"I know that now," said Sybil, sadly.
"And now, dearest, I would like to make 'a clean breast of it,' as the
sinners say, and tell you all--the whole 'head and front of my
offending' with that poor dead woman," said Mr. Berners, seating himself
on the floor beside his wife.
Sybil did not repel his offered confidence, for though her jealousy had
died a violent death, she was still very much interested in hearing his
confession.
Then Lyon Berners told her everything, up to the very last moment when
she had surprised them in the first and last kiss that had ever passed
between them.
"But in all, and through all, my heart, dear wife, was loyal in its love
to you," he concluded.
"I know that, dearest Lyon--I know that well," replied Sybil.
And with that tenderness towards the faults of the dead, which all
magnanimous natures share, she forbore to say, or even to think, how
utterly unprincipled had been the course of Rosa Blondelle from the
first to the last of their acquaintance with that vain and frivolous
coquette.
Sybil was now almost sinking with weariness. Lyon perceived her
condition, and said: "Remain here, dear Sybil, while I go and try to collect some boughs and
leaves to make you a couch. The sun must have dried up the moisture by
this time."
And he went out and soon returned with his arms full of boughs, which he
spread upon the flagstones. Then he took off his own overcoat and
covered them with it.
"Now, dear Sybil," he said, "if you will divest yourself of your long
riding skirt, you may turn that into a blanket to cover with, and so
sleep quite comfortably."
With a grave smile Sybil followed his advice, and then she laid herself
down on the rude couch he had spread for her. No sooner had her head
touched it, than she sank into that deep sleep of prostration which is
more like a swoon than a slumber.
Lyon Berners covered her carefully with the long riding skirt, and stood
watching her for some minutes. But she neither spoke nor stirred;
indeed, she scarcely breathed.
Then, after still more carefully tucking the covering around her, he
left her, and walked out to explore the surroundings of the chapel.