"A foolish ring, indeed!--Yes, it was foolish to let you ever have the right to give it me! But, as to her character, that of persons in her position is in constant peril. They have to lay their account with that, and must get used to it. How was I to know? We can not read each other's hearts." "Not where there is no heart in the reader." Hesper's face flushed, but she did her best not to lose her temper. Not that it would have been any great loss if she had, for there is as much difference in the values of tempers as in those who lose them. She said nothing, and her husband resumed: "So you came to forgive me?" he said. "And Marston," she answered. "Well, I will accept the condescension--that is, if the terms of it are to my mind." "I will make no terms. Marston may return when she pleases." "You must write and ask her." "Of course, Mr. Redmain. It would hardly be suitable that _you_ should ask her." "You must write so as to make it possible to accept your offer." "I am not deceitful, Mr. Redmain." "You are not. A man must be fair, even to his wife." "I will show you the letter I write." "If you please." She had to show him half a score ere he was satisfied, declaring he would do it himself, if she could not make a better job of it. At length one was dispatched, received, and answered: Mary would not return. She had lost all hope of being of any true service to Mrs. Redmain, and she knew that, with Tom and Letty, she was really of use for the present. Mrs. Redmain carried the letter, with ill-concealed triumph, to her husband; nor did he conceal his annoyance. "You must have behaved to her very cruelly," he said. "But you have done your best now--short of a Christian apology, which it would be folly to demand of you. I fear we have seen the last of her."--"And there was I," he said to himself, "for the first time in my life, actually beginning to fancy I had perhaps thrown salt upon the tail of that rare bird, an honest woman! The devil has had quite as much to do with my history as with my character! Perhaps that will be taken into the account one day." But Mary lay awake at night, and thought of many things she might have said and done better when she was with Hesper, and would gladly have given herself another chance; but she could no longer flatter herself she would ever be of any real good to her. She believed there was more hope of Mr. Redmain even. For had she not once, for one brief moment, seen him look a trifle ashamed of himself? while Hesper was and remained, so far as she could judge, altogether satisfied with herself. Equal to her own demands upon herself, there was nothing in her to begin with--no soil to work upon. CHAPTER XLVII. ANOTHER CHANGE.