"It is not Frederick Massingbird," cried Sibylla, speaking sharply. "Captain Cannonby says that it cannot be." "No, it is not Frederick Massingbird--God be thanked!" said Lionel. "With that knowledge, we can afford to hear who it is bravely; can we not, Sibylla?" "But why don't you tell me who it is?" she retorted, in an impatient, fretful tone, not having the discernment to see that he wished to prepare her for what was coming. "Can't you speak, Jan, if he won't? People have no right to come, dressed up in other people's clothes and faces, to frighten us to death. He ought to be transported! Who is it?" "You will be startled, Sibylla," said Lionel. "It is one whom we have believed to be dead; though it is not Frederick Massingbird." "I _wish_ you'd tell--beating about the bush like that! You need not stare so, Jan. I don't believe you know." "It is your cousin, Sibylla; John Massingbird." A moment's pause. And then, clutching at the hand of Lionel-- "Who?" she shrieked. "Hush, my dear. It is John Massingbird." "Not dead! Did he not die?" "No. He recovered, when left, as was supposed, for dead. He is coming here to-morrow morning, Jan says." Sibylla let fall her hands. She staggered back to a pillar and leaned against it, her upturned face white in the starlight. "Is--is--is Verner's Pride yours or his?" she gasped in a low tone. "It is his." "His! Neither yours nor mine?" "It is only his, Sibylla." She raised her hands again; she began fighting with the air, as if she would beat off an imaginary John Massingbird. Another minute, and her laughter and her cries came forth together, shriek upon shriek. She was in strong hysterics. Lionel supported her, while Jan ran for water; and the gay company came flocking out of the lighted rooms to see. CHAPTER LXIX. NO HOME. People talk of a nine days' wonder. But no nine days' wonder has ever been heard or known, equal to that which fell on Deerham; which went booming to the very extremity of the county's boundaries. Lionel Verner, the legitimate heir--it may so be said--the possessor of Verner's Pride, was turned out of it to make room for an alien, resuscitated from the supposed dead.