FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   113   114   115   116   117   118   119   120   121   122   123   124   125   126   127   128   129   130   131   132   133   134   135   136   137  
138   139   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151   152   153   154   155   156   157   158   159   160   161   162   >>   >|  
derly placing the child in Miss Winterose's arms. Mr. Berners told Joe to have the carriage brought around and to prepare to drive it, and then he gave his arm to Sybil, who really needed its support in going up to her chamber. Beatrix followed her. Raphael walked up and down the length of the breakfast-room, in uncontrollable agitation. Miss Tabby clasped the child to her bosom, and rocking him and herself to and fro, wept and sobbed bitterly. "And as for me, I feel like a hangman," muttered old Mr. Fortescue to himself as he stood looking moodily out of the window. Mr. Fortescue had not been high sheriff very long, and was new to the ghastly duties of his office, to be sure, he might have easily deputed this irksome task to another, but he chose to perform it himself, lest that others should not do it so kindly. In a few moments Sybil returned, ready for her drive. She was dressed--her dress was afterwards minutely described in the county paper, and also in many others that reported the trial--she was dressed then in a light gray suit throughout, bonnet, mantle, and gown being of the same material, and even gloves and veil of the same hue; a pale blush rose relieved the neutral shade of her bonnet, and a ribbon of the same delicate tint fastened her small linen collar. Beatrix Pendleton, in a black silk suit, with a black lace bonnet and shawl, followed her. Beatrix, with the warm approbation of her brother, had determined to sit in the dock, beside Sybil. She, the falsely accused lady, should not go there unsupported by the presence of another lady. "Good-bye, Raphael! good-bye, Miss Tabby! I hope to be back this evening. Good-bye, dear little Cro'! Sybil will bring you something good, when she comes," said Mrs. Berners, with all the cheerfulness she could command. But Raphael turned pale as death when he silently gave her his hand. Miss Tabby could not speak, for hysterical sobs. Little Cro' cried outright. To shorten this trying scene, Mr. Berners drew his wife's arm within his own and led her to the carriage. He had just settled her in the back seat, when little Nelly rushed past everybody, and ran up the steps, and crouched breathless and palpitating at the feet of her mistress. "Yes; let her stay, Lyon," said Sybil, lifting the faithful little creature to her lap. Mr. Berners next helped Miss Pendleton to a seat beside his wife, then entered the carriage and took his place
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   113   114   115   116   117   118   119   120   121   122   123   124   125   126   127   128   129   130   131   132   133   134   135   136   137  
138   139   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151   152   153   154   155   156   157   158   159   160   161   162   >>   >|  



Top keywords:

Berners

 

bonnet

 

Raphael

 

Beatrix

 

carriage

 

Fortescue

 

dressed

 

Pendleton

 
evening
 

determined


collar
 

delicate

 

fastened

 
approbation
 

unsupported

 
accused
 
falsely
 

brother

 

presence

 

palpitating


breathless

 

mistress

 
crouched
 

rushed

 
helped
 

entered

 

creature

 

lifting

 
faithful
 

settled


silently

 

hysterical

 

turned

 

cheerfulness

 

command

 

Little

 

ribbon

 

outright

 
shorten
 
bitterly

sobbed

 

rocking

 

hangman

 

window

 

sheriff

 

moodily

 

muttered

 

clasped

 

agitation

 

brought