's
words until this moment, now turned and looked at her with astonishment,
admiration, and gratitude, all blended in the expression of his fine
countenance.

"Beatrix! No! I appreciate your magnanimity! And I thank you even as
much as I wonder at you! But you must not make this sacrifice for us,"
he said.

Miss Pendleton burst into tears.

"Oh!" she said amid her sobs; "there can be nothing in the world so
precious to us as our childhood's friendships! Clement and I have played
with Sybil and you since we were able to go alone! We have no parents,
nor sisters, nor brothers, to bind us to our home. We have only our
childhood's friends that have grown up with us--you and Sybil. Clement
will resign his commission in the army; he does not need it, you know,
any more than his country now needs him; and we will let the old manor
house, and go abroad with you!"

"But, dear Beatrix, to expatriate yourselves for us!"

"Oh, nonsense!" she said, brushing the bright tears from her blooming
face. "You are trying to make this out an act of generosity on our part.
It is no such thing. It is a piece of selfishness in us. It will be a
very pleasant thing, let me tell you, to go to Europe, and travel about
and see all the old historic countries, for a year or so."

"A year or so! Oh, Beatrix! it will not be a year or so, of pleasant
travelling! It will be the exile of a life-time!"

"I don't believe it! I have more faith than that! I believe that

'Ever the right comes uppermost,
And ever is justice done;'

sooner or later, you know! And anyhow Clement and myself have resolved
to go abroad with you and Sybil! And you cannot prevent us, Mr.
Berners!"

"I am very glad that I cannot; for if I could, Beatrix, I should feel
bound by conscience to do it."

"Set your conscience at rest, Mr. Berners! It has nothing to do with
other people's deeds!"

"But, dear Beatrix, you are reckoning without your host, Destiny, which
now means the report of the medical examiners and the action of the
governor upon it! She may not be free to go to Europe."

"I think she will," said Beatrix, cheerfully.

At that moment there was a knock from the inside of the cell.

The turnkey unlocked the door.

Dr. Hart came out alone, and the door was locked after him.

Mr. Berners left the side of Beatrix, and went to meet the physician.

"Well?" inquired Sybil's husband.

"My dear sir, hope for the best. She has yet to be visited by my
c