shall +repent it if he do; and if Dick does not make the girl pay for all her +airs and coldness when he's got her, he's no son of mine. He seems as +great a fool as she is, though, and makes love to her sister without a +penny, never saying a word to a girl who has forty thousand pounds. +The thing shall soon be settled one way or another, however. I'll have +a conference with Sir Robert on Friday, and bring him to book. I'll +not be trifled with any longer. Here we have been kept more than four +years waiting till the girl chooses to make up her mind, and I'll not +stop any longer. It shall be, yes or no, at once." + +He was still busy with such thoughts when he reached the angle of +Harbourne Wood, and a loud voice exclaimed, "Hi! Mr. Radford!" + +"Who the devil are you?" exclaimed that worthy gentleman, pulling in +his horse, and at the same time putting his hand upon one of the +holsters, which every one at that time carried at his saddle bow. + +"Harding, sir," answered the voice--"Jack Harding; and I want to speak +a word with you." + +At the same time the man walked forward; and Mr. Radford immediately +dismounting, gave his horse to the servants, and told them to lead him +quietly on till they came to Tiffenden. Then pausing till the sound of +the hoofs became somewhat faint, he asked, with a certain degree of +alarm, "Well, Harding, what's the matter? What has brought you up in +such a hurry to-night?" + +"No great hurry, sir," answered the smuggler, "I came up about four +o'clock; and finding that you were dining at Sir Robert's, I thought I +would look out for you as you went home, having something to tell you. +I got an inkling last night, that, some how or another, the people +down at Hythe have some suspicion that you are going to try something, +and I doubt that boy very much." + +"Indeed! indeed!" exclaimed Mr. Radford, evidently under great +apprehension. "What have they found out, Harding?" + +"Why, not much, I believe," replied the smuggler; "but merely that +there's something in the wind, and that you have a hand in it." + +"That's bad enough--that's bad enough," repeated Mr. Radford. "We must +put it off, Harding. We must delay it, till this has blown by." + +"No, I think not, sir," answered the smuggler. "It seems to me, on the +contrary, that we ought to hurry it; and I'll tell you why. You see, +the wind changed about five, and if I'm not very much mistaken, we +shall have a cloudy sky and dirty weather for the next week at least. +That's one thing; but then another is this, the Ramleys are going to +make a run this very night. Now, I know that the whole affair is +blown; and though they may get the goods ashore they wont carry them +far. I told them so, just to be friendly; but they wouldn't listen, +and you know their rash way. Bill Ramley answered, they would run the +goods in broad daylight, if they liked, that there was not an officer +in all Kent who would dare to stop them. Now, I know that they will be +caught to-morrow morning, somewhere up about your place. I rather +think, too, your son has a hand in the venture; and if I were you, I +would do nothing to make people believe that it wasn't my own affair +altogether. Let them think what they please; and then they are not so +likely to be on the look-out." + +"I see--I see," cried Mr. Radford. "If they catch these fellows, and +think that this is my venture, they will never suspect another. It's a +good scheme. We had better set about it to-morrow night." + +"I don't know," answered Harding. "That cannot well be done, I should +think. First, you must get orders over to the vessel to stand out to +sea; then you must get all your people together, and one half of them +are busy upon this other scheme, the Ramleys and young Chittenden, and +him they call the major, and all their parties. You must see what +comes of that first; for one half of them may be locked up before +to-morrow night. + +"That's unfortunate, indeed!" said Mr. Radford, thoughtfully. + +"One must take a little ill luck with plenty of good luck," observed +Harding; "and it's fortunate enough for you that these wild fellows +will carry through this mad scheme, when they know they are found out +before they start. Besides, I'm not sure that it is not best to wait +till the night after, or, may be, the night after that. Then the news +will have spread, that the goods have been either run and hid away, or +seized by the officers. In either case, if you manage well, they will +think that it is your venture; and the fellows on the coast will be +off their guard--especially Mowle, who's the sharpest of them all." + +"Oh, I'll go down to-morrow and talk to Mowle myself," replied Mr. +Radford. "It will be well worth my while to give him a hundred guineas +to wink a bit." + +"Don't try it--don't try it!" exclaimed Harding, quickly. "It will do +no good, and a great deal of harm. In the first place, you can do +nothing with Mowle. He never took a penny in his life." + +"Oh, every man has his price," rejoined Mr. Radford, whose opinion of +human nature, as the reader may have perceived, was not particularly +high. "It's only because he wants to be bid up to. Mr. Mowle thinks +himself above five or ten pounds; but the chink of a hundred guineas +is a very pleasant sound." + +"He's as honest a fellow as ever lived," answered Harding, "and I tell +you plainly, Mr. Radford, that if you offered him ten times the sum, +he wouldn't take it. You would only shew him that this venture is not +your grand one, without doing yourself the least good. He's a fair, +open enemy, and lets every one know that, as long as he's a +riding-officer here, he will do all he can against us." + +"Then he must be knocked on the head," said Mr. Radford, in a calm and +deliberate tone; "and it shall be done, too, if he meddles with my +affairs." + +"It will not be I who do it," replied Harding; "unless we come hand to +hand together. Then, every man must take care of himself; but I should +be very sorry, notwithstanding; for he's a straightforward, bold +fellow, as brave as a lion, and with a good heart into the bargain. I +wonder such an honest man ever went into such a rascally service." + +The last observation of our friend Harding may perhaps sound strangely +to the reader's ears; but some allowance must be made for professional +prejudices, and it is by no means too much to say that the smugglers +of those days, and even of a much later period, looked upon their own +calling as highly honest, honourable, and respectable, regarding the +Customs as a most fraudulent and abominable institution, and all +connected with it more or less in the light of a band of swindlers and +knaves, leagued together for the purpose of preventing honest men from +pursuing their avocations in peace. Such were the feelings which +induced Harding to wonder that so good a man as Mowle could have +anything to do with the prevention of smuggling; for he was so +thoroughly convinced he was in the right himself, that he could not +conceive how any one could see the case in any other point of view. + +"Ay," answered Mr. Radford, "that is a wonder, if he is such a good +sort of man; but that I doubt. However, as you say it would not do to +put oneself in his power, I'll have him looked after, and in the +meanwhile, let us talk of the rest of the business. You say the night +after to-morrow, or the night after that! I must know, however; for +the men must be down. How are we to arrange that?" + +"Why, I'll see what the weather is like," was Harding's reply. "Then I +can easily send up to let you know--or, what will be better still, if +you can gather the men together the day after to-morrow, in the +different villages not far off the coast, and I should find it the +right sort of night, and get out to sea, they shall see a light on the +top of Tolsford Hill, as soon as I am near in shore again. That will +serve to guide them and puzzle the officers. Then let them gather, and +come down towards Dymchurch, where they will find somebody from me to +guide them." + +"They shall gather first at Saltwood," said Mr. Radford, "and then +march down to Dymchurch. But how are we to manage about the ship?" + +"Why, you must send an order," answered Harding, "for both days, and +let your skipper know that if he does not see us the first, he will +see us the second." + +"You had better take it down with you at once," replied Mr. Radford, +"and get it off early to-morrow. If you'll just come up to my house, +I'll write it for you in a minute." + +"Ay, but I'm not going home to-night," said the smuggler; "I can have +a bed at Mrs. Clare's; and I'm going to sleep there, so you can send +it over when you like in the morning, and I'll get it off in time." + +"I wish you would not go hanging about after that girl, when we've got +such serious business in hand," exclaimed Mr. Radford, in a sharp +tone; but the next moment he added, with a sudden change of voice, "It +doesn't signify to-night, however. There will be time enough; and they +say you are going to marry her, Harding. Is that true?" + +"I should say, that's my business," replied Harding, bluntly, "but +that I look upon it as an honour, Mr. Radford, that she's going to +marry me; for a better girl does not live in the land, and I've known +her a long while now, so I'm never likely to think otherwise." + +"Ay, I've known her a long time, too," answered Mr. Radford--"ever +since her poor father was shot, and before; and a very good girl I +believe she is. But now that you are over here, you may as well wait +and hear what comes of these goods. Couldn't you just ride over to the +Ramleys to-morrow morning--there you'll hear all about it." + +Harding laughed, but replied the next moment, in a grave tone, "I +don't like the Ramleys, sir, and don't want to have more to do with +them than I can help. I shall hear all about it soon enough, without +going there." + +"But I sha'n't," answered Mr. Radford. + +"Then you had better send your son, sir," rejoined Harding. "He's +oftener there than I am, a great deal.--Well, the matter is all +settled, then. Either the night after to-morrow, or the night after +that, if the men keep a good look-out, they'll see a light on Tolsford +Hill. Then they must gather as fast as possible at Saltwood, and come +on with anybody they may find there. Good night, Mr. Radford." + +"Good night, Harding--good night," said Mr. Radford, walking on; and +the other turning his steps back towards Harbourne, made his way, by +the first road on the right, to the cottage where we have seen him in +the earlier part of the day. + +It was a pleasant aspect that the cottage presented when he went in, +which he did without any of the ceremonies of knocking at the door or +ringing the bell; for he was sure of a welcome. There was but one +candle lighted on the table, for the dwellers in the place were poor; +but the room was small, and that one was quite sufficient to shew the +white walls and the neat shelves covered with crockery, and with +one or two small prints in black frames. Besides, there was the +fire-place, with a bright and cheerful, but not large fire; for +though, in the month of September, English nights are frequently cold +and sometimes frosty, the weather had been as yet tolerably mild. +Nevertheless, the log of fir at the top blazed high, and crackled +amidst the white and red embers below, and the flickering flame, as it +rose and fell, caused the shadows to fall more vaguely or distinctly +upon the walls, with a fanciful uncertainty of outline, that had +something cheerful, yet mysterious in it. + +The widow was bending over the fire, with her face turned away, and +her figure in the shadow. The daughter was busily working with her +needle, but her eyes were soon raised--and they were very beautiful +eyes--as Harding entered. A smile, too, was upon her lips; and though +even tears may be lovely, and a sad look awaken deep and tender +emotions, yet the smile of affection on a face we love is the +brightest aspect of that bright thing the human countenance. It is +what the sunshine is to the landscape, which may be fair in the rain +or sublime in the storm, but can never harmonize so fully with the +innate longing for happiness which is in the breast of every one, as +when lighted up with the rays that call all its excellence and all its +powers into life and being. + +Harding sat down beside the girl, and took her hand in his, saying, +"Well, Kate, this day three weeks, then, remember?" + +"My mother says so," answered the girl, with a cheek somewhat glowing, +"and then, you know, John, you are to give it up altogether. No more +danger--no more secrets?" + +"Oh, as for danger," answered Harding, laughing, "I did not say that, +love. I don't know what life would be worth without danger. Every man +is in danger all day long; and I suppose that we are only given life +just to feel the pleasure of it by the chance of losing it. But no +dangers but the common ones, Kate. I'll give up the trade, as you have +made me promise; and I shall have enough by that time to buy out the +whole vessel, in which I've got shares, and what between that and the +boats, we shall do very well. You put me in mind, with your fears, of +a song that wicked boy, little Starlight, used to sing. I learned it +from hearing him: a more mischievous little dog does not live; but he +has got a sweet pipe." + +"Sing it, John--sing it!" cried Kate; "I love to hear you sing, for it +seems as if you sing what you are thinking." + +"No, I wont sing it," answered Harding, "for it is a sad sort of song, +and that wont do when I am so happy." + +"Oh, I like sad songs!" said the girl; "they please me far more than +all the merry ones." + +"Oh, pray sing it, Harding!" urged the widow; "I am very fond of a +song that makes me cry." + +"This wont do that," replied the smuggler; "but it is sadder than some +that do, I always think. However, I'll sing it, if you like;" and in a +fine, mellow, bass voice, to a very simple air, with a flattened third +coming in every now and then, like the note of a wintry bird, he went +on:-- + + + SONG. + + "Life's like a boat, + Rowing--rowing + Over a bright sea, + On the waves to float, + Flowing--flowing + Away from her lea. + + "Up goes the sheet! + Sailing--sailing, + To catch the rising breeze, + While the winds fleet, + Wailing--wailing, + Sigh o'er the seas. + + "She darts through the waves, + Gaily--gaily, + Scattering the foam. + Beneath her, open graves, + Daily--daily, + The blithest to entomb. + + "Who heeds the deep, + Yawning--yawning + For its destined prey, + When from night's dark sleep, + Dawning--dawning, + Wakens the bright day? + + "Away, o'er the tide! + Fearless--fearless + Of all that lies beneath; + Let the waves still hide, + Cheerless--cheerless, + All their stores of death. + + "Stray where we may, + Roaming--roaming + Either far or near, + Death is on the way, + Coming--coming-- + Who's the fool to fear?" + + +The widow did weep, however, not at the rude song, though the voice +that sung it was fine, and perfect in the melody, but at the +remembrances which it awakened--remembrances on which she loved to +dwell, although they were so sad. + +"Ay, Harding," she said, "it's very true what your song says. Whatever +way one goes, death is near enough; and I don't know that it's a bit +nearer on the sea than anywhere else." + +"Not a whit," replied Harding; "God's hand is upon the sea as well as +upon the land, Mrs. Clare; and if it is his will that we go, why we +go; and if it is his will that we stay, he doesn't want strength to +protect us." + +"No, indeed," answered Mrs. Clare; "and it's that which comforts me, +for I think that what is God's will must be good. I'm sure, when my +poor husband went out in the morning, six years ago come the tenth of +October next, as well and as hearty as a man could be, I never thought +to see him brought home a corpse, and I left a lone widow with my poor +girl, and not knowing where to look for any help. But God raised me up +friends where I least expected them." + +"Why you had every right to expect that Sir Robert would be kind to +you, Mrs. Clare," rejoined Harding, "when your husband had been in his +service for sixteen or seventeen years." + +"No, indeed, I hadn't," said the widow; "for Sir Robert was always, we +thought, a rough, hard master, grumbling continually, till my poor man +could hardly bear it; for he was a free-spoken man, as I dare say you +remember, Mr. Harding, and would say his mind to any one, gentle or +simple." + +"He was as good a soul as ever lived," answered Harding; "a little +rash and passionate, but none the worse for that." + +"Ay, but it was that which set the head keeper against him," answered +the widow, "and he set Sir Robert, making out that Edward was always +careless and insolent; but he did his duty as well as any man, and +knowing that, he didn't like to be found fault with. However, I don't +blame Sir Robert; for since my poor man's death he has found out what +he was worth; and very kind he has been to me, to be sure. The +cottage, and the garden, and the good bit of ground at the back, and +twelve shillings a-week into the bargain, have we had from him ever +since." + +"Ay, and I am sure nothing can be kinder than the two young ladies," +said Kate; "they are always giving me something; and Miss Edith taught +me all I know. I should have been sadly ignorant if it had not been +for her--and a deal of trouble I gave her." + +"God bless her!" cried Harding, heartily. "She's a nice young lady, I +believe, though I never saw her but twice, and then she looked very +sad." + +"Ay, she has cause enough, poor thing!" said Mrs. Clare. "Though I +remember her as blithe as the morning lark--a great deal gayer than +Miss Zara, gay as she may be." + +"Ay, I know--they crossed her love," answered Harding; "and that's +enough to make one sad. Though I never heard the rights of the story." + +"Oh, it was bad enough to break her heart, poor thing!" replied Mrs. +Clare. "You remember young Leyton, the rector's son--a fine, handsome, +bold lad as ever lived, and as good as he was handsome. Well, he was +quite brought up with these young ladies, you know--always up at the +Hall, and Miss Edith always down at the Rectory; and one would have +thought Sir Robert blind or foolish, not to fancy that two such young +things would fall in love with each other; and so they did, to be +sure. Many's the time I've seen them down here, in this very cottage, +laughing and talking, and as fond as a pair of doves--for Sir Robert +used to let them do just whatever they liked, and many a time used to +send young Harry Leyton to take care of Miss Croyland, when she was +going out to walk any distance; so, very naturally, they promised +themselves to each other; and one day--when he was twenty and she just +sixteen--they got a Prayer-Book at the Rectory, and read over the +marriage ceremony together, and took all the vows down upon their +bended knees. I remember it quite well, for I was down at the Rectory +that very day helping the housekeeper; and just as they had done old +Mr. Leyton came in, and found them somewhat confused, and the book +open between them. He would know what it was all about, and they told +him the truth. So then he was in a terrible taking; and he got Miss +Croyland under his arm and went away up to Sir Robert directly, and +told him the whole story without a minute's delay. Every one thought +it would end in being a match; for though Sir Robert was very angry, +and insisted that Harry Leyton should be sent to his regiment +immediately--for he was then just home for a bit, on leave--he did not +show how angry he was at first, but very soon after he turned Mr. +Leyton out of the living, and made him pay, I don't know what, for +dilapidations; so that he was arrested and put in prison--which broke +his heart, poor man, and he died!" + +Harding gave Sir Robert Croyland a hearty oath; and Mrs. Clare +proceeded to tell her tale, saying--"I did not give much heed to the +matter then; for it was just at that time that my husband was killed, +and I could think of nothing else; but when I came to hear of what was +going on, I found that Sir Robert had promised his daughter to this +young Radford----" + +"As nasty a vermin as ever lived," said Harding. + +"Well, she wont have him, I'm sure," continued the widow, "for it has +been hanging off and on for these six years. People at first said it +was because they were too young. But I know that she has always +refused, and declared that nothing should ever drive her to marry him, +or any one else; for the law might say what it liked, but her own +heart and her own conscience, told her that she was Harry Leyton's +wife, and could not be any other man's, as long as he was living. +Susan, her maid, heard her say so to Sir Robert himself; but he still +keeps teasing her about it, and tells everybody she's engaged to young +Radford." + +"He'll go the devil," said Harding; "and I'll go to bed, Mrs. Clare, +for I must be up early to-morrow, to get a good many things to rights. +God bless you Kate, my love! I dare say I shall see you before I +go--for I must measure the dear little finger!" And giving her a +hearty kiss, Harding took a candle, and retired to the snug room that +had been prepared for him. + + + + + CHAPTER XI. + + +We must change the scene for a while, not only to another part of the +county of Kent, but to very different people from the worthy Widow +Clare and the little party assembled at her cottage. We must pass over +the events of the night also, and of the following morning up to the +hour of nine, proposing shortly to return to Harbourne House, and +trace the course of those assembled there. The dwelling into which we +must now introduce the reader, was a large, old-fashioned Kentish +farm-house, not many miles on the Sussex side of Ashford. It was +built, as many of these farm-houses still are, in the form of a cross, +presenting four limbs of strongly constructed masonry, two stories +high, with latticed windows divided into three partitions, separated +by rather neatly cut divisions of stone. Externally it had a strong +Harry-the-Eighth look about it, and probably had been erected in his +day, or in that of one of his immediate successors, as the residence +of some of the smaller gentry of the time. At the period I speak of, +it was tenanted by a family notorious for their daring and licentious +life, and still renowned in county tradition for many a fierce and +lawless act. Nevertheless, the head of the house, now waxing somewhat +in years, carried on, not only ostensibly but really, the peaceable +occupation of a Kentish farmer. He had his cows and his cattle, and +his sheep and his pigs; he grew wheat and barley, and oats and +turnips; had a small portion of hop-ground, and brewed his own beer. +But this trade of farming was only a small part of his employment, +though, to say the truth, he had given himself up more to it since his +bodily powers had declined, and he was no longer able to bear the +fatigue and exertion which the great strength of his early years had +looked upon as sport. The branch of his business which he was most +fond of was now principally entrusted to his two sons; and two strong, +handsome daughters, which made the number of his family amount to +four, occasionally aided their brothers, dressed in men's clothes, and +mounted upon powerful horses, which they managed as well as any grooms +in the county. + +The reader must not think that, in this description, we are exercising +indiscreetly our licence for dealing in fiction. We are painting a +true picture of the family of which we speak, as they lived and acted +some eighty or eighty-five years ago. + +The wife of the farmer had been dead ten or twelve years; and her +children had done just what they liked ever since; but it must be +admitted, that, even if she had lived to superintend their education, +we have no reason to conclude their conduct would have been very +different from what it was. We have merely said that they had done as +they pleased ever since her death, because during her life she had +made them do as she pleased, and beat them, or, as she herself termed +it, "basted" them heartily, if they did not. She was quite capable of +doing so too, to her own perfect satisfaction, for probably few arms +in all Kent were furnished with more sinewy muscles or a stouter fist +than hers could boast. It was only upon minor points of difference, +however, that she and her children ever quarrelled; for of their +general course of conduct she approved most highly; and no one was +more ready to receive packets of lace, tea, or other goods under her +fostering care, or more apt and skilful in stopping a tub of spirits +from "talking," or of puzzling a Custom-House officer when force was +not at hand to resist him. + +She was naturally of so strong a constitution, and so well built a +frame, that it is wonderful she died at all; but having caught cold +one night, poor thing!--it is supposed, in setting fire to a +neighbouring farm-house, the inmates of which were suspected of having +informed against her husband--her very strength and vigour gave a +tendency to inflammation, which speedily reduced her very low. A +surgeon, who visited the house in fear and trembling, bled her +largely, and forbade the use of all that class of liquids which she +was accustomed to imbibe in considerable quantities; and for three or +four days the fear of death made her follow his injunctions. But at +the end of that period, when the crisis of the disease was imminent, +finding herself no better, and very weak, she declared that the doctor +was a fool, and ought to have his head broken, and directed the maid +to bring her the big green bottle out of the corner cupboard. To this +she applied more than once, and then beginning to get a little +riotous, she sent for her family to witness how soon she had cured +herself. Sitting up in her bed, with a yellow dressing-gown over her +shoulders, and a gay cap overshadowing her burning face, she sung them +a song in praise of good liquor--somewhat panting for breath, it must +be owned--and then declaring that she was "devilish thirsty," which +was probably accurate to the letter, she poured out a large glass from +the big green bottle, which happened to be her bed-fellow for the +time, and raised it to her lips. Half the contents went down her +throat; but, how it happened I do not know, the rest was spilt upon +the bed clothes, and good Mrs. Ramley fell back in a doze, from which +nobody could rouse her. Before two hours were over she slept a still +sounder sleep, which required the undertaker to provide against its +permanence. + +The bereaved widower comforted himself after a time. We will not say +how many hours it required to effect that process. He was not a +drunken man himself; for the passive participle of the verb to "drink" +was not often actually applicable to his condition. Nevertheless, +there was a great consumption of hollands in the house during the next +week; and, if it was a wet funeral that followed, it was not with +water, salt or fresh. + +There are compensations for all things; and if Ramley had lost his +wife, and his children a mother, they all lost also a great number of +very good beatings, for, sad to say, he who could thrash all the +country round, submitted very often to be thrashed by his better half, +or at all events underwent the process of either having his head made +closely acquainted with a candlestick, or rendered the means of +breaking a platter. After that period the two boys grew up into as +fine, tall, handsome, dissolute blackguards as one could wish to look +upon; and for the two girls, no term perhaps can be found in the +classical authors of our language; but the vernacular supplies an +epithet particularly applicable, which we must venture to use. They +were two _strapping wenches_, nearly as tall as their brothers, full, +rounded, and well formed in person, fine and straight cut in features, +with large black shining eyes, a well-turned foot and ancle, and, as +was generally supposed, the invincible arm of their mother. + +We are not here going to investigate or dwell upon the individual +morality of the two young ladies. It is generally said to have been +better in some respects than either their ordinary habits, their +education, or their language would have led one to expect; and, +perhaps being very full of the stronger passions, the softer ones had +no great dominion over them. + +There, however, they sat at breakfast on the morning of which we have +spoken, in the kitchen of the farm-house, with their father seated at +the head of the table. He was still a great, tall, raw-boned man, with +a somewhat ogre-ish expression of countenance, and hair more white +than grey. But there were four other men at the table besides himself, +two being servants of the farm, and two acknowledged lovers of the +young ladies--very bold fellows as may well be supposed; for to marry +a she-lion or a demoiselle bear would have been a light undertaking +compared to wedding one of the Miss Ramleys. They seemed to be upon +very intimate terms with those fair personages, however, and perhaps +possessed as much of their affection as could possibly be obtained; +but still the love-making seemed rather of a feline character, for the +caresses, which were pretty prodigal, were mingled with--we must not +say interrupted by--a great deal of grumbling and growling, some +scratching, and more than one pat upon the side of the head, which did +not come with the gentleness of the western wind. The fare upon the +table consisted neither of tea, coffee, cocoa, nor any other kind of +weak beverage, but of beef and strong beer, a diet very harmonious +with the appearance of the persons who partook thereof. It was +seasoned occasionally with roars of laughter, gay and not very +delicate jests, various pieces of fun, which on more than one occasion +went to the very verge of an angry encounter, together with a good +many blasphemous oaths, and those testimonies of affection which I +have before spoken of as liberally bestowed by the young ladies upon +their lovers in the shape of cuffs and scratches. The principal topic +of conversation seemed to be some adventure which was even then going +forward, and in which the sons of the house were taking a part. No +fear, no anxiety, however, was expressed by any one, though they +wondered that Jim and Ned had not yet returned. + +"If they don't come soon they won't get much beef, Tom, if you swallow +it at that rate," said the youngest Miss Ramley to her sweetheart; +"you've eaten two pounds already, I'm sure." + +The young gentleman declared that it was all for love of her, but that +he hadn't eaten half so much as she had, whereupon the damsel became +wroth, and appealed to her father, who, for his part, vowed, that, +between them both, they had eaten and swilled enough to fill the big +hog-trough. The dispute might have run high, for Miss Ramley was not +inclined to submit to such observations, even from her father; but, +just as she was beginning in good set terms, which she had learnt from +himself, to condemn her parent's eyes, the old man started up, +exclaiming, "Hark! there's a shot out there!" + +"To be sure," answered one of the lovers. "It's the first of +September, and all the people are out shooting." + +Even while he was speaking, however, several more shots were heard, +apparently too many to proceed from sportsmen in search of game, and +the next moment the sound of horses' feet could be heard running quick +upon the road, and then turning into the yard which lay before the +house. + +"There they are!--there they are!" cried half-a-dozen voices; and, all +rushing out at the front door, they found the two young men with +several companions, and four led horses, heavily laden. Jim, the elder +brother, with the assistance of one of those who accompanied him, was +busily engaged in shutting the two great wooden gates which had been +raised by old Ramley some time before--nobody could tell why--in place +of a five-barred gate, which, with the tall stone wall, formerly shut +out the yard from the road. The other brother, Edward, or Ned Ramley, +as he was called, stood by the side of his horse, holding his head +down over a puddle; and, for a moment, no one could make out what he +was about. On his sister Jane approaching him, however, she perceived +a drop of blood falling every second into the dirty water below, and +exclaimed, "How hast thou broken thy noddle, Ned?" + +"There, let me alone, Jinny," cried the young man, shaking off the +hand she had laid upon his arm, "or I shall bloody my toggery. One of +those fellows has nearly cracked my skull, that's all; and he'd have +done it, too, if he had but been a bit nearer. This brute shied just +as I was firing my pistol at him, or he'd never have got within arm's +length. It's nothing--it's but a scratch.--Get the goods away; for +they'll be after us quick enough. They are chasing the major and his +people, and that's the way we got off." + +One of the usual stories of the day was then told by the rest--of how +a cargo had been run the night before, and got safe up into the +country: how, when they thought all danger over, they had passed +before old Bob Croyland's windows, and how Jim had given him a shot as +he stood at one of them; and then they went on to say that, whether it +was the noise of the gun, or that the old man had sent out to call the +officers upon them, they could not tell; but about three miles further +on, they saw a largish party of horse upon their right. Flight had +then become the order of the day; but, finding that they could not +effect it in one body, they were just upon the point of separating, +Ned Ramley declared, when two of the riding officers overtook them, +supported by a number of dragoons. Some firing took place, without +much damage, and, dividing into three bodies, the smugglers scampered +off, the Ramleys and their friends taking their way towards their own +house, and the others in different directions. The former might have +escaped unpursued, it would seem, had not the younger brother, Ned, +determined to give one of the dragoons a shot before he went: thus +bringing on the encounter in which he had received the wound on his +head. + +While all this was being told to the father, the two girls, their +lovers, the farm-servants, and several of the men, hurried the +smuggled goods into the house, and raising a trap in the floor of the +kitchen--contrived in such a manner that four whole boards moved up at +once on the western side of the room--stowed the different articles +away in places of concealment below, so well arranged, that even if +the trap was discovered, the officers would find nothing but a vacant +space, unless they examined the walls very closely. + +The horses were then all led to the stable; and Edward Ramley, having +in some degree stopped the bleeding of his wound, moved into the +house, with most of the other men. Old Ramley and the two +farm-servants, however, remained without, occupying themselves in +loading a cart with manure, till the sound of horses galloping down +was heard, and somebody shook the gates violently, calling loudly to +those within to open "in the King's name." + +The farmer instantly mounted upon the cart, and looked over the wall; +but the party before the gates consisted only of five or six dragoons, +of whom he demanded, in a bold tone, "Who the devil be you, that I +should open for you? Go away, go away, and leave a quiet man at +peace!" + +"If you don't open the gates, we'll break them down," said one of the +men. + +"Do, if you dare," answered old Ramley, boldly; "and if you do, I'll +shoot the best of you dead.--Bring me my gun, Tom.--Where's your +warrant, young man? You are not an officer, and you've got none with +you, so I shan't let any boiled lobsters enter my yard, I can tell +you." + +By this time he was provided with the weapon he had sent for; and one +of his men, similarly armed, had got into the cart beside him. The +appearance of resistance was rather ominous, and the dragoons were +well aware that if they did succeed in forcing an entrance, and blood +were spilt, the whole responsibility would rest upon themselves, if no +smuggled goods should be found, as they had neither warrant nor any +officer of the Customs with them. + +After a short consultation, then, he who had spoken before, called to +old Ramley, saying, "We'll soon bring a warrant. Then look to +yourself;" and, thus speaking, he rode off with his party. Old Ramley +only laughed, however, and turned back into the house, where he made +the party merry at the expense of the dragoons. All the men who had +been out upon the expedition were now seated at the table, dividing +the beef and bread amongst them, and taking hearty draughts from the +tankard. Not the least zealous in this occupation was Edward Ramley, +who seemed to consider the deep gash upon his brow as a mere scratch, +not worth talking about. He laughed and jested with the rest; and when +they had demolished all that the board displayed, he turned to his +father, saying, not in the most reverent tone, "Come, old fellow, +after bringing our venture home safe, I think you ought to send round +the true stuff: we've had beer enough. Let's have some of the +Dutchman." + +"That you shall, Neddy, my boy," answered the farmer, "only I wish you +had shot that rascal you fired at. However, one can't always have a +steady aim, especially with a fidgetty brute like that you ride;" and +away he went to bring the hollands, which soon circulated very freely +amongst the party, producing, in its course, various degrees of mirth +and joviality, which speedily deviated into song. Some of the ditties +that were sung were good, and some of them very bad; but almost all +were coarse, and the one that was least so was the following:-- + + + SONG. + + "It's wonderful, it's wonderful, is famous London town, + With its alleys + And its valleys, + And its houses up and down; + But I would give fair London town, its court, and all its + people, + For the little town of Biddenden, with the moon above + the steeple. + + "It's wonderful, it's wonderful, to see what pretty faces + In London streets + A person meets + In very funny places; + But I wouldn't give for all the eyes in London town one sees, + A pair, that by the moonlight, looks out beneath the trees. + + "It's wonderful, in London town, how soon a man may hold, + By art and sleight, + Or main and might, + A pretty sum of gold; + Yet give me but a pistol, and one rich squire or two, + A moonlight night, a yellow chaise, and the high road will do." + + +This was not the last song that was sung; but that which followed was +interrupted by one of the pseudo-labourers coming in from the yard, to +say that there was a hard knocking at the gate. + +"I think it is Mr. Radford's voice," added the man, "but I'm not sure; +and I did not like to get up into the cart to look." + +"Run up stairs to the window, Jinny!" cried old Ramley, "and you'll +soon see." + +His daughter did, on this occasion, as she was bid, and soon called +down from above, "It's old Radford, sure enough; but he's got two men +with him!" + +"It's all right, if he's there," said Jim Ramley; and the gates were +opened in a minute, to give that excellent gentleman admission. + +Now, Mr. Radford, it must be remembered, was a magistrate for the +county of Kent; but his presence created neither alarm nor confusion +in the house of the Ramleys; and when he entered, leaving his men in +the court for a minute, he said, with a laugh, holding the father of +that hopeful family by the arm, "I've come to search, and to stop the +others. Where are the goods?" + +"Safe enough," answered the farmer. "No fear--no fear!" + +"But can we look under the trap?" asked Mr. Radford, who seemed as +well acquainted with the secrets of the place as the owner thereof. + +"Ay, ay!" replied the old man. "Don't leave 'em too long--that's all." + +"I'll go down myself," said Radford; "they've got scent of it, or I +wouldn't find it out." + +"All right--all right!" rejoined the other, in a low voice; and the +magistrate, raising his tone, exclaimed, "Here, Clinch and Adams--you +two fools! why don't you come in? They say there is nothing here; but +we must search. We must not take any man's word; not to say that I +doubt yours, Mr. Ramley; but it is necessary, you know." + +"Oh, do what you like, sir," replied the farmer. "I don't care!" + +A very respectable search was then commenced, and pursued from room to +room--one of the men who accompanied Mr. Radford, and who was an +officer of the Customs, giving old Ramley a significant wink with his +right eye as he passed, at which the other grinned. Indeed, had the +whole matter not been very well understood between the great majority +of both parties, it would have been no very pleasant or secure task +for any three men in England to enter the kitchen of that farm-house +on such an errand. At length, however, Mr. Radford and his companions +returned to the kitchen, and the magistrate thought fit to walk +somewhat out of his way towards the left-hand side of the room, when +suddenly stopping, he exclaimed, in a grave tone, "Hallo! Ramley, +what's here? These boards seem loose!" + +"To be sure they are," answered the farmer; "that's the way to the old +beer cellar. But there's nothing in it, upon my honour!" + +"But we must look, Ramley, you know," said Mr. Radford. "Come, open +it, whatever it is! + +"Oh, with all my heart," replied the man; "but you'll perhaps break +your head. That's your fault, not mine, however,"--and, advancing to +the side of the room, he took a crooked bit of iron from his +pocket--not unlike that used for pulling stones out of a horse's +hoofs--and insinuating it between the skirting-board and the floor, +soon raised the trap-door of which we have spoken before. + +A vault of about nine feet deep was now exposed, with the top of a +ladder leading into it; and Mr. Radford ordered the men who were with +him to go down first. The one who had given old Ramley the wink in +passing, descended without ceremony; but the other, who was also an +officer, hesitated for a moment. + +"Go down--go down, Clinch!" said Mr. Radford. "You _would_ have a +search, and so you shall do it thoroughly." + +The man obeyed, and the magistrate paused a moment to speak with the +smuggling farmer, saying, in a low voice, "I don't mind their knowing +I'm your friend, Ramley. Let them think about that as they like. +Indeed, I'd rather that they did see we understand each other; so give +me a hint if they go too far; I'll bear it out." + +Thus saying, he descended into the cellar, and old Ramley stood gazing +down upon the three from above, with his gaunt figure bending over the +trap-door. At the end of a minute or two he called down, "There--that +ought to do, I'm sure! We can't be kept bothering here all day!" + +Something was said in a low tone by one of the men below; but then the +voice of Mr. Radford was heard, exclaiming, "No, no; that will do! +We've had enough of it! Go up, I say! There's no use of irritating +people by unreasonable suspicions, Mr. Clinch. Is it not quite enough, +Adams? Are you satisfied!" + +"Oh! quite, sir," answered the other officer; "there's nothing but bare +walls and an empty beer barrel." + +The next moment the party began to reappear from the trap, the officer +Clinch coming up first, with a grave look, and Mr. Radford and the +other following, with a smile upon their faces. + +"There, all is clear enough," said Mr. Radford; "so you, gentlemen, +can go and pursue your search elsewhere. I must remain here to wait +for my son, whom I sent for to join me with the servants, as you know; +not that I feared any resistance from you, Mr. Ramley; but smuggling +is so sadly prevalent now-a-days, that one must be on one's guard, you +know." + +A horse laugh burst from the whole party round the table; and in the +midst of it the two officers retired into the yard, where, mounting +their horses, they opened the gates and rode away. + +As soon as they were gone, Mr. Radford shook old Ramley familiarly by +the hand, exclaiming, "This is the luckiest thing in the world, my +good fellow! If I can but get them to accuse me of conniving at this +job, it will be a piece of good fortune which does not often happen to +a man." + +Ramley, as well he might, looked a little confounded; but Mr. Radford +drew him aside, and spoke to him for a quarter of an hour, in a voice +raised hardly above a whisper. Numerous laughs, and nods, and signs of +mutual understanding passed between them; and the conversation ended +by Mr. Radford saying, aloud, "I wonder what can keep Dick so long; he +ought to have been here before now! I sent over to him at eight; and +it is past eleven." + + + + + CHAPTER XII. + + +We will now, by the reader's good leave, return for a short time to +Harbourne House, where the party sat down to breakfast, at the +inconveniently early hour of eight. I will not take upon myself to say +that it might not be a quarter-of-an-hour later, for almost everything +is after its time on this globe, and Harbourne House did not differ in +this respect from all the rest of the world. From the face of young +Radford towards the countenance of Sir Edward Digby shot some very +furious glances as they took their places at the breakfast-table; but +those looks gradually sunk down into a dull and sullen frown, as they +met with no return. Sir Edward Digby, indeed, seemed to have forgotten +the words which had passed between them as soon as they had been +uttered; and he laughed, and talked, and conversed with every one as +gaily as if nothing had happened. Edith was some ten minutes behind +the rest at the meal, and seemed even more depressed than the night +before; but Zara had reserved a place for her at her own side; and +taking the first opportunity, while the rest of the party were busily +talking together, she whispered a few words in her ear. Sir Edward +Digby saw her face brighten in a moment, and her eyes turn quickly +towards himself; but he took no notice; and an interval of silence +occurring the next moment, the conversation between the two sisters +was interrupted. + +During breakfast, a servant brought in a note and laid it on the +side-board, and after the meal was over, Miss Croyland retired to her +own room to make ready for her departure. Zara was about to follow; +but good Mrs. Barbara, who had heard some sharp words pass between the +two gentlemen, and had remarked the angry looks of young Radford, was +determined that they should not quarrel without the presence of +ladies, and consequently called her youngest niece back, saying, in a +whisper, "Stay here, my dear. I have a particular reason why I want +you not to go." + +"I will be back in a moment, my dear aunt," replied Zara; but the +worthy old lady would not suffer her to depart; and the butler +entering at that moment, called the attention of Richard Radford to +the note which had been brought in some half-an-hour before, and which +was, in fact, a sudden summons from his father. + +The contents seemed to give him no great satisfaction; and, turning to +the servant, he said, "Well, tell them to saddle my horse, and bring +him round;" and as he spoke, he directed a frowning look towards the +young baronet, as if he could scarcely refrain from shewing his anger +till a fitting opportunity occurred for expressing it. + +Digby, however, continued talking lightly with Zara Croyland, in the +window, till the horse had been brought round, and the young man had +taken leave of the rest of the party. Then sauntering slowly out of +the room, he passed through the hall door, to the side of Richard +Radford's horse, just as the latter was mounting. + +"Mr. Radford," he said, in a low tone, "you were pleased to make an +impertinent observation upon my conduct, which led me to tell you what +I think of yours. We were interrupted; but I dare say you must wish +for further conversation with me. You can have it when and where you +please." + +"At three o'clock this afternoon, in the road straight from the back +of the house," replied young Radford, in a low, determined tone, +touching the hilt of his sword. + +Sir Edward Digby nodded, and then turning on his heel, walked coolly +into the house. + +"I am sure, Sir Edward," cried Mrs. Barbara, as soon as she saw him, +while Zara fixed her eyes somewhat anxiously upon his countenance--"I +am sure you and Mr. Radford have been quarrelling." + +"Oh no, my dear madam," replied Sir Edward Digby; "nothing of the +kind, I can assure you. Our words were very ordinary words, and +perfectly civil, upon my word. We had no time to quarrel." + +"My dear Sir Edward," said Sir Robert Croyland, "you must excuse me +for saying it, I must have no such things here. I am a magistrate for +this county, and bound by my oath to keep the peace. My sister tells +me that high words passed between you and my young friend Radford +before breakfast?" + +"They were very few, Sir Robert," answered Digby, in a careless tone; +"he thought fit to make an observation upon my saying a few words to +your daughter, here, in a low tone, which I conceive every gentleman +has a right to do to a fair lady. I told him, I thought his conduct +insolent; and that was all that passed. I believe the youth has got a +bad headache from too much of your good wine, Sir Robert; therefore, I +forgive him. I dare say, he'll be sorry enough for what he said, +before the day is over; and if he is not, I cannot help it." + +"Well, well, if that's all, it is no great matter!" replied the master +of the house; "but here comes round the carriage; run and call Edith, +Zara." + +Before the young lady could quit the room, however, her sister +appeared; and the only moment they obtained for private conference was +at the door of the carriage, after Edith had got in, and while her +father was giving some directions to the coachman. No great +information could be given or received, indeed, for Sir Robert +returned to the side of the vehicle immediately, bade his daughter +good-bye, and the carriage rolled away. + +As soon as it was gone, Sir Edward Digby proposed, with the permission +of Sir Robert Croyland, to go out to shoot; for he did not wish to +subject himself to any further cross-examination by the ladies of the +family, and he read many inquiries in fair Zara's eyes, which he +feared might be difficult to answer. Retiring, then, to put on a more +fitting costume, while gamekeepers and dogs were summoned to attend +him, he took the opportunity of writing a short letter, which he +delivered to his servant to post, giving him, at the same time, brief +directions to meet him near the cottage of good Mrs. Clare, about +half-past two, with the sword which the young officer usually wore +when not on military service. Those orders were spoken in so ordinary +and commonplace a tone that none but a very shrewd fellow would have +discovered that anything was going forward different from the usual +occurrences of the day; but Somers was a very shrewd fellow; and in a +few minutes--judging from what he had observed while waiting on his +master during dinner on the preceding day--he settled the whole matter +entirely to his own satisfaction, thinking, according to the +phraseology of those times, "Sir Edward will pink him--and a good +thing too; but it will spoil sport here, I've a notion." + +As he descended to the hall, in order to join the keepers and their +four-footed coadjutors, the young baronet encountered Mrs. Barbara and +her niece; and he perceived Zara's eyes instantly glance to his +sword-belt, from which he had taken care to remove a weapon that could +only be inconvenient to him in the sport he was about to pursue. She +was not so easily to be deceived as her father; but yet the absence of +the weapon usually employed in those days, as the most efficacious for +killing a fellow-creature, put her mind at ease, at least for the +present; and, although she determined to watch the proceedings of the +young baronet during the two or three following days--as far, at +least, as propriety would permit--she took no further notice at the +moment, being very anxious to prevent her good aunt from interfering +more than necessary in the affairs of Sir Edward Digby. + +Mrs. Barbara, indeed, was by no means well pleased that Sir Edward was +going to deprive her schemes of the full benefit which might have +accrued from his passing the whole of that day unoccupied, with Zara, +at Harbourne House, and hinted significantly that she trusted if he +did not find good sport he would return early, as her niece was very +fond of a ride over the hills, only that she had no companion. + +The poor girl coloured warmly, and the more so as Sir Edward could not +refrain from a smile. + +"I trust, then, I shall have the pleasure of being your companion +to-morrow, Miss Croyland," he said, turning to the young lady. "Why +should we not ride over, and see your excellent uncle and your sister? +I must certainly pay my respects to him; and if I may have the honour +of escorting you, it will give double pleasure to my ride." + +Zara Croyland was well aware that many a matter, which if treated +seriously may become annoying--if not dangerous, can be carried +lightly off by a gay and dashing jest: "Oh, with all my heart," she +said; "only remember, Sir Edward, we must have plenty of servants with +us, or else all the people in the country will say that you and I are +going to be married; and as I never intend that such a saying should +be verified, it will be as well to nip the pretty little blossom of +gossip in the bud." + +"It shall be all exactly as you please," replied the young officer, +with a low bow and a meaning smile; but at the very same moment, Mrs. +Barbara thought fit to reprove her niece, wondering how she could talk +so sillily; and Sir Edward took his leave, receiving his host's +excuses, as he passed through the hall, for not accompanying him on +his shooting expedition. + +"The truth is, my dear sir," said Sir Robert Croyland, "that I am now +too old and too heavy for such sports." + +"You were kind enough to tell me, this is Liberty Hall," replied the +young baronet, "and you shall see, my dear sir, that I take you at +your word, both in regard to your game and your wine, being resolved, +with your good permission, and for my own health, to kill your birds +and spare your bottles." + +"Certainly, certainly," answered the master of the mansion--"you shall +do exactly as you like;" and with this licence, Sir Edward set out +shooting, with tolerable success, till towards two o'clock, when, +quite contrary to the advice and opinion of the gamekeepers--who +declared that the dogs would have the wind with them in that +direction, and that as the day was now hot, the birds would not lie a +minute--he directed his course towards the back of Harbourne Wood, +finding, it must be confessed, but very little sport. There, +apparently fatigued and disgusted with walking for a mile or two +without a shot, he gave his gun to one of the men, and bade him take +it back to the house, saying, he would follow speedily. As soon as he +had seen them depart, he tracked round the edge of the wood, towards +Mrs. Clare's cottage, exactly opposite to which he found his trusty +servant, provided as he had directed. + +Sir Edward then took the sword and fixed it in his belt, saying, "Now, +Somers, you may go!" + +"Certainly, sir," replied the man, touching his hat with a look of +hesitation; but he added, a minute after, "you had better let me know +where it's to be, sir, in case----" + +"Well," rejoined Sir Edward Digby, with a smile, "you are an old +soldier and no meddler, Somers; so that I will tell you, 'in +case,'--that the place is in a straight line between this and +Harbourne House. So now, face about to the right, and go back by the +other road." + +The man touched his hat again, and walked quickly away, while the +young officer turned his steps up the road which he had followed +during the preceding evening in pursuit of the two Miss Croylands. It +was a good broad open way, in which there was plenty of fencing room, +and he thought to himself as he walked on, "I shall not be sorry to +punish this young vagabond a little. I must see what sort of skill he +has, and if possible wound him without hurting him much. If one could +keep him to his bed for a fortnight, we should have the field more +clear for our own campaign; but these things must always be a chance." + +Thus meditating, and looking at his watch to see how much time he had +to spare, Major Sir Edward Digby walked on till became within sight of +the garden wall and some of the out-buildings of Harbourne House. The +reader, if he has paid attention, will remember that the road did not +go straight to the back of the house itself: a smaller path, which led +to the right, conducting thither; but as the gardens extended for +nearly a quarter of a mile on that side, it followed the course of the +wall to the left to join the parish road which ran in front of the +mansion, leaving the green court, as it was called, or lawn, and the +terrace, on the right hand. + +As there was no other road in that direction, Sir Edward Digby felt +sure that he must be on the ground appointed, but yet, as is the case +in all moments of expectation, the time seemed so long, that when he +saw the brick-work he took out his watch again, and found there were +still five minutes to spare. He accordingly turned upon his steps, +walking slowly back for about a quarter of a mile, and then returned, +looking sharply out for his opponent, but seeing no one. He was now +sure that the time must be past; but, resolved to afford young Radford +every opportunity, he said to himself, "Watches may differ, and +something may have detained him. I will give him a full half hour, and +then if he does not come I shall understand the matter." + +As soon, then, as he saw the walls once more, he wheeled round and +re-trod his steps, then looked at his watch, and found that it was a +quarter past three. "Too bad!" he said,--"too bad! The fellow cannot +be coward, too, as well as blackguard. One turn more, and then I've +done with him." But as he advanced on his way towards the house, he +suddenly perceived the flutter of female garments before him, and +saying to himself, "This is awkward!" he gazed round for some path, in +order to get out of the way for a moment, but could perceive none. The +next instant, coming round a shrub which started forward a little +before the rest of the trees, he saw the younger Miss Croyland +advancing with a quick step, and, he could not help thinking, with a +somewhat agitated air. Her colour was heightened, her eyes eagerly +looking on; but, as soon as she saw him, she slackened her pace, and +came forward in a more deliberate manner. + +"Oh, Sir Edward!" she said, in a calm, sweet tone, "I am glad to see +you. You have finished your shooting early, it seems." + +"Why, the sport was beginning to slacken," answered Sir Edward Digby. +"I had not had a shot for the last half hour, and so thought it best +to give it up." + +"Well then, you shall take a walk with me," cried Zara, gaily. "I am +just going down to a poor friend of ours, called Widow Clare, and you +shall come too." + +"What! notwithstanding all your sage and prudent apprehensions in +regard to what people might say if we were seen alone together!" +exclaimed Sir Edward Digby, with a smile. + +"Oh! I don't mind that," answered Zara. "Great occasions, you know, +Sir Edward, require decisive measures; and I assuredly want an escort +through this terrible forest, to protect me from all the giants and +enchanters it may contain." + +Sir Edward Digby looked at his watch again, and saw that it wanted but +two minutes to the half hour. + +"Oh!" said Zara, affecting a look of pique, "if you have some +important appointment, Sir Edward, it is another affair--only tell me +if it be so?" + +Sir Edward Digby took her hand in his: "I will tell you, dear lady," +he replied, "if you will first tell me one thing, truly and +sincerely--What brought you here?" + +Zara trembled and coloured; for with the question put in so direct a +shape, the agitation, which she had previously overcome, mastered her +in turn, and she answered, "Don't, don't, or I shall cry." + +"Well, then, tell me at least if I had anything to do with it?" asked +the young baronet. + +"Yes, you had!" replied Zara; "I can't tell a falsehood. But now, Sir +Edward, don't, as most of you men would do, suppose that it's from any +very tender interest in you, that I did this foolish thing. It was +because I thought--I thought, if you were going to do what I imagined, +it would be the very worst thing in the world for poor Edith." + +"I shall only suppose that you are all that is kind and good," +answered Digby--perhaps a little piqued at the indifference which she +so studiously assumed; "and even if I thought, Miss Croyland, that you +did take some interest in my poor self, depend upon it, I should not +be inclined to go one step farther in the way of vanity than you +yourself could wish. I am not altogether a coxcomb. But now tell me, +how you were led to suspect anything?" + +"Promise me first," said Zara, "that this affair shall not take place. +Indeed, indeed, Sir Edward, it must not, on every account!" + +"There is not the slightest chance of any such thing," replied Sir +Edward Digby. "You need not be under the slightest alarm." + +"What! you do not mean to say," she exclaimed, with her cheeks glowing +and her eyes raised to his face, "that you did not come here to fight +him?" + +"Not exactly," answered Sir Edward Digby, laughing; "but what I do +mean to say, my dear young lady, is, that our friend is half an hour +behind his time, and I am not disposed to give him another opportunity +of keeping me waiting." + +"And if he had been in time," cried Zara, clasping her hands together +and casting down her eyes, "I should have been too late." + +"But tell me," persisted Sir Edward Digby, "how you heard all this. +Has my servant, Somers, been indiscreet?" + +"No, no," replied Zara; "no, I can assure you! I saw you go out in +your shooting dress, and without a sword. Then I thought it was all +over, especially as you had the gamekeepers with you; but some time +ago I found that your servant had gone out, carrying a sword under his +arm, and had come straight up this road. That made me uneasy. When the +gamekeepers came back without you, I was more uneasy still; but I +could not get away from my aunt for a few minutes. When I could, +however, I got my hat and cloak, and hurried away, knowing that you +would not venture to fight in the presence of a woman. As I went out, +all my worst fears were confirmed by seeing your servant come back +without the sword; and then--not very well knowing, indeed, what I was +to say or do--I hurried on as fast as possible. Now you have the whole +story, and you must come away from this place." + +"Very willingly," answered the young officer; adding, with a smile, +"which way shall we go, Miss Croyland? To Widow Clare's?" + +"No, no!" answered Zara, blushing again. "Do not tease me. You do not +know how soon, when a woman is agitated, she is made to weep. My +father is out, indeed," she added, in a gayer tone, "so that I should +have time to bathe my eyes before dinner, which will be half an hour +later than usual; but I should not like my aunt to tell him that I +have been taking a crying walk with Sir Edward Digby." + +"Heaven forbid that I should ever give you cause for a tear!" answered +the young baronet; and then, with a vague impression that he was doing +something very like making love, he added, "but let us return to the +house, or perhaps we may have your aunt seeking us." + +"The most likely thing in the world," replied Zara; and taking their +way back, they passed through the gardens and entered the house by one +of the side doors. + + + + + CHAPTER XIII. + + +It was a custom of those days, I believe, not altogether done away +with in the present times, for magistrates to assemble in petty +sessions, or to meet at other times for the dispatch of any +extraordinary business, in tavern, public-house, or inn--a custom more +honoured in the breach than the observance, except where no other +place of assembly can be found. It thus happened that, on the day of +which we have been speaking, some half-dozen gentlemen, all justices +of the peace for the county of Kent, were gathered together in a +good-sized room of the inn, at the little town of * * * * * . There +was a table drawn across the room, at which was placed the +magistrates' clerk, with sundry sheets of paper before him, several +printed forms, and two books, one big and the other little. The +magistrates themselves, however, were not seated in due state and +dignity, but, on the contrary, were in general standing about and +talking together, some looking out of the window into the street, some +leaning with their backs against the table and the tails of their +coats turned over their hands, while one occupied an arm-chair placed +sideways at the board, with one knee thrown over the other--a +favourite position which he could not have assumed had he sat with his +face to the table. + +The latter was Sir Robert Croyland, who had been sent for in haste by +his brother justices, to take part in their proceedings relative to a +daring act of smuggling which had just been perpetrated. Sir Robert +would willingly have avoided giving his assistance upon this occasion; +but the summons had been so urgent that he could not refuse going; and +he was now not a little angry to find that there were more than +sufficient justices present to make a quorum, and to transact all the +necessary business. Some one, however, it would seem, had--as usual in +all county arrangements--been very busy in pressing for as full an +attendance as possible; and those who knew the characters of the +gentlemen assembled might have perceived that the great majority of +them were not very well qualified to sit as judges upon a case of this +nature, as almost every one was under suspicion of leaning towards the +side of the smugglers, most of them having at some time engaged more +or less in the traffic which they were called upon to stop. Sir Robert +Croyland was the least objectionable in this point of view; for he had +always borne a very high name for impartiality in such matters, and +had never had anything personally to do with the illicit traffic +itself. It is probable, therefore, that he was sent for to give a mere +show of justice to the proceedings; for Mr. Radford was expected to be +there; and it was a common observation of the county gentlemen, that +the latter could now lead Sir Robert as he liked. Mr. Radford, indeed, +had not yet arrived, though two messengers had been despatched to +summon him; the answer still being that he had gone over towards +Ashford. Sir Robert, therefore, sat in the midst--not harmonizing much +in feeling with the rest, and looking anxiously for his friend's +appearance, in order to obtain some hint as to how he was to act. + +At length, a considerable noise was heard in the streets below, and a +sort of constable door-keeper presented himself, to inform the +magistrates that the officers and dragoons had arrived, bringing in +several prisoners. An immediate bustle took place, the worshipful +gentlemen beginning to seat themselves, and one of them--as it is +technically termed--moving Sir Robert into the chair. In order to shew +that this was really as well as metaphysically done, Sir Robert +Croyland rose, sat down again, and wheeled himself round to the table. +A signal was then given to the constable; and a rush of several +persons from without was made into the temporary justice room, which +was at once nearly filled with custom-house officers, soldiers, +smugglers, and the curious of the village. + +Amongst the latter portion of the auditory,--at least, so he supposed +at first,--Sir Robert Croyland perceived his young friend, Richard +Radford; and he was in the act of beckoning him to come up to the +table, in order to inquire where his father was, and how soon he would +return, when one of the officers of the Customs suddenly thrust the +young gentleman out of the way, exclaiming, "Stand farther back! What +are you pushing forward for? Your turn will come soon enough, I +warrant." + +Sir Robert Croyland was confounded; and for a moment or two he sat +silent in perplexity and surprise. Not that he ever entertained a +doubt of old Mr. Radford still nourishing all the propensities of his +youth; nor that he was not well aware they had formed part of the +inheritance of the son; but there were certain considerations of some +weight which made Sir Robert feel that it would have been better for +him to be in any other spot of the habitable globe than that where he +was at the moment. Recovering himself, however, after a brief pause of +anxious indecision, he made a sign to the constable door-keeper, and +whispered to him, as soon as the man reached his side, to inquire into +the cause of Mr. Richard Radford's being there. The man was shrewd and +quick, and while half the magistrates were speaking across the table +to half the officers and some of the dragoons, he went and returned to +and from the other side of the room, and then whispered to the +baronet, "For smuggling, sir--caught abetting the others--his name +marked upon some of the goods!" + +Sir Robert Croyland was not naturally a brilliant man. Though hasty in +temper in his early days, he had always been somewhat obtuse in +intellect; but this was a case of emergency; and there is no greater +sharpener of the wits than necessity. In an instant, he had formed his +plan to gain time, which was his great object at that moment; and, +taking out his watch, he laid it on the table, exclaiming aloud, +"Gentlemen! gentlemen! a little regularity, if you please. My time is +precious. I have an important engagement this afternoon, and I----" + +But his whole scheme had nearly been frustrated by the impetuosity of +young Radford himself, who at once pushed through officers and +soldiers, saying, "And so have I, Sir Robert, a very important +engagement this afternoon. I claim to be heard as speedily as +possible." + +Sir Robert, however, was determined to carry his point, and to avoid +having aught to do with the case of his young friend, even at the risk +of giving him offence and annoyance. "Stand back, sir!" he said. "In +this court, there is no friendship or favour. You will have attention +in turn, but not before. Mr. Mowle, bring forward the prisoners one +after the other, as near as possible, in the order of--the order +of--of their capture," he added, at length, after hesitating for a +moment to consider whether it was or was not probable that young +Radford had been amongst those last taken; "and let all the others be +removed, under guard, into the next room." + +"Wont that make it a long affair, Sir Robert?" asked Mr. Runnington, a +neighbouring squire. + +"Oh dear, no!" replied the chairman; "by regularity we shall save +time. Do as you are directed, Mowle!" + +Young Radford showed a strong disposition to resist, or, at least, to +protest against this arrangement; but the officer to whom the baronet +had spoken, treated the prisoner with very little reverence; and he, +with the rest of the gang, was removed from the room, with the +exception of three, one of whom, with a smart cockade in his hat, such +as was worn at that time by military men in undress, swaggered up to +the table with a bold air, as if he were about to address the +magistrates. + +"Ah, major, is that you?" asked a gentleman on Sir Robert's right, +known in the country by the name of Squire Jollyboat, though his +family being originally French, his real appellation was Jollivet. + +"Oh yes, squire," answered the prisoner, in a gay, indifferent tone, +"here I am. It is long since I have had the pleasure of seeing your +worship. I think you were not on the bench the last time I was +committed, or I should have fared better." + +"I don't know that, major," replied the gentleman; "on the former +occasion I gave you a month, I think." + +"Ay, but the blackguards that time gave me two," rejoined the major. + +"Because it was the second offence," said Squire Jollyboat. + +"The second! Lord bless you, sir!" answered the major, with a look of +cool contempt; and turning round with a wink to his two companions, +they all three laughed joyously, as if it were the finest joke in the +world. + +It might not be very interesting to the reader were we to give in +detail the depositions of the various witnesses upon a common case of +smuggling in the last century, or to repeat all the various arguments +which were bandied backwards and forwards between the magistrates, +upon the true interpretation of the law, as expressed in the 9th +George II., cap. 35. It was very evident, indeed, to the officers of +Customs, to the serjeant of dragoons, and even to the prisoners +themselves, that the worthy justices were disposed to take as +favourable a view of smuggling transactions as possible. But the law +was very clear; the case was not less so; Mowle, the principal riding +officer, was a straightforward, determined, and shrewd man; and +although Sir Robert Croyland, simply with a view of protracting the +investigation till Mr. Radford should arrive, started many questions +which he left to the other magistrates to settle, yet in about half an +hour the charge of smuggling, with riot, and armed resistance to the +Custom-House officers, was clearly made out against the major and his +two companions; and as the act left no discretion in such a case, the +resistance raising the act to felony, all three were committed for +trial, and the officers bound over to prosecute. + +The men were then taken away, laughing and jesting; and Sir Robert +Croyland looked with anxiety for the appearance of the next party; but +two other men were now introduced without Richard Radford; and the +worthy baronet was released for the time. The case brought forward +against these prisoners differed from that against those who preceded +them, inasmuch as no resistance was charged. They had simply been +found aiding and abetting in the carriage of the smuggled goods, and +had fled when they found themselves pursued by the officers, though +not fast enough to avoid capture. The facts were speedily proved, and, +indeed, much more rapidly than suited the views of Sir Robert +Croyland. He therefore raised the question, when the decision of the +magistrates was about to be pronounced, whether this was the first or +the second offence, affecting some remembrance of the face of one of +the men. The officers, also, either really did recollect, or pretended +to do so, that the person of whom he spoke had been convicted before; +but the man himself positively denied it, and defied them to bring +forward any proof. A long discussion thus commenced, and before it was +terminated the baronet was relieved by the appearance of Mr. Radford +himself, who entered booted and spurred, and covered with dust, as if +just returned from a long ride. + +Shaking hands with his brother magistrates, and especially with Sir +Robert Croyland, he was about to seat himself at the end of that +table, when the baronet rose, saying, "Here, Radford, you had better +take my place, as I must positively get home directly, having +important business to transact." + +"No, no, Sir Robert," replied that respectable magistrate, "we cannot +spare you in this case, nor can I take that place. My son, I hear, is +charged with taking part in this affair; and some sharp words have +been passing between myself and that scoundrel of a fellow called +Clinch, the officer, who applied to me for aid in searching the +Ramleys' house. When I agreed to go with him, and found out a very +snug place for hiding, he was half afraid to go down; and yet, since +then, he has thought fit to insinuate that I had something to do with +the run, and did not conduct the search fairly." + +The magistrates looked round to each other and smiled; and Radford +himself laughed heartily, very much as if he was acting a part in a +farce, without any hope or expectation of passing off his zeal in the +affair, upon his fellow magistrates, as genuine. Mowle, the officer, +at the same time turned round, and spoke a few words to two men who +had followed Mr. Radford into the room, one of whom shrugged his +shoulders with a laugh, and said nothing, and the other replied +eagerly, but in a low tone. + +Sir Robert Croyland, however, urged the necessity of his going, put +his watch in his pocket, and buttoned up his coat. But Mr. Radford, +assuming a graver air and a very peculiar tone, replied, "No, no, Sir +Robert; you must stay, indeed. We shall want you. Your known +impartiality will give weight to our decisions, whatever they may be." + +The baronet sat down again, but evidently with so much unwillingness, +that his brethren marvelled not a little at this fresh instance of the +influence which Mr. Radford exerted over his mind. + +"Who is the next prisoner, Mr. Mowle?" demanded Sir Robert Croyland, +as soon as he had resumed his seat. + +"Mr. Richard Radford, I suppose, sir," said Mowle; "but these two men +are not disposed of." + +"Well, then," said Mr. Jollivet, who was very well inclined to +commence a career of lenity, "as no proof has been given that this is +the second offence, I think we must send them both for a month. That +seems to me the utmost we can do." + +The other magistrates concurred in this decision; and the prisoners +were ordered to be removed; but ere they went, the one against whom +the officers had most seriously pressed their charge, turned round +towards the bench, exclaiming, in a gay tone, "Thank you, Squire +Jollyboat. Your worship shall have a chest of tea for this, before I'm +out a fortnight." + +A roar of laughter ran round the magistrates--for such matters were as +indecently carried on in those days, on almost all occasions, as they +sometimes are now; and in a moment or two after, young Radford was +brought in, with a dark scowl upon his brow. + +"How is this, Dick?" cried his father. "Have you been dabbling in a +run, and suffered yourself to be caught?" + +"Let these vagabonds make their accusation, and bring their +witnesses," replied the young man, sullenly, "and then I'll speak for +myself." + +"Well, your worships," said Mowle, coming forward, "the facts are +simply these: I have long had information that goods were to be run +about this time, and that Mr. Radford had some share in the matter. +Last night, a large quantity of goods were landed in the Marsh, though +I had been told it was to be near about Sandgate, or between that and +Hythe, and was consequently on the look-out there. As soon as I got +intimation, however, that the run had been effected, I got together as +many men as I could, sent for a party of dragoons from Folkestone, +and, knowing pretty well which way they would take, came across by +Aldington, Broadoak and Kingsnorth, and then away by Singleton Green, +towards Four-Elms, where, just under the hill, we came upon those two +men who have just been convicted, and two others, who got off. We +captured these two, and three horse-loads they had with them, for +their beasts were tired, and they had lagged behind. There were two or +three chests of tea, and a good many other things, and all of them +were marked, just like honest bales of goods, 'Richard Radford, +Esquire, Junior.' As we found, however, that the great party was on +before, we pursued them as far as Rouse-end, where we overtook them +all; but there they scattered, some galloping off towards Gouldwell, +as if they were going to the Ramleys; some towards Usherhouse, and +some by the wood towards Etchden. Four or five of the dragoons pushed +after those running for Gouldwell, but I and the rest stuck to the +main body, which went away towards the wood, and who showed fight. +There was a good deal of firing amongst the trees, but not much damage +done, except to my horse, who was shot in the shoulder. But just as we +were chasing them out of the wood, up came Mr. Richard Radford, who +was seen for a minute speaking to one of the men who were running, and +riding along beside him for some way. He then turned, and came up to +us, and tried to stop us as we were galloping after them, asking what +the devil we were about, and giving us a great deal of bad language. I +didn't mind him, but rode on, knowing we could take him at any time; +but Mr. Birchett, the other chief officer, who had captured the major +a minute or two before, got angry, and caught him by the collar, +charging him to surrender, when he instantly drew his sword, and +threatened to run him through. One of the dragoons, however, knocked +it out of his hand, and then he was taken. This affray in the middle +of the road enabled the greater part of the rest to get off; and we +only captured two more horses and one man." + +Several of the other officers, and the dragoons, corroborated Mowle's +testimony; and the magistrates, but especially Sir Robert Croyland, +began to look exceedingly grave. Mr. Radford, however, only laughed, +turning to his son, and asking, "Well, Dick! what have you to say to +all this?" + +Richard Radford, however, merely tossed up his head, and threw back +his shoulders, without reply, till Sir Robert Croyland addressed him, +saying, "I hope, Mr. Radford, you can clear yourself of this charge, +for you ought to know that armed resistance to the King's officers is +a transportable offence." + +"I will speak to the magistrates," replied young Radford, "when I can +speak freely, without all these people about me. As to the goods they +mention, marked with my name, I know nothing about them." + +"Do you wish to speak with the magistrates alone?" demanded old Mr. +Radford. + +"I must strongly object to any such proceeding," exclaimed Mowle. + +"Pray, sir, meddle with what concerns you," said old Radford, turning +upon him fiercely, "and do not pretend to dictate here. You gentlemen +are greatly inclined to forget your place. I think that the room had +better be cleared of all but the prisoner, Sir Robert." + +The baronet bowed his head; Squire Jollivet concurred in the same +opinion; and, though one or two of the others hesitated, they were +ultimately overruled, and the room was cleared of all persons but the +magistrates and the culprit. + +Scarcely was this done, when, with a bold free air, and contemptuous +smile, young Radford advanced to the side of the table, and laid his +left hand firmly upon it; then, looking round from one to another, he +said, "I will ask you a question, worshipful gentlemen.--Is there any +one of you, here present, who has never, at any time, had anything to +do with a smuggling affair?--Can you swear it upon your oaths?--Can +you, sir?--Can you? Can you?" + +The magistrates to whom he addressed himself, looked marvellously +rueful, and replied not; and at last, turning to his father, he said, +"Can you, sir? though I, methinks, need hardly ask the question." + +"No, by Jove, Dick, I can't!" replied his father, laughing. "I wish to +Heaven you wouldn't put such awful interrogatories; for I believe, for +that matter, we are all in the same boat." + +"Then I refuse," said young Radford, "to be judged by you. Settle the +matter as you like.--Get out of the scrape as you can; but don't +venture to convict a man when you are more guilty than he is himself. +If you do, I may tell a few tales that may not be satisfactory to any +of you." + +It had been remarked, that, in putting his questions, the young +gentleman had entirely passed Sir Robert Croyland; and Mr. Jollivet +whispered to the gentleman next him, "I think we had better leave him +and Sir Robert to settle it, for I believe the baronet is quite clear +of the scrape." + +But Mr. Radford had overheard, and he exclaimed, "No, no; I think the +matter is quite clear how we must proceed. There's not the slightest +proof given that he knew anything about these goods being marked with +his name, or that it was done by his authority. He was not with the +men either, who were carrying the goods; and they were going quite +away from his own dwelling. He happened to come there accidentally, +just when the fray was going on. That I can prove, for I sent him a +note this morning, telling him to join me at Ashford as fast as +possible." + +"I saw it delivered myself," said Sir Robert Croyland. + +"To be sure," rejoined Mr. Radford; "and then, as to his talking to +the smugglers when he did come up, I dare say he was telling them to +surrender, or not to resist the law. Wasn't it so, Dick?" + +"Not a bit of it," answered Richard Radford, boldly. "I told them to +be off as fast as they could. But I did tell them not to fire any +more. That's true enough!" + +"Ay, to be sure," cried Mr. Radford. "He was trying to persuade them +not to resist legitimate authority." + +Almost all the magistrates burst into a fit of laughter; but, no way +disconcerted, worthy Mr. Radford went on saying--"While he was doing +this, up comes this fellow, Birchett, and seizes him by the collar; +and, I dare say, he abused him into the bargain." + +"He said I was a d--d smuggling blackguard myself," said young +Radford. + +"Well, then, gentlemen, is it at all wonderful that he drew his +sword?" demanded his respectable father. "Is every gentleman in the +county to be ridden over, rough-shod, by these officers and their +dragoons, and called 'd--d smuggling blackguards,' when they are +actually engaged in persuading the smugglers not to fire? I promise +you, my son shall bring an action against that fellow, Birchett, for +an assault. It seems to me that the case is quite clear." + +"It is, at all events, rendered doubtful," said Sir Robert Croyland, +"by what has been suggested. I think the officers had better now be +recalled; and, by your permission, I will put a few questions to +them." + +In a very few minutes the room was, once more, nearly filled, and the +baronet addressed Mowle, in a grave tone, saying--"A very different +view of this case has been afforded us, Mr. Mowle, from that which you +gave just now. It is distinctly proved, and I myself can in some +degree testify to the fact, that Mr. Radford was on the spot +accidentally, having been sent for by his father to join him at +Ashford----" + +"At the Ramleys', I suppose you mean, sir," observed Mowle, drily. + +"No, sir; at Ashford," rejoined Mr. Radford; and Sir Robert Croyland +proceeded to say: + +"The young gentleman also asserts that he was persuading the smugglers +to submit to lawful authority, or, at all events, not to fire upon +you. Was there any more firing after he came up?" + +"No; there was not," answered Mowle. "They all galloped off as hard as +they could." + +"Corroborative proof of his statement," observed Sir Robert, solemnly. +"The only question, therefore, remaining, seems to be, as to whether +Mr. Radford, junior, had really anything to do with the placing of his +name upon the goods. Now, one strong reason for supposing such not to +be the case is, that they were not found near his house, or going +towards it, but the contrary." + +"Why, he's as much at home in the Ramleys' house as at his own," said +a voice from behind; but Sir Robert took no notice, and proceeded to +inquire--"Have you proof, Mr. Mowle, that he authorized any one to +mark these goods with his name?" + +Mr. Radford smiled; and Mowle, the officer, looked a little puzzled. +At length, however, he answered--"No, I can't say we have, Sir Robert; +but one thing is very certain, it is not quite customary to ask for +such proof in this stage of the business, and in the cases of inferior +men." + +"I am sorry to hear it," replied Sir Robert Croyland, in a dignified +and sententious tone, "for it is quite necessary that in all cases the +evidence should be clear and satisfactory to justify the magistrates +in committing any man to prison, even for trial. In this instance +nothing is proved, and not even a fair cause for suspicion made out. +Mr. Radford was there accidentally; the goods were going in a +different direction from his house; he was seized, we think upon +insufficient grounds, while endeavouring to dissuade the smugglers +from resisting the king's officers and troops; and though we may judge +his opposition imprudent, it was not wholly unjustifiable. The +prisoner is therefore discharged." + +"The goods were going to the Ramleys," said the man, Clinch, who now, +emboldened by the presence of several other officers, spoke loud and +decidedly. "Here are two or three of the dragoons, who can swear that +they followed a party of the smugglers nearly to the house, and had +the gates shut in their face when they came up; and I can't help +saying, that the search of the house by Mr. Radford was not conducted +as it ought to have been. The two officers were left without, while he +went in to speak with old Ramley, and there were a dozen of men, or +more, in the kitchen." + +"Pooh! nonsense, fellow!" cried Mr. Radford, interrupting him with a +laugh; "I did it for your own security." + +"And then," continued Clinch, "when we had gone down into the +concealed cellar below, which was as clear a _hide_ for smuggled goods +as ever was seen, he would not let me carry out the search, though I +found that two places at the sides were hollow, and only covered with +boards." + +"Why, you vagabond, you were afraid of going down at all!" said Mr. +Radford. "Where is Adams? He can bear witness of it." + +"Clinch didn't seem to like it much, it must be confessed," said +Adams, without coming forward; "but, then, the place was so full of +men, it was enough to frighten one." + +"I wasn't frightened," rejoined Mr. Radford. + +"Because it was clear enough that you and the Ramleys understood each +other," answered Clinch, boldly. + +"Pooh--pooh, nonsense!" said Squire Jollivet. "You must not talk such +stuff here, Mr. Clinch. But, however that may be, the prisoner is +discharged; and now, as I think we have no more business before us, we +may all go home; for it's nearly five o'clock, and I, for one, want my +dinner." + +"Ay, it is nearly five o'clock," said young Radford, who had been +standing with his eyes cast down and his brow knit; "and you do not +know what you have all done, keeping me here in this way." + +He added an oath, and then flung out of the room, passing through the +crowd of officers and others, in his way towards the door, without +waiting for his father, who had risen with the rest of the +magistrates, and was preparing to depart. + +Sir Robert Croyland and Mr. Radford descended the stairs of the inn +together; and at the bottom, Mr. Radford shook the baronet heartily by +the hand, saying, loud enough to be heard by everybody. "That was +admirably well done, Sir Robert! Many thanks--many thanks." + +"None to me, my dear sir," answered Sir Robert Croyland. "It was but +simple justice;" and he turned away to mount his horse. + +"Very pretty justice, indeed!" said Mowle, in a low voice, to the +sergeant of dragoons; "but I can't help fancying there's something +more under this than meets the eye. Mr. Radford isn't a gentleman who +usually laughs at these matters so lightly. But if he thinks to cheat +me, perhaps he may find himself mistaken." + +In the meantime the baronet hastened homewards, putting his horse into +a quick pace, and taking the nearest roads through the woods, which +were then somewhat thickly scattered over that part of Kent. He had no +servant with him; and when at about two miles from his own house, he +passed through a wild and desolate part of the country, near what is +now called Chequer Tree, he looked on before and around him on every +side, somewhat anxiously, as if he did not much admire the aspect of +the place. + +He pushed on, however, entered the wood, and rode rapidly down into a +deep dell, which may still be seen in that neighbourhood, though its +wild and gloomy character is now almost altogether lost. At that time, +tall trees grew up round it on either hand, leaving, in the hollow, a +little patch of about half an acre, filled with long grass and some +stunted willows, while the head of a stream bubbling up in their +shade, poured on its clear waters through a fringe of sedges and +rushes towards some larger river. + +The sun had yet an hour or two to run before his setting; but it was +only at noon of a summer's day that his rays ever penetrated into that +gloomy and secluded spot; and towards the evening it had a chilly and +desolate aspect, which made one feel as if it were a place debarred +for ever of the bright light of day. The green tints of spring, or the +warmer brown of autumn, seemed to make no difference, for the shades +were always blue, dull and heavy, mingling with the thin filmy mist +that rose up from the plashy ground on either side of the road. + +A faint sort of shudder came over Sir Robert Croyland, probably from +the damp air; and he urged his horse rapidly down the hill without any +consideration for the beast's knees. He was spurring on towards the +other side, as if eager to get out of it, when a voice was heard from +amongst the trees, exclaiming, in a sad and melancholy tone, "Robert +Croyland! Robert Croyland! what look you for here?" + +The baronet turned on his saddle with a look of terror and anguish; +but, instead of stopping, he dug his spurs into the horse's sides, and +gallopped up the opposite slope. As if irresistibly impelled to look +at that which he dreaded, he gazed round twice as he ascended, and +each time beheld, standing in the middle of the road, the same figure, +wrapped in a large dark cloak, which he had seen when first the voice +caught his ear. Each time he averted his eyes in an instant, and +spurred on more furiously than ever. His accelerated pace soon carried +him to the top of the hill, where he could see over the trees; and in +about a quarter of an hour, he reached Halden, when he began to check +his horse, and reasoned with himself on his own sensations. There was +a great struggle in his mind; but ere he arrived at Harbourne House he +had gained sufficient mastery over himself to say, "What a strange +thing imagination is!" + + + + END OF VOL. I. + + + T. C. Savill, Printer, 4, Chandos-street, Covent-garden. + + + + + + + THE SMUGGLER: + + + + A Tale + + + + BY G. P. R. JAMES, ESQ. + + AUTHOR OF + + "DARNLEY," "DE L'ORME," "RICHELIEU," + + ETC. ETC. + + + + IN THREE VOLUMES. + + + VOL. II. + + + + + LONDON: + SMITH, ELDER AND CO., 65, CORNHILL. + 1845. + + + + + + + THE SMUGGLER. + + + + + CHAPTER I. + + +What a varying thing is the stream of life! How it sparkles and +glitters! Now it bounds along its pebbly bed, sometimes in sunshine, +and sometimes in shade; sometimes sporting round all things, as if its +essence were merriment and brightness; sometimes flowing solemnly on, +as if it were derived from Lethe itself. Now it runs like a liquid +diamond along the meadow; now it plunges in fume and fury over the +rock; now it is clear and limpid, as youth and innocence can make it; +now it is heavy and turbid, with the varying streams of thought and +memory that are ever flowing into it, each bringing its store of +dulness and pollution as it tends towards the end. Its voice, too, +varies as it goes; now it sings lightly as it dances on; now it roars +amidst the obstacles that oppose its way; and now it has no tone but +the dull low murmur of exhausted energy. + +Such is the stream of life! yet, perhaps, few of us would wish to +change our portion of it for the calm regularity of a canal--even if +one could be constructed without locks and floodgates upon it to hold +in the pent-up waters of the heart till they are ready to burst +through the banks. + +Life was in its sparkling aspect with Zara Croyland and Sir Edward +Digby, when they set out on horseback for the house of old Mr. +Croyland, cantering easily along the roads of that part of the +country, which, in the days I speak of, were soft and somewhat sandy. +Two servants followed behind at a discreet distance; and lightly +passing over hill and dale, with all the loveliness of a very bright +portion of our fair land stretched out around them, the young lady and +her companion drew in, through the eyes, fresh sensations of happiness +from all the lovely things of nature. The yellow woods warmed their +hearts; the blue heaven raised their thoughts; the soft air refreshed +and cheered all their feelings; and, when a passing cloud swept over +the sky, it only gave that slight shadowy tone to the mind, which +wakens within us the deep, innate, and elevating movements of the +spirit, that seem to connect the aspect of God's visible creation, +with a higher and a purer state of being. Each had some spring of +happiness in the heart fresh opened; for, to the fair girl who went +bounding along through that gay world, the thought that she was +conveying to a dear sister tidings of hope, was in itself a joy; and +to her companion a new subject of contemplation was presenting itself, +in the very being who accompanied him on the way--a subject quite +untouched and novel, and, to a man of his character and disposition, a +most interesting one. + +Sir Edward Digby had mingled much with the world; he had seen many +scenes of different kinds; he had visited various countries, the most +opposite to each other; he had frequented courts, and camps, and +cities; and he had known and seen a good deal of woman, and of +woman's heart; but he had never yet met any one like Zara Croyland. +The woman of fashion and of rank in all the few modifications of +character that her circumstances admit--for rank and fashion are sadly +like the famous bed of the robber of Attica, on which all men are cut +down or stretched out to a certain size,--was well known to him, and +looked upon much in the light of an exotic plant, kept in an +artificial state of existence, with many beauties and excellences, +perhaps, mingling with many deformities and faults, but still weakened +and deprived of individuality by long drilling in a round of +conventionalities. He had seen, too, the wild Indian, in the midst of +her native woods, and might have sometimes admired the free grace and +wild energy of uncultivated and unperverted nature; but he was not +very fond of barbarism, and though he might admit the existence of +fine qualities, even in a savage, yet he had not been filled with any +great enthusiasm in favour of Indian life, from what he had seen in +Canada. The truth is, he had never been a very dissolute, or, as it is +termed, a very gay man--he was not sated and surfeited with the vices +of civilization, and consequently was not inclined to seek for new +excitement in the very opposite extreme of primeval rudeness. + +Most of the gradations between the two, he had seen at different +periods and in different lands; but yet in her who now rode along +beside him, there was something different from any. It was not a want, +but a combination of the qualities he had remarked in others. There +was the polish and the cultivation of high class and finished +training, with a slight touch of the wildness and the originality of +the fresh unsophisticated heart. There was the grace of education, and +the grace of nature; and there seemed to be high natural powers of +intellect, uncurbed by artificial rules, but supplied with materials +by instruction. + +All this was apparent; but the question with him was, as to the heart +beneath, and its emotions. He gazed upon her as they went on--when she +was not looking that way--he watched her countenance, the habitual +expression of the features, and the varying expression which every +emotion produced. Her face seemed like a bright looking-glass, which a +breath will dim, and a touch will brighten; but there is so much +deceit in the world, and every man who has mingled with that world +must have seen so much of it, and every man, also, has within himself +such internal and convincing proofs of our human nature's fondness for +seeming, that we are all inclined--except in very early youth--to +doubt the first impression, to inquire beyond the external appearance, +and to inquire if the heart of the fruit corresponds with the beauty +of the outside. + +He asked himself what was she really?--what was true, and what was +false, in that bright and sparkling creature? Whether, was the gaiety +or the sadness the real character of the mind within? or whether the +frequent variation from the one to the other--ay, and from energy to +lightness, from softness to firmness, from gentleness to vigour--were +not all the indications of a character as various as the moods which +it assumed. + +Sir Edward Digby was resolved not to fall in love, which is the most +dangerous resolution that a man can take: for it is seldom, if ever, +taken, except in a case of great necessity--one of those hasty +outworks thrown up against a powerful enemy, which are generally taken +in a moment and the cannon therein turned against ourselves. + +Nevertheless, he had resolved, as I have said, not to fall in love; +and he fancied that, strengthened by that resolution, he was quite +secure. It must not be understood, indeed, that Sir Edward Digby never +contemplated marriage. On the contrary, he thought of it as a remote +evil that was likely to fall upon him some day, by an inevitable +necessity. It seemed a sort of duty, indeed, to transmit his name, and +honours, and wealth to another generation; and as duties are not +always very pleasant things, he, from time to time, looked forward to +the execution of his, in this respect, in a calm, philosophical, +determined manner. Thirty-five, he thought, would be a good time to +marry; and when he did so, he had quite made up his mind to do it with +the utmost deliberation and coolness. It should be quite a _mariage de +raison_. He would take it as a dose of physic--a disagreeable thing, +to be done when necessary, but not a minute before; and in the +meantime, to fall in love, was quite out of the question. + +No, he was examining and investigating and contemplating Zara +Croyland's character, merely as a matter of interesting speculation; +and a very dangerous speculation it was, Sir Edward Digby! I don't +know which was most perilous, that, or your resolution. + +It is very strange, he never recollected that, in no other case in his +whole career, had he found it either necessary to take such a +resolution, or pleasant to enter into such a speculation. If he had, +perhaps he might have begun to tremble for himself. Nor did he take +into the calculation the very important fact that Zara Croyland was +both beautiful and pretty--two very different things, reader, as you +will find, if you examine. A person may be very pretty without being +the least beautiful, or very beautiful without being the least pretty; +but when those two qualities are both combined, and when, in one girl, +the beauty of features and of form that excites admiration, is joined +with that prettiness of expression, and colouring, and arrangement +that wakens tenderness and wins affection, Lord have mercy upon the +man who rides along with her through fair scenes, under a bright sky! + +Digby did not at all find out, that he was in the most dangerous +situation in the world; or, if some fancy ever came upon him, that he +was not quite safe, it was but as one of those vague impressions of +peril that float for a single instant over the mind when we are +engaged in any very bold and exciting undertaking, and pass away again +as fast. + +Far from guarding himself at all, Sir Edward Digby went on in his +unconsciousness, laying himself more and more open to the enemy. In +pursuit of his scheme of investigation, he proceeded, as they rode +along, to try the mind of his fair companion in a thousand different +ways; and every instant he brought forth some new and dangerous +quality. He found that, in the comparative solitude in which she +lived, she had had time for study as well as thought, and had acquired +far more, and far more varied stores of information, than was common +with the young women of her day. It was not alone that she could read +and spell--which a great many could not, in those times,--but she had +read a number of different works upon a number of different subjects; +knew as much of other lands, and of the habits of other people, as +books could give, and was tastefully proficient in the arts that +brighten life, even where their cultivation is not its object. + +Thus her conversation had always something new about it. The very +images that suggested themselves to her mind were derived from such +numerous sources, that it kept the fancy on the stretch to follow her +in her flights, and made their whole talk a sort of playful chase, +like that of one bird after another in the air. Now she borrowed a +comparison for something sensible to the eye from the sweet music that +charms the ear--now she found out links of association between the +singing of the birds and some of the fine paintings that she had seen +or heard of--now combined a bright scene, or a peculiar moment of +happiness, with the sweet odours of the flowers or the murmur of the +stream. With everything in nature and art she sported, apparently +unconscious; and often, too, in speaking of the emotions of the heart +or the thoughts of the mind, she would, with a bright flash of +imagination, cast lights upon those dark and hidden things, from +objects in the external world, or from the common events of life. + +Eagerly Digby led her on--pleased, excited, entertained himself; but +in so doing he produced an effect which he had not calculated upon. He +made a change in her feelings towards himself. She had thought him a +very agreeable man from the first; she had seen that he was a +gentleman by habit, and divined that he was so by nature; but now she +began to think that he was a very high-toned and noble-minded man, +that he was one worthy of high station and of all happiness--she did +not say--of affection, nor let the image of love pass distinctly +before her eyes. There might be a rosy cloud in the far sky wherein +the god was veiled; but she did not see him--or, was it that she would +not? Perhaps it was so; for woman's heart is often as perverse and +blind, in these matters, as man's. But one thing is clear, no two +people can thus pour forth the streams of congenial thought and +feeling--to flow on mingling together in sweet communion--for any +great length of time, without a change of their sensations towards +each other; and, unless the breast be well guarded by passion for +another, it is not alone that mind with mind is blended, but heart +with heart. + +Though the distance was considerable,--that is to say, some three or +four miles, and they made it more than twice as long by turning up +towards the hills, to catch a fine view of the wooded world below, on +whose beauty Zara expatiated eloquently,--and though they talked of a +thousand different subjects, which I have not paused to mention here, +lest the detail should seem all too tedious, yet their ride passed +away briefly, like a dream. At length, coming through some green +lanes, overhung by young saplings and a crown of brambles and other +hedge-row shrubs--no longer, alas, in flower--they caught sight of the +chimneys of a house a little way farther on, and Zara said, with a +sigh, "There is my uncle's house." + +Sir Edward Digby asked himself, "Why does she sigh?" and as he did so, +felt inclined to sigh, too; for the ride had seemed too short, and had +now become as a pleasant thing passed away. But then he thought, "We +shall enjoy it once again as we return;" and he took advantage of +their slackened pace to say, "As I know you are anxious to speak with +your sister, Miss Croyland, I will contrive to occupy your uncle for a +time, if we find him at home. I fear I shall not be able to obtain an +opportunity of talking with her myself on the subjects that so deeply +interest her, as at one time I hoped to do; but I am quite sure, from +what I see of you, that I may depend upon what you tell me, and act +accordingly." + +As if by mutual consent, they had avoided, during their expedition of +that morning, the subject which was, perhaps, most in the thoughts of +each; but now Zara checked her horse to a slow walk, and replied, +after a moment's thought, "I should think, if you desire it, you could +easily obtain a few minutes' conversation with her at my uncle's.--I +only don't know whether it may agitate her too much or not. Perhaps +you had better let me speak with her first, and then, if she wishes +it, she will easily find the means. You may trust to me, indeed, Sir +Edward, in Edith's case, though I do not always say exactly what I +mean about myself. Not that I have done otherwise with you; for, +indeed, I have neither had time nor occasion; but with the people that +occasionally come to the house, sometimes it is necessary, and +sometimes I am tempted, out of pure perversity, to make them think me +very different from what I am. It is not always with those that I hate +or despise either, but sometimes with people that I like and esteem +very much. Now, I dare say poor Harry Leyton has given you a very sad +account of me?" + +"No, indeed," answered Sir Edward Digby; "you do him wrong; I have not +the least objection to tell you exactly what he said." + +"Oh, do--do!" cried Zara; "I should like to hear very much, for I am +afraid I used to tease him terribly." + +"He said," replied Digby, "that when last he saw you, you were a gay, +kind-hearted girl of fourteen, and that he was sure, if I spoke to you +about him, you would tell me all that I wanted to know with truth and +candour." + +"That was kind of him," said Zara, with some emotion, "that was very +kind. I am glad he knows me; and yet that very candour, Sir Edward, +some people call affectation, and some impudence. I am afraid that +those who know much of the world never judge rightly of those who know +little of it. Sincerity is a commodity so very rare, I am told, in the +best society, that those who meet with it never believe that they have +got the genuine article." + +"I know a good deal of the world," replied the young baronet, "but +yet, my dear Miss Croyland, I do not think that I have judged you +wrongly;" and he fell into thought. + +The next moment they turned up to the house of old Mr. Croyland; and +while the servants were holding the horses, and Zara, with the aid of +Sir Edward Digby, dismounting at the door, they saw, to her horror and +consternation, a large, yellow coach coming down the hill towards the +house, which she instantly recognised as her father's family vehicle. + +"My aunt, my aunt, upon my life!" exclaimed Zara, with a rueful shake +of the head. "I must speak one word with Edith before she comes; so +forgive me, Sir Edward," and she darted into the house, asking a black +servant, in a shawl turban and a long white gown, where Miss Croyland +was to be found. + +"She out in de garden, pretty missy," replied the man; and Zara ran on +through the vestibule before her. Unfortunately, vestibules will have +doors communicating with them, which, I have often remarked, have an +unhappy propensity to open when any one is anxious to pass by them +quietly. It was so in the present instance: roused from a reverie by +the ringing of the bell, and the sound of voices without, Mr. Croyland +issued forth just at the moment when Zara's light foot was carrying +her across to the garden; and catching her by the arm, he detained +her, asking, "What brought you here, saucy girl, and whither are you +running so fast?" + +Now Zara, though she was not good Mr. Zachary's favourite, had a very +just appreciation of her uncle's character, and knew that the simple +truth was less dangerous with him than with nine hundred and +ninety-nine persons out of a thousand in civilized society. She, +therefore, replied at once. "Don't stop me, uncle, there's a good man! +I came to speak a few words to Edith, and wish to speak them before my +aunt arrives." + +"What! plot and counterplot, I will warrant!" exclaimed Mr. Croyland, +freeing her arm. "Well, get you gone, you graceless monkey! Ha! who +have we here? Why, my young friend, the half-bottle man! Are you one +of the plotters too, Sir Edward?" + +"Oh, I am a complete master in the art of domestic strategy, I assure +you," answered the young officer, "and I propose--having heard what +Miss Croyland has just said--that we take up a position across these +glass doors, in order to favour her operations. We can then impede +the advance of Mrs. Barbara's corps, by throwing forward the +light-infantry of small-talk, assure her it is a most beautiful day, +tell her that the view from the hill is lovely, and that the slight +yellowness of September gives a fine warmth to the green foliage--with +various other pieces of information which she does not desire--till +the man[oe]uvres in our rear are complete." + +"Ah, you are a sad knave," replied Mr. Zachary Croyland, laughing, +"and, I see, are quite ready to aid the young in bamboozling the old." + +But, alas, the best schemed campaign is subject to accidental +impediments in execution, which will often deprive it of success! +Almost as Mr. Croyland spoke, the carriage rolled up; and not small +was the horror of the master of the house, to see riding behind it, on +a tall grey horse, no other than young Richard Radford. Sir Edward +Digby, though less horrified, was not well pleased; but it was Mr. +Croyland who spoke, and that in rather a sharp and angry tone, +stepping forward, at the same time, over the threshold of his door: +"Mr. Radford," he said--"Mr. Radford, I am surprised to see you! You +must very well know, that although I tolerate, and am obliged to +tolerate, a great many people whom I don't approve, at my brother's +house, your society is not that which I particularly desire." + +Young Radford's eyes flashed, but, for once in his life, he exercised +some command over himself. "I came here at your sister's suggestion, +sir," he said. + +"Oh, Barbara, Barbara! barbarous Barbara!" exclaimed Mr. Zachary +Croyland, shaking his head at his sister, who was stepping out of the +carriage. "The devil himself never invented an instrument better +fitted to torment the whole human race, than a woman with the best +intentions in the world." + +"Why, my dear brother," said Mrs. Barbara, with the look of a martyr, +"you know quite well that Robert wishes Mr. Radford to have the +opportunity of paying his addresses to Edith, and so I proposed----" + +"He shan't have the opportunity here, by Vishnoo!" cried the old +gentleman. + +"To say the truth," said Mr. Radford, interposing, "such was not my +object in coming hither to-day. I wished to have the honour of saying +a few words to a gentleman I see standing behind you, sir, which was +also the motive of my going over to Harbourne House. Otherwise, well +knowing your prejudices, I should not have troubled you; for, I can +assure you, that _your_ company is not particularly agreeable to +_me_." + +"If mine is what you want, sir," replied Sir Edward Digby, stepping +forward and passing Mr. Croyland, "it is very easily obtained; but, as +it seems you are not a welcome guest here, perhaps we had better walk +along the lane together." + +"A less distance than that will do," answered Richard Radford, +throwing the bridle of his horse to one of the servants, and taking +two or three steps away from the house. + +"Oh, Zachary, my dear brother, do interfere!" exclaimed Mrs. Barbara. +"I forgot they had quarrelled yesterday morning, and unfortunately let +out that Sir Edward was here. There will be a duel, if you don't stop +them." + +"Not I," cried Mr. Croyland, rubbing his hands; "it's a pleasure to +see two fools cut each other's throats. I'd lay any wager--if I ever +did such a thing as lay wagers at all--that Digby pricks him through +the midriff. There's a nice little spot at the end of the garden quite +fit for such exercises." + +Mr. Zachary Croyland was merely playing upon his sister's +apprehensions, as the best sort of punishment he could inflict for the +mischief she had brought about; but he never had the slightest idea +that Sir Edward Digby and young Radford would come to anything like +extreme measures in his sister's presence, knowing the one to be a +gentleman, and mistakenly believing the other to be a coward. The +conversation of the two who had walked away was not of long duration: +nor, for a time, did it appear very vehement. Mr. Radford said +something, and the young Baronet replied; Mr. Radford rejoined, and +Digby answered the rejoinder. Then some new observation was made by +the other, which seemed to cause Sir Edward to look round to the +house, and, seeing Mr. Croyland and his sister still on the step, to +make a sign for young Radford to follow to a greater distance. The +latter, however, planted the heel of his boot tight in the gravel, as +if to give emphasis to what he said, and uttered a sentence in a +louder tone, and with a look so fierce, meaning, and contemptuous, +that Mr. Croyland saw the matter was getting serious, and stepped +forward to interfere. + +In an instant, however, Sir Edward Digby, apparently provoked beyond +bearing, raised the heavy horsewhip which he had in his hand, and laid +it three or four times, with great rapidity, over Mr. Radford's +shoulders. The young man instantly dropped his own whip, drew his +sword, and made a fierce lunge at the young officer's breast. The +motion was so rapid, and the thrust so well aimed, that Digby had +barely time to put it aside with his riding-whip, receiving a wound in +his left shoulder as he did so. But the next moment his sword was also +out of the sheath, and, after three sharp passes, young Radford's +blade was flying over the neighbouring hedge, and a blow in the face +from the hilt of Sir Edward Digby's weapon brought him with his knee +to the ground. + +The whole of this scene passed as quick as lightning; and I have not +thought fit to interrupt the narration for the purpose of recording, +in order, the four, several, piercing shrieks with which Mrs. Barbara +Croyland accompanied each act of the drama. The first, however, was +loud enough to call Zara from the garden, even before she had found +her sister; and she came up to her aunt's side just at the moment that +young Radford was disarmed, and then struck in the face by his +opponent. + +Slightly heated, Sir Edward gazed at him with his weapon in his hand; +and the young lady, clasping her hands, exclaimed aloud, "Hold, Sir +Edward! Sir Edward! for Heaven's sake!" + +Sir Edward Digby turned round with a faint smile, thrust his sword +back into the sheath, and, without bestowing another word on his +adversary, walked slowly back to the door of the house, and apologized +to Mrs. Barbara for what had occurred, saying, "I beg you ten thousand +pardons, my dear madam, for treating you to such a sight as this; but +I can assure you it is not my seeking. That person, who failed to keep +an appointment with me yesterday, thought fit twice just now to call +me coward; and as he would not walk to a little distance, I had no +resource but to horsewhip him where I stood." + +"Pity you didn't ran him through the liver!" observed Mr. Croyland. + +While these few words were passing, young Radford rose slowly, paused +for an instant to gaze upon the ground, and then, gnawing his lip, +approached his horse's side. There is, perhaps, no passion of the +human heart more dire, more terrible than impotent revenge, or more +uncontrollable in its effect upon the human countenance. The face of +Richard Radford, handsome as it was in many respects, was at the +moment when he put his foot into the stirrup and swung himself up to +the saddle, perfectly frightful, from the fiend-like expression of +rage and disappointment that it bore. He felt that he was +powerless--for a time, at least; that he had met an adversary greatly +superior to himself, both in skill and strength; and that he had +suffered not only defeat but disgrace, before the eyes of a number of +persons whom his own headstrong fury had made spectators of a scene so +painful to himself. Reining his horse angrily back to clear him of the +carriage, he shook his fist at Sir Edward Digby, exclaiming, "Sooner +or later, I will have revenge!" Then, striking the beast's flank with +his spurs, he turned and galloped away. + +Digby had, as we have seen, addressed his apologies to Mrs. Barbara +Croyland; but after hearing, with a calm smile, his vanquished +opponent's empty threat, he looked round to the fair companion of his +morning's ride, and saw her standing beside her uncle, with her cheek +very pale and her eyes cast down to the ground. + +"Do not be alarmed. Miss Croyland," he said, bending down his head, +and speaking in a low and gentle tone. "This affair can have no other +results. It is all over now." + +Zara raised her eyes to his face, but, as she did so, turned more pale +than before; and pointing to his arm--where the cloth of his coat was +cut through, and the blood flowing down over his sleeve and dropping +from the ruffle round his wrist--she exclaimed, "You are hurt, Sir +Edward! Good Heaven! he has wounded you!" + +"A scratch--a scratch," said Digby; "a mere nothing. A +pocket-handkerchief tied round it, will soon remedy all the mischief +he has done, though not all he intended." + +"Oh! come in--come in, and have it examined!" cried Zara, eagerly. + +The rest of the party gathered round, joined, just at that moment, by +Edith from the garden; and Mr. Croyland, tearing the coat wider open, +looked at the wound with more experienced eyes, saying, "Ah, a flesh +wound! but in rather an awkward place. Not as wide as a church door, +nor as deep as a draw-well, as our friend has it; but if it had been +an inch and a half to the right, it would have divided the subclavian +artery--and then, my dear sir, 'it would have done.' This will get +well soon. But come, Sir Neddy, let us into the house; and I will do +for you what I haven't done for ten or twelve years--_id est_, dress +your wound myself: and mind, you must not drink any wine to-night." + +The whole party began to move into the house, Sir Edward Digby keeping +as near the two Miss Croylands as possible, and laying out a little +plan in his head for begging the assistance of Mrs. Barbara while his +wound was dressed, and sending the two young ladies out of the room to +hold their conference together. He was, however, destined to be +frustrated here also. To Zara Croyland, it had been a day of unusual +excitement; she had enjoyed, she had been moved, she had been agitated +and terrified, and she was still under much greater alarm than perhaps +was needful, both regarding Sir Edward Digby's wound and the threat +which young Radford had uttered. She felt her head giddy and her heart +flutter as if oppressed; but she walked on steadily enough for four or +five steps, while her aunt, Mrs. Barbara, was explaining to Edith, in +her own particular way, all that had occurred. But just when the old +lady was saying--"Then, whipping out his sword in an instant, he +thrust at Sir Edward's breast, and I thought to a certainty he was run +through--" Zara sunk slowly down, caught by her sister as she fell, +and the hue of death spread over her face. + +"Fainted!" cried Mr. Croyland. "I wish to Heaven, Bab, you would hold +your tongue! I will tell Edith about it afterwards. What's the use of +bringing it all up again before the girl's mind, when the thing's done +and over? There, let her lie where she is; the recumbent position is +the right thing. Bring a cushion out of the drawing-room, Edith, my +love, and ask Baba for the hartshorn drops. We'll soon get her better; +and then the best thing you can do, Bab, is to put her into the +carriage, take her home again, and hold your tongue to my brother +about this foolish affair--if anything can hold a woman's tongue. I'll +plaster up the man's arm, and then, like many another piece of damaged +goods, he'll be all right--on the outside at least." + +Mrs. Barbara Croyland followed devoutly one part of her brother's +injunctions. As soon as Zara was sufficiently recovered, she hurried +her to the carriage, without leaving her alone with Edith for one +moment; and Sir Edward Digby, having had his wound skilfully dressed +by Mr. Zachary Croyland's own hands, thanked the old gentleman +heartily for his care and kindness, mounted his horse, and rode back +to Harbourne House. + + + + + CHAPTER II. + + +We must now return to the town of Hythe, and to the little room in the +little inn, which that famous borough boasted as its principal +hostelry, at the period of our tale. It was about eleven o'clock at +night, perhaps a few minutes earlier; and in that room was seated a +gentleman, whom we have left for a long time, though not without +interest in himself and his concerns. But, as in this wayfaring world +we are often destined for weeks, months--ay, and long years--to quit +those whom we love best, and to work for their good in distant scenes, +with many a thought given to them, but few means of communication; so, +in every picture of human life which comprises more than one +character, must we frequently leave those in whom we are most +interested, while we are tracing out the various remote cords and +pulleys of fate, by which the fabric of their destiny is ultimately +reared. + +The gentleman, then, who had been introduced to Mr. Croyland as +Captain Osborne, was seated at a table, writing. A number of papers, +consisting of letters, accounts, and several printed forms, unfilled +up, were strewed upon the table around, which was moreover encumbered +by a heavy sword and belt, a large pair of thick buckskin gloves, and +a brace of heavy silver-mounted pistols. He looked pale and somewhat +anxious; but nevertheless he went on, with his fine head bent, and +the light falling from above upon his beautifully cut classical +features--sometimes putting down a name, and adding a sum in figures +opposite--sometimes, when he came to the bottom of the page, running +up the column with rapidity and ease, and then inscribing the sum +total at the bottom. + +It was perhaps, rather an unromantic occupation that the young officer +was employed in; for it was evident that he was making up, with steady +perseverance, some rather lengthy accounts; and all his thoughts +seemed occupied with pounds, shillings, and pence. It was not so, +indeed, though he wished it to be so; but, if the truth must be +spoken, his mind often wandered afar; and his brain seemed to have got +into that state of excitement, which caused sounds and circumstances +that would at any other time have passed without notice, to trouble +him and disturb his ideas on the present occasion. + +There had been a card and punch club in one of the neighbouring rooms. +The gentlemen had assembled at half-past six or seven, had hung up +their wigs upon pegs provided for the purpose, and had made a great +deal of noise in coming in and arranging themselves. There was then +the brewing of the punch, the lighting of the pipes, and the laughing +and jesting to which those important events generally give rise, at +the meeting of persons of some importance in a country town; and then +the cards were produced, and a great deal of laughing and talking, as +usual, succeeded, in regard to the preliminaries, and also respecting +the course of the game. + +There had been no slight noise, also, in the lower regions of the inn, +much speaking, and apparently some merriment; and, from all these +things put together--to say nothing of, every now and then, the +pleasures of a comic song, given by one of the parties above or +below--the young officer had been considerably disturbed, and had been +angry with himself for being so. His thoughts, too, would wander, +whether he liked it or not. + +"Digby must have seen her," he said to himself, "unless she be absent; +and surely he must have found some opportunity of speaking with +herself or her sister by this time. I wonder I have not heard from +him. He promised to write as soon as he had any information; and he is +not a man to forget. Well, it is of no use to think of it;" and he +went on--"five and six are eleven, and four are fifteen, and six are +twenty-one." + +At this interesting point of his calculation, a dragoon, who was +stationed at the door, put his head into the room, and said, "Mr. +Mowle, sir, wants to speak to you." + +"Let him come in," answered the officer; and, laying down his pen, he +looked up with a smile. "Well, Mr. Mowle!" he continued, "what news do +you bring? Have you been successful?" + +"No very good news, and but very little success, sir," answered the +officer of customs, taking a seat to which the other pointed. "We have +captured some of their goods, and taken six of the men, but the +greater part of the cargo, and the greatest villain of them all, have +been got off." + +"Ay, how happened that?" asked the gentleman to whom he spoke. "I gave +you all the men you required; and I should certainly have thought you +were strong enough." + +"Oh yes, sir, that was not what we lacked," answered Mowle, in a +somewhat bitter tone; "but I'll tell you what we did want--honest +magistrates, and good information. Knowing the way they were likely to +take, I cut straight across the country by Aldington, Kingsnorth, and +Singleton-green, towards Four Elms----" + +"It would have been better, I should think, to go on by Westhawk," +said the young officer; "for though the road is rather hilly, you +would by that means have cut them off, both from Singleton, Chart +Magna, and Gouldwell, towards which places, I think you said, they +were tending. + +"Yes, sir," replied the officer of Customs, "but we found, on the +road, that we were rather late in the day, and that our only chance +was by hard riding. We came up with four of them, however, who had +lagged behind, about Four Elms. Two of these we got, and all their +goods; and, from the information they gave, we galloped on as hard as +we could to Rousend." + +"Did you take the road, or across the country?" demanded the young +officer. + +"Birchett would take the road," answered Mowle. + +"He was wrong--he was quite wrong," replied the other. "If you had +passed by Newstreet, then straight over the fields and meadows, up to +the mill, you would have had them in a trap. They could not have +reached Chart, or New Purchase, or Gouldwell, or Etchden, without your +catching them; and if they had fallen back, they must have come upon +the men I stationed at Bethersden, with whom was Adams, the officer." + +"Why, you seem to know the country, sir," said his companion, with +some surprise, "as if you had lived in it all your days." + +"I do know it very well," answered the officer of dragoons; "and you +must be well aware that what I say is right. It was the shortest way, +too, and presents no impediments but a couple of fences, and a ditch." + +"All very true, sir," answered Mowle, "and so I told Birchett; but +Adams had gone off for another officer, and is very little use to us +himself.--There's no trusting him, sir.--However, we came up with them +at Rousend, but there, after a little bit of a tussle, they +separated;" and he went on to give his account of the affray with the +smugglers, nearly in the same words which he had employed when +speaking to the magistrates, some six or seven hours before. His +hearer listened with grave attention; but when Mowle came to mention +the appearance of Richard Radford, and his capture, the young +officer's eyes flashed, and his brow knit; and as the man went on to +describe the self-evident juggle which had been played, to enable the +youth to evade the reach of justice, he rose from the table, and +walked once or twice hastily up and down the room. Then, seating +himself again, to all appearance as calm as before, he said, "This is +too bad, Mr. Mowle, and shall be reported." + +"Ay, sir; but you have not heard the worst," answered Mowle. "These +worthy justices thought fit to send the five men whom they had +committed, off to gaol in a wagon, with three or four constables to +guard them, and of course you know what took place." + +"Oh, they were all rescued, of course!" replied the officer. + +"Before they got to Headcorn," said Mowle. "But the whole affair was +arranged by Mr. Radford; for these fellows say themselves, that it is +better to work for him at half price, than for any one else, because +he always stands by his own, and will see no harm come to them. If +this is to go on, sir, you and I may as well leave the county." + +"It shall not go on," answered the officer; "but we must have a little +patience, my good friend. Long impunity makes a man rash. This worthy +Mr. Radford seems to have become so already; otherwise, he would never +have risked carrying so large a venture across the country in open +day----" + +"I don't think that, in this, he was rash at all, sir," answered +Mowle, lowering his tone, and speaking in a whisper; "and if you will +listen for a moment, I'll tell you why. My belief is, that the whole +of this matter is but a lure to take us off the right scent; and I +have several reasons for thinking so. In the first place, the run was +but a trifling affair, as far as I can learn--not worth five hundred +pounds. I know that what we have got is not worth a hundred; and it +has cost me as good a horse as I ever rode in my life. Now from all I +hear, the cargo that Mr. Radford expects is the most valuable that +ever was run from Dungeness Point to the North Foreland. So, if my +information is correct, and I am sure it----" + +"Who did you get it from?" demanded the officer, "if the question is a +fair one." + +"Some such questions might not be," answered Mowle, "but I don't mind +answering this, Colonel. I got it from Mr. Radford himself.--Ay, sir, +you may well look surprised; but I heard him, with my own ears, say +that it was worth at least seventy thousand pounds. So you see my +information is pretty good. Now, knowing this, as soon as I found out +what value was in this lot, I said to myself, this is some little spec +of young Radford's own. But when I came to consider the matter, I +found, that must be a mistake too; for the old man helped the Ramleys +out of their scrape so impudently, and took such pains to let it be +well understood that he had an interest in the affair, that I felt +sure there was some motive at the bottom, sir. In all these things, he +has shown himself from a boy, as cautious as he is daring, and that's +the way he has made such a power of money. He's not a man to appear +too much in a thing, even for his son's sake, if he has not some +purpose to answer; and, depend upon it, I'm right, when I say that +this run was nothing but a trap, or a blind as they call it, to make +us think--in case we've got any information of the great venture--that +the thing is all over. Why did they choose the day, when they might +have done it all at night? Why did Mr. Radford go on laughing with the +magistrates, as if it was a good joke? No, no, sir, the case is clear +enough: they are going to strike their great stroke sooner than we +supposed; and this is but a trifle." + +"But may you not have made some mistake in regard to Mr. Radford's +words?" demanded the young officer. "I should think it little likely +that so prudent a man, as you represent him to be, would run so great +a risk for such a purpose." + +"I made no mistake," answered Mowle; "I heard the words clear enough; +and, besides, I've another proof. The man who is to run the goods for +him, had nothing to do with this affair. I've got sharp eyes upon him; +and though he was away from home the other night, he was not at sea. +That I've discovered. He was up in the county, not far from Mr. +Radford's own place, and most likely saw him, though that I can't find +out. However, sir, I shall hear more very soon. Whenever it is to be +done, we shall have sharp work of it, and must have plenty of men." + +"My orders are to assist you to the best of my power," said the young +officer, "and to give you what men you may require; but as I have been +obliged to quarter them in different places, you had better give me as +speedy information of what force you are likely to demand, and on what +point you wish them to assemble, as you can." + +"Those are puzzling questions, Colonel," replied Mowle. "I do not +think the attempt will be made to-night; for their own people must be +all knocked up, and they cannot bring down enough to carry as well as +run--at least, I think not. But it will probably be made to-morrow, if +they fancy they have lulled us; and that fancy I shall take care to +indulge, by keeping a sharp look out, without seeming to look out at +all. As to the point, that is what I cannot tell. Harding will start +from the beach here; but where he will land is another affair; and the +troops are as likely to be wanted twenty miles down the coast, or +twenty miles up, as anywhere else. I wish you would give me a general +order for the dragoons to assist me wherever I may want them." + +"That is given already, Mr. Mowle," answered the officer; "such are +the commands we have received; and even the non-commissioned officers +are instructed, on the very first requisition made by a chief officer +of Customs, to turn out and aid in the execution of the law. Wherever +any of the regiment are quartered, you will find them ready to +assist." + +"Ay, but they are so scattered, sir," rejoined Mowle, "that it may be +difficult to get them together in a hurry." + +"Not in the least," replied Osborne; "they are so disposed that I can, +at a very short notice, collect a sufficient force, at any point, to +deal with the largest body of smugglers that ever assembled." + +"You may, perhaps, sir, but I cannot," answered the Custom-House +officer; "and what I wish is, that you would give them a general order +to march to any place where I require them, and to act as I shall +direct." + +"Nay, Mr. Mowle," said the other, shaking his head, "that, I am +afraid, cannot be. I have no instructions to such effect; and though +the military power is sent here, to assist the civil, it is not put +under the command of the civil. I do not conceal from you that I do +not like the service; but that shall only be a motive with me for +executing my duty the more vigorously; and you have but to give me +intimation of where you wish a force collected, and it shall be done +in the shortest possible time." + +Mowle did not seem quite satisfied with this answer; and after +musing for a few minutes, he replied, "But suppose I do not know +myself--suppose it should be fifteen or twenty miles from Hythe, and I +myself, on the spot, how am I to get the requisition sent to you--and +how are you to move your men to the place where I may want +them--perhaps, farther still?". + +"As to my moving my men, you must leave that to me," answered the +young officer; "and as to your obtaining the information, and +communicating it, I might reply, that _you_ must look to that; but as +I sincerely believe you to be a most vigilant and active person, who +will leave no means unemployed to obtain intelligence, I will only +point out, in the first place, that our best efforts sometimes fail, +but that we may always rest at ease, when we have used our best; and, +in the second, I will suggest to you one or two means of ensuring +success. Wherever you may happen to find that the landing of these +goods is intended, or wherever you may be when it is effected, you +will find within a circle of three miles, several parties of dragoons, +who, on the first call, will render you every aid. With them, upon the +system I have laid down for them, you will be able to keep your +adversaries in check, delay their operations, and follow them up. Your +first step, however, should be, to send off a trooper to me with all +speed, charging him, if verbally, with as short and plain a message as +possible--first, stating the point where the 'run,' as you call it, +has been effected; and secondly, in what direction, to the best of +your judgment, the enemy--that is to say, the smugglers--are marching. +If you do that, and are right in your conjecture, they shall not go +far without being attacked. If you are wrong, as any man may be, in +regard to their line of retreat, they shall not be long unpursued. But +as to putting the military under the command of the Customs, as I said +before, I have no orders to that effect, and do not think that any +such will ever be issued. In the next place, in order to obtain the +most speedy information yourself, and to ensure that I shall be +prepared, I would suggest that you direct each officer on the coast, +if a landing should be effected in his district, first, to call for +the aid of the nearest military party, and then to light a beacon on +the next high ground. As soon as the first beacon is lighted, let the +next officer on the side of Hythe, light one also, and, at the same +time, with any force he can collect, proceed towards the first. Easy +means may be found to transmit intelligence of the route of the +smugglers to the bodies coming up; and, in a case like the present, I +shall not scruple to take the command myself, at any point where I may +be assured formidable resistance is likely to be offered." + +"Well, sir, I think the plan of the beacons is a good one," answered +Mowle, "and it would be still better, if there were any of the coast +officers on whom we could depend; but a more rascally set of mercenary +knaves does not exist. Not one of them who would not sell the whole of +the King's revenue for a twenty pound or so; and, however clear are +the orders they receive, they find means to mistake them. But I will +go and write the whole down, and have it copied out for each station, +so that if they do not choose to understand, it must be their own +fault. I am afraid, however, that all this preparation will put our +friends upon their guard, and that they will delay their run till they +can draw us off somewhere else." + +"There is some reason for that apprehension," replied the young +officer, thoughtfully. "You imagine, then, that it is likely to take +place to-morrow night, if we keep quiet?" + +"I have little doubt of it," replied Mowle; "or if not, the night +after.--But I think it will be to-morrow. Yes, they won't lose the +opportunity, if they fancy we are slack; and then the superintendent +chose to fall sick to-day, so that the whole rests with me, which will +give me enough to do, as they are well aware." + +"Well, then," replied the gentleman to whom he spoke, "leave the +business of the beacons to me. I will give orders that they be lighted +at every post, as soon as application is made for assistance. You will +know what it means when you see one; and, in the meantime, keep quite +quiet--affect a certain degree of indifference, but not too much, and +speak of having partly spoiled Mr. Radford's venture.--Do you think he +will be present himself?" + +"Oh, not he--not he!" answered Mowle. "He is too cunning for that, by +a hundred miles. In any little affair like this of to-day, he might +not, perhaps, be afraid of showing himself--to answer a purpose; but +in a more serious piece of business, where his brother justices could +not contrive to shelter him, and where government would certainly +interfere, he will keep as quiet and still as if he had nought to do +with it. But I will have him, nevertheless, before long; and then all +his ill-gotten wealth shall go, even if we do not contrive to +transport him." + +"How will you manage that?" asked the young officer; "if he abstains +from taking any active part, you will have no proof, unless, indeed, +one of those he employs should give evidence against him, or inform +beforehand for the sake of the reward." + +"They wont do that," said Mowle, thoughtfully, "they wont do +that.--I do not know how it is, sir," he continued, after a moment's +pause, "but the difference between the establishment of the Customs +and the smugglers is a very strange one; and I'll tell you what it is: +there is not one of these fellows who run goods upon the coast, or +carry them inland, who will, for any sum that can be offered, inform +against their employers or their comrades; and there's scarce a +Custom-House officer in all Kent, that, for five shillings, would not +betray his brother or sell his country. The riding officers are +somewhat better than the rest; but these fellows at the ports think no +more of taking a bribe to shut their eyes than of drinking a glass of +rum. Now you may attempt to bribe a smuggler for ever--not that I ever +tried; for I don't like to ask men to sell their own souls; but +Birchett has, often. I cannot well make out the cause of this +difference; but certainly there is such a spirit amongst the smugglers +that they wont do a dishonest thing, except in their own way, for any +sum. There are the Ramleys, even--the greatest blackguards in Europe, +smugglers, thieves, and cut-throats--but they wont betray each other. +There is no crime they wont commit but that; and that they would +sooner die than do; while we have a great many men amongst us, come of +respectable parents, well brought up, well educated, who take money +every day to cheat their employers." + +"I rather suspect that it is the difference of consequences in the two +cases," answered Osborne, "which makes men view the same act in a +different way. A Custom-House officer who betrays his trust, thinks +that he only brings a little loss upon a government which can well +spare it--he is not a bit the less a rogue for that, for honesty makes +no such distinctions--but the smuggler who betrays his comrade or +employer, must be well aware that he is not only ruining him in purse, +but bringing on him corporeal punishment." + +"Ay, sir, but there's a spirit in the thing," said Mowle, shaking his +head; "the very country people in general love the smugglers, and help +them whenever they can. There's not a cottage that will not hide them +or their goods; scarce a gentleman in the county who, if he finds all +the horses out of his stable in the morning, does not take it quietly, +without asking any more questions; scarce a magistrate who does not +give the fellows notice as soon as he knows the officers are after +them. The country folks, indeed, do not like them so well as they did; +but they'll soon make it up." + +"A strange state, certainly," said the officer of dragoons; "but what +has become of the horses you mention, when they are thus found +absent?" + +"Gone to carry goods, to be sure," answered Mowle. "But one thing is +very clear, all the country is in the smugglers' favour, and I cannot +help thinking that the people do not like the Custom's dues, that they +don't see the good of them, and are resolved to put them down." + +"Ignorant people, and, indeed, all people, do not like taxation of any +kind," replied Osborne; "and every class objects to that tax which +presses on itself, without the slightest regard either for the +necessity of distributing the burdens of the country equally, or any +of the apparently minute but really important considerations upon +which the apportionment has been formed. However, Mr. Mowle, we have +only to do our duty according to our position--you to gain all the +information that you can--I to aid you, to the best of my ability, in +carrying the law into effect." + +"From the smugglers themselves, little is the information I can get, +sir," answered Mowle, returning to the subject from which their +conversation had deviated, "and often I am obliged to have recourse to +means I am ashamed of. The principal intelligence I receive is from a +boy who offered himself one day--the little devil's imp--and +certainly, by his cunning, and by not much caring myself what risks I +run, I have got some very valuable tidings. But the little vagabond +would betray me, or anyone else, to-morrow. He is the grandson of an +old hag who lives at a little hut just by Saltwood, who puts him up to +it all; and if ever there was an old demon in the world she is one. +She is always brewing mischief, and chuckling over it all the time, as +if it were her sport to see men tear each other to pieces, and to make +innocent girls as bad as she was herself, and as her own daughter was, +too,--the mother of this boy. The girl was killed by a chance shot, +one day, in a riot between the smugglers and the Customs people; and +the old woman always says it was a smuggler's shot. Oh! I could tell +you such stories of that old witch." + +The stories of Mr. Mowle, however, were cut short by the entrance of a +servant carrying a letter, which the young officer took and opened +with a look of eager anxiety. The contents were brief; but they seemed +important, for various were the changes which came over his fine +countenance while he read them. The predominant expression, however, +was joy, though there was a look of thoughtful consideration--perhaps +in a degree of embarrassment, too, on his face; and as he laid the +letter down on the table, and beat the paper with his fingers, gazing +up into vacancy, Mowle, judging that his presence was not desired, +rose to retire. + +"Stay a moment. Mr. Mowle--stay a moment," said Osborne. "This letter +requires some consideration. It contains a call to a part of Kent some +fifteen or sixteen miles distant; but as it is upon private business, +I must not let that interfere with my public duty. You say that this +enterprise of Mr. Radford's is likely to be put in execution to-morrow +night." + +"I cannot be sure, colonel," answered the officer: "but I think there +is every chance of it." + +"Then I must return before nightfall to-morrow," replied the +gentleman, with a sigh. + +"Your presence will be very necessary, sir," said the Custom-House +officer. "There is not one of your officers who seems up to the +business, except Major Digby and yourself. All the rest are such fine +gentlemen that one can't get on with them." + +"Let me consider for a moment," rejoined the other; but Mowle went on +in the same strain, saying, "Then, sir, if you were to be absent all +to-morrow, I might get very important information, and not be able to +give it to you, nor arrange anything with you either." + +Osborne still meditated with a grave brow for some time. "I will +write," he said, at length. "It will be better--it will be only just +and honourable. I will write instead of going to-morrow, Mr. Mowle; +and if this affair should not take place to-morrow night, as you +suppose, I will make such arrangements for the following day--on which +I must go over to Woodchurch--as will enable you to communicate with +me without delay, should you have any message to send. At all events, +I will return to Hythe before night. Now good evening;" and while +Mowle made his bow and retired, the young officer turned to the letter +again, and read it over with glistening eyes. + + + + + CHAPTER III. + + +I wonder if the reader ever wandered from Saltwood Castle back to the +good old town of Hythe, on a fine summer's day, with a fair companion, +as full of thought and mind as grace and beauty, and with a dear child +just at the age when all the world is fresh and lovely--and then +missed his way, and strayed--far from the track--towards Sandgate, +till dinner was kept waiting at the inn, and the party who would not +plod on foot, were all tired and wondering at their friend's delay!--I +wonder if the reader ever did all this. I have--and a very pleasant +thing it is to do. Yes, all of it, reader. For, surely, to go from +waving wood to green field, and from green field to hill-side and wood +again, and to trace along the brook which we know must lead to the +sea-shore, with one companion of high soul, who can answer thought for +thought, and another in life's early morning, who can bring back +before your eyes the picture of young enjoyment--ay, and to know that +those you love most dearly and esteem most highly, are looking for +your coming, with a little anxiety, not even approaching the bounds of +apprehension, is all very pleasant indeed. + +You, dear and excellent lady, who were one of my companions on the +way, may perhaps recollect a little cottage--near the spot where we +sprung a solitary partridge--whither I went to inquire the shortest +road to Hythe. That cottage was standing there at the period of which +I now write; and at the bottom of that hill, amongst the wood, and +close by the little stream nearly where the foot-bridge now carries +the traveller over dryshod, was another hut, half concealed by the +trees, and covered over with well nigh as much moss and houseleek as +actual thatch. + +It has been long swept away, as well as its tenants; and certainly a +wretched and ill-constructed place it was. Would to Heaven that all +such were gone from our rich and productive land, and that every +labourer, in a country which owes so much to the industry of her +children, had a dwelling better fitted to a human being! But, alas, +many such still exist! and it is not always, as it was in this case, +that vice is the companion of misery. This is no book of idle twaddle, +to represent all the wealthy as cold, hard, and vicious, and the poor +all good, forbearing, and laborious; for evil is pretty equally +distributed through all classes--though, God knows, the rich, with all +their opportunities, ought to shew a smaller proportion of wickedness, +and the poor might perhaps be expected, from their temptations, to be +worse than they are! Still it is hard to think that many as honest a +man as ever lived--ay, and as industrious a man, too--returns, after +his hard day's toil, to find his wife and children, well nigh in +starvation, in such a place as I am about to describe--and none to +help them. + +The hut--for it did not deserve the name of cottage--was but of one +floor, which was formed of beaten clay, but a little elevated above +the surrounding soil. It contained two rooms. The one opened into what +had been a garden before it, running down nearly to the brookside; and +the other communicated with the first, but had a door which gave exit +into the wood behind. Windows the hut had two, one on either side; but +neither contained more than two complete panes of glass. The spaces, +where glass had once been, were now filled up in a strange variety of +ways. Here was a piece of board nailed in; there a coarse piece of +cloth kept out the wind; another broken pane was filled up with paper; +and another, where some fragments of the original substance remained, +was stopped with an old stocking stuffed with straw. In the garden, as +it was still called, appeared a few cabbages and onions, with more +cabbage-stalks than either, and a small patch of miserable potatoes. +But weeds were the most plentiful of all, and chickweed and groundsel +enough appeared there to have supplied a whole forest of singing +birds. It had been once fenced in, that miserable garden; but the wood +had been pulled down and burned for firing by its present tenants, or +others as wretched in circumstances as themselves; and nought remained +but a strong post here and there, with sometimes a many-coloured rag +of coarse cotton fluttering upon some long, rusty nail, which had +snatched a shred from passing poverty. Three or four stunted +gooseberry bushes, however, marked out the limit on one side; a path +ran in front between the garden and the brook; and on the other side +there was a constant petty warfare between the farmer and the +inhabitant of the hovel as to the possession of the border-land; and +like a great and small state contending, the more powerful always +gained some advantage in despite of right, but lost perhaps as much by +the spiteful incursions of the foe, as if he had yielded the contested +territory. + +On the night of which I speak--the same on which Mowle visited the +commanding officer of the dragoons at Hythe--the cottage itself, the +garden, and all the squalid-looking things about the place, were +hidden in the deep darkness which had again fallen over the earth as +soon as night had fallen. The morning, it may be remembered--it +was the same on which Sir Edward Digby had been fired at by the +smugglers--had been somewhat cold and foggy; but about eleven, the day +had brightened, and the evening had been sultry. No sooner, however, +did the sun reach the horizon than mists began to rise, and before +seven o'clock the whole sky was under cloud and the air filled with +fog. He must have been well acquainted with every step of the country +who could find his way from town to town. Nevertheless, any one who +approached Galley Ray's cottage, as it was called, would, at the +distance of at least a hundred yards, have perceived something to lead +him on; for a light, red as that of a baleful meteor, was streaming +through the two glazed squares of the window into the misty air, +making them look like the eyes of some wild animal in a dark forest. + +We must pause here, however, for a moment, to explain to the reader +who Galley Ray was, and how she acquired the first of her two +appellations, which certainly was not that which she had received at +her baptism. Galley Ray, then, was the old woman of whom Mr. Mowle had +given that favourable account, which may be seen in the last chapter; +and, to say the truth, he had but done her justice. Her name was +originally Gillian Ray; but, amongst a number of corrupt associates, +with whom her early life was spent, the first of the two appellations +was speedily transformed to Gilly or Gill. Some time afterwards--when +youth began to wane, and whatever youthful graces she possessed were +deviating into the virago qualities of the middle age--while watching +one night the approach of a party of smugglers, with whom she had some +intimacy, she perceived three or four Custom-House officers coming +down to launch a galley, which they had upon the beach, for the +purpose of cutting off the free-traders. But Gilly Ray instantly +sprang in, and with the boat-hook set them all at defiance, till they +threatened to launch her into the sea, boat and all. + +It is true, she was reported to have been drunk at the time; but her +daring saved the smugglers, and conveyed her for two months to jail, +whence, as may be supposed, she returned not much improved in her +morals. One of those whom she had befriended in the time of need, +bestowed on her the name of Galley, by an easy transition from her +original praenomen; and it remained by her to the last day of her life. + +The reader has doubtless remarked, that amongst the lawless and the +rash, there is a certain fondness for figures of speech, and that +tropes and metaphors, simile and synecdoche, are far more prevalent +amongst them than amongst the more orderly classes of society. Whether +it is or not, that they wish to get rid of a precise apprehension of +their own acts, I cannot say; but certain it is, that they do indulge +in such flowers of rhetoric, and sometimes, in the midst of humour, +quaintness, and even absurdity, reach the point of wit, and at times +soar into the sublime. Galley Ray had, as we have seen, one daughter, +whose fate has been related; and that daughter left one son, who, +after his reputed father, one Mark Nightingale, was baptized +Nightingale Ray. His mother, and after her death his grandmother, used +to call him Little Nighty and Little Night; but following their +fanciful habits, the smugglers who used to frequent the house found +out an association between "Night Ray" and the beams of the bright and +mystical orbs that shine upon us from afar; and some one gave him the +name of Little Starlight, which remained with him, as that of Galley +had adhered to his grandmother. The cottage or hut of the latter, +then, beamed with an unwonted blaze upon the night I have spoken of, +till long after the hour when Mowle had left the inn where his +conference with the young officer had taken place. But let not the +reader suppose that this illumination proceeded from any great expense +of wax or oil. Only one small tallow candle, stuck into a long-necked, +square-sided Dutch bottle, spread its rays through the interior of the +hovel, and that was a luxury; but in the fireplace blazed an immense +pile of mingled wood and driftcoal; and over it hung a large hissing +pot, as huge and capacious as that of the witches in Macbeth, or of +the no less famous Meg Merrilies. Galley Ray, however, was a very +different person in appearance from the heroine of "Guy Mannering;" +and we must endeavour to call up her image as she stood by the +fire-side, watching the cauldron and a kettle which stood close to it. + +The red and fitful light flashed upon no tall, gaunt form, and lighted +up no wild and commanding features. There was nothing at all poetical +in her aspect: it was such as may be seen every day in the haunts of +misery and vice. Originally of the middle height, though once strong +and upright, she had somewhat sunk down under the hand of Time, and +was now rather short than otherwise. About fifty she had grown fat and +heavy; but fifteen years more had robbed her flesh of firmness and her +skin of its plumped out smoothness; and though she had not yet reached +the period when emaciation accompanies decrepitude, her muscles were +loose and hanging, her face withered and sallow. Her hair, once as +black as jet, was now quite grey, not silver--but with the white +greatly predominating over the black. Yet, strange to say, her eyes +were still clear and bright, though small, and somewhat red round the +lids; and, stranger still, her front teeth were white as ivory, +offering a strange contrast to the wrinkled and yellow skin. Her look +was keen; but there was that sort of habitual jocularity about it, +which in people of her caste is often partly assumed--as an ever ready +excuse for evading a close question, or covering a dangerous +suggestion by a jest--and partly natural, or at least springing from a +fearful kind of philosophy, gained by the exhaustion of all sorts of +criminal pleasures, which leaves behind, too surely, the impression +that everything is but a mockery on earth. Those who have adopted that +philosophy never give a thought beyond this world. Her figure was +somewhat bowed, and over her shoulders she had the fragments of a +coarse woollen shawl, from beneath which appeared, as she stirred the +pot, her sharp yellow elbows and long arms. On her head she wore a +cap, which had remained there, night and day, for months; and, thrust +back from her forehead, which was low and heavy, appeared the +dishevelled grey hair, while beneath the thick and beetling brows came +the keen eyes, and a nose somewhat aquiline and depressed at the +point. + +Near her, on the opposite side of the hearth, was the boy whom the +reader has already seen, and who has been called little Starlight; +and, even at that late hour, for it was near midnight, he seemed as +brisk and active as ever. Night and day, indeed, appeared to him the +same; for he had none of the habits of childhood. The setting sun +brought no drowsiness to his eyelids: mid-day often found him sleeping +after a night of watchfulness and activity. The whole course of his +existence and his thoughts had been tainted: there was nothing of +youth either in his mind or his ways. The old beldam called him, and +thought him, the shrewdest boy that ever lived; but, in truth, she had +left him no longer a boy, in aught but size and looks. Often--indeed +generally--he would assume the tone of his years, for he found it +served his purpose best; but he only laughed at those who thought him +a child, and prided himself on the cunning of the artifice. + +There might be, it is true, some lingering of the faults of youth, but +that was all. He was greedy and voracious, loved sweet things as well +as strong drink, and could not always curb the truant and erratic +spirit of childhood; but still, even in his wanderings there was a +purpose, and often a malevolence. He would go to see what one person +was about; he would stay away because another wanted him. It may be +asked, was this natural wickedness?--was his heart so formed +originally? Oh no, reader; never believe such things. There are +certainly infinite varieties of human character; and I admit that the +mind of man is not the blank sheet of paper on which we can write what +we please, as has been vainly represented. Or, if it be, the +experience of every man must have shown him, that that paper is of +every different kind and quality--some that will retain the finest +line, some that will scarce receive the broadest trace. But still +education has immense power for good or evil. By education I do not +mean teaching. I mean that great and wonderful process by which, +commencing at the earliest period of infancy--ay, at the mother's +breast--the raw material of the mind is manufactured into all the +varieties that we see. I mean the sum of every line with which the +paper is written as it passes from hand to hand. That is education; +and most careful should we be that, at an early period, nought should +be written but good, for every word once impressed is well nigh +indelible. + +Now what education had that poor boy received? The people of the +neighbouring village would have said a very good one; for there was +what is called a charity school in the neighbourhood, where he had +been taught to read and write, and cast accounts. But this was +_teaching_, not _education_. Oh, fatal mistake! when will Englishmen +learn to discriminate between the two? His education had been at +home--in that miserable hut--by that wretched woman--by her companions +in vice and crime! What had all the teaching he had received at the +school done for him, but placed weapons in the hand of wickedness? Had +education formed any part of the system of the school where he was +instructed--had he been taught how best to use the gifts that were +imparted--had he been inured to regulate the mind that was stored--had +he been habituated to draw just conclusions from all he read, instead +of merely being taught to read, that would have been in some degree +education, and it might have corrected, to a certain point, the darker +schooling he received at home. Well might the great philosopher, who +in some things most grossly misused the knowledge he himself +possessed, pronounce that "Knowledge is power;" but, alas, he forgot +to add, that it is power _for good or evil!_ That poor child had been +taught that which to him might have been either a blessing or a bane; +but all his real education had been for evil; and there he stood, +corrupted to the heart's core. + +"I say, Mother Ray," he exclaimed, "that smells cursed nice--can't you +give us a drop before the coves come?" + +"No, no, you young devil," replied the old woman with a grin, "one +can't tell when they'll show their mugs at the door; and it wouldn't +do for them to find you gobbling up their stuff. But bring me that big +porringer, and we'll put by enough for you and me. I've nimmed one +half of the yellow-boy they sent, so we'll have a quart of moonshine +to-morrow to help it down." + +"I could get it very well down without," answered little Starlight, +bringing her a large earthen pot, with a cracked cover, into which she +ladled out about half a gallon of the soup. + +"There, take and put that far under the bed in t'other room," said the +old woman, adding several expletives of so peculiar and unpleasant a +character, that I must omit them; and, indeed, trusting to the +reader's imagination, I shall beg leave to soften, as far as possible, +the terms of both the boy and his grandmother for the future, merely +premising, that when conversing alone together, hardly a sentence +escaped their lips without an oath or a blasphemy. + +Little Starlight soon received the pot from the hands of his worthy +ancestress, and conveyed it into the other room, where he stayed so +long that she called him to come forth, in what, to ordinary ears, +would have seemed the most abusive language, but which, on her lips, +was merely the tone of endearment. He had waited, indeed, to cool the +soup, in order to steal a portion of the stolen food; but finding that +he should be detected if he remained longer, he ventured to put his +finger in to taste it. The result was that he scalded his hand; but he +was sufficiently Spartan to utter no cry or indication of pain; and he +escaped all inquiry; for the moment after he had returned, the door +burst violently open, and some ten or twelve men came pouring in, +nearly filling the little room. + +Various were their garbs, and strangely different from each other were +they in demeanour as well as dress. Some were clad in smock-frocks, +and some in sailors' jackets; some looked like respectable tradesmen, +some were clothed in a sort of fanciful costume of their own, smacking +a little of the brigand; and one appeared in the ordinary riding-dress +of a gentleman of that period; but all were well armed, without much +concealment of the pistols, which they carried about them in addition +to the sword that was not uncommonly borne by more than one class in +England at that time. They were all young men except one or two; and +three of the number bore evident marks of some recent affray. One had +a broad strip of plaster all the way down his forehead, another had +his upper lip terribly cut, and a third--the gentleman, as I am bound +to call him, as he assumed the title of Major--had a patch over his +eye, from beneath which appeared several rings of various colours, +which showed that the aforesaid patch was not merely a means of +disguise. + +They were all quite familiar with Galley Ray and her grandson; some +slapped her on the shoulder; some pulled her ear; some abused her +horribly in jocular tones; and all called upon her eagerly to set +their supper before them, vowing that they had come twenty miles since +seven o'clock that night, and were as hungry as fox-hunters. + +To each and all Galley Ray had something to say in their own +particular way. To some she was civil and coaxing, addressed them as +"gentlemen," and to others slang and abusive, though quite in good +humour, calling them, "you blackguards," and "you varmint," with +sundry other delectable epithets, which I shall forbear to transcribe. + +To give value to her entertainment, she of course started every +objection and difficulty in the world against receiving them, asking +how, in the name of the fiend, they could expect her to take in so +many? where she was to get porringers or plates for them all? and +hoping heartily that such a troop weren't going to stay above half an +hour. + +"Till to-morrow night, Galley, my chicken," replied the Major. "Come, +don't make a fuss. It must be so, and you shall be well paid. We shall +stay in here to-night; and to-morrow we shall take to cover in the +wood; but young Radford will come down some time in the day, and then +you must send up little Starlight to us, to let me know." + +The matter of the supper was soon arranged to their contentment. Some +had tea-cups, and some saucers; some had earthen pans, some wooden +platters. Two were honoured with china plates; and the large pot being +taken off the fire, and set on the ground in the midst of them, each +helped himself, and went on with his meal. A grand brewing of smuggled +spirits and water then commenced; and a number of horn cups were +handed round, not enough, indeed, for all the guests; but each vessel +was made to serve two or three; and the first silence of hunger being +over, a wild, rambling, and desultory conversation ensued, to which +both Galley Ray and her grandson lent an attentive ear. + +The Major said something to the man with the cut upon his brow, to +which the other replied, by condemning his own soul, if he did not +blow Harding's brains out--if it were true. "But, I don't believe it," +he continued. "He's no friend of mine; but he's not such a blackguard +as to peach." + +"So I think; but Dick Radford says he is sure he did," answered the +Major; "Dick fancies that he's jealous of not having had yesterday's +job too, and that's why he spoiled it. We know he was up about that +part of the country on the pretence of his seeing his Dolly; but +Radford says he went to inform, and that he'll wring his liver out, as +soon as this job of his father's is over." + +A torrent of blasphemies poured forth by almost every person present +followed, and they all called down the most horrid condemnation on +their own heads, if they did not each lend a hand to punish the +informer. In the midst of this storm of big words, Galley Ray put her +mouth to the Major's ear, saying, "I could tell young Radford how he +could wring his heart out, and that's better than his liver. There's +no use of trying to kill him, for he doesn't care two straws about +that. Sharp steel and round lead are what he looks for every day. But +I could show you how to plague him worse." + +"Why, you old brute," replied the Major, "you're a friend of his!--But +you may tell him, if you like. We have all sworn it, and we'll do it; +only hold your tongue till after to-morrow night, or I'll cure your +bacon for you." + +"I'm no friend of his," cried Galley Ray. "The infernal devil, wasn't +it he that shot my girl, Meg? Ay, ay, I know he says he didn't, and +that he didn't fire a pistol that day, but kept all to the cutlash; +but he did, I'm sure, and a-purpose too; for didn't he turn to, that +morning, and abuse her like the very dirt under his feet, because she +came, a little in liquor, down to his boat-side?--Ay, I'll have my +revenge--I've been looking for it long, but now it's a-coming--it's +a-coming very fast; and afore I've done with him, I'll wring him out +like a wet cloth, till he's not got one pleasure left in his whole +carcase, nor one thing to look to, for as long as he may live!--Ay, +ay, he thinks an old woman nothing; but he shall see--he shall see;" +and the beldam wagged her frightful head backwards and forwards with a +look of well-contented malice that made it more horrible than ever. + +"What an old devil!" cried the Major, glancing round the table with a +look of mock surprise; and then they all burst into a roar of laughter +which shook the miserable hovel in which they sat. + +"Come, granny, give us some more lush, and leave off preaching," cried +Ned Ramley, the man with the cut upon his brow. "You can tell it all +to Dick Radford, to-morrow; for he's fond of cutting up people's +hearts." + +"But how is it--how is it?" asked the Major. "I should like to hear." + +"Ay, but you shan't hear all," answered Galley Ray. "Let Dick do his +part, and I'll do mine, so we'll both have our revenge; but I know one +thing, if I were a gentleman, and wanted a twist at Jack Harding, I'd +get his Kate away from him. She's a light-hearted lass, and would +listen to a gentleman, I dare say; but, however, I'll have her away +some way, and then kick her out into Folkestone streets, to get her +bread like many a better woman than herself." + +"Pooh, nonsense!" said Ned Ramley--"that's all stuff. Harding is going +to marry her; and she knows better than to play the fool." + +"Ay," answered the old woman, with a look of spite, "I shouldn't +wonder if Harding spoiled this job for old Radford, too." + +"Not he!" cried Ramley, "he would pinch himself there, old tiger; for +his own pay depends upon it." + +"Ay, upon landing the stuff safely," answered the old woman, with a +grin, "but not upon getting it clear up into the Weald. He may have +both, Neddy, my dear--he may have both pays; first for landing and +then for peaching. Play booty for ever!--that's the way to make money; +and who knows but you may get another crack of your own pretty skull, +or have your brains sent flying out, like the inside of an egg against +the pillory." + +"By the fiend, he had better not," said Ned Ramley, "for there will be +some of us left, at all events, to pay him." + +"Come, speak out, old woman," cried another of the men; "have you or +your imp there got any inkling that the Custom House blackguards have +nosed the job. If we find they have, and you don't tell, I'll send you +into as much thick loam as will cover you well, I can tell you;" and +he added a horrible oath to give force to his words. + +"Not they, as yet," answered the beldam, "of that I am quite sure; for +as soon as the guinea and the message came, I went down to buy the +beef, and mutton, and the onions; and there I saw Mowle talking to +Gurney the grocer, and heard him say that he had spoiled Mr. Radford's +venture this morning, for one turn at least; and after that, I sent +down little Nighty there, to watch him and his cronies; and they all +seemed very jolly, he said, when he came back half an hour ago, and +crowing like so many young cocks, as if they had done a mighty deal. +Didn't they, my dear?" + +"Ay, that they did, Granny," replied the boy, with a look of +simplicity; "and when I went to the tap of the Dragon to get +twopennorth, I heard the landlord say that Mowle was up with the +dragoon Colonel, telling him all about the fine morning's work they +had made." + +"Devilish fine, indeed!" cried Ned Ramley. "Why they did not get one +quarter of the things; and if we can save a third, that's enough to +pay very well, I can tell them." + +"No, no! they know nothing as yet," continued the old woman, with a +sapient shake of the head; "I can't say what they may hear before +to-morrow night; but, if they do hear anything, I know where it will +come from--that's all. People may be blind if they like; but I'm not, +that's one thing." + +"No, no! you see sharp enough, Galley Ray," answered the Major. "But +hark, is not that the sound of a horse coming down?" + +All the men started up; and some one exclaimed, "I shouldn't wonder if +it were Mowle himself.--He's always spying about." + +"If it is, I'll blow his brains out," said Ned Ramley, motioning to +the rest to make their way into the room behind. + +"Ay, you had best, I think, Neddy," said Galley Ray, in a quiet, +considerate tone, answering his rash threat as coolly as if she had +been speaking of the catching of a trout. "You'll have him here all +snug, and may never get such another chance. 'Dead men tell no tales,' +Neddy. But, get back--'tis a horse, sure enough! You can take your own +time, if you go in there." + +The young man retreated; and bending down her lips to the boy's ear, +the old witch inquired in a whisper, "Is t'other door locked, and the +window fast?" + +"Yes," said the boy, in the same tone; "and the key hid in the +sacking." + +"Then if there are enough to take 'em," murmured Gaily Ray to +herself--"take 'em they shall!--If there's no one but Mowle, he must +go--that's clear. Stretch out that bit o' sail, boy, to catch the +blood." + +But before the boy could obey her whisper, the door of the hut was +thrown open; and instead of Mowle there appeared the figure of Richard +Radford. + +"Here, little Starlight!" he cried, "hold my horse--why, where are all +the men? Have they not come?" + +The old woman arranged her face in an instant into the sweetest smile +it was capable of assuming, and replied, instantly, "Oh dear, yes: +bless your beautiful face, Mr. Radford, but we didn't expect you +to-night, and thought it was some of the Custom-House blackguards when +we heard the horse. Here, Neddy!--Major!--It's only Mr. Radford." + +Ere she had uttered the call, the men, hearing a well-known voice, +were entering the room again; and young Radford shook hands with +several of them familiarly, congratulating the late prisoners on their +escape. + +"I found I couldn't come to-morrow morning," he said, "and so I rode +down to-night. It's all settled for to-morrow, and by this time +Harding's at sea. He'll keep over on the other side till the sun is +low; and we must be ready for work by ten, though I don't think he'll +get close in before midnight." + +"Are you quite sure of Harding, Mr. Radford?" asked the Major. "I +thought you had doubts of him about this other venture." + +"Ay, and so I have still," answered Richard Radford, a dark scowl +coming over his face, "but we must get this job over first. My father +says, he will have no words about it, till this is all clear, and +after that I may do as I like. Then, Major, then----" + +He did not finish the sentence; but those who heard him knew very well +what he meant; and the Major inquired, "But is he quite safe in this +business? The old woman thinks not." + +Young Radford mused with a heavy brow for a minute or two, and then +replied, after a sudden start, "But it's no use now--he's at sea by +this time; and we can't mend it. Have you heard anything certain of +him, Galley Ray?" + +"No, nothing quite for certain, my beauty," said the old woman; "but +one thing I know: he was seen there upon the cliffs, with two strange +men, a-talking away at a great rate; and that was the very night he +saw your father, too; but that clear little cunning devil, my boy, +Nighty--he's the shrewdest lad that ever lived--found it all out." + +"What did he find out?" demanded young Radford, sharply. + +"Why, who the one was, he could never be sure," answered the +beldam--"a nasty-looking ugly brute, all tattooed in the face, like a +wild Indian; but the other was the colonel of dragoons--that's +certain, so Nighty says--he is the shrewdest boy that----" + +Richard Radford and his companions gazed at each other with very +meaning and very ill-satisfied looks; but the former, at length, said, +"Well, we shall see--we shall see! and if he does, he shall rue it. In +the meantime, Major, what we must do is, to have force enough to set +them, dragoons and all, at defiance. My father has got already a +hundred men, and I'll beat up for more to-morrow.--I can get fifty or +sixty out of Sussex. We'll all be down with you early. The soldiers +are scattered about in little parties, so they can never have very +many together; and the devil's in it, if we can't beat a handful of +them." + +"Give us a hundred men," said Ned Ramley, "and we'll beat the whole +regiment of them." + +"Why, there are not to be found twenty of them together in any one +place," answered young Radford, "except at Folkestone, and we shan't +have the run within fifteen or sixteen miles of that; so we shall +easily do for them; and I should like to give those rascals a +licking." + +"Then, what's to be done with Harding?" asked Ned Ramley. + +"Leave him to me--leave him to me, Ned," replied the young gentleman, +"I'll find a way of settling accounts with him." + +"Why, the old woman was talking something about it," said the Major. +"Come, speak up, old brute!--What is it you've got to say?" + +"Oh, I'll tell him quietly when he's a going," answered Galley Ray. +"It's no business of yours, Major." + +"She hates him like poison," said the Major, in a whisper, to young +Radford; "so that you must not believe all she says about him." + +The young man gave a gloomy smile, and then, after a few words more, +unceremoniously turned the old woman out of her own hovel, telling her +he would come and speak to her in a moment. As soon as the hut was +clear of her presence, he proceeded to make all his final arrangements +with the lawless set who were gathered together within. + +"I thought that Harding was not to set off till to-morrow morning," +said one of the more staid-looking of the party, at length; "I wonder +your father lets him make such changes, Mr. Radford--it looks +suspicious, to my thinking." + +"No, no; it was by my father's own orders," said young Radford; +"there's nothing wrong in that. I saw the note sent this evening; so +that's all right. By some contrivance of his own, Harding is to give +notice to one of the people on Tolsford Hill, when he is well in land +and all is safe; and then we shall see a fire lighted on the top, +which is to be our signal, to gather down on the beach. It's all right +in that respect, at least. + +"I'm glad to hear it," answered the other; "and now, as all is +settled, had you not better take a glass of grog before you go." + +"No, no," replied the young man, "I'll keep my head cool for +to-morrow; for I've got a job to do in the morning that may want a +clear eye and a steady hand." + +"Well, then, good luck to you!" said Ned Ramley, laughing; and with +this benediction, the young gentleman opened the cottage door. + +He found Galley Ray holding his horse alone; and, as soon as she saw +him, she said, "I've sent the boy away, Mr. Radford, because I wanted +to have a chat with you for a minute, all alone, about that +blackguard, Harding;" and sinking her voice to a whisper, she +proceeded for several minutes, detailing her own diabolical notions, +of how young Radford might best revenge himself on Harding, with a +coaxing manner, and sweet tone, which contrasted strangely and +horribly, both with the words which she occasionally used, and the +general course of her suggestions. Young Radford sometimes laughed, +with a harsh sort of bitter, unpleasant merriment, and sometimes asked +questions, but more frequently remained listening attentively to what +she said. + +Thus passed some ten minutes, at the end of which time, he exclaimed, +with an oath, "I'll do it!" and then, mounting his horse, he rode away +slowly and cautiously, on account of the thick fog and the narrow and +stony road. + +No sooner was he gone, than little Starlight crept out from between +the cottage and a pile of dried furze-bushes, which had been cast down +on the left of the hut--at once affording fuel to the inhabitants, and +keeping out the wind from a large crack in the wall, which penetrated +through and through, into the room where young Radford had been +conversing with the smugglers. + +"Did you hear them, my kiddy?" asked the old woman, as soon as the boy +approached her. + +"Every word, Mother Ray," answered little Starlight. "But, get in, +get in, or they will be thinking something; and I'll tell you all +to-morrow." + +The old woman saw the propriety of his suggestion; and, both entering +the hovel, the door was shut. With it, I may close a scene, upon which +I have been obliged to pause longer than I could have wished. + + + + + CHAPTER IV. + + +The man who follows a wolf goes straight on after him till he rides +him down; but, in chasing a fox, it is always expedient and fair to +take across the easiest country for your horse or for yourself, to +angle a field, to make for a slope when the neighbouring bank is too +high, to avoid a clay fallow, or to skirt a shaking moss. Very +frequently, however, one beholds an inexperienced sportsman (who does +not well know the country he is riding, and sees the field broken up +into several parties, each taking its own course after the hounds) +pause for several minutes, not knowing which to follow. Such is often +the case with the romance writer also, when the broken nature of the +country over which his course lies, separates his characters, and he +cannot proceed with all of them at once. + +Now, at the present moment, I would fain follow the smugglers to the +end of their adventure; but, in so doing, dear reader, I should (to +borrow a shred of the figure I have just used) get before my hounds; +or, in other words, I should too greatly violate that strict +chronological order which is necessary in an important history like +the present. I must, therefore, return, by the reader's good leave, to +the house of Mr. Zachary Croyland, almost immediately after Sir Edward +Digby had ridden away, on the day following young Radford's recently +related interview with the smugglers, at which day--with a sad +violation of the chronological order I have mentioned above--I had +already arrived, as the reader must remember, in the first chapter of +the present volume. + +Mr. Croyland then stood in the little drawing-room, fitted up +according to his own peculiar notions, where Sir Edward's wound had +been dressed; and Edith, his niece, sat at no great distance on one of +the low ottomans, for which he had an oriental predilection. She was a +little excited, both by all that she had witnessed, and all that she +had not; and her bright and beautiful eyes were raised to her uncle's +face, as she inquired, "How did all this happen? You said you would +tell me when they were gone." + +Mr. Croyland gazed at her with that sort of parental tenderness which +he had long nourished in his heart towards her; and certainly, as she +sat there, leaning lightly upon her arm, and with the sunshine falling +upon her beautiful form, her left hand resting upon her knee, and one +small beautiful foot extended beyond her gown, he could not help +thinking her the loveliest creature he had ever beheld in his life, +and asking himself--"Is such a being as that, so full of grace in +person, and excellence in mind, to be consigned to a rude, brutal +bully, like the man who has just met with deserved chastisement at my +door?" + +He had just begun to answer her question, thinking how he might best +do so without inflicting more pain upon her than necessary, when the +black servant I have mentioned entered the drawing-room, saying, "A +man want to speak to you, master." + +"A man!" cried Mr. Croyland, impatiently. "What man? I don't want any +man! I've had enough of men for one morning, surely, with those two +fools fighting just opposite my house!--What sort of a man is it?" + +"Very odd man, indeed, master," answered the Hindoo. "Got great blue +pattern on him's face. Strange looking man. Think him half mad," and +he made a deferential bow, as if submitting his judgment to that of +his master. + +"Well, I like odd men," exclaimed Mr. Croyland. "I like strange men +better than any others. I'm not sure I do not like them a _leetle_ +mad--not too much, not too much, you know, Edith, my dear! Not +dangerous; just mad enough to be pleasant, but not furious or +obstreperous.--Where have you put him?" + +"In de library, master," replied the man; "and he begin taking down +the books directly." + +"High time I should go and see, who is so studiously inclined," said +Mr. Croyland; "or he may not only take down the books, but take them +away. That wouldn't do, you know, Edith, my dear--that wouldn't do. +Without my niece and my books, what would become of me? I don't intend +to lose either the one or the other. So that you are never to marry, +my love; mind that, you are never to marry!" + +Edith smiled faintly--very faintly indeed; but for the world she would +not have made her uncle feel that he had touched upon a tender point. +"I do not think I ever shall, my dear uncle," she answered; and +saying, "That's a good girl!" the old gentleman hurried out of the +room to see his unknown visitor. + +Edith remained for some time where she was, in deep and even painful +thoughts. All that she had learnt from her sister, since Zara's +explanation with Sir Edward Digby, amounted but to this, that he whom +she had so deeply loved--whom she still loved so deeply--was yet +living. Nothing more had reached her; and, though hope, the fast +clinger to the last wreck of probability, yet whispered that he might +love her still--that she might not be forgotten--that she might not be +abandoned, yet fear and despondency far predominated, and their hoarse +tones nearly drowned the feeble whisper of a voice which once had been +loud and gay in her heart. + +After meditating, then, for some minutes, she rose and left the +drawing-room, passing, on her way to the stairs, the door of the +library to which her uncle had previously gone. She heard him talking +loud as she went along; but the sounds were gay, cheerful, and +anything but angry; and another voice was answering, in mellower +tones, somewhat melancholy, indeed, but still not sad. Going rapidly +by, this was all she distinguished; but after she reached her own +room, which was nearly above the library, the murmur of the voices +still rose up for more than an hour, and at length Mr. Croyland and +his guest came out, and walked through the vestibule to the door. + +"God bless you, Harry--God bless you!" said Mr. Croyland, with an +appearance of warmth and affection which Edith had seldom known him to +display towards any one; "if you wont stay, I can't help it. But mind +your promise--mind your promise! In three or four days, you know;" and +with another cordial farewell they parted. + +When the stranger was gone, however, Mr. Croyland remained standing in +the vestibule for several minutes, gazing down upon the floor-cloth, +and murmuring to himself various broken sentences, from time to time. +"Who'd have thought it," he said; "thirty years come Lady-day next, +since we saw each other!--But this isn't quite right of the boy: I +will scold him--I will frighten him, too. He shouldn't deceive--nobody +should deceive--it's not right. But after all, in love and war, every +stratagem is fair, they say; and I'll work for him, that I will. Here, +Edith, my love," he continued, calling up the stairs, for he had heard +his niece's light foot above, "come, and take a walk with me, my dear: +it will do us both good." + +Edith came down in a moment, with a hat (or bonnet) in her hand; and +although Mr. Croyland affected, on most occasions, to be by no means +communicative, yet there was in his whole manner, and in the +expression of his face, quite sufficient to indicate to his niece, +that he was labouring under the pressure of a secret, which was not a +very sad or dark one. + +"There, my dear!" he exclaimed, "I said just now that I would not have +you marry; but I shall take off the restriction. I will not prohibit +the banns--only in case you should wish to marry some one I don't +approve. But I've got a husband for you--I've got a husband for you, +better than all the Radfords that ever were christened; though, by the +way, I doubt whether these fellows ever were christened at all--a set +of unbelieving, half-barbarous sceptics. I do not think, upon my +conscience, that old Radford believes in anything but the existence of +his own individuality." + +"But who is the husband you have got for me?" demanded Edith, forcing +herself to assume a look of gaiety which was not natural to her. "I +hope he's young, handsome, rich, and agreeable." + +"All, all!" cried Mr. Croyland. "Those are absolute requisites in a +lady's estimation, I know. Never was such a set of grasping monkeys as +you women. Youth, beauty, riches, and a courtly air--you must have +them all, or you are dissatisfied; and the ugliest, plainest, poorest +woman in all Europe, thinks that she has every right to a ph[oe]nix +for her companion--an angel--a demi-god. But you shall see--you shall +see; and in the true spirit of a fond parent, if you do not see with +my eyes, hear with my ears, and understand with my understanding--why, +I'll disinherit you.--But who the mischief is this, now?" he +continued, looking out at the door--"another man on horseback, upon my +life, as if we had not had enough of them already. Never, since I have +been in this county of Kent, has my poor, quiet, peaceable door been +besieged in this manner before." + +"It's only a servant with a note, my dear uncle," said Edith. + +"Ah, something more on your account," cried Mr. Croyland. "It's all +because you are here. Baba, Baba! see what that fellow wants!--It's +not your promised husband, my dear, so you need not eye him so +curiously." + +"Oh, no!" answered Edith, smiling. "I took it for granted that my +promised husband, as you call him, was to be this same odd, +strange-looking gentleman, who has been with you for the last hour." + +"Pooh--no!" cried Mr. Croyland; "and yet, my lady, I can tell you, you +could not do better in some respects, for he's a very good man--a very +excellent man indeed, and has the advantage of being a _leetle_ mad, +as I said before--that is, he's wise enough not to care what fools +think of him. That's what is called being mad now-a-days. Who is it +from, Baba? + +"Didn't say, master," answered the Indian, who had just handed him a +note. "He wait an answer." + +"Oh, very well!" answered Mr. Croyland. "He may get a shorter one than +he expects. I've no time to be answering notes. People in England +spend one half of their lives in writing notes that mean nothing, and +the other half in sealing them. Why can't the fools send a message?" + +While he had been thus speaking, the worthy old gentleman had been +adjusting the spectacles to his nose, and walking with his usual brisk +step to the window in the passage, against which he planted his back, +so that the light might fall over his shoulder upon the paper; but as +he read, a great change came over his countenance. + +"Ah, that's right!--That's well!--That's honest," he said: "I see what +he means, but I'll let him speak out himself. Walk into the garden, +Edith, my love, till I answer this man's note. Baba, bid the fellow +wait for a moment," and stepping into the library, Mr. Croyland sought +for a pen that would write, and then scrawled, in a very rude and +crooked hand, which soon made the paper look like an ancient Greek +manuscript, a few lines, to the beauty of which he added the effect of +bad blotting-paper. Then folding his note up, he sealed and addressed +it, first reading carefully over again the epistle which he had just +received, and with which it may be as well to make the reader +acquainted, though I shall abstain from looking into Mr. Croyland's +answer till it reaches its destination. The letter which the servant +had brought was to the following effect: + +"The gentleman who had the pleasure of travelling with Mr. Croyland +from London, and who was introduced to him by the name of Captain +Osborn, was about to avail himself of Mr. Croyland's invitation, when +some circumstances came to his knowledge, which seem to render it +expedient that he should have a few minutes' conversation with Mr. +Croyland before he visits his house. He is at present at Woodchurch, +and will remain there till two o'clock, if it is convenient for Mr. +Croyland to see him at that place to-day.--If not, he will return to +Woodchurch to-morrow, towards one, and will wait for Mr. Croyland till +any hour he shall appoint." + +"There! give that to the gentleman's servant," said Mr. Croyland; and +then depositing his spectacles safely in their case, he walked out +into the garden to seek Edith. + +The servant, in the meanwhile, went at a rapid pace, over pleasant +hill and dale, till he reached the village of Woodchurch, and stopped +at a little public-house, before the door of which stood three +dragoons, with their horses' bridles over their arms. As speedily as +possible, the man entered the house, and walked up stairs, where he +found his master talking to a man, covered with dust from the road. + +"Mr. Mowle should have given me farther information," the young +officer said, looking at a paper in his hand. "I could have made my +combinations here as well as at Hythe." + +"He sent me off in a great hurry, sir," answered the man; "but I'll +tell him what you say." + +"Stay, stay!" said the officer, holding out his hand to his servant +for the note which he had brought. "I will tell you more in a minute, +and breaking open the seal, he read Mr. Croyland's epistle, which was +to the following effect. + +"Mr. Croyland presents his compliments to Captain Osborn, and has had +the honour of receiving his letter, although he cannot conceive why +Captain Osborn should wish to speak with him at Woodchurch, when he +could so easily speak with him in his own house, yet Mr. Croyland is +Captain Osborn's very humble servant, and will do as he bids him. As +it is now past one o'clock, as it would take half-an-hour to get Mr. +Croyland's carriage ready, and an hour to reach Woodchurch, and as it +is some years since Mr. Croyland has got upon the back of anything but +an ass, or a hobby-horse,--having moreover no asses at hand with the +proper proportion of legs, though many, deficient in number--it is +impossible for him to reach Woodchurch by the time stated to-day. He +will be over at that place, however, by two o'clock to-morrow, and +hopes that Captain Osborn will be able to return with him, and spend a +few days in an old bachelor's house." + +The young officer's face was grave as he read the first part of the +letter, but it relaxed into a smile towards the end. He then gave, +perhaps, ten seconds to thought; after which, rousing himself +abruptly, he turned to the dusty messenger from Hythe, and fixing a +somewhat searching glance upon the man's face, he said--"Tell Mr. +Mowle that I will be over with him directly, and as the troops, it +seems, will be required on the side of Folkestone, he must have +everything prepared on his part; for we shall have no time to spare." + +The man bowed with a stolid look, and withdrew; and after he had left +the room, the officer remained silent for a moment or two, looking out +of the window till he saw him mount his horse and depart. Then, +descending in haste to the inn door, he gave various orders to the +dragoons, who were there waiting. To one they were, "Ride off to +Folkestone as fast as you can go, and tell Captain Irby to march +immediately with his troop to Bilsington, which place he must reach +before two o'clock in the morning." To another: "You gallop off to +Appledore, and bid the sergeant there bring his party down to Brenzet +Corner, in the Marsh, and put himself under the orders of Cornet +Joyce." To the third: "You, Wood, be off to Ashford, and tell +Lieutenant Green to bring down all his men as far as Bromley Green, +taking up the party at Kingsnorth. Let him be there by three; and +remember, these are private orders. Not a word to any one." + +The men sprang into the saddle, as soon as the last words were spoken, +and rode away in different directions; and, after bidding his servant +bring round his horse, the young officer remained standing at the door +of the inn, with his tall form erect, his arms crossed upon his chest, +and his eyes gazing towards Harbourne House. He was in the midst of +the scenes where his early days had been spent. Every object around +him was familiar to his eye: not a hill, not a wood, not a church +steeple or a farm house, but had its association with some of those +bright things which leave a lustre in the evening sky of life, even +when the day-star of existence has set. There were the pleasant hours +of childhood, the sports of boyhood, the dreams of youth, the love of +early manhood. The light that memory cast upon the whole might not be +so strong and powerful, might not present them in so real and definite +a form, as in the full day of enjoyment; but there is a great +difference between that light of memory, when it brightens a period of +life that may yet renew the joys which have passed away for a time, +and when it shines upon pleasures gone for ever. In the latter case it +is but as the moonlight--a reflected beam, without the warmth of +fruition or the brilliancy of hope; but in the former, it is as the +glow of the descending sun, which sheds a purple lustre through the +vista of the past, and gives a promise of returning joy even as it +sinks away. He stood, then, amongst the scenes of his early years, +with hope refreshed, though still with the remembrance of sorrows +tempering the warmth of expectation, perhaps shading the present. It +wanted, indeed, but some small circumstance, by bearing afar, like +some light wind, the cloud of thought, to give to all around the +bright hues of other days; and that was soon afforded. He had not +remained there above two or three minutes when the landlord of the +public-house came out, and stood directly before him. + +"Oh, I forgot your bill, my good fellow," said the young officer. +"What is my score?" + +"No, sir, it is not that," answered the man, "but I think you have +forgotten me. I could not let you go, however, without just asking you +to shake hands with me, though you are a great gentleman now, and I am +much what I was." + +The young officer gazed at him for a moment, and let his eye run over +the stout limbs and portly person of the landlord, till at length he +said, in a doubtful tone, "Surely, you cannot be young Miles, the son +of my father's clerk?" + +"Ay, sir, just the same," replied the host; "but young and old, we +change, just as women do their names when they marry. Not that six or +seven years have made me old either; but I was six and twenty when you +went away, and as thin as a whipping post; now I'm two and thirty, and +as fat as a porker. That makes a wonderful difference, sir. But I'm +glad you don't forget old times." + +"Forget them, Miles!" said the young officer, holding out his hand to +him, "oh no, they are too deeply written in my heart ever to be +blotted out! I thought I was too much changed myself for any one to +remember me, but those who were most dear to me. What between the +effects of time and labour, sorrow and war, I hardly fancied that any +one in Kent would know me. But you are changed for the better, I for +the worse. Yet I am very glad to see you, Miles; and I shall see you +again to-morrow; for I am coming back here towards two o'clock. In the +meantime, you need not say you have seen me; for I do not wish it to +be known that I am here, till I have learned a little of what +reception I am likely to have." + +"Oh, I understand, sir--I understand," replied the landlord; "and if +you should want to know how the land lies, I can always tell you; for +you see, I have the parish-clerks' club, which meets here once a week; +and then all the news of the country comes out; and besides, many a +one of them comes in here at other times, to have a gossip with old +Rafe Miles's son, so that I hear everything that goes on in the county +almost as soon as it is done; and right glad shall I be to tell you +anything you want to know, just for old times' sake; when you used to +go shooting snipes by the brooks, and I used to come after for the +sport--that is to say, anything about your own people; not about the +smugglers, you know; for they say you are sent here to put them down; +and I should not like to peach, even to you. I heard that some great +gentleman had come down--a Sir Harry Somebody. But I little thought it +was you, till I saw you just now standing looking so melancholy +towards Harbourne, and thinking, I dare say, of the old house at +Tiffenden." + +"Indeed I was," answered the young officer, with a sigh. "But as to +the smugglers, my good friend, I want no information. I am sent down +with my regiment merely to aid the civil power, which seems totally +incompetent to stop the daring outrages that are every day committed. +If this were suffered to go on, all law, not only regarding the +revenue, but even that affecting the protection of life and property, +would soon be at an end." + +"That it would, sir," answered the landlord; "and it's well nigh at an +end already, for that matter." + +"Well," continued the officer, "though the service is not an agreeable +one, and I think, considering all things, might have been entrusted to +another person, yet I have but to obey; and consequently, being here, +am ready whenever called upon to support the officers, either of +justice or the revenue, both by arms and by advice. But I have no +other duty to perform, and indeed would rather not have any +information regarding the proceedings of these misguided men, except +through the proper channels. If I had the absolute command of the +district, with orders to put down smuggling therein, it might be a +different matter; but I have not." + +"Ay, I thought there was a mistake about it," replied Miles; "but here +is your horse, sir. I shall see you to-morrow, then?" + +"Certainly," answered the officer; and having paid his score, he +mounted and rode away. + + + + + CHAPTER V. + + +The colonel of the dragoon regiment rode into Hythe coolly and calmly, +followed by his servant; for though, to say the truth, he had pushed +his horse very fast for some part of the way, he judged it expedient +not to cause any bustle in the town by an appearance of haste and +excitement. It was customary in those days for officers in the army in +active service, even when not on actual duty, to appear in their +regimental uniform; but this practice the gentleman in question had +dispensed with since he left London, on many motives, both public and +personal; and though he wore the cockade--at that time the sign and +symbol of a military man, or of one who affected that position, yet he +generally appeared in plain clothes, except when any large body of the +troops were gathered together. + +At the door of the inn where he had fixed his headquarters, and in the +passage leading from it into the house, were a number of private +soldiers and a sergeant; and amongst them appeared Mr. Mowle, the +Custom-House officer, waiting the arrival of the commander of the +dragoons. As the latter dismounted, Mowle advanced to his side, saying +something in a low voice. The young officer looked at the sky, which +was still glowing bright with the sun, which had about an hour and +a-half to run ere it reached the horizon. + +"In an hour, Mr. Mowle," replied the officer: "there will be time +enough. Make all your own arrangements in the meanwhile." + +"But, sir, if you have to send to Folkestone?" said Mowle. "You +misunderstood me, I think." + +"No, no," answered the colonel, "I did not. You misunderstood me. Come +back in an hour.--If you show haste or anxiety, you will put the enemy +on his guard." + +After having said these few words in a low tone, he entered the house, +gave some orders to the soldiers, several of whom sauntered away +slowly to their quarters, as if the business of the day were over; and +then, proceeding to his own room, he rang the bell and ordered dinner. + +"I thought there was a bit of a bustle, sir?" said the landlord, +inquiringly, as he put the first dish upon the table. + +"Oh dear, no," replied the colonel. "Did you mean about these men who +have escaped?" + +"I didn't know about what, colonel," answered the landlord, "but +seeing Mr. Mowle waiting for you----" + +"You thought it must be about them," added the officer; "but you are +mistaken, my good friend. There is no bustle at all. The men will, +doubtless, soon be taken, one after the other, by the constables. At +all events, that is an affair with which I can have nothing to do." + +The landlord immediately retreated, loaded with intelligence, and +informed two men who were sipping rum-and-water in the tap-room, that +Mowle had come to ask the colonel to help in apprehending "the Major" +and others who had been rescued, and that the colonel would have +nothing to do with it. + +The men finished their grog much more rapidly than they had begun it, +and then walked out of the house, probably to convey the tidings +elsewhere. Now, the town of Hythe is composed, as every one knows, of +one large and principal street nearly at the bottom of the hill, with +several back streets--or perhaps lanes we might call them--running +parallel to the first, and a great number of shorter ones running up +and down the hill, and connecting the principal thoroughfare with +those behind it. Many--nay, I might say most--of the houses in the +main street had, at the time I speak of, a back as well as a front +entrance. They might sometimes have even more than one; for there were +trades carried on in Hythe, as the reader has been made aware, which +occasionally required rapid and secret modes of exit. Nor was the +house in which the young commander of dragoons resided without its +conveniences in this respect; but it happened that Mowle, the officer, +was well acquainted with all its different passages and contrivances; +and consequently he took advantage, on his return at the end of an +hour, of one of the small lanes, which led him by a back way into the +inn. Then ascending a narrow staircase without disturbing anybody, he +made his way to the room he sought, where he found the colonel of the +regiment quietly writing some letters after his brief meal was over. + +"Well, Mr. Mowle!" said the young officer, folding up, and sealing the +note he had just concluded--"now, let me hear what you have +discovered, and where you wish the troops to be." + +"I am afraid, sir, we have lost time," answered Mowle; "for I can't +tell at what time the landing will take place." + +"Not before midnight," replied his companion; "there is no vessel in +sight, and, with the wind at this quarter, they can't be very quick in +their movements." + +"Why, probably not before midnight, sir," answered Mowle; "but there +are not above fifty of your men within ten miles round, and if you've +to send for them to Folkestone and Ashford, and out almost to +Staplehurst, they will have no time to make ready and march; and the +fellows will be off into the Weald before we can catch them." + +The young officer smiled: "Then you think fifty men will not be +enough?" he asked. + +"Not half enough," answered Mowle, beginning to set down his companion +as a person of very little intellect or energy--"why, from what I +hear, there will be some two or three hundred of these fellows down, +to carry the goods after they are run, and every one of them equal to +a dragoon, at any time." + +"Well, we shall see!" said the young officer, coolly. "You are sure +that Dymchurch is the place?" + +"Why, somewhere thereabouts, sir; and that's a long way off," answered +Mowle; "so if you have any arrangements to make, you had better make +them." + +"They are all made," replied the colonel; "but tell me, Mr. Mowle, +does it not frequently take place that, when smugglers are pursued in +the marsh, they throw their goods into the cuts and canals and creeks +by which it is intersected." + +"To be sure they do, sir," exclaimed the officer; "and they'll do that +to a certainty, if we can't prevent them landing; and, if we attack +them in the Marsh----" + +"To prevent them landing," said the gentleman, "seems to me impossible +in the present state of affairs; and I do not know whether it would be +expedient, even if we could. Your object is to seize the goods, both +for your own benefit and that of the state, and to take as many +prisoners as possible. Now, from what you told me yesterday, I find +that you have no force at sea, except a few miserable boats----" + +"I sent off for the revenue cruiser this morning, sir," answered +Mowle. + +"But she is not come," rejoined the officer; "and, consequently, must +be thrown out of our combinations. If we assemble a large force at any +point of the coast, the smugglers on shore will have warning. They may +easily find means of giving notice of the fact to their comrades at +sea--the landing may be effected at a different point from that now +proposed, and the goods carried clear off before we can reach them. It +seems to me, therefore, better for you to let the landing take place +quietly. As soon as it has taken place, the beacons will be lighted by +my orders; the very fact of a signal they don't understand will throw +the smugglers into some confusion; and they will hurry out of the +Marsh as fast as possible----" + +"But suppose they separate, and all take different roads," said Mowle. + +"Then all, or almost all, the different parties will be met with and +stopped," replied the officer. + +"But your men cannot act without a requisition from the Customs, sir," +answered Mowle, "and they are so devilish cautious of committing +themselves----" + +"But I am not," rejoined the colonel; "and every party along the whole +line has notice that the firing of the beacons is to be taken as a +signal that due requisition has been made, and has orders also to stop +any body of men carrying goods that they may meet with. But I do not +think that these smugglers will separate at all, Mr. Mowle. Their only +chance of safety must seem to them--not knowing how perfectly prepared +we are--to lie in their numbers and their union. While acting +together, their numbers, it appears from your account, would be +sufficient to force any one post opposed to them, according to the +arrangements which they have every reason to believe still exist; and +they will not throw away that chance. It is, therefore, my belief that +they will make their way out of the Marsh in one body. After that, +leave them to me. I will take the responsibility upon myself." + +"Very well, colonel--very well!" said Mowle; "if you are ready without +my knowing anything about it, all the better. Only the fellow I sent +you brought back word something about Folkestone." + +"That was merely because I did not like the man's look," replied the +young officer, "and thought you would understand that a message sent +you in so public a manner, upon a business which required secrecy, +must not be read in its direct sense." + +"Oh, I see, colonel--I see," cried the officer of Customs; "it was +stupid enough not to understand. All my people are ready, however; and +if we could but discover the hour the run is to be made, we should +have a pretty sure game of it." + +"Cannot the same person who gave you so much intelligence, give you +that also?" asked his companion. + +"Why, no; either the imp can't, or he wont," said Mowle. "I had to pay +him ten pounds for what tidings I got, for the little wretch is as +cunning as Satan." + +"Are you sure the intelligence was correct?" demanded the officer of +dragoons. + +"Oh yes, sir," replied Mowle. "His tidings have always been quite +right; and besides, I've the means of testing this myself; for he told +me where they are to meet--at least a large party of them--before +going down to the shore. I've a very great mind to disguise myself, +and creep in among them." + +"A very hazardous experiment, I should think," said the colonel; "and +I do not see any object worth the risk." + +"Why, the object would be to get information of the hour," answered +Mowle. "If we could learn that, some time before, we could have +everything ready, and have them watched all through the Marsh." + +"Well, you must use your own judgment in that particular!" answered +the young officer; "but I tell you, I am quite prepared myself; and +such a large body as you have mentioned cannot cross a considerable +extent of country without attracting attention." + +"Well, I'll see, sir--I'll see," answered Mowle; "but had I not better +send off two or three officers towards Dymchurch, to give your men +notice as soon as the goods are landed?" + +"Undoubtedly," answered the colonel. "There's a party at New Romney, +and a party at Burmarsh. They both have their orders, and as soon as +they have intimation, will act upon them. I would have enough men +present, if I were you, to watch the coast well, but with strict +orders to do nothing to create alarm." + +Some minor arrangements were then entered into, of no great importance +to the tale; and Mowle took his leave, after having promised to give +the colonel the very first intimation he received of the farther +proceedings of the smugglers. + +The completion of his own arrangements took the Custom-House officer +half an hour more, and at the end of that time he returned to his own +dwelling, and sat down for a while, to think over the next step. He +felt a strong inclination to visit the meeting place of the smugglers +in person. He was, as we have shown, a man of a daring and adventurous +disposition, strong in nerve, firm in heart, and with, perhaps, too +anxious a sense of duty. Indeed, he was rather inclined to be rash +than otherwise, from the apprehension of having anything like fear +attributed to him in the execution of the service he had undertaken; +but still he could not shut his eyes to the fact that the scheme he +meditated was full of peril to himself. The men amongst whom he +proposed to venture were lawless, sanguinary, and unscrupulous; and, +if discovered, he had every reason to believe that his life would be +sacrificed by them without the slightest hesitation or remorse. He was +their most persevering enemy; he had spared them on no occasion; and +although he had dealt fairly by them, yet many of those who were +likely to be present, had suffered severe punishment at his +instigation and by his means. He hesitated a little, and called to +mind what the colonel had said regarding the hazard of the act, and +the want of sufficient object; but then, suddenly starting up, he +looked forward with a frowning brow, exclaiming, "Why, hang it, I'm +not afraid! I'll go, whatever befals me. It's my duty not to leave any +chance for information untried. That young fellow is mighty cool about +the business; and if these men get off, it shall not be any fault of +mine." + +Thus saying, he lighted a candle, and went into an adjoining room, +where, from a large commode, filled with a strange medley of different +dresses and implements, he chose out a wagoner's frock, a large pair +of leathern leggings, or gaiters, and a straw hat, such as was very +commonly used at that time amongst the peasantry of England. After +gazing at them for a moment or two, and turning them over once or +twice, he put them on, and then, with a pair of sharp scissors, cut +away, in a rough and unceremonious fashion, a considerable quantity of +his black hair, which was generally left rough and floating. High up +over his neck, and round his chin, he tied a large blue handkerchief, +and when thus completely accoutred, gave himself a glance in the +glass, saying, "I don't think I should know myself." + +He seemed considerably reassured at finding himself so completely +disguised; and then looking at his watch, and perceiving that the hour +named for the meeting was approaching, he put a brace of pistols in +his breast, where they could be easily reached through the opening in +front of the smock-frock. + +He had already reached the door, when something seemed to strike +him; and saying to himself--"Well, there's no knowing what may +happen!--it's better to prepare against anything," he turned back to +his sitting-room, and wrote down on a sheet of paper: + + +"Sir,--I am gone up to see what they are about. If I should not be +back by eleven, you may be sure they have caught me, and then you must +do your best with Birchett and the others. If I get off, I'll call in +as I come back, and let you know. + + "Sir, your very obedient servant, + + "William Mowle." + + +As soon as this was done, he folded the note up, addressed, and sealed +it; and then, blowing the light out, he called an old female servant +who had lived in his house for many years, and whom he now directed to +carry the epistle to the colonel of dragoons who was up at the inn, +adding that she was to deliver it with her own hand. + +The old woman took it at once; and knowing well, how usual it was for +the Custom-House officers to disguise their persons in various ways, +she took no notice of the strange change in Mr. Mowle's appearance, +though it was so complete that it could not well escape her eyes, even +in the darkness which reigned throughout the house. + +This having been all arranged, and the maid on her way to convey the +letter, Mowle himself walked slowly forward through the long narrow +lanes at the back of the town, and along the path up towards Saltwood. +It was dusk when he set out, but not yet quite dark; and as he went, +he met two people of the town, whom he knew well, but who only replied +to the awkward nod of the head which he gave them, by saying, "Good +night, my man," and walked on, evidently unconscious that they were +passing an acquaintance. + +As he advanced, however, the night grew darker and more dark; and a +fog began to rise, though not so thick as that of the night before. +Mowle muttered to himself, as he observed it creeping up the hill from +the side of the valley, "Ay, this is what the blackguards calculated +upon, and they are always sure to be right about the weather; but it +will serve my turn as well as theirs;" and on he went in the direction +of the castle, keeping the regular road by the side of the hill, and +eschewing especially the dwelling of Galley Ray and her grandson. + +Born in that part of the country, and perfectly well prepared, both to +find his way about every part of the ruins, and to speak the dialect +of the county in its broadest accent, if he should be questioned, the +darkness was all that he could desire; and it was with pleasure that +he found the obscurity so deep that even he could not see the large +stones which at that time lay in the road, causing him to stumble more +than once as he approached the castle. He was in some hope, indeed, of +reaching the ruins before the smugglers began to assemble, and of +finding a place of concealment whence he could overhear their sayings +and doings; but in this expectation, he discovered, as he approached +the walls, that he should be disappointed; for in the open road +between the castle and the village, he found a number of horses tied, +and two men watching. He trudged on past them, however, with a slow +step and a slouching gait; and when one of the men called out, "Is +that you, Jack?" he answered, "Ay, ay!" without stopping. + +At the gate of the court he heard a good many voices talking within; +and, it must be acknowledged, that, although as brave a man as ever +lived, he was not without a strong sense of the dangers of his +situation. But he suffered it not to master him in the least; and +advancing resolutely, he soon got the faint outline of several groups +of men--amounting in the whole to about thirty--assembled on the green +between the walls and the keep. Walking resolutely up to one of these +little knots, he looked boldly amongst the persons it comprised as if +seeking for somebody. Their faces could scarcely be distinguished; but +the voices of one or two who were talking together, showed him that +the group was a hazardous one, as it contained several of the most +notorious smugglers of the neighbourhood, who had but too good cause +to be well acquainted with his person and his tongue. He went on, +consequently, to the next little party, which he soon judged, from the +conversation he overheard, to be principally composed of strangers. +One man spoke of how they did those things in Sussex, and told of how +he had aided to haul up, Heaven knows how many bales of goods over the +bare face of the cliff between Hastings and Winchelsea. Judging, +therefore, that he was here in security, the officer attached himself +to this group, and, after a while, ventured to ask, "Do ye know what's +to be the hour, about?" + +The man he spoke to answered "No!" adding that, they could not tell +anything "till the gentleman came." This, however, commenced a +conversation, and Mowle was speedily identified with that group, +which, consisting entirely of strangers, as he had supposed, did not +mingle much with the rest. Every one present was armed; and he found +that though some had come on foot like himself, the greater part had +journeyed on horseback. He had a good opportunity also of learning +that, notwithstanding every effort made by the Government, the system +of smuggling was carried on along the coast to a much greater extent +than even he himself had been aware of. Many of his brother officers +were spoken of in high terms of commendation, which did not sound very +satisfactory to his ears; and many a hint for his future operations, +he gained from the gossip of those who surrounded him. + +Still time wore on, and he began to be a little uneasy lest he should +be detained longer than the hour which he had specified in his note to +the colonel of dragoons. But at length, towards ten o'clock, the quick +tramping of a number of horses were heard, and several voices +speaking; and a minute after, five or six and twenty men entered the +grass court, and came up hastily to the rest. + +"Now, are you all ready?" cried a voice, which Mowle instantly +recognised as that of young Radford. + +"Yes, we've been waiting these two hours," answered one of those in +the group which the officer had first approached; "but you'll never +have enough here, sir." + +"Never you mind that," rejoined Richard Radford, "there are eighty +more at Lympne, and a good number down at Dymchurch already, +with plenty of horses. Come, muster, muster, and let us be off, +for the landing will begin at one, and we have a good long way to +go.--Remember, every one," he continued, raising his voice, "that +the way is by Butter's Bridge, and then down and along the shore. If +any one takes the road by Burmarsh he will fall in with the dragoons. +Troop off, my men, troop off. You Ned, and you Major, see that the +court is quite cleared; we must have none lagging behind." + +This precaution did not at all disconcert our good friend Mowle, for +he judged that he should very easily find the means of detaching +himself from the rest, at the nearest point to Hythe; and accordingly +he walked on with the party he had joined, till they arrived at the +spot where they had seen the horses tied. There, however, the greater +part mounted, and the others joined a different body, which Mowle was +well aware was not quite so safe; for acting as the chief thereof, and +looking very sharply after his party too, was no other than our friend +the Major. Mowle now took good care to keep silence--a prudent step, +which was enjoined upon them all by Mr. Radford and some others, who +seemed to have the direction of the affair. But notwithstanding every +care, the tread of so many men and so many horses made a considerable +noise; and just as they were passing a small cottage, not a quarter of +a mile from Saltwood, the good dame within opened the door to see what +such a bustle could be about. As she did so, the light from the +interior fell full upon Mowle's face, and the eyes of the Major, +turned towards the door at the same moment, rested upon him for an +instant, and were then withdrawn. It were vain to say, that the worthy +officer felt quite as comfortable at that moment as if he had been in +his own house; but when no notice was taken, he comforted himself with +the thought that his disguise had served him well, and trudged on with +the rest, without showing any hesitation or surprise. About half a +mile farther lay the turning which he proposed to take to reach Hythe; +and he contrived to get over to the left side of the party, in order +to drop off in that direction unperceived. When he was within ten +steps of it, however, and was congratulating himself that the party, +having scattered a little, gave him greater facilities for executing +his scheme, an arm was familiarly thrust through his own, and a pair +of lips, close to his ear, said in a low, but very distinct tone, "I +know you--and if you attempt to get off, you are a dead man! Continue +with the party, and you are safe. When the goods are landed and gone, +you shall go; but the least suspicious movement before, shall bring +twenty bullets into your head. You did me a good turn yesterday +morning before the Justices, in not raking up old offences; and I am +willing to do you a good turn now; but this is all I can do for you." + +Mowle turned round, well knowing the voice, nodded his head, and +walked on with the rest in the direction of Lympne. + + + + + CHAPTER VI. + + +Towards half-past ten o'clock at night, the Inn at Hythe was somewhat +quieter than it had been on the evening before. This was not a punch +club night; there was no public dinner going forward; a great many +accustomed guests were absent, and the house was left nearly vacant of +all visitors, except the young commandant of the dragoons, his two or +three servants, and three stout-looking old soldiers, who had come in +about ten, and taken possession of the tap-room, in their full +uniform, scaring away, as it would seem, a sharp-looking man, who had +been previously drinking there in solitude, only cheered by the +occasional visits and brief conversation of the landlord. The officer +himself was up stairs in his room, with a soldier at his door, as +usual, and was supposed by all the household to be busy writing; but, +in the meanwhile, there was a good deal of bustle in the stables; and +about a quarter before eleven, the ostler came in, and informed the +landlord, that they were saddling three of the colonel's horses, and +his two grooms' horses. + +"Saddling three!" cried the host; "why, he can't ride three horses at +once, anyhow; and where can he be going to ride to-night? I must run +and see if I can pump it out of the fellows;" and away he walked +to the stables, where he found the men--two grooms, and two +helpers--busily engaged in the occupation which the ostler had stated. + +"Ah," said the landlord, "so there is something going on to-night?" + +"Not that I know of," answered the head groom. "Tie down that holster, +Bill. The thongs are loose--don't you see?" + +"Oh, but there must be something in the wind," rejoined the landlord, +"the colonel wouldn't ride out so late else." + +"Lord bless you!" replied the man, "little you know of his ways. Why, +sometimes he'll have us all up at two or three in the morning, just to +visit a post of perhaps twenty men. He's a smart officer, I can tell +you; and no one must be caught napping in his regiment, that's +certain." + +"But you have saddled three horses for him!" said the landlord, +returning to his axiom; "and he can't ride three at once, any how." + +"Ay, but who can tell which he may like to ride?" rejoined the groom, +"we shan't know anything about that, till he comes into the stable, +most likely." + +"And where is he going to, to-night?" asked the landlord. + +"We can't tell that he's going anywhere," answered the man; "but if he +does, I should suppose it would be to Folkestone. The major is away on +leave, you know; and it is just as likely as not, that he'll go over +to see that all's right there." + +The worthy host was not altogether satisfied with the information he +received; but as he clearly saw that he should get no more, he +retired, and went into the tap, to try the dragoons, without being +more successful in that quarter than he had been in the stables. + +In the meantime, his guest up stairs had finished his letters--had +dressed himself in uniform--armed himself, and laid three brace of +pistols, charged, upon the table, for the holsters of his saddles; and +then taking a large map of the county, he leaned over it, tracing the +different roads, which at that time intersected the Weald of Kent. Two +or three times he took out his watch; and as the hour of eleven drew +near, he began to feel considerable alarm for the fate of poor Mowle. + +"If they discover him, they will murder him, to a certainty," he +thought; "and I believe a more honest fellow does not live.--It was a +rash and foolish undertaking. The measures I have adopted could not +fail.--Hark! there is the clock striking. We must lose no more time. +We may save him yet, or at all events, avenge him." He then called the +soldier from the door, and sent off a messenger to the house of the +second officer of Customs, named Birchett, who came up in a few +minutes. + +"Mr. Birchett," said the colonel, "I fear our friend Mowle has got +himself into a scrape;" and he proceeded to detail as many of the +circumstances as were necessary to enable the other to comprehend the +situation of affairs; and ended by asking, "Are you prepared to act in +Mr. Mowle's absence?" + +"Oh, yes, sir," answered Birchett. "Mowle did not tell me the +business; but he said, I must have my horse saddled. He was always a +close fellow, and kept all the intelligence to himself." + +"In this case it was absolutely necessary," replied the colonel; "but +without any long explanations, I think you had better ride down +towards Dymchurch at once, with all the men you can trust, keeping as +sharp a look-out as you can on the coast, and sending me information +the moment you receive intelligence that the run has been effected. Do +not attempt to attack the smugglers without sufficient force; but +despatch two men by different roads, to intimate the fact to me at +Aldington Knowle, where I shall be found throughout the night." + +"Ay, sir," answered the officer, "but suppose the fellows take along +by Burmarsh, and so up to Hardy Pool. They will pass you, and be off +into the country before anything can be done." + +"They will be stopped at Burmarsh," replied the colonel; "orders have +been given to barricade the road at nightfall, and to defend the +hamlet against any one coming from the sea. I shall establish another +post at Lympne as I go. Leave all that to me." + +"But you must have a requisition, sir, or I suppose you are not +authorized to act," said the officer. "I will get one for you in a +minute." + +"I have one," answered the Colonel, laying hand on the papers before +him; "but even were it not so, I should act on my own responsibility. +This is no ordinary case, Mr. Birchett. All you have to do is to ride +off towards Dymchurch as fast as you can, to give me notice that the +smugglers have landed their goods as soon as you find that such is the +case, and to add any information that you can gain respecting the +course they have taken. Remember, not to attack them unless you find +that you have sufficient force, but follow and keep them in sight as +far as you can." + +"It's such a devilish foggy night, sir," said Birchett. + +"It will be clearer inland," replied the young officer; "and we shall +catch them at day break. We can only fail from want of good +information; so see that I have the most speedy intelligence. But +stay--lest anything should go wrong, or be misunderstood with regard +to the beacons, you may as well, if you have men to spare, send off as +you pass, after the run has been effected, to the different posts at +Brenzet, at Snave, at Ham Street, with merely these words, 'The goods +are landed. The smugglers are at such a place.' The parties will act +upon the orders they have already received. Now away, and lose no +time!" + +The riding officer hurried off, and the colonel of the regiment +descended to the court-yard. In three minutes more the sound of a +trumpet was heard in the streets of Hythe, and in less than ten, a +party of about thirty dragoons were marching out of the town towards +Lympne. A halt for about five minutes was made at the latter place, +and the small party of soldiers was diminished to about half its +number. Information, too, was there received, from one of the +cottagers, of a large body of men (magnified in his account into three +or four hundred) having gone down into the marshes about half an hour +before; but the commanding officer made no observation in reply, and +having given the orders he thought necessary, rode on towards +Aldington. The fog was thick in all the low ground, but cleared away a +good deal upon the more elevated spots; and as they were rising one of +the hills, the Serjeant who was with the party exclaimed, "There is +something very red up there, sir! It looks as if there were a beacon +lighted up, if we could see it for the fog." + +The young officer halted for a moment, looked round, and then rode on +till he reached the summit of the hill, whence a great light, clearly +proceeding from a beacon, was discovered to the north-east. + +"That must be near Postling," he said. "We have no party there. It +must be some signal of their own." And as he rode on, he thought, "It +is not impossible that poor Mowle's rashness may have put these men on +their guard, and thus thwarted the whole scheme. That is clearly some +warning to their boats." + +But ere a quarter of an hour more had passed, he saw the probability +of still more disastrous effects, resulting from the lighting of the +beacon on Tolsford Hill; for another flame shot up, casting a red +glare through the haze from the side of Burmarsh, and then another and +another, till the dim air seemed all tinged with flame. + +"An unlucky error," he said to himself. "Serjeant Jackson should have +known that we have no party in that quarter; and the beacons were only +to be lighted, from the first towards Hythe. It is very strange how +the clearest orders are sometimes misunderstood." + +He rode on, however, at a quick pace, till he reached Aldington +Knowle, and had found the highest ground in the neighbourhood, whence, +after pausing for a minute or two to examine the country, as marked +out by the various fires, he dispatched three of the dragoons in +different directions, with orders to the parties in the villages round +to disregard the lights they saw, and not to act upon the orders +previously given, till they received intimation that the smugglers +were on the march. + +It was now about midnight, and during nearly two hours the young +officer remained stationed upon the hill without any one approaching, +or any sound breaking the stillness of the night but the stamping of +the horses of his little force and the occasional clang of the +soldiers' arms. At the end of that period, the tramp of horse coming +along the road at a quick pace from the side of Hythe, was heard by +the party on the more elevated ground at a little distance from the +highway. There was a tightening of the bridle and a movement of the +heel amongst the men, to bring their chargers into more regular line; +but not a word was said, and the colonel remained in front, with his +arms crossed upon his chest and his rein thrown down, while what +appeared from the sound to be a considerable body of cavalry, passed +before him. He could not see them, it is true, from the darkness of +the night; but his ear recognised in a moment the jingling of the +dragoons' arms, and he concluded rightly, that the party consisted of +the company which he had ordered from Folkestone down to Bilsington. +As soon as they had gone on, he detached a man to the next cross road +on the same side, with orders, if he perceived any body of men coming +across from the side of the Marsh, to ride forward at once to the +officer in command at Bilsington, and direct him to move to the north, +keeping the Priory wood on the right, till he reached the cross-roads +at the corner, and wait there for further orders. The beacons had by +this time burnt out; and all remained dark and still for about half an +hour more, when the quick galloping of a horse was heard coming from +the side of the Marsh. A pause took place as soon as the animal +reached the high road, as if the rider had halted to look for some one +he had expected; and--dashing down instantly through the gate of the +field, which had been opened by the dragoons to gain the highest point +of ground--the young officer exclaimed, "Who goes there?" + +"Ah, colonel, is that you?" cried the voice of Birchett. "They are +coming up as fast as they can come, and will pass either by Bilsington +or Bonnington. There's a precious lot of them--I never saw such a +number gathered before. Mowle's gone, poor fellow, to a certainty; for +we've seen nothing of him down there." + +"Nor I either," answered the young officer, with a sigh. "I hope you +have left men to watch them, Mr. Birchett." + +"Oh yes, sir," replied the officer. "I thought it better to come up +myself, than trust to any other. But I left Clinch and the rest there, +and sent off, as you told me, to all your posts." + +"You are sure they will come by Bilsington or Bonnington, and not +strike off by Kitsbridge, towards Ham Street or Warehorn?" demanded +the young officer. + +"If they do, they'll have to turn all the way back," answered +Birchett; "for I saw them to the crossing of the roads, and then came +across by Sherlock's Bridges and the horse-road to Hurst." + +"And are you quite sure," continued the colonel, "that your messengers +will reach the parties at Brenzet or Snave?" + +"Quite, sir," answered the Custom-House officer; "for I did not send +them off till the blackguards had passed, and the country behind was +clear." + +"That was judicious; and we have them," rejoined the young officer. "I +trust they may take by Bonnington; but it will be necessary to +ascertain the fact. You shall go down, Mr. Birchett, yourself, with +some of the troopers, and reconnoitre. Go as cautiously as possible; +and if you see or hear them passing, fall back quietly. If they do not +appear in reasonable time, send me intelligence. You can calculate the +distances better than I can." + +"I believe they will go by Bonnington," said the Customs officer; "for +it's much shorter, and I think they must know of your party at +Bilsington; though, to be sure, they could easily force that, for it +is but a sergeant's guard." + +"You are mistaken," answered the colonel. + +"Captain Irby is there with his troop; and, together with the parties +moving up, on a line with the smugglers from the Marsh, he will have a +hundred and fifty men, either in Bilsington, or three miles in his +rear. Nevertheless, we must give him help, in case they take that +road; so you had better ride down at once, Mr. Birchett." + +And, ordering three of the privates to accompany the Custom-House +officer, with renewed injunctions to caution and silence, he resumed +his position on the hill, and waited in expectation of the result. + + + + + CHAPTER VII. + + +The cottages round Dymchurch, and the neighbourhood of the Gut, as it +is called, showed many a cheerful light about eleven o'clock, on the +night of which we have just been speaking; and, as the evening had +been cold and damp, it seemed natural enough to the two officers of +Customs stationed in the place--or at least they chose to think +so--that the poor people should have a fire to keep them warm. If they +had judged it expedient to go forth, instead of remaining in the house +appropriated to them, they might indeed have discovered a fragrant +odour of good Hollands, and every now and then a strong smell of +brandy, issuing from any hovel door that happened to open as they +passed. But the two officers did not judge it expedient to go forth; +for it was late, they were warm and comfortable where they were, a +good bowl of punch stood before them, and one of them, as he ladled +out the exhilarating liquor to the other, remarked, with philosophical +sagacity, "It's such a foggy night, who the deuce could see anything +on the water even if they went to look for it?" + +The other laughed, with a meaning wink of his eye, and perfectly +agreed in the justice of his companion's observation. "Well, we must +go out, Jim, about twelve," he said, "just to let old Mowle see that +we are looking about; but you can go down to High Nook, and I can +pretend I heard something suspicious in the Marsh, farther up. +Otherwise, we shall be broke, to a certainty." + +"I don't care, if I am broke," answered the other. "I've got all that +I want now, and can set up a shop." + +"Well, I should like to hold on a little longer," replied his more +prudent companion; "and besides, if they found us out, they might do +worse than discharge us." + +"But how the deuce should they find us out?" asked the other. "Nobody +saw me speak to the old gentleman; and nobody saw you. I didn't: nor +did you see me. So we can say nothing, and nobody else can say +anything--I shan't budge." + +"Well, I shall!" said the other. "'Tis but a walk; and you know quite +well, Jim, that if we keep to the westward, it's all safe." + +It was evident to the last speaker that his comrade had drunk quite +enough punch; but still they went on till the bowl was finished; and +then, the one going out, the other did not choose to remain, but +issued forth also, cursing and growling as he went. The murmur of a +good many voices to the eastward of Dymchurch saluted their ears the +moment they quitted the house; but that sound only induced them to +hasten their steps in the opposite direction. + +The noise which produced this effect upon the officers, had also been +heard by another person, who was keeping his solitary watch on the low +shore, three or four hundred yards from the village; and to him it was +a pleasant sound. He had been on the look-out there for nearly two +hours; and no sight had he seen, nor sound had he heard, but the water +coming up as the tide made, and every now and then driving him further +back to avoid the ripple of the wave. Two or three minutes after, a +step could be distinguished; and some one gave a whistle. + +The watcher whistled in return; and the next instant he was joined by +another person, somewhat taller than himself, who inquired, "Have you +heard anything of them yet?" + +"No, sir," answered the man, in a respectful tone. "Everything has +been as still and as sleepy as an old woman's cat." + +"Then what the devil's the meaning of these fires all over the +country?" asked young Radford; for he it was who had come down. + +"Fires, sir?" said the man. "Why they were to light one upon Tolsford +Hill, when Harding sent up the rockets; but I have heard of none but +that, and have seen none at all." + +"Why, they are blazing all over the country," cried young Radford, +from Tolsford to Dungeness. "If it's any of our people that have done +it, they must be mad." + +"Well, if they have lighted the one at Tolsford,"' answered the man, +"we shall soon have Tom Hazlewood down to tell us more; for he was to +set off and gallop as fast as possible, whenever he saw anything." + +Young Radford made no reply, but stood musing in silence for two or +three minutes; and then starting, he exclaimed, "Hark! wasn't that a +cheer from the sea?" + +"I didn't hear it," answered the man; "but I thought I heard some one +riding." + +Young Radford listened; but all seemed still for a moment, till, +coming upon harder ground, a horse's feet sounded distinctly. + +"Tom Hazlewood, I think," cried Radford. "Run up, and see, Bill!" + +"He'll come straight down here, sir," replied the man; "he knows where +to find me." And almost as he spoke, a man on horseback galloped up, +saying, "They must be well in shore now." + +"Who the devil lighted all those fires?" exclaimed young Radford. "Why +they will alarm the whole country!" + +"I don't know, sir," answered the man on horseback; "I lighted the one +at Tolsford, but I've nothing to do with the others, and don't know +who lighted them." + +"Then you saw the rockets?" demanded the young gentleman. + +"Quite clear, sir," replied Hazlewood; "I got upon the highest point +that I could find, and kept looking out over the sea, thinking I +should see nothing; for though it was quite clear up so high, and the +stars shining as bright as possible, yet all underneath was like a +great white cloud rolled about; but suddenly, as I was looking over +this way, I saw something like a star shoot up from the cloud and +burst into a thousand bright sparks, making quite a blaze all round +it; and then came another, and then another. So, being quite sure that +it was Jack Harding at sea, I ran down as hard as I could to where I +had left Peter by the pile of wood and the two old barrels, and taking +the candle out of his lantern, thrust it in. As soon as it was in a +blaze, I got outside my horse and galloped down; for he could not be +more than two or three miles out when I saw the rockets." + +"Then he must be close in now," answered Richard Radford; "and we had +better get all the men down, and spread out." + +"There will be time enough, sir, I should think," observed the man on +foot, "for he'll get the big boats in, as near as he can, before he +loads the little ones." + +"I will fire a pistol, to let him know where we are," answered young +Radford; and drawing one from his belt, he had cocked it, when the man +on foot stopped him, saying, "There are two officers in Dymchurch, you +know, sir, and they may send off for troops." + +"Pooh--nonsense!" replied Richard Radford, firing the pistol in the +air; "do you think we would have left them there, if we were not sure +of them?" + +In somewhat less than a minute, a distinct cheer was heard from the +sea; and at the sound of the pistol, a crowd of men and horses, which +in the mist and darkness seemed innumerable, began to gather down upon +the shore, as near to the water's edge as they could come. A great +many lanterns were produced, and a strange and curious sight it was to +see the number of wild-looking faces which appeared by that dim, +uncertain light. + +"Ned Ramley!" cried young Radford. + +"Here I am, sir," answered a voice close at hand. + +"Where's the Major?" + +"Major! Major!" shouted Ramley. + +"Coming," answered a voice at some distance. "Stand by him, and do as +I told you!" + +"What's the matter?" demanded Richard Radford, as the Major came up. + +"Oh, nothing, sir!" replied the other; "only a man I found larking +about. He says he's willing to help; but I thought it best to set a +watch upon him, as I don't know him." + +"That was right," said the young gentleman. "But, hark!--there are the +oars!" And the sound of the regular sweep, and the shifting beat of +the oar against the rowlocks, was distinctly heard by all present. +Some of the men waded down into the water, there being very little sea +running, and soon, through the mist, six boats of a tolerable size +could be seen pulling hard towards the land. In another moment, amidst +various cries and directions, they touched the shore. Several men +jumped out of each into the water, and a number of the party which had +come down to meet them, running in, caught hold of the ropes that were +thrown out of the boats, and with marvellous rapidity they were drawn +up till they were high and dry. + +"Ah, Harding, is that you?" said young Radford, addressing the +smuggler, who had been steering the largest boat. "This is capitally +managed. You are even earlier than I expected; and we shall get far +into the country before daylight." + +"We were obliged to use the sweeps, sir," said Harding, bluntly; "but +don't let's talk. Get the things out, and load the horses; for we +shall have to make two more trips back to the luggers before they are +all cleared." + +Everything was now bustle and activity; a number of bales and packages +were taken out of the boats and placed upon the horses in one way or +another, not always the most convenient to the poor animals; and as +soon as Harding had made Mr. Radford count the number of the articles +landed, the boats were launched off again to some larger vessels, +which it seems were lying out at a little distance, though +indiscernible in the fog. + +Harding himself remained ashore; and turning to one or two of those +about him, he asked, "What was all that red blaze I saw half over the +country?" + +"None of us can tell," answered young Radford. "The moment the fire at +Tolsford was lighted, a dozen more were flaming up, all along to +Dungeness." + +"That's devilish strange!" said Harding. "It does not look well.--How +many men have you got with you, Mr. Radford?" + +"Why, well nigh upon two hundred," answered Ned Ramley, for his +comrade. + +"Ah, then you'll do," answered Harding, with a laugh; "but still you +won't be the worse for some more. So I and some of the lads will see +you safe across the Marsh. The Customs have got nothing at sea about +here; so the boats will be safe enough." + +"Thank you, Harding--thank you, Jack;" said several of the voices. +"Once out of the Marsh, with all these ditches and things, and we +shall do very well. How far are the luggers off?" + +"Not a hundred fathom," answered Harding. "I would have run them +ashore if there had been any capstan here to have drawn them up. But +they wont be a minute, so have every thing ready. Move off those +horses that are loaded, a bit, my lads, and bring up the others." + +Harding's minute, however, extended to nearly ten, and then the boats +were again perceived approaching, and the same process was followed as +before. The third trip was then made with equal success and ease. Not +the slightest difficulty occurred, not the slightest obstruction was +offered; the number of packages was declared to be complete, the +horses were all loaded, and the party began to move off in a long +line, across the Marsh, like a caravan threading the mazes of the +desert. + +Leaving a few men with the boats that were ashore, Harding and the +rest of the seamen, with Mr. Radford, and several of his party, +brought up the rear of the smugglers, talking over the events which +had taken place, and the course of their farther proceedings. All +seemed friendly and good-humoured; but there is such a thing as +seeming, even amongst smugglers, and if Harding could have seen the +real feelings of some of his companions towards him, it is very +probable that he would not have given himself the trouble to accompany +them on the way. + +"I will pay you the money when I get to Bonnington," said young +Radford, addressing his companion. "I can't very well get at it till I +dismount." + +"Oh, there's no matter for that, sir," replied the smuggler. "Your +father can pay me some other time.--But what are you going to +Bonnington for? I should have thought your best way would have been by +Bilsington, and so straight into the Weald. Then you would have had +the woods round about you the greater part of the way; or I don't know +that I might not have gone farther down still, and so by Orleston." + +"There's a party of dragoons at Bilsington," said young Radford, "and +another at Ham Street." + +"Ay, that alters the case," answered the smuggler; "but they are all +so scattered about and so few, I should think they could do you no +great harm. However, it will be best for you to go by Bonnington, if +you are sure there are no troops there." + +"If there are, we must fight: that's all," answered young Radford; and +so ended the conversation for the time. One of those pauses of deep +silence succeeded, which--by the accidental exhaustion of topics and +the recurrence of the mind to the thoughts suggested by what has just +passed--so frequently intervene in the conversation even of great +numbers, whether occupied with light or serious subjects. How often do +we find, amidst the gayest or the busiest assembly, a sudden stillness +pervade the whole, and the ear may detect a pin fall. In the midst of +the silence, however, Harding laid his hand upon young Radford's +bridle, saying, in a low voice, "Hark! do you not hear the galloping +of horses to the east there?" + +The young man, on the first impulse, put his hand to his holster; but +then withdrew it, and listened. "I think I do," he answered; "but now +it has stopped." + +"You are watched, I suspect," said Harding; "they did not seem many, +however, and may be afraid to attack you. If I were you, I would put +the men into a quicker pace; for these fellows may gather as they +go.--If you had got such things with you as you could throw into the +cuts, it would not much matter; for you could fight it out here, as +well as elsewhere; but, if I understood your father rightly, these +goods would all be spoiled, and so the sooner you are out of the Marsh +the better. Then you will be safe enough, if you are prudent. You may +have to risk a shot or two; but that does not much matter." + +"And what do you call prudent, Harding?" asked young Radford, in a +wonderfully calm tone, considering his vehement temperament, and the +excitement of the adventure in which he was engaged; "how would you +have me act, when I do get out of the Marsh?" + +"Why, that seems clear enough," replied the smuggler. "I would send +all the goods and the men on foot, first, keeping along the straight +road between the woods; and then, with all those who have got horses, +I would hang behind a quarter of a mile or so, till the others had +time to get on and disperse to the different hides, which ought to be +done as soon as possible. Let a number drop off here, and a number +there--one set to the willow cave, close by Woodchurch hill, another +to the old Priory in the wood, and so on: you still keeping behind, +and facing about upon the road, if you are pursued. If you do that, +you are sure to secure the goods, or by far the greater part of them." + +The advice was so good--as far as young Radford knew of the condition +of the country, and the usual plan of operations which had hitherto +been pursued by the Customs in their pursuit of smugglers--that he +could offer no reasonable argument against it; but when prejudice has +taken possession of a man's mind, it is a busy and skilful framer of +suspicions; and he thought within his own breast, though he did not +speak his intentions aloud, "No! Hang me if I leave the goods till I +see them safe housed. This fellow may want to ruin us, by separating +us into small parties." + +The rest of the party had, by this time, resumed their conversation; +and both Radford and Harding well knew that it would be vain to +attempt to keep them quiet; for they were a rash and careless set, +inclined to do everything with dash and swagger; and although, in the +presence of actual and apparent danger, they could be induced to +preserve some degree of order and discipline, and to show some +obedience to their leaders, yet as soon as the peril had passed away, +or was no longer immediately before their eyes, they were like +schoolboys in the master's absence, and careless of the consequences +which they did not see. Twice Harding said, in a low voice, "I hear +them again to the east, there!" and twice young Radford urged his men +to a quicker pace; but many of them had come far; horses and men were +tired; every one considered that, as the goods were safely landed, and +no opposition shown, the battle was more than half won; and all forgot +the warning of the day before, as man ever forgets the chastisements +which are inflicted by Heaven for his good, and falls the next day +into the very same errors, for the reproof of which they were sent. + +"Now," said Harding, as they approached the spot where the Marsh road +opened upon the highway to Bonnington, "spread some of your men out on +the right and left, Mr. Radford, to keep you clear in case the enemy +wish to make an attack. Your people can easily close in, and follow +quickly, as soon as the rest have passed." + +"If they do make an attack," thought young Radford, "your head shall +be the first I send a ball through;" but the advice was too judicious +to be neglected; and he accordingly gave orders to Ned Ramley and the +Major, with ten men each, to go one or two hundred yards on the road +towards Bilsington on the one hand, and Hurst on the other, and see +that all was safe. A little confusion ensued, as was but natural in so +badly disciplined a body; and in the meanwhile the laden horses +advanced along the road straight into the heart of the country, while +Richard Radford, with the greater part of his mounted men, paused to +support either of his parties in case of attack. He said something in +a low voice regarding the money, to Harding, who replied abruptly, +"There--never mind about that; only look out, and get off as quickly +as you can. You are safe enough now, I think; so good night." + +Thus saying, he turned, and with the six or eight stout fellows who +accompanied him, trod his way back into the Marsh. What passed through +young Radford's brain at that moment it may be needless to dwell upon; +but Harding escaped a peril that he little dreamed of, solely by the +risk of ruin to the whole scheme which a brawl at that spot and moment +must have entailed. + +The men who had been detached to the right, advanced along the road to +the distance specified, proceeding slowly in the fog, and looking +eagerly out before. "Look out," said Ned Ramley, at length, to one of +his companions, taking a pistol from his belt at the same time, "I see +men on horseback there, I think." + +"Only trees in the fog," answered the other. + +"Hush!" cried Ramley, sharply; but the other men were talking +carelessly, and whether it was the sound of retreating horses or not, +that he heard, he could not discover. After going on about three +hundred yards, Ned Ramley turned, saying, "We had better go back now, +and give warning; for I am very sure those were men I saw." + +The other differed with him on that point; and, on rejoining Richard +Radford, they found the Major and his party just come back from the +Bilsington road, but with one man short. "That fellow," said the +Major, "has taken himself off. I was sure he was a spy, so we had +better go on as fast as possible. We shall have plenty of time before +he can raise men enough to follow." + +"There are others to the east, there," replied Ned Ramley. "I saw two +or three, and there is no time to be lost, I say, or we shall have the +whole country upon us. If I were you, Mr. Radford, I'd disperse in as +small numbers as possible whenever we get to the Chequer-tree; and +then if we lose a few of the things, we shall keep the greater +part--unless, indeed, you are minded to stand it out, and have a fight +upon the Green. We are enough to beat them all, I should think." + +"Ay, Ned, that is the gallant way," answered Richard Radford; "but we +must first see what is on before. We must not lose the goods, or risk +them; otherwise nothing would please me better than to drub these +dragoons; but in case it should be dark still when they come near +us--if they do at all--we'll have a blow or two before we have done, I +trust. However, let us forward now, for we must keep up well with the +rest." + +The party moved on at a quick pace, and soon overtook the train of +loaded horses, and men on foot, which had gone on before. Many a time +a glance was given along the road behind, and many a time an attentive +ear was turned listening for the sound of coming horse; but all was +still and silent; and winding on through the thick woods, which at +that time overspread all the country in the vicinity of their course, +and covered their line of advance right and left, they began to lose +the sense of danger, and to suppose that the sounds which had been +heard, and the forms which had been seen, were but mere creations of +the fancy. + +About two miles from the border of Romney Marsh, the mist grew +lighter, fading gradually away as the sea air mingled with the clearer +atmosphere of the country. At times a star or two might be seen above; +and though at that hour the moon gave no light, yet there was a +certain degree of brightening in the sky which made some think they +had miscalculated the hour, and that it was nearer the dawn than they +imagined, while others contended that it was produced merely by the +clearing away of the fog. At length, however, they heard a distant +clock strike four. They were now at a spot where three or four roads +branch off in different directions, at a distance of not more than +half-a-mile from Chequer-tree, having a wide extent of rough, +uncultivated land, called Aldington Freight, on their right, and part +of the Priory wood on their left; and it yet wanted somewhat more than +an hour to the actual rising of the sun. A consultation was then held; +and, notwithstanding some differences of opinion, it was resolved to +take the road by Stonecross Green, where they thought they could get +information from some friendly cottagers, and thence through Gilbert's +Wood towards Shaddoxhurst. At that point, they calculated that they +could safely separate in order to convey the goods to the several +_hides_, or places of concealment, which had been chosen beforehand. + +At Stonecross Green, they paused again, and knocked hard at a cottage +door, till they brought forth the sleepy tenant from his bed. But the +intelligence gained from him was by no means satisfactory; he spoke of +a large party of dragoons at Kingsnorth, and mentioned reports which +had reached him of a small body having shown itself, at Bromley Green, +late on the preceding night; and it was consequently resolved, after +much debate, to turn off before entering Gilbert's Wood, and, in some +degree retreading their steps towards the Marsh, to make for +Woodchurch beacon and thence to Redbrook Street. The distance was thus +rendered greater, and both men and horses were weary; but the line of +road proposed lay amidst a wild and thinly inhabited part of the +country, where few hamlets or villages offered any quarters for the +dragoons. They calculated, too, that having turned the dragoons who +were quartered at Bilsington, they should thus pass between them and +those at Kingsnorth and Bromley Green: and Richard Radford, himself, +was well aware that there were no soldiers, when he left that part of +the country, in the neighbourhood of High Halden or Bethersden. This +seemed, therefore, the only road that was actually open before them; +and it was accordingly taken, after a general distribution of spirits +amongst the men, and of hay and water to the horses. Still their +progress was slow, for the ground became hilly in that neighbourhood, +and by the time they arrived at an elevated spot, near Woodchurch +Beacon, whence they could see over a wide extent of country round, the +grey light of the dawn was spreading rapidly through the sky, showing +all the varied objects of the fair and beautiful land through which +they wandered. + +But it is now necessary to turn to another personage in our history, +of whose fate, for some time, we have had no account. + + + + + CHAPTER VIII. + + +We left our friend, Mr. Mowle, in no very pleasant situation; for +although the generosity of the Major, in neither divulging the +discovery he had made, to the rest of the smugglers, nor blowing the +brains of the intruder out upon the spot, was, perhaps, much more than +could be expected from a man in his situation and of his habits, yet +it afforded no guarantee whatsoever to the unfortunate Custom-House +officer, that his life would not be sacrificed on the very first +danger or alarm. He also knew, that if such an accident were to happen +again, as that which had at first displayed his features to one of +those into whose nocturnal councils he had intruded, nothing on earth +could save him; for amongst the gang by whom he was surrounded, were a +number of men who had sworn to shed his blood on the very first +opportunity. + +He walked along, therefore, as the reader may well conceive, with the +feeling of a knife continually at his throat; and a long and weary +march it seemed to him, as, proceeding by tortuous ways and zig-zag +paths, the smugglers descended into Romney Marsh, and advanced +rapidly towards Dymchurch. Mowle was, perhaps, as brave and daring a +man as any that ever existed; but still the sensation of impending +death can never be very pleasant to a person in strong health, and +well-contented with the earth on which he is placed; and Mowle felt +all the disagreeable points in his situation, exactly as any other man +would do. It would not be just to him, however, were we not to state, +that many other considerations crossed his mind, besides that of his +own personal safety. The first of these was his duty to the department +of government which he served; and many a plan suggested itself for +making his escape here or there, in which he regarded the apprehension +of the smugglers, and the seizure of the goods that they were going to +escort into the country, fully as much as his own life. + +His friend the Major, however, took means to frustrate all such plans, +and seemed equally careful to prevent Mr. Mowle from effecting his +object, and to guard against his being discovered by the other +smugglers. At every turn and corner, at the crossing of every stream +or cut, the Major was by his side; and yet once or twice he whispered +a caution to him to keep out of the way of the lights, more especially +as they approached Dymchurch. When they came near the shore, and a +number of men with lanterns issued forth to aid them from the various +cottages in the vicinity, he told Mowle to keep back with one party, +consisting of hands brought out of Sussex, who were stationed in the +rear with a troop of the horses. But at the same time Mowle heard his +compassionate friend direct two of the men to keep a sharp eye upon +him, as he was a stranger, of whom the leaders were not quite sure, +adding an injunction to blow his brains out at once, if he made the +slightest movement without orders. + +In the bustle and confusion which ensued, during the landing of the +smuggled goods and the loading of the horses, Mowle once or twice +encouraged a hope that something would favour his escape. But the two +men strictly obeyed the orders they had received, remained close to +his side during more than an hour and a half, which was consumed upon +the beach, and never left him till he was rejoined by the Major, who +told him to march on with the rest. + +"What's to come of this?" thought Mowle, as he proceeded, "and what can +the fellow intend to do with me?--If he drags me along with them till +daylight, one half of them will know me; and then the game's up--and +yet he can't mean me harm, either. Well, I may have an opportunity of +repaying him some day." + +When the party arrived at Bonnington, however, and, as we have already +stated, two small bodies were sent off to the right and left, to +reconnoitre the ground on either side, Mowle was one of those selected +by the Major to accompany him on the side of Bilsington. But after +having gone to the prescribed distance, without discovering anything +to create suspicion, the worthy field-officer gave the order to +return; and contriving to disentangle Mowle from the rest, he +whispered in his ear, "Off with you as fast as you can, and take back +by the Marsh, for if you give the least information, or bring the +soldiers upon us, be you sure that some of us will find means to cut +your throat.--Get on, get on fast!" he continued aloud, to the other +men. "We've no time to lose;" and Mowle, taking advantage of the hurry +and confusion of the moment, ran off towards Bilsington as fast as his +legs could carry him. + +"He's off!" cried one of the men. "Shall I give him a shot?" + +"No--no," answered the Major, "it will only make more row. He's more +frightened than treacherous, I believe. I don't think he'll peach." + +Thus saying, he rejoined the main body of the smugglers, as we have +seen; and Mowle hurried on his way without pause, running till he was +quite out of breath. Now, the Major, in his parting speech to Mowle, +though a shrewd man, had miscalculated his course, and mistaken the +person with whom he had to deal. Had he put it to the Custom-House +officer, as a matter of honour and generosity, not to inform against +the person who had saved his life, poor Mowle would have been in a +situation of great perplexity; but the threat which had been used, +relieved him of half the difficulty. Not that he did not feel a +repugnance to the task which duty pointed out--not that he did not ask +himself, as soon as he had a moment to think of anything, "What ought +I to do? How ought I to act?" But still the answer was, that his duty +and his oath required him immediately to take steps for the pursuit +and capture of the smugglers; and when he thought of the menace he +said to himself, "No, no; if I don't do what I ought, these fellows +will only say that I was afraid." + +Having settled the matter in his own mind, he proceeded to execute his +purpose with all speed, and hurried on towards Bilsington, where he +knew there was a small party of dragoons, proposing to send off +messengers immediately to the colonel of the regiment and to all the +different posts around. It was pitch dark, so that he did not perceive +the first houses of the hamlet, till he was within a few yards of +them; and all seemed still and quiet in the place. But after having +passed the lane leading to the church, Mowle heard the stamping of +some horses' feet, and the next instant a voice exclaimed, "Stand! who +goes there?" + +'"A friend!" answered Mowle. "Where's the sergeant?" + +"Here am I," replied another voice. "Who are you? + +"My name is Mowle," rejoined our friend, "the chief officer of Customs +at Hythe." + +"Oh, come along, Mr. Mowle; you are just the man we want," said the +sergeant, advancing a step or two. "Captain Irby is up here, and would +be glad to speak with you." + +Mowle followed in silence, having, indeed, some occasion to set his +thoughts in order, and to recover his breath. About sixty or seventy +yards farther on, a scene broke upon him, which somewhat surprised +him; for, instead of a dozen dragoons at the most, he perceived, on +turning the corner of the next cottage, a body of at least seventy or +eighty men, as well as he could calculate, standing each beside his +horse, whose breath was seen mingling with the thick fog, by the light +of a single lantern held close to the wall of the house which +concealed the party from the Bonnington Road. Round that lantern were +congregated three or four figures, besides that of the man who held +it; and, fronting the approach, was a young gentleman,[2] dressed in +the usual costume of a dragoon officer of that period. Before him +stood another, apparently a private of the regiment; and the light +shone full upon the faces of both, showing a cold, thoughtful, and +inquiring look upon the countenance of the young officer, and anxious +haste upon that of the inferior soldier. + + +--------------------- + +[Footnote 2: It will be seen that I have represented all my officers +as young men, even up to the very colonel of the regiment; but it must +be remembered, that, in those days, promotion in the service was +regulated in a very different manner from the present system. I +remember a droll story, of a visitor at a nobleman's house, inquiring +of the butler what was the cause of an obstreperous roaring he heard +up stairs, when the servant replied, "Oh, sir, it is nothing but the +little general crying for his pap."] + +--------------------- + + +"Here is Mr. Mowle, the chief officer, captain," said the sergeant, as +they advanced. + +"Ha, that is fortunate!" replied Captain Irby. "Now we shall get at +the facts, I suppose. Well, Mr. Mowle, what news?" + +"Why, sir, the cargo is landed," exclaimed Mowle, eagerly; "and the +smugglers passed by Bonnington, up towards Chequer-tree, not twenty +minutes ago." + +"So this man says," rejoined Captain Irby, not the least in the world +in haste. "Have you any fresh orders from the colonel?" + +"No, sir; he said all his orders were given when last I saw him," +replied the officer of Customs; "but if you move up quick towards +Chequer-tree, you are sure to overtake them." + +"How long is it since you saw Sir Henry?" demanded Captain Irby, +without appearing to notice Mowle's suggestion. + +"Oh, several hours ago," answered the Custom-House agent, somewhat +provoked at the young officer's coolness. "I have been kept prisoner +by the smugglers since ten o'clock--but that is nothing to the +purpose, sir. If you would catch the smugglers, you have nothing for +it but to move up to Chequer-tree after them; and that is what I +require you to do." + +"I have my orders," answered the captain of the troop, with a smile at +the impetuous tone of the Custom-House officer, "and if you bring me +none later, those I shall obey, Mr. Mowle." + +"Well, sir, you take the responsibility upon yourself, then," said +Mowle; "I have expressed my opinion, and what I require at your +hands." + +"The responsibility will rest where it ought," replied Captain Irby, +"on the shoulders of him whom I am bound to obey. For your opinion I +am obliged to you, but it cannot be followed; and as to what you +require, I am under superior authority, which supersedes your +requisition." + +He then said a word or two to one of the men beside him, who +immediately proceeded to the body of men behind; but all that Mowle +could hear was "Snave" and "Brenzet," repeated once or twice, with +some mention of Woodchurch and the road by Red Brooke Street. The +order was then given to mount, and march; and Mowle remarked that four +troopers rode off at a quick pace before the rest. + +"Now, Mr. Mowle, we shall want you with us if you please," said +Captain Irby, in a civil tone. "Where is your horse?" + +"Horse!--I have got none;" answered the officer of Customs, a good +deal piqued; "did I not say that I have been a prisoner with the +smugglers for the last five hours? and as to my going with you, sir, I +see no use I can be of, if you do not choose to do what I require, or +follow my advice." + +"Oh, the greatest--the greatest!" replied the young officer, without +losing his temper for an instant, "and as to a horse, we will soon +supply you." + +An order was immediately given; and in three minutes the horse of a +dragoon officer, fully caparisoned, was led up to Mowle's side, who, +after a moment's hesitation, mounted, and rode on with the troop. It +must not be denied that he was anything but satisfied, not alone +because he thought that he was not treated with sufficient +deference--although, having for years been accustomed to be obeyed +implicitly by the small parties of dragoons which had been previously +sent down to aid the Customs, it did seem to him very strange that his +opinions should go for nought--but also because he feared that the +public service would suffer, and that the obstinacy, as he called it, +of the young officer, would enable the smugglers to escape. Still more +was his anxiety and indignation raised, when he perceived the slow +pace at which the young officer proceeded, and that instead of taking +the road which he had pointed out, the party kept the Priory Wood on +the right hand, bearing away from Chequer-tree, to which he had +assured himself that Richard Radford and his party were tending. + +He saw that many precautions were taken, however, which, attributing +them at first to a design of guarding against surprise, he thought +quite unnecessary. Two dragoons were thrown forward at a considerable +distance before the head of the troop; a single private followed about +twenty yards behind them; two more succeeded, and then another, and +last came Captain Irby himself, keeping Mr. Mowle by his side. From +time to time a word was passed down from those who led the advance, +not shouted--but spoken in a tone only loud enough to be heard by the +trooper immediately behind; and this word, for a considerable way, was +merely "All clear!" + +At length, just at the end of the Priory Wood, where a path, coming +from the east, branched off towards Aldington Freight, and two roads +went away to the north and west, the order to halt was given, to the +surprise and consternation of Mr. Mowle, who conceived that the escape +of the smugglers must be an inevitable result. At length a new word +was passed from the head of the line, which was, "On before." But +still the captain of the troop gave no command to march, and the +soldiers sat idle on their horses for a quarter of an hour longer. +Mowle calculated that it must now be at least half past four or five +o'clock. He thought he perceived the approach of day; and though, in +discontented silence, he ventured to say no more, he would have given +all he had in the world to have had the command of the troop for a +couple of hours. His suspense and anxiety were brought to an end at +length; for just as he was assured, by the greyness of the sky, that +the sun would soon rise, a trooper came dashing down the right-hand +path at full speed, and Captain Irby spurred on to meet him. What +passed between them Mowle could not hear; but the message was soon +delivered, the soldier rode back to the east, by the way he came, and +the order to march was immediately given. Instead, however, of taking +the road to Stonecross, the troop directed its course to the west, but +at a somewhat quicker pace than before. Still a word was passed back +from the head of the line; and, after a short time, the troop was put +into a quick trot, Captain Irby sometimes endeavouring to lead his +companion into general conversation upon any indifferent subject, but +not once alluding to the expedition on which they were engaged. Poor +Mowle was too anxious to talk much. He did not at all comprehend the +plan upon which the young officer was acting; but yet he began to see +that there was some plan in operation, and he repeated to himself more +than once, "There must be something in it, that's clear; but he might +as well tell me what it is, I think." + +At length he turned frankly round to his companion, and said, "I see +you are going upon some scheme, Captain. I wish to Heaven you would +tell me what it is; for you can't imagine how anxious I am about this +affair." + +"My good friend," replied Captain Irby, "I know no more of the matter +than you do; so I can tell you nothing about it. I am acting under +orders; and the only difference between you and I is, that you, not +being accustomed to do so, are always puzzling yourself to know what +it all means, while I, being well drilled to such things, do not +trouble my head about it; but do as I am told, quite sure that it will +all go right." + +"Heaven send it!" answered Mowle; "but here it is broad day-light, and +we seem to be going farther and farther from our object every minute." + +As if in answer to his last observation, the word was again passed +down from the front, "On, before!" and Captain Irby immediately halted +his troop for about five minutes. At the end of that time, the march +was resumed, and shortly after the whole body issued out upon the side +of one of the hills, a few miles from Woodchurch. + +The sun was now just risen--the east was glowing with all the hues of +early day--the mist was dispersed or left behind in the neighbourhood +of the Marsh; and a magnificent scene, all filled with golden light, +spread out beneath the eyes of the Custom-House officer. But he had +other objects to contemplate much more interesting to him than the +beauties of the landscape. About three-quarters of a mile in advance, +and in the low ground to the north-west of the hill on which he stood, +appeared a dark, confused mass of men and horses, apparently directing +their course towards Tiffenden; and Mowle's practised eye instantly +perceived that they were the smugglers. At first sight he thought, +"They may escape us yet:" but following the direction in which Captain +Irby's glance was turned, he saw, further on, in the open fields +towards High Halden, a considerable body of horse, whose regular line +at once showed them to be a party of the military. Then turning +towards the little place on his left, called Cuckoo Point, he +perceived, at the distance of about a mile, another troop of dragoons, +who must have marched, he thought, from Brenzet and Appledore. + +The smugglers seemed to become aware, nearly at the same moment, of +the presence of the troops on the side of High Halden; for they were +observed to halt, to pause for a minute or two, then re-tread their +steps for a short distance, and take their way over the side of the +hill, as if tending towards Plurenden or Little Ingham. + +"You should cut them off, sir--you should cut them off!" cried Mowle, +addressing Captain Irby, "or, by Jove, they'll be over the hill above +Brook Street; and then we shall never catch them, amongst all the +woods and copses up there. They'll escape, to a certainty!" + +"I think not, if I know my man," answered Captain Irby, coolly; "and, +at all events, Mr. Mowle, I must obey my orders.--But there he comes +over the hill; so that matter's settled. Now let them get out if they +can.--You have heard of a rat-trap, Mr. Mowle?" + +Mowle turned his eyes in the direction of an opposite hill, about +three-quarters of a mile distant from the spot where he himself stood, +and there, coming up at a rapid pace, appeared an officer in a plain +grey cloak, with two or three others in full regimentals, round him, +while a larger body of cavalry than any he had yet seen, met his eyes, +following their commander about fifty yards behind, and gradually +crowning the summit of the rise, where they halted. The smugglers +could not be at more than half a mile's distance from this party, and +the moment that it appeared, the troops from the side of High Halden +and from Cuckoo Point began to advance at a quick trot, while Captain +Irby descended into the lower ground more slowly, watching, with a +small glass that he carried in his hand, the motions of all the other +bodies, when the view was not cut off by the hedge-rows and copses, as +his position altered. Mowle kept his eyes upon the body of smugglers, +and upon the dragoons on the opposite hill, and he soon perceived a +trooper ride down from the latter group to the former, as if bearing +them some message. + +The next instant, there was a flash or two, as if the smugglers had +fired upon the soldier sent to them; and then, retreating slowly +towards a large white house, with some gardens and shrubberies and +various outbuildings around it, they manifested a design of occupying +the grounds with the intention of there resisting the attack of the +cavalry. A trooper instantly galloped down, at full speed, towards +Captain Irby, making him a sign with his hand as he came near; and the +troop with whom Mowle had advanced instantly received the command to +charge, while the other, from the hill, came dashing down with +headlong speed towards the confused multitude below. + +The smugglers were too late in their man[oe]uvre. Embarrassed with a +large quantity of goods and a number of men on foot; they had not time +to reach the shelter of the garden walls, before the party of dragoons +from the hill was amongst them. But still they resisted with fierce +determination, formed with some degree of order, gave the troopers a +sharp discharge of firearms as they came near, and fought hand to hand +with them, even after being broken by their charge. + +The greater distance which Captain Irby had to advance, prevented his +troop from reaching the scene of strife for a minute or two after the +others; but their arrival spread panic and confusion amongst the +adverse party; and after a brief and unsuccessful struggle, in the +course of which, one of the dragoons was killed, and a considerable +number wounded, nothing was thought of amongst young Radford's band, +but how to escape in the presence of such a force. The goods were +abandoned--all those men who had horses were seen galloping over the +country in different directions; and if any fugitive paused, it was +but to turn and fire a shot at one of the dragoons in pursuit. Almost +every one of the men on foot was taken ere half an hour was over; and +a number of those on horseback were caught and brought back, some +desperately wounded. Several were left dead, or dying, on the spot +where the first encounter had taken place; and amongst the former, +Mowle, with feelings of deep regret, almost approaching remorse, +beheld, as he rode up towards the colonel of the regiment, the body of +his friend, the Major, shot through the head by a pistol-ball. Men of +the Custom-House officer's character, however, soon console themselves +for such things; and Mowle, as he rode on, thought to himself, "After +all, it's just as well! He would only have been hanged--so he's had an +easier death." + +The young officer in the command of the regiment of dragoons was +seated on horseback, upon the top of a little knoll, with some six or +seven persons immediately around him, while two groups of soldiers, +dismounted, and guarding a number of prisoners, appeared a little in +advance. Amongst those nearest to the Colonel, Mowle remarked his +companion, Birchett, who was pointing, with a discharged pistol, +across the country, and saying, "There he goes, sir, there he goes! +I'll swear that is he, on the strong grey horse. I fired at him--I'm +sure I must have hit him." + +"No, you didn't, sir," answered a sergeant of dragoons, who was busily +tying a handkerchief round his own wounded arm. "Your shot went +through his hat." + +The young officer fixed his eyes keenly upon the road leading to +Harbourne, where a man, on horseback, was seen galloping away, at full +speed, with four or five of the soldiers in pursuit. + +"Away after him, Sergeant Miles," he said; "take straight across the +country, with six men of Captain Irby's troop. They are fresher. If +you make haste you will cut him off at the corner of the wood; or if +he takes the road through it, in order to avoid you, leave a couple of +men at Tiffenden corner, and round by the path to the left. The +distance will be shorter for you, and you will stop him at Mrs. +Clare's cottage--a hundred guineas to any one who brings him in." + +His orders were immediately obeyed; and, without noticing Mowle, or +any one else, the colonel continued to gaze after the little party of +dragoons, as, dashing on at the utmost speed of their horses, they +crossed an open part of the ground in front, keeping to the right hand +of the fugitive, and threatening to cut him off from the north side of +the country, towards which he was decidedly tending. Whether, if he +had been able to proceed at the same rate at which he was then going, +they would have been successful in their efforts or not, is difficult +to say; for his horse, though tired, was very powerful, and chosen +expressly for its fleetness. But in a flight and pursuit like that, +the slightest accident will throw the advantage on the one side or the +other; and unfortunately for the fugitive, his horse stumbled, and +came upon its knees. It was up again in a moment, and went on, though +somewhat more slowly; and the young officer observed, in a low tone, +"They will have him.--It is of the utmost importance that he should be +taken.--Ah! Mr. Mowle, is that you? Why, we have given you up for +these many hours. We have been successful, you see; and yet, but half +successful either, if their leader gets away.--You are sure of the +person, Mr. Birchett?" + +"Perfectly, sir," answered the officer of Customs. "I was as near to +him, at one time, as I am now to you; and Mr. Mowle here, too, will +tell you I know him well." + +"Who,--young Radford?" asked Mowle. "Oh yes, that we all do; and +besides, I can tell you, that is he on the grey horse, for I was along +with him the greater part of last night." And Mowle proceeded to +relate succinctly all that had occurred to him from ten o'clock on the +preceding evening. + +The young officer, in the meanwhile, continued to follow the soldiers +with his eyes, commenting, by a brief word or two, on the various +turns taken by the pursuit. + +"He is cut off," he said, in a tone of satisfaction; "the troops, from +Halden, will stop him there.--He is turning to the left, as if he +would make for Tenterden.--Captain Irby, be so good as to detach a +corporal, with as many men as you can spare, to cut him off by Gallows +Green--on the left-hand road, there. Bid them use all speed. Now he's +for Harbourne again! He'll try to get through the wood; but Miles will +be before him." + +He then applied himself to examine the state of his own men and the +prisoners, and paid every humane attention to both, doing the best +that he could for their wounds, in the absence of surgical assistance, +and ordering carts to be procured from the neighbouring farms, to +carry those most severely injured into the village of Woodchurch. The +smuggled goods he consigned to the charge of the Custom-House +officers, giving them, however, a strong escort, at their express +desire; although, he justly observed, that there was but little chance +of any attempt being made by the smugglers to recover what they had +lost. + +"I shall now, Mr. Mowle," he continued, "proceed to Woodchurch, and +remain there for a time, to see what other prisoners are brought in, +and make any farther arrangements that may be necessary; but I shall +be in Hythe, in all probability, before night. The custody of the +prisoners I shall take upon myself for the present, as the civil power +is evidently not capable of guarding them." + +"Well, sir, you have made a glorious day's work of it," answered +Mowle, "that I must say; and I'm sure if you like to establish your +quarters, for the morning, at Mr. Croyland's there, on just before, he +will make you heartily welcome; for he hates smugglers as much as any +one." + +The young officer shook his head, saying, "No, I will go to +Woodchurch." + +But he gazed earnestly at the house for several minutes, before he +turned his horse towards the village; and then, leaving the minor +arrangements to be made by the inferior officers, he rode slowly and +silently away. + + + + + CHAPTER IX. + + +We must turn, dear reader, to other persons and to other scenes, but +still keep to that eventful day when the smugglers, who had almost +fancied themselves lords of Kent, first met severe discomfiture at the +hands of those sent to suppress their illicit traffic. Many small +parties had before been defeated, it is true; many a cargo of great +value, insufficiently protected, had been seized. Such, indeed, had +been the case with the preceding venture of Richard Radford; and such +had been, several times, the result of overweening confidence; but the +free-traders of Kent had still, more frequently, been successful in +their resistance of the law; and they had never dreamed that in great +numbers, and with every precaution and care to boot, they could be +hemmed in and overpowered, in a country with every step of which they +were well acquainted. They had now, however, been defeated, as I have +said, for the first time, in a complete and conclusive manner, after +every precaution had been taken, and when every opportunity had been +afforded them of trying their strength with the dragoons, as they had +often boastfully expressed a wish to do. + +But we must now leave them, and turn to the interior of the house near +which the strife took place. Nay, more, we must enter a fair lady's +chamber, and watch her as she lies, during the night of which we have +already given so many scenes, looking for awhile into her waking +thoughts and slumbering dreams; for that night passed in a strange +mingling of sleepless fancies and of drowsy visions. + +Far from me to encourage weak and morbid sensibilities, or to +represent life as a dream of sickly feelings, or a stage for the +action of ill-regulated passions;--it is a place of duty and of +action, of obedience to the rule of the one great guide, of endeavour, +and, alas, of trial!--But still human beings are not mere machines: +there is still something within this frame-work of dust and ashes, +besides, and very different from, the bones and muscles, the veins and +nerves, of which it is composed; and Heaven forbid that it should not +be so! There are still loves and affections, sympathies and regards, +associations and memories, and all the linked sweetness of that +strange harmonious whole, where the spirit and the matter, the soul +and the body, blended in mysterious union, act on each other, and +reciprocate, by every sense and every perception, new sources of pain +or of delight. The forms and conventionalities of society, the habits +of the age in which we live, the force of education, habit, example, +may, in very many cases, check the outward show of feeling, and in +some, perhaps, wear down to nothing the reality. But still how many a +bitter heart-ache lies concealed beneath the polished brow and smiling +lip; how many a bright aspiration, how many a tender hope, how many a +passionate throb, hides itself from the eyes of others--from the +foreigners of the heart--under an aspect of gay merriment or of cold +indifference. The silver services of the world are all, believe me, +but of plated goods, and the brightest ornaments that deck the table +or adorn the saloon but of silver-gilt. + +Could we--as angels may be supposed to do--stand by the bed-side of +many a fair girl who has been laughing through an evening of apparent +merriment, and look through the fair bosom into the heart beneath, see +all the feelings that thrill therein, or trace even the visions that +chequer slumber, what should we behold? Alas! how strange a contrast +to the beaming looks and gladsome smiles which have marked the course +of the day. How often would be seen the bitter repining; the weary +sickness of the heart; the calm, stern grief; the desolation; the +despair--forming a black and gloomy background to the bright seeming +of the hours of light. How often, in the dream, should we behold "the +lost, the loved, the dead, too many, yet how few," rise up before +memory in those moments, when not only the shackles and the handcuffs +of the mind, imposed by the tyrant uses of society, are cast off, but +also when the softer bands are loosened, which the waking spirit +places upon unavailing regrets and aspirations all in vain--in those +hours, when memory, and imagination, and feeling are awake, and when +judgment, and reason, and resolution are all buried in slumber. Can it +be well for us thus to check the expression of all the deeper feelings +of the heart--to shut out all external sympathies--to lock within the +prison of the heart its brightest treasures like the miser's gold, and +only to give up to them the hours of solitude and of slumber?--I know +not; and the question, perhaps, is a difficult one to solve: but such, +however, are the general rules of society; and to its rules we are +slaves and bondsmen. + +It was to her own chamber that Edith Croyland usually carried her +griefs and memories; and even in the house of her uncle, though she +was aware how deeply he loved her, she could not, or she would not, +venture to speak of her sensations as they really arose. + +On the eventful day of young Radford's quarrel with Sir Edward Digby, +Edith retired at the sober hour at which the whole household of Mr. +Croyland usually sought repose; but there, for a considerable time, +she meditated as she had often meditated before, on the brief +intelligence she had received on the preceding day. "He is living," +she said to herself: "he is in England, and yet he seeks me not! But +my sister says he loves me still!--It is strange, it is very strange. +He must have greatly changed. So eager, so impetuous as he used to be, +to become timid, cautious, reserved,--never to write, never to +send.--And yet why should I blame him? What has he not met with from +mine, if not from me? What has his love brought upon himself and his? +The ruin of his father--a parent's suffering and death--the +destruction of his own best prospects--a life of toil and danger, and +expulsion from the scenes in which his bright and early days were +spent!--Why should I wonder that he does not come back to a spot where +every object must be hateful to him?--why should I wonder that he does +not seek me, whose image can never be separated from all that is +painful and distressing to him in memory? Poor Henry! Oh, that I could +cheer him, and wipe away the dark and gloomy recollections of the +past." + +Such were some of her thoughts ere she lay down to rest; and they +pursued her still, long after she had sought her pillow, keeping her +waking for some hours. At length, not long before daybreak, sleep took +possession of her brain; but it was not untroubled sleep. Wild and +whirling images for some time supplied the place of thought; but they +were all vague, and confused, and undefined for a considerable length +of time after sleep had closed her eyes, and she forgot them as soon +as she awoke. But at length a vision of more tangible form presented +itself, which remained impressed upon her memory. In it, the events of +the day mingled with those both of the former and the latter years, +undoubtedly in strange and disorderly shape, but still bearing a +sufficient resemblance to reality to show whence they were derived. +The form of young Radford, bleeding and wounded, seemed before her +eyes; and with one hand clasped tightly round her wrist, he seemed to +drag her down into a grave prepared for himself. Then she saw Sir +Edward Digby with a naked sword in his hand, striving in vain to cut +off the arm that held her, the keen blade passing through and through +the limb of the phantom without dissevering it from the body, or +relaxing its hold upon herself. Then the figure of her father stood +before her, clad in a long mourning cloak, and she heard his voice +crying, in a dark and solemn tone, "Down, down, both of you, to the +grave that you have dug for me!" The next instant the scene was +crowded with figures, both on horseback and on foot. Many a +countenance which she had seen and known at different times was +amongst them; and all seemed urging her on down into the gulf before +her; till suddenly appeared, at the head of a bright and glittering +troop, he whom she had so long and deeply loved, as if advancing at +full speed to her rescue. She called loudly to him; she stretched out +her hand towards him, and onward he came through the throng till he +nearly reached her. Then in an instant her father interposed again and +pushed him back. All became a scene of disarray and confusion, as if a +general battle had been taking place around her. Swords were drawn, +shots were fired, wounds were given and received; there were cries of +agony and loud words of command, till at length, in the midst, her +lover reached her; his arms were cast round her; she was pressed to +his bosom; and with a start, and mingled feelings of joy and terror, +Edith's dream came to an end. + +Daylight was pouring into her room through the tall window; but yet +she could hardly persuade herself that she was not dreaming still; for +many of the sounds which had transmitted such strange impressions to +her mind, still rang in her ears. She heard shots and galloping horse, +and the loud word of command; and after pausing for an instant or two, +she sprang up, cast something over her, and ran to the window. + +It was a bright and beautiful morning; and the room which she occupied +looked over Mr. Croyland's garden wall to the country beyond. But +underneath that garden wall was presented a scene, such as Edith had +never before witnessed. Before her eyes, mingled in strange confusion +with a group of men who, from their appearance, she judged to be +smugglers, were a number of the royal dragoons; and, though pistols +were discharged on both sides, and even long guns on the part of the +smugglers, the use of fire-arms was too limited to produce sufficient +smoke to obscure the view. Swords were out, and used vehemently; and +on running her eye over the mass before her, she saw a figure that +strongly brought back her thoughts to former days. Directing the +operations of the troops, seldom using the sword which he carried in +his own hand, yet mingling in the thickest of the fray, appeared a +tall and powerful young man, mounted on a splendid charger, but only +covered with a plain grey cloak. + +The features she could scarcely discern; but there was something in +the form and in the bearing, that made Edith's heart beat vehemently, +and caused her to raise her voice to Heaven in murmured prayer. The +shots were flying thick: one of them struck the sun-dial in the +garden, and knocked a fragment off; but still she could not withdraw +herself from the window; and with eager and anxious eyes she continued +to watch the fight, till another body of dragoons swept up, and the +smugglers, apparently struck with panic, abandoned resistance, and +were soon seen flying in every direction over the ground. + +One man, mounted on a strong grey horse, passed close beneath the +garden wall; and in him Edith instantly recognised young Richard +Radford. That sight made her draw back again for a moment from the +window, lest he should recognise her; but the next instant she looked +out again, and then beheld the officer whom she had seen commanding +the dragoons, stretching out his hand and arm in the direction which +the fugitive had taken, as if giving orders for his pursuit. She +watched him with feelings indescribable, and saw him more than once +turn his eyes towards the house where she was, and gaze on it long and +thoughtfully. + +"Can he know whose dwelling this is?" she asked herself; "can he know +who is in it, and yet ride away?" But so it was. After he had remained +on the ground for about half an hour, she saw him depart, turning his +horse's head slowly towards Woodchurch; and Edith withdrew from the +window, and wept. + +Her eyes were dry, however, and her manner calm, when she went down to +breakfast; and she heard unmoved, from her uncle, the details of the +skirmish which had taken place between the smugglers and the military. + +"This must be a tremendous blow to them," said Mr. Croyland; "the +goods are reported to be of immense value, and the whole of them are +stated to have been run by that old infernal villain, Radford. I am +glad that this has happened, trebly--_felix ter et amplius_, my dear +Edith; first, that a trade which enriches scoundrels to the detriment +of the fair and lawful merchant, has received nearly its death-blow; +secondly, that these audacious vagabonds, who fancied they had all the +world at their command, and that they could do as they pleased in +Kent, have been taught how impotent they are against a powerful hand +and a clear head; and, thirdly, that the most audacious vagabond of +them all, who has amassed a large fortune by defiance of the law, and +by a system which embodies cheatery with robbery--I mean robbery of +the revenue with cheatery of the lawful merchant--has been the person +to suffer. I have heard a great deal of forcing nations to abate their +Customs dues, by smuggling in despite of them; but depend upon it, +whoever advocates such a system is--I will not say, either a rogue or +a fool, as some rash and intemperate persons might say--but a man with +very queer notions of morals, my dear. I dare say, the fellows firing +awoke you, my love. You look pale, as if you had been disturbed." + +Edith replied, simply, that she had been roused by the noise, but did +not enter into any particulars, though she saw, or fancied she saw, an +inquiring look upon her uncle's face as he spoke. + +During the morning many were the reports and anecdotes brought in by +the servants, regarding the encounter, which had taken place so close +to the house; and all agreed that never had so terrible a disaster +befallen the smugglers. Their bands were quite broken up, it was said, +their principal leaders taken or killed, and the amount of the +smuggled goods which--with the usual exaggeration of rumour--was +raised to three or four hundred thousand pounds, was universally +reported to be the loss of Mr. Radford. His son had been seen by many +in command of the party of contraband traders; and it was clear that +he had fled to conceal himself, in fear of the very serious +consequences which were likely to ensue. + +Mr. Croyland rubbed his hands: "I will mark this day in the calendar +with a white stone!" he said. "Seldom, my dear Edith, very seldom, do +so many fortunate circumstances happen together; a party of atrocious +vagabonds discomfited and punished as they deserve; the most audacious +rogue of the whole stripped of his ill-gotten wealth; and a young +ruffian, who has long bullied and abused the whole county, driven from +that society in which he never had any business. This young officer, +this Captain Osborn, must be a very clever, as well as a very gallant +fellow." + +"Captain Osborn!" murmured Edith; "were they commanded by Captain +Osborn?" + +"Yes, my dear," answered the old gentleman; "I saw him myself over the +garden wall. I know him, my love; I have been introduced to him. +Didn't you hear me say, he is coming to spend a few days with me?" + +Edith made no reply; but somewhat to her surprise, she heard her +uncle, shortly after, order his carriage to be at the door at +half-past twelve. He gave his fair niece no invitation to accompany +him; and Edith prepared to amuse herself during his absence as +best she might. She calculated, indeed, upon that which, to a +well-regulated mind, is almost always either a relief or a pleasure, +though too often a sad one: the spending of an hour or two in solitary +thought. But all human calculations are vain; and so were those of +poor Edith Croyland. For the present, however, we must leave her to +her fate, and follow her good uncle, Zachary, on his expedition to +Woodchurch, whither, as doubtless the reader has anticipated, his +steps, or rather those of his coach horses, were turned, just as the +hands of the clock in the vestibule pointed to a quarter to one. + + + + + CHAPTER X. + + +During the whole forenoon of the 3rd of September, the little village +of Woodchurch presented a busy and bustling, though, in truth, it +could not be called a gay scene. The smart dresses of the dragoons, +the number of men and horses, the soldiers riding quickly along the +road from time to time, the occasional sound of the trumpet, the +groups of villagers and gaping children, all had an animating effect; +but there was, mingled with the other sights which the place +presented, quite a sufficient portion of human misery, in various +forms, to sadden any but a very unfeeling heart. For some time after +the affray was over, every ten minutes, was seen to roll in one of the +small, narrow carts of the country, half filled with straw, and +bearing a wounded man, or at most, two. In the same manner, several +corpses, also, were carried in; and the number of at least fifty +prisoners, in separate detachments, with hanging hands and pinioned +arms, were marched slowly through the street to the houses which had +been marked out as affording the greatest security. + +The good people of Woodchurch laughed and talked freely with the +dragoons, made many inquiries concerning the events of the skirmish, +and gave every assistance to the wounded soldiers; but it was remarked +with surprise, by several of the officers, that they showed no great +sympathy with the smugglers, either prisoners or wounded--gazed upon +the parties who were brought in with an unfriendly air, and turning +round to each other, commented, in low tones, with very little +appearance of compassion. + +"Ay, that's one of the Ramleys' gang," said the stout blacksmith of +the place, to his friend and neighbour, the wheelwright, as some ten +or twelve men passed before them with their wrists tied. + +"And that fellow in the smart green coat is another," rejoined the +wheelwright; "he's the man who, I dare say, ham-stringed my mare, +because I wouldn't let them have her for the last run." + +"That's Tom Angel," observed the blacksmith; "he's to be married to +Jinny Ramley, they say." + +"He'll be married to a halter first, I've a notion," answered the +wheelwright, "and then instead of an angel he'll make a devil! He's +one of the worst of them, bad as they all are. A pretty gaol delivery +we shall have at the next 'Sizes!" + +"A good county delivery, too," replied the blacksmith; "as men have +been killed, it's felony, that's clear: so hemp will be dear, Mr. +Slatterly." + +By the above conversation the feelings of the people of Woodchurch +towards the smugglers, at that particular time, may be easily divined; +but the reader must not suppose that they were influenced alone by the +very common tendency of men's nature to side with the winning party; +for such was not altogether the case, though, perhaps, they would not +have ventured to show their dislike to the smugglers so strongly, had +they been more successful. As long as the worthy gentlemen, who had +now met with so severe a reverse, had contented themselves with merely +running contraband articles--even as long as they had done nothing +more than take a man's horse for their own purposes, without his +leave, or use his premises, whether he liked it or not, as a place of +concealment for their smuggled goods, they were not only indifferent, +but even friendly; for man has always a sufficient portion of the +adventurer at his heart to have a fellow feeling for all his brethren +engaged in rash and perilous enterprises. But the smugglers had grown +insolent and domineering from long success; they had not only felt +themselves lords of the county, but had made others feel it often in +an insulting, and often in a cruel and brutal manner. Crimes of a very +serious character had been lately committed by the Ramleys and others, +which, though not traced home by sufficient evidence to satisfy the +law, were fixed upon them by the general voice of the people; and the +threats of terrible vengeance which they sometimes uttered against all +who opposed them, and the boastful tone in which they indulged, when +speaking of their most criminal exploits, probably gained them credit +for much more wickedness than they really committed. + +Thus their credit with the country people was certainly on the decline +when they met with the disaster which has been lately recorded; and +their defeat and dispersion was held by the inhabitants of Woodchurch +as an augury of better times, when their women would be able to pass +from village to village, even after dusk, in safety and free from +insult, and their cattle might be left out in the fields all night, +without being injured, either by wantonness, or in lawless uses. It +will be understood, that in thus speaking, I allude alone to the land +smugglers, a race altogether different from their fellow labourers of +the sea, whom the people looked upon with a much more favourable eye, +and who, though rash and daring men enough, were generally a good +humoured free-hearted body, spending the money that they had gained at +the peril of their lives or their freedom, with a liberal hand and in +a kindly spirit. + +Almost every inhabitant of Woodchurch had some cause of complaint +against the Ramleys' gang; and, to say the truth, Mr. Radford himself +was by no means popular in the county. A selfish and a cunning man is +almost always speedily found out by the lower classes, even when he +makes an effort to conceal it. But Mr. Radford took no such trouble; +for he gloried in his acuteness; and if he had chosen a motto, it +probably would have been "Every man for himself." His selfishness, +too, took several of the most offensive forms. He was ostentatious; he +was haughty; and, on the strength of riches acquired, every one knew +how, he looked upon himself as a very great man, and treated all the +inferior classes, except those of whom he had need, to use their own +expression, "as dirt under his feet." All the villagers, therefore, +were well satisfied to think that he had met with a check at last; and +many of the good folks of Woodchurch speculated upon the probability +of two or three, out of so great a number of prisoners, giving such +evidence as would bring that worthy gentleman within the gripe of the +law. + +Such were the feelings of the people of that place, as well as those +of many a neighbouring village; and the scene presented by the captive +and wounded smugglers, as they were led along, was viewed with +indifference by some, and with pleasure by others. Two or three of the +women, indeed, bestowed kindly attention upon the wounded men, moved +by that beautiful compassion which is rarely if ever wanting, in a +female heart; but the male part of the population took little share, +if any, in such things, and were quite willing to aid the soldiers in +securing the prisoners, till they could be marched off to prison. + +The first excitement had subsided before noon, but still, from time to +time, some little bustle took place--a prisoner was caught and brought +in, and carried to the public house where the colonel had established +himself--an orderly galloped through the street--messengers came and +went; and four or five soldiers, with their horses ready saddled, +remained before the door of the inn, ready, at a moment's notice, for +any event. The commanding officer did not appear at all beyond the +doors of his temporary abode; but continued writing, giving orders, +examining the prisoners, and those who brought them, in the same room +which he had entered when first he arrived. As few of the people of +the place had seen him, a good deal of curiosity was excited by his +quietness and reserve. It was whispered amongst the women, that he was +the handsomest man ever seen; and the men said he was a very fine +fellow, and ought to be made a general of. The barmaid communicated to +her intimate friends, that when he took off his cloak, she had seen a +star upon the breast of his coat; and that her master seemed to know +more of him, if he liked to tell; but the landlord was as silent as a +mouse. + +These circumstances, however, kept up a little crowd before the +entrance of the inn, consisting of persons anxious to behold the hero +of the day; and just at the hour of two, the carriage of Mr. Croyland +rolled in, through the people, at the usual slow and deliberate pace +to which that gentleman accustomed his carriage horses. + +The large heavy door of the large heavy vehicle, was opened by the two +servants who accompanied it; and out stepped Mr. Croyland, with his +back as straight and stiff as a poker, and his gold-headed cane in his +hand. The landlord, at the sight of an equipage, which he well knew, +came out in haste, bowing low, and welcoming Mr. Croyland in the +hearty good old style. The nabob himself unbent a little to his friend +of the inn, and after asking him how he did, and bestowing a word or +two on the state of the weather, proceeded to say, "And now, Miles, I +wish to speak a word or two with Captain Osborn, who is in your house, +I believe." + +"No, Mr. Croyland," replied the landlord, looking at the visitor with +some surprise, "the captain is not here. He is down at Nelly South's, +and his name's not Osborn, either, but Irby." + +"Then, who the deuce have you got here, with all these soldiers about +the door?" demanded Mr. Croyland. + +"The colonel of the regiment, sir," answered Miles; "there has only +been one captain here all day; and that's Captain Irby." + +"Not right of the lad--not right of the lad!" exclaimed Mr. Croyland, +rather testily; "no one should keep a man waiting, especially an old +man, and more especially still, a cross old man. But I'll come in and +stop a bit; for I want to see the young gentleman. Where the devil did +he go to, I wonder, after the skirmish?--Halloo, you sir, corporal! +Pray, sir, what's your officer's name?" + +The man put up his hand in military fashion, and, with a strong +Hibernian accent, demanded, "Is it the colonel you're inquiring about, +sir? Why, then, his name is Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Henry Leyton, +Knight of the Bath--and mighty cold weather it was, too, when he got +the Bath; so I didn't envy him his ducking." + +"Oh ho!" said Mr. Croyland, putting his finger sagaciously to the side +of his nose; "be so good as to send up that card to Lieutenant-Colonel +Sir Henry Leyton, Knight of the Bath, and tell him that the gentleman +whose appellation it bears is here, inquiring for one Captain Osborn +whom he once saw." + +The corporal took the card himself to the top of the stairs, and +delivered the message, with as much precision as his intellect could +muster, to some person who seemed to be waiting on the outside of a +door above. "Why, you fool!" cried a voice, immediately, "I told you, +if Mr. Croyland came, to show him up. Sir Henry will see him." And +immediately a servant, in plain clothes, descended to perform his +function himself. + +"Very grand!" murmured Mr. Croyland, as he followed. + +The door above was immediately thrown open, and his name announced; +but, walking slowly, he had not entered the room before the young +officer, who has more than once been before the reader's eyes, was +half across the floor to meet him. He was now dressed in full uniform; +and certainly a finer or more commanding-looking man had seldom, if +ever, met Mr. Croyland's view. Advancing with a frank and pleasant +smile, he led him to the arm-chair which he had just occupied--it was +the only one in the room--and, after thanking him for his visit, +turned to the servant, and bade him shut the door. + +"I am in some surprise, and in some doubt, Sir Henry," said Mr. +Croyland, with his sharp eyes twinkling a little. "I came here to see +one Captain Osborn; and I find a gentleman very like him, in truth, +but certainly a much smarter looking person, whom I am told is +Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Henry Leyton, Knight of the Bath, &c. &c. &c.; +and yet he seems to look upon old Zachary Croyland as a friend, too." + +"He does, from his heart, I can assure you, Mr. Croyland," replied the +young officer; "and I trust you will ever permit him to do so. But if +it becomes us to deceive no man, it becomes us still more not to +deceive a friend; and on that account it was I asked your presence +here, to explain to you one or two circumstances which I thought it +but just you should know, before I ventured to present myself at your +house." + +"Pray speak, Sir Henry," replied Mr. Croyland--"I am all ears." + +The young officer paused for a moment, and a shadow came over his +brow, as if something painful passed through his mind; but then, with +a slight motion of his hand, as if he would have waved away unpleasant +thoughts, he said, "I must first tell you, my dear sir, that I am the +son of the Reverend Henry Leyton, whom you once knew, and the nephew +of that Charles Osborn, with whom you were also intimately +acquainted." + +"The dearest friend I ever had in the world," replied Mr. Croyland, +blowing his nose violently. + +"Then I trust you will extend the same friendship to his nephew," said +the colonel. + +"I don't know--I don't know," answered Mr. Croyland; "that must depend +upon circumstances. I'm a very crabbed, tiresome old fellow, Sir +Henry; and my friendships are not very sudden ones. But I have patted +your head many a time when you were a child, and that's something. +Then you are very like your father, and a little like your uncle, +that's something more: so we may get on, I think. But what have you +got to say more? and what in the name of fortune made you call +yourself Captain Osborn, to an old friend of your family like myself?" + +"I did not do so, if you recollect," replied the young officer. "It +was my friend Digby who gave me that name; and you must pardon me, if, +on many accounts, I yielded to the trick; for I was coming down here +on a difficult service--one that I am not accustomed to, and do not +like; and I was very desirous of seeing a little of the country, and +of learning something of the habits of the persons with whom I had to +deal, before I was called upon to act." + +"And devilish well you did act when you set about it," cried Mr. +Croyland. "I watched you this morning over the wall, and wondered a +little that you did not come on to my house at once." + +"It is upon that subject that I must now speak," said Sir Henry +Leyton, taking a grave tone, "and I must touch upon many painful +subjects in the past. Just when I was about to write to you, Mr. +Croyland, to say that I would come, in accordance with your kind +invitation, I learned that your niece, Miss Croyland, is staying at +your house. Now, I know not whether you have been informed, that long +ago----" + +"Oh, yes, I know all about that," answered Mr. Croyland, quickly. +"There was a great deal of love and courting, and all that sort of boy +and girl's stuff." + +"It must be man and woman's stuff now, Mr. Croyland," replied the +young officer, "for I must tell you fairly and at once, I love her as +deeply, as truly as ever. Years have made no difference; other scenes +have made no change. The same as I went, in every thought and feeling, +I have returned; and I can never think of her without emotion, which I +can never speak to her without expressing." + +"Indeed--indeed!" said Mr. Croyland, apparently in some surprise. +"That does make some difference." + +"That is what I feared," continued Sir Henry Leyton. "Your brother +disapproved of our engagement. In consequence of it, he behaved to my +father in a way--on which I will not dwell. You would not have behaved +in such a way, I know; and although I should think any means +justifiable, to see your niece when in her father's mansion, to tell +her how deeply I love her still, and to ask her to sacrifice fortune +and everything to share a soldier's fate, yet I did not think it would +be right or honourable, to come into the house of a friend under a +feigned name, and seek his niece--for seek her I should wherever I +found her--when he might share the same views as his brother, or at +all events think himself bound to support them. In short, Mr. +Croyland, I knew that when you were aware of my real name and of my +real feelings, it would make a difference, and a great one." + +"Not the difference you think, Harry," replied the old gentleman, +holding out his hand to him; "but quite the reverse.--I'll tell you +what, young man, I think you a devilish fine, high-spirited, +honourable fellow, and the only one I ever saw whom I should like to +marry my Edith. So don't say a word more about it. Come and dine with +me to-day, as soon as you've got all this job over. You shall see her; +you shall talk to her; you shall make all your arrangements together; +and if there's a post-chaise in the country, I'll put you in and shut +the door with my own hands. My brother is an old fool, and worse than +an old fool, too--something very like an old rogue--at least, so he +behaved to your father, and not much better to his own child; but I +don't care a straw about him, and never did; and I never intend to +humour one of his whims." + +Sir Henry Leyton pressed the old gentleman's hand in his, with much +emotion; for the prospect seemed brightening to him, and the dark +clouds which had so long overshadowed his course appeared to be +breaking away. He had been hitherto like a traveller on a strong and +spirited horse, steadfastly pursuing his course, and making his way +onward, with vigour and determination, but with a dark and threatening +sky over head, and not even a gleam of hope to lead him on. +Distinction, honours, competence, command, he had obtained by his own +talents and his own energies; he was looked up to by those below him, +by his equals, even by many of his superiors. The eyes of all who knew +him turned towards him as to one who was destined to be a leading man +in his day. Everything seemed fair and smiling around him, and no eye +could see the cloud that overshadowed him but his own. But what to him +were honours, or wealth, or the world's applause, if the love of his +early years were to remain blighted for ever? and in the tented field, +the city, or the court, the shadow had still remained upon his heart's +best feelings, not checking his energies, but saddening all his +enjoyments. How often is it in the world, that we thus see the bright, +the admired, the powerful, the prosperous, with the grave hue of +painful thoughts upon the brow, the never unmingled smile, the lapses +of gloomy meditation, and ask ourselves, "What is the secret sorrow in +the midst of all this success? what is the fountain of darkness that +turns the stream of sunshine grey? what the canker-worm that preys +upon so bright a flower?" Deep, deep in the recesses of the heart, it +lies gnawing in silence; but never ceasing, and never satisfied. Now, +however, there was a light in the heavens for him; and whether it was +as one of those rays that sometimes break through a storm, and then +pass away, no more to be seen till the day dies in darkness; or +whether it was the first glad harbinger of a serene evening after a +stormy morning, the conclusion of this tale must show. + +"I'll tell you something, my dear boy," continued Mr. Croyland, +forgetting that he was speaking to the colonel of a dragoon regiment, +and going back at a leap to early days. "Your father was my old +school-fellow and dear companion; your uncle was the best friend I +ever had, and the founder of my fortune; for to his interest I owe my +first appointment to India--ay, and to his generosity the greater part +of my outfit and my passage. To them I am indebted for everything, to +my brother for nothing; and I look upon you as a relation much more +than upon him; so I have no very affectionate motives for +countenancing or assisting him in doing what is not right. I'll tell +you something more, too, Harry; I was sure that you would do what is +honourable and right--not because you have got a good name in the +world; for I am always doubtful of the world's good names, and, +besides, I never heard the name of Sir Harry Leyton till this blessed +day--but because you were the son of one honest man and the nephew of +another, and a good wild frank boy too. So I was quite sure you would +not come to my house under a false name, when my niece was in it, +without, at all events, letting me into the secret; and you have +justified my confidence, young man." + +"I would not have done such a thing for the world," replied the young +officer; "but may I ask, then, my dear Mr. Croyland, if you recognised +me in the stage coach? for it must be eighteen or nineteen years since +you saw me." + +"Don't call me Mr. Croyland," said the old gentleman, abruptly; "call +me Zachary, or Nabob, or Misanthrope, or Bear, or anything but that. +As to your question, I say, no. I did not recognise you the least in +the world. I saw in your face something like the faces of old friends, +and I liked it on that account. But as for the rest of the matter, +there's a little secret, my boy--a little bit of a puzzle. By one way +or another--it matters not what--I had found out that Captain Osborn +was my old friend Leyton's son; but till I came here to-day, I had no +notion that he was colonel of the regiment, and a Knight of the Bath, +to boot, as your corporal fellow took care to inform me. I thought you +had been going under a false name, perhaps, all this time, and fancied +I should find Captain Osborn quite well known in the regiment. I had a +shrewd notion, too, that you had sent for me to tell the secret; but I +was determined to let you explain yourself without helping you at all; +for I'm a great deal fonder of men's actions than their words, Harry." + +"Is it fair to ask, who told you who I was?" asked Sir Henry Leyton. +"My friend Digby has some----" + +"No, no," cried Mr. Croyland; "it wasn't that good, rash, rattle-pate, +coxcomb of a fellow, who is only fit to be caged with little Zara; and +then they may live together very well, like two monkeys in a show-box. +No, he had nothing to do with it, though he has been busy enough since +he came here, shooting partridges, and fighting young Radfords, and +all that sort of thing." + +"Fighting young Radfords!" exclaimed Sir Henry Leyton, suddenly +grasping the sheath of his sword with his right hand. "He should not +have done that--at least, without letting me know." + +"Why, he knew nothing about it himself," replied Mr. Croyland, "till +the minute it took place. The young vagabond followed him to my house; +so I civilly told my brother's pet that I didn't want to see him; and +he walked away with your friend Digby just across the lawn in front of +the house, when, after a few minutes of pleasant conversation, the +baronet applies me a horsewhip, with considerable unction and +perseverance, to the shoulders of Richard Radford, Esquire, junior; +upon which out come the pinking-irons, and in the course of the +scuffle, Sir Edward receives a little hole in the shoulder, and Mr. +Radford is disarmed and brought upon his knee, with a very unpleasant +and ungentleman-like bump upon his forehead, bestowed, with hearty +good-will, by the hilt of Master Digby's sword. Well, when he had got +him there, instead of quietly poking a hole through him, as any man of +common sense would have done, your friend lets him get up again, and +ride away, just as a man might be supposed to pinch a Cobra that had +bit him, by the tail, and then say, 'Walk off, my friend.' However, so +stands the matter; and young Radford rode away, vowing all sorts of +vengeance. He'll have it, too, if he can get it; for he's as spiteful +as a baboon; so I hope you've caught him, as he was with these +smuggling vagabonds, that's certain." + +Sir Henry Leyton shook his head. "He has escaped, I am sorry to say," +he replied. "How, I cannot divine; for I took means to catch him that +I thought were infallible. All the roads through Harbourne Wood were +guarded, but yet in that wood, all trace of him was lost. He left his +horse in the midst of it, and must have escaped by some of the +by-paths." + +"He's concealed in my brother's house, for a hundred guineas!" cried +Mr. Croyland. "Robert's bewitched, to a certainty; for nothing else +but witchcraft could make a man take an owl for a cock pheasant. Oh +yes! there he is, snug in Harbourne House, depend upon it, feeding +upon venison and turbot, and with a magnum of claret and two bottles +of port to keep him comfortable--a drunken, beastly, vicious brute! A +cross between a wolf and a swine, and not without a touch of the fox +either--though the first figure is the best; for his father was the +wolf, and his mother the sow, if all tales be true." + +"He cannot be in Harbourne House, I should think," replied the +colonel, "for my dragoons searched it, it seems, violating the laws a +little, for they had no competent authority with them; and besides he +would not have put himself within Digby's reach, I imagine." + +"Then he's up in a tree, roosting in the day, like a bird of prey," +rejoined Mr. Croyland, in his quick way. "It's very unlucky he has +escaped--very unlucky indeed." + +"At all events," answered the young officer, "thus much have we +gained, my dear friend: he dare not shew himself in this county for +years. He was seen, by competent witnesses, at the head of these +smugglers, taking an active part with them in resistance to lawful +authority. Blood has been shed, lives have been sacrificed, and a +felony has been committed; so that if he is wise, and can manage it, +he will get out of England. If he fail of escaping, or venture to show +himself, he will grace the gallows, depend upon it." + +"Heaven be praised!" cried Mr. Croyland. "Give me the first tidings, +when it is to happen, Harry, that I may order four horses, and hire a +window. I would not have him hanged without my seeing it for a hundred +pounds." + +Sir Henry Leyton smiled faintly, saying, "Those are sad sights, my +dear sir, and we have too many of them in this county; but you have +not told me, from whom you received intimation that Captain Osborn and +Henry Osborn Leyton were the same person." + +"That's a secret--that's a secret, Hal," answered Mr. Croyland. "So +now tell me when you'll come.--You'll be over to-night. I suppose, or +have time and wisdom tamed the eagerness of love?" + +"Oh no, my dear sir," answered Leyton; "but I have still some business +to settle here, and have promised to be in Hythe to-night. Before I +go, however, I will ride over for an hour or two, for, till I have +seen that dear girl again, and have heard her feelings and her wishes +from her own lips, my thoughts will be all in confusion. I shall be +calmer and more reasonable afterwards." + +"Much need!" answered Mr. Croyland. "But now I must leave you. I +shan't say a word about it all, till you come; for preparing people's +minds is all nonsense. It is only drawing them out upon the rack of +expectation, which leaves them bruised and crushed, with no power to +resist whatever is to come afterwards.--But don't be long, Harry, for +remember that delays are dangerous." + +Leyton promised to set out as soon as one of his messengers, whom he +expected every instant, had returned; and going down with Mr. +Croyland, to the door of his carriage, he bade him adieu, and watched +him as he drove away, gratifying the eyes of the people of Woodchurch +with a view of his fine person, as he stood uncovered at the door. In +the meantime, Mr. Croyland took his way slowly back towards his own +dwelling. + +What had happened there during his absence, we shall see presently. + + + + + CHAPTER XI. + + +All things have their several stages; and, without a knowledge of the +preceding one it is impossible to judge accurately of any event which +is the immediate subject of our contemplation. The life of every one, +the history of the whole world that we inhabit, is but a regular drama +with its scenes and acts, each depending for its interest upon that +which preceded. I therefore judge it necessary, before going on to +detail the events which took place in Mr. Croyland's house during his +absence to visit the dwelling of his brother, and give some account of +that which produced them. On the same eventful morning, then, of which +we have spoken so much already, the inhabitants of Harbourne House +slept quietly during the little engagement between the smugglers and +the dragoons, unaware that things of great importance to their little +circle were passing at no great distance. I have mentioned the +inhabitants of Harbourne House; but perhaps it would have been more +proper to have said the master, his family, and his guest; for a +number of the servants were up; the windows were opened; and the wind, +setting from Woodchurch, brought the sound of firearms thence. The +movement of the troops from the side of High Halden was also remarked +by one of the housemaids and a footman, as the young lady was leaning +out of one of the windows with the young gentleman by her side. In a +minute or two after they perceived, galloping across the country, two +or three parties of men on horseback, as if in flight and pursuit. +Most of these took to the right or left, and were soon lost to the +sight; but at length one solitary horseman came on at a furious speed +towards Harbourne House, with a small party of dragoons following him +direct at a couple of hundred yards' distance, while two or three of +the soldiery were seen scattered away to the right, and a somewhat +larger body appeared moving down at a quick pace to the left, as if to +cut the fugitive off at Gallows Green. + +The horse of the single rider seemed tired and dirty; and he was +himself without a hat; but nevertheless, they pushed on with such +rapidity, that a few seconds, from the time when they were first seen, +brought steed and horseman into the little parish road which I have +mentioned as running in front of the house, and passing round the +grounds into the wood. As the fugitive drew near, the maid exclaimed, +with a sort of a half scream, "Why, Lord ha' mercy, Matthew, it's +young Mr. Radford!" + +"To be sure it is," answered the footman; "didn't you see that before, +Betsy? There's a number of the dragoons after him, too. He's been up +to some of his tricks, I'll warrant." + +"Well, I hope he wont come in here, at all events," rejoined the maid, +"for I shouldn't like it, if we were to have any fighting in the +house." + +"I shall go and shut the hall door," said the footman, drily--Richard +Radford not having ingratiated himself as much with the servants as he +had done with their master. But this precaution was rendered +unnecessary; for the young man showed no inclination to enter the +house, but passing along the road with the rapidity of an arrow, was +soon lost in the wood, without even looking up towards the house of +Sir Robert Croyland. Several of the dragoons followed him quickly; but +two of them planted themselves at the corner of the road, and remained +there immovable. + +The maid then observed, that she thought it high time the gentlefolks +should be called; and she proceeded to execute her laudable purpose, +taking care that tidings of what she had seen concerning Mr. Radford +should be communicated to Sir Robert Croyland, to Zara, and to the +servant of Sir Edward Digby, who again carried the intelligence to his +master. The whole house was soon afoot; and Sir Robert was just out of +his room in his dressing-gown, when three of the soldiers entered the +mansion, expressing their determination to search it, and declaring +their conviction that the smuggler whom they had been pursuing had +taken refuge there. + +In vain Sir Robert Croyland remonstrated, and inquired if they had a +warrant; in vain the servants assured the dragoons that no person had +entered during the morning. The Serjeant who was at their head, +persisted in asserting that the fugitive must have come in there, just +when he was hid from his pursuers by the trees, assigning as a reason +for this belief, that they had found his horse turned loose not a +hundred yards from the house. They accordingly proceeded to execute +their intention, meeting with no farther impediment till they reached +the room of Sir Edward Digby, who, though he did not choose to +interfere, not being on duty himself, warned the serjeant that he must +be careful of what he was doing, as it appeared that he had neither +magistrate, warrant, nor Custom-House officer with him. + +The serjeant, however, who was a bold and resolute fellow, and +moreover a little heated and excited by the pursuit, took the +responsibility upon himself, saying that he was fully authorized by +Mr. Birchett to follow, search for, and apprehend one Richard Radford, +and that he had the colonel's orders, too. Certainly, not a nook or +corner of Harbourne House did he leave unexamined before he retired, +grumbling and wondering at his want of success. + +Previous to his going, Sir Edward Digby charged him with a message to +the colonel, which proved as great an enigma to the soldier as the +escape of Richard Radford. "Tell him," said the young baronet, "that I +am ready to come down if he wants me; but that if he does not, I think +I am quite as well where I am." + +The breakfast passed in that sort of hurried and desultory +conversation which such a dish of gossip as now poured in from all +quarters usually produces, when served up at the morning meal. Sir +Robert Croyland, indeed, looked ill at ease, laughed and jested in an +unnatural and strained tone upon smugglers and smuggling, and +questioned every servant that came in for further tidings. The reports +that he thus received were as full of falsehood and exaggeration as +all such reports generally are. The property captured was said to be +immense. Two or three hundred smugglers were mentioned as having been +taken, and a whole legion of them killed. Some had made confession, +and clearly proved that the whole property was Mr. Radford's; and some +had fought to the last, and killed an incredible number of the +soldiers. To believe the butler, who received his information from the +hind, who had his from the shepherd, the man called the Major, before +he died, had absolutely breakfasted on dragoons, as if they had been +prawns; but all agreed that never had such a large body of contraband +traders been assembled before, or suffered such a disastrous defeat, +in any of their expeditions. + +Sir Edward Digby gathered from the whole account, that his friend had +been fully successful, that the smugglers had fought fiercely, that +blood had been shed, and that Richard Radford, after having taken an +active part in the affray, was now a fugitive, and, as the young +baronet fancied, never to appear upon the stage again. But still Sir +Robert Croyland did not seem by any means so well pleased as might +have been wished; and a dark and thoughtful cloud would frequently +come over his heavy brow, while a slight twitching of his lip seemed +to indicate that anxiety had as great a share in his feelings as +mortification. + +Mrs. Barbara Croyland amused herself, as usual, by doing her best to +tease every one around her, and by saying the most malapropos things +in the world. She spoke with great commiseration of "the poor +smugglers:" every particle of her pity was bestowed upon them. She +talked of the soldiers as if they had been the most fierce and +sanguinary monsters in Europe, who had attacked, unprovoked, a party +of poor men that were doing them no harm; till Zara's glowing cheek +recalled to her mind, that these very blood-thirsty dragoons were Sir +Edward Digby's companions and friends; and then she made the +compliment more pointed by apologizing to the young baronet, and +assuring him that she did not think for a moment he would commit such +acts. Her artillery was next turned against her brother; and, in a +pleasant tone of raillery, she joked him upon the subject of young Mr. +Radford, and of the search the soldiers had made, looking with a +meaning smile at Zara, and saying, "She dared say, Sir Robert could +tell where he was, if he liked." + +The baronet declared, sharply and truly, that he knew nothing about +the young man; but Mrs. Barbara shook her head and nodded, and looked +knowing, adding various agreeable insinuations of the same kind as +before--all in the best humour possible--till Sir Robert Croyland was +put quite out of temper, and would have retorted violently, had he not +known that to do so always rendered the matter ten times worse. Even +poor Zara did not altogether escape; but, as we are hurrying on to +important events, we must pass over her share of infliction. + +The conclusion of Mrs. Barbara's field-day was perhaps the most signal +achievement of all. Breakfast had come to an end, though the meal had +been somewhat protracted; and the party were just lingering out a few +minutes before they rose, still talking on the subject of the skirmish +of that morning, when the good lady thought fit to remark--"Well, we +may guess for ever; but we shall soon know more about it, for I dare +say we shall have Mr. Radford over here before an hour is gone, and he +must know if the goods were his." + +This seemed to startle--nay, to alarm Sir Robert Croyland. He looked +round with a sharp, quick turn of his head, and then rose at once, +saying, "Well, whether he comes or not, I must go out and see about a +good many things. Would you like to take a ride, Sir Edward Digby, or +what will you do?" + +"Why, I think I must stay here for the present," replied the young +baronet; "I may have a summons unexpectedly, and ought not to be +absent." + +"Well, you will excuse me, I know," answered his entertainer. "I must +leave my sister and Zara to amuse you for an hour or two, till I +return." + +Thus saying, and evidently in a great bustle, Sir Robert Croyland +quitted the room and ordered his horse. But just as the three whom he +had left in the breakfast-room were sauntering quietly towards the +library--Sir Edward Digby calculating by the way how he might best get +rid of Mrs. Barbara, in order to enjoy the fair Zara's company +undisturbed--they came upon the baronet at the moment when he was +encountered by one of his servants bringing him some unpleasant +intelligence. "Please, Sir Robert," said the man, with a knowing wink +of the eye, "all the horses are out." + +"Out!" cried the baronet, with a look of fury and consternation. "What +do you mean by out, fellow?" + +"Why, they were taken out of the stable last night, sir," replied the +man. "I dare say you know where they went; and they have not come back +again yet." + +"Pray, have mine been taken also?" demanded Sir Edward Digby, very +well understanding what sort of an expedition Sir Robert Croyland's +horses had gone upon. + +"Oh dear, no, sir!" answered the man; "your servant keeps the key of +that stable himself, sir." + +The young baronet instantly offered his host the use of one of his +steeds, which was gratefully accepted by Sir Robert Croyland, who, +however, thought fit to enter into an exculpation of himself, somewhat +tedious withal, assuring his guest that the horses had been taken +without his approbation or consent, and that he had no knowledge +whatsoever of the transaction in which they were engaged. + +Sir Edward Digby professed himself quite convinced that such was the +case, and in order to relieve his host from the embarrassment which he +seemed to feel, explained that he was already aware that the Kentish +smugglers were in the habit of borrowing horses without the owner's +consent. + +In our complicated state of society, however, everything hinges upon +trifles. We have made the watch so fine, that a grain of dust stops +the whole movement; and the best arranged plans are thrown out by the +negligence, the absence, or the folly of a servant, a friend, or a +messenger. Sir Edward Digby's groom could not be found for more than a +quarter of an hour: when he was, at length, brought to light, the +horse had to be saddled. An hour had now nearly elapsed since the +master of the house had given orders for his own horse to be brought +round immediately: he was evidently uneasy at the delay, peevish, +restless, uncomfortable; and in the end, he said he would mount at the +back door, as it was the nearest and the most convenient. He even +waited in the vestibule; but suddenly he turned, walked through the +double doors leading to the stable-yard, and said he heard the horse +coming up. + +Mrs. Barbara Croyland had, in the meantime, amused herself and her +niece in the library, with the door open; and sometimes she worked a +paroquet, in green, red, and white silk embroidery--a favourite +occupation for ladies in her juvenile days--and sometimes she gazed +out of the window, or listened to the conversation of her brother and +his guest in the vestibule. At the very moment, however, when Sir +Robert was making his exit by the doors between the principal part of +the house and the offices, Mrs. Barbara called loudly after him, +"Brother Robert!--Brother Robert!--Here is Mr. Radford coming." + +The baronet turned a deaf ear, and shut the door. He would have locked +it, too, if the evasion would not have then been too palpable. But +Mrs. Barbara was resolved that he should know that Mr. Radford was +coming; and up she started, casting down half-a-dozen cards of silk. +Zara tried to stop her; for she knew her father, and all the signs and +indications of his humours; but her efforts were in vain. Mrs. Barbara +dashed past her, rushed through both doors, leaving them open behind +her, and caught her brother's arms just as the horse, which he had +thought fit to hear approach a little before it really did so, was led +up slowly from the stables to the back door of the mansion. + +"Robert, here is Mr. Radford!" said Mrs. Barbara, aloud. "I knew you +would like to see him." + +The baronet turned his head, and saw his worthy friend, through the +open doors, just entering the vestibule. To the horror and surprise of +his sister, he uttered a low but bitter curse, adding, in tones quite +distinct enough to reach her ear, "Woman, you have ruined me!" + +"Good gracious!" cried Mrs. Barbara; "why, I thought----" + +"Hush! silence!" said Sir Robert Croyland, in a menacing tone; "not +another word, on your life;" and turning, he met Mr. Radford with the +utmost suavity, but with a certain degree of restraint which he had +not time to banish entirely from his manner. + +"Ah, Mr. Radford!" he exclaimed, shaking him, too, heartily by the +hand, "I was just going out to inquire about some things of +importance;" and he gazed at him with a look which he intended to be +very significant of the inquiries he had proposed to institute. But +his glance was hesitating and ill-assured; and Mr. Radford replied, +with the coolest and most self-possessed air possible, and with a +firm, fixed gaze upon the baronet's countenance. + +"Indeed, Sir Robert!" he said, "perhaps I can satisfy you upon some +points; but, at all events, I must speak with you for a few minutes +before you go. Good morning, Sir Edward Digby: have you had any sport +in the field?--I will not detain you a quarter of an hour, my good +friend. We had better go into your little room." + +He led the way thither as he spoke; and Sir Robert Croyland followed +with a slow and faltering step. He knew Richard Radford; he knew what +that calm and self-possessed manner meant. He was aware of the +significance of courteous expressions and amicable terms from the man +who called him his good friend; and if there was a being upon earth, +on whose head Sir Robert Croyland would have wished to stamp as on a +viper's, it was the placid benign personage who preceded him. + +They entered the room in which the baronet usually sat in a morning to +transact his business with his steward, and to arrange his affairs; +and Sir Robert carefully shut the door behind him, trying, during the +one moment that his back was turned upon his unwelcome guest, to +compose his agitated features into the expression of haughty and +self-sufficient tranquillity which they usually wore. + +"Sit down, Radford," he said--"pray sit down, if it be but for ten +minutes;" and he pointed to the arm-chair on the other side of the +table. + +Mr. Radford sat down, and leaned his head upon his hand, looking in +the baronet's face with a scrutinizing gaze. If Sir Robert Croyland +understood him well, he also understood Sir Robert Croyland, heart and +mind--every corporeal fibre--every mental peculiarity. He saw clearly +that his companion was terrified; he divined that he had wished to +avoid him; and the satisfaction that he felt at having caught him just +as he was going out, at having frustrated his hope of escape, had a +pleasant malice in it, which compensated for a part of all that he had +suffered during that morning, as report after report reached him of +the utter annihilation of his hopes of immense gain, the loss of a +ruinous sum of money, and the danger and narrow escape of his son. He +had not slept a wink during the whole of the preceding night; and he +had passed the hours in a state of nervous anxiety which would have +totally unmanned many a strong-minded man when his first fears were +realized. But Mr. Radford's mind was of a peculiar construction: +apprehension he might feel, but never, by any chance, discouragement. +All his pain was in anticipation, not in endurance. The moment a blow +was struck, it was over: his thoughts turned to new resources; and, in +reconstructing schemes which had been overthrown, in framing new ones, +or pursuing old ones which had slumbered, he instantly found comfort +for the past. Thus he seemed as fresh, as resolute, as unabashed by +fortune's late frowns, as ever; but there was a rankling bitterness, +an eager, wolf-like energy in his heart, which sprung both from angry +disappointment and from the desperate aspect of his present fortune; +and such feelings naturally communicated some portion of their +acerbity to the expression of his countenance, which no effort could +totally banish. + +He gazed upon Sir Robert Croyland, then with a keen and inquiring +look, not altogether untinged with that sort of pity which amounts to +scorn; and, after a momentary pause, he said, "Well, Croyland, you +have heard all, I suppose!" + +"No, not all--not all, Radford," answered the baronet, hesitating; "I +was going out to inquire." + +"I can save you the trouble, then," replied Mr. Radford, drily. "I am +ruined. That is to say, in the two last ventures I have lost +considerably more than a hundred thousand pounds." + +Sir Robert Croyland waved his head sadly, saying, "Terrible, terrible! +but what can be done?" + +"Oh, several things," answered Mr. Radford, "and that is what I have +come to speak to you about, because the first must rest with you, my +excellent good friend." + +"But where is your son, poor fellow?" asked the baronet, eager to +avoid, as long as possible, the point to which their conversation was +tending. "They tell me he was well nigh taken; and, after there has +been blood shed, that would have been destruction. Do you know they +came and searched this house for him?" + +"No, I had not heard of that, Croyland," replied Mr. Radford; "but he +is near enough, well enough, and safe enough to marry your fair +daughter." + +"Ay, yes," answered Sir Robert; "that must be thought of, and----." + +"Oh dear, no!" cried the other, interrupting him; "it has been thought +of enough already, Croyland--too much, perhaps; now, it must be done." + +"Well, I will go over to Edith at once," said the baronet, "and I will +urge her, by every inducement. I will tell her, that it is her duty, +that it is my will, and that she must and shall obey." + +Mr. Radford rose slowly off his seat, crossed over the rug to the +place where Sir Robert Croyland was placed; and, leaning his hand upon +the arm of the other's chair, he bent down his head, saying in a low +but very clear voice and perfectly distinct words, "Tell her, her +father's life depends upon it!" + +Sir Robert Croyland shrank from him, as if an asp had approached his +cheek; and he turned deadly pale. "No, Radford--no," he replied, in a +faltering and deprecatory tone; "you cannot mean such a horrible +thing. I will do all that I can to make her yield--I will, indeed--I +will insist--I will----" + +"Sir Robert Croyland," said Mr. Radford, sternly and slowly, "I will +have no more trifling. I have indulged you too long. Your daughter +must be my son's wife before he quits this country--which must be the +case for a time, till we can get this affair wiped out by our +parliamentary influence. Her fortune must be his, she must be his +wife, I say, before four days are over.--Now, my good friend," he +continued, falling back, in a degree, into his usual manner, which had +generally a touch of sarcastic bitterness in it when addressing his +present companion, "what means you may please to adopt to arrive at +this desirable result I cannot tell; but as the young lady has shown +an aversion to the match, not very flattering to my son----" + +"Is it not his own fault?" cried Sir Robert Croyland, roused to some +degree of indignation and resistance--"has he ever, by word or deed, +sought to remove that reluctance? Has he wooed her as woman always +requires to be wooed? Has he not rather shown a preference to her +sister, paid her all attention, courted, admired her?" + +"Pity you suffered it, Sir Robert," answered Radford; "but permit me, +in your courtesy, to go on with what I was saying. As the young lady +has shown this unfortunate reluctance, I anticipate no effect from +your proposed use of parental authority. I believe your requests and +your commands will be equally unavailing; and, therefore, I say, tell +her, her father's life depends upon it; for I will have no more +trifling, Sir Robert--no more delay--no more hesitation. It must be +settled at once--this very day. Before midnight, I must hear that she +consents, or you understand!--and consent she will, if you but employ +the right means. She may show herself obstinate, undutiful, careless +of your wishes and commands; but I do not think that she would like to +be the one to tie a halter round her father's neck, or to bring what I +think you gentlemen of heraldry and coat-armour call a cross-patonce +into the family-bearing--ha, ha, ha!--Do you, Sir Robert?" + +The unhappy gentleman to whom he spoke covered his eyes with his hand; +but, from beneath, his features could be seen working with the +agitation of various emotions, in which rage, impotent though it might +be, was not without its share. Suddenly, however, a gleam of hope +seemed to shoot across his mind; he withdrew his hand; he looked up +with some light in his eyes. "A thought has struck me, Radford," he +said; "Zara--we have talked of Zara--why not substitute her for Edith? +Listen to me--listen to me. You have not heard all." + +Mr. Radford shook his head. "It cannot be done," he replied--"it is +quite out of the question." + +"Nay, but hear!" exclaimed the baronet. "Not so much out of the +question as you think. Look at the whole circumstances, Radford. The +great obstacle with Edith, is that unfortunate engagement with young +Leyton. She looks upon herself as his wife; she has told me so a +thousand times; and I doubt even the effect of the terrible course +which you urge upon me so cruelly." + +Mr. Radford's brow had grown exceedingly dark at the very mention of +the name of Leyton; but he said nothing, and, as if to keep down the +feelings that were swelling in his heart, set his teeth hard in his +under lip. Sir Robert Croyland saw all these marks of anger, but went +on--"Now, the case is different with Zara. Your son has sought her, +and evidently admires her; and she has shown herself by no means +unfavourable towards him. Besides, I can do with her what I like. +There is no such obstacle in her case; and I could bend her to my will +with a word--Yes, but hear me out. I know what you would say: she has +no fortune; all the land that I can dispose of is mortgaged to the +full--the rest goes to my brother, if he survives me.--True, all very +true!--But, Radford, listen--if I can induce my brother to give Zara +the same fortune which Edith possesses--if this night I can bring +it you under his own hand, that she shall have fifty thousand +pounds?--You shake your head; you doubt that he will do it; but I can +tell you that he would willingly give it, to save Edith from your son. +I am ready to pledge you my word, that you shall have that engagement, +under his own hand, this very night, or that Edith shall become your +son's wife within four days. Let us cast aside all idle +circumlocution. It is Edith's fortune for your son, that you require. +You can care nothing personally which of the two he marries. As for +him, he evidently prefers Zara. She is also well inclined to him. I +can--I am sure I can--offer you the same fortune with her. Why should +you object?" + +Mr. Radford had resumed his seat, and with his arms folded on his +chest, and his head bent, had remained in a listening posture. But +nothing that he heard seemed to produce any change in his countenance; +and when Sir Robert Croyland had concluded, he rose again, took a step +towards him, and replied, through his shut teeth, "You are mistaken, +Sir Robert Croyland--it is not fortune alone I seek.--It is +revenge!--There, ask me no questions, I have told you my determination. +Your daughter Edith shall be my son's wife within four days, or Maidstone +jail, trial, and execution, shall be your lot. The haughty family of +Croyland shall bear the stain of felony upon them to the last +generation; and your daughter shall know--for if you do not tell her, +I will--that it is her obstinacy which sends her father to the +gallows. No more trifling--no more nonsense! Act, sir, as you think +fit; but remember, that the words--once passed my lips--can never be +recalled; that the secret I have kept buried for so many years, shall +to-morrow morning be published to the whole world, if to-night you do +not bring me your daughter's consent to what I demand. I am using no +vain threats, Sir Robert Croyland," he continued, resuming a somewhat +softened tone, "and I do not urge you to this without some degree of +regret. You have been very kind and friendly; you have done me good +service on several occasions; and it will be with great regret that I +become the instrument of your destruction. But still every man has a +conscience of some kind. Even I am occasionally troubled with qualms; +and I frequently reproach myself for concealing what I am bound to +reveal. It is a pity this marriage was not concluded long ago, for +then, connected with you by the closest ties; I should have felt +myself more justified in holding my tongue. Now, however, it is +absolutely necessary that your daughter Edith should become my son's +wife. I have pointed out the means which I think will soonest bring it +to bear; and if you do not use them, you must abide the consequences. +But mark me--no attempt at delay, no prevarication, no hesitation! A +clear, positive, distinct answer this night by twelve o'clock, or you +are lost!" + +Sir Robert Croyland had leaned his arms upon the table, and pressed +his eyes upon his arms. His whole frame shook with emotion, and the +softer, and seemingly more kindly words of the man before him, were +even bitterer to him than the harsher and the fiercer. Though he did +not see his face, he knew that there was far more sarcasm than +tenderness in them. He had been his slave--his tool, for years--his +tool through the basest and most unmanly of human passions--fear; and +he felt, not only that he was despised, but that at that moment +Radford was revelling in contempt. He could have got up and stabbed +him where he stood; for he was naturally a passionate and violent man. +But fear had still the dominion; and after a bitter struggle with +himself, he conquered his anger, and gave himself up to the thought of +meeting the circumstances in which he was placed, as best he might. He +was silent for several moments, however, after Mr. Radford had ceased +speaking; and then, looking up with an anxious eye and quivering lip, +he said, "But how is it possible, Radford, that the marriage should +take place in four days? The banns could not be published; and even if +you got a licence, your son could not appear at church within the +prescribed hours, without running a fatal risk." + +"We will have a special licence, my good friend," answered Mr. +Radford, with a contemptuous smile. "Do not trouble yourself about +that. You will have quite enough to do with your daughter, I should +imagine, without annoying yourself with other things. As to my son, I +will manage his part of the affair; and he can marry your daughter in +your drawing-room, or mine, at an hour when there will be no eager +eyes abroad. Money can do all things; and a special licence is not so +very expensive but that I can afford it, still. My drawing-room will +be best; for then we shall be all secure." + +"But, Radford--Radford!" said Sir Robert Croyland, "if I do--if I +bring Edith at the time appointed--if she become your son's wife--you +will give me up that paper, that fatal deposition?" + +"Oh, yes, assuredly," replied Mr. Radford, with an insulting smile; "I +can hand it over to you as part of the marriage settlement. You need +not be the least afraid!--and now, I think I must go; for I have +business to settle as well as you." + +"Stay, stay a moment, Radford," said the baronet, rising and coming +nearer to him. "You spoke of revenge just now. What is it that you +mean?" + +"I told you to ask no questions," answered the other, sharply. + +"But at least tell me, if it is on me or mine that you seek revenge!" +exclaimed Sir Robert Croyland. "I am unconscious of ever having +injured or offended you in any way." + +"Oh dear, no," replied Mr. Radford. "You have nothing to do with +it--no, nor your daughter either, though she deserves a little +punishment for her ill-treatment to my son. No, but there is one on +whom I will have revenge--deep and bitter revenge, too! But that is my +affair; and I do not choose to say more. You have heard my +resolutions; and you know me well enough, to be sure that I will keep +my word. So now go to your daughter, and manage the matter as you +judge best; but if you will take my advice, you will simply ask her +consent, and make her fully aware that her father's life depends upon +it; and now good-by, my dear friend. Good luck attend you on your +errand; for I would a great deal rather not have any hand in bringing +you, where destiny seems inclined to lead you very soon." + +Thus saying, he turned and quitted the room; and Sir Robert Croyland +remained musing for several minutes, his thoughts first resting upon +the last part of their conversation. "Revenge!" he said; "he must mean +my brother; and it will be bitter enough, to him, to see Edith married +to this youth. Bitter enough to me, too; but it must be done--it must +be done!" + +He pressed his hand upon his heart, and then went out to mount his +horse; but pausing in the vestibule, he told the butler to bring him a +glass of brandy. The man hastened to obey; for his master's face was +as pale as death, and he thought that Sir Robert was going to faint. +But when the baronet had swallowed the stimulating liquor, he walked +to the back door with a quick and tolerably steady step, mounted, and +rode away alone. + +Before I follow him, though anxious to do so as quickly as possible, I +must say a few words in regard to Mr. Radford's course. After he had +reached the parish road I have mentioned,--on which one or two +dragoons were still visible, slowly patrolling round Harbourne +Wood,--the man who had exercised so terrible an influence upon poor +Sir Robert Croyland turned his horse's head upon the path which led +straight through the trees towards the cottage of Widow Clare. His +face was still dark and cloudy; and, trusting to the care and +sure-footedness of his beast, he went on with a loose rein and his +eyes bent down towards his saddle-bow, evidently immersed in deep +thought. When he had got about two-thirds across the wood, he started +and turned round his head; for there was the sound of a horse's feet +behind, and he instantly perceived a dragoon following him, and +apparently keeping him in sight. Mr. Radford rode on, however, till he +came out not far from the gate of Mrs. Clare's garden, when he saw +another soldier riding slowly round the wood. With a careless air, +however, and as if he scarcely perceived these circumstances, he +dismounted, buckled the rein of his bridle slowly over the palings of +the garden, and went into the cottage, closing the door after him. He +found the widow and her daughter busily employed with the needle, +making somewhat smarter clothes than those they wore on ordinary +occasions. It was poor Kate's bridal finery. + +Mrs. Clare instantly rose, and dropped a low curtsey to Mr. Radford, +who had of late years frequently visited her cottage, and occasionally +contributed a little to her comfort, in a kindly and judicious manner. +Sometimes he had sent her down a load of wood, to keep the house warm; +sometimes he had given her a large roll of woollen cloth, a new gown +for her daughter or herself, or a little present of money. But Mr. +Radford had his object: he always had. + +"Well, Mrs. Clare!" said Mr. Radford, in as easy and quiet a tone as +if nothing had happened to agitate his mind or derange his plans; "so, +my pretty little friend, Kate, is going to be married to worthy Jack +Harding, I find." + +Kate blushed and held down her head, and Mrs. Clare assented with a +faint smile. + +"There has been a bad business of it this morning, though," said Mr. +Radford, looking in Mrs. Clare's face; "I dare say you've heard all +about it--over there, in the valley by Woodchurch and Redbrook +Street." + +Mrs. Clare looked alarmed; and Kate forgot her timidity, and +exclaimed--"Oh! is he safe?" + +"Oh, yes, my dear," answered Mr. Radford, in a kindly tone; "you need +not alarm yourself. He was not in it, at all. I don't say he had no +share in running the goods; for that is pretty well known, I believe; +and he did his part of the work well; but the poor fellows who were +bringing up the things, by some folly, or mistake, I do not know +which, got in amongst the dragoons, were attacked, and nearly cut to +pieces." + +"Ay, then, that is what the soldiers are hanging about here for," said +Mrs. Clare. + +"It's a sad affair for me, indeed!" continued Mr. Radford, +thoughtfully. + +"I am truly sorry to hear that, sir!" exclaimed Mrs. Clare, "for you +have been always very kind to me." + +"Well, my good lady," replied her visitor, "perhaps you may now be +able to do me a kindness in return," said Mr. Radford. "To tell you +the truth, my son was in this affray. He made his escape when he found +that they could not hold their ground; and it is for him that the +soldiers are now looking--at least, I suspect so. Perhaps you may be +able to give a little help, if he should be concealed about here?" + +"That I will," said Widow Clare, "if it cost me one of my hands!" + +"Oh, there will be no danger!" answered Mr. Radford; "I only wish you, +in case he should be lying where I think he is, to take care that he +has food till he can get away. It might be better for Kate here, to go +rather than yourself; or one could do it at one time, and the other at +another. With a basket on her arm, and a few eggs at the top, Kate +could trip across the wood as if she were going to Harbourne House. +You could boil the eggs hard, you know, and put some bread and other +things underneath. Then, at the place where I suppose he is, she could +quietly put down the basket and walk on." + +"But you must tell me where he is, sir," answered Mrs. Clare. + +"Certainly," replied Mr. Radford--"that is to say, I can tell you +where I think he is. Then, when she gets near it, she can look round +to see if there's any one watching, and if she sees no one, can say +aloud--'Do you want anything?' If he's there he'll answer; and should +he send any message to me, one of you must bring it up. I shan't +forget to repay you for your trouble." + +"Oh dear, sir, it isn't for that," said Mrs. Clare--"Kate and I will +both be very glad, indeed, to show our gratitude for your kindness. It +is seldom poor people have the opportunity; and I am sure, after good +Sir Robert Croyland, we owe more to you than to any body." + +"Sir Robert has been kind to you, I believe, Mrs. Clare!" replied Mr. +Radford, with a peculiar expression of countenance. "Well he may be! +He has not always been so kind to you and yours." + +"Pray, sir, do not say a word against Sir Robert!" answered the widow; +"though he sometimes used to speak rather cross and angrily in former +times, yet since my poor husband's death, nothing could be more kind +than he has been. I owe him everything, sir." + +"Ay, it's all very well, Mrs. Clare," replied Mr. Radford, shaking his +head with a doubtful smile--"it's all very well! However, I do not +intend to say a word against Sir Robert Croyland. He's my very good +friend, you know; and it's all very well.--Now let us talk about the +place where you or Kate are to go; but, above all things, remember +that you must not utter a word about it to any one, either now or +hereafter; for it might be the ruin of us all if you did." + +"Oh, no--not for the world, sir!" answered Mrs. Clare; "I know such +places are not to be talked about; and nobody shall ever hear anything +about it from us." + +"Well, then," continued Mr. Radford, "you know the way up to Harbourne +House, through the gardens. There's the little path to the right; and +then, half way up that, there's one to the left, which brings you to +the back of the stables. It goes between two sandy banks, you may +recollect; and there's a little pond with a willow growing over it, +and some bushes at the back of the willow. Well, just behind these +bushes there is a deep hole in the bank, high enough to let a man +stand upright in it, when he gets a little way down. It would make a +famous _hide_ if there were a better horse-path up to it, and +sometimes it has been used for small things such as a man can carry on +his back. Now, from what I have heard, my boy Richard must be in +there; for his horse was found, it seems, not above two or three +hundred yards from the house, broken-knee'd and knocked-up. If any one +should follow you as you go, and make inquiries, you must say that you +are going to the house; for there is a door there in the wall of the +stable-yard--though that path is seldom, if ever used now; but, if +there be nobody by, you can just set down the basket by the stump of +the willow, and ask if he wants anything more. If he doesn't answer, +speak again, and try at all events to find out whether he's there or +not, so that I may hear." + +"Oh, I know the place, quite well!" said Mrs. Clare. "My poor husband +used to get gravel there. But when do you think I had better go, sir? +for if the dragoons are still lingering about, a thousand to one but +they follow me, and, more likely still, may follow Kate; so I shall go +myself to night, at all events." + +"You had better wait till it is duskish," answered Mr. Radford; "and +then they'll soon lose sight of you amongst the trees; for they can't +go up there on horseback, and if they stop to dismount you can easily +get out of their way. Let me have any message you may get from +Richard; and don't forget, either, if Harding comes up here, to tell +him I want to speak with him very much. He'll be sorry enough for this +affair when he hears of it, for the loss is dreadful!" + +"I'm sure he will, sir," said Kate Clare; "for he was talking about +something that he had to do, and said it would half kill him, if he +did not get it done safely." + +"Ay, he's a very good fellow," answered Mr. Radford, "and you shall +have a wedding-gown from me, Kate.--Look out of the window, there's a +good girl, and see if any of those dragoons are about." + +Kate did as he bade her, and replied in the negative; and Mr. Radford, +after giving a few more directions, mounted his horse and rode away, +muttering as he went--"Ay, Master Harding, I have a strong suspicion +of you; and I will soon satisfy myself. They must have had good +information, which none could give but you, I think; so look to +yourself, my friend. No man ever injured me yet who had not cause to +repent it." + +Mr. Radford forgot that he no longer possessed such extensive means of +injuring others as he had formerly done; but the bitter will was as +strong as ever. + + + + + CHAPTER XII. + + +The house of Mr. Zachary Croyland was not so large or ostentatious in +appearance as that of his brother; but, nevertheless, it was a very +roomy and comfortable house; and as he was naturally a man of fine +taste--though somewhat singular in his likings and dislikings, as well +in matters of art as in his friendships, and vehement in favour of +particular schools, and in abhorrence of others--his dwelling was +fitted up with all that could refresh the eye or improve the mind. A +very extensive and well-chosen library covered the walls of one room, +in which were also several choice pieces of sculpture; and his +drawing-room was ornamented with a valuable collection of small +pictures, into which not one single Dutch piece was admitted. He was +accustomed to say, when any connoisseur objected to the total +exclusion of a very fine school--"Don't mention it--don't mention it; +I hate it in all its branches and all its styles. I have pictures for +my own satisfaction, not because they are worth a thousand pounds +apiece. I hate to see men represented as like beasts as possible; or +to refresh my eyes with swamps and canals; or, in the climate of +England, which is dull enough of all conscience, to exhilarate myself +with the view of a frozen pond and fields, as flat as a plate, covered +with snow, while half-a-dozen boors, in red night-caps and red noses, +are skating away in ten pairs of breeches--looking, in point of shape, +exactly like hogs set upon their hind legs. It's all very true the +artist may have shown very great talent; but that only shows him to be +the greater fool for wasting his talents upon such subjects." + +His collection, therefore, consisted almost entirely of the Italian +schools, with a few Flemish, a few English, and one or two exquisite +Spanish pictures. He had two good Murillos and a Velasquez, one or two +fine Vandykes, and four sketches by Rubens of larger pictures. But he +had numerous landscapes, and several very beautiful small paintings of +the Bolognese school; though that on which he prided himself the most, +was an exquisite Correggio. + +It was in this room that he left his niece Edith when he set out for +Woodchurch; and, as she sat--with her arm fallen somewhat listlessly +over the back of the low sofa, the light coming in from the window +strong upon her left cheek, and the rest in shade, with her rich +colouring and her fine features, the high-toned expression of soul +upon her brow, and the wonderful grace of her whole form and +attitude--she would have made a fine study for any of those dead +artists whose works lived around her. + +She heard the wheels of the carriage roll away; but she gave no +thought to the question of whither her uncle had gone, or why he took +her not with him, as he usually did. She was glad of it, in fact; and +people seldom reason upon that with which they are well pleased. Her +whole mind was directed to her own situation, and to the feelings +which the few words of conversation she had had with her sister had +aroused. She thought of him she loved, with the intense, eager longing +to behold him once more--but once, if so it must be--which perhaps +only a woman's heart can fully know. To be near him, to hear him +speak, to trace the features she had loved, to mark the traces of +Time's hand, and the lines that care and anxiety, and disappointment +and regret, she knew must be busily working--oh, what a boon it would +be! Then her mind ran on, led by the light hand of Hope, along the +narrow bridge of association, to ask herself--if it would be such +delight to see him and to hear him speak--what would it be to soothe, +to comfort, to give him back to joy and peace! + +The dream was too bright to last, and it soon faded. He was near her, +and yet he did not come; he was in the same land, in the same +district; he had gazed up to the house where she dwelt; if he had +asked whose it was, the familiar name--the name once so dear--must +have sounded in his ear; and yet he did not come. A few minutes of +time, a few steps of his horse, would have brought him to where she +was; but he had turned away,--and Edith's eyes filled with tears. + +She rose and wiped them off, saying, "I will think of something else;" +and she went up and gazed at a picture. It was a Salvator Rosa--a fine +painting, though not by one of the finest masters. There was a rocky +scene in front, with trees waving in the wind of a fierce storm, while +two travellers stood beneath a bank and a writhing beech tree, +scarcely seeming to find shelter even there from the large grey +streams of rain that swept across the foreground. But, withal, in the +distance were seen some majestic old towers and columns, with a gleam +of golden light upon the edge of the sky; and Hope, never wearying of +her kindly offices, whispered to Edith's heart, "In life, as in that +picture, there may be sunshine behind the storm." + +Poor Edith was right willing to listen; and she gave herself up to the +gentle guide. "Perhaps," she thought, "his duty might not admit of his +coming, or perhaps he might not know how he would he received. My +father's anger would be sure to follow such a step. He might think +that insult, injury, would be added. He might imagine even, that I am +changed," and she shook her head, sadly. "Yet why should he not," she +continued, "if I sit here and think so of him? Who can tell what +people may have said?--Who can tell even what falsehoods may have been +spread? Perhaps he's even now thinking of me. Perhaps he has come into +this part of the country to make inquiries, to see with his own eyes, +to satisfy himself. Oh, it must be so--it must be so!" she cried, +giving herself up again to the bright dream. "Ay, and this Sir Edward +Digby, too, he is his dear friend, his companion, may he not have sent +him down to investigate and judge? I thought it strange at the time, +that this young officer should write to inquire after my father's +family, and then instantly accept an invitation; and I marked how he +gazed at that wretched young man and his unworthy father. Perhaps he +will tell Zara more, and I shall hear when I return. Perhaps he has +told her more already. Indeed, it is very probable, for they had a +long ride together yesterday;" and poor Edith began to feel as anxious +to go back to her father's house as she had been glad to quit it. Yet +she saw no way how this could be accomplished, before the period +allotted for her stay was at an end; and she determined to have +recourse to a little simple art, and ask Mr. Croyland to take her over +to Harbourne, on the following morning, with the ostensible purpose of +looking for some article of apparel left behind, but, in truth, to +obtain a few minutes' conversation with her sister. + +There are times in the life of almost every one--at least, of every +one of feeling and intellect--when it seems as if we could meditate +for ever: when, without motion or change, the spirit within the +earthly tabernacle could pause and ponder over deep subjects of +contemplation for hour after hour, with the doors and windows of the +senses shut, and without any communication with external things. The +matter before us may be any of the strange and perplexing relations of +man's mysterious being; or it may be some obscure circumstance of our +own fate--some period of uncertainty and expectation--some of those +Egyptian darknesses which from time to time come over the future, and +which we gaze on half in terror, half in hope, discovering nothing, +yet speculating still. The latter was the case at that moment with +Edith Croyland; and, as she revolved every separate point of her +situation, it seemed as if fresh wells of thought sprung up to flow on +interminably. + +She had continued thus during more than half an hour after her uncle's +departure, when she heard a horse stop before the door of the house, +and her heart beat, though she knew not wherefore. Her lover might +have come at length, indeed; but if that dream crossed her mind it was +soon swept away; for the next instant she heard her father's voice, +first inquiring for herself, and then asking, in a lower tone, if his +brother was within. If Edith had felt hope before, she now felt +apprehension; for during several years no private conversation had +taken place between her father and herself without bringing with it +grief and anxiety, harsh words spoken, and answers painful for a child +to give. + +It seldom happens that fear does not go beyond reality; but such was +not the case in the present instance; for Edith Croyland had to +undergo far more than she expected. Her father entered the room where +she sat, with a slow step and a stern and determined look. His face +was very pale, too; his lips themselves seemed bloodless, and the +terrible emotions which were in his heart showed themselves upon his +countenance by many an intelligible but indescribable sign. As soon as +Edith saw him, she thought, "He has heard of Henry's return to this +country. It is that which has brought him;" and she nerved her heart +for a new struggle; but still she could scarcely prevent her limbs +from shaking, as she rose and advanced to meet her parent. + +Sir Robert Croyland drew her to him, and kissed her tenderly enough; +for, in truth, he loved her very dearly: and then he led her back to +the sofa, and seated himself beside her. + +"How low these abominable contrivances are," he said; "I do wish that +Zachary would have some sofas that people can sit upon with comfort, +instead of these beastly things, only fit for a Turkish harem, or a +dog-kennel." + +Edith made no reply; for she waited in dread of what was to follow, +and could not speak of trifles. But her father presently went on, +saying, "So, my brother is out, and not likely to return for an hour +or two!--Well, I am glad of it, Edith; for I came over to speak with +you on matters of much moment." + +Still Edith was silent; for she durst not trust her voice with any +reply. She feared that her courage would give way at the first words, +and that she should burst into tears, when she felt sure that all the +resolution she could command, would be required to bear her safely +through. She trusted, indeed, that, as she had often found before, her +spirit would rise with the occasion, and that she should find powers +of resistance within her in the time of need, though she shrank from +the contemplation of what was to come. + +"I have delayed long, Edith," continued Sir Robert Croyland, after a +pause, "to press you upon a subject in regard to which it is now +absolutely necessary you should come to a decision;--too long, indeed; +but I have been actuated by a regard for your feelings, and you owe me +something for my forbearance. There can now, however, be no further +delay. You will easily understand, that I mean your marriage with +Richard Radford." + +Edith raised her eyes to her father's face, and, after a strong +effort, replied, "My decision, my dear father, has, as you know, been +long made. I cannot, and I will not, marry him--nothing on earth shall +ever induce me!" + +"Do not say that, Edith," answered Sir Robert Croyland, with a bitter +smile; "for I could utter words, which, if I know you rightly, would +make you glad and eager to give him your hand, even though you broke +your heart in so doing. But before I speak those things which will +plant a wound in your bosom for life, that nothing can heal or +assuage, I will try every other means. I request you--I intreat you--I +command you, to marry him! By every duty that you owe me--by all the +affection that a child ought to feel for a father, I beseech you to do +so, if you would save me from destruction and despair!" + +"I cannot! I cannot!" said Edith, clasping her hands. "Oh! why should +you drive me to such painful disobedience? In the first place, can I +promise to love a man that I hate, to honour and obey one whom I +despise, and whose commands can never be for good? But still more, my +father,--you must hear me out, for you force me to speak--you force me +to tear open old wounds, to go back to times long past, and to recur +to things bitter to you and to me. I cannot marry him, as I told you +once before; for I hold myself to be the wife of another." + +"Folly and nonsense!" cried Sir Robert Croyland, angrily, "you are +neither his wife, nor he your husband. What! the wife of a man who has +never sought you for years--who has cast you off, abandoned you, made +no inquiry for you?--The marriage was a farce. You read a ceremony +which you had no right to read, you took vows which you had no power +to take. The law of the land pronounces all such engagements mere +pieces of empty foolery!" + +"But the law of God," replied Edith, "tells us to keep vows that we +have once made. To those vows, I called God to witness with a true and +sincere heart; and with the same heart, and the same feelings, I will +keep them! I did wrong, my father--I know I did wrong--and Henry did +wrong too; but by what we have done we must abide; and I dare not, I +cannot be the wife of another." + +"But, I tell you, you shall!" exclaimed her father, vehemently. "I +will compel you to be so; I will over-rule this obstinate folly, and +make you obedient, whether you choose it or not." + +"Nay, nay--not so!" cried Edith. "You could not do, you would not +attempt, so cruel a thing!" + +"I will, so help me Heaven!" exclaimed Sir Robert Croyland. + +"Then, thank Heaven," answered his daughter, in a low but solemn +voice, "it is impossible! In this country, there is no clergyman who +would perform the ceremony contrary to my expressed dissent. If I +break the vows that I have taken, it must be my own voluntary act; for +there is not any force that can compel me so to do; and I call Heaven +to witness, that, even if you were to drag me to the altar, I would +say, No, to the last!" + +"Rash, mad, unfeeling girl!" cried her father, starting up, and gazing +upon her with a look in which rage, and disappointment, and perplexity +were all mingled. + +He stood before her for a moment in silence, and then strode +vehemently backwards and forwards in the room, with his right hand +contracting and expanding, as if grasping at something. "It must be +done!" he said, at length, pressing his hand upon his brow; "it must +be done!" and then he recommenced his silent walk, with the shadows of +many emotions coming over his countenance. + +When he returned to Edith's side again, the manner and the aspect of +Sir Robert Croyland were both changed. There was an expression of deep +sorrow upon his countenance, of much agitation, but considerable +tenderness; and, to his daughter's surprise, he took her hand in his, +and pressed it affectionately. + +"Edith," he said, after a short interval of silence, "I have +commanded, I have insisted, I have threatened--but all in vain. Yet, +in so doing, I have had in view to spare you even greater pain than +could be occasioned by a father's sternness. My very love for you, my +child, made me seem wanting in love. But now I must inflict the +greater pain. You require, it seems, inducements stronger than +obedience to a father's earnest commands, and you shall have them, +however terrible for me to speak and you to hear. I will tell you all, +and leave you to judge." + +Edith gazed at him in surprise and terror. "Oh, do not--do not, sir!" +she said; "do not try to break my heart, and put my duty to you in +opposition to the fulfilment of a most sacred vow--in opposition to +all the dictates of my own heart and my own conscience." + +"Edith, it must be done," replied Sir Robert Croyland. "I have urged +you to a marriage with young Richard Radford. I now tell you solemnly +that your father's life depends upon it." + +Edith clasped her hands wildly together, and gazed, for a moment, in +his face, without a word, almost stupified with horror. But Sir Robert +Croyland had deceived her, or attempted to deceive her, on the very +same subject they were now discussing, more than once already. She +knew it; and of course she doubted; for those who have been once false +are never fully believed--those who have been once deceived are always +suspicious of those who have deceived them, even when they speak the +truth. As thought and reflection came back after the first shock, +Edith found much cause to doubt: she could not see how such a thing +was possible--how her refusal of Richard Radford could affect her +father's life; and she replied, after a time, in a hesitating tone, +"How can that be?--I do not understand it.--I do not see how----" + +"I will tell you," replied Sir Robert Croyland, in a low and +peculiarly-quiet voice, which had something fearful in it to his +daughter's ear. "It is a long story, Edith; but you must hear it all, +my child. You shall be your father's confidant--his only one. You +shall share the secret, dreadful as it is, which has embittered his +whole existence, rendered his days terrible, his nights sleepless, his +bed a couch of fire." + +Edith trembled in every limb; and Sir Robert, rising, crossed over and +opened the door of the drawing-room, to see that there were none of +the servants near it. Then closing it again, he returned to her side, +and proceeded, holding her hand in his: "You must have remarked," he +said, "and perhaps often wondered, my dear child, that Mr. Radford, a +man greatly below myself in station, whose manners are repulsive and +disagreeable, whose practices I condemn and reprobate, whose notions +and principles I abhor, has exercised over me for many years an +influence which no other person possesses, that he has induced me to +do many things which my better sense and better feelings disapproved, +that he has even led me to consent that my best-loved daughter should +become the wife of his son, and to urge her to be so at the expense of +all her feelings. You have seen all this, Edith, and wondered. Is it +not so?" + +"I have, indeed," murmured Edith. "I have been by no means able to +account for it." + +"Such will not be the case much longer, Edith," replied Sir Robert +Croyland. "I am making my confession, my dear child; and you shall +hear all. I must recur, too, to the story of young Leyton. You know +well that I liked and esteemed him; and although I was offended, as I +justly might be, at his conduct towards yourself, and thought fit to +show that I disapproved, yet at first, and from the first, I +determined, if I saw the attachment continue and prove real and +sincere, to sacrifice all feelings of pride, and all considerations of +fortune, and when you were of a fit age, to confirm the idle ceremony +which had passed between you, by a real and lawful marriage." + +"Oh, that was kind and generous of you, my dear father. What could +make you change so suddenly and fatally? You must have seen that the +attachment was true and lasting; you must have known that Henry was in +every way calculated to make your daughter happy." + +"You shall hear, Edith--you shall hear," replied her father. "Very +shortly after the event of which I have spoken, another occurred, of a +dark and terrible character, only known to myself and one other. I was +somewhat irritable at that time. My views and prospects with regard to +yourself were crossed; and although I had taken the resolution I have +mentioned, vexation and disappointment had their effect upon my mind. +Always passionate, I gave way more to my passion than I had ever done +before; and the result was a fatal and terrible one. You may remember +poor Clare, the gamekeeper. He had offended me on the Monday morning; +and I had used violent and angry language towards him before his +companions, threatening to punish him in a way he did not expect. On +the following day, we went out again to shoot--he and I alone +together--and, on our way back, we passed through a little wood, which +lies----" + +"Oh, stop--stop!" cried Edith, covering her eyes with her hands. "Do +not tell me any more!" + +Her father was not displeased to see her emotion, for it answered his +purpose. Yet, it must not be supposed that the peculiar tone and +manner which he assumed, so different from anything that had been seen +in his demeanour for years, was affected as a means to an end. Such +was not the case. Sir Robert Croyland was now true, in manner and in +words, though it was the first time that he had been entirely so for +many years. There had been a terrible struggle before he could make up +his mind to speak; but yet, when he did begin, it was a relief to him, +to unburthen the overloaded breast, even to his own child. It softened +him; it made his heart expand; it took the chain off long-imprisoned +feelings, and gave a better spirit room to make its presence felt. He +did not forget his object, indeed. To save himself from a death of +horror, from accusation, from disgrace, was still his end; but the +means by which he proposed to seek it were gentler. He even wavered in +his resolution: he fancied that he could summon fortitude to leave the +decision to Edith herself, and that if that decision were against him, +would dare and bear the worst. But still he was pleased to see her +moved; for he thought that she could never hear the whole tale, and +learn his situation fully, without rushing forward to extricate him; +and he went on--"Nay, Edith, now the statement has been begun, it must +be concluded," he said. "You would hear, and you must hear all. You +know the wood I speak of, I dare say--a little to the left of Chequer +Tree?" + +"Oh, yes!" murmured Edith, "where poor Clare was found." + +The baronet nodded his head: "It was there, indeed," he said. "We went +down to see if there were any snipes, or wild fowl, in the bottom. It +is a deep and gloomy-looking dell, with a pond of water and some +rushes in the hollow, and a little brook running through it, having +tall trees all around, and no road but one narrow path crossing it. As +we came down, I thought I saw the form of a man move amongst the +trees; and I fancied that some one was poaching there. I told Clare to +go round the pond and see, while I watched the road. He did not seem +inclined to go, saying, that he had not remarked anybody, but that the +people round about said the place was haunted. I had been angry with +him the whole morning, and a good deal out of humour with many things; +so I told him to go round instantly, and not make me any answer. The +man did so, in a somewhat slow and sullen humour, I thought, and +returned sooner than I fancied he ought to do, saying that he could +see no trace of any one. I was now very angry, for I fancied he +neglected his duty. I told him that he was a liar, that I had +perceived some one, whom he might have perceived as well, and that my +firm belief was, he was in alliance with the poachers, and deserved to +be immediately discharged. 'Well, Sir Robert,' he said, 'in regard to +discharging me, that is soon settled. I will not stay another day in +your service, after I have a legal right to go. As to being a liar, I +am none; and as to being in league with the poachers, if you say so, +you yourself lie!' Such were his words, or words to that effect. I got +furious at his insolence, though perhaps, Edith--perhaps I provoked it +myself--at least, I have thought so since. However, madly giving way +to rage, I took my gun by the barrel to knock him down. A struggle +ensued; for he caught hold of the weapon in my hand; and how I know +not, but the gun went off, and Clare fell back upon the turf. What +would I not have done then, to recal every hasty word I had spoken! +But it was in vain. I stooped over him; I spoke to him; I told him how +sorry I was for what had happened. But he made no answer, and pressed +his hand upon his right side, where the charge had entered. I was mad +with despair and remorse. I knew not where to go, or what to do. The +man was evidently dying; for his face had grown pale and sharp; and +after trying to make him speak, and beseeching him to answer one word, +I set off running as fast as I could towards the nearest village for +assistance. As I was going, I saw a man on horseback, riding sharply +down towards the very place. He was at some distance from me; but I +easily recognised Mr. Radford, and knew that he must pass by the spot +where the wounded man lay. I comforted myself with thinking that Clare +would get aid without my committing myself; and I crept in amongst the +trees at the edge of the wood, to make sure that Mr. Radford saw him, +and to watch their proceedings. Quietly and stealthily finding my way +through the bushes, I came near; and then I saw that Radford was +kneeling by Clare's side with an inkhorn in his hand, which, with his +old tradesmanlike-habits, he used always at that time to carry about +him. He was writing busily, and I could hear Clare speak, but could +not distinguish what he said. The state of my mind, at that moment, I +cannot describe. It was more like madness than any thing else. Vain +and foolish is it, for any man or any body of men, to argue what would +be their conduct in trying situations which they have never been +placed in. It is worse than folly for them to say, what would +naturally be another man's conduct in any circumstances; for no man +can tell another's character, or understand fully all the fine shades +of feeling or emotion that may influence him. The tale I am telling +you now, Edith, is true--too true, in all respects. I was very wrong, +certainly; but I was not guilty of the man's murder. I never intended +to fire: I never tried to fire; and yet, perhaps, I acted, afterwards, +as if I had been guilty, or at all events in a way that was well +calculated to make people believe I was so. But I was mad at the +time--mad with agitation and grief--and every man, I believe, in +moments of deep emotion is mad, more or less. However, I crept out of +the wood again, and hastened on, determined to leave the man to the +care of Mr. Radford, but with all my thoughts wild and confused, and +no definite line of conduct laid out for myself. Before I had gone a +mile, I began to think what a folly I had committed, that I should +have joined Radford at once; that I should have been present to hear +what the man said, and to give every assistance in my power, although +it might be ineffectual, in order to stanch the blood and save his +life. As soon as these reflections arose, I determined, though late, +to do what I should have done at first; and, turning my steps, I +walked back at a quick pace. Ere I got half way to the top of the hill +which looks down upon the wood, I saw Radford coming out again on +horseback; but I went on, and met him. As soon as he beheld me he +checked his horse, which was going at a rapid rate, and when I came +near, dismounted to speak with me. We were then little more than +common acquaintances, and I had sometimes dealt hardly with him in his +different transactions; but he spoke in a friendly tone, saying, 'This +is a sad business, Sir Robert; but if you will take my advice you will +go home as quickly as you can, and say nothing to any one till you see +me. I will be with you in an hour or so. At present I must ride up to +Middle Quarter, and get down men to carry home the body.' With a +feeling I cannot express, I asked, if he were dead, then. He nodded +his head significantly, and when I was going to put further questions, +he grasped my hand, saying, 'Go home, Sir Robert--go home. I shall say +nothing about the matter to any one, till I see you, except that I +found him dying in the wood. His gun was discharged,' he continued, +'so there is no proof that he did not do it himself!' Little did I +know what a fiend he was, into whose power I was putting myself." + +"Oh, Heaven!" cried Edith, who had been listening with her head bent +down till her whole face was nearly concealed, "I see it all, now! I +see it all!" + +"No, dear child," replied Sir Robert Croyland, in a voice sad and +solemn, but wonderfully calm, "you cannot see it all; no, nor one +thousandth part of what I have suffered. Even the next dreadful three +hours--for he was fully that time ere he came to Harbourne--were full +of horror, inconceivable to any one but to him who endured them. At +length, he made his appearance; calm, grave, self-possessed, with +nought of his somewhat rude and blustering manner, and announced, with +an affectation of feeling to the family, that poor Clare, my keeper, +had been found dying with a wound in his side." + +"I recollect the day, well!" said Edith, shuddering. + +"Do you not remember, then," said Sir Robert Croyland, "that he and I +went into my writing-room--that awful room, which well deserves the +old prison name of the room of torture! We were closeted there for +nearly two hours; and all he said I cannot repeat. His tone, however, +was the most friendly in the world. He professed the greatest interest +in me and in my situation; and he told me that he had come to see me +before he said a word to any one, because he wished to take my opinion +as to how he was to proceed. It was necessary, he said, that I should +know the facts, for, unfortunately they placed me in a very dangerous +situation, which he was most anxious to free me from; and then he went +on to tell me, that when he had come up, poor Clare was perfectly +sensible, and had his speech distinctly. 'As a magistrate,' he +continued, 'I thought it right immediately to take his dying +deposition, for I saw that he had not many minutes to live. Here it +is,' he said, showing his pocket-book; 'and, as I luckily always have +pen and ink with me, I knelt down, and wrote his words from his own +lips. He had strength enough to sign the paper; and, as you may see, +there is the mark of blood from his own hand, which he had been +pressing on his side.' I would fain have taken the paper, but he would +not let me, saying, that he was bound to keep it; and then he went on, +and read the contents. In it, the unfortunate man charged me most +wrongfully with having shot him in a fit of passion; and, moreover, he +said that he had been sure, beforehand, that I would do it, as I had +threatened him on the preceding day, and there were plenty of people +who could prove it." + +"Oh, how dreadful!" cried Edith. + +"It was false, as I have a soul to be saved!" cried Sir Robert +Croyland. "But Mr. Radford then went on, and, shrugging his shoulders, +said, that he was placed in a very delicate and painful situation, and +that he did not really know how to act with regard to the deposition. +'Put it in the fire!' I exclaimed--'put it in the fire!' But he said, +'No; every man must consider himself in these things, Sir Robert. I +have my own character and reputation to think of--my own duty. I risk +a great deal, you must recollect, by concealing a thing of this kind. +I do not know that I don't put my own life in danger; for this is +clear and conclusive evidence against you, and you know, what it is to +be accessory in a case of murder!' I then told him my own story, +Edith; and he said, that made some difference, indeed. He was sure I +would tell him the truth; but yet he must consider himself in the +matter; and he added hints which I could not mistake, that his +evidence was to be bought off. I offered anything he pleased to name, +and the result was such as you may guess. He exacted that I should +mortgage my estate, as far as it could be mortgaged, and make over the +proceeds to him, and that I should promise to give your hand to his +son. I promised anything, my child; for not only life and death, but +honour or disgrace, were in the balance. If he had asked my life, I +would have held my throat to the knife a thousand times sooner than +have made such sacrifices. But to die the death of a felon, Edith--to +be hanged--to writhe in the face of a grinning and execrating +multitude--to have my name handed down in the annals of crime, as the +man who had been executed for the murder of his own servant,--I could +not bear that, my child; and I promised anything! He kept the paper, +he said, as a security; and, at first, it was to be given to me, to do +with it as I liked--when the money coming from the mortgage was +secretly made over to him; but then, he said, that he had lost one +great hold, and must keep it till the marriage was completed: for by +this time the coroner's inquest was over, and he had withheld the +deposition, merely testifying that he had found the man at the point +of death in the wood, and had gone as fast as possible for assistance. +The jury consisted of his tenants and mine, and they were easily +satisfied; but the fiend who had me in his power was more greedy; and, +by the very exercise of his influence, he seemed to learn to enjoy it. +Day after day, month after month, he took a pleasure in making me do +things that were abhorrent to me. It changed my nature and my +character. He forced me to wink at frauds that I detested; and every +year he pressed for the completion of your marriage with his son. Your +coldness, your dislike, your refusal would, long ere this, have driven +him into fury, I believe, if Richard Radford had been eager for your +hand himself. But now, Edith--now, my child, he will hear of no more +delay. He is ruined in fortune, disappointed in his expectations, and +rendered fierce as a hungry beast by some events that have taken place +this morning. He has just now been over at Harbourne, and used threats +which I know, too well, he will execute. He it was, himself, who told +me to inform you, that if you did not consent, your father's life +would be the sacrifice!" + +"Oh, Heaven!" cried Edith, covering her eyes with her hands, "at +least, give me time to think.--Surely, his word cannot have such +power: a base, notorious criminal himself, one who every day violates +the law, who scoffs at his own oaths, and holds truth and honour but +as names--surely his word will be nothing against Sir Robert +Croyland's." + +"His word is nothing, would be nothing," replied her father, +earnestly; "but that deposition, Edith! It is that which is my +destruction. Remember, that the words of a dying man, with eternity +and judgment close before his eyes, are held by the law more powerful +than any other kind of evidence; and, besides, there are those still +living, who heard the rash threat I used. Suspicion once pointed at +me, a thousand corroborative circumstances would come forth to prove +that the tale I told of parting with the dead man, some time before, +was false, and that very fact would condemn me. Cast away all such +hopes, Edith--cast away all such expectations. They are vain!--vain! +Look the truth full in the face, my child. This man has your father's +life entirely and totally in his power, and ask yourself, if you will +doom me to death." + +"Oh, give me time--give me time!" cried Edith, wringing her hands. +"Let me but think over it till to-morrow, or next day." + +"Not an hour ago," replied Sir Robert Croyland, "he swore, by +everything he holds sacred, that if before twelve to-night, he did not +receive your consent----" + +"Stay, stay!" cried Edith, eagerly, placing her hand upon her brow. +"Let me think--let me think. It is but money that he wants--it is but +the pitiful wealth my uncle left me. Let him take it, my father!" she +continued, laying her hand upon Sir Robert's arm, and gazing brightly +in his face, as if the light of hope had suddenly been renewed. "Let +him take it all, every farthing. I would sooner work as a hired +servant in the fields for my daily bread, with the only comfort of +innocence and peace, than break my vows, and marry that bad man. I +will sign a promise this instant that he shall have all." + +Sir Robert Croyland threw his arms round her, and looked up to Heaven, +as if imploring succour for them both. "My sweet child!--My dear +child!" he said, with the tears streaming down his cheeks. "But I +cannot leave you even this generous hope. This man has other designs. +I offered--I promised to give Zara to his son, and to ensure to her, +with my brother's help, a fortune equal to your own. But he would not +hear of it. He has other views, my Edith. You must know all--you must +see all as it really is. He will keep his word this very night! If +before twelve, he do not receive your consent, the intimation of the +fatal knowledge he possesses will be sent to those who will not fail +to track it through every step, as the bloodhound follows his prey. He +is a desperate man, Edith, and will keep his word, bringing down ruin +upon our heads, even if it overwhelm himself also." + +Edith Croyland paused without reply for several minutes, her beautiful +face remaining pale, with the exception of one glowing spot in the +centre of her cheek. Her eyes were fixed upon the ground; and her lips +moved, but without speech. She was arguing in her own mind the case +between hope and despair; and the terrible array of circumstances on +every side bewildered her. Delay was her only refuge; and looking up +in her father's face, she said, "But why is he so hasty? Why cannot he +wait a few hours longer? I will fix a time when my answer shall be +given--it shall be shortly, very shortly--this time to-morrow. Surely, +surely, in so terrible a case, I may be allowed a few hours to +think--a short, a very short period, to decide." + +"He will admit of no more than I have said," answered Sir Robert +Croyland: "it is as vain to entreat him, as to ask the hangman to +delay his fatal work. He is hard as iron, without feeling, without +heart. His reasons, too, are specious, my dear child. His son, it +seems, has taken part this morning in a smuggling affray with the +troops--blood has been shed--some of the soldiers have been +killed--all who have had a share therein are guilty of felony; and it +has become necessary that the young man should be hurried out of the +country without delay. To him such a flight is nothing: he has no +family to blacken with the record of crime--he has no honourable name +to stain--his means are all prepared; his flight is easy, his escape +secure; but his father insists that you shall be his bride before he +goes, or he gives your father up, not to justice, but to the +law--which in pretending to administer justice, but too often commits +the very crimes it seems to punish. Four short days are all that he +allows; and then you are to be that youth's bride." + +"What! the bride of a felon!" cried Edith, her spirit rising for a +moment--"of one stained with every vice and every crime--to vow +falsely that I will love him whom I must ever hate--to break all my +promises to one I must ever love--to deceive, prove false and forsworn +to the noble and the true, and give myself to the base, the lawless, +and the abhorred! Oh, my father--my father! is it possible that you +can ask such a thing?" + +The fate of Sir Robert Croyland and his daughter hung in the balance. +One harsh command, one unkind word, with justice and truth on her +side, and feebleness and wrong on his, might have armed her to resist; +but the old man's heart was melted. The struggle that he witnessed in +his child was, for a moment--remark, only for a moment--more terrible +than that within his own breast. There was something in the innocence +and truth, something in the higher attributes of the passions called +into action in her breast, something in the ennobling nature of the +conflicting feelings of her heart--the filial tenderness, the +adherence to her engagements, the abhorrence of the bad, the love of +the good, the truth, the honour, and the piety, all striving one with +the other, that for a time made the mean passion of fear seem small +and insignificant. "I do not ask you, my child," he said--"I do not +urge you--I ask, I urge you no more! The worst bitterness is past. I +have told my own child the tale of my sorrows, my folly, my weakness, +and my danger. I have inflicted the worst upon you, Edith, and on +myself; and I leave it to your own heart to decide. After your +generous, your noble offer, to sacrifice your property and leave +yourself nothing, for my sake, it were cruel--it were, indeed, base, +to urge you farther. To avoid this, dreadful disclosure, to shelter +you and myself from such horrible details, I have often been stern, +and harsh, and menacing.--Forgive me, Edith, but it is past! You now +know what is on the die; and it is your own hand casts it. Your +father's life, the honour of your family, the high name we have ever +borne--these are to be lost and won. But I urge it not--I ask it not. +You only must and can decide." + +Edith, who had risen, stood before him, pale as ashes, with her hands +clasped so tight that the blood retreated from her fingers, where they +pressed against each other, leaving them as white as those of the +dead--her eyes fixed, straining, but sightless, upon the ground. All +that she saw, all that she knew, all that she felt, was the dreadful +alternative of fates before her. It was more than her frame could +bear--it was more than almost any human heart could endure. To condemn +a father to death, to bring the everlasting regret into her heart, to +wander, as if accurst, over the earth, with a parent's blood crying +out for vengeance! It was a terrible thought indeed. Then again, she +remembered the vows that she had taken, the impossibility of +performing those that were asked of her, the sacrifice of the innocent +to the guilty, the perjury that she must commit, the dark and dreadful +future before her, the self-reproach that stood on either hand to +follow her through life! She felt as if her heart was bursting; and +the next moment, all the blood seemed to fly from it, and leave it +cold and motionless. She strove to speak--her voice was choked; but +then, again, she made an effort; and a few words broke forth, +convulsively--"To save you, my father, I would do anything," she +cried. "I _will_ do anything--but----" + +She could not finish; her sight failed her; her heart seemed crushed; +her head swam; the colour left her lips; and she fell prone at her +father's feet, without one effort to save herself. + +Sir Robert Croyland's first proceeding was, to raise her and lay her +on the sofa; but before he called any one, he gazed at her a moment or +two in silence. "She has fainted," he said. "Poor child!--Poor girl!" +But then came another thought: "She said she would do anything," he +murmured; "her words were, 'I will'--It is surely a consent." + +He forgot--he heeded not--he would not heed, that she had added, +"But----" + +"Yes, it was a consent," he repeated; "it must have been a consent. I +will hasten to tell him. If we can but gain a few days, it is +something. Who can say what a few days may bring? At all events, it is +a relief.--It will obtain the delay she wished--I will tell him.--It +must have been a consent;" and calling the servants and Edith's own +maid, to attend upon her, he hastened out of the house, fearful of +waiting till her senses returned, lest other words should snatch from +him the interpretation he chose to put upon those which had gone +before. In an instant, however, he returned, went into the library, +and wrote down on a scrap of paper:-- + +"Thanks, dearest Edith!--thanks! I go in haste to tell Mr. Radford the +promise you have given." + +Then hurrying out again, he put the paper, which he had folded up, +into the hands of the groom, who held his horse. "That for Miss +Croyland," he said, "when she has quite recovered; but not before;" +and, mounting with speed, he rode away as fast as he could go. + + + + END OF VOL. II. + + + T. C. Savill, Printer, 4, Chandos-street, Covent-garden. + + + + + + + THE SMUGGLER: + + + + A Tale + + + + BY G. P. R. JAMES, ESQ. + + AUTHOR OF + + "DARNLEY," "DE L'ORME," "RICHELIEU," + + ETC. ETC. + + + + IN THREE VOLUMES. + + + VOL. III. + + + + + LONDON: + SMITH, ELDER AND CO., 65, CORNHILL. + 1845. + + + + + + + THE SMUGGLER. + + + + + CHAPTER I. + + +It was two o'clock when Sir Robert Croyland left his daughter; and +Edith, with the aid of her maid, soon recovered from the swoon into +which she had fallen. At first she hardly knew where she was, or what +had taken place. All seemed strange to her; for she had never fainted +before; and though she had more than once seen her sister in the state +in which she herself had just been, yet she did not apply what she had +witnessed in others to explain her own sensations. + +When she could rise from the sofa, where her father had laid her, and +thought and recollection returned, Edith's first inquiry was for Sir +Robert; and the servant's answer that he had been gone a quarter of an +hour, was at first a relief. But Edith sat and pondered for a while, +applying herself to call to mind all the last words which had been +spoken. As she did so, a fear came over her--a fear that her meaning +might have been mistaken. "No!" she murmured, at length--"no! I said, +_but_--he must have heard it.--I cannot break those vows--I dare not; +I would do anything to save him--oh, yes, doom myself to wretchedness +for life; but I cannot, unless Henry gives me back my promise.--Poor +Henry! what right have I to make him suffer too?--Yet does he +suffer?--But a father's life--a father's life! That must not be the +sacrifice!--Leave me, Caroline--I am better now!" she continued aloud; +"it is very foolish to faint in this way. It never happened to me +before." + +"Oh dear, Miss Edith! it happens to every one now and then," said the +maid, who had been in her service long; "and I am sure all Sir Robert +said to you to-day, was enough to make you." + +"Good heaven!" cried Edith; in alarm, "did you hear?" + +"I could not help hearing a part, Miss Edith," answered the maid; "for +in that little room, where I sit to be out of the way of all the black +fellows, one hears very plain what is said here. There was once a +door, I believe, and it is only just covered over." + +For a moment, Edith sat mute in consternation; but at length demanded, +"What did you hear? Tell me all, Caroline--every word, if you would +ever have me regard you more." + +"Oh, it was not much, Miss!" replied the maid; "I heard Sir Robert +twice say, his life depended on it--and I suppose he meant, on your +marrying young Mr. Radford. Then he seemed to tell you a long story; +but I did not hear the whole of that; for I did not try, I can assure +you, Miss Edith; and then I heard you say, 'To save you, my father, I +would do anything--I _will_ do anything, but--' and then you stopped +in the middle, because I suppose you fainted." + +Edith put her hands before her eyes and thought, or tried to think; +for her ideas were still in sad confusion. "Leave me now, Caroline," +she said; "but, remember, I expect that no part of any conversation +you have overheard between me and my father, will ever be repeated." + +"Oh dear, no, Miss Edith," replied the woman, "I would not on any +account;" and she left the room. + +We all know of what value are ordinary promises of secrecy, even in +the best society, as it is called. Nine times out of ten, there is one +dear friend to whom everything is revealed; and that dear friend has +others; and at each remove, the bond of secrecy is weaker and more +weak, till the whole world is made a hearer of the tale. Now Edith's +maid was a very discreet person; and when she promised not to reveal +what she had heard, she only proposed to herself, to tell it to one +person in the world. Nor was that person her lover, or her friend, or +her fellow-servant; nor was she moved by the spirit of gossip, but +really and truly by a love for her young lady, which was great, and by +a desire to serve her. Thus, she thought, as soon as she had shut the +door, "I will tell it to Miss Zara, though; for it is but right that +she should know how they are driving her sister to marry a man she +hates, as well she may. Miss Zara is active and quick, and may find +some means of helping her." + +The maid had not been gone a minute, when she returned with the short +note which Sir Robert Croyland had left; and as she handed it to her +young mistress, she watched her countenance eagerly. But Edith took +it, read it, and gazed upon the paper without a word. + +"Pray, Miss Edith," said the maid, "are you likely to want me soon; +for I wish to go up to the village for something?" + +"No, Caroline--no," answered Edith, with an absent air; "I shall not +want you;" and she remained standing with the paper in her hand, and +her eyes fixed upon it. + +The powers by which volition acts upon the mind, and in what volition +really consists, are mysteries which have never yet, that I have seen, +been explained. Yet certain it is, that there is something within us +which, when the intellectual faculties seem, under the pressure of +circumstances, to lose their functions, can by a great effort compel +them to return to their duty, rally them, and array them, as it were, +against the enemy by whom they have been routed. Edith Croyland made +the effort, and succeeded. She had been taken by surprise, and +overcome; but now she collected all the forces of her mind, and +prepared to fight the battle over again. In a few minutes, she became +calm, and applied herself to consider fully her own situation. There +were filial duty and tenderness on one side--love and a strong vow on +the other. "He has gone to tell Mr. Radford that I have consented," +was her first distinct thought, "but his having mistaken me, must not +make me give that consent when it is wrong. Were it myself alone, I +would sacrifice all for him--I could but die--a few hours of misery +are not much to bear--I have borne many. But I am bound--Good God! +what an alternative!" + +But I will not follow her thoughts: they can easily be conceived. She +was left alone, with no one to counsel, with no one to aid her. The +fatal secret she possessed was a bar to asking advice from any one. +Buried in her own bosom, the causes of her conduct, the motives upon +which she acted, must ever be secret, whatever course she pursued. +Agony was on either hand. She had to choose between two terrible +alternatives: on the one hand a breach of all her engagements, a few +years, a few weeks, perhaps, of misery, and an early death--for such +she knew must be her fate: and, on the other, a life, with love +certainly to cheer it, but poisoned by the remembrance that she had +sacrificed her father. Yet Edith now thought firmly, weighed, +considered all. + +She could come to no determination. Between two such gulfs, she shrank +trembling from either. + +The clock in the hall, with its clear, sharp bell, struck three; and +the moment after, the quick sound of horses' feet was heard. "Can it +be my father?" she thought. "No! he has not had time--unless he has +doubted;" but while she asked herself the question, the horses stopped +at the door, the bell rang; and she went on to say to herself, +"perhaps it is Zara. That would be a comfort indeed, though I cannot +tell her--I must not tell her all." + +The old Hindoo opened the door, saying "Missy, a gentleman want to see +you--very fine gentleman." + +Edith could not speak; but she bowed her head, and the servant, +receiving that token as assent, turned to some one behind him and +said, "Walk in, sir." + +For a moment or two, Edith did not raise her eyes, and her lips moved. +She heard a step in the room, that made her heart flutter; she heard +the door shut; but yet for an instant she remained with her head bent, +and her hands clasped together. Then she looked up. Standing before +her, and gazing intently upon her, was a tall handsome man, dressed in +the splendid uniform of the dragoons of that time, and with a star +upon his left breast--a decoration worn by persons who had the right +to do so, more frequently in those days than at the present time. But +it was to the face that Edith's eyes were turned--to the countenance +well known and deeply loved. Changed though it was--grave where it had +been gay, pale where it had been florid, sterner in the lines, once so +full of gentle youth--still all the features were there, and the +expression too, though saddened, was the same. + +He gazed on her with a look full of tenderness and love; and their +eyes met. On both of them the feelings of other years seemed to rush +with overpowering force. The interval which had since occurred, for a +moment, was annihilated; the heart went back with the rapid wing of +Memory, to the hours of joy that were gone; and Leyton opened wide his +arms, exclaiming, "Edith! Edith!" + +She could not resist. She had no power to struggle. Love, stronger +than herself, was master; and, starting up, she cast herself upon his +bosom, and there wept. + +"Dear, dear girl!" he said, "then you love me still,--then Digby's +assurance is true--then you have not forgotten poor Harry Leyton--then +his preserving hope, his long endurance, his unwavering love, his +efforts, his success, have not been all in vain!--Dear, dear Edith! +This hour repays me for all--for all. Dangers and adversities, and +wounds, and anguish of body and of mind, and sleepless nights, and +days of bitter thought--I would endure them all. All?--ay, tenfold +all--for this one hour!" and he pressed her closer and closer to his +heart. + +"Nay, Harry--nay," cried Edith, still clinging to him; "but hear me, +hear me--or if you speak such words of tenderness, you will break my +heart, or drive me mad." + +"Good heaven!" exclaimed Leyton, unclasping his arms, "what is it that +you say? Edith--my Edith--my own, my vowed, my bride! But now, you +seemed to share the joy you gave,--to love, as you are loved; and +now----" + +"I do love you--oh! I do love you!" cried Edith, vehemently; "add not +a doubt of that to all I suffer. Ever, ever have I loved you, without +change, without thought of change. But yet--but yet--. I may have +fancied that you have forgotten me--I may have thought it strange that +you did not write--that my letters remained unanswered; but still I +loved, still I have been true to you." + +"I did write, my Edith. I received no letters," said Leyton, sadly; +"we have both been wronged, my dear girl. My letters were returned in +a cover directed in your own hand: but that trick I understand--that I +see through. Oh, do not let any one deceive you again, beloved girl! +You have been my chief--I might say my only thought; for the memory of +you has mingled with every other idea, and made the whole your own. In +the camp and in the field, I have endured and fought for Edith; in the +council and in the court, I have struggled and striven for her; she +has been the end and object of every effort, the ruling power of my +whole mind. And now, Edith--now your soldier has returned to you. He +has won every step towards the crowning reward of his endeavours; he +has risen to competence, to command, to some honour in the service of +his country; and he can proudly say to her he loves, Cast from you the +fortune for which men dared to think I sought you--come to your lover, +come to your husband, as dowerless as he was when they parted us; and +let all the world see and know, that it was your love, not your +wealth, I coveted--this dear hand, that dear heart, not base gold, +that I desired. Oh, Edith, in Heaven's name, cast me not now headlong +down from the height of hope and joy to which you have raised me, for +fear a heart and spirit, too long depressed, should never find +strength to rise again." + +Edith staggered back and sank down upon the sofa, covering her eyes, +and only murmuring--"I do love you, Harry, beyond life itself.--Oh, +that I were dead!--oh, that I were dead!" + +There was a terrible struggle in Henry Leyton's bosom. He could not +understand the agitation that he witnessed; had it borne anything like +the character of joy, even of surprise, all would have been clear; but +it was evidently very different. It was joy overborne by sorrow. It +was evidently a struggle of love with some influence, perhaps not +stronger, yet terrible in its effect. He was a man of quick decision +and strong resolution--qualities not always combined; and he overcame +himself in a moment. He saw that he was loved--still deeply, truly +loved; and that was a great point. He saw that Edith was grieved to +the soul--he saw that he himself could not feel more intensely the +anguish she inflicted than she did, that she was wringing her own +heart while she was wringing his, and felt a double pang; and that was +a strong motive for calmness, if not for fortitude. Her last words, "I +wish I were dead!" restored him fully to himself; and following her to +the sofa, he seated himself beside her, gently took her hand in his, +and pressed his lips upon it. + +"Edith," he said--"my own dear Edith, let us be calm! Thank you, my +beloved, for one moment of happiness, the first I have known for +years; and now let us talk, as quietly as may be, of anything that may +have arisen which should justly cause Henry Leyton's return to make +Edith Croyland wish herself dead. Your uncle will not be long ere he +arrives; I left him on the road; and it is by his full consent that I +am here." + +"Oh no, Harry--no!" said Edith, turning at first to his comment on her +words, "it is not your return that makes me wish myself dead; but it +is, that circumstances--dark and terrible circumstances--which were +only made known to me an hour before your arrival, have turned all the +joy, the pure, the almost unmixed joy, that I should have felt at +seeing you again, into a well of bitterness. It is that I cannot, that +I dare not explain to you those circumstances--that you will think me +wrong, unkind--fickle, perhaps,--perhaps even mad, in whatsoever way I +may act." + +"But surely you can say something, dear Edith," said her lover; "you +can give some hint of the cause of all I see. You tell me in one +breath that you love me still, yet wish you were dead; and show +evidently that my coming has been painful to you." + +"No, no, Harry," she answered, mournfully, "do not say so. Painful to +me?--oh, no! It would be the purest joy that ever I yet knew, were it +not that--But why did you not come earlier, Harry? Why, when your +horse stood upon that hill, did you not turn his head hither? Would +that you had, would that you had! My fate would have been already +decided. Now it is all clouds and darkness. I knew you instantly. I +could see no feature; I could but trace a figure on horseback, wrapped +in a large cloak; but the instinct of love told me who it was. Oh! why +did you not come then?" + +"Because it would have been dishonest, Edith," answered Leyton, +gravely. "Your uncle had been my father's friend, my uncle's friend. +In a kindly manner he invited me here some time ago, as a perfect +stranger, under the name of Captain Osborn. You were not here then; +and I thought I could not in honour come under his roof, when I found +you were here, without telling him who I really was. He appointed this +day to meet me at Woodchurch at two; and I dared not venture, after +all that has passed between your family and mine, to seek you in his +dwelling, ere I had seen and explained myself to him. I knew you were +here: I gazed up at these windows with a yearning of the heart that +nearly overcame my resolution----" + +"I saw you gaze, Harry," answered Edith; "and I say still, would that +you had come.--Yet you were right.--It might have saved me much +misery; but you were right. And now listen to the fate that is before +me--to the choice I have to make, as far as I can explain it--and yet +what words can I use?--But it must be done. I must not leave anything +unperformed, that can prevent poor Edith Croyland from becoming an +object of hatred and contempt in Henry Leyton's eyes. Little as I can +do to defend myself, I must do it." + +She paused, gazed up on high for a moment, and then laid her hand upon +his. + +"Henry, I do love you," she said. "Nay, more, I am yours, plighted to +you by bonds I cannot and I dare not break--vows, I mean, the most +solemn, as well as the ties of long affection. Yet, if I wed you, I am +miserable for life. Self-reproach, eternal self-reproach--the most +terrible of all things--to which no other mental or corporeal pain can +ever reach, would prey upon my heart for ever, and bear me down into +the grave. Peace--rest, I should have none. A voice would be for ever +howling in my ear a name that would poison sleep, and make each waking +moment an hour of agony. I can tell you no more on this side of the +question; but so it is. It seems fated that I should bring misery one +way or another upon him who is dearest to me." + +"I cannot comprehend," exclaimed Leyton, in surprise. "Your father has +heard, I suppose, that I am here, and has menaced you with his curse." + +"Oh, no!" answered Edith; "far from it. He was here but now; he spoke +of you, Henry, as you deserve. He told me how he had loved you and +esteemed you in your young days; how, though angry at first at our +rash engagement, he would have consented in the end; but--there was a +fatal 'but,' Henry--an impediment not to be surmounted. I must not +tell you what it is--I cannot, I dare not explain. But listen to what +he said besides. You have heard one part of the choice; hear the +other: it is to wed a man whom I abhor--despise--contemn--whose very +look is fearful to me; to ask you to give me back the vows I plighted, +in order--in order," and she spoke very low, "that I may sacrifice +myself for my father, that I may linger out a few weeks of +wretchedness, and then sink into the grave, which is now my only +hope." + +"And do you ask me, Edith?" inquired Leyton, in a sad and solemn +tone--"do you, Edith Croyland, really and truly ask me to give you +back those vows? Speak, beloved--speak; for my heart is well nigh +bursting." + +He paused, and she was silent; covering her eyes with her hands, while +her bosom heaved, as if she were struggling for breath. "No, no, no, +Harry!" she cried, at length, as if the effort were vain, "I cannot, I +cannot! Oh, Harry, Harry! I wish that I were dead!" and, casting her +arms round his neck, she wept upon his breast again. + +Henry Leyton drew her closer to him with his left arm round her waist; +but pressed his right hand on his brow, and gazed on vacancy. Both +remained without speaking for a time; but at length he said, in a +voice more calm than might have been expected, "Let us consider this +matter, Edith. You have been terrified by some means; a tale has +been told you, which has agitated and alarmed you, which has overcome +your resolution, that now has endured more than six years, and +doubtless that tale has been well devised.--Are you sure that it is +true?--Forgive this doubt in regard to one who is near and dear to +you; but when such deceits have been practised, as those which we know +have been used to delude us, I must be suspicious.--Are you sure that +it is true, I say? + +"Too true, too true!"' answered Edith, shaking her head, +mournfully--"that tale explains all, too,--even those deceits you +mention. No, no, it is but too true--it could not be feigned--besides, +I remember so many things, all tending to the same. It is true--I +cannot doubt it." + +Sir Henry Leyton paused, and twice began to speak, but twice stopped, +as if the words he was about to utter, cost him a terrible struggle to +speak. At length he said, "And the man, Edith--the man they wish you +to marry--who is he?" + +"Ever the same," answered Edith, bending down her head, and her cheek, +which had been as pale as death, glowing like crimson--"the same, +Richard Radford." + +"What! a felon!" exclaimed Leyton, turning round, with his brows bent; +"a felon, after whom my soldiers and the officers of justice are now +hunting through the country! Sir Robert Croyland must be mad! But I +tell you, Edith, that man shall never stand within a church again, +till it be the chapel of the gaol. Let him make his peace with Heaven; +for if he be caught--and caught he shall be--there is no mercy for him +on earth. But surely there must be some mistake. You cannot have +understood your father rightly, or he cannot know----" + +"Oh! yes, yes!" replied Edith; "he knows all; and it is the same. Ay, +and within four days, too--that he may take me with him in his +flight." + +"Ere four days be over," answered her lover, sternly, "he shall no +more think of bridals." + +"And what will become of my father, then!" said Edith, gazing steadily +down upon the ground. "It is I--I that shall have done it. Alas, alas! +which way shall I turn?" + +There was something more than sorrow in her countenance; there was +anguish--almost agony; and Sir Henry Leyton was much moved. "Turn to +me, Edith," he said; "turn to him who loves you better than life; and +there is no sacrifice that he will not make for you, but his honour. +Tell me, have you made any promise?--have you given your father your +consent?" + +"No," answered Edith, eagerly; "no, I have not. He took my words as +consent, though ere they were half finished, the horror and pain of +all I heard overcame me, and I fainted. But I did not consent, +Harry--I could not consent, without your permission.--Oh, Harry, aid +and support me!" + +"Listen to me, my beloved," replied Leyton; "wealth, got by any means, +is this man's object. I gather from what you say, that your father has +some cause to dread him--give up to him this much-coveted fortune--let +him take it--ay, and share Henry Leyton's little wealth. I desire +nothing but yourself." + +"Alas, Henry, it is all in vain!" answered Edith; "I have offered it--I +knew your noble, generous heart. I knew that wealth would make no +difference to him I loved, and offered to resign everything. My +father, even before he came hither, offered him my sister--offered to +make her the sacrifice, as she is bound by no promises, and to give +her an equal portion; but it was all refused." + +"Then there is some other object," said her lover; "some object that +may, perhaps, tend even to more misery than you dream of, Edith. +Believe me, my beloved--oh! believe me, did I but see how I could +deliver you--were I sure that any act of mine would give you peace, no +sacrifice on my part would seem too great. At present, however, I see +nothing clearly--all is darkness and shadow around. I know not, that +if I give you back your promise, and free you from your vow, that I +shall not be contributing to make you wretched. How, then, am I to +act? You are sure, dear one, that you have not consented?" + +"Quite sure," answered Edith; "and it so happened, that there was one +who heard my words as well as my father. He, indeed, took them as +consent, and hurried away to Mr. Radford, without giving me time to +recover and say more. Read that, Harry," and she put the note her +father had left into his hands. + +"It is fortunate you were heard by another," replied Leyton. "Hark! +there is your uncle's carriage coming.--Four days, did he say--four +days? Well, then, dear Edith, will you trust in me? Will you leave +your fate in the hands of one who will do anything on earth for your +happiness?--and will you never doubt, though you may be kept in +suspense, that I will so act as to deliver you, if I can, without +bringing ruin on your father." + +"It is worse than ruin," answered Edith, with the tears rolling down +her cheeks--"it is death. But I will trust to you, Henry--I will trust +implicitly. But tell me how to act--tell me what I am to do." + +"Leave this matter as it is," answered her lover, hearing Mr. +Croyland's carriage stop at the door;--"your father has snatched too +eagerly at your words. Perhaps he has done so to gain time; but, at +all events, the fault is his, not yours. If he speaks to you on the +subject, you must tell the truth, and say you did not consent; but in +everything else be passive--let him do with you what he will--take you +to the altar, if he so pleases; but there must be the final struggle, +Edith. There you must boldly and aloud refuse to wed a man you cannot +love. There let the memory of your vows to me be ever present with +you. It may seem cruel; but I exact it for your own sake. In the +meantime, take means to let me know everything that happens, be it +small or great--cast off all reserve towards Digby; tell him all, +everything that takes place; tell your sister, too, or any one who can +bear me the tidings. I shall be nearer than you think." + +"Oh, Heaven, how will this end!" cried Edith, putting her hand in +his--"God help me, Harry--God help me!" + +"He will, dear girl," answered Leyton--"I feel sure he will. But +remember what I have said. Fail not to tell Digby, or Zara, or any one +who can bear the tidings to me, everything that occurs, every word +that is spoken, every step that is taken. Think nothing too trifling. +But there is your uncle's voice in the passage. Can you not inform him +of that which you think yourself bound not to tell me? I mean the +particulars of your father's situation." + +"No; oh no!" replied Edith--"I dare tell no one, especially not my +uncle. Though kind, and generous, and benevolent, yet he is hasty, and +he might ruin all. Dared I tell any one on earth, Henry, it would be +you; and if I loved you before--oh, how I must love you now, when +instead of the anger, or even heat, which I expected you to display, +you have shown yourself ready to sacrifice all for one who is hardly +worthy of you." + +Leyton pressed her to his bosom, and replied, "Real love is unselfish, +Edith. I tell you, dearest, that I die if I lose you; yet, Edith +Croyland shall never do what is wrong for Henry Leyton's sake. If in +the past we did commit an error, if I should not have engaged you by +vows without your parent's consent--though God knows that error has +been bitterly visited on my head!--I am still ready to make atonement +to the best of my power; but I will not consent that you should be +causelessly made miserable, or sacrifice yourself and me, without +benefit to any one. Trust to me, Edith--trust to me." + +"I will, I will!" answered Edith Croyland; "who can I trust to else?" + +Mr. Croyland was considerate; and knowing that Sir Henry Leyton was +with his niece--for his young friend had passed him on the road--he +paused for a moment in the vestibule, giving various orders and +directions, in order to afford them a few minutes more of private +conversation. When he went in, he was surprised to find Edith's face +full of deep grief, and her eyes wet with tears, and still more when +Leyton, after kissing her fair cheek, advanced towards him, saying, "I +must go, my dear friend, nor can I accept your kind invitation to stay +here to-night. But I am about to show myself a bold man, and ask you +to give me almost the privilege of a son--that is, of coming and +going, for the four or five next days, at my own will, and without +question." + +"What's all this?--what's all this?" cried Mr. Croyland; "a lovers' +quarrel?--Ha, Edith? Ha, Harry?" + +"Oh, no," answered Edith, giving her uncle her hand; "there never can +be a quarrel between me and Henry Leyton." + +"Well, then, what is it all?" exclaimed Mr. Croyland, turning +from one to the other. "Mystery--mystery! I hate mystery, Harry +Leyton.--However, you shall have your privilege; the doors shall be +open. Come--go--do what you like. But if you are not a great fool, you +will order over a post-chaise and four this very night, put her in, +and be off for Gretna Green. I'll give you my parental benediction." + +"I am afraid, my dear sir," answered Leyton, "that cannot be. Edith +has told me various things since I saw her, which require to be dealt +with in a different way. I trust, that in whatever I do, my conduct +will be such as to give you satisfaction; and whether the result be +fortunate or otherwise, I shall never, till the last hour of life, +forget the kindness you have shown me. And now, my dear sir, adieu for +the present, for I have much to do this night." + +Thus saying, he shook the old gentleman's hand, and departed with a +heavy heart and anxious mind. During his onward ride, his heart did +not become lighter; his mind was only more burdened with cares. As +long as he was in Edith's presence, he had borne up and struggled +against all that he felt; for he saw that she was already overwhelmed +with grief, and he feared to add to it; but now his thoughts were all +confusion. With incomplete information--in circumstances the most +difficult--anxious to save her he loved, even at any sacrifice on his +own part, yet seeing no distinct means of acting in any direction +without danger to her--he looked around him in vain for any resource; +or, if he formed a plan one moment, he rejected it the next. He knew +Edith's perfect truth, he knew the quiet firmness and power of her +mind too well to doubt one tittle of that which she had stated; and +though at first sight he thought the proofs he possessed of Mr. +Radford's participation in the late smuggling transaction were quite +sufficient to justify that person's immediate arrest, and proposed +that it should take place immediately, yet the next moment he +recollected what might be the result to Sir Robert Croyland, and +hesitated how to act. Then, again, he turned his eyes to the +circumstances in which Edith's father was placed, and asked himself, +what could be the mystery which so terribly overshadowed him? Edith +had said that his life was at stake; and Leyton tortured his +imagination in vain to find some explanation of such a fact. + +"Can he have been deceiving her?" he asked himself more than once. But +then, again, he answered, "No, it must be true! He can have no +ordinary motive in urging her to such a step; his whole character, his +whole views are against it. Haughty and ostentatious, there must be +some overpowering cause to make him seek to wed his daughter to a low +ruffian--the son of an upstart, who owed his former wealth to fraud, +and who is now, if all tales be true, nearly bankrupt,--to wed Edith, +a being of grace, of beauty, and of excellence, to a villain like +this--a felon and a fugitive--and to send her forth into the wide +world, to share the wanderings of a man she hates! The love of life +must be a strange thing in some men. One would have thought that a +thousand lives were nothing to such a sacrifice. Yet, the tale must be +true; this old man must have Sir Robert's life in his power. But +how--how? that is the question. Perhaps Digby can discover something. +At all events, I must see him without delay." + +In such thoughts, Sir Henry Leyton rode on fast to Woodchurch, +accomplishing in twenty minutes that which took good Mr. Croyland with +his pampered horses, more than an hour to perform; and springing from +his charger at the door of the inn, he was preparing to go up and +write to Sir Edward Digby, when Captain Irby, on the one hand, and his +own servant on the other, applied for attention. + +"Mr. Warde is up stairs, sir," said the servant; "he has been waiting +about half an hour." + +But Leyton turned to the officer, asking, "What is it, Captain Irby?" + +"Two or three of the men, sir, who have been taken," replied Captain +Irby, "have expressed a wish to make a statement. One of them is badly +wounded, too; but I did not know how to act till you arrived, as we +had no magistrate here." + +"Was it quite voluntary?" demanded the young officer; "no inducements +held out--no questions asked?" + +"Quite voluntary, sir," answered the other. "They sent to ask for you; +and when I went, in your absence, they told me what it was they +desired; but I refused to take the deposition till you arrived, for +fear of getting myself into a scrape." + +"It must be taken," replied the colonel. "Of whatever value it may be +judged hereafter, we must not refuse it when offered. I will come to +them in a moment, Irby;" and entering the house, but without going up +stairs, he wrote a few lines, in the bar, to Sir Edward Digby, +requesting to see him without delay. Then, calling his servant, he +said, "Tell Mr. Warde I will be with him in a few minutes; after +which, mount yourself, and carry this note over to Harbourne House, to +Sir Edward Digby. Give it into his own hand; but remember, it is my +wish that you should not mention my name there at all. Do you know the +place?" + +"Yes, sir," replied the man; and, leaving him to fulfil his errand, +the colonel returned to the door of the house, to accompany Captain +Irby. + + + + + CHAPTER II. + + +We mast now return for a time to Harbourne House, where, after Sir +Robert Croyland's departure, his guest had endeavoured in vain, during +the whole morning, to obtain a few minutes' private conversation with +the baronet's youngest daughter. Now, it was not in the least degree, +that Mrs. Barbara's notions of propriety interfered to prevent the two +young people from being alone together; for, on the contrary, Mrs. +Barbara was a very lenient and gentle-minded person, and thought +it quite right that any two human beings who were likely to fall in +love with each other, should have every opportunity of doing so, to +their hearts' content. But it so happened, from a sort of fatality +which hung over all her plans, that whenever she interfered with +anything,--which, indeed, she always did, with everything she could +lay her hands upon,--the result was sure to be directly the contrary +to that which she intended. It might be, indeed, that she did not +always manage matters quite judiciously, that she acted without +considering all the circumstances of the case; and undoubtedly it +would have been quite as well if she had not acted at all when she was +not asked. + +In the present instance, when she had remained in the drawing-room +with her niece and Sir Edward, for near half an hour after her brother +had departed, it just struck her that they might wish to be alone +together; for she had made up her mind by this time, that the young +officer's visit was to end in a love affair; and, as the very best +means of accomplishing the desired object, instead of going to speak +with the housekeeper, or to give orders to the dairy-maid, or to talk +to the steward,--as any other prudent, respectable, and well-arranged +aunt would have done--she said to her niece, as if a sudden thought +had occurred to her, "I don't think Sir Edward Digby has ever seen the +library. Zara, my dear, you had better show it to him. There are some +very curious books there, and the manuscript in vellum, with all the +kings' heads painted." + +Zara felt that it was rather a coarse piece of work which her aunt had +just turned out of hand; and being a little too much susceptible of +ridicule, she did not like to have anything to do with it, although, +to say the truth, she was very anxious herself for the few minutes +that Mrs. Barbara was inclined to give her. + +"Oh, I dare say, my dear aunt," she replied, "Sir Edward Digby does +not care anything about old books!--I don't believe they have been +opened for these fifty years." + +"The greater the treasure, Miss Croyland," answered the young officer; +"I can assure you nothing delights me more than an old library; so I +think I shall go and find it out myself, if you are not disposed to +show it to me." + +Zara Croyland remembered, with a smile, that Sir Edward Digby had met +with no great difficulty in finding it out for himself on a previous +occasion. She rose, however, with her colour a little heightened; for +his invitation was a very palpable one, and she did not know what +conclusions her aunt might be pleased to draw, or to insinuate to +others; and, leading the way towards the library, she opened the door, +expecting to find the room untenanted. There, however, before her +eyes, standing opposite to a book-case, with a large folio volume of +divinity in his hand, stood the clergyman of the parish; and he +instantly turned round his head, with spectacles on nose, and advanced +to pay his respects to Miss Croyland and Sir Edward Digby. Now, the +clergyman was a very worthy man; but he had one of those +peculiarities, which, if peculiarities were systematically classed, +would be referred to the bore genus. He was frequently unaware of when +people had had enough of him; and consequently on the present +occasion--after he had informed Zara, that finding that her father was +out, he had taken the liberty of walking into the library to look at a +book he wanted--he put back that book, and attacked Sir Edward Digby, +totis viribus, upon the state of the weather, the state of the +country, and the state of the smugglers. The later topic, as it was +the predominant one in every man's mind at that moment, and in that +part of the country, occupied him rather longer than a sermon, though +his parishioners occasionally thought his sermons quite sufficiently +extensive for any sleep-resisting powers of the human frame to +withstand; and then, when Sir Edward and Zara, forgetting, in the +interest which they seemed to take in his discourse, that they had +come into the library to look at the books, walked out upon the +terrace, he walked out with them; and as they turned up and down, he +turned up and down also, for full an hour. + +Zara could almost have cried in the end; but, as out of the basest +refuse of our stable-yards, grow the finest flowers of our gardens, so +good is ever springing up from evil; and in the end the worthy +clergyman gave his two companions the first distinct account which +they had received of the dispersion of Mr. Radford's band of +smugglers, and of the eager pursuit of young Radford which was taking +place throughout the country. Thus passed the morning, with one event +or other of little consequence, presenting obstacles to any free +communication between two people, who were almost as desirous of some +private conversation as if they had been lovers. + +A little before three o'clock, however, Zara Croyland who had been +looking out of the window, suddenly quitted the drawing-room; and Sir +Edward Digby, who maintained his post, was left to entertain Mrs. +Barbara, which he did to the best of his abilities. He was still in +full career, a little enjoying, to say sooth, some of the good lady's +minor absurdities, when Zara re-entered the room with a quick step, +and a somewhat eager look. Her fair cheek was flushed too; and her +face had in it that sort of determined expression which often betrays +that there has been a struggle in the mind, as to some step about to +be taken, and that victory has not been achieved without an effort. + +"Sir Edward Digby," she said, in a clear and distinct tone, "I want to +speak with you for a few moments, if you please." + +Mrs. Barbara looked shocked, and internally wondered that Zara could +not have made some little excuse for engaging Sir Edward in private +conversation. + +"She might have asked him to go and see a flower, or offered to play +him a tune on the harpsichord, or taken him to look at the dovecot, or +anything," thought Mrs. Barbara. + +The young officer, however, instantly started up, and accompanied his +fair inviter towards the library, to which she led the way with a +hurried and eager step. + +"Let us come in here!" she said, opening the door; but the moment she +was within, she sank into a chair and clasped her hands together. + +Sir Edward Digby shut the door, and then advanced towards her, a good +deal surprised and somewhat alarmed by the agitation he saw her +display. She did not speak for a moment, as if completely overpowered, +and feeling for her more deeply than he himself knew, her companion +took her hand and tried to soothe her, saying, "Be calm--be calm, my +dear Miss Croyland! You know you can trust in me, and if I can aid you +in any way, command me." + +"I know not what to do, or what to say," cried Zara; "but I am sure, +Sir Edward, you will find excuses for me; and therefore I will make +none--though I may perhaps seem somewhat bold in dealing thus with one +whom I have only known a few days." + +"There are circumstances which sometimes make a few days equal to many +years," replied Sir Edward Digby. "It is so, my dear young lady, with +you and I. Therefore, without fear or hesitation, tell me what it is +that agitates you, and how I can serve you. I am not fond of making +professions; but if it be in human power, it shall be done." + +"I know not, whether it can be done or not," said Zara; "but if not, +there is nothing but ruin and desolation for two people, whom we both +love. You saw my father set out this morning. Did you remark the +course he took? It was over to my uncle's, for I watched him from the +window. He passed back again some time ago, but then struck off +towards Mr. Radford's. All that made me uneasy; but just now, I saw +Edith's maid coming up towards the house; and eager for tidings, I +hurried away.--Good Heavens, what tidings she has borne me!" + +"They must be evil ones, I see," answered Digby; "but I trust not such +as to preclude all chance of remedying what may have gone wrong. When +two or three people act together zealously, dear lady, there are very +few things they cannot accomplish." + +"Yes, but how to explain!" exclaimed Zara; "yet I must be short; for +otherwise my aunt will be in upon us. Now, Sir Edward Digby," she +continued, after thinking for a moment, "I know you are a man of +honour--I am sure you are; and I ask you to pledge me that honour, +that you will never reveal to any one what I am going to tell you; for +I know not whether I am about to do right or wrong--whether, in trying +to save one, I may not be bringing down ruin upon others. Do you give +me your honour?" + +"Most assuredly!" answered her companion. "I will never repeat a word +that you say, unless with your permission, on my honour!" + +"Well, then," replied Zara, in a faint voice, "Mr. Radford has my +father's life in his power. How, I know not--how, I cannot tell. But +so it is; and such are the tidings that Caroline has just brought us. +Mr. Radford's conference with him this morning was not for nothing. +Immediately after, he went over to Edith; he told her some tale which +the girl did not distinctly hear; but, it seems, some paper which Mr. +Radford possesses was spoken of, and the sum of the whole matter was, +that my poor, sweet sister was told, if she did not consent, within +four days, to marry that hateful young man, she would sacrifice her +father's life. He left her fainting, and has ridden over to bear her +consent to Mr. Radford." + +"But, did she consent?" exclaimed Sir Edward Digby, in surprise and +consternation--"Did she really yield?" + +"No--no!" answered Zara, "she did not! The girl said she heard her +words, and they were not in truth a consent. But my father chose to +take them as such, and left her even before she recovered." + +I have already shown the effect of the same account upon Sir Henry +Leyton, with all the questions which it suggested to his mind; and the +impression produced upon his friend, as a man of sense and a man of +the world, were so similar, that it may be needless to give any +detailed statement of his first observations or inquiries. Zara soon +satisfied him, however, that the tale her father had told, was not a +mere device to frighten Edith into a compliance with his wishes; and +then came the question, What was to be done? + +"It is, in truth, a most painful situation in which your sister is +placed," said Digby, after some consideration; "but think you that +this man, this Radford, cannot be bought off? Money must be to him--if +he be as totally ruined as people say--the first consideration; and I +know Leyton so well, that I can venture to promise nothing of that +kind shall stand in the way, if we can but free your sister from the +terrible choice put before her." + +Zara shook her head sadly, saying, "No; that hope is vain!--The girl +tells me," she added, with a faint smile, which was quickly succeeded +by a blush, "that she heard my father say, he had offered me--poor me! +to Richard Radford, with the same fortune as Edith, but had been +refused." + +"And would you have consented?" demanded Sir Edward Digby, in a more +eager tone than he had yet used. + +"Nay," replied Zara, "that has nought to do with the present question. +Suffice it, that this proves that gold is not his only object." + +"Nay, but answer me," persevered her companion; "would you have +consented? It may have much to do with the question yet." He fixed his +eyes gravely upon her face, and took the fair, small hand, that lay +upon the arm of the chair, in his.--It was something very like making +love, and Zara felt a strange sensation at her heart; but she turned +away her face, and answered, with a very pale cheek, "I would die for +my father, Sir Edward; but I could not wed Richard Radford." + +Sir Edward raised her hand to his lips, and pressed them on it. "I +thought so!" he said--"I thought so! And now, heart, and mind, and +hand, and spirit, to save your sister, Zara! I have hunted many a fox +in my day, and I don't think the old one of Radford Hall will escape +me. The greatest difficulty is, not to compromise your father in any +way; but that shall be cared for, too, to the very best of my power, +be assured. Henceforth, dear lady, away with all reserve between us. +While I am in this house, it will be absolutely necessary for you to +communicate with me freely, and probably very often. Have no +hesitation; have no scruple as to hour, or manner, or means. Trust to +my honour as you have trusted this day; and you shall never find it +fail you. I will enter into such explanations with my servant, Somers, +in regard to poor Leyton, as will make him think it nothing strange, +if you send him for me at any time. He is as discreet as a privy +councillor; and you must, therefore, have no hesitation." + +"I will not," answered Zara; "for I would do anything to save my +sister from such a fate; and I do believe you will not think--you will +not imagine----" + +She paused in some confusion; and Sir Edward Digby answered, with a +smile--but a kindly and a gentlemanly one, "Let my imagination do as +it will, Zara. Depend upon it, it shall do you no wrong; and believe +me when I say, that I can hardly feel so much pain at these +circumstances as I otherwise might, since they bring me into such near +and frequent communication with you." + +"Hush, hush!" she answered, somewhat gravely; "I can think of nothing +now but my poor sister; and you must not, Sir Edward, by one +compliment, or fine speech--nay, nor by one kind speech either," she +added, laying her hand upon his arm, and looking up in his face, with +a glowing cheek--"for I know you mean it as kind--you must not, +indeed, throw any embarrassment over an intercourse, which is +necessary at present, and which is my only hope and resource, in the +circumstances in which we are placed. So now tell me what you are +going to do; for you seemed, but now, as if you were about to set out +somewhere." + +"I am going to Woodchurch instantly," replied Digby. "Sir Henry Leyton +must be there still----" + +"Sir Henry Leyton!" exclaimed Zara; "then he has, indeed, been a +successful campaigner." + +"Most successful, and most deservedly so," answered his friend. "No +man but Wolfe won more renown; and if he can but gain this battle, +Leyton will have all that he desires on earth. But I will not stay +here, skirmishing on the flanks, dear lady, while the main body is +engaged. I will ride over as fast as possible, see Leyton, consult +with him, and be back, if possible, by dinner time. If not, you must +tell your father not to wait for me, as I was suddenly called away on +business." + +"But how shall I know the result of your expedition?" demanded Zara; +"we shall be surrounded, I fear, by watchful eyes." + +"We must trust to fortune and our own efforts to afford us some means +of communication," replied Digby. "But remember, dearest lady, that +for this great object, you have promised to cast away all reserve. For +the time, at least, you must look upon Edward Digby as a brother, and +treat him as such." + +"That I will!" answered the fair girl, heartily; and Digby, leaving +her to explain their conduct to her aunt as she best might, ordered +his horse, and rode away towards Woodchurch, in haste. + +Pulling in his rein at the door of the little inn, he inquired which +was Sir Henry Leyton's room, and was directed up stairs; but on +opening the door of the chamber which had been pointed out, he found +no one in it, but the somewhat strange-looking old man, whom we have +once before seen with Leyton, at Hythe. + +"Ah, Mr. Warde, you here!" exclaimed Sir Edward Digby. "Leyton told me +you were in England. But where is he? I have business of some +importance to talk with him upon;" and as he spoke, he shook the old +man's hand warmly. + +"I know you have," answered Mr. Warde, gazing upon him--"at least, I +can guess that such is the case.--So have I; and doubtless the subject +is the same." + +"Nay, I should think not," refilled Digby; "mine refers only to +private affairs." + +The old man smiled; and that sharp featured, rude countenance assumed +an expression of indescribable sweetness: "Mine is the same," he said. +"You come to speak of Edith Croyland--so do I." + +"Indeed!" cried his companion, a good deal surprised; "you are a +strange being, Mr. Warde. You seem to learn men's secrets, whether +they will or not." + +"There is nothing strange on earth, but man's blindness," answered the +other; "everything is so simple, when once explained, that its +simplicity remains the only marvel.--But here he comes. Let me +converse with him first. Then, when he is aware of all that I know, +you shall have my absence, or my presence, as it suits you." + +While he was speaking, the voice of Henry Leyton was heard below, and +then his step upon the stairs; and, before Digby could answer, he was +in the room. His face was grave, but not so cloudy as it had been when +he returned to Woodchurch, half-an-hour before. He welcomed Mr. Warde +frankly, and cordially; but turned immediately to Sir Edward Digby, +saying, "You have been quick indeed, Digby. I could not have conceived +that my letter had reached you." + +"I got no letter," answered Digby; "perhaps it missed me on the way; +for, the corn being down, I came straight across the country." + +"It matters not--it matters not," answered Leyton; "so you are +here--that is enough. I have much to say to you, and that of immediate +importance." + +"I know it already," answered Digby. "But here is our good friend, +Warde, who seems to have something to say to you on the same subject." + +Sir Henry Leyton turned towards the old man with some surprise. "I +think Digby must be mistaken," he said, "for though, I am aware, from +what you told me some little time ago, that you have been in this part +of the country before, yet it must have been long ago, and you can +know nothing of the events which have affected myself since." + +The old man smiled, and shook his head. "I know more than you +imagine," he answered. "It is, indeed, long since first I was in this +land; but not so long since I was here last; and all its people and +its things, its woods, its villages, its hills, are as familiar to +me--ay, more so than to you. Of yourself, Leyton, and your fate, I +also know much--I might say I know all; for certainly I know more than +you do, can do more than you are able to do, will do more than you +can. To show you what I know; I will give you a brief summary of your +own history--at least, that part of it, of which you think I know +nothing. Young, eager, and impatient, you were thrown constantly into +the society of one, good, beautiful, gentle, and true. You had much +encouragement from those who should not have given it, unless they had +the intention of continuing it to the end. You loved, and were +beloved; and then, in the impatience of your boyish ardour, you bound +Edith Croyland to yourself, without her parent's knowledge and +consent, by vows which, whatever human laws may say, are indissoluble +by the law of Heaven; and therein you did wrong. It was a great +error.--Do I say right?" + +"It was, indeed," answered Sir Henry Leyton, casting down his eyes +sternly on the ground--"it was, indeed." + +"More--I will tell you more," continued Mr. Warde; "you have bitterly +repented it, and bitterly suffered for it. You are suffering even +now." + +"Not for it," replied the young officer--"not for it. My sufferings +are not consequences of my fault." + +"You are wrong," answered the old man; "wrong, as you will find. But I +will go on, and tell you what you have done this day. Those who have +behaved ill to you have been punished likewise; and their punishment +is working itself out, but sweeping you in within its vortex. You have +been over to see Edith Croyland. She has told you her tale. You have +met in love, and parted in sorrow.--Is it not so? And now you know not +which way to turn for deliverance." + +"It is so, indeed, my good friend," said Leyton, sadly; "but how you +have discovered all this, I cannot divine." + +"That has nought to do with the subject," answered Warde. "Now tell +me, Leyton, tell me--and remember you are dearer to me than you +know--are you prepared to make atonement for your fault? The only +atonement in your power--to give back to Edith the vows she plighted, +to leave her free to act as she may judge best. I have marked you +well, as you know, for years. I have seen you tried as few men, +perhaps, are tried; and you have come out pure and honest. The last +trial is now arrived; and I ask you here, before your friend, your +worldly friend, if you are ready to act honestly still, and to annul +engagements that you had no right to contract?" + +"I am," answered Sir Henry Leyton; "I am, if----" + +"Ay, if! There is ever an 'if' when men would serve their own +purposes against their conscience," said Mr. Warde, sternly. + +"Nay, but hear me, my good friend," replied the young officer. "I have +every respect for you. Your whole character commands it and deserves +it, as well as your profession; but, at the same time, though I may +think fit to answer you candidly, in matters where I would reject any +other man's interference, yet I must shape my answer as I think +proper, and rule my conduct according to my own views. You must, +therefore, hear me out. I say that I am ready to give back to Edith +Croyland the vows she plighted me, to set her free from all +engagements, to leave her, as far as possible, as if she had never +known Henry Leyton, whatever pang it may cost me--_if_ it can be +proved to me that by so doing I have not given her up to misery, as +well as myself. My own wretchedness I can bear--I have borne it long, +cheered by one little ray of hope. I can bear it still, even though +that light go out; but to know that by any act of mine--however +seemingly generous, or, as you term it, honest--I had yielded her up +to a life of anguish, that I could not bear. Show me that this will +not be the case; and, as I have said before, I am ready to make the +sacrifice, if it cost me life. Nay, more: I returned hither prepared, +if at the last, and with every effort to avert it, I found that +circumstances of which I know not the extent, rendered the keeping of +her vows to me more terrible in its consequences than her union with +another, however hateful he may be,--I came hither prepared, I say, in +such a case, to set her free; and I will do it!" + +The old man took both his hands, and gazed on him with a look of glad +satisfaction. "Honest to the last," he said--"honest to the last! The +resolution to do this, is as good as the deed; for I know you are not +one to fail where you have resolved.--But those who might exact the +sacrifice are not worthy of it. Your willingness has made the +atonement, Leyton; and I will deliver you from your difficulty." + +"You, Mr. Warde!" exclaimed Sir Edward Digby; "I cannot suppose that +you really have the power; or, perhaps, after all, you do not know the +whole circumstances." + +"Hush, hush, young man!" answered Warde, with a wave of the hand; "I +know all, I see all, where you know little or nothing. You are a good +youth, as the world goes--better than most of your bad class and +station; but these matters are above you. Listen to me, Leyton. Did +not Edith tell you that her father had worked upon her, by fears for +his safety--for his honour--for his life, perhaps?" + +"Yes, indeed," exclaimed Leyton, eagerly, and with a ray of hope +beginning to break upon him. "Was the tale not true, then?" + +"I guessed so," answered the old man. "I was sure that would be the +course at last. Nevertheless, the tale he told was true--too true. It +was forced from him by circumstances. Yet, I have said I will deliver +you from your difficulty; and I will. Pursue your own course; as you +have commenced, go on to the end. I ask you not now to give Edith back +her promises. Nay, I tell you, that her misery, her wretchedness--ay, +tenfold more than any you could suffer--would be the consequence, if +you did so. Let her go on firmly in her truth to the last; but tell +her, that deliverance will come. Now I leave you; but, be under no +doubt. Your course is clear; do all you can by your own efforts to +save her; but it is I who must deliver her in the end." + +Without any further farewell, he turned and left the room; and Sir +Henry Leyton and his friend remained for a minute or two in thought. + +"His parting advice is the best," said Digby, at length; "and +doubtless you will follow it, Leyton; but, of course, you will not +trust so far to the word of a madman, as to neglect any means that may +present themselves." + +"He is not mad," answered Leyton, shaking his head. "When first he +joined us in Canada, before the battle of Quebec, I thought as you do; +but he is not mad, Digby. There are various shades of reason; and +there may be a slight aberration in his mind from the common course of +ordinary thought. He may be wrong in his reasonings, rash in his +opinions, somewhat overexcited in imagination; but that is not +madness. His promises give me hope, I will confess; but still I will +act as if they had not been made. Now let us speak of our plans; and +first tell me what has taken place at Harbourne; for you seem to know +all the particulars already, which I sent for you to communicate, +though how you learned them I cannot divine." + +"Oh, my dear Leyton, if I were to tell you all that has happened," +replied Sir Edward Digby, "I should have to go on as long as a +Presbyterian minister, or a popular orator. I had better keep to the +point;" and he proceeded to relate to his friend the substance of the +conversation which had last taken place between himself and Zara. + +"It is most fortunate," answered Leyton, "that dear girl has thus +become acquainted with the facts; for Edith would not have told her, +and now we have some chance of obtaining information of all that +occurs, which must be our great security. However--since I returned, I +have obtained valuable information, which puts good Mr. Radford's +liberty, if not his life, in my power. Three of the men whom we have +taken, distinctly state that he sent them upon this expedition +himself--armed, and mounted them; and therefore he is a party to the +whole transaction. I have sent off a messenger to Mowle, the +officer--as faithful and as true a fellow as ever lived--begging him +to bring me up, without a moment's delay, a magistrate in whom he can +trust; for one of the men is at the point of death, and all the +justices round this place are so imbued with the spirit of smuggling, +that I do not choose the depositions to be taken by them. I have +received and written down the statements made, before witnesses; and +the men have signed them; but I have no power in this case to +administer an oath. As soon as the matter is in more formal train, I +shall insist upon the apprehension of Mr. Radford, whatever be the +consequences to Sir Robert Croyland; for here my duty to the country +is concerned, and the very powers with which I am entrusted, render it +imperative upon me so to act." + +"If you can catch him--if you can catch him!" replied Sir Edward +Digby. "But be sure, my dear Leyton, if he once discovers that you +have got such a hold upon him, he will take care to render that matter +difficult. You may find it troublesome, also, to get a magistrate to +act as you desire; for they are all of the same leaven; and I fancy +you have no power to do anything yourself except in aid and support of +the civil authorities. You must be very careful, too, not to exceed +your commission, where people might suspect that personal feelings are +concerned." + +"Personal feelings shall not bias me, Digby, even in the slightest +degree," replied his friend. "I will act towards Mr. Radford, exactly +as I would towards any other man who had committed this offence; and, +as to the imputation of motives, I can well afford to treat such +things with contempt. Were I, indeed, to act as I wish, I should not +pursue this charge against the chief offender, in order not to bring +down his vengeance suddenly upon Sir Robert Croyland's head, or should +use the knowledge I possess merely to impose silence upon him through +fear. But my duty is plain and straightforward; and it must be done. +As to my powers, they are more extensive than you suppose. Indeed, I +would have sooner thrown up my commission, than have undertaken a +service I disliked, without sufficient authority to execute it +properly. Thus, if no magistrate could be found to act as I might +require, I would not scruple, with the aid of any officer of Customs, +or even without, to apprehend this man on my own responsibility. But I +think we shall easily find one who will do his duty." + +"At all events," replied Sir Edward Digby, "you had better be +cautious, my dear Leyton. If you are not too quick in your movements, +you may perhaps trap the old bird and the young one together; and that +will be a better day's sport than if you only got a single shot." + +"Heaven send it may be before these fatal four days are over!" +answered Leyton; "for then the matter will be decided and Edith +delivered." + +"Why, if you were to catch the young one, it would be sufficient for +that object," said his friend. + +But Leyton shook his head. "I fear not," he replied; "yet that purpose +must not be neglected. Where he has concealed himself I cannot divine. +It would seem certain that he never got out of Harbourne Wood, unless, +indeed, it was by some of the bye-paths; and in that case, he surely +must have been seen. I will have it searched, to-morrow, from end to +end." + +In the same strain the conversation proceeded for half-an-hour more, +without any feasible plan of action having been decided upon, and with +no further result than the arrangement of means for frequent and +private communication. It was settled, indeed, that Leyton should fix +his head-quarters at Woodchurch, and that two or three of the dragoons +should be billeted at a small public-house on the road to Harbourne. +To them any communication from Sir Edward Digby was to be conveyed by +his servant, Somers, for the purpose of being forwarded to Woodchurch. +Such matters being thus arranged, as far as circumstances admitted, +the two friends parted; and Digby rode back to Harbourne House, which +he reached, as may be supposed, somewhat later than Sir Robert +Croyland's dinner-hour. + + + + + CHAPTER III. + + +About six o'clock on the evening of the same day, the cottage of Mrs. +Clare was empty. The good widow herself stood at the garden gate, and +looked up the road into the wood, along which the western sun was +streaming low. After gazing for a moment in that direction, she turned +her eyes to the left, and then down the edge of the wood, which +stretched along in a tolerably even line till it reached the farther +angle. The persevering dragoons were patrolling round it still; and +Mrs. Clare murmured to herself, "How will he ever get out, if they +keep such a watch?" + +She was then going into the cottage again, when a hurried step caught +her ear, coming apparently from the path which led from the side of +Halden to the back of the house, and thence round the little garden +into the road. + +"That sounds like Harding's step," thought the widow; and her ear had +not deceived her. In another minute, she beheld him turn the corner of +the fence and come towards her; but there was a heated and angry look +upon his face, which she had never seen there before; and--although +she had acted for the best, and not without much consideration, in +sending Kate upon Mr. Radford's commission, and not going herself--she +feared that her daughter's lover might not be well pleased his bride +should undertake such a task. As he came near, the symptoms of anger +were more apparent still. There was the cloudy brow, the flashing eye, +the hurried and impetuous walk, which she had often seen in her own +husband--a man very similar in character to him who now approached +her--when irritated by harsh words; and Widow Clare prepared to do all +she could to soothe him ere Kate's return. + +But Harding did not mention her he loved, demanding, while yet at some +distance, "Where is Mr. Radford, Mrs. Clare?" + +"He is not here, Mr. Harding," replied the widow; "he has not been +here since the morning. But what makes you look so cross, Harding? You +seem angry." + +"And well I may be," answered Harding, with an oath. "What do you +think they have set about?--That I informed against them, and betrayed +them into the hands of the dragoons: when, they know, I saw them safe +out of the Marsh; and it must have been their own stupidity, or the +old man's babbling fears, that ruined them--always trusting people +that were sure to be treacherous, and doubting those he knew to be +honest. But I'll make him eat his words, or cram them down his throat +with my fist." + +"Why, he spoke quite kindly of you this morning, Harding," said the +widow; "there must be some mistake." + +"Mistake!" cried the smuggler, sharply; "there is no mistake.--It is +all over Hythe and Folkestone already; and every one says that it came +from him. Can you not tell me where he is gone?--Which way did he +turn?" + +"Towards his own house," replied Mrs. Clare; "but you had better come +in, Harding, and get yourself cool before you go to him. You will +speak angrily now, and mischief may come of it. I am sure there is +some mistake." + +"I" will not sit down till I have made him own it," answered the +smuggler. "Perhaps he is up at Harbourne. I'll go there. Where is +Kate, Mrs. Clare?" + +"She has gone towards Harbourne House," said the widow, not choosing, +in the excited state of his feelings, to tell him her daughter's +errand; "but she will be back in one minute, if you will but come in." + +"No," he replied; "I will come back by-and-by. Perhaps I shall meet +her as I go;" and he was turning towards the wood, when suddenly, at +the spot where the road entered amongst the trees, the pretty figure +of Kate Clare, as trim, and neat, and simple as a wild flower, +appeared walking slowly back towards the cottage. But she was not +alone. By her side was a tall, handsome young man, dressed in full +military costume, with his heavy sword under his arm, and a star upon +his breast. He was bending down, talking to his fair companion with a +friendly air, and she was answering him with a gay smile. + +A pang shot through Harding's bosom: the first that ever the poor girl +had caused; nor, indeed, would he have felt it then, had he not been +irritated; for his was a frank and confiding heart, open as the day, +in which that foul and dangerous guest, Suspicion, usually could find +no lurking place. At first he did not recognise, in the glittering +personage before his eyes, the grave, plain-looking stranger, who, a +week or two before, had conversed with him for a few minutes on the +cliffs near Sandgate; but he saw, as the two came on, that Kate raised +her eyes; and as soon as she perceived him standing by her mother, a +look of joy lighted up her face, which made him murmur to himself, +"I'm a fool!" + +The stranger, too, saw him; but it made no change in his demeanour; +and the next moment, to Harding's surprise, the officer came forward +somewhat more quickly, and took Widow Clare by the hand, saying, with +a grave smile, "Do you not know me, Mrs. Clare?" + +"Gracious Heaven!" cried the widow, drawing back and gazing at him, +"Can it be you, sir?" + +"Yes, indeed!" he answered. "Why, Kate here knew me directly, though +she was but ten or eleven, I think, when I went away." + +"Oh, that was because you were always so fond of her, Mr. Henry," +replied Widow Clare. "Gracious! how you are changed!" + +Harding was talking to Kate while these few words passed, but he heard +them; nor did he fail to remark that two mounted dragoons, one leading +a horse by the rein, followed the young officer from the wood. He now +recognised him also; and by his dress perceived the rank he held in +the army, though Mrs. Clare called him "Mr. Henry." + +"Yes, I am changed, indeed!" replied Leyton, to the widow's last +remark, "in body and health, Mrs. Clare, but not in heart, I can +assure you; and as I was obliged to visit this wood, I resolved I +would not be so near you without coming in to see how you were going +on, with your pretty Kate here." + +"My pretty Kate, very soon!" said Harding, aloud; and the young +officer turned suddenly round, and looked at him more attentively than +before. + +"Ah, Mr. Harding!" he exclaimed, "is that you? We have met before, +though perhaps you don't remember me." + +"Oh yes, I do, sir," replied the smuggler, drily. "But I must go, +Kate;" and he added, in a low tone, "I shall be back by-and-by." + +Thus saying, he walked away; but before he had taken ten steps, Leyton +followed, and took him by the arm. "What do you want with me, sir?" +asked the smuggler, turning sharply round, and putting his hand in the +bosom of his coat. + +"Hush!" replied the young officer; "I seek no harm to you--merely +one word. For Heaven's sake, Harding, quit this perilous life of +yours!--at least, before you marry that poor girl--if I have +understood you rightly, that you are about to marry her. I speak as a +friend." + +"Thank you, sir!" answered the smuggler, "I dare say you mean it kind; +but it was hardly fair of you, either, to come and talk with me upon +the cliff, if you are, as I suppose, the Sir Henry Leyton all the +folks are speaking about." + +"Why, my good friend, my talking with you did you no harm," replied +the young officer; "you cannot say that I led you to speak of anything +that could injure either you or others. Besides, I have nothing to do +with you gentlemen of the sea, though I may with your friends on land. +But take the advice of one well disposed towards you; and, above all, +do not linger about this place at present, for it is a dangerous +neighbourhood for any one who has had a share in the late +transactions." + +"That advice I shall take, at all events," answered Harding, bluntly; +"and perhaps the other too, for I am sick of all this!" And thus +saying, he walked away, passing close by the two dragoons, who offered +no obstruction. + +In the meanwhile Leyton, returning to Widow Clare and her daughter, +went into the cottage, and talked to them, for a few minutes, of old +days. Gradually, however, he brought the conversation round to the +inhabitants of Harbourne House, and asked if either the widow or Kate +ever went up there. + +"Oh, Kate goes twice every day, sir," said Mrs. Clare, "for we have +all the finest of the poultry to keep down here. But are you not going +there yourself, Mr. Henry?" + +"Alas, no!" answered Leyton, with a sigh. "Those days have gone by, +Mrs. Clare; and I am now a stranger where I was once loved." + +"Don't say so, sir," replied the widow, "don't say so! For, I am sure, +where you were best loved of all, there you are best loved still." + +"That I believe," answered Leyton; "but, at all events, I am not going +there at present; and if Kate would do me a service, she would, the +first time she sees Miss Zara Croyland alone, tell her, that if ever +she rides or walks out along the road by the Chequers, she will find +an old friend by the way." + +"Miss Zara, sir, did you say?" asked Widow Clare. + +"Yes, mother--yes," cried Kate; "you forget Miss Edith is not there +now; she is down at Mr. Croyland's." + +"But remember, Kate," continued Leyton, "I do not wish my name +mentioned to many persons in the house. Indeed, it will be better not +to speak of me at all to any one but Zara. It must be soon known that +I am here, it is true; but I wish to let events take their course till +then. And now, Mrs. Clare, good evening. I shall see you again some +day soon; and you must let me know when Kate's wedding-day is fixed." + +The mother looked at her daughter with a smile, and Kate blushed and +laughed. "It is to be this day week, sir," answered Mrs. Clare. + +Leyton nodded his head, saying, "I will not forget," and, mounting his +horse at the door, rode away. + +"Now, did you find him, Kate?" asked Mrs. Clare, in a low tone, the +moment Sir Henry Leyton was gone. + +"Oh yes," replied her daughter; "the dragoons did not follow me, as +you thought they would, mother; and I set down the basket close to the +willow. At first he did not answer when I asked if he wanted anything; +but when I spoke again, he said, 'No. A thousand thanks for what you +have brought;' and he spoke kind and civilly. Then, just as I was +going away, he said, 'Kate, Kate! let me know when the soldiers are +gone.--If you could bring me a woman's dress, I could easily get +away.' I should not be afraid of going any more, mother," the girl +continued; "for he seems quite changed by his misfortune, and not rude +and jesting as he always used to be, whenever I saw him before." + +The idea of the woman's clothes seemed to strike Mrs. Clare very much; +and the good widow and her daughter set their wits to work, to +consider how all that was necessary could be procured; for a very +serious impediment thrust itself in the way of either mother or child +lending him a suit of their own apparel. Neither of them were very +tall women; and though young Radford was himself not above the middle +height, yet Kate's gown would not have fallen further than half way +down his leg; and the poor girl laughed merrily, to think of what a +figure he would make dressed in her garments. It would have been the +old story of the wolf in sheep's clothing, assuredly. + +"If we could but accomplish it, and enable him to escape," thought +Mrs. Clare, "especially after Harding has just been up here, it would +show Mr. Radford, clearly enough, that John had nothing to do with +informing against him." But the question, of where fitting apparel was +to be procured, still remained unsettled, till Kate suggested, that +perhaps her aunt's, at Glassenbury, might do. "She is very tall," +continued the girl, "and I am sure she would lend them to me; for she +and my uncle have always been so kind. Suppose I walk over early +to-morrow, and ask her." + +Now the little farm which Mrs. Clare's brother held, was somewhat more +than seven miles off, on the other side of Cranbrook. But still, what +is the exertion which woman will not make for a fellow-creature in +distress; and Mrs. Clare determined that she would rise betimes, and +go to William Harris's herself, certain of a kind reception and ready +consent from those who had always displayed towards her, in adversity, +the feelings of affection, which the more worldly-minded generally +shower upon prosperity alone. + +It was far for her daughter to walk, she thought; and besides, Harding +might come, and it would not do for Kate to be absent. Thus had she +settled it in her own mind, when Mr. Radford entered the cottage to +inquire after his son. + +High were the praises that he bestowed upon Kate and Mrs. Clare, for +their kindness; and he expressed his warm approval of their little +scheme. Nevertheless, he turned the matter in his mind, in order to +see whether he could not save Mrs. Clare the trouble of going nearly +to Goudhurst, by obtaining the necessary articles of female apparel +somewhere else. His own women servants, however, were all short and +stout; the only other persons whom he could think of, as at all +approaching his son in height, he did not choose to trust; and +therefore it was, at length, determined that the original plan should +be followed. But the worthy gentleman laid strict injunctions upon +Mrs. Clare, to be early in her proceedings, as he feared much, from +all he had gathered, that the wood might be more strictly searched, in +the course of the following day. + +When this was settled, and Mr. Radford had expressed his thanks, more +than once, Mrs. Clare thought it a good opportunity of turning the +conversation to Harding; and she asked Mr. Radford if he had seen him, +adding, "He has gone to look for you, sir, and seems very quick and +angry, because the people down about his place have got a report that +he informed about the run; and he fancies you have said so." + +"Pooh, nonsense, Mrs. Clare, I never said anything of the kind!" +replied Mr. Radford. "It is a story put about by the Custom-House +officers themselves, just to cover the persons from whom they had the +information. But we shall discover them some day, and pay them +handsomely. Tell Harding not to mind what people say, for I never +thought of such a thing." + +"That I will, sir," replied the widow; "for I'm sure it will set his +mind at rest.--You must know very well, sir, that he's as honest a man +as ever lived." + +"To be sure--to be sure," answered Mr. Radford, with great warmth of +manner; "no one knows that better than I do, Mrs. Clare." + +But whether Mr. Radford really felt the warmth which he assumed, may +be another question. His seemings were not always the best indications +of his real sentiments; and when he left Mrs. Clare's cottage, after +all had been arranged, his first thought was, "We will reckon with Mr. +Harding by-and-by.--The account is not made up yet." + +Before I proceed to other scenes, it may be as well to go on with the +part assigned in this history to Mrs. Clare and her daughter, at +least, till the morning of the following day. About eight o'clock at +night, Harding returned, still irritable and discontented, having +failed to find Mr. Radford. The account, however, which the widow gave +of her conversation with that gentleman, soothed him a good deal; but +he would not stay the night, as he had done before, saying that he +must absolutely be at home as soon as possible, and would return, +perhaps, the next day, or, at all events, the day after. + +"I must do the best I can, Mrs. Clare," he continued, "to help these +fellows out of the scrape they've run into. Two or three of them are +good men enough; and, as they risk their necks if they are taken, I +should like to get them down, and give them a passage to the other +side. So you see I shall be going about here a good deal, for the next +four or five days, and will look in, from time to time, to see you and +my dear little Kate." + +"But are you going to walk all the way back to-night, John?" asked +Kate, as he rose to depart. + +"No, my love," he answered, "I've got a horse up at Plurendon; but the +beast cast a shoe as I was coming, and I was obliged to leave him at +the blacksmith's." + +No sooner was Harding gone, than a little kindly contest rose between +mother and daughter, as to which should go over to Glassenbury; but +Mrs. Clare persisted, against all her child's remonstrances; and, in +order that they might rise before daylight, both retired to bed early, +and slept calmly and peacefully, unknowing what the morrow, to which +they both looked anxiously forward, was to bring. The sun was yet some +way below the horizon, when Mrs. Clare set out; but she met with no +impediment, and, walking on stoutly, arrived, at an early hour, at a +little farm-house, inhabited by her brother. She found farmer Harris +and his wife, with their two sons and Mrs. Harris's nephew (three +stout, good humoured, young men) seated at their breakfast; and warm +and joyful was the reception of Aunt Clare; one joking her upon Kate's +approaching marriage; another declaring Jack Harding, whom they all +knew, was a capital fellow; and all striving to make her comfortable, +and pressing her to partake of their morning meal. + +Every one of the party was eager to obtain some information from her, +who lived so much nearer to the spot, in regard to the late +discomfiture of the smugglers, although none seemed to take any great +interest in them, all declaring that the Ramleys, and their gang, were +the pest of the country, and that young Dick Radford was not a bit +better. Such opinions, regarding that young gentleman, acted as a +warning to Mrs. Clare, not to mention the object of the loan she came +to solicit; and when, after having rested about twenty minutes, she +preferred her petition to Mrs. Harris, it was readily granted by the +tall farmer's wife, although not without some expression of curiosity, +as to what her sister-in-law could want a dress of hers for. + +"Kate or I will bring it back to-night or to-morrow morning," replied +Mrs. Clare, "and I'll tell you what we want it for, at the wedding, +which, remember, is to be yesterday week." + +"Ay, we will all come down with white favours, and our best buckles," +said young William, the farmer's eldest son; "and I'll have a kiss of +the bride." + +A gown and cloak of Mrs. Harris's, having been brought down--they were +not her best--and neatly folded up in a shawl-handkerchief, Mrs. Clare +set forward on her way home, hurrying her steps as much as possible, +lest any untoward event should prevent the execution of her scheme. A +stout country woman, accustomed to exercise, the widow accomplished +the walk in as short a time as possible; yet it was nine o'clock +before she reached the cottage, and she instantly dispatched her +daughter to the "hide" in the wood, with the clothes folded up in as +small a space as possible, and laid in the bottom of a basket, covered +over with eggs. + +The only difficulty was, in regard to a bonnet; and, after earnest +consultation between mother and child, it was determined that, as Mrs. +Clare's head was somewhat larger than Kate's, her bonnet should be put +over her daughter's, which was easily accomplished. Both were of +straw, and both were plain enough; but, to conceal the contrivance +from the eyes of any one whom Kate might meet, Mrs. Clare pinned a +small piece of lace--which had been bought for the wedding--into the +inside of her own bonnet, remarking, that it would do to hide young +Mr. Radford's face a bit. + +Furnished with all that was needful, and having had the instructions +which Mr. Radford had left, repeated carefully to her, by her mother, +fair Kate Clare set out upon her expedition, passing one of the +dragoons, who were still patrolling round the wood, near the place +where the road entered it. The man said something to her, as she went +by, but did not attempt to follow; and Kate walked on, looking behind +her, from time to time, till she was satisfied that her proceedings +were unwatched. Then, hurrying on, with a quicker step, she turned to +the path, which led to the back of the gardens of Harbourne House, and +approached the old willow, and the brushwood which covered the place +where Richard Radford was concealed. + +"Mr. Radford," she said, as soon as she was quite close, "Mr. Radford! +Here is what you wanted. Take it as fast as you can." + +"Is there any one near but you, Kate?" asked the voice of Richard +Radford. + +"Oh, no!" she replied; "but the soldiers are still on the outside of +the wood watching." + +"I know that," rejoined the voice again, "for I saw them last night, +when I tried to get out. But are you sure that none of them followed +you, Kate?" + +"Oh, quite sure," she answered, "for I looked behind all the way!" + +"Well, stay and help me to put the things on," said Richard Radford, +issuing forth from behind the bushes, like a snake out of its hole. +Kate Clare willingly agreed to help him, and while the gown and the +cloak were thrown over his other clothes, told him all that his father +had said, desiring him not to come up to Radford Hall till he heard +more; but to go down to the _lone house_, near Iden Green, where he +would find one or two friends already collected. + +"Why, these are never your own clothes, Kate!" said young Radford, as +she pinned on the gown for him. "They fit as if they were made for +me." + +"Not at the back," answered Kate, laughing, "I cannot get the gown to +meet there; but that will be covered up by the cloak, so it does not +matter.--No, they are my aunt's, at Glassenbury; and you must let me +have them back, Mr. Radford, as soon as ever you have got to Iden +Green; for my mother has promised to return them to-night." + +"I don't know howl shall get them back, Kate," answered Richard +Radford; "for none of our people will like to venture up here. Can't +you come down and fetch them? It is not much out of your way." + +"No, I can't do that," answered Kate, who did not altogether like +going to the lone house she had mentioned; "but you can send them down +to Cranbrook, at all events; and there they can be left for me, at +Mrs. Tims's shop. They'll be quite safe; and I will call for them +either to-night or to-morrow morning." + +"Well, I will do that, my love," replied Richard Radford, taking the +bonnet and putting it on his head. + +"Very well, sir," answered Kate, not well pleased with the epithet he +had bestowed upon her, and taking a step to move away, "I will call +for them there." + +But young Radford threw his arm round her waist, saying, "Come, Kate! +I must have a kiss before you go.--You give plenty to Harding, I dare +say." + +"Let me go, sir!" cried Kate Clare, indignantly. "You are a base, +ungrateful young man!" + +But young Radford did not let her go. He took the kiss she struggled +against, by force; and he was proceeding to farther insult, when Kate +exclaimed, "If you do not let me go, I will scream till the soldiers +are upon you.--They are not far." + +She spoke so loud, that her very tone excited his alarm; and he +withdrew his arm from her waist, but still held her hand tight, +saying, "Come, come, Kate! Nonsense, I did not mean to offend you! Go +up to Harbourne House, there's a good girl, and stay as long as you +can there, till I get out of the wood." + +"You do offend me--you do offend me!" cried Kate Clare, striving to +withdraw her hand from his grasp. + +"Will you promise to go up to Harbourne, then?" said Richard Radford, +"and I will let you go." + +"Yes, yes," answered Kate, "I will go;" and the moment her hand was +free, she darted away, leaving the basket she had brought behind her. + +As soon as she was gone, Richard Radford cursed her for a saucy jade, +as if the offence had been hers, not his; and then taking up the +basket, he threw it, eggs and all, together with his own hat, into the +deep hole in the sandbank. Advancing along the path till he reached +the open road, he hurried on in the direction of Widow Clare's +cottage. Of a daring and resolute disposition--for his only virtue was +courage--he thought of passing the soldiers, as a good joke rather +than a difficult undertaking; but still recollecting the necessity of +caution, as he came near the edge of the wood he slackened his pace, +tried to shorten his steps, and assumed a more feminine demeanour. +When he was within a couple of hundred yards of the open country, he +saw one of the dragoons slowly pass the end of the road and look up; +and, on issuing forth from the wood, he perceived that the man had +paused, and was gazing back. But at that distance, the female garments +which he wore deceived the soldier; and he was suffered to walk on +unopposed towards Iden Green. + + + + + CHAPTER IV. + + +Sir Robert Croyland himself did not return to Harbourne House, till +the hands of the clock pointed out to every one that went through the +hall, that it was twenty minutes past the usual dinner hour; and, +though he tried to be as expeditious as he could, he was yet fully ten +minutes longer in dressing than usual. He was nervous; he was +agitated; all the events of that day had shaken and affected him; he +was angry with his servant; and several times he gave the most +contradictory orders. Although for years he had been undergoing a slow +and gradual change, under the painful circumstances in which he had +been placed, and had, from the gay, rash, somewhat noisy and +overbearing country gentleman, dwindled down into the cold, silent, +pompous, and imperative man of family, yet the alteration during that +day had been so great and peculiar that the valet could not help +remarking it, and wondering if his master was ill. + +Sir Robert tried to smoothe his look and compose his manner for the +drawing-room, however; and when he entered, he gazed round for Sir +Edward Digby, observing aloud: "Why, I thought soldiers were more +punctual. However, as it happens, to-day I am glad Sir Edward is not +down." + +"Down!" cried Mrs. Barbara, who had a grand objection to dinners being +delayed; "why, he is out; but you could expect no better; for +yesterday you were so long that the fish was done to rags; so I +ordered it not to be put in till he made his appearance." + +"I told you, my dear aunt, that he said he might not be back before +dinner," replied her niece, "and, therefore, it will be vain to wait +for him. He desired me to say so, papa." + +"Oh yes! Zara knows all about it," said Mrs. Barbara, with a shrewd +look; "they were talking together for ten minutes in the library; and +I cannot get her to tell me what it was about." + +It is, indeed, conscience that makes cowards of us all; and had the +fair girl's conversation with her new friend been on any other subject +than that to which it related--had it been about love, marriage, arms, +or divinity, she would have found no difficulty in parrying her aunt's +observations, however mal-a-propos they might have been. At present, +however, she was embarrassed by doubts of the propriety of what she +was doing, more especially as she felt sure that her father would be +inquisitive and suspicious, if the tale the maid had told was true. +Acting, however, as she not unfrequently did, in any difficulty, she +met Mrs. Barbara's inuendoes at once, replying, "Indeed I shall not +say anything about it to any one, my dear aunt. I will manage some +matters for myself; and the only thing I shall repeat is Sir Edward's +last dying speech, which was to the effect, that he feared he might be +detained till after our dinner hour, but would be back as soon as ever +he could, and trusted my father would not wait." + +"Do you know where he is gone, and why?" asked Sir Robert Croyland, in +a much quieter tone than she expected. But poor Zara was still puzzled +for an answer; and, as her only resource, she replied vaguely, +"Something about some of the smugglers, I believe." + +"Then had he any message or intelligence brought him?" inquired Sir +Robert Croyland. + +"I do not know--Oh, yes, I believe he had," replied his daughter, +in a hesitating tone and with a cheek that was beginning to grow red. +"He spoke with one of the soldiers at the corner of the road, I +know;--and, oh yes, I saw a man ride up with a letter." + +"That was after he was gone," observed Mrs. Barbara; but Sir Robert +paid little attention, and, ringing, ordered dinner to be served. +Could we see into the breasts of others, we should often save +ourselves a great deal of unnecessary anxiety. Zara forgot that +her father was not as well aware that Sir Edward Digby was +Leyton's dearest friend, as she was; but, in truth, all that he +concluded--either from the pertinent remarks of Mrs. Barbara or from +Zara's embarrassment--was, that the young baronet had been making a +little love to his daughter, which, to say sooth, was a consummation +that Sir Robert Croyland was not a little inclined to see. + +In about a quarter of an hour more, the dinner was announced; and the +master of the house, his sister, and Zara, sat down together. Hardly +had the fish and soup made any progress, when the quick canter of Sir +Edward Digby's horse put his fair confidante out of her anxiety; and, +in a few minutes after, he appeared himself, and apologized gracefully +to his host, for having been too late. "You must have waited for me, I +fear," he added, "for it is near an hour after the time; but I thought +it absolutely necessary, from some circumstances I heard, to go over +and see my colonel before he returned to Hythe, and then I was +detained." + +"Pray, who does command your regiment?" asked Mrs. Barbara. But Sir +Edward Digby was, at that moment, busily engaged in taking his seat by +Zara's side; and he did not hear. The lady repeated the question when +he was seated; but then he replied, "No, I thank you, my dear madam, +no soup to-day--a solid meal always after a hard ride; and I have +galloped till I have almost broken my horse's wind.--By the way, Sir +Robert, I hope you found my bay a pleasant goer. I have only ridden +him twice since I bought him, though he cost two hundred guineas." + +"He is well worth the money," replied the Baronet--"a very powerful +animal--bore me like a feather, and I ride a good weight." + +"Have your own horses come back?" asked the young officer, with a +laugh. + +Sir Robert Croyland answered in the negative, adding, "And that +reminds me I must write to my brother, to let Edith have his carriage +to-morrow, to bring her back; for mine are gone--coach-horses, and +all." + +"Edith, to-morrow!" exclaimed Mrs. Barbara, in surprise; "why, I +thought she was going to stay four or five days." + +"She is coming back to-morrow, Bab," replied Sir Robert, sharply; and +instantly turned the conversation. + +During the rest of the evening, Sir Edward Digby remained very +constantly by fair Zara's side; and, moreover, he paid her most +particular attention, in so marked a manner, that both Sir Robert +Croyland and Mrs. Barbara thought matters were taking their course +very favourably. The father busied himself in writing a letter and one +or two notes, which he pronounced to be of consequence--as, indeed, +they really were--while the aunt, worked diligently and discreetly at +embroidering, not interrupting the conference of her niece and their +guest above ten times in a minute. Sir Edward, indeed, kept himself +within all due and well-defined rules. He never proceeded beyond what +a great master of the art has pronounced to be "making love"--"a +course of small, quiet, attentions, not so pointed as to alarm, nor so +vague as to be misunderstood." Strange to say, Zara was very much +obliged to him for following such a course, as it gave an especially +good pretext for intimacy, for whispered words and quiet conversation, +and even for a little open seeking for each other's society, which +would have called observation, if not inquiry, upon them, had not her +companion's conduct been what it was. She thought fit to attribute it, +in her own mind, entirely to his desire of communicating to her, +without attracting notice, whatever he had learned, that could in any +way affect her sister's fate; and she judged it a marvellous good +device that they should appear for the time as lovers, with full +powers on both parts to withdraw from that position whenever it suited +them. Poor girl! she knew not how far she was entangling herself. + +Sir Edward Digby, in the meanwhile, took no alarming advantage of his +situation. The whispered word was almost always of Edith or of Leyton. +He never spoke of Zara herself, or of himself, or of his own feelings; +not a word could denote to her that he was making love, though his +whole demeanour had very much that aspect to those who sat and looked +on. Oh, those who sit and look on, what a world they see! and what a +world they don't see! Ever more than those who play the game, be they +shrewd as they may: ever less than the cards would show, were they +turned up. By fits and snatches, he communicated to his fair +companion, while he was playing with this ball of gold thread, or +winding and unwinding that piece of crimson silk, as much of what had +passed between himself and Sir Henry Leyton, as he thought necessary; +and then he asked her to sing--as her aunt had given him a quiet hint +that her niece did sometimes do such a thing--saying, in a low tone, +while he preferred the request, "Pray, go on with the song, though I +may interrupt you sometimes with questions, not quite relevant to the +subject." + +"I understand--I quite understand," answered Zara; but it may be a +question whether that sweet girl really quite understood either +herself or him. It is impossible that any two free hearts, can go on +long, holding such intimate and secret communion, on subjects deeply +interesting to both, without being drawn together by closer bonds, +than perhaps they fancy can ever be established between them--unless +there be something inherently repulsive on one part or the other. +Propinquity is certainly much, in the matter of love; but there are +circumstances, not rarely occurring in human life, which mightily +abridge the process; and such are--difficulties and dangers +experienced together--a common struggle for a common object--but more +than all--mutual and secret communion with, and aid of each other in +things of deep interest. The confidence that is required, the +excitement of imagination, the unity of effort, and of purpose, the +rapid exercise of mind to catch the half-uttered thought, the enforced +candour from want of time, which admits of no disguise or +circumlocution, the very mystery itself--all cast that magic chain +around those so circumstanced, within which they can hardly escape +from the power of love. Nine times out of ten, they never try; and, +however Zara Croyland might feel, she rose willingly enough to sing, +while Sir Edward Digby leaned over her chair, as she sat at the +instrument, which in those days supplied the place of that which is +now absurdly enough termed in England, a piano. Her voice, which was +fine though not very powerful, wavered a little as she began, from +emotions of many kinds. She wished to sing well; but she sang worse +than she might have done; yet quite well enough to please Sir Edward +Digby, though his ear was refined by art, and good by nature. +Nevertheless, though he listened with delight, and felt the music +deeply, he forgot not his purpose, and between each stanza asked some +question, obtaining a brief reply. But I will not so interrupt the +course of an old song, and will give the interrogatory a separate +place: + + + THE LADY'S SONG. + + "Oh! there be many, many griefs, + In this world's sad career, + That shun the day, that fly the gaze, + And never, never meet the ear. + + But what is darkest--darkest of them all? + The pang of love betray'd?-- + The hopes of youth all fleeting by-- + Spring flowers that early, early fade? + + But there are griefs--ay, griefs as deep: + The friendship turn'd to hate-- + And, deeper still--and deeper still, + Repentance come too late!--too late! + + The doubt of those we love; and more + The rayless, dull despair, + When trusted hearts are worthless found, + And all our dreams are air--but air. + + Deep in each bosom's secret cell, + The hermit-sorrows lie; + And thence--unheard on earth--they raise + The voice of prayer on high--on high. + + Oh! there be many, many griefs, + In this world's sad career, + That shun the day, that fly the gaze, + And, never, never meet the ear." + + +Thus sang the lady; and one of her hearers, at least, was delighted +with the sweet voice, and the sweet music, and the expression which +she gave to the whole. But though he listened with deep attention, +both to words and tones, as long as her lips moved, yet, when the mere +instrumental part of the music recommenced, which was the case between +every second and third stanza--and the symphonetic parts of every song +were somewhat long in those days--he instantly remembered the object +with which he had first asked her to sing, (little thinking that such +pleasure would be his reward;) and bending down his head, as if he +were paying her some lover-like compliment on her performance, he +asked her quietly, as I have said before, a question or two, closely +connected with the subject on which both their minds were at that +moment principally bent. + +Thus, at the first pause, he inquired--"Do you know--did you ever see, +in times long past, a gentleman of the name of Warde--a clergyman--a +good and clever man, but somewhat strange and wild?" + +"No," answered Zara, looking down at the keys of the harpsichord; "I +know no one of that name;" and she recommenced the song. + +When her voice again ceased, the young officer seemed to have thought +farther; and he asked, in the same low tone, "Did you ever know a +gentleman answering that description--his features must once have been +good--somewhat strongly marked, but fine and of an elevated +expression, with a good deal of wildness in the eye, but a peculiarly +bland and beautiful smile when he is pleased--too remarkable to be +overlooked or forgotten?" + +"Can you be speaking of Mr. Osborn?" asked Zara, in return. "I barely +recollect him in former days; but I and Edith met him about ten days +ago; and he remembered and spoke to her." + +The song required her attention; and though she would fain have played +the symphony over again, she was afraid her father would remark it, +and went on to sing the last two stanzas. As soon as she had +concluded, however, she said, in a low, quick voice, "He is a very +extraordinary man." + +"Can you give me any sign by which I should know him?" asked Digby. + +"He has now got a number of blue lines traced on his face," answered +Zara; "he went abroad to preach to the savages, I have heard. He is a +good man, but very eccentric." + +At the same moment the voice of her father was raised, saying, "I +wish, my dear, you would not sing such melancholy things as that. +Cannot you find something gayer? I do not like young ladies singing +such dull ditties, only fit for sentimental misses of the true French +school." + +What was the true French school of his day, I cannot tell. Certainly, +it must have been very different from the present. + +"Perhaps Sir Edward will sing something more cheerful himself?" +answered Zara. + +"Oh, I am a very bad musician," replied the young officer; "I cannot +even accompany myself. If you will, and have any of the few things I +know, I shall be very happy.--In everything, one can but try," he +added, in a low voice, "still hoping for the best." + +Zara looked over her collection of music with him; and at last she +opened one song which was somewhat popular in those times, though it +has long fallen into well-merited oblivion. "Can you venture to sing +that?" she asked, pointing to the words rather than the music; "it is +quite a soldier's song." + +Sir Edward Digby read the first line; and thinking he observed a +double meaning in her question, he answered, "Oh, yes, that I will, if +you will consent to accompany me." + +Zara smiled, and sat down to the instrument again; and the reader must +judge from the song itself whether the young officer's conjecture that +her words had an enigmatical sense was just or not. + + + THE OFFICER'S SONG. + + "A star is still beaming + Beyond the grey cloud; + Its light rays are streaming, + With nothing to shroud; + And the star shall be there + When the clouds pass away; + Its lustre unchanging, + Immortal its ray. + + "'Tis the guide of the true heart, + In field, or on sea; + 'Tis the hope of the slave, + And the trust of the free; + The light of the lover, + Whatever assail; + The strength of the honest, + That never can fail. + + "Waft, waft, thou light wind, + From the peace-giving ray, + The vapours of sorrow, + That over it stray; + And let it pour forth, + All unshrouded and bright, + That those who now mourn, + May rejoice in its light." + + +"God grant it!" murmured the voice of Sir Robert Croyland. Zara said, +"Amen," in her heart; and in a minute or two after, her father rose, +and left the room. + +During the rest of the evening, nothing very important occurred in +Harbourne House. Mrs. Barbara played her usual part, and would +contribute to Sir Edward Digby's amusement in a most uncomfortable +manner. The following morning, too, went by without any incident of +importance, till about ten o'clock, when breakfast just being over, +and Zara having been called from the room by her maid, Sir Robert's +butler announced to his master, that the groom had returned from Mr. +Croyland's. + +"Where is the note?" demanded his master, eagerly. + +"He has not brought one, Sir Robert," replied the servant, "only a +message, sir, to say that Mr. Croyland is very sorry he cannot spare +the horses to-day, as they were out a long way yesterday." + +Sir Robert Croyland started up in a state of fury not at all becoming. +He stamped, he even swore. But we have got rid of a great many of the +vices of those times; and swearing was so common at the period I speak +of, that it did not even startle Mrs. Barbara. Her efforts, however, +to soothe her brother, only served to irritate him the more; and next +he swore at her, which did surprise her mightily. + +He then fell into a fit of thought, which ended in his saying aloud, +"Yes, that must be the way. It is his business, and so----" But +Sir Robert did not conclude the sentence, retiring to his own +sitting-room, and there writing a letter. + +When he had done, he paused and meditated, his mind rambling over many +subjects, though still occupied intensely with only one. "I am a most +unfortunate man," he thought. "Nothing since that wretched day has +ever gone right with me. Even trifles combine to frustrate everything +I attempt. Would I had died many years ago! Poor Edith--poor girl--she +must know more sorrow still, and yet it must be done, or I am +lost!--If that wretched youth had been killed in that affray +yesterday, it would have all been over. Was there no bullet that could +find him?--and yet, perhaps, it might not have had the effect.--No, +no; there would have been some new kind of demand from that greedy, +craving scoundrel.--May there not be such even now? Will he give up +that fatal paper?--He shall--by Heaven, he shall!--But I must send the +letter. Sir Edward Digby will think this all very strange. How +unfortunate, that it should have happened just when he was here. Would +to Heaven I had any one to consult with! But I am lone, lone indeed. +My wife, my sons, my friends,--gone, gone, all gone! It is very sad;" +and after having mused for several minutes more, he rang the bell, +gave the servant who appeared the letter which he had just written, +and directed him to take it over to Mr. Radford's as soon as possible. + +Returning to the room which he had previously left--without bestowing +one word upon Mrs. Barbara, whom he passed in the corridor, Sir +Robert Croyland entered into conversation with Sir Edward Digby, and +strove--though with too evident an effort--to appear careless and +unconcerned. + +In the meantime, however, we must notice what was passing in the +corridor; for it was of some importance, though, like many other +important things, it was transacted very quietly. + +Mrs. Barbara had overheard Sir Robert's directions to the servant; and +she had seen the man--as he went away to get ready the pony, which was +usually sent in the morning to the post--deposit the note he had +received upon an antique piece of furniture--a large marble table, +with great sprawling gilt legs--which stood in the hall, close to the +double doors that led to the offices. + +Now, Mrs. Barbara was one of the most benevolent people upon earth: +she literally overflowed with the milk of human kindness; and, if a +few drops of that same milk occasionally spotted the apron of her +morality, which we cannot help acknowledging was sometimes the case, +she thought, as a great many other people do of a great many other +sins, that "there was no great harm in it, if the motive was good." +This was one of those cases and occasions when the milk was beginning +to run over. She had a deep regard for her brother: she would have +sacrificed her right hand for him; and she was quite sure that +something very sad had happened to vex him, or he never would have +thought of swearing _at her_. She would have done, she was ready to +do, anything in the world, to help him; but how could she help him, +without knowing what he was vexed about? It is wonderful how many +lines the devil always has out, for those who are disposed to take a +bait. Something whispered to Mrs. Barbara, as she gazed at the letter, +"The whole story is in there!" Ah, Mrs. Barbara, do not take it up, +and look at the address!--It is dangerous--very dangerous. + +But Mrs. Barbara did take it up, and looked at the address--and then +at the two ends. It was folded as a note, unfortunately; and she +thought--"There can be no harm, I'm sure--I won't open it--though I've +seen him open Edith's letters, poor thing!--I shall hear the man pull +back the inner door, and can put it down in a minute. Nobody else can +see me here; and if I could but find out what is vexing him, I might +have some way of helping him; I'm sure I intend well." + +All this argumentation in Mrs. Barbara's mind took up the space of +about three seconds; and then the note, pressed between two fingers in +the most approved fashion, was applied as a telescope to her eye, to +get a perspective view of the cause of her brother's irritation. I +must make the reader a party to the transaction, I am afraid, and let +him know the words which Mrs. Barbara read:-- + +"My dear Radford," the note began--"As misfortune would have it, all +my horses have been taken out of the stable, and have not been brought +back. I fear that they have fallen into other hands than those that +borrowed them; and my brother Zachary has one of his crabbed moods +upon him, and will not lend his carriage to bring Edith back. If your +horses have not gone as well as mine, I should feel particularly +obliged by your sending them down here, to take over my coach to +Zachary's and bring Edith back; for I do not wish her to stay there +any longer, as the marriage is to take place so soon. If you can come +over to-morrow, we can settle whether it is to be at your house or +here--though I should prefer it here, if you have no objection." + +There seemed to be a few words more; but it took Mrs. Barbara longer +to decipher the above lines, in the actual position of the note, than +it might have done, had the paper been spread out fair before her; so +that, just as she was moving it a little, to get at the rest, the +sound of the farther of the two doors being thrown open, interrupted +her proceedings; and, laying down the letter quickly, she darted away, +full of the important intelligence which she had acquired. + + + + + CHAPTER V. + + +There are periods in the life of some men, when, either by a +concatenation of unfortunate events, or by the accumulated +consequences of their own errors, the prospect on every side becomes +so clouded, that there is no resource for them, but to shut their eyes +to the menacing aspect of all things, and to take refuge in the moral +blindness of thoughtless inaction, against the pressure of present +difficulties. "I dare not think," is the excuse of many a man, for +continuing in the same course of levity which first brought +misfortunes upon him; but such is not always the case with those who +fly to wretched merriment in the hour of distress; and such was not +the case with Sir Robert Croyland. + +He had thought for long years, till his very heart sickened at the +name of reflection. He had looked round for help, and had found none. +He had tried to discover some prospect of relief; and all was +darkness. The storm he had long foreseen was now bursting upon his +head; it was no longer to be delayed; it was not to be warded off. His +daughter's misery, or his own destruction, was the only choice before +him; and he was resolved to think no more--to let events take their +course, and to meet them as he best might. + +But to resolve is one thing--to execute, another; and Edith's father +was not a man who could keep such a determination long. He might +indeed, for a time, cease to think of all the painful particulars of +his situation; but there will ever come moments when thought is forced +even upon the thoughtless, and events will arise, to press reflection +upon any heart. His efforts were, at first, very successful. After he +had despatched the letter to Mr. Radford, he had said, "I must really +pay my visitor some attention. It will serve to occupy my mind, too. +Anything to escape from the torturing consideration of questions, +which must ever be solved in wretchedness." And when he returned to +Sir Edward Digby, his conversation was particularly gay and cheerful. +It first turned to the unpleasant fact of the abstraction of all his +horses; but he now spoke of it in a lighter and less careful manner +than before. + +"Doubtless," he said, "they have been taken without leave, as usual, +by the smugglers, to use for their own purposes. It is quite a common +practice in this county; and yet we all go on leaving our stable-doors +open, as if to invite all who pass to enter, and choose what they +like. Then, I suppose, they have been captured with other spoil, in +the strife of yesterday morning, and are become the prize of the +conquerors; so that I shall never see them again." + +"Oh, no!" answered the young officer, "they will be restored, I am +quite sure, upon your identifying them, and proving that they were +taken, without your consent, by the smugglers. I shall go over to +Woodchurch by-and-by; and if you please, I will claim them for you." + +"It is scarcely worth while," replied the baronet; "I doubt that I +shall ever get them back. These are little losses which every man in +this neighbourhood must suffer, as a penalty for remaining in a half +savage part of the country.--What are you disposed to do this morning, +Sir Edward? Do you again walk the stubbles?" + +"I fear it 'would be of little use," answered Digby; "there has been +so much galloping lately, that I do not think a partridge has been +left undisturbed in its furrow; and the sun is too high for much +sport." + +"Well, then, let us walk in the garden for a little," said Sir Robert; +"it is curious, in some respects, having been laid out long before +this house was built, antiquated as it is." + +Sir Edward Digby assented, but looked round for Zara, as he certainly +thought her society would be a great addition to her father's. She had +not yet returned to the room, however; and Sir Robert, as if he +divined his young companion's feelings, requested his sister to tell +her niece, when she came, that he and their guest were walking in the +garden. "It is one of her favourite spots, Sir Edward," he continued, +as they went out, "and many a meditative hour she spends there; for, +gay as she is, she has her fits of thought, too." + +The young baronet internally said, "Well she may, in this house!" but +making a more civil answer to his entertainer, he followed him to the +garden; and so well and even cheerfully did Sir Robert Croyland keep +up the conversation, so learnedly did he descant upon the levelling +and preservation of turf in bowling-greens, and upon the clipping of +old yew-trees--both before and after Zara joined them--that Digby +began to doubt, notwithstanding all he had heard, whether he could +really have such a load upon his heart as he himself had stated to +Edith, and to fancy that, after all, it might be a stratagem to drive +her to compliance with his wishes. + +A little incident, of no great moment in the eyes of any one but a +very careful observer of his fellow-men--and Digby was far more so +than he seemed--soon settled the doubt. As they were passing under an +old wall of red brick--channelled by time and the shoots of pears and +peaches--which separated the garden from the different courts, a door +suddenly opened behind them, just after they had passed it; and while +Sir Edward's eyes were turned to the face of the master of the house, +Sir Robert's ear instantly caught the sound, and his cheek became as +pale as ashes. + +"There is some dark terror there!" thought the young officer; but, +turning to Zara, he finished the sentence he had been uttering, while +her father's coachman, who was the person that had opened the door, +came forward to say that one of the horses had returned. + +"Returned!" exclaimed Sir Robert Croyland; "has been brought back, I +suppose you mean?" + +"Ay, Sir Robert," replied the man; "a fellow from the lone house by +Iden Green brought him; and in a sad state the poor beast is. He's got +a cut, like with a knife, all down his shoulder." + +"Your dragoon swords are sharp, Sir Edward," said the old baronet, +gaily, to his guest; "however, I will go and see him myself, and +rejoin you here in a minute." + +"I am so glad to have a moment alone," cried Zara, as soon as her +father was gone, "that you must forgive me if I use it directly. I am +going to ask you a favour, Sir Edward. You must take me a ride, and +lend me a horse. I have just had a message from poor Harry Leyton; he +wishes to see me, but I am afraid to go alone, with so many soldiers +about." + +"Are they such terrible animals?" asked her companion, with a smile, +adding, however, "I shall be delighted, if your father will consent; +for I have already told him that I am going to Woodchurch this +afternoon." + +"Oh! you must ask me yourself, Sir Edward," replied Zara, "quite in a +civil tone; and then when you see that I am willing, you must be very +pressing with my father--quite as if you were a lover; and he will not +refuse you.--I'll bear you harmless, as I have heard Mr. Radford say;" +she added, with a playful smile that was quickly saddened. + +"You shall command for the time," answered Digby, as gaily; "perhaps +after that, I may take my turn, sweet lady. But I have a good deal to +say to you, too, which I could not fully explain last night." + +"As we go--as we go," replied Zara; "my father will be back directly, +otherwise I would tell you a long story about my aunt, who has +evidently got some great secret which she is all impatience to +divulge. If I had stayed an hour with her, I might have arrived at it; +but I was afraid of losing my opportunity here.--Oh, that invaluable +thing, opportunity! Once lost, what years of misery does it not +sometimes leave behind.--Would to Heaven that Edith and Leyton had run +away with each other when they were about it.--We should all have been +happier now." + +"And I should never have known you," replied Digby. Zara smiled, and +shook her head, as if saying, "That is hardly fair;" but Sir Robert +Croyland was seen coming up the walk; and she only replied, "Now do +your _devoir_, gallant knight, and let me see if you do it zealously." + +"I have been trying in your absence, my dear sir," said Digby, rather +maliciously, as the baronet joined them, "to persuade your fair +daughter to run away with me. But she is very dutiful, and will not +take such a rash step, though the distance is only to Woodchurch, +without your consent. I pray you give it; for I long to mount her on +my quietest horse, and see her try her skill in horsemanship again." + +Sir Robert Croyland looked grave; and ere the words were half spoken, +Sir Edward Digby felt that he had committed an error in his game; for +he was well aware that when we have a favour to ask, we should not +call up, by speech or look, in the mind of the person who is to grant +it, any association having a contrary tendency. + +"I am afraid that I have no servant whom I could send with you, Sir +Edward," replied her father; "one I have just dispatched to some +distance, and you know I am left without horses, for this poor beast +just come back, is unfit. Neither do I think it would be altogether +consistent with decorum, for Zara to go with you quite alone." + +Sir Edward Digby mentally sent the word decorum back to the place from +whence it came; but he was resolved to press his point; and when Zara +replied, "Oh, do let me go, papa!" he added, "My servant can accompany +us, to satisfy propriety, Sir Robert; and you know I have quartered +three horses upon you. Then, as I find the fair lady is somewhat +afraid of a multitude of soldiers, I promise most faithfully not even +to dismount in Woodchurch, but to say what I have to say, to the +officer in command there, and then canter back over the country." + +"Who is the officer in command?" asked Sir Robert Croyland. + +Zara drew her breath quick, but Sir Edward Digby avoided the dangerous +point. "Irby has one troop there," he replied; "and there are parts of +two others. When I have made interest enough here," he continued, with +a half bow to Zara, "I shall beg to introduce Irby to you, Sir Robert; +you will like him much, I think. I have known him long." + +"Pray invite him to dinner while he stays," said Sir Robert Croyland; +"it will give me much pleasure to see him." + +"Not yet--not yet!" answered Digby, laughing; "I always secure my own +approaches first." + +Sir Robert Croyland smiled graciously, and, turning to Zara, said, +"Well, my dear, I see no objection, if you wish it. You had better go +and get ready." + +Zara's cheek was glowing, and she took her father at the first word; +but when she was gone, Sir Robert thought fit to lecture his guest a +little, upon the bad habit of spoiling young ladies which he seemed to +have acquired. He did it jocularly, but with his usual pompous and +grave air; and no one would have recognised in the Sir Robert Croyland +walking in the garden, the father whom we have lately seen humbled +before his own child. There is no part of a man's character which he +keeps up so well to the world as that part which is not his own. The +assertion may seem to be a contradiction in terms; but there is no +other way of expressing the sense clearly; and whether those terms be +correct or not, will depend upon whether character is properly innate +or accumulated. + +Sir Edward Digby answered gaily, for it was his object to keep his +host in good humour at least, for the time. He denied the possibility +of spoiling a lady, while he acknowledged his propensity to attempt +impossibilities in that direction; and at the same time, with a good +grace, and a frankness, real yet assumed--for his words were true, +though they might not have been spoken just then, under any other +circumstances--he admitted that, of all people whom he should like to +spoil, the fair being who had just left them was the foremost. The +words were too decided to be mistaken. Sir Edward Digby was evidently +a gentleman, and known to be a man of honour. No man of honour trifles +with a woman's affections; and Sir Robert Croyland, wise in this +instance if not in others, did as all wise fathers would do, held his +tongue for a time that the matter might cool and harden, and then +changed the subject. + +Digby, however, had grown thoughtful. Did he repent what he had said? +No, certainly not. He wished, indeed, that he had not been driven to +say it so soon; for there were doubts in his own mind whether Zara +herself were altogether won. She was frank, she was kind, she trusted +him, she acted with him; but there was at times a shade of reserve +about her, coming suddenly, which seemed to him as a warning. She had +from the first taken such pains to ensure that her confidence--the +confidence of circumstances--should not be misunderstood; she had +responded so little to the first approaches of love, while she had +yielded so readily to those of friendship, that there was a doubt in +his mind which made him uneasy; and, every now and then, her uncle's +account of her character rung in his ear, and made him think--"I have +found this artillery more dangerous than I expected." + +What a pity it is that uncles will not hold their tongues! + +At length, he bethought him that it would be as well to order the +horses, which was accordingly done; and some time before they were +ready, the fair girl herself appeared, and continued walking up and +down the garden with her father and their guest, looking very lovely, +both from excitement, which gave a varying colour to her cheek, and +from intense feelings, which, denied the lips, looked out with deeper +soul from the eyes. + +"I think, Zara," said Sir Robert Croyland, when it was announced that +the horses and the servant were ready, "that you took Sir Edward to +the north, when you went over to your uncle's. You had better, +therefore, in returning--for I know, in your wild spirits, when once +on horseback, you will not be contented with the straight road--you +had better, I say, come by the southwest." + +"Oh, papa, I could never learn the points of the compass in my life!" +answered Zara, laughing; "I suppose that is the reason why, as my aunt +says, I steer so ill." + +"I mean--by the lower road," replied her father; and he laid such +emphasis on the words, that Zara received them as a command. + +They mounted and set out, much to the surprise of Mrs. Barbara +Croyland, who saw them from the window, and thence derived her first +information of their intended expedition; for Zara was afraid of her +aunt's kindnesses, and never encountered them when she could help it. +When they were a hundred yards from the house, the conversation began; +but I will not enter into all the details; for at first they related +to facts with which the reader is already well acquainted. Sir Edward +Digby told her at large, all that had passed between himself and +Leyton on the preceding day, and Zara, in return, informed him of the +message she had received from his friend, and how it had been +conveyed. Their minds then turned to other things, or rather to other +branches of the same subjects; and, what was to be done? was the next +question; for hours were flying--the moment that was to decide the +fate of the two beings in whom each felt a deep though separate +interest, was approaching fast; and no progress had apparently been +made. + +Zara's feelings seemed as much divided as Edith's had been. She shrank +from the thought, that her sister, whom she loved with a species of +adoration, should sacrifice herself on any account to such a fate as +that which must attend the wife of Richard Radford. She shrank also, +as a young, generous woman's heart must ever shrink, from the thought +of any one wedding the abhorred, and separating for ever from the +beloved; but then, when she came to turn her eyes towards her father, +she trembled for him as much as for Edith; and, with her two hands +resting on the pommel of the saddle, she gazed down in anxious and +bitter thought. + +"I know not your father as well as you do, my dear Miss Croyland," +said her companion, at length, as he marked these emotions; "and +therefore I cannot tell what might be his conduct under particular +circumstances." Zara suddenly raised her eyes, and fixed them on his +face; but Digby continued. "I do not speak of the past, but of the +future. I take it for granted--not alone as a courtesy, but from all I +have seen--that Sir Robert Croyland cannot have committed any act, +that could justly render him liable to danger from the law." + +"Thank you--thank you!" said Zara, dropping her eyes again; "you judge +rightly, I am sure." + +"But at the same time," he proceeded, "it is clear that some +unfortunate concurrence of circumstances has placed him either really, +or in imagination, in Mr. Radford's power. Now, would he but act a +bold and decided part--dare the worst--discountenance a bad man and a +villain--even, if necessary, in his magisterial capacity, treat him as +he deserves--he would take away the sting from his malice. Any +accusation this man might bring would have _enmity_ too strongly +written upon it, to carry much weight; and all the evidence in favour +of your father would have double force." + +"He cannot--he will not," answered Zara, sadly, "unless he be actually +driven. I know no more than you, Sir Edward, how all this has +happened; but I know my father, and I know that he shrinks from +disgrace more than death. An accusation, a public trial, would kill +him by the worst and most terrible kind of torture. Mr. Radford, too, +has wound the toils round him completely--that I can see. He could say +that Sir Robert Croyland has acted contrary to all his own principles, +at his request; and he could point to the cause. He could say that Sir +Robert Croyland suddenly became, and has been for years the most +intimate friend and companion of a man he scorned and avoided; +and he could assert that it was because the proud man was in the +cunning man's power. If, for vengeance, he chooses to avow his own +disgrace--and what is there not Mr. Radford would avow to serve his +ends?--believe me, he has my father in a net, from which it will be +difficult to disentangle him." + +They both fell into thought again; but Zara did not sink in Digby's +estimation, from the clear and firm view which she took of her +father's position. + +"Well," he said, at length, "let us wait, and hear what poor Leyton +has to tell you. Perhaps he may have gained some further insight, or +may have formed some plan; and now, Zara, let us for a moment speak of +ourselves. You see, to-day, I have been forced to make love to you." + +"Too much," said Zara, gravely. "I am sure you intended it for the +best; but I am sorry it could not be avoided." + +"And yet it is very pleasant," answered Digby, half jestingly, half +seriously. + +Zara seemed agitated: "Do not, do not!" she replied; "my mind is too +full of sad things, to think of what might be pleasant or not at +another time;" and she turned a look towards him, in which kindness, +entreaty, and seriousness were all so blended, that it left him in +greater doubt than ever, as to her sensations. "Besides," she added, +the serious predominating in her tone, "consider what a difference one +rash word, on either part, may make between us. Let me regard you, at +least for the present, as a friend--or a brother, as you once said, +Digby; let me take counsel with you, seek your advice, call for your +assistance, without one thought or care to shackle or restrain me. In +pity, do; for you know not how much I need support." + +"Then I am most ready to give it, on your own terms, and in your own +way," answered Digby, warmly; but, immediately afterwards, he fell +into a reverie, and in his own mind thought--"She is wrong in her +view; or indifferent towards me. With a lover to whom all is +acknowledged, and with whom all is decided, she would have greater +confidence, than with a friend, towards whom the dearest feelings of +the heart are in doubt. This must be resolved speedily, but not now; +for it evidently agitates her too much.--Yet, after all, in that +agitation is hope." + +Just as his meditations had reached this point, they passed by the +little public house of the Chequers, then a very favourite sign in +England, and especially in that part of the country; and in five +minutes after, they perceived a horseman on the road, riding rapidly +towards them. + +"There is Leyton," said Sir Edward Digby, as he came somewhat nearer; +but Zara gazed forward with surprise, at the tall, manly figure, +dressed in the handsome uniform of the time, the pale but noble +countenance, and the calm commanding air. "Impossible!" she cried. +"Why, he was a gay, slight, florid, young man." + +"Six or seven years ago," answered Digby; "but that, my dear Miss +Croyland, is Sir Henry Leyton, depend upon it." + +Now, it may seem strange that Edith should have instantly recognised, +even at a much greater distance, the man whom her sister did not, +though the same period had passed since each had seen him; but, it +must be remembered, that Edith was between two and three years older +than Zara; and those two or three years, at the time of life which +they had reached when Leyton left England, are amongst the most +important in a woman's life--those when new feelings and new thoughts +arise, to impress for ever, on the woman's heart, events and persons +that the girl forgets in an hour. + +Leyton, however, it certainly was; and when Zara could see his +features distinctly, she recalled the lines. Springing from his horse +as soon as he was near, her sister's lover cast the bridle of his +charger over his arm, and, taking the hand she extended to him, kissed +it affectionately: "Oh, Zara, how you are changed!" he said. "But so +am I; and you have gained, whilst I have lost. It is very kind of you +to come thus speedily." + +"You could not doubt, Leyton, that I would, if possible," answered +Zara; "but all things are much changed in our house, as well as +ourselves; and that wild liberty which we formerly enjoyed, of running +whithersoever we would, is sadly abridged now. But what have you to +say, Leyton? for I dare not stay long." + +Digby was dropping behind, apparently to speak to his servant for a +moment; but Leyton called to him, assuring him that he had nothing to +say, which he might not hear. + +"Presently, presently," answered Zara's companion; and leaving them +alone, he rode up to good Mr. Somers, who, with his usual discretion, +had halted, as they halted, at a very respectful distance. The young +officer seemed to give some orders, which were rather long, and then +returned at a slow pace. In the meantime, the conversation of Leyton +and Zara had gone on; but his only object, it appeared, was to see +her, and to entreat her to aid and support his Edith in any trial she +might be put to. "I spent a short period of chequered happiness with +her last night," he said; "and she then told me, dear Zara, that she +was sure her father would send for her in the course of this day. If +such be the case, keep with her always as far as possible; bid her +still remember Harry Leyton; bid her resist to the end; and assure her +that he will come to her deliverance ultimately. Were it myself alone, +I would sacrifice anything, and set her free; but when I know that, by +so doing, I should make her wretched for ever--that her own heart +would be broken, and nothing but an early death relieve her, I cannot +do it, Zara--no one can expect it." + +"Perhaps not--perhaps not, Leyton;" answered Zara, with the tears in +her eyes; "but yet--my father! However, I cannot advise--I cannot even +ask anything. All is so dark and perplexed, I am lost!" + +"I am labouring now, dear Zara," replied the young officer, "to find +or devise means of rendering his safety sure. Already I have the power +to crush the bad man in whose grasp he is, and render his testimony, +whatever it may be, nearly valueless. At all events, the only course +before us, is that which I have pointed out; and while Digby is with +you, you can never want the best and surest counsel and assistance. +You may confide in him fully, Zara. I have now known him many years; +and a more honourable and upright man, or one of greater talent, does +not live." + +There was something very gratifying to Zara in what he said of his +friend; and had she been in a mood to scrutinize her own feelings +accurately, the pleasure that she experienced in hearing such words +spoken of Sir Edward Digby--the agitated sort of pleasure--might have +given her an insight into her own heart. As it was, it only sent a +passing blush into her cheek, and she replied, "I am sure he is all +you say, Harry; and indeed, it is to his connivance that I owe my +being able to come hither to-day. These smugglers took away all my +father's horses; and I suppose, from what I hear, that some of them +have been captured by your men." + +"If such is the case they shall be sent back," replied Leyton; "for I +am well aware that the horses being found with the smugglers, is no +proof that they were therewith the owner's consent. To-morrow, I trust +to be able to give you a further insight into my plans, for I am +promised some information of importance to-night; and perhaps, even +before you reach home, I shall have put a bar against Mr. Richard +Radford's claims to Edith, which he may find insurmountable." + +As he was speaking, Sir Edward Digby returned, quickening his horse's +pace as he came near, and pointing with his hand. "You have got a +detachment out, I see, Leyton," he said--"Is there any new affair +before you?" + +"Oh, no," replied the Colonel, "it is merely Irby and a part of his +troop, whom I have despatched to search the wood, for I have certain +intelligence that the man we are seeking is concealed there." + +"They may save themselves the trouble," replied Zara, shaking her +head; "for though he was certainly there all yesterday, he made his +escape this morning." + +Leyton hit his lip, and his brow grew clouded. "That is unfortunate," +he said, "most unfortunate!--I do not ask you how you know, Zara; but +are you quite sure?" + +"Perfectly," she answered--"I would not deceive you for the world, +Leyton; and I only say what I have said, because I think that, if you +do search the wood, it may draw attention to your being in this +neighbourhood, which as yet is not known at Harbourne, and it may +embarrass us very much." + +"I am not sure, Leyton," said Sir Edward Digby, "that as far as your +own purposes are concerned, it might not be better to seem, at all +events, to withdraw the troops, or at least a part of them, from this +neighbourhood. Indeed, though I have no right to give you advice upon +the subject, I think also it might be beneficial in other respects, +for as soon as the smugglers think you gone, they will act with more +freedom." + +"I propose to do so, to-morrow," replied the colonel; "but I have some +information already, and expect more, upon which I must act in the +first place. It will be as well, however, to stop Irby's party, if +there is no end to be obtained by their proceedings." + +He then took leave of Zara and his friend, mounted his horse, and rode +back to meet the troop that was advancing; while Zara and Sir Edward +Digby, after following the same road up to the first houses of +Woodchurch, turned away to the right, and went back to Harbourne, by +the small country road which leads from Kennardington to Tenterden. + +Their conversation, as they went, would be of very little interest to +the reader; for it consisted almost altogether of comments upon +Leyton's changed appearance, and discussions of the same questions of +doubt and difficulty which had occupied them before. They went slowly, +however; and when they reached the house it did not want much more +than three quarters of an hour to the usual time of dinner. Sir Robert +Croyland they found looking out of the glass-door, which commanded a +view towards his brother's house, and his first question was, which +way they had returned. Sir Edward Digby gave an easy and unconcerned +reply, describing the road they had followed, and comparing it, +greatly to its disadvantage, with that which they had pursued on their +former expedition. + +"Then you saw nothing of the carriage, Zara?" inquired her father. "It +is very strange that Edith has not come back." + +"No, we saw no carriage of any kind; but a carrier's cart," replied +the young lady. "Perhaps if Edith did not know you were going to send, +she might not be ready." + +This reason, however, did not seem to satisfy Sir Robert Croyland; and +after talking with him for a few minutes more as he stood, still +gazing forth over the country, Zara and Digby retired to change their +dress before dinner; and the latter received a long report from his +servant of facts which will be shown hereafter. The man was +particularly minute and communicative, because his master asked him no +questions, and suffered him to tell his tale his own way. But that +tale fully occupied the time till the second bell rang, and Digby +hurried down to dinner. + +Still, Miss Croyland had not returned; and it was evident that Sir +Robert Croyland was annoyed and uneasy. All the suavity and +cheerfulness of the morning was gone; for one importunate source of +care and thought will always carry the recollection back to others; +and he sat at the dinner table in silence and gloom, only broken by +brief intervals of conversation, which he carried on with a laborious +effort. + +Just as Mrs. Barbara rose to retire, however, the butler re-entered +the room, announcing to Sir Robert Croyland that Mr. Radford had +called, and wished to speak with him. "He would not come in, sir," +continued the man, "for he said he wanted to speak with you alone, so +I showed him into the library." + +Sir Robert Croyland instantly rose, but looked with a hesitating +glance at his guest, while Mrs. Barbara and Zara retired from the +room. + +"Pray, do not let me detain you, Sir Robert," said the young officer; +"I have taken as much wine as I ever do, and will go and join the +ladies in the drawing-room." + +The customs of the day required that the master of the house should +press the bottle upon his guest; and Sir Robert Croyland did not fail +to do so. But Digby remained firm, and, to settle the question, walked +quietly to the door and entered the drawing-room. There, he found Zara +seated; but Mrs. Barbara was standing near the table, and apparently +in a state, for which the English language supplies but one term, and +that not a very classical one. I mean, she was in a _fidget_. + +The reader is aware that the library of Harbourne House was adjacent +to the drawing-room, and that there was a door between them. It was a +thick, solid, oaken door, however, such as shut out the wind in the +good old times; and, moreover, it fitted very close. Thus, though the +minute after Sir Edward had entered the room, a low murmur, as of +persons speaking somewhat loud, was heard from the library, not a +single syllable could be distinguished; and Mrs. Barbara looked at the +keyhole, with a longing indescribable. After about thirty seconds' +martyrdom, Mrs. Barbara quitted the room: Zara, who knew her aunt, +candidly trusting, that she had gone to put herself out of temptation; +and Sir Edward Digby never for a moment imagining, that she could have +been in any temptation at all. It may now be necessary, however, to +follow Sir Robert Croyland to the library, and to reveal to the reader +all that Mrs. Barbara was so anxious to learn. + +He found Mr. Radford, booted and spurred, standing, with his tall, +bony figure, in as easy an attitude as it could assume, by the +fire-place; and the baronet's first question was, "In the name of +Heaven, Radford, what has become of Edith?--Neither she nor the +carriage have returned." + +"Oh, yes, the carriage has, half an hour ago!" replied Mr. Radford; +"and I met the horses going back as I came.--Didn't you get my message +which I sent by the coachman?" + +"No, I must have been at dinner," answered Sir Robert Croyland, "and +the fools did not give it to me." + +"Well, it is no great matter," rejoined Mr. Radford, in the quietest +possible tone. "It was only to say that I was coming over, and would +explain to you all about Miss Croyland." + +"But where is she? Why did she not come?" demanded her father, with +some of the old impetuosity of his youth. + +"She is at my house," answered the other, deliberately; "I thought it +would be a great deal better, Croyland, to bring her there at once, as +you left to me the decision of where the marriage was to be. She could +be quite as comfortable there as here. My son will be up to-morrow; +and the marriage can take place quietly, without any piece of work. +Now, here it would be difficult to manage it; for, in the first place, +it would be dangerous for my son. You have got a stranger in the +house, and a whole heap of servants, who cannot be trusted. I have +arranged everything for the marriage, and for their going off quietly +on their little tour. We shall soon get a pardon for this affair with +the dragoons; and that will be all settled." + +Sir Robert Croyland had remained mute; not with any calm or tranquil +feelings, but with indignation and astonishment. "Upon my life and +soul," he cried, "this is too bad! Do you mean to say, sir, that you +have ventured, without my knowledge or consent, to change my +daughter's destination, and take her to your house when I wished her +to be brought here?" + +"Undoubtedly," replied Mr. Radford, with the most perfect calmness. + +"Well then, sir," exclaimed the baronet, irritated beyond all +endurance--"I have to tell you, that you have committed a gross, +insolent, and unjustifiable act; and I have to insist that she be +brought back here this very night." + +"Nay, my dear friend--nay," replied Mr. Radford, in a half jeering +tone. "These are harsh words that you use; but you must hear me first, +before I pay any attention to them." + +"I want to hear nothing, sir," cried Sir Robert Croyland, his anger +still carrying him forward. "But if you do not send her back to her +own home, I will get horses over from Tenterden, and bring her +myself.--Her slavery has not yet commenced, Mr. Radford." + +"I shall not be able to bring her over," answered Mr. Radford, still +maintaining the same provoking coolness; "because, in case of her +return, I should be obliged to use my horses myself, to lay certain +important facts, which we both know of, before a brother magistrate." + +He paused, and Sir Robert Croyland winced. But still indignation was +uppermost for the time; and rapidly as lightning the thoughts of +resistance passed through his mind. "This man's conduct is too bad," +he said to himself. "After such a daring act as this, with his +character blackened by so many stains, and so clear a case of revenge, +the magistrates will surely hardly listen to him." But as he continued +to reflect, timidity--the habitual timidity of many years--began to +mingle with and dilute his resolution; and Mr. Radford, who knew him +to the very heart, after having suffered him to reflect just long +enough to shake his firmness, went on in a somewhat different tone, +saying, "Come, Sir Robert! don't be unreasonable; and before you +quarrel irretrievably with an old friend, listen quietly to what he +has got to say." + +"Well, sir, well," said Sir Robert Croyland, casting himself into a +chair--"what is it you have got to say?" + +"Why, simply this, my dear friend," answered Mr. Radford, "that you +are not aware of all the circumstances, and therefore cannot judge yet +whether I have acted right or wrong. You and I have decided, I think, +that there can no longer be any delay in the arrangement of our +affairs. I put it plainly to you yesterday, that it was to be now or +never; and you agreed that it should be now. You brought me your +daughter's consent in the afternoon; and so far the matter was +settled. I don't want to injure you; and if you are injured, it is +your own fault--" + +"But I gave no consent," said Sir Robert Croyland, "that she should be +taken to your house. The circumstances--the circumstances, Mr. +Radford!" + +"Presently, presently," replied his companion. "I take it for +granted, that, when you have pledged yourself to a thing, you are +anxious to accomplish it. Now I tell you, there was no sure way of +accomplishing this, but that which I have taken. Do you know who is +the commander of this dragoon regiment which is down here?--No. But I +do. Do you know who is the man, who, like a sub-officer of the +Customs, attacked our friends yesterday morning, took some fifty of +them prisoners, robbed me of some seventy thousand pounds, and is now +hunting after my son, as if he were a fox?--No. But I do; and I will +tell you who he is.--One Harry Leyton, whom you may have heard +of--now, Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Henry Leyton, Knight of the Bath, +forsooth!" + +Sir Robert Croyland gazed upon him in astonishment; but, whatever were +his other sensations, deep grief and bitter regret mingled with them, +when he thought that circumstances should ever have driven or tempted +him to promise his daughter's hand to a low, dissolute, unprincipled +villan, and to put a fatal barrier between her and one whom he had +always known to be generous, honorable, and high principled, and who +had now gained such distinction in the service of his country. He +remained perfectly silent, however; and the expression of surprise and +consternation which his countenance displayed, was misinterpreted by +Mr. Radford to his own advantage. + +"Now, look here, Sir Robert," he continued; "if your daughter were in +your house, you could not help this young man having some +communication with her. He has already been over at your brother's, +and has seen her, I doubt not. Here, then, is your fair daughter Miss +Zara, your guest Sir Edward Digby--his intimate friend, I dare +say--all your maids and half your men servants, even dear Mrs. Barbara +herself, with her sweet meddling ways, would all be ready to fetch and +carry between the lovers. In short, our whole plans would be +overturned; and I should be compelled to do that which would be very +disagreeable to me, and to strike at this upstart Henry Leyton through +the breast of Sir Robert Croyland. In my house, he can have no access +to her; and though some mischief may already have been done, yet it +can go no further." + +"Now I understand what you mean by revenge," said the baronet, in a +low tone, folding his hands together.--"Now I understand." + +"Well, but have I judged rightly or wrongly?" demanded Mr. Radford. + +"Rightly, I suppose," said Sir Robert Croyland, sadly. "It can't be +helped;--but poor Edith, how does she bear it?" + +"Oh, very well," answered Mr. Radford, quietly. "She cried a little at +first, and when she found where they were going, asked the coachman +what he meant. It was my coachman, you know, not yours; and so he +lied, like a good, honest fellow, and said you were waiting for her at +my house. I was obliged to make up a little bit of a story too, and +tell her you knew all about it; but that was no great harm; for I was +resolved, you should know all about it, very soon." + +"Lied like a good honest fellow!" murmured Sir Robert Croyland, to +himself. "Well," he continued, aloud, "at all events I must come over +to-morrow, and try to reconcile the poor girl to it." + +"Do so, do so," answered Mr. Radford; "and in the meantime, I must be +off; for I've still a good deal of work to do to-night. Did you see, +they have withdrawn the dragoons from the wood? They knew it would be +of no use to keep them there. So now, good night--that's all settled." + +"All settled, indeed," murmured Sir Robert Croyland as Mr. Radford +left him; and for nearly half an hour after, he continued sitting in +the library, with his hands clasped upon his knee, exactly in the same +position. + + + + + CHAPTER VI. + + +Sir Edward Digby did not take advantage of the opportunity which Mrs. +Barbara's absence afforded him. This may seem extraordinary conduct in +a good soldier and quick and ready man; but he had his reasons for it. +Not that he was beginning to hesitate, as some men do, when--after +having quite made up their minds--they begin to consider all the +perils of their situation, and retreat, without much regard for their +own consistency, or the feelings of the other persons interested. But, +no--Digby justly remembered that what he had to say might require some +time, and that it might produce some agitation. Moreover, he +recollected that there are few things so disagreeable on earth, as +being interrupted at a time when people's eyes are sparkling or in +tears, when the cheek is flushed or deadly pale; and as he knew not +when Mrs. Barbara might return, and certainly did not anticipate that +she would be long absent, he resolved to wait for another opportunity. + +When he found minute after minute slip by, however, he began to repent +of his determination; and certainly, although the word love never +passed his lips, something very like the reality shone out in his +eyes. Perhaps, had Zara been in any of her usual moods, more serious +words might have followed. Had she been gay and jesting, or calm and +thoughtful, a thousand little incidents might have led on naturally to +the unfolding of the heart of each. But, on the contrary, she was +neither the one nor the other. She was evidently anxious, +apprehensive, ill at ease; and though she conversed rationally enough +for a person whose mind was in such a state, yet she frequently turned +her eyes towards the door of the adjoining room, from which the sound +of her father's voice and that of Mr. Radford might still be heard. + +Sir Edward Digby endeavoured to gain her attention to himself, as much +with a view to withdraw it from unpleasant subjects as anything else; +and it was very natural that--with one so fair and so excellent, one +possessing so much brightness, in spite of a few little spots--it was +natural that his tone should become tenderer every minute. At length, +however, she stopped him, saying, "I am very anxious just now. I fear +there is some mischief going on there, which we cannot prevent, and +may never know. Edith's absence is certainly very strange; and I fear +they may foil us yet." + +In a minute or two after, Mrs. Barbara Croyland returned, but in such +a flutter that she spoilt her embroidery, which she snatched up to +cover her agitation, dropped her finest scissars, and broke the point +off, and finally ran the needle into her finger, which, thereupon, +spotted the silk with blood. She gave no explanation indeed of all +this emotion, but looked several times at Zara with a meaning glance; +and when, at length, Sir Robert Croyland entered the drawing-room, his +whole air and manner did not tend to remove from his daughter's mind +the apprehension which his sister's demeanour had cast over it. + +There is a general tone in every landscape which it never entirely +loses; yet how infinite are the varieties which sunshine and cloud and +storm, and morning, evening, and noon, bring upon it; and thus with +the expression and conduct of every man, although they retain certain +distinctive characteristics, yet innumerable are the varieties +produced by the moods, the passions, and the emotions of the mind. Sir +Robert Croyland was no longer irritably thoughtful; but he was stern, +gloomy, melancholy. He strove to converse, indeed; but the effort was +so apparent, the pain it gave him so evident, that Sir Edward Digby +felt, or fancied, that his presence was a restraint. He had too much +tact, however, to show that he imagined such to be the case; and he +only resolved to retire to his own room as soon as he decently could. +He was wrong in his supposition, indeed, that his host might wish to +communicate something privately to Zara, or to Mrs. Barbara. Sir +Robert had nothing to tell; and therefore the presence of Sir Edward +Digby was rather agreeable to him than not, as shielding him from +inquiries, which it might not have suited him to answer. He would have +talked if he could, and would have done his best to make his house +agreeable to his young guest; but his thoughts still turned, with all +the bitterness of smothered anger, to the indignity he had suffered; +and he asked himself, again and again, "Will the time ever come, when +I shall have vengeance for all this?" + +The evening passed gloomily, and in consequence slowly; and at length, +when the clock showed that it still wanted a quarter to ten, Digby +rose and bade the little party good night, saying that he was somewhat +tired, and had letters to write. + +"I shall go to bed too," said Sir Robert Croyland, ringing for his +candle. But Digby quitted the room first; and Zara could not refrain +from saying, in a low tone, as she took leave of her father for the +night, and went out of the room with him, "There is nothing amiss with +Edith, I trust, my dear father?" + +"Oh dear, no!" answered Sir Robert Croyland, with as careless an air +as he could assume. "Nothing at all, but that she does not come home +to-night, and perhaps may not to-morrow." + +Still unsatisfied, Zara sought her own room; and when her maid had +half performed her usual functions for the night, she dismissed her, +saying, that she would do the rest herself. When alone, however, Zara +Croyland did not proceed to undress, but remained thinking over all +the events of the day, with her head resting on her hand, and her eyes +cast down. The idea of Edith and her fate mingled with other images. +The words that Digby had spoken, the increasing tenderness of his tone +and manner, came back to memory, and made her heart flutter with +sensations unknown till then. She felt alarmed at her own feelings; +she knew not well what they were; but still she said to herself at +every pause of thought--"It is all nonsense!--He will go away and +forget me; and I shall forget him! These soldiers have always some +tale of love for every woman's ear. It is their habit--almost their +nature." Did she believe her own conclusions? Not entirely; but she +tried to believe them; and that was enough for the present. + +Some minutes after, however, when a light knock was heard at the door, +she started almost as if some one had struck her; and Fancy, who is +always drawing upon improbability, made her believe, for an instant, +that it might be Digby. She said, "Come in," however, with tolerable +calmness; and the next instant, the figure of her aunt presented +itself, with eagerness in her looks and importance in her whole air. + +"My dear child!" she said, "I did not know whether your maid was gone; +but I am very happy she is, for I have something to tell you of very +great importance indeed. What do you think that rascal Radford has +done?" and as she spoke, she sank, with a dignified air, into a chair. + +"I really can't tell, my dear aunt," replied Zara, not a little +surprised to hear the bad epithet which her aunt applied to a +gentleman, towards whom she usually displayed great politeness. "I am +sure he is quite capable of anything that is bad." + +"Ah, he is very much afraid of me, and what he calls my sweet meddling +ways," said the old lady; "but, perhaps, if I had meddled before, it +might have been all the better. I am sure I am the very last to +meddle, except when there is an absolute occasion for it, as you well +know, my dear Zara." + +The last proposition was put in some degree as a question; but Zara +did not think fit to answer it, merely saying, "What is it, my dear +aunt?--I am all anxiety and fear regarding Edith." + +"Well you may be, my love," said Mrs. Barbara; and thereupon she +proceeded to tell Zara, how she had overheard the whole conversation +between Mr. Radford and her brother, through the door of the library, +which opened into the little passage, that ran between it and the +rooms beyond. She did not say that she had put her ear to the keyhole; +but that Zara took for granted, and indeed felt somewhat like an +accomplice, while listening to secrets which had been acquired by such +means. + +Thus almost everything that had passed in the library--with a few very +short variations and improvements, but with a good deal of comment, +and a somewhat lengthy detail--was communicated by Mrs. Barbara to her +niece; and when she had done, the old lady added, "There, my dear, now +go to bed and sleep upon it; and we will talk it all over in the +morning, for I am determined that my niece shall not be treated in +such a way by any vagabond smuggler like that. Dear me! one cannot +tell what might happen, with Edith shut up in his house in that way. +Talk of my meddling, indeed! He shall find that I will meddle now to +some purpose! Good night, my dear love--good night!" But Mrs. Barbara +stopped at the door, to explain to Zara that she had not told her +before, "Because, you know," said the good lady, "I could not speak of +such things before a stranger, like Sir Edward Digby; and when he was +gone, I didn't dare say anything to your father. Think of it till +to-morrow, there's a dear girl, and try and devise some plan." + +"I will," said Zara--"I will;" but as soon as her aunt had +disappeared, she clasped her hands together, exclaiming, "Good Heaven! +what plan can I form? Edith is lost! They have her now completely in +their power. Oh, that I had known this before Sir Edward Digby went to +sleep. He might have gone over to Leyton to-morrow, early; and they +might have devised something together. Perhaps he has not gone to rest +yet. He told me to throw off all restraint, to have no ceremony in +case of need. Leyton told me so, too--that I might trust in him--that +he is a man of honour. Oh, yes, I am sure he is a man of honour! but +what will he think?--He promised he would think no harm of anything I +might be called upon to do; and I promised I would trust him. I will +go! He can speak to me in the passage. No one sleeps near, to +overhear. But I will knock softly; for though he said he had letters +to write, he may have gone to bed by this time." + +Leaving the lights standing where they were, Zara cast on a long +dressing-gown, and crept quietly out into the passage, taking care not +to pull the door quite to. All was silent in the house; not a sound +was heard; and with her heart beating as if it would have burst +through her side, she approached Sir Edward Digby's door;--but there +she paused. Had she not paused, but gone on at once, and knocked, all +would have been well; for, so far from being in bed, he was sitting +calmly reading. But ladies' resolutions, and men's, are made of very +much the same materials. The instant her foot stopped, her whole host +of woman's feelings crowded upon her, and barred the way. First, she +thought of modesty, and propriety, and decency; and then, though she +might have overcome the whole of that squadron for Edith's sake, the +remembrance of many words that Digby had spoken, the look, the tone, +the manner, all rose again upon her memory. She felt that he was a +lover; and putting her hand to her brow, she murmured--"I cannot; no, +I cannot. Had he been only a friend, I would.--I will see him early +to-morrow. I will sit up all night, that I may not sleep, and miss the +opportunity; but I cannot go to-night;" and, returning as quietly to +her own chamber as she had come thence, she shut the door and locked +it. She had never locked it in her life before; and she knew not why +she did it. + +Then, drawing the arm-chair to the hearth, Zara Croyland trimmed the +fire, wrapped herself up as warmly as she could; and putting out one +of the candles, that she might not be left in darkness by both being +burnt out together, she took up a book, and began to read. From time +to time, during that long night, her eyes grew heavy, and she fell +asleep; but something always woke her. Either her own thoughts +troubled her in dreams, or else the book fell out of her hand, or the +wind shook the window, or the cold chill that precedes the coming +morning disturbed her; and at length she looked at her watch, and, +finding it past five o'clock, she congratulated herself at having +escaped the power of the drowsy god, and, dressing in haste, undrew +the curtains, and looked out by the light of the dawning day. When she +saw the edge of the sun coming up, she said to herself, "He is often +very early. I will go down." But, bethinking herself that no time was +to be lost, she hurried first to her maid's room, and waking her, told +her to see Sir Edward Digby's servant, as soon as he rose, and to bid +him inform his master that she wanted to speak with him in the +library. "Speak not a word of this to any one else, Eliza," she said; +and then, thinking it necessary to assign some reason for her conduct, +she added, "I am very anxious about my sister; her not coming home +yesterday alarms me, and I want to hear more." + +"Oh dear! you needn't frighten yourself, Miss Zara," replied the +maid--"I dare say there's nothing the matter." + +"But I cannot help frightening myself," replied Zara; and going down +into the library, she unclosed one of the shutters. + +The maid was very willing to gratify her young lady, for Zara was a +favourite with all; but thinking from the look of the sky, that it +would be a long time before the servant rose, and having no such +scruples as her mistress, she went quietly away to his room, and +knocked at his door, saying, "I wish you would get up, Mr. Somers--I +want to speak with you." + +Zara remained alone for twenty minutes in the library, or not much +more, and then she heard Digby's step in the passage. There was a good +deal of alarm and surprise in his look when he entered; but his fair +companion's tale was soon told; and that sufficiently explained her +sudden call for his presence. He made no comment at the moment, but +replied, "Wait for me here one instant. I will order my horse, and be +back directly." + +He was speedily by her side again; and then, taking her hand in his, +he said, "I wish I had known this, last night.--You need not have been +afraid of disturbing me, for I was up till nearly one." + +Zara smiled: "You do not know," she answered, "how near I was to your +door, with the intention of calling you." + +"And why did you not?" asked Digby, eagerly. "Nay, you must tell me, +why you should hesitate when so much was at stake." + +"I can but answer, because my heart failed me," replied Zara. "You +know women's hearts are weak foolish things." + +"Nay," said Digby, "you must explain further.--Why did your heart fail +you? Tell me, Zara. I cannot rest satisfied unless you tell me." + +"Indeed, there is no time now for explanation," she replied, feeling +that her admission had drawn her into more than she had anticipated; +"your horse will soon be here--and--and there is not a moment to +lose." + +"There is time enough for those who will," answered Digby, in a +serious tone; "you promised me that you would not hesitate, whenever +necessity required you to apply to me for counsel or aid--you have +hesitated, Zara. Could you doubt me--could you be apprehensive--could +you suppose that Edward Digby would, in word, deed, or thought, take +advantage of your generous confidence?" + +"No, no--oh, no!" answered Zara, warmly, blushing, and trembling at +the same time, "I did not--I could not, after all you have done--after +all I have seen. No, no; I thought you would think it strange--I +thought----" + +"Then you supposed I would wrong you in thought!" he replied, with +some mortification in his manner; "you do not know me yet." + +"Oh yes, indeed I do," she answered, feeling that she was getting +further and further into difficulties; and then she added, with one of +her sudden bursts of frankness, "I will tell you how it was--candidly +and truly. Just as I was at your door, and about to knock, the memory +of several things you had said--inadvertently, perhaps--crossed my +mind; and, though I felt that I could go at any hour to consult a +friend in such terrible circumstances, I could not--no, I could not do +so with a--with one--You see what harm you have done by such fine +speeches!" + +She thought, that by her last words, she had guarded herself securely +from any immediate consequences of this unreserved confession; but she +was mistaken. She merely hurried on what might yet have rested for a +day or two. + +Sir Edward Digby took her other hand also, and held it gently yet +firmly, as if he was afraid she should escape from him. "Zara," he +said, "dear Zara, I have done harm, by speaking too much, or not +enough. I must remedy it by the only means in my power.--Listen to me +for one moment, for I cannot go till all is said. You must cast off +this reserve--you must act perfectly freely with me; I seek to bind +you by no engagement--I will bear my doubt; I will not construe +anything you do, as an acceptance of my suit; but you must know--nay, +you do know, you do feel, that I am your lover. It was doubt of your +own sensations towards me, that made you hesitate--it was fear that +you should commit yourself, to that which you might, on consideration, +be indisposed to ratify.--You thought that I might plead such +confidence as a tacit promise; and that made you pause. But hear me, +as I pledge myself--upon my honour, as a gentleman--that if you act +fearlessly and freely, in the cause in which we are both engaged--if +you confide in me--trust in me, and never hesitate to put yourself, as +you may think, entirely in my power, I will never look upon anything +as plighting you to me in the slightest degree, till I hear you say +the words, 'Digby, I am yours'--if ever that happy day should come. In +the meantime, however, to set you entirely free from all apprehension +of what others may say, I hold myself bound to you by every promise +that man can make; and this very day I will ask your father's +approbation of my suit. But I am well aware, though circumstances have +shown me in a marvellous short time, that your heart and mind is equal +to your beauty, yet it is not to be expected that such a being can be +won in a few short days, and that I must wait in patience--not without +hope, indeed, but with no presumption. By your conduct, at least, I +shall know, whether I have gained your esteem.--Your love, perhaps, +may follow; and now I leave you, to serve your sister and my friend, +to the best of my power." + +Thus saying, he raised her hand to his lips, kissed it, and moved +towards the door. + +There was a sad struggle in Zara's breast; but as he was laying his +hand upon the lock to open it, she said, "Digby--Digby--Edward!" + +He instantly turned, and ran towards her; for her face had become very +pale. She gave him her hand at once, however, "Kind, generous man!" +she said, "you must not go without hearing my answer. Such a pledge +cannot be all on one part. I am yours, Digby, if you wish it; yet know +me better first before you answer--see all my faults, and all my +failings. Even this must show you how strange a being I am--how unlike +other girls--how unlike perhaps, the woman you would wish to call your +wife!----" + +"Wish it!" answered Digby, casting his arm round her, "from my +heart--from my very soul, Zara. I know enough, I have seen enough, for +I have seen you in circumstances that bring forth the bosom's inmost +feelings; and though you are unlike others--and I have watched many in +their course--that very dissimilarity is to me the surpassing charm. +They are all art, you are all nature--ay, and nature in its sweetest +and most graceful form; and I can boldly say, I never yet saw woman +whom I should desire to call my wife till I saw you. I will not wait, +dear girl; but, pledged to you as you are pledged to me, will not +press this subject further on you, till your sister's fate is sealed. +I must, indeed, speak with your father at once, that there may be no +mistake, no misapprehension; but till all this sad business is +settled, we are brother and sister, Zara; and then a dearer bond." + +"Oh, yes, yes--brother and sister!" cried Zara, clinging to him at a +name which takes fear from woman's heart, "so will we be, Edward; and +now all my doubts and hesitations will be at an end. I shall never +fear more to seek you when it is needful." + +"And my suit will be an excuse and a reason to all others, for free +interviews, and solitary rambles, and private conference, and every +dear communion," answered Digby, pleased, and yet almost amazed at the +simplicity with which she lent herself to the magic of a word, when +the heart led her. + +But Zara saw he was a little extending the brother's privilege; and +with a warm cheek but smiling lip, she answered, "There, leave me now; +I see you are learned in the art of leading on from step to step. Go +on your way, Edward; and, oh! be kind to me, and do not make me feel +this new situation too deeply at first. There, pray take away your +arm; none but a father's or a sister's has been there before; and it +makes my heart beat, as if it were wrong." + +But Digby kept it where it was for a moment or two longer, and gave a +few instants to happiness, in which she shared, though it agitated +her. "Nay, go," she said, at length, in a tone of entreaty, "and I +will lie down and rest for an hour; for I have sat up all night by the +fire, lest I should be too late.--You must go, indeed. There is your +horse upon the terrace; and we must not be selfish, but remember poor +Edith before we think of our own happiness." + +There was a sweet and frank confession in her words that pleased Digby +well; and leaving her with a heart at rest on his own account, he +mounted his horse and rode rapidly away towards the quarters of Sir +Henry Leyton. + + + + + CHAPTER VII. + + +The reader has doubtless remarked--for every reader who peruses a book +to any purpose must remark everything, inasmuch as the most important +events are so often connected with insignificant circumstances, that +the one cannot be understood without the other--the reader has +doubtless remarked, that Mr. Radford, on leaving Sir Robert Croyland, +informed his unhappy victim, that he had still a good deal of business +to do that night. Now, during the day he had--as may well be judged +from his own statement of all the preparations he had already +made--done a great deal of very important business; but the details of +his past proceedings I shall not enter into, and only beg leave to +precede him by a short time, to the scene of those farther operations +which he had laid out as the close of that evening's labours. It is to +the lone house, as it was called, near Iden Green, that I wish to +conduct my companions, and a solitary and gloomy looking spot it was, +at the time I speak of. All that part of the country is now very +thickly inhabited: the ground bears nearly as large a population as it +can support; and though there are still fields, and woods, and +occasional waste places, yet no such events could now happen as those +which occurred eighty or a hundred years ago, when one might travel +miles, in various parts of Kent, without meeting a living soul. The +pressure of a large population crushes out the bolder and more daring +sorts of crime, and leaves small cunning to effect, in secret, what +cannot be accomplished openly, under the police of innumerable eyes. + +But it was not so in those days; and the lone house near Iden Green, +whatever it was originally built for, had become the refuge and the +lurking-place of some of the most fierce and lawless men in the +country. It was a large building, with numerous rooms and passages; +and it had stables behind it, but no walled courtyard; for the close +sweeping round of the wood, a part of which still exists in great +beauty, was a convenience on which its architect seemed to have +calculated. Standing some way off the high road, and about half a mile +from Collyer Green, it was so sheltered by trees that, on whichever +side approached, nothing could be seen but the top of the roof and +part of a garret-window, till one was within a short distance of the +edifice. But that garret-window had its advantages; for it commanded a +view over a great part of the country, on three sides, and especially +gave a prospect of the roads in the neighbourhood. + +The building was not a farm-house, for it had none of the requisites; +it could not well be a public-house, though a sign swung before it; +for the lower windows were boarded up, and the owner or tenant +thereof, if any traveller whom he did not know, stopped at his +door--which was, indeed, a rare occurrence--told him that it was all a +mistake, and cursing the sign, vowed he would have it cut down. +Nevertheless, if the Ramleys, or any of their gang, or, indeed, any +members of a similar fraternity, came thither, the doors opened as if +by magic; and good accommodation for man and horse was sure to be +found within. + +It was also remarked, that many a gentleman in haste went in there, +and was never seen to issue forth again till he appeared in quite a +different part of the country; and, had the master of the house lived +two or three centuries earlier, he might on that very account have +risked the fagot, on a charge of dealing with the devil. As it was, he +was only suspected of being a coiner; but in regard to that charge, +history has left no evidence, pro or con. + +It was in this house, however, on the evening of the day subsequent to +the discomfiture of the smugglers, that six men were assembled in a +small room at the back, all of whom had, more or less, taken part in +the struggle near Woodchurch. The two younger Ramleys were there, as +well as one of the principal members of their gang, and two other men, +who had been long engaged in carrying smuggled goods from the coast, +as a regular profession; but who were, in other respects, much more +respectable persons than those by whom they were surrounded. At the +head of the table, however, was the most important personage of the +whole: no other than Richard Radford himself, who had joined his +comrades an hour or two before. The joy and excitement of his escape +from the wood, the temporary triumph which he had obtained over the +vigilance of the soldiery, and the effect produced upon a disposition +naturally bold, reckless, and daring, by the sudden change from +imminent peril to comparative security, had all raised his spirits to +an excessive pitch; and, indeed, the whole party, instead of seeming +depressed by their late disaster, appeared elevated with that wild and +lawless mirth, which owns no tie or restraint, reverences nothing +sacred or respectable. Spirits and water were circulating freely +amongst them; and they were boasting of their feats in the late +skirmish, or commenting upon its events, with many a jest and many a +falsehood. + +"The Major did very well, too," said Ned Ramley, "for he killed one of +the dragoons, and wounded another, before he went down himself, poor +devil!" + +"Here's to the Major's ghost!" cried young Radford, "and I'll try to +give it satisfaction by avenging him. We'll have vengeance upon them +yet, Ned." + +"Ay, upon all who had any concern in it," answered Jim Ramley, with a +meaning look. + +"And first upon him who betrayed us," rejoined Richard Radford; "and I +will have it, too, in a way that shall punish him more than if we +flogged him to death with horse-whips, as the Sussex men did to Chater +at the Flying Bull, near Hazlemere." + +The elder of the two Ramleys gave a look towards the men who were at +the bottom of the table; and Richard Radford, dropping his voice, +whispered something to Ned Ramley, who replied aloud, with an oath, +"I'd have taken my revenge, whatever came of it." + +"No, no," answered Radford, "the red-coats were too near. However, +all's not lost that's delayed. I wonder where that young devil, little +Starlight's gone to. I sent him three hours ago to Cranbrook with the +clothes, and told him to come back and tell me if she passed. She'll +not go now, that's certain; for she would be in the dark. Have you any +notion, Ned, how many men we could get together in case of need?" + +"Oh, fifty or sixty!" said one of the men from the bottom of the +table, who seemed inclined to have his share in the conversation, as +soon as it turned upon subjects with which he was familiar; "there are +seven or eight hid away down at Cranbrook, and nine or ten at +Tenterden, with some of the goods, too." + +"Ah, that's well!" answered young Radford; "I thought all the goods +had been taken." + +"Oh, dear no," replied Jim Ramley, "we've got a thousand pounds' worth +in this house, and I dare say double as much is scattered about in +different hides. The light things were got off; but they are the most +valuable." + +"I'll tell you what, my men," cried young Radford, "as soon as these +soldiers are gone down to the coast again, we'll all gather together, +and do some devilish high thing, just to show them that they are not +quite masters of the country yet. I've a great mind to burn their inn +at Woodchurch, just for harbouring them. If we don't make these +rascally fellows fear us, the trade will be quite put down in the +county." + +"I swear," exclaimed Ned Ramley, with a horrible blasphemy, "that if I +can catch any one who has peached, even if it be but by one word, I +will split his head like a lobster." + +"And I, too!" answered his brother; and several others joined in the +oath. + +The conversation then took another turn; and while it went on +generally around the table, young Radford spoke several times in a low +voice to the two who sat next to him, and the name of Harding was more +than once mentioned. The glass circulated very freely also; and +although none of them became absolutely intoxicated, yet all of them +were more or less affected by the spirits, when the boy, whom we have +called Little Starlight, crept quietly into the room, and approached +Mr. Radford. + +"She's not come, sir," he said; "I waited a long while, and then went +and asked the old woman of the shop, telling her that I was to be sure +and see that Kate Clare got the bundle; but she said that she +certainly wouldn't come to-night." + +"That's a good boy," said young Radford. "Go and tell the people to +bring us some candles; and then I'll give you a glass of Hollands for +your pains. It's getting infernally dark," he continued, "and as +nothing more is to be done to-day, we may as well make a night of it." + +"No, no," answered one of the men at the bottom of the table, "I've +had enough, and I shall go and turn in." + +Nobody opposed him; and he and his companion soon after left them. A +smile passed round amongst the rest as soon as the two had shut the +door. + +"Now those puny fellows are gone," said Jim Ramley, "we can say what +we like. First, let us talk about the goods, Mr. Radford, for I don't +think they are quite safe here. They had better be got up to your +father's as soon as possible, for if the house were to be searched, we +could get out into the wood, but they could not." + +"Hark!" said young Radford; "there's some one knocking hard at the +house door, I think." + +"Ay, trust all that to Obadiah," said Ned Ramley. "He wont open the +door till he sees who it is." + +The minute after, however, old Mr. Radford stood amongst them; and he +took especial care not to throw any damp upon their spirits, but +rather to encourage them, and make light of the late events. He sat +down for a few minutes by his son, took a glass of Hollands and water, +and then whispered to his hopeful heir that he wanted to speak with +him for a minute. The young man instantly rose, and led the way out +into the room opposite, which was vacant. + +"By Heaven, Dick, this is an awkward job!" said his father; "the loss +is enormous, and never to be recovered." + +"The things are not all lost," answered Richard Radford. "A great +quantity of the goods are about the country. There's a thousand +pounds' worth, they say, in this house." + +"We must have them got together as fast as possible," said Mr. +Radford, "and brought up to our place. All that is here had better be +sent up about three o'clock in the morning." + +"I'll bring them up myself," replied his son. + +"No, no, no!" said Mr. Radford; "you keep quiet where you are, till +to-morrow night." + +"Pooh, nonsense," answered the young man; "I'm not at all +afraid.--Very well--very well, they shall come up, and I'll follow +to-morrow night, if you think I can be at the Hall in safety." + +"I don't intend you to be long at the Hall," answered Mr. Radford: +"you must take a trip over the sea, my boy, till we can make sure of a +pardon for you. There! you need not look so blank. You shan't go +alone. Come up at eleven o'clock; and you will find Edith Croyland +waiting to give you her hand, the next day.--Then a post-chaise and +four, and a good tight boat on the beach, and you are landed in France +in no time. Everything is ready--everything is settled; and with her +fortune, you will have enough to live like a prince, till you can come +back here." + +All this intelligence did not seem to give Richard Radford as much +satisfaction as his father expected. "I would rather have had little +Zara, a devilish deal!" he replied. + +"Very likely," answered his father, with his countenance changing, and +his brow growing dark; "but that wont do, Dick. We have had enough +nonsense of all sorts; and it must now be brought to an end. It's not +the matter of the fortune alone; but I am determined that both you and +I shall have revenge." + +"Revenge!" said his son; "I don't see what revenge has to do with +that." + +"I'll tell you," answered old Mr. Radford, in a low tone, but bitter +in its very lowness. "The man who so cunningly surrounded you and the +rest yesterday morning, who took all my goods, and murdered many of +our friends, is that very Harry Leyton, whom you've heard talk of. He +has come down here on purpose to ruin you and me, if possible, and to +marry Edith Croyland; but he shall never have her, by----," and he +added a fearful oath which I will not repeat. + +"Ay, that alters the case," replied Richard Radford, with a demoniacal +smile; "oh, I'll marry her and make her happy, as the people say. But +I'll tell you what--I'll have my revenge, too, before I go, and upon +one who is worse than the other fellow--I mean the man who betrayed us +all." + +"Who is that?" demanded the father. + +"Harding," answered young Radford--"Harding." + +"Are you sure that it was he?" asked the old gentleman; "I have +suspected him myself, but I have no proof." + +"But I have," replied his son: "he was seen several nights before, by +little Starlight, talking for a long while with this very Colonel of +Dragoons, upon the cliff. Another man was with him, too--most likely +Mowle; and then, again, yesterday evening, some of these good fellows +who were on the look-out to help me, saw him speaking to a dragoon +officer at Widow Clare's door; so he must be a traitor, or they would +have taken him." + +"Then he deserves to be shot," said old Radford, fiercely; "but take +care, Dick: you had better not do it yourself. You'll find him +difficult to get at, and may be caught." + +"Leave him to me--leave him to me," answered his hopeful son; "I've a +plan in my head that will punish him better than a bullet. But the +bullet he shall have, too; for all the men have sworn that they will +take his blood; but that can be done after I'm gone." + +"But what's your plan, my boy?" asked old Mr. Radford. + +"Never mind, never mind!" answered Richard, "I'll find means to +execute it.--I only wish those dragoons were away from Harbourne +Wood." + +"Why, they are," exclaimed his father, laughing. "They were withdrawn +this afternoon, and a party of them, too, marched out of Woodchurch, +as if they were going to Ashford. I dare say, by this time to-morrow +night, they will be all gone to their quarters again." + +"Then it's all safe!" said his son; and after some more conversation +between the two--and various injunctions upon the part of the old man, +as to caution and prudence, upon the part of the young one, they +parted for the time. Young Radford then rejoined his companions, and +remained with them till about one o'clock in the morning, when the +small portion of smuggled goods which had been saved, was sent off, +escorted by two men, towards Radford Hall, where they arrived safely, +and were received by servants well accustomed to such practices. They +consisted of only one horse-load, indeed, so that the journey was +quickly performed; and the two men returned before five. Although +Richard Radford had given his father every assurance that he would +remain quiet, and take every prudent step for his own concealment, his +very first acts showed no disposition to keep his word. Before eight +o'clock in the morning, he, the two Ramleys, and one or two other men, +who had come in during the night, were out amongst the fields and +woods, "reconnoitring," as they called it; but, with a spirit in their +breasts, which rendered them ready for any rash and criminal act that +might suggest itself. Thus occupied, I shall for the present leave +them, and show more of their proceedings at a future period. + + + + + CHAPTER VIII. + + +Having now led the history of a great part of the personages in our +drama up to the same point of time, namely, the third morning after +the defeat of the smugglers, we may as well turn to follow out the +course of Sir Edward Digby, on a day that was destined to be eventful +to all the parties concerned. On arriving at Woodchurch, he found a +small body of dragoons, ready mounted, at the door of the little inn, +and two saddled horses, held waiting for their riders. Without +ceremony, he entered, and went up at once to Leyton's room, where he +found him, booted and spurred to set out, with Mowle the officer +standing by him, looking on, while Sir Henry placed some papers in a +writing-desk, and locked them up. + +The young commander greeted his friend warmly; and then, turning to +the officer of Customs, said, "If you will mount, Mr. Mowle, I will be +down with you directly;" and as soon as Mowle, taking the hint, +departed, he continued, in a quick tone, but with a faint smile upon +his countenance, "I know your errand, Digby, before you tell it. Edith +has been transferred to the good charge and guidance of Mr. Radford; +but that has only prepared me to act more vigorously than ever. My +scruples on Sir Robert Croyland's account are at an end.--Heaven and +earth! Is it possible that a man can be so criminally weak, as to give +his child up--a sweet, gentle girl like that--to the charge of such a +base unprincipled scoundrel!" + +"Nay, nay, we must do Sir Robert justice," answered Digby. "It was +done without his consent--indeed, against his will; and, a more +impudent and shameless piece of trickery was never practised. You must +listen for one moment, Leyton, though you seem in haste;" and he +proceeded to detail to him, as succinctly as possible, all that had +occurred between Mr. Radford and Edith's father on the preceding +evening, stating his authority, and whence Zara had received her +information. + +"That somewhat alters the case, indeed;" answered Leyton; "but it must +not alter my conduct. I am, indeed, in haste, Digby, for I hope, ere +two or three hours are over, to send the young scoundrel, for whose +sake all this is done, a prisoner to the gaol. Mowle has somehow got +information of where he is--from undoubted authority, he says; and we +are away to Iden Green, in consequence. We shall get more information +by the way; and I go with the party for a certain distance, in order +to be at hand, in case of need; but, as it does not do for me, in my +position, to take upon me the capture of half-a-dozen smugglers, the +command of the party will rest with Cornet Joyce. We will deal with +Mr. Radford, the father, afterwards. But, in the meantime, Digby, as +your information certainly gives a different view of the case, from +that which I had before taken, you will greatly oblige me if you can +contrive to ride over to Mr. Croyland's, and see if you can find Mr. +Warde there. Beg him to let me have the directions he promised, by +four o'clock to-day; and if you do not find him, leave word to that +effect, with Mr. Croyland himself." + +"You seem to place great faith in Warde," said Sir Edward Digby, +shaking his head. + +"I have cause--I have cause, Digby," answered his friend. "But I must +go, lest this youth escape me again." + +"Well, God speed you, then," replied Digby. "I will go to Mr. Croyland +at once, and can contrive, I dare say, to get back to Harbourne by +breakfast time. It is not above two or three miles round, and I will +go twenty, at any time, to serve you, Leyton." + +Sir Edward Digby found good Mr. Zachary Croyland walking about in his +garden, in a state of irritation indescribable. He, also, was aware, +by this time, of what had befallen his niece; and such was his +indignation, that he could scarcely find it in his heart to be even +commonly civil to any one. On Sir Edward Digby delivering his message, +as he found that Mr. Warde was not there, the old gentleman burst +forth, exclaiming, "What have I to do with Warde, sir, or your friend +either, sir?--Your friend's a fool! He might have walked out of that +door with Edith Croyland in his hand; and that's no light prize, let +me tell you; but he chose to be delicate, and gentlemanly, and all +that sort of stupidity, and you see what has come of it. And now, +forsooth, he sends over to ask advice and directions from Warde. Well, +I will tell the man, if I see him--though Heaven only knows whether +that will be the case or not." + +"Sir Henry Leyton seems to place great confidence in Mr. Warde," +replied Digby, "which I trust may be justified." + +Mr. Croyland looked at him sharply, for a moment, from under his +cocked hat, and then exclaimed, "Pish! you are a fool, young +man.--There, don't look so fierce. I've given over fighting for these +twenty years; and, besides--you wouldn't come to the duello with +little Zara's uncle, would you? Ha, ha, ha!--Ha, ha, ha!--Ha, ha, ha!" +and he laughed immoderately, but splenetically enough at the same +time. "But I ought to have put my meaning as a question, not as a +proposition," he continued. "Are you such a fool as not to know the +difference between an odd man and a madman, an eccentric man and a +lunatic? If so, you had better get away as fast as possible; for you +and I are likely soon to fall out. I understand what you mean about +Warde, quite well; but I can tell you, that if you think Warde mad, +I'm quite as mad as he is, only that his oddities lie all on the side +of goodness and philanthropy, and mine now and then take a different +course. But get you gone--get you gone; you are better than the rest +of them, I believe. I do hope and trust you'll marry Zara; and then +you'll plague each other's souls, to my heart's content." + +He held his hand out as he spoke; and Digby shook it, laughing +good-humouredly; but, ere he had taken ten steps towards the +door of the house, through which he had to pass before he could +mount his horse, Mr. Croyland called after him, "Digby, Digby!--Sir +Eddard!--Eldest son! I say,--how could you be such a fool as not to +run that fellow through the stomach when you had him at your feet? You +see what a quantity of mischief has come of it. You are all fools +together, you soldiers, I think;--but it's true, a fool does as well +as anything else to be shot at.--How's your shoulder? Better, I +suppose." + +"I have not thought of it for the last two days," replied Digby. + +"Well, that will do," said Mr. Croyland. "Cured by the first +intention. There, you may go: I don't want you. Only, pray tell my +brother, that I think him as great a rascal as old Radford.--He'll +know how much that means.--One's a weak rascal, and the other's a +strong one; that's the only difference between them; and Robert may +fit on which cap he likes best." + +Digby did not think it necessary to stop to justify Sir Robert +Croyland in his brother's opinion; but, mounting his horse, he rode +back across the country towards Harbourne as fast as he could go. He +reached the house before the usual breakfast hour; but he found that +everybody there had been an early riser as well as himself; the table +was laid ready for breakfast; and Sir Robert Croyland was waiting in +the drawing-room with some impatience in his looks. + +"I think I am not too late, Sir Robert," said Digby, taking out his +watch, and bowing with a smile to Zara and Mrs. Barbara. + +"No, oh dear, no, my young friend," replied the baronet; "only in such +a house as this, breakfast is going on all the morning long; and I +thought you would excuse me, if I took mine a little earlier than +usual, as I have got some way to go this morning." + +This was said as they were entering the breakfast-room; but Sir Edward +Digby replied, promptly, "I must ask you to spare me five minutes +before you go, Sir Robert, as I wish to speak with you for a short +time." + +His host looked uneasy; for he was in that nervous and agitated state +of mind, in which anything that is not clear and distinct seems +terrible to the imagination, from the consciousness that many +ill-defined calamities are hanging over us. He said, "Certainly, +certainly!" however, in a polite tone; but he swallowed his breakfast +in haste; and the young officer perceived that his host looked at +every mouthful he took, as if likely to procrastinate the meal. Zara's +face, too, was anxious and thoughtful; and consequently he hurried his +own breakfast as fast as possible, knowing that the signal to rise +would be a relief to all parties. + +"If you will come into my little room, Sir Edward," said the master of +the house, as soon as he saw that his guest was ready, "I shall be +very happy to hear what you have to say." + +Sir Edward Digby followed in silence; and, to tell the truth, his +heart beat a good deal, though it was not one to yield upon slight +occasions. + +"I will not detain you a moment, Sir Robert," he said, when they had +entered, and the door was shut, "for what I have to say will be easily +answered. I am sensible, that yesterday my attention to your youngest +daughter must have been remarked by you, and, indeed, my manner +altogether must have shown you, and herself also, that I feel +differently towards her and other women. I do not think it would be +right to continue such conduct for one moment longer, without your +approbation of my suit; and I can only further say, that if you grant +me your sanction, I feel that I can love her deeply and well, that I +will try to make her happy to the best of my power, and that my +fortune is amply sufficient to maintain her in the station of life in +which she has always moved, and to make such a settlement upon her as +I trust will be satisfactory to you. I will not detain you to +expatiate upon my feelings; but such is a soldier's straightforward +declaration, and I trust you will countenance and approve of my +addressing her." + +Sir Robert Croyland shook him warmly by the hand. "'My dear Sir +Edward," he said, "you are your father's own son--frank, candid, and +honourable. He was one of the most gentlemanly and amiable men I ever +knew; and it will give me heartfelt pleasure to see my dear child +united to his son. But--indeed, I must deal with you as candidly----" +He hesitated for a moment or two, and then went on--"Perhaps you think +that circumstances here are more favourable than they really are. +Things may come to your knowledge--things may have to be +related--Zara's fortune will be----" + +Sir Edward Digby saw that Sir Robert Croyland was greatly embarrassed; +and for an instant--for love is a very irritable sort of state, at +least for the imagination, and he was getting over head and ears in +love, notwithstanding all his good resolutions--for an instant, I say, +he might think that Zara had been engaged before, and that Sir Robert +was about to tell him, that it was not the ever-coveted, first +freshness of the heart he was to possess in her love, even if it were +gained entirely. But a moment's thought, in regard to her father's +situation, together with the baronet's last words, dispelled that +unpleasant vision, and he replied, eagerly, "Oh, my dear sir, that can +make no difference in my estimation. If I can obtain her full and +entire love, no external circumstance whatsoever can at all affect my +views.--I only desire her hand." + +"No external circumstances whatsoever!" said Sir Robert Croyland, +pausing on the words. "Are you sure of your own firmness, Sir Edward +Digby? If her father were to tell you he is a ruined man--if he had +many circumstances to relate which might make it painful to you to +connect yourself with him--I do not say that it is so; but if it +were?" + +"Rather an awkward position!" thought Sir Edward Digby; but his mind +was fully made up; and he replied, without hesitation, "It would still +make no difference in my eyes, Sir Robert. I trust that none of these +terrible things are the case, for your sake; but I should despise +myself, if, with enough of my own, I made fortune any ingredient in my +considerations, or if I could suffer my love for a being perfectly +amiable in herself, to be affected by the circumstances of her +family." + +Sir Robert Croyland wrung his hand hard; and Digby felt that it was a +sort of compact between them. "I fear I must go," said Zara's father, +"and therefore I cannot explain more; but it is absolutely necessary +to tell you that all my unmortgaged property is entailed, and will go +to my brother, that Edith's fortune is totally independent, and that +Zara has but a tithe of what her sister has." + +"Still I say, as I said before," replied Digby, "that nothing of that +kind can make any difference to me; nor will I ever suffer any +consideration, not affecting your daughter personally--and I beg this +may be clearly understood--to make any change in my views. If I can +win her love--her entire, full, hearty love--with your sanction, she +is mine. Have I that sanction. Sir Robert?" + +"Fully, and from my heart," replied Sir Robert Croyland, with the +unwonted tears coursing over his cheeks. "Go to her, my dear +friend--go to her, and make what progress you may, with my best +wishes. This is indeed a great happiness--a great relief!" + +Thus saying, he followed Sir Edward Digby out of the room; and, +mounting a new horse which had been brought up from his bailiff's, he +rode slowly and thoughtfully away. As he went, a faint hope--nay, it +could hardly be called a hope--a vague, wild fancy of explaining his +whole situation to Sir Edward Digby, and gaining the blessed relief of +confidence and counsel, arose in Sir Robert Croyland's breast. + +Alas! what an unhappy state has been brought about by the long +accumulation of sin and deceit which has gathered over human society! +that no man can trust another fully! that we dare not confide our +inmost thoughts to any! that there should be a fear--the necessity for +a fear--of showing the unguarded heart to the near and dear! that +every man should--according to the most accursed axiom of a corrupt +world--live with his friend as if he were one day to be his enemy. Oh, +truths and honour, and sincerity! oh, true Christianity! whither are +ye gone? Timidity soon banished such thoughts from the breast of Sir +Robert Croyland, though there was something in the whole demeanour of +his daughter's lover which showed him that, if ever man was to be +trusted, he might trust there; and had he known how deeply Digby was +already acquainted with much that concerned him, he might perhaps have +gone one step farther, and told him all. As it was, he rode on, and +soon gave himself up to bitter thoughts again. + +In the meantime. Sir Edward Digby returned to Zara and Mrs. Barbara in +the drawing-room, with so well satisfied a look, that it was evident +to both, his conversation with Sir Robert had not referred to any +unpleasant subject, and had not had any unpleasant result. He excited +the elder lady's surprise, however, and produced some slight agitation +in the younger, by taking Zara by the hand, and in good set terms of +almost formal courtesy, requesting a few minutes' private audience. +Her varying colour, and her hesitating look, showed her lover that she +apprehended something more unpleasant than he had to say; and he +whispered, as they went along towards the library, "It is nothing--it +is nothing but to tell you what I have done, and to arrange our plan +of campaign." + +Zara looked up in his face with a glad smile, as if his words took +some terror from her heart; and as soon as he was in the room, he let +go her hand, and turned the key in such a manner in the door, that the +key-hole could not serve the purpose of a perspective glass, even if +it might that of an ear-trumpet. + +"Forgive me, dear Zara," he said, "if I take care to secure our +defences; otherwise, as your good aunt is perfectly certain that I am +about to fall on my knees, and make my declaration, she might be +seized with a desire to witness the scene, not at all aware that it +has been performed already. But not to say 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 entered into any of +my aunt's castles in the air, or that he devised 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 displayed fully all the inmost thoughts which years of +ordinary intercourse might not develop. 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 keeping 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 all were indifferent to me. It +might be natural to me, then; but I do not think I could play the +coquette with the man I loved. At all events, I should act the part +but badly, and should fancy he was always laughing at me in his heart, +and triumphing over poor Zara Croyland, when he knew right well that +he had the strings of the puppet in his hand. However, I will do my +best, if you wish it; and I do believe, from knowing more of this +house than you do, that your plan is a good one. The airs I have given +myself, and the freedom I have taken, have been of service both to +myself and Edith--to her in many ways, and to myself in keeping from +me all serious addresses from men I could not love.--Yours is the +first proposal I have ever had, Digby; so do not let what my uncle has +said, make you believe that you have conquered a queen of hearts, who +has set all others at defiance." + +"No _gentleman_ was ever refused by a _lady_," answered Digby, laying +a strong emphasis on each noun-substantive. + +"So, then, you were quite sure, before you said a word!" cried Zara, +laughing. "Well, that is as frank a confession as any of my own! And +yet you might have been mistaken; for esteeming you as I did, and +circumstanced as I was, I would have trusted you as much, Digby, if +you had been merely a friend." + +"But you would not have shown me the deeper feelings of your heart +upon other indifferent subjects," replied her lover. + +Zara blushed, and looked down; then suddenly changed the course of +conversation, saying, "But you have not told me what Leyton thought of +all this, and what plans you have formed. What is to be done? Was he +not deeply grieved and shocked?" + +Sir Edward Digby told her all that had passed, and then added, "I +intend now to send out my servant, Somers, to reconnoitre. He shall +waylay Leyton on his return, and bring me news of his success. If this +youth be safely lodged in gaol, his pretensions are at an end, at +least for the present; but if he again escape, I think, ere noon +to-morrow, I must interfere myself. I have now a better right to do so +than I have hitherto had; and what I have heard from other quarters +will enable me to speak boldly--even to your father, dear one--without +committing either you or Edith." + +Zara paused and thought; but all was still dark on every side, and she +could extract no ray of light from the gloom. Digby did not fail (as, +how could a lover neglect?) to try to lead her mind to pleasanter +themes; and he did so in some degree. But we have been too long +eaves-dropping upon private intercourse, and we will do so no more. +The rest of the day passed in that mingled light and shade, which has +a finer interest than the mere broad sunshine, till the return of Sir +Robert Croyland, when the deep sadness that overspread his countenance +clouded the happiness of all the rest. + +Shortly after, Zara saw her lover's servant ride up the road, at +considerable speed; and as it wanted but half-an-hour to dinner-time, +Digby, who marked his coming also, retired to dress. When he returned +to the drawing-room, there was a deeper and a sterner gloom upon his +brow than the fair girl had ever seen; but her father and aunt were +both present, and no explanation could take place. After dinner, too, +Sir Robert Croyland and his guest returned to the drawing-room +together; and though the cloud was still upon Digby's countenance, and +he was graver than he had ever before appeared, yet she whom he loved +could gain no tidings. To her he was still all tenderness and +attention; but Zara could not play the part she had undertaken; and +often her eyes rested on his face, with a mute, sad questioning, which +made her aunt say to herself, "Well, Zara is in love at last!" + +Thus passed a couple of hours, during which not above ten words were +uttered by Sir Robert Croyland. At length, lights were brought in, +after they had been for some time necessary; and at the end of about +ten minutes more, the sound of several horses coming at a quick pace +was heard. The feet stopped at the great door, the bell rang, and +voices sounded in the hall. The tones of one, deep, clear, and mellow, +made both Zara and her father start; and in a minute after, the butler +entered--he was an old servant--saying, in a somewhat embarrassed +manner, "Colonel Sir Henry Leyton, sir, wishes to speak with you +immediately on business of importance." + +"Who--who?" demanded Sir Robert, "Sir Henry Leyton!--Well, well, take +him in somewhere!" + +He rose from his chair, but staggered perceptibly for a moment; then, +overcoming the emotion that he could not but feel, he steadied himself +by the arm of his chair, and left the room. Zara gazed at Digby, and +he at her he loved; but this night Mrs. Barbara thought fit to sit +where she was; and Digby, approaching Zara's seat, bent over her, +whispering, "Leyton has a terrible tale to tell; but not affecting +Edith. She is safe.--What more he seeks, I do not know." + + + + + CHAPTER IX. + + +After parting with Sir Edward Digby at Woodchurch, Henry Leyton had +ridden on at a quick pace to Park-gate, and thence along the high +road, to Cranbrook. He himself was habited in the undress of his +regiment, though with pistols at his saddle, and a heavy sword by his +side. One of his servants followed him similarly accoutred, and an +orderly accompanied the servant, while by the young officer's side +appeared our good friend Mr. Mowle, heavily armed, with the somewhat +anomalous equipments of a riding officer of Customs in those days. At +a little distance behind this first group, came Cornet Joyce, and his +party of dragoons; and in this order they all passed through +Cranbrook, about nine o'clock; but a quarter of a mile beyond the +little town they halted, and Mowle rode on for a short way alone, to +the edge of Hangley Wood, which was now close before them. There he +dismounted, and went in amongst the trees; but he was not long absent, +for in less than five minutes he was by the colonel's side again. +"All's right, sir," he said, "the boy assures me that they were all +there still, at six this morning, and that their captain, Radford, +does not move till after dark, to-night. So now we shall have the +worst fellows amongst them--the two Ramleys and all." + +"Well, then," answered Leyton, "you had better go on at once with the +party, keeping through the wood. I will remain behind, coming on +slowly; and if wanted, you will find me somewhere in the Hanger. +Cornet Joyce has his orders in regard to surrounding the house; but of +course he must act according to circumstances." + +No more words were needed: the party of dragoons moved on rapidly, +with Mowle at their head; and Leyton, after pausing for a few minutes +on the road, dismounted, and giving his rein to the servant, walked +slowly on into the wood, telling the two men who accompanied him, to +follow. There was, at that time, as there is now, I believe, a broad +road through Hangley Wood, leading into the cross-road from Biddenden +to Goudhurst; but at that period, instead of being tolerably straight +and good, it was very tortuous, rough, and uneven. Along this forest +path, for so it might be called, the dragoons had taken their way, at +a quick trot; and by it their young colonel followed, with his arms +crossed upon his chest, and his head bent down, in deep and anxious +meditation. The distance across the wood at that part is nearly a +mile; and when he had reached the other side, Leyton turned upon his +steps again, passed his servant and the orderly, and walked slowly on +the road back to Cranbrook. The two men went to the extreme verge of +the wood, and looked out towards Iden Green for a minute or two before +they followed their officer, so that in the turnings of the road, they +were out of sight by the time he had gone a quarter of a mile. + +Leyton's thoughts were busy, as may be well supposed; but at length +they were suddenly interrupted by loud, repeated, and piercing +shrieks, apparently proceeding from a spot at some distance before +him. Darting on, with a single glance behind, and a loud shout to call +the men up, he rushed forward along the road, and the next instant +beheld a sight which made his blood boil with indignation. At first, +he merely perceived a girl, struggling in the hands of some five or +six ruffians, who were maltreating her in the most brutal manner; but +in another instant, as, drawing his sword, he rushed forward, he +recognised--for it can scarcely be said, he saw--poor Kate Clare. With +another loud shout to his men to come up, he darted on without pause +or hesitation; but his approach was observed--the ruffians withdrew +from around their victim; and one of them exclaimed, "Run, run! the +dragoons are coming!" + +"D--me! give her a shot before you go," cried another, "or she'll +peach." + +"Let her," cried young Radford--"but here goes;" and, turning as he +hurried away, he deliberately fired a pistol at the unhappy girl, who +was starting up wildly from the ground. She instantly reeled and fell, +some seconds before Leyton could reach her; for he was still at the +distance of a hundred yards. + +All this had taken place in an inconceivably short space of time; but +the next minute, the panic with which the villains had been seized +subsided a little. One turned to look back--another turned--they +beheld but one man on the road; and all the party were pausing, when +Leyton reached poor Kate Clare, and raised her in his arms. It might +have fared ill with him had he been alone; but just at that moment the +orderly appeared at the turn, coming up at the gallop, with the young +officer's servant behind him; and not doubting that a large party was +following, Radford and his companions fled as fast as they could. + +"On after them, like lightning!" cried Leyton, as the men came up. +"Leave the horse, leave the horse, and away! Watch them wherever they +go, especially the man in the green coat! Take him if you can--shoot +him dead if he resist. Ah, my poor girl!" he cried, with the tears +rising in his eyes, "this is sad, indeed!--Where has he wounded you?" + +"There," said Kate, faintly, taking away her hand, which was pressed +upon her right side; "but that was his kindest act.--Thank God, I am +dying!" + +"Nay, nay," answered Leyton, "I trust not!" But the blood poured +rapidly out, staining all her dress, which was torn and in wild +disorder, and so rapidly did it flow, that Leyton clearly saw her +words would probably prove too true. "Who was that villain?" he cried; +"I will punish him if there be justice on earth!" + +"Don't you know him?" said Kate, her voice growing more and more low. +"I thought you were seeking him--Richard Radford." + +"The atrocious scoundrel!" said Leyton; and drawing his handkerchief +from his breast, he tied it tightly over her side, trying, though he +saw it was nearly in vain, to stanch the blood, while at the same time +he supported her against his knee with one arm thrown round her waist. +Poor Kate closed her eyes with a faint shudder; and for a moment +Leyton thought she was dead. She appeared to be reviving again, +however, when a loud voice, not far distant, exclaimed, "Ha,--halloo! +What the devil is this?" + +Leyton looked suddenly up--for his eyes had been bent upon the poor +girl's face for several minutes--and then beheld, hurrying up the road +with a look of fury in his countenance, Kate's promised husband, +Harding. With a violent oath the man rushed on, exclaiming, "Kate, +what is all this?--Villain, have you misused the girl?" + +"Hush, hush!" cried Leyton, with a stern gesture of his hand; "she is +dying!--I would have saved her if I could; but alas, I came too late!" + +The whole expression of Harding's countenance changed in an instant. +Grief and terror succeeded to rage; and, catching her franticly in his +arms, he exclaimed--"Kate, Kate, speak to me!--Tell me, who has done +this?" + +"I can tell you," answered Leyton--"Richard Radford." + +While he was speaking, Kate Clare opened her eyes again, and gazed on +Harding's face, moving her right hand faintly round and placing it +upon his. + +"Give me that handkerchief from your neck," said Leyton; "if we can +stop the blood, we may save her, yet. I have seen very bad wounds +recovered from----" + +"No, no!" said Kate Clare; "thank God, I am dying--I would rather +die!--Harding, I am not in fault--they caught me in the wood--oh, they +treated me horribly. Mr. Radford said it was revenge--God forgive him, +God forgive him! But I would rather die thus in your arms--do not try +to stop it--it is all in vain." + +Leyton and Harding still persisted, however, and bound another +handkerchief tight over the wound, in some degree diminishing the +stream of blood, but yet, not stopping it entirely. + +"Let us carry her to some house," cried Leyton, "and then send for +assistance. See! her lips are not so pale." + +"I will carry her," cried Harding, raising her in his powerful arms. + +"To my aunt's, then--to my aunt's, Harding," murmured Kate; "I would +sooner die there than in any other place." And on Harding sped, +without reply, while Leyton, sheathing his sword, which he had cast +down, followed him, inquiring, "Is it far?" + +"But a step, sir," answered the smuggler. "Pray, come with us.--This +must be avenged." + +"It shall," replied Leyton, sternly; "but I must stay here for a +minute or two, till you can send somebody to me, to take my place, and +let my men know where I am when they return." + +Harding nodded his head, and then turned his eyes upon the face of the +poor girl whom he bore in his arms, hurrying on without a moment's +pause, till he was lost to the young officer's sight. + +It is needless to describe the feelings of a high-minded and noble man +like Leyton, when left alone to meditate over the horrible outrage +which had been committed under his very eyes. He gave way to no burst +of indignation, indeed, but with a frowning brow walked back upon the +road, caught his horse without difficulty, and mounting, remained +fixed near the spot where poor Kate had received her death-wound, like +a soldier upon guard. In less than ten minutes, a lad ran up, saying, +"Mr. Harding sent me, sir." + +"Well, then, walk up and down here, my good boy," replied Leyton, +"till some one comes to inquire for me. If it should be a servant, or +a single soldier, send him down to the place which you came from, and +wait where you are till a larger party of dragoons come up, when you +must tell them the same--to go down to me there. If the party come +first, wait for the servant and the soldier." + +Having given these directions, he was turning away, but paused again +to inquire his way to the place where Harding was; and then pointing +to a bundle that lay upon the road, he said--"You had better bring +that with you." + +Following the boy's direction, as soon as he issued out of the wood, +Sir Henry Leyton turned through a little field to the left; and seeing +a small farm-house at some distance before him, he leaped his horse +over two fences to abridge the way. Then riding into the farm-yard, he +sprang to the ground, looking round for some one to take his charger. +Several men of different ages were running about with eagerness and +haste in their faces. Horses were being led forth from the stable; +guns were in the hands of several; and one of them--a fine, tall, +powerful young fellow--exclaimed, as soon as he saw Leyton--"We will +catch them, sir--we will catch them! and by----they shall be hanged as +high as Haman for hurting the poor dear girl. Here, take his honour's +horse, Bill." + +"Is she still living?" asked Leyton. + +"Oh dear, yes, sir!" cried the young man; "she seemed somewhat better +for what mother gave her." + +"Well, then," rejoined the young officer, "if you are going to search +for these scoundrels, gallop up to the wood as fast as you can; you +will find my servant and a trooper watching. They will give you +information of which way the villains are gone. I will join you in a +minute or two with a stronger force." + +"Oh, sir, we shall do--we shall do," cried William Harris; "we will +raise the whole county as we go, and will hunt them down like foxes. +Do they think that our sisters and our wives are to be ill-used and +murdered by such scum as they are?" and at the same time he sprang +upon his horse's back. Leyton turned towards the house, but met the +old farmer himself coming out with a great cavalry sword in his hand, +and the butt end of a pistol sticking out of each pocket. "Quick, +quick! to your horses!" he cried, "they shall rue the day--they shall +rue the day!--Ah, sir, go in," he continued, seeing Leyton; "she is +telling my wife and Harding all about it; but I can't stop to hear.--I +will have that young Radford's blood, if I have a soul to be saved!" + +"Better take him alive, and hand him over to justice," said Leyton, +going into the house. + +"D----n him, I'll kill him like a dog!" cried the farmer; and mounting +somewhat less nimbly than his son, he put himself at the head of the +whole party assembled, and rode fast away towards Hangley Wood. + +In the meantime, Leyton entered the kitchen of the farm; but it was +quite vacant. Voices, however, were heard speaking above, and he +ventured to go up and enter the room. Three or four women were +assembled there round good Mrs. Harris's own bed, on which poor Kate +Clare was stretched, with Harding on his knees beside her, and her +hand in his, the hot tears of man's bitterest agony, coursing each +other down his bronzed and weather-beaten cheek. + +"There, there!" said Mrs. Harris; "don't take on so, Harding--you only +keep down her spirits. She might do very well, if she would but take +heart. You see she is better for the cordial stuff I gave her." + +Harding made no reply; but Kate Clare faintly shook her head; and +Leyton, after having gazed on the sad scene for a moment, with bitter +grief and indignation in his heart, drew back, thinking that his +presence would only be a restraint to Kate's family and friends. He +made a sign, however, to one of the women before he went, who followed +him out of the room. + +"I merely wish to tell you," he said, in a low voice, when the woman +joined him at the top of the stairs, "that I am going back to the +wood, to aid in the pursuit of these villains; for I can be of no use +here, and may be there. If any of my people come, tell them where to +find me; bid them follow me instantly, and stop every man on foot they +see quitting the wood, till he gives an account of himself.--But had +you not better send for a surgeon?" + +"One is sent for, sir," replied the woman; "but I think she is not so +bad as she was.--I'll take care and tell your people. I do hope they +will catch them, for this is _too_ bad." + +Without more words Leyton went down, remounted his horse, and galloped +back towards the edge of the wood. The news of what had happened, +however, seemed to have spread over the country with the speed of +lightning; for he saw four or five of the peasantry on horseback, +already riding in the same direction across the fields. Two stout +farmers joined him as he went, and both were already full of the story +of poor Kate Clare. Rage and indignation were universal amongst the +people; but as usual on such occasions, one proposed one plan, and +another the other, so that by want of combination in their operations, +all their resolution and eagerness were likely to be fruitlessly +employed. + +Leyton knew that it was of little use to argue on such points with +undisciplined men; and his only trust was in the speedy arrival of the +soldiers from Iden Green. When he reached the edge of the wood, +however, with his two companions, they came upon farmer Harris's +party, now swelled to twelve or thirteen men; and at the same moment +his own servant rode round, exclaiming, as soon as he saw his master, +"They are still in the wood, sir, if they have not come out this way. +They dispersed so that we could not follow them on horseback, and we +galloped out by different ways to watch." + +"They haven't come here," cried Farmer Harris, "or we should have seen +them. So now we have them safe enough." + +"Ride off towards Iden Green," said Leyton to the servant, "and direct +Cornet Joyce to bring down his men at the gallop to the edge of the +copse. Let him dismount twelve on the north side of the wood, and, +with all the farm-servants and country people he can collect, sweep +it down, while the rest of the mounted men advance, on a line, on +either side.--Stay, I will write;" and tearing a leaf out of his +pocket-book, he put down his orders in pencil. + +The man had just galloped away, when the young farmer, William Harris, +shouted, "There they go--there they go! After them!--after them! Tally +ho!" and instantly set spurs to his horse. All the rest but Leyton +followed at full speed; but he paused, and, directing his eyes along +the edge of the wood, clearly saw, at the distance of somewhat more +than half a mile, three men, who seemed to have issued forth from +amongst the trees, running across the fields as fast as they could go. +It would seem that they had not been aware of the numbers collected to +intercept them, till they had advanced too far to retreat; but +they had got a good start; the country was difficult for any but +well-trained horses; and darting on, they took their way towards +Goudhurst, passing within a hundred yards of the spot where the victim +of their horrid barbarity lay upon the bed of death. + +Taking the narrow paths, leaping the stiles and gates, they at first +seemed to gain upon the mass of peasantry who followed them, though +their pursuers were on horseback and they on foot. But, well knowing +the country, the farmers spread out along the small bridle-roads; and, +while the better mounted horsemen followed direct across the fields, +the others prepared to cut off the ruffians on the right and left. +Gradually a semi-circle, enclosing them within its horns, was thus +formed; and all chance of escape by flight was thus cut off. + +In this dilemma, the three miscreants made straight towards a +farm-house at which they occasionally received hospitality in their +lawless expeditions, and which bears the name of "Smuggler Farm" to +this day; but they knew not that all hearts had been raised against +them by their late atrocities, and that the very tenant of the farm +himself was now one of the foremost in pursuit. Rushing in, then, with +no farther ceremony than casting the door open, they locked and barred +it, just as some of the peasantry were closing in upon them; and then, +hurrying to the kitchen, where the farmer's wife, his sister, and a +servant was collected, Ned Ramley, who was the first, exclaimed, "Have +you no hide, good dame?" + +"Hide!" replied the stout farmer's wife, eyeing him askance--"not for +such villains as you! Give me the spit, Madge; I've a great mind to +run him through." Ned Ramley drew a pistol from his pocket; but at +that moment the window was thrown up, the back door of the house was +cast open, and half-a-dozen of the stout yeomanry rushed in. The +smugglers saw that resistance would be vain; but still they resisted; +and though, in the agitation of the moment, Ned Ramley's pistol was +discharged innocuously, he did not fail to aim it at the head of young +William Harris, who was springing towards him. The stout farmer, +however, instantly levelled him with the ground by a thundering blow +upon the head; and the other two men, after a desperate struggle, were +likewise taken and tied. + +"Lucky for you it was me, and not my father, Master Ramley," said +William Harris. "He'd have blown your brains out; but you're only +saved to be hanged, anyhow.--Ay, here he comes!--Stop, stop, old +gentleman! he's a prisoner; don't you touch him.--Let the law have the +job, as the gentleman said." + +"Oh, you accursed villain--oh, you hellish scoundrel," cried old +Harris, kept back with difficulty by his son and the rest. "You were +one of the foremost of them. But where is the greatest villain of them +all?--where's that limb of the devil, young Radford?--I will have him! +Let me go, Will--I will have him, I say!" + +Ned Ramley laughed aloud: "You wont, though," he answered, bitterly; +"he's been gone this half hour, and will be at the sea, and over the +sea, before you can catch him.--You may do with me what you like, but +he's safe enough." + +"Some one ride off and tell the officer what he says!" cried the +farmer. But when the intelligence was conveyed to Sir Henry Leyton, he +was already aware that some of the men must have made their escape +unobserved; for his servant had met Cornet Joyce and the party of +dragoons by the way, and with the aid of a number of farm servants +from Iden Green and its neighbourhood, the wood had been searched with +such strictness, that the pheasants, which were at that time numerous +there, had flown out in clouds, as if a battue had been going on. He +mistrusted Ned Ramley's information, however; knowing that the +hardened villain would find a sort of pride in misleading the pursuers +of young Radford, even though taken himself. Riding quickly across to +the farm, then, together with Mowle and the Cornet, he interrogated +the men separately, but found they were all in the same story, from +which they varied not in the least--that Richard Radford had crept out +by the hedges near the wood, and had gone first to a place where a +horse was in waiting for him, and thence would make straight to the +sea-side, where a boat was already prepared. Instant measures to +prevent him from executing this plan now became necessary; and Leyton +directed the Cornet to hasten away as fast as possible in pursuit, +sending information from Woodchurch to every point of the coast where +the offender was likely to pass, spreading out his men so as to cover +all the roads to the sea, and only leaving at the farm a sufficient +guard to secure the prisoners. + +On hearing the latter part of this order, however, Farmer Harris +exclaimed, "No, no, sir; no need of that. We've taken them, and we'll +keep them safe enough. I'll see these fellows into prison myself--ay, +and hanged too, please God! and we'll guard them sure, don't you be +afraid." + +Leyton looked to Mowle, saying, "I must abide by your decision, Mr. +Mowle." But the officer answered: "Oh, you may trust them, sir, quite +safely, after all I hear has happened. But I think, Mr. Harris, you +had better have just a few men to help you. You've got no place to +keep them here; and they must be taken before a magistrate first, +before they can be committed." + +"Oh, we'll keep them safe enough," replied the farmer. "We'll put them +in Goudhurst church, till we can send them off, and, in the meantime, +I'll have them up before Squire Broughton. My son's a constable, so +they are in proper hands." + +"Very well," answered Leyton; "in this case I have no right to +interfere; but, of course, you are responsible for their safe +custody." + +"I say, Mowle," cried Ned Ramley, in his usual daring manner, "bid +them give me something to drink, for I'm devilish thirsty; and I'll +give you some information, if you will." + +Mowle obtained some beer for him, and then demanded, "Well, what is +it, Ned?" + +"Why, only this," said Ned Ramley, after they had held the beer to his +lips, and he had taken a deep draught--"you will have your brains +blown out, before ten days are over." + +"I am not afraid," replied Mowle, laughing. + +"That's right," answered Ned Ramley. "But it will happen; for fifty of +us have sworn it. We have had our revenge of your spy, Harding; and we +have only you to settle with now." + +"Harding!" cried Mowle. "He's no spy of mine.--It was not he that +peached, you young scoundrel; it was one of those whom you trusted +more than him." + +"Ah, well," answered Ned Ramley, indifferently; "then he'll have a +sore heart to-night, that he didn't work for. But you'll have your +turn yet, Mr. Mowle, so look that you make good use of your brains, +for they wont be long in your skull." + +"You are a hardened villain," said Sir Henry Leyton. "You had better +march them off as fast as you can, my good friends; take them before a +magistrate; and above all things, get them to prison ere nightfall, or +we may have another rescue." + +"No fear, no fear!" answered Farmer Harris. "To rescue a smuggler is +one thing--I never liked to see them taken myself--but bloodthirsty +villains like these, that would ill use a poor, dear, good girl, and +murder her in cold blood,--why, there is not a man in the county would +not help to hang them. But I wish, sir, you would go yourself, and see +and stop that other great villain. If he isn't hanged too, I don't +think I shall ever rest in my bed again." + +"I will do my best, depend upon it," replied Leyton; "but I must +first, Mr. Harris, go to your house, and see the state of that poor +girl. I have known her since she was a child, and feel for her almost +as if she were a sister." + +"Thank you, sir--thank you!" cried old Harris, shaking him by the +hand. "There, boys," he continued, dashing away the tears from his +eyes--"make a guard, and take these blackguards off in the middle of +you. We'll have them up to Squire Broughton's at once; and then I must +go back, too." + +On his way to the farm, Leyton desired Mowle to return to Woodchurch, +and to wait for him there, taking every step that he might think +necessary, with the aid of Captain Irby. "I will not be long," he +added. + +"Pray don't, sir," rejoined Mowle; "for we have other business to do +to-night;" and, sinking his voice to a whisper, he added, "I've got +the information I wanted, sir. A part of the goods are certainly at +Radford Hall, and if we can seize them there, that, with the +deposition of the men at Woodchurch, will bring him in for the whole +offence." + +"I shall, very likely, overtake you by the way," replied Leyton. "But, +at all events, I shall be there before four." + +Most such calculations are vain, however. Leyton turned aside to the +Harris's farm, where he found poor Kate Clare sinking rapidly. The +curate of the parish had been sent for, and, by his advice, Mr. +Broughton, the magistrate, who had entered the house but two or three +minutes before Leyton himself. Though her voice now scarcely rose +above a whisper, she made her dying declaration with clearness and +accuracy. It is not necessary here to give any of the details; but, as +she concluded, she turned her faint and swimming eyes towards Leyton, +saying, "That gentleman, who has always been such a good friend to me +and mine, can tell you more, sir, for he came up to my help, just as +they shot me." + +The magistrate raised his eyes, and inquired, in a low tone, "Who is +he?" + +"Sir Henry Leyton," replied the poor girl, loud enough for that +officer to hear; and thinking that she asked for him, he approached +nearer, and stood by Harding's side. Kate raised her hand a little +from the bedclothes, as if she would have given it to him; and he took +it kindly in his, speaking some words of comfort. + +"Thank you, sir--thank you, for all your kindness," said Kate. "I am +glad you have come, that I may wish you good-bye, and ask you to be +kind to poor Harding, too. It will soon be over now; and you had +better all leave me. Not you, Harding--not you.--You must close my +eyes, as my poor mother is not here." + +A groan burst from the stout seaman's breast; and giving way to all +his feelings, he sobbed like a child. According to her desire, Leyton +and Mr. Broughton retired from the room; and the young officer +informed the magistrate, that the prisoners who had been taken were +waiting for examination at his house. + +"We shall want your evidence, Sir Henry," said the magistrate. "It is +absolutely necessary, if, as I understand, you were eye-witness to the +murder." + +Leyton saw the propriety of the magistrate's demand, and he yielded +immediately. But the investigation was prolonged by several +circumstances; and, what between the time that it took up, and that +which had been previously spent in the pursuit of the murderers, it +was past three o'clock before Leyton mounted his horse at Mr. +Broughton's door. He paused for an instant at the gate of the Harris's +farm-yard, where a girl was standing with tears in her eyes; but +before he could ask any question, she replied to that which was rising +to his lips. "She is gone, sir," said the girl--"she is gone. She did +not last half-an-hour after you were here." + +With a sad heart, Leyton rode on, passing at a quick pace through +Harbourne Wood, and not trusting himself to stop at Mrs. Clare's +cottage. The windows, however, were closed; and the young officer +concluded from that circumstance, that the tidings of her daughter's +fate must by this time have reached the childless widow. Not far +beyond her gate, he was met by Sir Edward Digby's servant; but eager +to arrive at Woodchurch, Leyton did not stop to speak with him, and +Somers, turning his horse with the orderly and his old companion, +Leyton's servant, gleaned what information he could from them as he +went. + +Notwithstanding all the speed he could use, however, it was half-past +four before Leyton reached Woodchurch; and, on inquiring for Mr. +Warde, he found that gentleman had called, but gone away again, saying +he would return in an hour. + + + + + CHAPTER X. + + +Such as we have described in the last chapter, were the fatal events +to which Sir Edward Digby had alluded in the few words he had spoken +to Zara Croyland; and it may be needless to explain to the reader, +that he had learned the tale from his servant just before he came down +to dinner. + +Sir Robert Croyland, as we have shown, after some agitation and +hesitation, quitted the drawing-room to meet,--the first time for many +years--the son of a man, whom, at the instigation of others, he had +cruelly persecuted. He paused as soon as he got into the passage, +however, to summon courage, and to make up his mind as to the +demeanour which he should assume--always a vain and fruitless task; +for seldom, if ever, do circumstances allow any man to maintain the +aspect which he has predetermined to affect. Sir Robert Croyland +resolved to be cold, stately, and repulsive--to treat Sir Henry Leyton +as a perfect stranger, and if he alluded to their former intimacy, to +cut the conversation short by telling him that, as all the feelings of +those days were at an end, he did not wish to revive their memory in +any shape. He did not calculate, indeed, upon the peculiar state of +Leyton's mind, at the moment--nay, nor even upon the effect of his +former favourite's personal appearance upon himself; and when he +entered the library and saw the tall, powerful, dignified-looking man, +the pale, thoughtful, stern countenance, and the haughty air, he felt +all his predeterminations vain. + +Leyton, on his part, had done the same as Sir Robert Croyland, and in +setting out from Woodchurch had made up his mind to see in the man he +went to visit, nothing but Edith's father--to treat him kindly, +gently, and with compassion for his weakness, rather than anger at his +faults; but as he rode along, and conversed with one who accompanied +him thither, the memory of much that Sir Robert Croyland had done in +former days, came painfully back upon him, and combining with his +treatment of Edith, raised up bitter and indignant feelings that he +could have wished to quell. The scenes which he had passed through +that day, too, had given a tone of sternness to his mind which was not +usual; and the few minutes he had waited in the library, when every +moment seemed of value, added impatience to his other sensations. + +The baronet entered as firmly as he could, bowing his head and +motioning coldly to a chair. But Leyton did not sit down, gazing for +an instant on the countenance of Sir Robert, struck and astonished by +the change that he beheld. That steadfast gaze was painful to its +object, and sank his spirit still farther; but Leyton, the moment +after, began to speak; and the well-known tones of his clear, mellow +voice, awakened the recollection of the days when they were once +pleasant to hear. + +"Sir Robert Croyland," he said, "I have come to you on business of +importance, in which it is necessary for you to act immediately in +your magisterial capacity." + +"I have no clerk with me, sir," answered the baronet, in a hesitating +manner; "at this late hour, it is not usual, except under +circumstances----" + +"The circumstances admit of no delay, Sir Robert Croyland," replied +Leyton. "As the nearest magistrate, I have applied to you in the first +instance; and have done so for many other reasons besides your being +the nearest magistrate." + +"Well, sir, what is your application?" demanded Edith's father. "I +wish, indeed, you had applied to somebody else, at this time of night; +but I will do my duty--oh, yes, I will do my duty." + +"That is all that is required, sir," answered the young officer. "My +application is for a warrant to search the house of one Richard +Radford; and I have to tender you, on oath, information that +customable goods, which have been introduced without the payment +of duty, are concealed on his premises.--One moment more, if you +please--I have also to apply to you, upon similar evidence, for a +warrant to search his house for his son, Richard Radford, charged with +murder; and, in the end, if you would allow me to advise you, you +would instantly mount your horse, and superintend the search +yourself." + +There was a marked and peculiar emphasis on the last few words, which +Sir Robert Croyland did not understand. The manner was not agreeable +to him; but it was scarcely perhaps to be expected that it should be; +for there had been nothing in his own, to invite that kindly candour, +which opens heart to heart. All that had of late years passed between +him and Sir Henry Leyton, had been of a repulsive kind. For one +youthful error, he had not only repelled and shut his house against +the son, but he had persecuted, ruined, and destroyed the father, who +had no part in that fault. Every reason too, which he had given, every +motive he had assigned, for his anger at Henry Leyton's pretensions to +Edith's hand, he had set at nought, or forgotten in the case of him +whom he had chosen for her husband. Even now, although his manner was +wavering and timid, it was cold and harsh; and it was a hard thing for +Henry Leyton to assume the tone of kindness towards Sir Robert +Croyland, or to soften his demeanour towards him, with all the busy +memories of the past and the feelings of the present thronging upon +him, on his first return to the house where he had spent many happy +days in youth. I am painting a man, and nothing more; and he could +not, and did not overcome the sensations of human nature. + +His words did not please Sir Robert Croyland, but they somewhat +alarmed him. Everything that was vague in his present situation, +did produce fear; but after a moment's thought, he replied, +coldly, "Oh dear no, sir, I do not see that it is at all necessary I +should go myself. I really think the application altogether +extraordinary, seeing that it comes from, I am led to imagine, the +lieutenant-colonel, commanding the ---- regiment of dragoons, +quartered in this district, who has no primary power, or authority, or +even duty in such affairs; but can only act as required by the +officers of Customs, to whom he is so far subordinate.--But still I am +ready to receive the informations tendered, and then shall decide in +regard to my own conduct, as the case may require." + +"You are wrong in all respects, but one, Sir Robert Croyland," +answered Leyton, at once; "I am empowered to act very differently from +any officer who has been in command here before me. If my powers are +beyond that which the law authorizes, those who gave them are +responsible to their country; but, for an extraordinary case, +extraordinary means are requisite; and as I require of you nothing but +what the law requires, I shall not pause to argue, whether I am +exactly the proper person to make the application. It might easily be +made by another, who is without: but I have reasons for what I am +doing--and reasons, believe me," he added, after a moment's pause and +reflection, "not unfriendly to Sir Robert Croyland." + +Again his words and manner were peculiar. Sir Robert Croyland began to +feel some apprehension lest he might push his coldness too far. But he +did not see how he could change his tone; and he was proceeding, with +the same distant reserve, to repeat that he was ready to receive the +information in a formal manner, when Leyton suddenly interrupted him, +after a severe struggle with himself. + +"Sir Robert Croyland," he said, "let us speak as friends. Let griefs +and complaints on both sides be forgotten for the moment; let us bury, +for the time, seven years in oblivion. Look upon me, if it be but for +a few minutes, as the Henry Leyton you knew before anything arose to +produce one ill feeling between us; for, believe me, I come to you +with kindly sentiments. Your own fate hangs in the balance at this +hour. I would decide it favourably for you, if you would let me. +But--you must shake off doubt and timidity; you must act boldly and +decidedly, and all will be well." + +"I do not understand what you mean, sir," cried Sir Robert Croyland, +astonished at his change of tone, and without time to collect his +ideas, and calculate the probabilities. "My fate!--How can you affect +my fate?" + +"More than you are aware," answered Leyton; "even now I affect your +fate, by giving you the choice of at once proceeding in the line of +your duty, against a bad man who has overruled your better nature, too +long,--by allowing you to conduct the search, which must be instituted +either by yourself or others.--In one word, Sir Robert Croyland, I +know all; and would serve you, if you would let me." + +"You know all!" exclaimed Edith's father, in a dull, gloomy tone--"you +know all! she has told you, then! That explains it--that shows how she +retracted her consent--how she was willing to-day to sacrifice her +father. You have seen her--you have taught her her part!--Yes, she has +betrayed her parent's confidence." + +Leyton could bear no more. Himself, he could have heard slandered +calmly; but he could not hear such words of her he loved: "It is +false!" he said; "she did not betray your confidence! She told me no +more than was needful to induce me to release her from bonds she was +too faithful and true to break. From her I have heard nothing +more--but from others I have heard all; and now, Sir Robert Croyland, +you have chosen your part, I have but to call in those who must lay +the required information. Our duty must be done, whatever be the +consequences; and as you reject the only means of saving yourself from +much grief--though, I trust, not the danger you apprehend--we must act +without you;" and he rose and walked towards the door. + +"Stay, Leyton--stay!" cried Sir Robert Croyland, catching him eagerly +by the arm--"yet a moment--yet a moment. You say you know all. Do you +know all?--all?--everything?" + +"All!--everything!" answered Leyton, firmly; "every word that was +spoken--every deed that was done--more than you know yourself." + +"Then, at least, you know I am innocent," said the old man. + +A calm but grave serenity took the place, on Sir Henry Leyton's +countenance, of the impetuous look with which he had last spoken. +"Innocent," he said, "of intentional murder; but not innocent of rash +and unnecessary anger; and, oh! Sir Robert Croyland--if I must say +it--most culpable in the consequences which you have suffered to flow +from one hasty act. Mark me; and see the result!--Your own dear child, +against your will, is in the hands of a man whom you hate and abhor. +You are anxious to make her the wife of a being you condemn and +despise! The child of the man that your own hand slew, is now lying a +corpse, murdered by him to whom you would give your daughter! Your own +life is----" + +"What, Kate!--Kate Clare!" exclaimed Sir Robert Croyland, with a +sudden change coming over his countenance--"murdered by Richard +Radford!" + +"By his own hand, after the most brutal usage," replied Leyton. + +Sir Robert Croyland sprang to the bell, and rang it violently, then +threw open the door and called aloud--"My horse!--my horse!--saddle my +horse!--If it cost me land and living, life and honour, she shall be +avenged!" he added, turning to Leyton, and raising his head erect, the +first time for many years. "It is over--the folly, and the weakness, +and crime, are at an end. I have been bowed and broken; but there is a +spark of my former nature yet left. I vowed to God in Heaven, that I +would ever protect and be a father to that child, as an atonement--as +some--some compensation, however small; and I will keep my vow." + +"Oh! Sir Robert," cried Leyton, taking his hand and pressing it in +his, "be ever thus, and how men will love and venerate you!" + +The barrier was broken down--the chain which had so long bound him was +cast away; and Sir Robert returned Leyton's grasp with equal warmth. +"Harry," he said, "I have done you wrong; but I will do so no more. I +was driven--I was goaded along the road to all evil, like a beast +driven to the slaughter. But you have done wrong, too, young +man--yours was the first offence." + +"It was," answered Leyton--"I own it--I did do wrong; and I will make +no excuse, though youth, and love as true as ever man felt, might +afford some. But let me assure you, that I have been willing to make +reparation--I have been willing to sacrifice all the brightest hope of +years to save you, even now. I assured Edith that I would, when she +told me the little she could venture to tell; but it was her misery +that withheld me--it was the life-long wretchedness, to which she was +doomed if I yielded, that made me resist. Nothing else on earth should +have stopped me; but now, Sir Robert, the prospect is more clear for +you." + +"Nay, do not speak of that," replied Sir Robert Croyland; "I will +think of it no more--I have now chosen my path; and I will pursue it, +without looking at the consequences to myself. Let them come when they +must come; for once in life, I will do what is just and right." + +"And by so doing, my dear sir, you will save yourself," answered +Leyton. "Moved by revenge--with no doubt whatsoever of his +motive--after a concealment of six years, this base man's accusation +will be utterly valueless. Your bare statement of the real +circumstances will be enough to dissipate every cloud. I shall require +that all his papers be seized; and I have many just reasons for +wishing that they should be in your hands." + +"I understand you, Harry, and I thank you," said Sir Robert Croyland; +"but with my present feelings I would not----" + +"You do not understand me fully, Sir Robert," replied Leyton. "I wish +you only to act as you will find just, right, and honourable, and wait +for the result. It will be, or I am much mistaken, more favourable to +you, personally, than you imagine. Now, as you have decided on the +true and upright course, let us lose no time in carrying it into +execution. I will call in the men who have to lay the information; and +when you have received it, I will place before you depositions which +will justify the most vigorous measures against both father and son. +In regard to the latter, I must act under your authority in my +military capacity, as I have no civil power there; but in regard to +the former, I am already called upon, by the officers of the revenue, +to aid them in entering his house by force, and searching it +thoroughly." + +"Call them in, Harry--call them in!" replied Sir Robert Croyland; +"every man is justified by the law in apprehending a murderer. But you +shall have full authority.--Kate Clare!--How could this have +happened?" + +"I will explain, as we ride on," answered Leyton, going to the door; +and speaking to one of the servants who was standing in the hall, he +added, "Desire Mr. Mowle to walk in, and bring the boy with him." + +In another minute, Mowle entered the room with another man, holding by +the arm the boy Ray, whom the smugglers had chosen to denominate +Little Starlight. He came, apparently, unwillingly; for though ever +ready, for money, to spy and to inform secretly, he had a great +abhorrence of being brought publicly forward; and when on coming to +Mowle that evening with more information--he was detained and told he +must go before a magistrate, he had made every possible effort to +escape. + +He was now somewhat surprised, on being brought forward after Mowle +had laid the information, to find that he was not questioned upon any +point affecting the smuggling transactions which had lately taken +place, as the evidence upon that subject was sufficient without his +testimony. But in regard to the proceedings of young Radford, and to +the place where he was concealed, he was interrogated closely. It was +all in vain, however. To obtain a straightforward answer from him was +impossible; and although Mowle repeated distinctly that the boy had +casually said, the murderer of poor Kate Clare had gone to his +father's house, Little Starlight lied and prevaricated at every word, +and impudently, though not unskilfully attempted to put another +meaning on his previous admission. + +As time was wearing away, however, Sir Henry Leyton, at length, +interposed--"I think it is unnecessary, Sir Robert," he said, "to push +this inquiry further at present. As the whole house and premises must +be searched on other grounds, we shall discover the villain if he is +there. Mr. Mowle and I have adopted infallible means, I think, to +prevent his escaping from any point of the coast; and the magistrates +at every port were this evening furnished with such information that, +if they act with even a moderate degree of ability, he must be taken." + +"Besides, sir," rejoined Mowle, "the frigate has come round; and she +will take care that, with this wind, not a boat big enough to carry +him over shall get out. We had better set out, your worship, if you +please; for if old Radford gets an inkling of what is going on, he +will double upon us some way." + +"I am quite ready," said Sir Robert Croyland. "I will call my clerk to +accompany us as we go, in case of any further proceedings being +necessary. We must pass through the village where he lives." + +With a firm step he moved towards the door; and, strange as it may +seem, though for six years, while supposing he was taking the only +means of self-preservation, he had lived in constant terror and +anxiety, he felt no fear, no trepidation now, when he had determined +to do what was right at every personal risk. An enfeebling spell +seemed to have been taken off his mind; and the lassitude of doubt and +indecision was gone. But such is almost always the result, even upon +the nerves of our corporeal frame, of a strong effort of mental +energy. It is one thing certainly to resolve, and another to do; but +the very act of resolution, if it be sincerely exerted, affords a +degree of vigour, which is sure to produce as great results as the +means at our disposal can accomplish. Energetic determination will +carry men through things that seem impossible, as a bold heart will +carry them over Alps, that, viewed from their base, appear +insurmountable. + +Sir Robert Croyland did not venture into the drawing-room before he +went; but he told the butler, who was waiting in the hall, to inform +Sir Edward Digby and the family that he had been called away on +business, and feared he should not return till a late hour; and having +left this message, he went out upon the terrace. He found there a +number of persons assembled, with some twenty or thirty of the +dragoons. Five or six officers of the Customs were present, besides +Mowle; but the darkness was too great to admit of their faces being +seen; and Sir Robert Croyland mounted without speaking to any one. Sir +Henry Leyton paused for an instant to give orders, that the boy should +be taken back to Woodchurch, and kept there under a safe guard. He +then spoke a few words to Digby's servant, Somers, and springing on +his horse placed himself at Sir Robert Croyland's side. + +The night was as dark as either of the two which had preceded it; the +same film of cloud covered the sky; not a star was to be seen; the +moon was far below the horizon; and slowly the whole party moved on, +two and two abreast, through the narrow lanes and tortuous roads of +that part of the country. It halted for a minute in the nearest +village, while Sir Robert Croyland stopped at his clerk's house, and +directed him to follow as fast as possible to Mr. Radford's; and then, +resuming their march, the dragoons, and those who accompanied them, +wound on for between four or five miles further, when, as they turned +the angle of a wood, some lights, apparently proceeding from the +windows of a house half way up a gentle slope, were seen shining out +in the midst of the darkness. + +"Halt!" said Sir Henry Leyton; and before he proceeded to give his +orders, for effectually surrounding the house and grounds of Mr. +Radford, he gazed steadfastly for a moment or two upon the building +which contained her who was most dear to him, and whose heart he well +knew was at that moment wrung with the contention of many a painful +feeling. "I promised her I would bring her aid, dear girl," he +thought, "and so I have.--Thanks be to God, who has enabled me!" + +Sir Robert Croyland, too, gazed--with very different feelings, it is +true, but still with a stern determination that was not shaken in the +least. It seemed, when he thought of Kate Clare, that he was atoning +to the spirit of the father, by seeking to avenge the child; and the +whole tale of her wrongs and death, which he had heard from Leyton, as +they came, had raised the desire of so doing almost to an enthusiasm. +Human passions and infirmities, indeed, will mingle with our best +feelings; and as he gazed upon Mr. Radford's house, and remembered all +that he had endured for the last six years, he said to himself, with +some bitterness, "That man shall now taste a portion of the same cup +he has forced upon others." + +Sir Henry Leyton woke from his reverie sooner than his companion; and +turning his horse, he spoke for a few moments with Mowle, somewhat +longer with another person wrapped in a dark horseman's coat behind, +and then gave various distinct orders to the dragoons, who immediately +separated into small parties, and, taking different roads, placed +themselves in such positions as to command every approach to the +house. Then riding forward with Sir Robert Croyland, the officers of +Customs, and one or two soldiers, he turned up the little avenue which +led from the road, consulting with Edith's father as he went. At about +a couple of hundred yards from the house he paused, turning his head +and saying to Mowle, "You had better, I think, all dismount; and, +making fast the horses, get behind the nearest laurels and evergreens, +while Sir Robert and I ride on alone, and ask admission quietly. When +the door is opened, you can come up and make yourselves masters of the +servants till the search is over. I do not anticipate any resistance; +but if the young man be really here, it may be made." + +He then rode on with the baronet at a quicker pace, the noise of their +horses' feet, as they trotted on and approached the great doors, +covering the sound of the movements of the party they left behind. + +The house, to which the actual possessor had given the name of Radford +Hall, was an old-fashioned country mansion, and presented, like many +another building at that time, several large, iron hooks, standing out +from the brickwork on each side of the doorway, on which it was +customary for visitors on horseback to hang their rein while they rang +the bell, or till a servant could be called to take them to the +stable. Sir Robert Croyland was acquainted with this peculiarity +of the house, though Leyton was not, and he whispered to his +companion--"Let us hook up our horses, before we ring." + +This was accordingly done; and then taking the long iron handle +of the bell, Leyton pulled it gently. A minute or two after, a step +sounded in the hall, and a servant appeared--a stout, red-faced, +shrewd-looking fellow, who at first held the great door only half +open. As soon, however, as he saw Sir Robert Croyland's face, he threw +it back, replying, in answer to the baronet's question as to whether +Mr. Radford was at home, "Yes, Sir Robert, he has been home this +hour." + +Leyton had stood back, and, in the darkness, the man did not see him, +or took him for a groom; but when the young officer advanced, and the +uniform of the dragoon regiment became apparent, Mr. Radford's servant +suddenly stretched his hand towards the door again, as if about to +throw it violently to. But Leyton's strong grasp was on his shoulder +in a moment. "You are my prisoner," he said, in a low tone; "not a +word--not a syllable, if you would not suffer for it. No harm will +happen to you, if you are only quiet." + +At the same moment, Mowle and the rest came running across the lawn, +and, giving the man into their hands, Leyton entered the house with +Sir Robert Croyland. + + + + + CHAPTER XI. + + +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 captive--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. Radford'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 of suspense, +irritated by injuries and insult, but not yet roused by indignation to +dare the worst that Mr. Radford could do; and, though he heard her +express her determination never to marry Richard Radford unless set +free from her vows to Henry Leyton, without remonstrance, only begging +her to keep that resolution secret till the last moment, yet, with the +usual resource of weakness, he sought to postpone the evil hour by +seeming to enter into all his enemy's views. + +Thus had passed Edith's time; and it is unnecessary to enter into a +more detailed account of her thoughts and feelings previous to the +period we have mentioned--namely, one hour before the arrival of her +father and Henry Leyton at the door of the house. She was sitting, +then, in that small back drawing-room, with her fair cheek leaning on +her hand, her eyes bent down upon the table, and her mind busy with +the present and the future. "It is foolish," she thought, "thus to +alarm myself. No harm can happen. They dare not show me any violence; +and no clergyman in England will venture to proceed with the service +against my loud dissent. My uncle, and Leyton too, must soon hear of +this, and will interfere.--I will not give way to such terrors any +more." + +As she thus meditated, she heard a rapid step upon the great stairs; +and the next moment Mr. Radford entered--booted, spurred, and dusty, +as from a journey, and with a heavy horsewhip in his hand. His face +betrayed more agitation than she had ever seen it display. There +was a deep line between his brows, as if they had been long bent into +such a frown, that they could not readily be smoothed again. His long +upper-lip was quivering with a sort of impatient vehemence that would +not be restrained; and his eye was flashing, as if under the influence +of some strong passion. + +"Well, Miss Croyland," he said, throwing his horsewhip down upon the +table, and casting himself into a chair, "I hope they have made you +comfortable during my absence?" + +Edith merely bowed her head, without reply. + +"Well, that's civil!" cried Mr. Radford; "but I think every body is +going mad, and so it is no wonder that women do! Miss Croyland, I have +a piece of news for you--there's going to be a wedding in our house, +to-night!" + +Still Edith was silent, and looked towards the fire. + +"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!" exclaimed Mr. Radford, giving her a furious glance +across the table; "then I will tell you something, young woman. Your +consent was given to your father; and I will have no trifling +backwards and forwards. Circumstances have arisen to-day--curses be +upon them all!--which render it necessary that the marriage should +take place four-and-twenty hours before it was first fixed, and it +shall take place, by----!" 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 waiting to hear what I +had to say, or he would not have so deceived himself." + +"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 accusation--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!" 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 resolute, but displayed less excitement +than when he left her. He entered with a slow step, leaving the door +partly open behind him, seated himself, and gazed at her for a moment, +then spread out the small yellow paper on the table, but held his hand +tight upon the lower part, as if he feared she might snatch it up and +destroy it. + +"There, look at that, Miss Croyland!" he said; "you spoke of false +accusations; look at that, and be ashamed of bringing them yourself." + +Edith gave a glance towards it with a sensation of awe, but did not +attempt to read it. Her eye rested upon the words, "Deposition +of--" and upon a stain of blood at the bottom of the page, and she +turned away with a shudder. "I have heard of it before," she answered, +"yet every word in it may be false." + +"False, or not false," replied Mr. Radford, "it sends your father to +gaol to-morrow, and to the gallows a month after--if you do not +instantly sign that!" and he laid another freshly written page open +before her. + +Edith took it in her hand, and read--"I hereby consent and promise, +when called upon, to marry Richard Radford, junior, Esquire, the son +of Richard Radford, of Radford Hall." + +"You have your choice, Miss Croyland," continued her persecutor, in a +low and bitter tone, "either to save your father, or to put him to +death with your own hands; for I swear, by all that I hold sacred, +that if you do not instantly sign that paper--ay, and fulfil its +engagement, I will send off this deposition to the bench of +magistrates, with the letter I have just written, giving an account of +all the circumstances, and explaining how, out of weak kindness and +friendship for Sir Robert Croyland, I have been prevailed upon to keep +back the information until now. Do not deceive yourself, and think +that his fortune or his station will save him. A peer of the realm has +been hanged before now for the murder of his own servant. Neither must +you suppose that upon that deposition alone rests the proof of his +guilt. There was other evidence given at the Coroner's inquest, all +bearing upon the same point, which requires but this light, to be made +plain. The threats your father previously used, the falsehoods he told +regarding where he had been--all these things can be proved, for I +have taken care to preserve that evidence." + +"That was like a friend, indeed!" murmured Edith; "but such are the +friendships of the world." + +"I am acting like a friend to you, Miss Croyland," rejoined Mr. +Radford, apparently neither touched nor hurt by her words, "in letting +you see clearly your father's situation, while I give you the +opportunity of saving him if you will. Do as you please--there is the +paper. Sign it if you like; but sign it quickly; for this night brings +all tergiversation to an end. I will have no more of it; and five +minutes decides your father's life or death. Do not say I do it. It is +you. His pardon is before you. You have nothing to do but to put your +name. If you do not, you sign his death warrant!" + +"Five minutes!" said Edith, with her heart beating violently. + +"Ay, five minutes," answered Mr. Radford, who saw, from the wild look +of her beautiful eyes, and the ashy paleness of her cheek and lips, +how powerfully he had worked upon her--"five minutes, no longer;" and +he laid his watch upon the table. Then, turning somewhat +ostentatiously to a small fixed writing-desk, which stood near, he +took up a stick of sealing-wax, and laid it down beside the letter he +had written, as if determined not to lose a moment beyond the period +he had named. + +Edith gazed upon the paper for an instant, agitated and trembling +through her whole frame; but her eye fell upon the name of Richard +Radford. His image rose up before her, recalling all the horror that +she felt whenever he was in her presence; then came the thought of +Leyton, and of her vows to him yet uncancelled. "Richard Radford!" she +said to herself--"Richard Radford!--marry him--vow that I will love +him--call God to witness, when I know I shall abhor him more and +more--when I love another? I cannot do it--I will not do it!" and she +pushed the paper from her, saying, aloud, "No, I will not sign it!" + +"Very well," said Mr. Radford--"very well. Your parent's blood be upon +your head;" and he proceeded to fold up slowly the deposition he had +shown her, in the letter he had written. But he stopped in the midst; +and then, abandoning the calm, low tone, and stern but quiet demeanour +which he had lately used, he started up, striking the table violently +with his hand, and exclaiming, in a loud and angry tone, "Wretched, +miserable girl, dare you bring upon your head the guilt of parricide? +What was the curse of Cain to that? How will you bear the day of your +father's trial--ay, how bear the day of his death--the lingering agony +of his imprisonment--the public shame of the court of justice--the +agony of the gallows and the cord?--the proud Sir Robert Croyland +become the gaze of hooting boys, the spectacle of the rude multitude, +expiring, through his daughter's fault, by the hand of the common +hangman! Ay, think of it all, for in another minute it will be too +late! Once gone from my hand, this paper can never be recalled." + +Edith uttered a faint cry; but at the same moment a voice behind Mr. +Radford said, "Nor can it, now!" and Sir Robert Croyland himself laid +his hand upon the papers. + +Mr. Radford turned round fiercely, and was darting forward to seize +them from him; but he was held back by a more powerful arm; and the +baronet went on, in a voice grave and sad, but firm and strong--"Sir +Henry Leyton," he said, "I give these papers into your hands to do +with exactly as you may think right, as a man of honour, a gentleman, +and a respecter of the law. I ask not to hold them for one moment." + +"Do not struggle, sir,--do not struggle!" cried Leyton, holding Mr. +Radford fast by the collar--"you are a prisoner." + +"A prisoner!" exclaimed Mr. Radford. "What! in my own house--a +magistrate!" + +"Anywhere, sir," answered Leyton; "and for the time, you are a +magistrate no longer.--Ho! without there!--send some one in!" + +Edith had sunk down in her seat; for she knew not whether to rejoice +or grieve. The first feeling undoubtedly was joy; but the next was +bitter apprehension for her father. At first she covered her eyes with +her hands; for she thought to hear the terrible truth proclaimed +aloud; but when she looked up, Sir Robert Croyland's face was so calm, +so resolute, so unlike what it had ever appeared of late years, that +fear gave way to surprise, and surprise began to verge into hope. As +that bright flame arose again in her heart, she started up, and cast +herself upon her father's bosom, murmuring, while the tears flowed +rapidly from her eyes, "Are you safe--are you safe?" + +"I know not, my dear child," replied Sir Robert Croyland; "but I am +now doing my duty, and that gives me strength." + +In the meantime, a dragoon had appeared at the door, and as soon as +Mr. Radford beheld him, he exclaimed, "This is a base and infamous +plot to defeat the ends of justice. I understand it all: the military +power called in, right willingly, I have no doubt, to take away the +documents which prove that felon's guilt. But this shall be bitterly +repaid, and I hold you responsible, sir, for the production of these +papers." + +"Certainly, Mr. Radford," replied Leyton, with a calm smile, "I will +be responsible. But as you object to the military power, we will hand +you over to the civil. Hart," he continued, speaking to the soldier, +"call up Mowle or Birchett, or any of the other officers, and let them +bring one of the constables with them, for this is not purely a case +for the Customs. Then tell Serjeant Shaw to bring on his men from the +back, as I directed, seeing that nothing--not an inch of ground, not a +shed, not a tool-house, remains unexamined." + +"Of what am I accused, sir, that you dare to pursue such a course in +my house?" demanded Mr. Radford. + +"Of murder, sir," replied Sir Henry Leyton. + +"Murder!" exclaimed Mr. Radford, and then burst into an affected +laugh. + +"Yes, sir," replied the young officer; "and you may find it not so +much a jest as you suppose; for though the law, in consequence of the +practices of yourself and others, has slept long ineffective, it is +not dead. I say for murder! as an accessory before the fact, to the +armed resistance of lawful authority, in which his majesty's subjects +have been killed in the execution of their duty; and as an accessory +after the fact, in harbouring and comforting the actual culprits, +knowing them to be such." + +Mr. Radford's countenance fell; for he perceived that the matter was +much more serious than he at first supposed. He trusted, indeed, from +the laxity with, which the law had lately been carried into execution, +that he might escape from the gravest part of the charge; but still, +if Sir Henry Leyton was in a condition to prove the participation of +which he accused him, in the crimes that had been committed, nothing +short of transportation for life could be anticipated. But he had +other sources of anxiety. His wretched son, he expected to present +himself every minute; and well aware of the foul deed which Richard +Radford had that morning perpetrated, and of his person having been +recognised, he was perfectly certain, that his apprehension would take +place. He would have given worlds to speak for a single instant with +one of his own servants; but none of them appeared; and while these +thoughts were passing rapidly through his brain, the officer Birchett +entered the room with a constable, and several other persons followed +them in. He was startled from his reverie, however, by Sir Henry +Leyton's voice demanding--"Have you brought handcuffs, constable?" + +"Oh, ay, sir," answered the man, "I've got the bracelets." + +"Good evening, Mr. Radford," said Birchett; "we have hold of you at +last, I fancy." + +Mr. Radford was silent, and the young officer demanded, "Have you +found anything else, Birchett?" + +"Oh yes, sir, plenty," answered Birchett, "and besides the run goods, +things enough to prove all the rest even if we had not proof +sufficient before--one of your own dragoon's swords, sir, that must +have been snatched up from some poor fellow who was killed. Corporal +Hart says, he thinks it belonged to a man named Green." + +"Well, there is your prisoner," replied Leyton,--"you and the +constable must take care that he be properly secured. No unnecessary +harshness, I beg; but you know how rescue is sometimes attempted, and +escape effected. You had better remove him to another room; for we +must have all the papers and different articles of smuggled goods +brought hither." + +"I protest against the whole of this proceeding," exclaimed Mr. +Radford, on whom the constable was now unceremoniously fixing a pair +of handcuffs, "and I beg every body will take notice of my protest. +This person, who is, I suppose, a military officer, is quite going +beyond his duty, and acting as if he were a civil magistrate." + +"I am acting under the orders and authority of a magistrate, sir," +replied Sir Henry Leyton, "and according to my instructions.--Dear +Edith," he continued, crossing over to her, and taking her hand as she +still clung to her father; for all that I have described had taken +place with great rapidity--"you had better go into another room till +this is over. We shall have some papers to examine, and I trust +another prisoner before the search is finished.--Had she not better +retire, Sir Robert?" + +But Mr. Radford raised his voice again, as the constable was moving +him towards the door, exclaiming, "At all events, I claim my right to +witness all these extraordinary proceedings. It is most unjust and +illegal for you to seize and do what you will with my private papers, +in my absence." + +"It is a very common occurrence," said Sir Henry Leyton, "in criminal +cases like your own." + +"Let him remain--let him remain!" said Sir Robert Croyland. "He can +but interrupt us a little.--Oh, here is the clerk at last!--Now, +Edith, my love, you had better go; these are no scenes for you." + +Leyton took her by the hand, and led her to the door, bending down his +head and whispering as he went, "Be under no alarm, dear girl. All +will go well." + +"Are you sure, Harry--are you sure?" asked Edith, gazing anxiously in +his face. + +"Certain," he replied; "your father's decision has saved him." + +As he spoke, there was a violent ringing at the bell; and Mr. Radford +said to himself, "It is that unhappy boy; he will be taken, to a +certainty." But the next instant, he thought, "No--no, he would never +come to the front door. It must be some more of their party." + +Sir Robert Croyland, in the meantime, seated himself at the end of the +table, and handed over a number of papers, which Leyton had given him +at his own house, to the clerk, who, by his direction, seated himself +near. "I have no objection, Mr. Radford," he said, turning to the +prisoner, "that you should hear read, if you desire it, the +depositions on which I have granted a warrant for your apprehension, +and, at the requisition of the officers of Customs, have authorized +your premises to be searched for the smuggled goods, a part of which +has been found upon them. The depositions are those of a man named +George Jones, since dead, and of Michael Scalesby, and Edward +Larchant, at present in the hands of justice; and the information is +laid by John Mowle and Stephen Birchett." + +At the recital of the names of several of the men whom he himself had +furnished with arms and directions, Mr. Radford's heart sunk; but the +moment after, a gleam of bitter satisfaction sprang up in his breast, +as the door opened, and Mr. Zachary Croyland entered, exclaiming, +"How's this--how's this? I came to take a dove out of a hawk's nest, +and here I find the dogs unearthing a fox." + +"I am very glad you are come, sir," replied Mr. Radford, before any +one else could speak; "for, though you are the brother of that person +sitting there, you are a man of honour, and an honest man----" + +"More than I can say for you, Radford," grumbled Mr. Croyland. + +"And, moreover, a magistrate for this county," continued Mr. Radford. + +"I never act--I never act!" cried the old gentleman. "I never have +acted; I never will act." + +"But in this case I shall insist upon your acting," said the prisoner; +"for your brother, who is now proceeding thus virulently against me, +does it to shield himself from a charge of murder, which he knew I was +about to bring against him." + +"Fiddlesticks' ends!" cried Mr. Croyland. "This is what people call +turning the tables, I think. But it wont succeed with me, my good +friend. I am an old bird--a very old bird, indeed--and I don't like +chaff at all, Radford. If you have any charge to make against my +brother, you must make it where you are going. I'll have nothing to do +with it. I always knew him to be a fool; but never suspected him of +being anything else." + +"At all events," said Mr. Radford, in a gloomy tone, "since simple +justice is denied me at all hands, I require that the papers which +have been seized in this house, be placed in proper hands, and duly +authenticated. The important evidence of the crime of which I charge +him, has been given by your brother, sir, to one who has but too great +an interest, I believe, to conceal or destroy it. I say it boldly, +those papers are not safe in the keeping of Sir Henry Leyton; and I +demand that they be given up, duly marked by the clerk, and signed by +myself, and some independent person." + +Leyton's eyes flashed for a moment, at the insinuation which the +prisoner threw out; but he overcame his anger instantly, and took the +papers which had been handed him, from his pocket, saying, "I will +most willingly resign these documents, whatever they may be. Mr. +Croyland, this person seems to wish that you should keep them, rather +than myself; but here is another paper on the table, which may throw +some light upon the whole transaction;" and he took up the written +promise, which Mr. Radford had been urging Edith to sign--and on which +his own eyes had been fixed during the last few minutes--and handed +it, with the rest, to her uncle. + +"Stay, stay a moment!" said Mr. Croyland, putting on his spectacles. +"I will be responsible for the safe keeping of nothing of which I do +not know the contents;" and he proceeded to read aloud the engagement +to wed Richard Radford, which Edith had rejected. "Ay, a precious +rascally document, indeed!" said the old gentleman, when he had +concluded; "written in the hand of the said Richard Radford, Esq., +senior, and which, I suppose, Miss Croyland refused to sign under any +threats. Be so good as to put your name on that, at the back, Mr. +Clerk. I will mark it, too, that there be no mistake." + +"And now, sir, since you have read the one, will you be good enough to +read the other?" exclaimed Mr. Radford, with a triumphant smile. +"Even-handed justice, if you please, Mr. Zachary Croyland; the +enclosure first, then the letter, if you will. I see there are a +multitude of persons present; I beg they will all attend." + +"I will read it certainly," replied Mr. Croyland, drawing one of the +candles somewhat nearer. "It seems to be somewhat indistinct." + +Sir Robert Croyland leaned his head upon his hand, and covered his +eyes; and several persons pressed forward, to hear what seemed of +importance--in the eyes of the prisoner, at least. + +Mr. Croyland ran over the writing, as a preliminary to reading it +aloud; but, as he did so, his countenance fell, and he paused and +hesitated. The next moment, however, he exclaimed, "No, hang it! It +shall be read--'The deposition of William Clare, now lying at the +point of death, and with the full assurance that he has not many +minutes to live, made before Richard Radford, Esquire, J. P.; this +24th day of September, in the year of grace 17--;" and he proceeded to +read, with a voice occasionally wavering indeed, but in general firm +and clear, the formal setting forth of the same tale which the reader +has heard before, in the statement of Sir Robert Croyland to his +daughter. + +His brother paused, and held the paper in his hand for a moment after +he had done, while Leyton, who had been standing close beside him, +bore a strange, almost sarcastic smile upon his lip, which strongly +contrasted with the sad and solemn expression of Mr. Croyland's +countenance. + +"What is this great red blot just below the man's name?" asked the old +gentleman, at length, looking to Mr. Radford. + +"That, sir," replied the prisoner, in a calm, grave tone, which had +much effect upon the hearers, "is the poor fellow's own blood, as I +held him up to sign the declaration. He had been pressing his right +hand upon the wound, and where it rested on the paper it gave that +bloody witness to the authenticity of the document." + +There was something too fine in the reply, and Mr. Croyland repeated, +"Bloody witness!--authenticity of the document!" + +But Leyton stretched out his hand, saying, "Will you allow me to look +at the paper, Mr. Croyland?" and then added, as soon as he received +it, "Can any one tell me whether William Clare was left-handed?" + +"No!" replied Sir Robert Croyland, suddenly raising his head--"no, he +was not.--Why do you ask?" + +"That I can answer for," said the constable, coming forward, "for he +carved the stock of a gun for me; and I know he never used his left +hand when he could use his right one." + +"Why do you ask, Harry?--why do you ask?" exclaimed Mr. Croyland. + +"Because, my dear sir," answered Leyton, aloud and clear, "this is the +print of the thumb of a man's right hand. To have made it at all, he +must have held the paper with his right, while he signed with his +left, and even then, he could have done it with difficulty, as it is +so near the signature, that his fingers would not have room to move;" +and as he ended, he fixed his eyes sternly on Mr. Radford's face. + +The prisoner's countenance had changed several times while Sir Henry +Leyton spoke, first becoming fiery red, then deadly pale, then red +again. + +"However it happened, so it was," he said, doggedly. + +"Well!" exclaimed Mr. Croyland, sharply, "your evidence will fetch +what it is worth!--I hope, clerk, you have got down Mr. Radford's +statement." + +"He has written the same down here, your worship," replied the man, +pointing to the letter in which the deposition had been enclosed, and +which, having been cast down by Mr. Zachary, had been busily read by +the clerk. + +"Well, then, we will read that too," observed the old gentleman. +"Silence there!" he continued; for there was a good deal of noise at +the side of the room, as the different persons present conversed over +the events that were passing; "but first, we had better docket this +commodity which we have just perused. Mr. Clerk, will you have the +goodness to sign it also--on the back?" + +"Stay," said a voice from behind the rest, "let me sign it first;" and +the man who had accompanied Leyton thither, wrapped in the dark +horseman's coat, advanced between Mr. Croyland and the clerk. + +"Any one that likes--any one that likes," answered the former. "Ah, is +that you, my old friend?" + +Both Mr. Radford and Sir Robert Croyland gazed, with looks of surprise +not unmingled with more painful feelings, on the countenance of Mr. +Warde, though each doubted his identity with one whom they had known +in former years. But, without noticing any one, the strange-looking +old man took the paper from the clerk, dipped the pen in the ink, and, +in a bold, free hand, wrote some words upon the back. + +"Ha, what is this?" cried Mr. Croyland, taking the paper, and +reading--"An infamous forgery--Henry Osborn!" + +"Villain, you are detected!" cried the person who has been called Mr. +Warde. "I wrote from a distant land to warn you, that I was present +when you knelt by William Clare--that I heard all--that I heard you +try to prompt the dying man to an accusation he would not make--that I +saw you stain the paper with his blood--ay, and sign it, too, after +life had quitted him--I wrote to warn you; for I suspected you, from +all I heard of your poor tool's changed conduct; and I gave you due +notice, that if you ceased not, the day of retribution would arrive. +It is come; and I am here, though you thought me dead! All your shifts +and evasions are at an end. There is no collusion here--there is no +personal interest. I have not conversed with that weak man for many +years--and he it was who persecuted my sister's husband unto death!" + +"At his suggestion--from his threats!" exclaimed Sir Robert Croyland, +pointing with his hand to Mr. Radford. + +"Take me away," said the prisoner, turning to the constable--"I am +faint--I am sick--take me away!" + +Mr. Croyland nodded his head; and, supported by the constable and +Birchett, Mr. Radford was led into the adjoining room. + +The scene that followed is indescribable. It was all confusion; every +one spoke at once; some strove to make themselves heard above the +rest; some seemed little to care whether they were heard or not; if +any man thought he could fix another's attention, he tried to converse +with him apart--many fixed upon the person nearest; but one or two +endeavoured to make others hear across the room; and all order and +common form were at an end. + +I have said every one spoke; but I should have made one exception. Sir +Robert Croyland talked eagerly with his brother, and said a few low +words to Mr. Osborn; but Leyton remained profoundly silent for several +minutes. The din of many voices did not seem to disturb him; the +strange turn that events had taken, appeared to produce no surprise; +but he remained fixed to the same spot, with his eyes bent upon the +table, and his mind evidently absent from all that was passing round. +It was the abstraction of profound emotion; the power which the heart +sometimes exercises over the mind, in withdrawing all its perceptions +and its operative faculties from external things, to fix them +concentrated upon some great problem within. At length, however, a +sense of higher duties made him shake off the thoughts of his own fate +and situation--of the bright and glorious hopes that were rising out +of the previous darkness, like the splendour of the coming star after +a long night--of the dreams of love and joy at length--of the growing +light of "trust in the future," still faintly overshadowed by the dark +objects of the past. With a quick start, as if he had awakened from +sleep, he looked round, and demanded of one of the soldiers, many of +whom were in the room, "Have you found the person accused--Richard +Radford, I mean--has any one been taken in the premises and the house, +besides the servants?" + +"Yes, sir, a person just arrived in a post-chaise," replied the +sergeant. + +"We must have order, Sir Robert," continued Leyton, his powerful voice +rising above the din; "there is much more to be done! Clear the room +of your men, sergeant. They are not wanted here--but stay, I will +speak with Mr. Haveland;" and he went out, followed by the sergeant +and some half-dozen of the dragoons, who had accompanied their +non-commissioned officer into the room. + +Leyton soon returned; but the precautions he had gone to enforce were +vain. The person who had arrived in the chaise, proved to be a +somewhat disreputable clergyman from a distant parish. Young Richard +Radford was not taken; another fate awaited him. A man, indeed, on +horseback, was seen to approach the grounds of Radford Hall towards +eleven o'clock; but the lights, that were apparent through many +windows, seemed to startle him, as he rode along the road. He paused +for a moment, and gazed, and then advanced more slowly; but the +eagerness of the small guard at that point, perhaps, frustrated their +object, for it is not certain to this day who the person was. When he +again halted, and seemed to hesitate, they dashed out after him; but +instantly setting spurs to his horse, he galloped off into the woods; +and knowing the country better than they did, he was soon lost to +their pursuit. + +In the meantime, the result of the search in Mr. Radford's house was +made known, in a formal manner, to the party assembled in the small +drawing-room. Abundant evidence was found of his having been +implicated in all the most criminal parts of the late smuggling +transactions; and the business of the night concluded, by an order to +remand him, to be brought before the bench of magistrates on the +following day; for Sir Robert Croyland declined to commit him on his +own responsibility. + +"He has preferred a charge against me," he said, in the same firm tone +he had lately assumed--"let us see whether he will sustain it +to-morrow." + +Before all was concluded, it was near midnight; and then every one +rose to depart. Mr. Croyland eagerly asked for Edith, saying he would +convey her home in his carriage; but Leyton interposed, replying, "We +will bring her to you in a moment, my dear friend.--Sir Robert, it may +be as well that you and I should seek Miss Croyland alone. I think I +saw her maid below." + +"Certainly," answered her father, "let us go, my dear Henry, for it is +growing very late." + +Mr. Croyland smiled, saying, "Well, well, so be it;" and the other two +left the room. They found Edith, after some search, seated in the +dining hall. She looked pale and anxious; but the expression of +Leyton's face relieved her of her worst apprehensions--not that it was +joyful; for there was a touch of sadness in it; but she knew that his +aspect could not be such, if her father's life were in any real +danger. + +Leyton advanced towards her at once, even before her father, took her +hand in his, and kissed it tenderly. "I told you, dearest Edith," he +said, "that I would bring you aid; and I have, thank God, been able to +redeem that promise; but now I have another task to perform. Your +father's safety is placed beyond doubt--his innocence made clear; and +your happiness, beloved one, is not sacrificed. The chance of +endangering that happiness was the only cause of my not doing what, +perhaps, you desired for his sake--what I do now. Sir Robert Croyland, +I did wrong in years long past--in boyhood and the intemperance of +youthful love and hope--by engaging your daughter to myself by vows, +which she has nobly though painfully kept. As an atonement to you, as +a satisfaction to my own sense of right, I now, as far as in me lies, +set her free from those engagements, leaving to her own self how she +will act, and to you how you will decide. Edith, beloved, you are +free, as far as I can make you so; and, Sir Robert, I ask your +forgiveness for the wrong act I once committed." + +Edith Croyland turned somewhat pale, and looked at her father +earnestly; but Sir Robert did not answer for a moment.--Was it that he +hesitated?--No; but there was an oppressive weight at his heart, when +he thought of all that he had done--all that he had inflicted, not +only on the man before him, but on others guiltless of all offence, +which seemed almost to stop its beating. But at length, he took +Edith's hand and put it in Leyton's, saying, in a low, tremulous +voice, "She is yours, Henry--she is yours; and, oh, forgive the father +for the daughter's sake!" + + + + + CHAPTER XII. + + +There was a solitary light in an upstairs window of Farmer Harris's +house; and, by its dim ray, sat Harding the smuggler, watching the +inanimate form of her upon whom all the strong affections of his heart +had been concentrated. No persuasions could induce him to entrust "the +first watch," as he called it, to others; and there he sat, seldom +taking his eyes from that pale but still beautiful countenance, and +often stooping over to print a kiss upon the cold and clay-like +forehead of the dead. His tears were all shed: he wept not--he spoke +not; but the bitterness which has no end was in his heart, and, with a +sleepless eye, he watched through the livelong night. It was about +three o'clock in the morning, when a hard knocking was heard at the +door of the farm; and, without a change of feature, Harding rose and +went down in the dark. He unlocked the door, and opened it, when a +hand holding a paper was thrust in, and instantly withdrawn, as +Harding took the letter. + +"What is this?" he said; but the messenger ran away without reply; and +the smuggler returned to the chamber of death. + +The paper he had taken was folded in the shape of a note, but neither +sealed nor addressed; and, without ceremony, Harding opened it, and +read. It was written in a free, good hand, which he recognised at +once, with rage and indignation all the more intense because he +restrained them within his own breast. He uttered not a word; his face +betrayed, only in part, the workings of strong passion within him. It +is true, his lip quivered a little, and his brow became contracted, +but it soon relaxed its frown; and, without oath or comment--though +very blasphemous expletives were then tolerated in what was called the +best society, and were prevalent amongst all the inferior classes,--he +proceeded to read the few lines which the letter contained, and which +something--perhaps the emotions he felt--had prevented him from seeing +distinctly at first. + +The epistle was, as we have seen, addressed to no one, and was drawn +up, indeed, more in the form of a general notice than anything else. +Many, of nearly the same import, as was afterwards discovered, had +been delivered at various farm-houses in the neighbourhood; but, as +all were in substance the same, one specimen will suffice. + +"We give you to know," so the letter ran, "that, unless Edward Ramley +and his two comrades are set free before daylight to-morrow, we will +come to Goudhurst, and burn the place. Neither man, woman, nor child, +shall escape. We are many--more than you think--and you know we will +keep our word. So look to it, if you would escape-- + + "Vengeance!" + + +Harding approached the bed, with the letter in his hand, gazed +steadfastly upon the corpse for several minutes, and then, without a +word, quitted the room. He went straight to the chamber which Farmer +Harris and his wife now occupied, and knocked sharply at the door, +exclaiming, "Harris--Harris! I want to speak with you!" + +The good farmer was with difficulty roused; for though no man felt +more warmly, or, indeed, more vehemently, yet the corporeal had its +full share with the mental; and when the body was fatigued with more +than its ordinary portion of labour, the mind did not keep the whole +being waking. At length, however, he came out, still drowsy, and +taking the letter, gazed on it by the light of the candle, "with lack +lustre eye!" But Harding soon brought him to active consciousness, by +saying, "They threaten to burn the village, Harris, unless the +murderers be suffered to escape. I am going up to the church, where +they are kept.--Wake some one to sit up-stairs.--I will die before a +man of them goes out." + +"And so will I," cried Harris; "let me see--let me see! My heart's +asleep still, but I'll soon wake up. Why, where the mischief did this +come from?" and he read the letter over again, with more comprehension +of its contents. When he had done, he swore vehemently, "They shall +find that the men of Goudhurst can match them," he cried; "but we must +set about it quick, Harding, and call up all the young men.--They will +come, that is certain; for the devil himself has not their impudence; +but they must be well received when they do come. We'll give them a +breakfast, Harding, they shan't forget. It shall be called the +Goudhurst breakfast, as long as men can remember. Stay, I'll just put +on my coat, and get out the gun and the pistols--we shall want as many +of those things as we can muster. I'll be back in a minute." + +From that hour till five o'clock, the little village of Goudhurst was +all alive. Intimation of the danger was sent to all the neighbouring +farmers; every labouring man was roused from his bed with directions +to meet the rest in the church-yard; and there, as the sky became +grey, a busy scene was displayed, some sixty stout men being assembled +before the porch, most of them armed with old muskets or fowling +pieces. Amongst those to whom age or habitual authority assigned the +chief place, an eager consultation went on as to their proceedings; +and though there was, as is generally the case in such meetings, a +great difference upon many points, yet three acts were unanimously +decided upon; first, to send all the women and children out of the +village--next, to despatch a messenger to Woodchurch for military +aid--and, next, to set about casting bullets immediately, as no shot +larger than slugs were to be found in the place. + +The reader will probably ask, with a look of surprise, "Is this a +scene in North America, where settlers were daily exposed to the +incursions of the savages?"--and he may add, "This could not have +happened in England!" But I beg to say, this happened in the county of +Kent, less than a century ago; and persons are still living, who +remember having been sent with the women and children out of the +village, that the men might not be impeded by fear for those they +loved, while defending the spot on which they were born. + +A fire of wood was speedily lighted by some of the men in the +church-yard; others applied themselves, with what moulds could be +procured, to the casting of ball; others, again, woke the still +slumbering inhabitants of the cottages and houses round, and warned +the women to remove to the neighbouring farms, and the men to come and +join their friends at the rendezvous; and a few of the best instructed +proceeded to arrange their plan of defence, barricading the gates of +the cemetery, and blocking up a stile, which at that time led from the +right hand wall, with an old grave-stone, against which they piled up +a heap of earth. + +The vestry, in which the prisoners had been confined--after having +been brought from Mr. Broughton's at too late an hour to convey them +to gaol--was luckily protected by strong iron bars over the windows, +and a heavy plated door between it and the church; and the old tower +of the building afforded a strong point in the position of the +villagers, which they flattered themselves could not easily be forced. + +"How many men do you think they can muster, Harding?" asked Farmer +Harris, when their first rude preparations were nearly complete. + +"I can but guess," answered the smuggler; "perhaps two hundred. They +had more than that in the Marsh, of whom I hear some fifty were taken +or killed; but a good many were not there, who may, and will be here +to-day--old Ramley for one, I should think." + +"Then we had better get into the church when they come," replied the +farmer; "they cannot force us there till the soldiers come." + +"Did you send for them?" asked Harding. + +"Oh, yes," answered the farmer, "half-an-hour ago. I sent the young +boy, who would be of no good here, on the pony; and I told him to let +Sir Robert know, as he passed; for I thought the soldiers might not +meddle if they had not a magistrate with them." + +"Very well," replied Harding, and set himself to work away again. + +Six o'clock was now past, seven approached and went by; the hand of +the dial moved half-way on to eight, and yet nothing indicated the +approach of the smugglers. In a few minutes after, however, the sound +of horses' feet galloping was heard; and a young man, who had been +placed in the belfry to look out, shouted down to those below, "Only +two!" and the next moment a horseman in military half dress, with a +servant behind him, rode up at speed to the principal entrance of the +church-yard. + +"I am come to help you, my men," cried Sir Edward Digby, springing to +the ground, and giving his rein to his servant--"Will you let us in to +your redoubt? The dragoons will soon be over; I sent your messenger +on." + +"Perhaps, sir, you may have your trouble for your pains, after all," +answered young Harris, opening the gate, to let Digby and his horses +in; "the fellows have not shown themselves, and very likely wont +come." + +"Oh, yes, they will," said the young baronet, advancing amongst +them, and looking round on every side, "I saw a long line of men on +horseback moving over the hill as I came. Put the horses under cover +of that shed, Somers. You should cut down those thick bushes near the +wall. They will conceal their movements.--Have you any axes?" + +"Here is one," cried a young man, and immediately he set to work, +hewing down the shrubs and bushes to which Digby pointed. + +In the meantime, the young officer ran over the groups with his eye, +calculating their numbers, and at length he said: "You had better +confine yourselves to defending the church--you are not enough to meet +them out here. I counted a hundred and fifty, and there may be more. +Station your best marksmen at the windows and on the roof of the +tower, and put a few stout resolute fellows to guard the door in case +these scoundrels get nearer than we wish them. As we all act upon our +own responsibility, however, we had better be cautious, and abstain +from offensive measures, till they are absolutely necessary for the +defence of ourselves and the security of the prisoners. Besides, if +they are kept at bay for some time, the dragoons will take them in +flank, and a good number may be captured." + +"We can deal with them ourselves," said the voice of Harding, in a +stern tone. He had been standing by, listening, in grave silence, with +a gun in his hand, which he had borrowed at farmer Harris's; and now, +as soon as he had spoken, he turned away, walked into the church, and +climbed to the roof of the tower. There, after examining the priming +of the piece, he seated himself coolly upon the little parapet, and +looked out over the country. The moment after, his voice was heard, +calling from above--"They are coming up, Harris!--Tell the officer." + +Sir Edward Digby had, in the meantime, advanced to the gates to +insure that they were securely fastened; but he heard what Harding +said, and turning his head, exclaimed--"Go into the church; and +garnish the windows with marksmen, as I said! I will be with you in a +moment.--Here, Somers, help me here for a moment. They will soon pull +this down;" and he proceeded calmly to fasten the barricade more +strongly. Before he had accomplished this to his satisfaction, men on +horseback were seen gathering thick in the road, and on the little +open space in front; but he went on without pausing to look at them, +till a loud voice exclaimed--"What are you about there?--Do you intend +to give the men up, or not?" + +Sir Edward Digby then raised his head, and replied: "Certainly +not!--Oh, Mr. Richard Radford--you will have the goodness to remark +that, if you advance one step towards these gates, or attempt to pass +that wall, you will be fired on from the church." + +While he was speaking, he took a step back, and then walked slowly +towards the building, making his servant go first; but half-way +thither he paused, and turning towards the ruffians congregated at a +little distance from the wall, he added aloud, addressing Richard +Radford--"You had better tell your gang what I say, my good friend, +for they will find we will keep our word." + +As he spoke, some one from the mass fired a pistol at him; but the +ball did not take effect, and Digby raised his hand, waving to those +in the church not to fire, and at the same time hurrying his pace a +little till he had passed the door and ordered it to be shut. + +"They have now fair warning," he said to one of the young Harris's, +who was on guard at the door; "but I will go up above and call to you +when I think anything is necessary to be done.--Remember, my good +fellows, that some order must be kept; and as you cannot all be at the +windows, let those who must stand back, load while the rest fire." + +Thus saying, he mounted to the top of the tower with a quick step, and +found Harding and five others on the roof. The horsemen in front of +the church, were all gathered together at a little distance, and +seemed in eager consultation; and amongst them the figures of young +Radford and the two Ramleys, father and son, were conspicuous from the +vehement gestures that they made--now pointing to the top of the +tower, now to the wall of the churchyard. + +"I think we could bring a good many down as they stand now," said +young William Harris, moving his gun towards his shoulder, as if the +inclination to fire were almost irresistible. + +"Stay--stay! not yet," replied Sir Edward Digby; "let it be clearly in +our own defence. Besides, you must remember these are but fowling +pieces. At that distance, few shots would tell." + +"One shall tell, at least, before this day is over," said Harding, who +had remained seated, hardly looking at the party without. "Something +tells me, I shall have vengeance this day." + +"Hallo! they are going to begin!" cried another man; and the same +moment, the gang of miscreants spread out, and while some advanced on +horseback towards the wall, at least fifty, who were armed with guns, +dismounted and aimed deliberately at the tower and the windows. + +"Down with your heads behind the parapet!" cried Digby, though he did +not follow the caution himself; "no use of exposing your lives +needlessly. Down--down, Harding!" + +But Harding sat where he was, saying, bitterly, "They'll not hit +me.--I know it--they've done worse already." As he spoke, a single gun +was fired, and then a volley, from the two sides of the churchyard +wall. One of the balls whizzed close by Sir Edward Digby's head, and +another struck the parapet near Harding; but neither were touched, and +the stout seaman did not move a muscle. + +"Now up, and give it them back!" exclaimed Digby; and, speaking down +the trap that led to the stairs, he called to those below, "Fire now, +and pick them off!--Steadily--steadily!" he continued, addressing his +companions on the roof, who were becoming somewhat too much excited. +"Make every shot tell, if you can--a good aim--a good aim!" + +"Here goes for one!" cried William Harris, aiming at Jim Ramley, and +hitting him in the thigh; and instantly, from the roof and the windows +of the church, blazed forth a sharp fire of musketry, which apparently +was not without severe effect; for the men who had dismounted were +thrown into great confusion, and the horsemen who were advancing +recoiled, with several of their horses plunging violently. + +The only one on the roof who did not fire was Harding, and he remained +with his gun resting on the parapet beside him, gazing, with a stern, +dark brow, upon the scene. + +"There are three down," cried one of the men, "and a lot of horses!" + +But Richard Radford was seen gesticulating vehemently; and at length +taking off his hat, he waved it in the air, shouting, so loud that his +words reached those above, "I will show you the way, then; let every +brave man follow me!" And as he spoke he struck his spurs into his +horse's sides, galloped on, and pushed his beast at the low wall of +the churchyard. + +The animal, a powerful hunter, which had been sent to him by his +father the day before, rose to the leap as if with pride. But just +then, Harding raised his gun, aimed steadily, and pulled the trigger. +The smoke for a moment obscured Digby's view; but the instant after he +saw Richard Radford falling headlong from the saddle, and his shoulder +striking the wall as the horse cleared it. The body then fell over, +bent up, with the head leaning against a tombstone and the legs upon +an adjoining grave. + +"There!--that's done!" said Harding; and laying down the gun again, he +betook himself quietly to his seat upon the parapet once more. + +"The dragoons! the dragoons!" cried a young man from the other side of +the tower. But ere he spoke, the gang of villains were already in +retreat, several galloping away, and the rest wavering. + +Loading as fast as they could, the stout yeomanry in the church +continued firing from the windows and from the roof, accelerating the +movements of their assailants, who seemed only to pause for the +purpose of carrying off their wounded companions. Sir Edward Digby, +however, ran round to the opposite side of the tower, and, clearly +seeing the advance of some cavalry from the side of Cranbrook--though +the trees prevented him from ascertaining their numbers--he bade the +rest follow, and ran down into the body of the church. + +"Now out, and after them!" he exclaimed; "we may make some prisoners!" +But as soon as the large wooden doors were thrown back and the +peasantry were seen pouring forth, old Ramley, who was amongst the +last that lingered, turned his horse and galloped away, his companions +following as fast as they could. Four men were found on the outside of +the churchyard wall, of whom two were living; but Sir Edward Digby +advanced with several others to the spot where Richard Radford was +lying. He did not appear to have moved at all since he fell; and on +raising his head, which had fallen forward on his chest as he lay +propped up by the gravestone, a dark red spot in the centre of the +forehead, from which a small quantity of blood had flowed down over +his eyes and cheeks, told how fatally true the shot had gone to the +mark. + +When he had gazed on him for a moment, Digby turned round again, to +look for Harding; but the man who had slain him, did not approach the +corpse of Richard Radford; and Digby perceived him standing near a low +shed, which at that time encumbered the churchyard of Goudhurst, and +under which the young baronet's horses had been placed. Thither the +strong hunter, which Radford had been riding, had trotted as soon as +his master fell; and Harding had caught it by the bridle, and was +gazing at it with a thoughtful look. + +The last time Sir Edward Digby had seen him, before that morning, he +was in high happiness by the side of poor Kate Clare; and when the +young officer looked at him, as he stood there, with a sort of dull +despair in his whole aspect, he could not but feel strong and painful +sympathy with him, in his deep grief. + +"Mr. Harding," he said, approaching him, "the unhappy man is quite +dead." + +"Oh, yes, sir," answered Harding, "dead enough, I am sure. I hope he +knew whose hand did it." + +"I am sorry to give you any further pain or anxiety, at this moment," +continued Digby, sinking his voice, "but I have heard that you are +supposed to have taken some part in landing the goods which were +captured the other day. For aught we know, there may be information +lodged against you; and probably there will be some officer of Customs +with the troop that is coming up. Would it not be better for you to +retire from this scene for a little?" + +"Thank you, sir,--thank you! That is kind!" answered Harding. "Life's +a load to me; but a prison is another thing. I would have given any of +those clumsy fellows a hundred guineas to have shot me as I sat there +but no man shall ever take me, and clap me up in a cell. I could not +bear that; and my poor Kate lying dead there, too!--I'll go, as you +say." + +But before he could execute his purpose, a small party of dragoons, +commanded by a lieutenant, with Birchett, the riding officer, and two +or three of his companions, came up at a trot, and poured through the +gate of the churchyard, which was now open. + +Sir Edward Digby advanced at once towards them--if the truth must be +told, to cover Harding's retreat; but Birchett's quick, shrewd eye had +run round the place in an instant; and, before the young baronet had +taken two steps along the path, he cried, "Why, there is Harding! Stop +him!--stop him! We have information against him. Don't let him pass!" + +"I _will_ pass, though," cried Harding, leaping at once upon the back +of Richard Radford's horse. "Now, stop me if you can!" and striking it +with his heel, he turned the animal across the churchyard, taking an +angle, away from the dragoons. Birchett spurred after him in a moment; +and the other officers followed; but the soldiers did not move. +Passing close by the spot where young Radford lay, as the officers +tried to cut him off from the gate, Harding cried, with a wild and +bitter laugh, "He is a good leaper, I know!" and instantly pushed his +horse at the wall. + +The gallant beast took it at once, and dashed away with its rider +along the road. The officers of Customs dared not trust their own +cattle with the same feat; but Birchett exclaimed, in a loud and +imperative tone, turning to the lieutenant of dragoons, "I require +your aid in capturing that man. He is one of the most daring smugglers +on the whole coast. We can catch him easily, if we are quick." + +"I do not know that I am authorized," said the lieutenant, not well +pleased with the man's manner; "where no armed resistance is +apprehended, I doubt if----" + +"But there may be resistance, sir," replied Birchett, vehemently; "he +is gone to join his comrades.--Well, the responsibility be on your +head! I claim your aid! Refuse it or not, as you shall think fit.--I +claim and require it instantly!" + +"What do you think, sir?" asked the young officer, turning to Digby. + +"Nay, I am not in command here," answered the other; "you know your +orders." + +"To give all lawful aid and assistance," said the lieutenant. "Well, +take a Serjeant's guard, Mr. Birchett." + +In haste, the men were drawn out, and followed: Birchett leading them +furiously on the pursuit; but ere they had quitted the churchyard, +Harding was half-a-mile upon the road; and that was all he desired. + + + + + CHAPTER XIII. + + +There was a large lugger lying off at no great distance from the +beach, near Sandgate, and a small boat, ready for launching, on the +shore. At the distance of two or three miles out, might be seen a +vessel of considerable size, and of that peculiar rig and build which +denoted, to nautical eyes, that there lay a king's vessel. She was, +indeed, a frigate of inferior class, which had been sent round to +co-operate with the Customs, in the suppression of the daring system +of smuggling, which, as we have shown, was carried on in Romney Marsh, +and the neighbouring country. By the lesser boat, upon the shore, +stood four stout fellows, apparently employed in making ready to put +off; and upon the high ground above, was seen a single officer of +Customs, walking carelessly to and fro, and apparently taking little +heed of the proceedings below. Some movements might be perceived on +board the ship; the sails, which had been furled, now began to flutter +in the wind, which was blowing strong; and it seemed evident that the +little frigate was about to get under weigh. The lugger, however, +remained stationary; and the men near the boat continued their labours +for nearly an hour after they seemed in reality to have nothing more +to do. + +At length, however, coming at a furious pace, down one of the narrow +foot-paths from the high ground above, which led away towards Cheriton +and Newington, was seen a horseman, waving his hand to those below, +and passing within fifty yards of the officer of Customs. The sailors, +who were standing by the boat, instantly pushed her down to the very +verge of the water; the officer hallooed after the bold rider, but +without causing him to pause for an instant in his course; and down, +at thundering speed, across the road, and over the sand and shingle, +Harding, the smuggler, dashed on, till the horse that bore him stood +foaming and panting beside the boat. Instantly springing out of the +saddle, he cast the bridle on the tired beasts neck, and jumped into +the skiff, exclaiming, "Shove her off!" + +"Arn't there some more, Jack?" asked one of the men. + +"None but myself," replied Harding, "and me they shan't catch.--Shove +her off, I say--you'll soon see who are coming after!" + +The men obeyed at once; the boat was launched into the water; and +almost at the same instant, the party of dragoons in pursuit appeared +upon the top of the rise, followed, a moment after, by Birchett, and +another officer of the Customs. The vehement and angry gestures of the +riding officer indicated plainly enough that he saw the prey had +escaped him; but while the dragoons and his fellow officer made their +way slowly down the bank, to the narrow road which at that time ran +along the beach, he galloped off towards a signal-post, which then +stood upon an elevated spot, not far from the place where the +turnpike, on the road between Sandgate and Folkestone, now stands. In +a few minutes various small flags were seen rapidly running up to the +top of the staff; and, as speedily as possible afterwards, signals of +the same kind were displayed on board the frigate. + +In the meantime, however, Harding and his party had rowed rapidly +towards the lugger, the sails of which were already beginning to fill; +and in less than two minutes she was scudding through the water as +fast as the wind would bear her. But the frigate was also under weigh; +and, to both experienced and inexperienced eyes, it seemed that the +bold smuggler had hardly one chance of escape. Between Dungeness +Point, and the royal vessel, there appeared to be no space for any of +those daring man[oe]uvres by which the small vessels, engaged in the +contraband trade, occasionally eluded the pursuit of their larger and +more formidable opponents; but Harding still pursued his course, +striving to get into the open sea, before the frigate could cut him +off. + +Bending under the press of sail, the boat rushed through the waves, +with the uptide running strong against her, and the spray dashing over +her from stem to stern; but still, as she took an angle, though an +acute one, with the course of the frigate, the latter gained upon her +every moment, till at length a shot, whistling across her bows, gave +her the signal to bring to. It is needless to tell the reader, that +signal received no attention; but, still steered with a firm hand, and +carrying every stitch of canvas she could bear, the lugger pursued her +way. A minute had scarcely passed, ere flash and report came again +from the frigate, and once more a ball whistled by. Another and +another followed; but, no longer directed across the lugger's bows, +they were evidently aimed directly at her; and one of them passed +through the foresail, though without doing any farther damage. The +case seemed so hopeless, not only to those who watched the whole +proceeding from the shore, but to most of those who were in the +lugger, that a murmured consultation took place among the men; and +after two or three more shots had been fired, coming each time nearer +and nearer to their flying mark, one of the crew turned to Harding, +who had scarcely uttered a word since he entered the boat, and said, +"Come, sir, I don't think this will do.--We shall only get ourselves +sunk for no good.--We had better douse." + +Harding looked sternly at him for a moment without reply; and a +somewhat bitter answer rose to his lips. But he checked himself, and +said, at length, "There's no use sacrificing your lives. You've got +wives and children--fathers and mothers. I have no one to care for +me.--Get into the boat, and be off. Me they shall never catch, dead or +alive; and if I go to the bottom, it's the best berth for me now. +Here, just help me reeve these tiller-ropes that I may take shelter +under the companion; and then be off as fast as you can." + +The men would fain have remonstrated; but Harding would hear nothing; +and, covering himself as much as he could from the aim of small arms +from the vessel, he insisted that the whole of his crew should go and +leave him. + +A short pause in the lugger's flight was observable from the shore; +and everybody concluded that she had struck. The row-boat, filled with +men, was seen to pull off from her, and the large heavy sails to flap +for an instant in the wind. But then her course was altered in a +moment; the sails filled again with the full breeze; and going like a +swallow over the waves, she dashed on towards the frigate, and, +passing her within pistol-range immediately after, shot across upon +her weather-bow. + +A cloud of smoke ran all along the side of the frigate, as this bold +and extraordinary man[oe]uvre was executed. The faint report of small +arms was wafted by the wind to the shore, as well as the sound of +several cannon; but still, whether Harding was wounded or not wounded, +living or dead, his gallant boat dashed steadily on, and left the +frigate far behind, apparently giving up the chase, as no longer +presenting any chance of success. On, on, went the lugger, diminishing +as it flew over the waves, till at length, to the eyes even of those +who watched from the heights, its dark, tanned sails grouped +themselves into one small speck, and were then lost to the sight. + +The after-fate of that adventurous man, who thus, single and unaided, +trusted himself to the wide waves, is wrapped in obscurity. The writer +of these pages, indeed, did once see a stern-looking old man of the +same name, who had returned some few years before from distant +lands--no one well knew whence--to spend the last few years of a life, +which had been protracted considerably beyond the ordinary term of +human existence, in a seaport not very far from Folkestone. The +conversation of the people of the place pointed him out as one who had +done extraordinary deeds, and seen strange sights; but whether he was, +indeed, the Harding of this tale or not, I cannot say. Of one thing, +however, the reader may be certain, that in all the statements +regarding the smuggler's marvellous escape, the most scrupulous +accuracy has been observed, and that every fact is as true as any part +of history, and a great deal more so than most. + +Having now disposed of one of our principal characters, let me take +the reader gently by the hand, and lead him back to Harbourne House. +The way is somewhat long, but still, not more than a stout man can +walk without fatigue upon a pleasant morning; and it lies, too, +amongst sweet and interesting scenes--which, to you and me, dear +reader, are, I trust, embellished by some of the charms of +association. + +It was about six days after the attack, upon the church at Goudhurst, +when a great number of those personages with whom it has been +necessary to make the reader acquainted, were assembled in the +drawing-room of Sir Robert Croyland's mansion. One or two, indeed, +were wanting, even of the party which might have been expected there, +but their absence shall be accounted for hereafter. The baronet +himself was seated in the arm-chair, which he generally occupied more +as a mark of his state and dignity, than for comfort and convenience. +In the present instance, however, he seemed to need support, for he +leaned heavily upon the arm of the chair, and appeared languid and +feeble. His face was very pale, his lips somewhat livid; and yet, +though suffering evidently under considerable corporeal debility, +there was a look of mental relief in his eyes, and a sweet placidity +about his smile, that no one had seen on his countenance for many +years. + +Mrs. Barbara was, as usual, seated at her everlasting embroidery; and +here we may as well mention a fact which we omitted to mention before, +but which some persons may look upon as indicative of her mental +character--namely, that the embroidery, though it had gone on all her +life, by no means proceeded in an even course of progression. On the +contrary, to inexperienced eyes, it seemed as if no sooner was a +stitch put in than it was drawn out again, the point of the needle +being gently thrust under the loop of the thread, and then the arm +extended with an even sweep, so as to withdraw the silk from its hole +in the canvas. Penelope's web was nothing to Mrs. Barbary Croyland's +embroidery; for the queen of Ithaca only undid what she had previously +done, every night; and Aunt Bab undid it every minute. On the present +occasion, she was more busy in the retroactive process than ever, not +only pulling out the silk she had just put in, but a great deal more; +so that the work of the last three days, was in imminent danger of +total destruction. + +Mr. Zachary Croyland never sat down when he could stand; for there was +about him, a sort of mobility and activity of spirits, which always +inclined him to keep his body ready for action. He so well knew that, +when seated, he was incessantly inclined to start up again, that +probably he thought it of little use to sit down at all; and +consequently he was even now upon his feet, midway between his brother +and his sister, rubbing his hands, and giving a gay, but cynical +glance from one to the other. + +In a chair near the window, with his wild, but fine eye gazing over +the pleasant prospect which the terrace commanded, and apparently +altogether absent in mind from the scene in the drawing-room, was +seated Mr. Osborn; and not far from Mr. Croyland stood Sir Henry +Leyton, in an ordinary riding-dress, with his left hand resting on the +hilt of his sword, speaking in an easy, quiet tone to Sir Robert +Croyland; and nearly opposite to him was Edith, with her arm resting +on the table, and her cheek supported on her hand. Her face was still +pale, though the colour had somewhat returned; and the expression was +grave, though calm. Indeed, she never recovered the gay and sparkling +look which had characterized her countenance in early youth; but the +expression had gained in depth and intensity more than it had lost in +brightness; and then, when she did smile, it was with ineffable +sweetness: a gleam of sunshine upon the deep sea. Her eyes were fixed +upon her lover; and those who knew her well could read in them +satisfaction, love, hope--nay, more than hope--a pride, the only pride +that she could know--that he whom she had chosen in her girlhood, to +whom she had remained true and faithful through years of sorrow and +unexampled trial, had proved himself in every way worthy of her first +affection and her long constancy. + +But where was Zara?--where Sir Edward Digby? for neither of them were +present at the time. From the laws of attraction between different +terrestrial bodies, we have every reason to infer that Digby and Zara +were not very far apart. However, they had been somewhat eccentric +in their orbits; for Zara had gone out about a couple of hours +before--Digby being then absent, no one knew where--upon a charitable +errand, to carry consolation and sympathy to the cottage of poor Mrs. +Clare, whose daughter had been committed to the earth the day before. +How it happened, Heaven only knows, but certain it is, that at the +moment I now speak of, she and Digby were walking home together, +towards Harbourne House, while his servant led his horse at some +distance behind. + +Before they reached the house, however, a long conversation had taken +place between the personages in the drawing-room, of which I shall +only give the last few sentences. + +"It is true, Harry, it is true," said Sir Robert Croyland, in reply to +something just spoken by Leyton; "and we have both things to forgive; +but you far more than I have; and as you have set me an example of +doing good for evil, and atoning, by every means, for a slight error, +I will not be backward to do the same, and to acknowledge that I have +acted most wrongly towards you--for which may Heaven forgive me, as +you have done. I have small means of atoning for much that is past; +but to do so, as far as possible: freely, and with my full consent, +take the most valuable thing I have to give--my dear child's +hand,--nay, hear me yet a moment. I wish your marriage to take place +as soon as possible. I have learned to doubt of time, and never to +trust the future. Say a week--a fortnight, Edith; but let it be +speedily. It is my wish--let me say, for the last time, it is my +command." + +"But, brother Robert," exclaimed Mrs. Barbara, ruining her embroidery +irretrievably in the agitation of the moment, "you know it can't be so +very soon; for there are all the dresses to get ready, and the +settlements to be drawn up, and a thousand things to buy; and our +cousins in Yorkshire must be informed, and----" + +"D--n our cousins in Yorkshire!" exclaimed Mr. Zachary Croyland. "Now, +my dear Bab, tell me candidly, whether you have or have not any nice +little plan ready for spoiling the whole, and throwing us all into +confusion again. Don't you think you could just send Edith to visit +somebody in the small-pox? or get Harry Leyton run through in a duel? +or some other little comfortable consummation, which may make us all +as unhappy as possible?" + +"Really, brother Zachary, I don't know what you mean," said Mrs. +Barbara, looking the picture of injured innocence. + +"I dare say not, Bab," answered Mr. Croyland; "but I understand what +you mean; and I tell you it shall not be. Edith shall fix the day; and +as a good child, she will obey her father, and fix it as early as +possible. When once fixed, it shall not be changed or put off, on any +account or consideration whatever, if my name's Croyland. As for the +dresses, don't you trouble your head about that; I'll undertake the +dresses, and have them all down from London by the coach. Give me the +size of your waist, Edith, upon a piece of string, and your length +from shoulder to heel, and leave all the rest to me. If I don't dress +her like a Mahommedan princess, may I never hear _Bismillah_ again." + +Edith smiled, but answered, "I don't think it will be at all +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 interrupted 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 Leyton, neither of whom she had seen before +during that morning; and then passing by her father, in her way +towards Edith, she whispered a word to him as she went. + +"What, what!" 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 something 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!" 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 terminated 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, indeed, 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 revived 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 to her offer, "no: you can +understand what I feel; but I shall be better presently. Stay here, +and let all this be settled; and remember, Edith, name the earliest +day possible--arrange with Zara and Digby. Theirs can take place at +the same time." + +Thus saying, he went out, and was seen walking slowly to and fro upon +the terrace, for some minutes after. In the meanwhile, the war had +commenced between Mr. Zachary Croyland and his younger niece. "Ah, +Mrs. Madcap!" he exclaimed, "so I hear tales of you. The coquette has +been caught at length! You are going to commit matrimony; and as birds +of a feather flock together, the wild girl and the wild boy must +pair." + +With her usual light, graceful step, and with her usual gay and +brilliant smile, Zara left Sir Edward Digby's side, and crossing over +to her uncle, rested both her hands upon his arm, while he stood as +erect and stiff as a finger post, gazing down upon her with a look of +sour fun, But in Zara's eyes, beautiful and beaming as they were, +there was a look of deeper feeling than they usually displayed when +jesting, as was her wont, with Mr. Croyland. + +"Well, Chit," he said, "well, what do you want?--a new gown, or a +smart hat, or a riding-whip, with a tiger's head in gold at the top?" + +"No, my dear uncle," she answered, "but I want you not to tease me, +nor to laugh at me, nor to abuse me, just now. For once in my life, I +feel that I must be serious; and I think even less teasing than +ordinary might be too much for me. Perhaps, one time or another, you +may find out that poor Zara's coquetry was more apparent than real, +and that though she had an object, it was a better one than you, in +your benevolence, were disposed to think." + +An unwonted drop swam in her eyes as she spoke; and Mr. Croyland gazed +down upon her tenderly for a moment. Then throwing his arms round her, +he kissed her cheek--"I know it, my dear," he said--"I know it. Edith +has told me all; and she who has been a kind, good sister, will, I am +sure, be a kind, good wife. Here, take her away, Digby. A better girl +doesn't live, whatever I may have said. The worst of it is, she is a +great deal too good for you, or any other wild, harem-scarem fellow. +But stay--stay," he continued, as Digby came forward, laughing, and +took Zara's hand; "here's something with her; for, as I am sure you +will be a couple of spendthrifts, it is but fit that you should have +something to set out upon." + +Mr. Croyland, as he spoke, put his hand into the somewhat wide and +yawning pocket of his broad-tailed coat, and produced his pocket-book, +from which he drew forth a small slip of paper. + +Digby took it, and looked at it, but instantly held it out again to +Mr. Croyland, saying, "My dear sir, it is quite unnecessary. I claim +nothing but her hand; and that is mine by promises which I hope will +not be very long ere they are fulfilled." + +"Nonsense, nonsense!" cried Mr. Croyland, putting away the paper with +the back of his hand; "did ever any one see such a fool?--I tell you, +Sir Edward Digby, I'm as proud a man as you are, and you shall not +marry my niece without receiving the same portion as her sister +possesses. I hate all eldest sons, as you well know; and I don't see +why eldest daughters should exist either. I'll have them all equal. No +differences here. I've made up to Zara, the disparity which one fool +of an uncle thought fit to put between her and Edith. Such was always +my intention; and moreover, let it clearly be understood, that when +you have put this old carrion under ground, what I leave is to be +divided between them--all equal, all equal--co-heiresses, of Zachary +Croyland, Esq., surnamed the Nabob, alias the Misanthrope--and then, +if you like it, you may each bear in your arms a crow rampant, on an +escutcheon of pretence." + +"Thank you, thank you, my dear uncle," answered Edith Croyland, while +Zara's gay heart was too full to let her speak--"thank you for such +thought of my sweet sister; for, indeed, to me, during long years of +sorrow and trouble, she has been the spirit of consolation, comfort, +strength--even hope." + +Poor Zara was overpowered; and she burst into tears. It seemed as if +all the feelings, which for the sake of others she had so long +suppressed--all the emotions, anxieties, and cares which she had +conquered or treated lightly, in order to give aid and support to +Edith, rushed upon her at once in the moment of joy, and overwhelmed +her. + +"Why, what's the foolish girl crying about?" exclaimed Mr. Croyland; +but then, drawing her kindly to him, he added, "Come, my dear, we will +make a truce, upon the following conditions--I wont 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 walking 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 bless those acts, which are done under such +impressions." + +The party in the drawing-room heard no more; and, notwithstanding the +kindly efforts of Mrs. Barbara, and a thousand 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, without 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 happier 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 marriage; for I longed to witness it with my own eyes, +yet was unwilling to mingle the happiness of such a union, with the +thought that it took place while I was in sickness and danger. My +brother will be a father to you, I am sure, when I am gone; but still +it is some satisfaction to know that you have both better protectors, +even here on earth, than he or I could be. I trust you are happy; and +believe me, I am not otherwise--though lying here with death before +me." + +Towards four o'clock on the following day, the windows of Harbourne +House were closed; and, about a week after, the mortal remains of Sir +Robert Croyland were conveyed to the family vault in the village +church. Mr. Croyland succeeded to the estates and title of his +brother; but he would not quit the mansion which he himself had built, +leaving Mrs. Barbara, with a handsome income, which he secured to her, +to act the Lady Bountiful of Harbourne House. + +The fate of Edith and Zara we need not farther trace. It was such as +might be expected from the circumstances in which they were now +placed. We will not venture to say that it was purely happy; for when +was ever pure and unalloyed happiness found on earth? There were +cares, there were anxieties, there were griefs, from time to time: for +the splendid visions of young imagination may be prophetic of joys +that shall be ours, if we deserve them in our trial here, but are +never realized within the walls of our mortal prison, and recede +before us, to take their stand for ever beyond the portals of the +tomb. But still they were as happy as human beings, perhaps, ever +were; for no peculiar pangs or sufferings were destined to follow +those which had gone before; and in their domestic life, having chosen +well and wisely, they found--as every one will find, who judges upon +such grounds--that love, when it is pure, and high, and true, is a +possession, to the brightness of which even hope can add no sweetness, +imagination no splendour that it does not in itself possess. + +The reader may be inclined to ask the after fate of some of the other +characters mentioned in this work. In regard to many of them, I must +give an unsatisfactory reply. What became of most, indeed, I do not +know. The name of Mowle, the officer of Customs, is still familiar to +the people of Hythe and its neighbourhood. It is certain that Ramley +and one of his sons were hanged; but the rest of the records of that +respectable family are, I fear, lost to the public. Little Starlight +seems to have disappeared from that part of the country, for some +time; and in truth, I have no certainty that the well-known +pickpocket, Night Ray, who was transported to Botany Bay, some +thirty years after the period of this tale, and was shot in an attempt +to escape, was the same person whose early career is here recorded. +But of one thing the reader maybe perfectly certain, that--whatever +was the fortune which attended any of the persons I have +mentioned--whether worldly prosperity, or temporary adversity befel +them--the real, the solid good, the happiness of spirit, was awarded +in exact proportion to each, as their acts were good, and their hearts +were pure. + + + + THE END. + + + + + T. C. Savill, Printer, 4, Chandos Street, Covent Garden. + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Smuggler: (Vol's I-III), by +G. P. R. 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