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.