softened so many sorrows, who
had been the visiting angel in his cell, and whose devotion had led
captivity captive.

Their meetings, though regular, were now comparatively rare. The
sacred day united them, and sometimes for a short period the previous
afternoon, but otherwise the cheerful hearth and welcome home were no
longer for Gerard. And would the future bring them to him? And what was
to be the future of his child? His mind vacillated between the convent
of which she now seldom spoke, and which with him was never a cherished
idea, and those dreams of restored and splendid fortunes which his
sanguine temperament still whispered him, in spite of hope so long
deferred and expectations so often baulked, might yet be realized. And
sometimes between these opposing visions, there rose a third and more
practical, though less picturesque result, the idea of her marriage. And
with whom? It was impossible that one so rarely gifted and educated with
so much daintiness, could ever make a wife of the people. Hatton offered
wealth, but Sybil had never seemed to comprehend his hopes, and Gerard
felt that their ill-assorted ages was a great barrier. There was of
all the men of his own order but one, who from his years, his great
qualities, his sympathy, and the nature of his toil and means, seemed
not unfitted to be the husband of his daughter; and often had Gerard
mused over the possibility of these intimate ties with Morley. Sybil
had been, as it were, bred up under his eye; an affection had always
subsisted between them, and he knew well that in former days Sybil had
appreciated and admired the great talents and acquirements of their
friend. At one period he almost suspected that Morley was attached to
her. And yet, from causes which he had never attempted to penetrate,
probably from a combination of unintentional circumstances, Sybil and
Morley had for the last two or three years been thrown little together,
and their intimacy had entirely died away. To Gerard it seemed that
Morley had ever proved his faithful friend: Morley had originally
dissuaded him with energy against that course which had led to his
discomfiture and punishment; when arrested, his former colleague was his
bail, was his companion and adviser during his trial; had endeavoured to
alleviate his imprisonment; and on his release had offered to share his
means with Gerard, and when these were refused, he at least supplied
Gerard with a roof. And yet with all t