Rosa Blondelle, who had stood spell-bound by the terrible gaze and
overwhelming words of Sybil, the wronged wife, now suddenly threw up her
hands, and with a low cry, fled from the room.
And Sybil dropped her arm and her voice at the same instant, and stood
dumb and motionless.
And now, at length, Lyon Berners spoke again.
"Sybil! you have uttered words that nothing on the part of that poor
lady should have provoked from you--words that I fear may never be
forgotten or forgiven! But--I know that she has a gentle and easy
nature. When you are cooler and more rational, I wish you to go to her
and be reconciled with her."
"With her! I am a Berners!" answered Sybil, haughtily.
"But you bitterly wrong that lady in your thoughts!"
"Bah! I caught her in your arms! on your breast! her lips clinging to
yours!"
"The first and last kiss! I swear it by all my hopes of Heaven,
Sybil--a brother's kiss!"
Sybil made a gesture of scorn and disgust.
"If I were not past laughing, I should have to laugh now," she said.
"And you will not believe this?"
She shook her head.
"And you will not be reconciled to this injured young stranger?"
"I! I am a lady--'or long have dreamed so,'" answered Sybil, haughtily.
"At least the daughter of an honest mother. And I will not even permit
such a woman as that to live under the same roof with me another day.
She leaves in the morning."
"The house is yours! You must do as you please! But this I tell you:
that in the same hour which sees that poor and friendless young creature
driven from the shelter of this roof, I leave it too, and leave it for
ever."
If Lyon Berners really meant this, or thought to bring his fiery-hearted
wife to terms by the threat, he was mistaken in her character.
"Oh, go!" she answered bitterly--"go! I will not harbor her. And why
should I seek to detain you? Your heart has left me already; why should
I wish to retain its empty case? Go as soon as you like, Lyon Berners.
Good-night, and--good-bye," she said, and with a wave of her hand she
passed from the room.
He was mad to have spoken as he did; madder still to let her leave him
so! how mad, he was soon to learn.