“Oh, tell that to----anyone that will believe it,” cried Ralph. “I know women a little better than that. I’ll tell you what it was, and deny it, Mary, if you can. You are waiting for an old sweetheart to come home. Ah, now, I’ve made you jump. That’s your little secret. As if I didn’t know it the moment I set eyes on you, my dear.” “You are quite, quite wrong--whatever you mean--and I don’t know what you mean,” said Mary, very angry. It was not true: and yet yesterday, before he had shown himself, there was just so much possibility in the supposition that it might have been true. He laughed in his triumph over her, and sense of manly superiority, the sweetheart for whom she had waited, but who had no immediate intention of rewarding her for her constancy. “We haven’t a chance you know,” he said, “my dear, for being as faithful as that: for you see a man has women after him wherever he goes. Oh, I’ve been a rover, Mary, I’ll not deny it. A fellow like me can’t help himself. I’ve never married, and you may think if you like it is because I hadn’t forgotten you; but I’ve had plenty more ready to fling themselves at my head: so you mustn’t be surprised if I can’t make up my mind to buy the ring all at once.” “Will you tell me your answer for Letitia?” cried Mary, with a crimson countenance, looking him as steadily as she could in the face. “An answer for Tisch--bother Tisch! if you want an answer for yourself, my dear----” “Will you leave Greenpark to-day?” cried Mary, with lamblike fury. “Will you go away directly--this moment? I’ll go and tell the footman to put up your things for you, Mr. Ravelstone. Mrs. Parke wishes you to go--directly. Do you hear what I say?” “Why, then, what a little hussy you are--as bad as Tisch herself. And what have I done? You could not expect me to have the ring in my pocket----” “It doesn’t matter,” said Mary, “if she does kill herself or if they all kill themselves. I will not stand to be insulted one moment longer. Stay if you please in a place where they hate you and scorn you, and will not speak a word to you. Oh, stay if you please and shame them! But you can’t shame me, for I have nothing to do with you; only I hope I shall never see you or hear your horrid name again.”