Not one of them was admitted. No false excuses were made. "My mistress sees no one for the present," was the reply. Curiosity, thus baffled, took up the pen; but was met with a short, unvarying formula: "There is an unhappy misunderstanding between my husband and me. But I shall neither accuse him behind his back, nor justify myself." Thus the proud lady carried herself before the world; but secretly she writhed. A wife abandoned is a woman insulted, and the wives--that are not abandoned--cluck. Ryder was dejected for a time, and, though not honestly penitent, suffered some remorse at the miserable issue of her intrigues. But her elastic nature soon shook it off, and she felt a certain satisfaction at having reduced Mrs. Gaunt to her own level. This disarmed her hostility. She watched her as keenly as ever, but out of pure curiosity. One thing puzzled her strangely. Leonard did not visit the house; nor could she even detect any communication between the parties. At last, one day, her mistress told her to put on her hat, and go to Father Leonard. Ryder's eyes sparkled; and she was soon equipped. Mrs. Gaunt put a parcel and a letter into her hands. Ryder no sooner got out of her sight than she proceeded to tamper with the letter. But to her just indignation she found it so ingeniously folded and sealed that she could not read a word. The parcel, however, she easily undid, and it contained forty pounds in gold and small notes. "Oho! my lady," said Ryder. She was received by Leonard with a tender emotion he in vain tried to conceal. On reading the letter his features contracted sharply, and he seemed to suffer agony. He would not even open the parcel. "You will take that back," said he, bitterly. "What, without a word?" "Without a word. But I will write, when I am able." "Don't be long, sir," suggested Ryder. "I am sure my mistress is wearying for you. Consider, sir, she is all alone now." "Not so much alone as I am," said the priest, "nor half so unfortunate." And with this he leaned his head despairingly on his hand, and motioned to Ryder to leave him. "Here's a couple of fools," said she to herself, as she went home. That very evening Thomas Leicester caught her alone, and asked her to marry him. She stared at first, and then treated it as a jest. "You come at the wrong time, young man," said she. "Marriage is put out of countenance. No, no, I will never marry after what I have seen in this house." Leicester would not take this for an answer, and pressed her hard. "Thomas," said this plausible jade, "I like you very well; but I couldn't leave my mistress in her trouble. Time to talk of marrying when master comes here alive and well." "Nay," said Leicester, "my only chance is while he is away. You care more for his little finger than for my whole body; that they all say." "Who says?" "Jane, and all the lasses." "You simple man, they want you for themselves; that is why they belie me."