"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 your 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 her.