Still he shrank from the outcry and scandal of sending her away; for certainly his wife, if it were but to oppose him, would refuse to believe a word against her cousin.
For the present, therefore, the thing seemed to blow over.

Mr.Redmain, who had pleasure in behaving handsomely so far as money was concerned, bought his wife the best sapphire he could find, and, for once, really pleased her.
But Sepia knew that Mr.Redmain had now to himself justified his dislike of her; and, as he said nothing, she was the more certain he meant something.

She lived, therefore, in constant dread of his sudden vengeance, against which she could take no precaution, for she had not even a conjecture as to what form it might assume.

From that hour she was never at peace in his presence, and hardly out of it; from every possible _tete-a-tete_ with him she fled as from a judgment.
Nor was it a small addition to her misery that she imagined Mary cognizant of Mr.Redmain's opinion and intention with regard to her, and holding the worst possible opinion of her.

For, whatever had passed first between the Count and Mr.Redmain, she did not doubt Mary had heard, and was prepared to bring against her when the determined moment should arrive.