Cruel As The Grave

"Well, well, my darling! are you going to let me in?" inquired Mr.

Berners, after a moment of patient waiting.

"Yes, in an instant dear!" exclaimed Sybil, hastily wiping her eyes and

trying to efface all signs of weeping from her countenance.

Then she opened the door.

Her husband entered, closed the door, and then turned around with some

light, gay word; but at the sight of his wife's pale and agitated face,

he started in surprise and distress, exclaiming: "Why, Sybil! Why, my darling! What on earth is the matter? What has

happened?"

At the sound of his anxious voice, at the sight of his troubled face,

Sybil turned aside, sank upon the corner of the sofa, dropped her head

upon its cushions, and yielded to a tempest of sobs and tears.

He hurried to her side, sat down and drew her head upon his bosom, and

in much alarm exclaimed again: "In the name of Heaven, Sybil! what is all this about? What has happened

to distress you so deeply? Have you heard any bad news?" he inquired as

he caressed and tried to soothe her.

She did not repel his caresses; for, jealous as she was, she felt no

anger towards him then. She laid her head upon his bosom, and sobbed

aloud.

"What bad news have you heard, dear Sybil?" repeated Mr. Berners.

"Oh, none at all! What bad news could I hear to make me weep? I do

not care as much as that for anything on earth, or anybody except you!"

she answered, lifting her head from his bosom as she spoke, and then

dropping it again when she had finished.

"Then what is it that troubles you, my own dear wife? What cause can you

have for weeping?" he inquired, tenderly caressing the beautiful,

wayward creature.

She lifted her head, and smiled through her tears as she answered: "None at all, I believe. What does Kotzebue say? 'To laugh or cry

without a reason, is one of the few privileges women have.' I have no

good reason to weep, dear Lyon! I know that I have not. But I am nervous

and hysterical, I believe," she added; for, as before, his tender

caresses dispelled her jealousy and restored her trust. With her head

resting on his bosom; with his arms around her; with his eyes smiling

down upon hers, she could not look in his face and retain her jealous

doubts.

"I have no reason in the world for weeping. I am just a nervous,

hysterical woman--like the rest! It is no wonder men, who see the

weakness of our sex, refuse to trust us with any power," she added, with

a light laugh.

"But I utterly deny this alleged 'weakness of your sex.' You bewray

yourself and sex by repeating the slander, though even in jest, as I see

you are. You are not weak, my Sybil. Nor do you weep without a cause.

You have some good and sufficient reason for your tears."