“The day came in which Joe and a fellow-prisoner named Jeremiah Hatfield, convicted of robbery and sentenced to seven years’ transportation and penal servitude, were to be taken from the prison, handcuffed together and put upon the train, in charge of two armed keepers, to be taken to Liverpool, from whence the transport-ship Vulture was to sail.
“Lil, supported by the strong arm and strong heart of her brother Joseph, went early to the prison to take leave of Joe.
“Joe behaved pretty well under the circumstances, kept up his own spirits and kept up Lil’s.
“‘Only look upon this as if I were going to sea, Lil! You know I am not guilty. I will not consider myself a convict. I will think of myself only as an emigrant. And I will behave so well, please the Lord, that everybody shall esteem me, whether they will or no. And shall believe that I have been wrongly accused. Cheer up, Lil.’
“The doctor had mercifully given Lil a sedative that morning to enable her to go through the ordeal, else Heaven only knows what sort of a scene of wild hysterics would have been enacted in that cell. As it was, Lil’s heart only ached with a dull despair that found no outlet in sobs or tears, or even complaint.
“The poor boy and girl were allowed to remain together until the last possible minute, and then, when they were warned that the moment of parting had actually come, there was one long, clinging embrace, and then Joseph led his sister away—not crying, not fainting, yet half dead in her dumb anguish.
“The chaplain remained with Joe. And before the wife and brother had reached the end of the corridor, another prisoner was brought from another cell, handcuffed to Joe, and both were led off to the prison van that was to take them to the railway station en route for Liverpool and the transport-ship.
“Joseph Wyvil took his sister back to their lodging-house and made her go to bed, where, overcome by all that she had done and borne that day, and stupefied by the sedative she had taken, she fell into a long sleep.
“Meanwhile the kind-hearted and helpful landlady packed up all her lodgers’ effects to save Lil trouble, in anticipation of the journey that was to be taken the next day.
“Lil awoke the next morning much calmer and stronger than might have been expected.