will convince all others. Oh,
Sybil! Sybil! an hour ago so safe in your domestic sanctity, and
now--now momentarily exposed to--Heaven! I cannot bear it!" he groaned,
as he struggled for self-command and went towards her.

She was sitting with her hands clasped, as in prayer, and her eyes, full
of the deepest regret and pity, fixed upon the face of the dead. There
was sorrow, sympathy, awe--anything but fear or distrust in her
countenance. At the approach of her husband, she turned and whispered
gravely:

"She was my rival where I could least bear rivalry; and I thought she
had been a successful one. I do not think so now; and now I have no
feeling towards her but one of the deepest compassion. Oh, Lyon, we must
adopt her poor child, and rear it for our own. Oh! who has done this
deed? Some one whose aim was robbery, no doubt. Has any trace been
discovered of the murderer?" she inquired.

"None, Sybil," he answered, with difficulty.

"Oh, Lyon, such awful thoughts have visited me since I have sat here and
forced myself to look upon this sight! For I see in it that which I
might have done, had my madness become frenzy; but even then, not as
this was done. Oh, no, no, no! May God forgive me and change my heart,
for I have been standing on the edge of an abyss!"

Mr. Berners could not speak. He was suffocating with the feeling that
she now stood upon the brink of ruin yawning to receive her.

"Heaven help you, Sybil!" was the silent prayer of his spirit as he
gazed on his unconscious wife.

Miss Tabby, who sat whimpering at the feet of the dead, now spoke up:

"I think," she said, wiping the tear-drop from the end of her nose, "I
_do_ think as we ought not to leave it a-lying here, cramped up onto
this sofy, where we can't stretch it straight. We ought to have it taken
to her room and laid out on her bed, decent and in order."

"It is true; but oh, in a shock like this, how much is forgotten!" said
Mr. Berners. Then turning to old Judge Basham, who had sank into an
easy-chair to rest, but seemed to consider himself still on the bench,
since he assumed so much authority, Lyon inquired, "Do you see any
objection to the body being removed to a bedroom before the coroner's
arrival?"

"Certainly not. This is not the scene of the murder. You had best take
it back to the bed on which she received her death," answered the old
Judge.

"Friends," said Mr. Berners, turning to the gentlemen, who had all
solemnly and sil