of him, and of Letty, too.

"I will think over what you have said," she answered; "but I can not
give him the advice you wish me. What I shall do I can not say--the
thing has come upon me with such a shock."

"You have no choice that I see," said Sepia. "It is either what I
propose or ruin. I give you fair warning that I will stick at nothing
where my reputation is concerned. You and yours shall be trod in the
dirt before I allow a spot on my character!"

To Mary's relief they were here interrupted by the hurried entrance of
Mrs. Redmain. She almost ran up to her, and took her by both hands.

"You dear creature! You have brought me my ring!" she cried.

Mary shook her head with a little sigh.

"But you have come to tell me where it is?"

"Alas! no, dear Mrs. Redmain!" said Mary.

"Then you must find it," she said, and turned away with an
ominous-looking frown. "I will do all I can to help you find it."

"Oh, you _must_ find it! My jewel-case was in your charge."

"But there has been time to lose everything in it, the one after the
other, since I gave it up. The sapphire ring was there, I know, when I
went."

"That can not be. You gave me the box, and I put it away myself, and,
the next time I looked in it, it was not there."

"I wish I had asked you to open it when I gave it you," said Mary.

"I wish you had," said Hesper. "But the ring must be found, or I shall
send for the police."

"I will not make matters worse, Mrs. Redmain," said Mary, with as much
calmness as she could assume, and much was needed, "by pointing out
what your words imply. If you really mean what you say, it is I who
must insist on the police being sent for."

"I am sure, Mary," said Sepia, speaking for the first time since
Hesper's entrance, "that your mistress has no intention of accusing
you."

"Of course not," said Hesper; "only, what am I to do? I must have my
ring. Why did you come, if you had nothing to tell me about it?"

"How could I stay away when you were in trouble? Have you searched
everywhere?"

"Everywhere I can think of."

"Would you like me to help you look? I feel certain it will be found."

"No, thank you. I am sick of looking."

"Shall I go, then?--What would you like me to do?"

"Go to your room, and wait till I send for you."

"I must not be long away from my invalids," said Mary, as cheerfully as
she could.

"Oh, indeed! I thought you had come back to your work!"

"I did not understand from you