When they had entered their chamber. Sybil closed the door
with care, and then, Gerard sitting, or rather leaning
carelessly, on the edge of the table, she said, "We are once
more together, dear father; we will never again he separated."
Gerard sprang quickly on his legs, his eye kindled, his cheek
flushed. "Something has happened to you, Sybil!"
"No," she said, shaking her head mournfully, "not that; but
something may happen to you."
"How so, my child?" said her father, relapsing into his
customary good-tempered placidity, and speaking in an easy,
measured, almost drawling tone that was habitual to him.
"You are in danger," said Sybil, "great and immediate. No
matter at this moment how I am persuaded of this I wish no
mysteries, but there is no time for details. The government
will strike at the Convention; they are resolved. This
outbreak at Birmingham has brought affairs to a crisis. They
have already arrested the leaders there; they will seize those
who remain here in avowed correspondence with them."
"If they arrest all who are in correspondence with the
Convention," said Gerard, "they will have enough to do."
"Yes; but you take a leading part," said Sybil; "you are the
individual they would select.
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