r letter you wished that, ma'am--though,
indeed, I could not have come just yet in any case."

"Then you mean to go, and leave things just as they are?"

"I am afraid there is no help for it. If I could do anything-. But I
will call again to-morrow, and every day till the ring is found, if you
like."

"Thank you," said Hesper, dryly; "I don't think that would be of much
use."

"I will call anyhow," returned Mary, "and inquire whether you would
like to see me.--I will go to my room now, and while I wait will get
some things I want."

"As you please," said Hesper.

Scarcely was Mary in her room, however, when she heard the door, which
had the trick of falling-to of itself, closed and locked, and knew that
she was a prisoner. For one moment a frenzy of anger overcame her; the
next, she remembered where her life was hid, knew that nothing could
touch her, and was calm. While she took from her drawers the things she
wanted, and put them in her hand-bag, she heard the door unlocked, but,
as no one entered, she sat down to wait what would next arrive.

Mrs. Redmain, as soon as she was aware of her loss, had gone in her
distress to tell her husband, whose gift the ring had been. Unlike his
usual self, he had showed interest in the affair. She attributed this
to the value of the jewel, and the fact that he had himself chosen it:
he was rather, and thought himself very, knowing in stones; and the
sapphire was in truth a most rare one: but it was for quite other
reasons that Mr. Redmain cared about its loss: it would, he hoped, like
the famous carbuncle, cast a light all round it.

He was as yet by no means well, and had not been from the house since
his return.

The moment Mary was out of the room, Hesper rose.

"I should be a fool to let her leave the house," she said.

"Hesper, you will do nothing but mischief," cried Sepia.

Hesper paid no attention, but, going after Mary, locked the door of her
room, and, running to her husband's, told him she had made her a
prisoner.

No sooner was she in her husband's room than Sepia hastened to unlock
Mary's door; but, just as she did so, she heard some one on the stair
above, and retreated without going in. She would then have turned the
key again, but now she heard steps on the stair below, and once more
withdrew.

Mary heard a knock at her door. Mewks entered. He brought a request
from his master that she would go to his room.

She rose and went, taking her bag with