ss thee--bless thee, child," sobbed Sibyll,
clasping the boy in her arms, and kissing him, while her tears bathed
his cheeks.

A light gleamed on the threshold; Madge, holding a candle, appeared with
Warner, his hat and cloak thrown on in haste. "What is this?" said the
poor scholar. "Can it be true? Is mankind so cruel? What have I done,
woe is me! what have I done to deserve this?"

"Come, dear father, quick," said Sibyll, drying her tears, and wakened
by the presence of the old man into energy and courage. "But put thy
hand on this boy's head, and bless him; for it is he who has, haply,
saved us."

The boy trembled a moment as the long-bearded face turned towards
him, but when he caught and recognized those meek, sweet eyes, his
superstition vanished, and it was but a holy and grateful awe that
thrilled his young blood, as the old man placed both withered hands over
his yellow hair, and murmured,--

"God shield thy youth! God make thy manhood worthy! God give thee
children in thine old age with hearts like thine!" Scarcely had the
prayer ceased when the clash of timbrels, with their jingling bells,
was heard in the street. Once, twice, again, and a fierce yell closed
in chorus,--caught up and echoed from corner to corner, from house to
house.

"Run! run!" cried the boy, turning white with terror.

"But the Eureka--my hope--my mind's child!" exclaimed Adam, suddenly,
and halting at the door.

"Eh, eh!" said Madge, pushing him forward. "It is too heavy to move;
thou couldst not lift it. Think of thine own flesh and blood, of thy
daughter, of her dead mother! Save her life, if thou carest not for
thine own!"

"Go, Sibyll, go, and thou, Madge; I will stay. What matters my life,--it
is but the servant of a thought! Perish master, perish slave!"

"Father, unless you come with me, I stir not. Fly or perish, your fate
is mine! Another minute--Oh, Heaven of mercy, that roar again! We are
both lost!"

"Go, sir, go; they care not for your iron,--iron cannot feel. They will
not touch that! Have not your daughter's life upon your soul!"

"Sibyll, Sibyll, forgive me! Come!" said Warner, conscience-stricken at
the appeal.

Madge and the boy ran forwards; the old woman unbarred the garden-gate;
Sibyll and her father went forth; the fields stretched before them calm
and solitary; the boy leaped up, kissed Sibyll's pale cheek, and then
bounded across the grass, and vanished.

"Loiter not, Madge. Come!" cried Sibyll.