Then Sybil's hat and cloak were brought her from the cabin, and she put
them on and suffered herself to be led by her husband, and helped down
to the boat. The Sheriff's officers followed, and when all were seated,
the two boatmen laid to their oars, and the boat was rowed swiftly
towards shore.
The husband and the wife sat side by side in the stern of the boat. His
arm was wound around her waist, and her head was resting on his
shoulder. No word was spoken between them in the presence of these
strangers; but he was silently giving her all the support in his power,
and she was really needing it all, for she was utterly overcome; not by
the terrors of imprisonment or death, but by something infinitely worse,
the horror of degradation.
All this time too Lyon Berners was maturing in his own mind a plan for
her deliverance, which he was determined to begin to carry out as soon
as they should reach the shore.
In a few minutes more the boat touched the wharf, and the party landed.
"I must trouble you to take my arm, Mrs. Berners," said the Sheriff's
officer, drawing Sybil's hand under his elbow.
She would have shrunk back, but Lyon looked at her significantly, and
she submitted.
"Where do you mean to take us first?" inquired Mr. Berners, in a low
tone.
"I wish to make this matter as little painful to this lady as the
circumstances will permit. So I shall take her for the present to a
hotel, where she must of course be carefully guarded. To-night we shall
start by the night coach for Staunton, en route for Blackville,"
answered the elder officer, as with Sybil on his arm he led the way into
the town. Mr. Berners walked on the other side of his wife, and the
second officer followed close behind.
"We thank you for your consideration, Mr.--Mr.--" began Lyon.
"Purley," continued the elder officer. "My name is Purley."
"I do not remember you among the officers of the Sheriff's staff,
however."
"No; I am a new appointment. I must tell you, sir, that so strong was
the feeling of sympathy for this lady, that not one of the bailiffs
could be induced to serve the warrant; they resigned one after another."
"They all knew Sybil from her childhood up. I thank them, and will take
care that they shall lose nothing in resigning their positions for her
sake," said Lyon Berners with much warmth, while Sybil's heavy heart
swelled with gratitude.
"And to tell the whole truth, had I known this lady, I should have felt
the same reluctance to serving this warrant that was experienced by my
predecessors in office."
"I can well believe you," answered Mr. Berners, gravely.