"Dr. Hart has attended Sybil's family for nearly half a century; he has known Sybil from her earliest infancy; his visit will not alarm her, though, for that matter, nothing alarms her now, not even—" He did not finish the sentence; he could not bear to utter the words that would have completed it.
Soon after he arose and took his leave. And he passed the day and night as he had passed the last and many previous days and nights.
CHAPTER XIX.
THE EXAMINATION.
| Alas how is it with you? |
| That you do bend your eyes on vacancy. |
| And——Shakespeare. |
The next morning he was early as usual at the prison, and as usual he had to wait until the doors were opened.
The news of the impending medical examination of the prisoner had been conveyed to the warden on the preceding afternoon. The prisoner and her companion had been notified of it this morning, so that when Lyon Berners was admitted to the cell he found the place in perfect order, and Sybil and Beatrix carefully dressed as if for company.
"See! we are all ready to receive our visitors, Lyon. And oh! I am so glad to be at home again, and to give a dinner party! Like old times! Before we went on our wedding tour, Lyon!"
These were the first words Sybil addressed to her husband, as he entered the room.