paused at the gate, which opened and shut softly, and then the door-
latch was lifted, and Lizzy came in.

Stockdale went forward and said at once, 'Lizzy, don't be frightened. I
have been waiting up for you.'

She started, though she had recognized the voice. 'It is Mr. Stockdale,
isn't it?' she said.

'Yes,' he answered, becoming angry now that she was safe indoors, and not
alarmed. 'And a nice game I've found you out in to-night. You are in
man's clothes, and I am ashamed of you!'

Lizzy could hardly find a voice to answer this unexpected reproach.

'I am only partly in man's clothes,' she faltered, shrinking back to the
wall. 'It is only his greatcoat and hat and breeches that I've got on,
which is no harm, as he was my own husband; and I do it only because a
cloak blows about so, and you can't use your arms. I have got my own
dress under just the same--it is only tucked in! Will you go away
upstairs and let me pass? I didn't want you to see me at such a time as
this!'

'But I have a right to see you! How do you think there can be anything
between us now?' Lizzy was silent. 'You are a smuggler,' he continued
sadly.

'I have only a share in the run,' she said.

'That makes no difference. Whatever did you engage in such a trade as
that for, and keep it such a secret from me all this time?'

'I don't do it always. I only do it in winter-time when 'tis new moon.'

'Well, I suppose that's because it can't be done anywhen else . . . You
have regularly upset me, Lizzy.'

'I am sorry for that,' Lizzy meekly replied.

'Well now,' said he more tenderly, 'no harm is done as yet. Won't you
for the sake of me give up this blamable and dangerous practice
altogether?'

'I must do my best to save this run,' said she, getting rather husky in
the throat. 'I don't want to give you up--you know that; but I don't
want to lose my venture. I don't know what to do now! Why I have kept
it so secret from you is that I was afraid you would be angry if you
knew.'

'I should think so! I suppose if I had married you without finding this
out you'd have gone on with it just the same?'

'I don't know. I did not think so far ahead. I only went to-night to
burn the folks off, because we found that the excisemen knew where the
tubs were to be landed.'

'It is a pretty mess to be in altogether, is this,' said the distracted
young minister. 'Well, what will you do now?'

Lizzy slowly murmured the particulars of