Cruel As The Grave

All in one instant his eyes took in these things: First, Sybil covered

over with the dark riding skirt, and still sleeping by the smouldering

fire; but sleeping uneasily, and muttering in her sleep. Secondly, the

four prints of the western windows laid in sunshine on the floor.

Thirdly, a shadow that slipped swiftly athwart this sunshine, and

disappeared as if it had sunk into the floor on the right of the altar.

And in the same moment Sybil, with a half-suppressed shriek, started up,

and stared wildly around, exclaiming: "Oh! what is this? Where am I? Who was she?" Lyon Berners hastened to

his wife, saying soothingly: "Sybil, wake up, darling; you have been dreaming."

"But what does all this mean? Where are we? What strange place is this?"

she cried, throwing back her long dark hair, and shading her eyes with

her hands, as she gazed around.

"Dearest wife, take time to compose yourself, and you will remember all.

A sudden and terrible catastrophe has driven us from our home. You have

had a heavy sleep since that, and you find it difficult to awake to the

truth," said Lyon Berners tenderly, as he sat down by her side, and

sought to soothe her.

"Oh! I know now! I remember all now! my fatal fancy ball! Rosa

Blondelle's mysterious murder! Our sudden flight! All! O! Heavens, all!"

cried Sybil, dropping her face upon her hands.

Lyon Berners put his arm around her, and drew her to his bosom. But he

did not speak; he thought it better to leave her to collect herself in

silence.

After a few moments, she looked up again, and looked all around the

church, and then gazed into her husband's eyes, and inquired: "But Lyon, who was she? and where has she gone?"

"Who was who, dear Sybil? I don't understand," answered Mr. Berners, in

surprise.

"That gipsy-like girl in the red cloak; who was bending over me, and

staring into my face, just as you came in?"

"There was no such girl near you, or even in the church, my dear," said

Mr. Berners.

"But indeed there was; she started away just as I woke up."

"My dearest Sybil, you have been dreaming."

"Indeed no; I saw her as plainly as I see you now: a girl in a red

cloak, with such an elfin face I shall never forget it; such small

piercing black eyes; such black eyebrows, depressed towards the nose,

and raised high towards the temples, giving such an eldritch,

mischievous, even dangerous expression to the whole dark countenance;

and such wild black hair streaming around her shoulders."

"A very vivid dream you have had, dear wife, and that is all."

"I tell you no! she was bending over me; looking at me; and she fled

away just as I woke up."