his promise to his wife, Mr. Berners informed Miss
Tabby that he should take her to the prison to see Sybil, and requested
her to get ready at once to go. And at the same time he sent a message
to Joe to put the horses to the carriage and prepare to drive them.

Miss Tabby, at the prospect of meeting Sybil, whom she had not seen for
some months, burst into a fit of loud hysterical sobbing and crying, and
could not be comforted.

Mr. Berners had patience with her, and let the storm take its course,
knowing that it would be followed by a calm that would best prepare the
poor creature to meet her lady.

When Miss Tabby was composed enough to listen to him, Mr. Berners very
impressively said to her:

"You must remember Mrs. Berner's mental derangement, that renders her
utterly unconscious of her imprisonment, and unconcerned about her
future, and you must be very cautious neither to betray any emotion at
the sight of her, nor to make any allusion to the murder or the trial,
or to any person or event connected with either; for she has forgotten
all about it."

"That is a wonderful blessing indeed, and I would bite my tongue off
sooner than say anything to disturb her," said Miss Tabby, with a few
subsiding sobs.

The same admonition which he had administered to Miss Tabby was also
emphatically impressed upon the mind of Joe. And the old man was even
more ready and able to understand and act upon it than the old maid had
been.

When Raphael and little Cro' found out that Mr. Berners was going to
take Miss Tabby to see Mrs. Berners, they both pleaded to go with him
also.

But this could not in either case be permitted.

To Raphael Mr. Berners explained the case of his wife, and sent the boy
away more sorrowful, if possible, than before.

To little Cro' he gave his gold pencil and his new blank note-book from
his pocket, that the child might amuse himself with drawing "pictures,"
and he promised to take him to see "Sybil-mamma" at some future day.

It was yet early in the forenoon when the carriage from Black Hall
rolled through the prison gates, and drew up before the great door of
the building.

Miss Tabby groaned and sighed heavily as she followed Mr. Berners into
the gloomy hall.

They were met by one of the turnkeys, who informed Mr. Berners that Mrs.
Berners and Miss Pendleton were taking the air in the walled garden
behind the building.

Preceded by the turnkey and followed by Miss Tabby, Lyon Berners