Radiantly beautiful looked the fair young stranger this morning, in the
dark, bright-blue cloth habit that so highly enhanced the dazzling
splendor of her blooming complexion and the golden glory of her hair.
An instant Sybil paused in involuntary admiration, and then recovered
herself and greeted the lady with affectionate warmth.
"It is nearly eight o'clock, dear, and breakfast is quite ready. Will
you come now?" inquired Sybil, when these salutations were passed.
Rosa assented with a sweet smile, and Sybil led the way into her own
sitting-room.
Mr. Berners had come in during his wife's short absence, and he now
stood before the fire with the morning paper in his hand. He put it down
on the table, and came forward to meet his wife, and to welcome her
guest.
"Mrs. Blondelle, Mr. Berners," said Sybil, introducing the parties to
each other by the simplest formula.
And while they were bowing together, Sybil was watching mischievously to
see what effect the dazzling beauty of Rosa Blondelle would have upon
Lyon Berners.
She saw it!
After bowing, they lifted their heads and looked at each other--he, at
first, with the courtesy of a host--but she with a radiant and
enchanting smile.
Sybil was prepared to see Lyon's surprise at the first view of this
peerless creature; but she was by no means prepared to witness the
involuntary gaze of intense and breathless admiration and wonder that he
fixed for a moment on her beautiful face. That gaze said as eloquently
as words could have spoken: "This is the most wondrous, perfect creature that the world ever saw!
This is the master-piece of nature."
With the sunlight of her smile still shining on him, Rosa held out her
hand, and said in the sweetest tones: "Sir, I have no words good enough to tell you how deeply I feel your
kindness and that of your dear wife to me."
"Dear lady, Mrs. Berners and myself do but gratify our own tastes in
trying to serve you; for it will be a great happiness to us if we
succeed in doing so," replied Lyon Berners, with a look and tone that
proved his perfect sincerity and earnestness.
As thus they smiled and glanced, and spoke to each other, Sybil also
glanced from the one to the other; a sudden pang shot through her heart,
exciting a nameless dread in her mind. "Even so quickly may one catch
the plague!"
"Let me lead you to the table," said Mr. Berners, offering his arm to
Mrs. Blondelle, and conducting her to her place.
Above all, Sybil was a lady; for she was a Berners. So, with this
strange wound in her heart, this vague warning in her mind, she took her
seat at the head of her table and did its honors with her usual courtesy
and grace.