ng,
as usual, and took her seat beside Beatrix Pendleton.

The conversation concerning Sybil ceased then. Some one started the
subject of the Christmas sermon, and they talked of that until dinner
was announced.

It was a much happier feast than Lyon Berners had ventured to hope for.
They sat long at table. After they withdrew to the drawing-room, Mr.
Berners sat the two Pendletons and the two Sheridans down to a rubber of
whist, and then excused himself to them, and went out in search of Miss
Tabitha Winterose.

He found that faithful creature in the housekeeper's room, sitting at a
little table, drinking tea and dropping tears.

"What is the matter, Miss Tabby?" he inquired cheerfully.

"What is the matter!" she repeated, reproachfully. "Is it what is the
matter you ask me, Mr. Berners; _you_? An't this Christmas-day the first
Christmas-day since ever she was born, as she hasn't passed here? And to
see how you all went on at dinner, eating and drinking and laughing and
talking as if _she_ wasn't lost and gone!"

"Now, Miss Tabby, you know well enough that Mrs. Berners is quite safe."

Miss Tabby started, spilt her tea, nearly dropped her cup, and--gazed at
him in consternation.

"I know that you know she is safe," repeated Mr. Berners.

"I don't know nothink of the sort! How should I? And neither do you. How
should you indeed, when even I don't?" said Miss Tabby, defiantly.

"Now, my good soul, you were present when Mrs. Berners was taken through
the window of the flooded prison on to the boat," said Mr. Berners.

Miss Tabby stared at him aghast.

"How--how--how do you know that?" she gasped and faltered.

"My good creature, because the man who rescued her and her child and
you, has written and told me how he did it, and all about it."

Miss Tabby's mouth and eyes opened wider than ever.

"And is she--is she safe?" she inquired.

"Yes, she is safe, on her way to a foreign country, where I shall follow
her."

"Well, my good gracious me alive; how uncommon strange things do turn
out! Well, I never did hear the like to that! Well, thanks be to
goodness!" ejaculated the poor woman fervently, clasping her hands.

"Now, Miss Tabby, this letter-writer tells me that he bound you by an
oath never to divulge the secret of Sybil's rescue; but, mark you, that
he gives me the authority to release you from that oath, so that you may
give me all the particulars of that event," said Mr. Berners, and then
he wait