| ——'Tis late before |
| The brave despair.—Thompson. |
Lyon then took an affectionate leave of his half-conscious wife, shook hands with Miss Pendleton, and with a heart full of anxiety went down stairs.
He met Ishmael Worth coming out of the warden's office.
"The physicians have gone," said the young lawyer, after greeting Mr. Berners—"just gone; but they have left a copy of their report, the original of which they will have to deliver under oath. That original document will have to go with the petition to the governor, which I myself will take up to Richmond to-morrow."
"Thanks! thanks!" exclaimed Mr. Berners, pressing the young lawyer's hand with deep emotion.
"And now, shall we adjourn to my chambers and examine this report?"
"Yes, if you please! But can you not give me some idea of its character?"
"It is favorable to our views. That is all I know. We can soon make ourselves acquainted with the whole matter, however," said Ishmael Worth, as they left the prison and walked rapidly off in the direction of the village.
As soon as they were both closeted together in Mr. Worth's chamber, with the door closed and locked to keep off intruders, the young lawyer broke the seal of the envelope, and they examined the report together.
But ah! that report, though favorable to the prolongation of Sybil's life, was not conducive to its preservation.