What effect would the night's repose have on Sybil's state? Would it bring back her lost senses, and with them the consciousness of her awful condition? Beatrix prayed that it might not—prayed that the shield of insanity might still cover her from the surrounding and impending horrors of her position.
At length both the friends fell asleep, and slept until nearly nine o'clock the next morning.
CHAPTER XVII.
THE MERCIFUL INSANITY.
| Every sense |
| Had been o'erstrung by pangs intense, |
| And each frail fibre of her brain, |
| (As bowstrings when, relaxed by rain, |
| The erring arrow launch aside,) |
| Sent forth her thoughts all wild and wide.—Byron. |
They were awakened by the drawing of bolts and turning of locks outside their door, and by the voice of the warden, saying:
"Go in, Kitty, and see if they are up. I will stay outside and guard the door."
And then the same middle-aged widow whom they had seen on the previous night entered the room.
Beatrix being fully awakened, turned anxiously to look at her friend.