her.

Both the husband and wife understood and appreciated the motives of
these devoted friends.

They went down stairs, attended by the Pendletons, Mr. Sheridan, and
Raphael.

When the Berners with Raphael were in the carriage, Clement and Beatrix
Pendleton took leave, reiterating their intention to visit Black Hall
the next day.

"And I also must be with you at an early hour, Mrs. Berners; for it will
be necessary to begin at once to prepare your defence. I would also like
to learn, Mr. Berners, whom you intend to associate with me in
counsel," said young Sheridan, as he took leave of the lady and
gentleman.

"We will settle all that in the morning, Sheridan, and of course I
myself must be with you in the defence," replied Lyon Berners.

And they shook hands for the last time, and the young lawyer ordered the
coachman to drive on.

"The old ladies at the Hall will be prepared to receive you, Berners. I
took care to dispatch a messenger to them two hours ago, to announce
your coming," said Captain Pendleton, calling after them.

Lyon stretched his head out of the window, and nodded and waved his
hand, as the carriage passed out of the village.

CHAPTER XIII.

HOME.

There blend the ties that strengthen
Our hearts in hours of grief,
The silver links that lengthen
Joy's visits when most brief!--BERNARD BARTON.

"Dear Lyon, how came you here so soon after your dreadful accident, and
at such a risk to your life?"

"My dearest Sybil, what led you to give yourself up?"

These questions were simultaneously asked of each other by the husband
and wife, as soon as they were fairly upon their journey.

Then their eyes met, and despite the gravity of their position, both
smiled.

"Whose question shall be answered first?" inquired Lyon.

"Oh! mine! mine!" exclaimed Sybil; "tell me, dear Lyon, how it is that
you are able to be here at all. The bailiffs indeed told me that you
were not dangerously injured; if it had not been for that assurance, I
should have died with anxiety; but still I had every reason to suppose
that you were very seriously injured. How could you get up so soon? How
could you bear the stage-coach journey? Are you sure that it has not
endangered your life?"

"My dearest Sybil, no," said Mr. Berners, answering her last question
first. "On the contrary, it has saved it; for if I had remained in
Baltimore in that terrible state of anxiety about you, I should
cert