found Sybil so fatigued from the visits that had been made her,
that she lay quite still and almost stupefied upon her bed.

Mrs. Mossop was watching by her side; but at the entrance of Mr. Berners
and Miss Pendleton she arose and left the cell.

Lyon went to the bedside of his wife, and asked how she felt.

"Tired."

This was the only word she spoke, as with a heavy sigh she turned her
face to the wall.

Lyon and Beatrix sat with her all the afternoon, and even until the
warden came to the door with the information that the physicians had
concluded their consultation, and were about to leave the prison, and
that Mr. Worth was below, waiting to see Mr. Berners.

CHAPTER XX.

THE LAST EXPEDIENT.

----'Tis late before
The brave despair.--THOMPSON.

Lyon then took an affectionate leave of his half-conscious wife, shook
hands with Miss Pendleton, and with a heart full of anxiety went down
stairs.

He met Ishmael Worth coming out of the warden's office.

"The physicians have gone," said the young lawyer, after greeting Mr.
Berners--"just gone; but they have left a copy of their report, the
original of which they will have to deliver under oath. That original
document will have to go with the petition to the governor, which I
myself will take up to Richmond to-morrow."

"Thanks! thanks!" exclaimed Mr. Berners, pressing the young lawyer's
hand with deep emotion.

"And now, shall we adjourn to my chambers and examine this report?"

"Yes, if you please! But can you not give me some idea of its
character?"

"It is favorable to our views. That is all I know. We can soon make
ourselves acquainted with the whole matter, however," said Ishmael
Worth, as they left the prison and walked rapidly off in the direction
of the village.

As soon as they were both closeted together in Mr. Worth's chamber, with
the door closed and locked to keep off intruders, the young lawyer broke
the seal of the envelope, and they examined the report together.

But ah! that report, though favorable to the prolongation of Sybil's
life, was not conducive to its preservation.

The physicians reported the imprisoned lady as having been carefully
examined by themselves and found to be insane. But they gave it as their
unanimous opinion that her insanity was not constitutional or
hereditary: that it was not of long standing, or of a permanent
character; that, in fine, it was the effect of the terrible events of
the