The latter made a slight apology for having sent for him to his study--claiming the privilege, he said, of an invalid, who could not for a time have the pleasure of meeting him either at the club or at his wife's parties.

The visitor answered agreeably, with a touch of merriment that seemed to indicate a soul at ease with itself and with the world.
But here Mary all at once came to herself, and was aware that she was in quite a false position.

She withdrew therefore to the farthest corner, sat down, closed her ears with the palms of her hands, and waited.
She had sat thus for a long time, not weary, but occupied with such thoughts as could hardly for a century or two cross the horizon line of such a soul as Mr.Redmain's, even if he were at once to repent, when she heard a loud voice calling her name from a distance.

She raised her head, and saw the white, skin-drawn face of Mr.Redmain grinning at her from the open door.

When he spoke again, his words sounded like thunder, for she had removed her hands from her ears.
"I fancy you've had a dose of it!" he said.
As he spoke, she rose to her feet, her countenance illumined both with righteous anger and the tender shine of prayer.