"You have come for me!" said Sybil, in a low, terrified tone, as she arose from her seat before any one else could move or speak.
"Resume your seat, Mrs. Berners, and finish your breakfast. There is no hurry," answered the old gentleman, as calmly as he could.
Then he saluted the party, shook hands with Mr. Berners, and accepted the seat offered him by Joe.
"She is wanted this morning?" inquired Mr. Berners, in a low voice.
The sheriff bowed gravely in assent.
Sybil had been kindly pressed to resume her seat and finish her breakfast. She sank back into her chair indeed, but could not eat another morsel. Nor could any one else at the table, not even poor little Cro', who saw by the faces of all around that something terrible had happened, or was about to do so.
The meal was at an end. The breakfast party arose in trepidation.
"Is she wanted now, immediately?" hastily inquired Lyon Berners.
The sheriff again bowed in assent, but added:
"I do not wish to hurry her."