She stopped to consider.

One thing was clear--that, if the ring was not lost till after she left--and of so much she was sure--it could not be Tom that had taken it, for he was then ill in bed.

Something to this effect she managed to say.
"I told you already," returned Sepia, "that I had no suspicion of him--at least, I desire to have none, but you may be required to prove all you say; and it is as well to let you understand--though there is no reason why _I_ should take the trouble--that your going to those very people at the time, and their proving to be friends of yours, adds to the difficulty." "How ?" asked Mary.
"I am not on the jury," replied Sepia, with indifference.
The scope of her remarks seemed to Mary intended to show that any suspicion of her would only be natural.

For the moment the idea amused her.

But Sepia's way of talking about Tom, whatever she meant by it, was disgraceful! "I am astonished you should seem so indifferent," she said, "if the character of a gentleman with whom you have been so intimate is so seriously threatened as you would imply.