y:

"Of course they are! Don't you see they are making right for the ship?"

The boat was very near. It was at the side of the ship. The oars were
drawn in. The passengers were climbing up to the deck.

"They look like nice people! I am sure they will make it still
pleasanter for us on the voyage," said Sybil, who in her happy mood was
inclined to be delighted with every event.

The Captain went to meet the new-comers.

Two gentlemen of the party spoke for a moment with him, and then
advanced towards the spot where the husband and wife were standing.

"They _are_ nice people," repeated Sybil, positively; but Lyon said
nothing; he was pale as ashes. The two gentlemen came up and stood
before Lyon and Sybil. The elder of the two took off his hat, and bowing
gravely, said to Sybil:

"You are Mrs. Sybil Berners of Black Hall?"

Then all at once an agony of terror took possession of her; her heart
sank, her brain reeled, her limbs tottered.

"You are Mrs. Sybil Berners of Black Hall?" repeated the stranger,
drawing from his pocket a folded paper.

"Yes," faltered Sybil, in a dying voice.

"Then, Madam, I have a most painful duty to perform. Sybil Berners, you
are my prisoner," he said, and he laid his hand upon her shoulder.

With an agonizing shriek she sprang from under his hand, and threw
herself into the arms of her husband, wildly crying:

"Save me, Lyon! Oh! don't let them force me away! Save me, my husband!
Save me!"

CHAPTER XXXI.

THE ARREST.

Had it pleased Heaven
To try me with affliction; had He rained
All kinds of sores and shames on my bare head;
Steeped me in poverty to the very lips;
I could have found in some part of my soul
A drop of patience; but alas, to make me
A fixed figure for the time of scorn
To point his slow, unmoving finger at!--SHAKESPEARE.

"Save me! Oh, save me!" she continued to cry, clinging wildly to her
husband's bosom. "Save me from this deep degradation! This degradation
worse than death!"

And it is certain that if the immediate sacrifice of his own life could
have saved her, Lyon Berners would have willingly died for Sybil; or
even if the drowning of that law officer could have delivered her, he
would have incontinently pitched the man overboard; but as neither of
these violent-means could poss