ne
ruffian had grasped the arm of Sybil, another had clenched her garments,
when an officer covered with dust and gore, sabre in hand, jumped from
the terrace, and hurried to the rescue. He cut down one man, thrust away
another, and placing his left arm round Sybil, he defended her with
his sword, while Harold now become furious, flew from man to man, and
protected her on the other side. Her assailants were routed, they made
a staggering flight; the officer turned round and pressed Sybil to his
heart.

"We will never part again," said Egremont.

"Never," murmured Sybil.

Book 6 Chapter 13

It was the Spring of last year, and Lady Bardolf was making a morning
visit to Lady St Julians.

"I heard they were to be at Lady Palmerston's last night," said Lady St
Julians.

"No," said Lady Bardolf shaking his head, "they make their first
appearance at Deloraine House. We meet there on Thursday I know."

"Well, I must say," said Lady St Julians, "that I am curious to see
her."

"Lord Valentine met them last year at Naples."

"And what does he say of her."

"Oh! he raves!"

"What a romantic history! And what a fortunate man is Lord Marney. If
one could only have foreseen events!" exclaimed Lady St Julians. "He was
always a favourite of mine though. But still I thought his brother was
the very last person who ever would die. He was so very hard!"

"I fear Lord Marney is entirely lost to us," said Lady Bardolf looking
very solemn.

"Ah! he always had a twist," said Lady St Julians, "and used to
breakfast with that horrid Mr Trenchard, and do those sort of things.
But still with his immense fortune, I should think he would become
rational."

"You may well say immense," said Lady Bardolf. "Mr Ormsby, and there is
no better judge of another man's income, says there are not three peers
in the kingdom who have so much a year clear."

"They say the Mowbray estate is forty thousand a year," said Lady St
Julians. "Poor Lady de Mowbray! I understand that Mr Mountchesney has
resolved not to appeal against the verdict."

"You know he has not a shadow of a chance," said Lady Bardolf. "Ah! what
changes we have seen in that family! They say the writ of right killed
poor Lord de Mowbray, but to my mind he never recovered the burning of
the Castle. We went over to them directly, and I never saw a man so cut
up. We wanted them to come to us at Firebrace, but he said he should
leave the county immediately. I remember