tain the respite, Sybil had just
one week to live; for on the seventh day from this, she was ordered for
death!

And she, shielded by a mild and merciful insanity, was so peacefully
unconscious of impending doom!

But to-day he knew that he must hear the best or the worst that could
befall her; for to-day the Richmond coach would arrive, and would bring
her zealous advocate, Ishmael Worth.

And even while he sat thus gazing with his grief-dimmed eyes upon his
fated young wife, the sound of approaching footsteps was heard; the cell
door was unlocked, and the warden presented himself, saying in a low
tone:

"Mr. Worth has just arrived, and wishes to see you down stairs in my
office, sir."

Before the warden had finished his sentence, Lyon Berners had started up
and sprung past him.

He hurried down the stairs, threw open the door of the warden's office
and confronted Ishmael Worth, who, pale, weary, travel-stained, and
troubled, stood before him.

"For Heaven's sake!" cried Sybil's husband, breathlessly--"speak! what
news? Is it to be _death_,--or--LIFE!"

CHAPTER XXI.

ISHMAEL WORTH'S NEWS.

Even through the hollow eye of Death
I spy Life peering; but I dare not say
How near the tidings of our comfort is.--SHAKESPEARE.

"Life, or death?" cried Lyon Berners, pallid with intense anxiety.

"It is a respite," answered Ishmael Worth, gravely and kindly, taking
the arm of the agitated man and gently leading him towards a chair.

"Only that!" groaned Lyon Berners, as he dropped heavily into the
offered seat.

"But that is much," soothingly began Ishmael Worth, "very much, for it
is an earnest of--"

"How long?" moaned Mr. Berners, interrupting his companion.

"During the pleasure of the governor. No new day has been appointed for
her--_death_!" added the young lawyer, in a low voice and after a short
pause, for he could not bear to utter the other awful word of doom.

"Go on!" said Sybil's husband, still violently shaken by his emotions.

Ishmael Worth arose from the seat into which he had sunk for a moment,
and he laid his hand on the shoulder of the suffering man and said:

"Try to calm the perturbation of your spirits, Mr. Berners, so that you
can hear and comprehend what I am about to communicate to you."

"I will."

"Listen, then. You are aware that the respite, for an indefinite period,
of any condemned person, is almost always the prelude to the full
pardon."

"Yes."