arm.

Morley trembled; and then in a hurried and agitated voice, said, "No,
no, no; nothing has happened. Much may happen, but nothing has happened.
And we may prevent it."

"We! Tell me what may happen; tell me what to do."

"Your father," said Morley, slowly, rising from his seat and pacing the
room, and speaking in a low calm voice, "Your father--and my friend--is
in this position Sybil: he is conspiring against the State."

"Yes, yes," said Sybil very pale, speaking almost in a whisper and with
her gaze fixed intently on her companion. "Tell me all."

"I will. He is conspiring, I say, against the State. Tonight they meet
in secret to give the last finish to their plans; and tonight they will
be arrested."

"O God!" said Sybil clasping her hands. "He told me truth."

"Who told you truth?" said Morley, springing to her side, in a hoarse
voice and with an eye of fire.

"A friend," said Sybil, dropping her arms and bending her head in woe;
"a kind good friend. I met him but this morn, and he warned me of all
this."

"Hah, hah!" said Morley with a sort of stifled laugh; "Hah, hah; he told
you did he; the kind good friend whom you met this morning? Did I not
warn you, Sybil, of the traitor? Did I not tell you to beware of taking
this false aristocrat to your hearth; to worm out all the secrets of
that home that he once polluted by his espionage, and now would desolate
by his treason."

"Of whom and what do you speak?" said Sybil, throwing herself into a
chair.

"I speak of that base spy Egremont."

"You slander an honourable man," said Sybil with dignity. "Mr Egremont
has never entered this house since you met him here for the first time;
save once."

"He needed no entrance to this house to worm out its secrets," said
Morley maliciously. "That could be more adroitly done by one who had
assignations at command with the most charming of its inmates."

"Unmannerly churl!" exclaimed Sybil starting in her chair, her eye
flashing lightning, her distended nostril quivering with scorn.

"Oh! yes. I am a churl," said Morley; "I know I am a churl. Were I a
noble the daughter of the people would perhaps condescend to treat me
with less contempt."

"The daughter of the people loves truth and manly bearing, Stephen
Morley; and will treat with contempt all those who slander women,
whether they be nobles or serfs."

"And where is the slanderer?"

"Ask him who told you I held assignations with Mr Egremont or with