The Arrest

Had it pleased Heaven
To try me with affliction; had He rained
All kinds of sores and shames on my bare head;
Steeped me in poverty to the very lips;
I could have found in some part of my soul
A drop of patience; but alas, to make me
A fixed figure for the time of scorn
To point his slow, unmoving finger at!--SHAKESPEARE.

"Save me! Oh, save me!" she continued to cry, clinging wildly to her
husband's bosom. "Save me from this deep degradation! This degradation
worse than death!"

And it is certain that if the immediate sacrifice of his own life could
have saved her, Lyon Berners would have willingly died for Sybil; or
even if the drowning of that law officer could have delivered her, he
would have incontinently pitched the man overboard; but as neither of
these violent-means could possibly have served her, he could only clasp
her closer to his heart, and consider what was to be done.

At length he looked up at the sheriff's officer, and said: "I wish to have a word alone with my wife, if you will permit me."

The man hesitated.

"You can do it with perfect safety. We cannot possibly escape from this
ship, you know; and besides, you can keep us in sight," he added.

Still the man hesitated, and at length inquired: "Why do you wish to speak with her alone?"

"To try to soothe her spirits. I know it would be quite useless to tell
you how entirely innocent this lady is of the heinous crime imputed to
her; for even if you should believe her to be so, you would have to do
your duty all the same."