Robin Lyth
at last. I am very sorry for him. But it was needful; and he had no
family."

"Lady, I am Robin Lyth. I have not been shot; nor even shot at. The man
that has been shot, I know not how, instead of me, was--was somebody
quite different. With all my heart I wish it had been me; and no more
trouble."

He looked at the mother and the little girl, and sobbed, and fell upon
a salting stool, which was to have been used that morning. Then, while
Mrs. Carroway stood bewildered, Geraldine ran up to him, and took his
hand, and said: "Don't cry. My papa says that men never cry. And I am so
glad that you were not shot."

"See me kiss her," said Robin Lyth, as he laid his lips upon the child's
fair forehead. "If I had done it, could I do that? Darling, you will
remember this. Madam, I am hunted like a mad dog, and shall be hanged to
your flag-staff if I am caught. I am here to tell you that, as God looks
down from heaven upon you and me, I did not do it--I did not even know
it."

The smuggler stood up, with his right hand on his heart, and tears
rolling manifestly down his cheeks, but his eyes like crystal, clear
with truth; and the woman, who knew not that she was a widow, but felt
it already with a helpless wonder, answered, quietly: "You speak the
truth, sir. But what difference can it make to me?" Lyth tried to answer
with the same true look; but neither his eyes nor his tongue would
serve.

"I shall just go and judge for myself," she said, as if it were a
question of marketing (such bitter defiance came over her), and she took
no more heed of him than if he were a chair; nor even half so much, for
she was a great judge of a chair. "Geraldine, go and put your bonnet on.
We are going to meet your father. Tell Cissy and all the rest to come
but the baby. The baby can not do it, I suppose. In a minute and a half
I shall expect you all--how many? Seven?--yes, seven of you."

"Seven, mother, yes. And the baby makes it eight; and yesterday you said
that he was worth all us together."

Robin Lyth saw that he was no more wanted, or even heeded; and without
delay he quitted such premises of danger. Why should he linger in a
spot where he might have violent hands laid on him, and be sped to a
premature end, without benefit even of trial by jury? Upon this train of
reasoning he made off.

Without any manner of reasoning at all, but with fierceness of dread and
stupidity of grief, the mother collected her children in si