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A most strange report has reached us, and mamma is like one bereft of her senses. She wants you here to contradict it; she says she knows it cannot have any foundation. Somehow the words seemed to subdue Sibylla's irritation. She returned the note to Lionel, and spoke in a hushed, gentle tone. "Is it this report that she alludes to, do you think, Lionel?" "I fear so.
I am responsible to God and my conscience." "Responsible to Good gracious, Mr. Verner!" returned Deborah, every line in her face expressing astonishment. "You call keeping her with you acting as a responsible man ought! If Sibylla's husband is living, you must put her away from your side." "When the time shall come.
"It has never been heard of," replied Lionel. "When John Massingbird returned and put in his claim when he took possession, I may say, for the one was coeval with the other the wanting of the codicil was indeed a grievance; far more than it had appeared at the time of its loss." "You must regret it very much." "I regret it always," he answered. "I regret it bitterly for Sibylla's sake."
I have never, for the briefest moment, been guilty behind your back of that which I would not be guilty of in your presence. No! my allegiance of duty has never swerved from you. So help me Heaven!" "You can't swear to me that you don't love her?" was Sibylla's retort. It appeared that he did not intend to swear it.
Perhaps if you'd be so good as to tell her, sir, how hard I'm put to it, she'd send me a little." "I am sure she will," said Lionel. "You shall have your money to-day, Mrs. Duff." He turned out of the shop, a scarlet spot of emotion on his cheek. Thirty-two pounds owing to poor Mrs. Duff! Was it thoughtlessness on Sibylla's part?
"Thank you for all, my dear child!" and there was a strange tone of pain in his low voice as he spoke it. Only Decima was in the room then, and she quitted it as Lionel entered. Treading softly across the carpet, he took his seat in a chair opposite Sibylla's couch. She slept for a great wonder or appeared to sleep.
A few minutes later he reached the dinghy minus the bird, by the by, which he had set out to secure and stepping in at once proceeded to cast off the painter. Then, as he stepped aft and tossed the paddles into the rowlocks, he first got a glimpse of Sibylla's still troubled face. "I beg your pardon, Miss Stanhope," he said. "I am afraid I have frightened you by my long stay aloft there.
One of these latter at length so strongly attracted Sibylla's admiring attention that she pointed it out to Ned. "By George!" the lad exclaimed rapturously, "that is a beauty, and no mistake; I must have him.
It was a terrible disappointment. There could be no doubt of that. And another disappointment was, to find Dr. West away. Sibylla's sisters had been at times over-strict with her, much as they loved her, and the vision of returning to her old home, to them, was one of bitterness. So bitter, in fact, that she would not glance at its possibility.
The reasonableness of this argument satisfied even Sibylla's sensitive conscience, and she made no further demur to Ned's proposed arrangements. An hour and a half later they reached the ship, just as the sun was setting, and found her still deserted, though the men could be seen mustering on the beaches and preparing to return on board.
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