pair. They wandered to the
future, trying to penetrate the gloom and horror of its shadows. They
flew to Black Hall, picturing the people, prevising the possibilities
there.

How he longed for, yet dreaded the arrival of Captain Pendleton! Would
there be danger in his coming through the open daylight? What news would
he bring?

The verdict of the coroners jury? Against whom must this verdict be
given? Lyon Berners shuddered away from answering this question. But it
was also possible that before this the murderer might have been
discovered and arrested. Should this surmise prove to be a fact, oh,
what relief from anguish, what a happy return home for Sybil! If not--if
the verdict should be rendered against _her_,--nothing but flight and
exile remained to them.

While Lyon Berners wandered up and down like a restless ghost among the
gravestones, his attention was suddenly arrested by the sound of a
crackling tread breaking through the bushes. He turned quickly,
expecting to see Captain Pendleton, but he saw his own servant instead.

"Joe!" he exclaimed, in a tone of surprise.

"Marser!" responded the man, in a voice of grief.

"You come from Captain Pendleton? What message does he send? How is it
at the house? Has the coroner come? And oh! has any clue been found to
the murderer?" anxiously inquired Mr. Berners.

"No, marser, no clue an't been found to no murderer. But the house up
there is full of crowners and constables, as if it was the county court
house, and Cappin Pendulum managing everything."

"He sent you to me?"

"No, marser, nor likewise knowed I come."

"Joe! _who_ has sent you here?" inquired Mr. Berners.

"No one hasn't, marser," answered Joe, dashing the tears from his eyes,
and then proceeding to unstrap a large hamper that he carried upon his
shoulders.

"No one! Then how came you here?" demanded Mr. Berners, uneasily.

Now, instead of answering his master's question, Joe sat down upon his
hamper, and wept aloud.

"What is the matter with you?" inquired Mr. Berners.

"You axed me how I comed here," sobbed Joe, "just as if I could keep
away when she and you was here in trouble, and a-wanting some one to
look arter you."

"But how did you know we were here?" anxiously questioned Mr. Berners.

"I wa'n't a listening at key-holes, nor likewise a-eaves-dropping, which
I considers beneath a gentleman to do; but I was a-looking to the back
shutters, to see as they was all safe arter the frig