I summon you now. O, men,
men!" she exclaimed, clasping her hands. "What is this? Are
you led away by strangers to such deeds? Why, I know you all!
You came here to aid, I am sure, and not to harm. Guard these
ladies; save them from these foreigners! There's Butler,
he'll go with us, and Godfrey Wells. Shall it be said you let
your neighbours be plundered and assailed by strangers and
never tried to shield them? Now, my good friends, I entreat,
I adjure you, Butler, Wells, Couchman, what would Walter
Gerard say, your friend that you have so often followed, if he
saw this?"
"Gerard forever!" shouted Couchman.
"Gerard forever!" exclaimed a hundred voices.
"'Tis his blessed daughter," said others; "'tis Sybil, our
angel Sybil."
"Stand by Sybil Gerard."
Sybil had made her way upon the terrace, and had collected
around her a knot of stout followers, who, whatever may have
been their original motive, were now resolved to do her
bidding. The object of Mr Mountchesney was to descend the
side-step of the terrace and again the flower-garden, from
whence there were means of escape. But the throng was still
too fierce to permit Lady de Mowbray and her companions to
attempt the passage, and all that Sybil and her followers
could at present do, was to keep the mob off from entering the
library, and to exert themselves to obtain fresh recruits.
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