went
through the hall out at the grated back door, and through the walled
back yard, and through another heavy gate into the strongly enclosed and
well-shaded garden, where he found his wife and her friend sitting under
the trees.

This was so much better than anything Miss Tabby had expected to see,
that her depressed spirits rose at once as she hurried after Mr. Berners
to meet Sybil, who, with Beatrix, had arisen to receive him.

Mr. Berners had scarcely time to embrace his wife and shake hands with
Miss Pendleton, before Miss Tabby rushed past him, caught Sybil in her
arms, and forgetting all Mr. Berners' cautions and her own promises,
fell to sobbing and crying over her foster-child, and exclaiming:

"Oh, my lamb! my baby! my darling! And is it here I find you, my
darling! my baby! my lamb!" etc., etc., etc.

"Why, you foolish old Tabby, what are you howling for now? Haven't you
got over your habit of crying for every thing yet, you over-grown old
infant?" asked Sybil, laughing, as she extricated herself from the
clinging embrace, and sat down.

"I know I'm an old fool," whimpered Miss Tabby, as she wiped her eyes,
and leaning up against the bole of the tree.

"To be sure you are! Everybody knows that! But you are a dear, good old
Tabby, for all; and I am delighted to see you. And now aren't you going
to speak to Miss Pendleton?"

"Oh, yes! how do you do, Miss Beatrix? inquired the old woman, as she
courtesied and offered her hand to Miss Pendleton.

"I am well and glad to see you, Miss Tabby," answered the young lady,
cordially.

"And oh, Miss Beatrix, I do pray the Lord to bless you every night and
morning of my life! For surely you do deserve blessings for staying with
Miss Sybil in this here awful--"

An admonitory pressure of Miss Tabby's shoe by Mr. Berner's boot
arrested her speech for an instant, and then modified it:

"In this here commodious and sillubrious watering place!" she added,
with a knowing nod towards Mr. Berners, which happily escaped Sybil's
notice.

Sybil had many questions to ask about Black Hall and its inmates, and
its surroundings; but first she asked the general question:

"How are all at home, Miss Tabby?"

"Oh, all are well, my dear child!" answered the old woman, "as well as
can be, considering your--Oh, there I go again!" she exclaimed, suddenly
breaking off in alarm.

"All are well, you say, Miss Tabby?" inquired Sybil.

"Oh yes, honey, all well, the servants a