"Very well, dearest, I will bring your friends to see you to-morrow," said Mr. Berners soothingly.
CHAPTER XXII.
HOPE.
| One precious pearl, in sorrow's cup, |
| Unmelted at the bottom lay. |
| To shine again when, all drunk up, |
| The bitterness should pass away.—Moore. |
But if Sybil in the chaos of her mind, had lost all memory of her two protégés, they had not for a moment forgotten her.
Raphael, who was perfectly well aware of Sybil's situation, was breaking his heart at Black Hall. And every morning when little Cro' was set up in his high chair beside Mrs. Berners' vacant place at the head of the breakfast table, he would ask piteously:
"If 'Sybil-mamma,' was coming home to-day?" And every morning he would be answered, evasively:
"May be, to-day or to-morrow."
The day succeeding his promise to his wife, Mr. Berners informed Miss Tabby that he should take her to the prison to see Sybil, and requested her to get ready at once to go. And at the same time he sent a message to Joe to put the horses to the carriage and prepare to drive them.