t she was no longer
in the house. He questioned his wife as to the cause of her absence,
and told her she was utterly heartless in refusing her leave to go and
nurse her friend; whereupon Hesper, neither from desire to do right nor
from regard to her husband's opinion, but because she either saw or
fancied she saw that, now Mary did not dress her, she no longer caused
the same sensation on entering a room, resolved to write to her--as if
taking it for granted she had meant to return as soon as she was able.
And to prick the sides of this intent came another spur, as will be
seen from the letter she wrote:

"Dear Mary, can you tell me what is become of my large sapphire ring? I
have never seen it since you brought my case up with you from Cornwall.
I have been looking for it all the morning, but in vain. You _must_
have it. I shall be lost without it, for you know it has not its equal
for color and brilliance. I do not believe you intended for a moment to
keep it, but only to punish me for thinking I could do without you. If
so, you have your revenge, for I find I can not do without either of
you--you or the ring--so you will not carry the joke further than I can
bear. If you can not come at once, write and tell me it is safe, and I
shall love you more than ever. I am dying to see you again. Yours
faithfully, H. R."

By this time, Letty was much better, and Tom no longer required such
continuous attention; Mary, therefore, betook herself at once to Mr.
Redmain's. Hesper was out shopping, and Mary went to her own room to
wait for her, where she was glad of the opportunity of getting at some
of the things she had left behind her.

"While she was looking for what she wanted, Sepia entered, and was, or
pretended to be, astonished to see her. In a strange, sarcastic tone:

"Ah, you there!" she said. "I hope you will find it."

"If you mean the ring, that is not likely, Miss Yolland," Mary answered.

Sepia was silent a moment or two, then said:

"How is your cousin?"

"I have no cousin," replied Mary.

"The person, I mean, you have been staying with?"

"Better, thank you."

"Almost a pity, is it not--if there should come trouble about this
ring?"

"I do not understand you. The ring will, of course, be found," returned
Mary.

"In any case the blame will come on you: it was in your charge."

"The ring was in the case when I left."

"You will have to prove that."

"I remember quite well."

"That no one will