your benefit, Mrs. Berners," said Mr. Sheridan, presenting his
colleague, after he himself had greeted the party.

Sybil lifted her glance to meet the gaze of the pure, sweet, strong
spirit that looked forth on her from Ishmael Worth's beautiful eyes.

Sybil Berners might have been presented to half the weak-minded kings
and vain queens on their mouldering old European thrones, without the
slightest trepidation; but before this glorious son of the soil, this
self-made man of the people, this magnate of the American Bar, this
monarch of noble Nature's crowning, this magnificent Ishmael Worth, her
spirit bowed in sincere homage, and she lowered her eyes and courtsied
deeply, before she offered him her hand.

Holding that little hand between his own, he spoke a few strong,
reviving words to her.

He told her, in the first place, that he had spent the whole night in
making himself master of her case; that his firm faith in her innocence
would give him great power as her advocate; that he would do his best
for her sake; but that while doing his best, they must lean on Divine
Providence for support and deliverance, who, in his own good
time--later, if not sooner--would vindicate the innocent.

And as he uttered these words, looking down in her face, he infused into
her soul comfort and courage, and patience to meet the worst this first
day of trial might bring.

But no one knew better than Mr. Worth the almost utter hopelessness of
the cause he had undertaken to defend; and that was no small sacrifice
for an eminently successful barrister like Ishmael Worth, who had never
in the course of his professional career lost a single case, to withdraw
himself from his own bar and business, and take much trouble to get
admitted to practice at another, for the sake of defending an utter
stranger, in whose case there seemed not more than one chance in a
thousand of success.

But if there had not been even that one slight chance, still the
magnanimity and tenderness of Ishmael Worth's nature would have brought
him to the accused lady's side, her defender to the death.

Something like this passed through the mind of Lyon Berners as he
grasped the hand of Mr. Worth, and warmly thanked him.

And then the sheriff drew Sybil's arm within his own to lead her on.
Lyon Berners offered his arm to Beatrix Pendleton, and followed them.
The counsel brought up the rear.

Thus the little procession entered the court-room. The presiding jud