Any hour from morning to night will do for me; only please let it be as soon as you can make it convenient.
"I am, sir, "Your humble and grateful servant, "MARY MARSTON" "What the deuce is she grateful to me for ?" grumbled Mr.Redmain when he read it.

"I never did anything for her! By Jove, the gypsy herself wouldn't let me! I vow she's got more brains of her own than any half-dozen women I ever had to do with before!" The least thing bearing the look of plot, or intrigue, or secret to be discovered or heard, was enough for Mr.Redmain.What he had of pride was not of the same sort as Wardour's: it made no pretense to dignity, and was less antagonistic, so long at least as there was no talk of good motive or righteous purpose.

Far from being offended with Mary's request, he got up at once, though indeed he was rather unwell and dreading an attack, ordered his brougham, and drove to Testbridge.
There, careful of secrecy, he went to several shops, and bought something at each, but pretended not to find the thing he wanted.
He then said he would lunch at the inn, told his coachman to put up, and, while his meal was getting ready, went to Mary's shop, which was but a few doors off.

There he asked for a certain outlandish stuff, and insisted on looking over a bale not yet unpacked.

Mary understood him, and, whispering Letty to take him to the parlor, followed a minute after.
As soon as she entered-- "Come, now, what's it all about ?" he said.
Mary began at once to tell him, as directly as she could, that she was under obligation to Mr.Wardour of Thornwick, and that she had reason to fear Miss Yolland was trying to get a hold of him--"And you know what that would be for any man!" she said.
"No, by Jove! I don't," he answered.