k to you."

She silently arose and followed him. He was silent until they had
reached their own room.

"Sit down, Sybil," he then said, as calmly as he could force himself to
speak.

She sank into a seat and looked at him inquiringly, but fearlessly.

He stood before her unable to proceed. It was terrible to him to witness
her utter unconsciousness of her own position--more terrible still to be
obliged to arouse her from it.

She continued to regard him with curiosity, but without anxiety, waiting
silently for what he should say to her.

"Sybil," he said at length, as soon as he was able to speak--"Sybil, you
are a brave and strong spirit! You can meet a sudden calamity without
sinking under it."

"What is it?" inquired his wife, in a low tone.

"Sybil, dearest Sybil! there is no time to break the bad news to you;
brace yourself to hear it abruptly."

"Yes! tell me."

"Sybil, listen, and comprehend. The circumstances that surround this
mysterious murder are of a character to compromise you so seriously,
that you may only find safety in immediate flight."

"Me!--flight!" exclaimed Mrs. Berners, dilating her dark eyes in
amazement.

Mr. Berners groaned in the spirit, as he replied:

"Yes, Sybil, yes! Oh! my dearest, attend and understand, and be strong!
Sybil, hear. The quarrel you were known to have had with this poor
woman; the threats you used on that occasion; the dagger in your hand;
the blood oh your wrist, and above all the words of the dying woman
charging you with her death. All these form a chain of circumstantial
and even direct evidence that will drag you down--I cannot say it!"
burst forth Lyon in an accession of agony.

Sybil's dark eyes opened wider and wider in amazement, but still without
the least alarm.

"It is enough, oh, Sybil, to repeat to you that your only safety is in
instant flight," he exclaimed, dropping his face upon his hands.

"Flight!" echoed Sybil, staring at him. "Why should I take refuge in
flight? I have done nothing criminal, nor will I do anything so
ignominious as to fly from my home, Lyon," she added, proudly.

"But, Sybil--Oh, Sybil! the circumstantial evidence--."

"Why, I explained all that!" replied Mrs. Berners naively. "I told you
all how it was: that when I heard her scream, I ran to see what was the
matter and I drew the dagger from her bosom, and then the blood spirted
up and sprinkled me! It was terrible enough to see and bear that,
without having t