Lyon Berners drew her to his bosom, pressed a kiss on her lips, and then signed to Miss Pendleton to follow him to the window.
"What does all this mean, dearest Beatrix?" he inquired.
"If means that her insanity is increasing. She awoke this morning, perhaps with some dream of home still lingering in her mind; at all events, with the impression that she was at Black Hall. I have not combated the pleasant delusion; indeed I have rather fostered it."
"You were right, dear friend. You know of this intended visit of the physicians?"
"Oh, yes; and so does she, only she fancies that they are to be her guests at a dinner party."
As Beatrix thus spoke, there was a sound of approaching footsteps in the corridor, and the cell door was again opened to admit Dr. Hart.
The good physician shook hands with Mr. Berners, who stood nearest the door, and whispering hastily:
"I wish to speak with you apart presently," he passed on to meet Sybil, who, with the courtesy of a hostess, was coming forward to welcome him.
He shook hands with her pleasantly, and inquired after her health.
"Oh, thanks! I am very well since I got home. I took cold. Where did I take cold?" she said, with an air of perplexity, as she passed her thin white hand through her silken black tresses.