She sent a lot of kind words, sir, and this,' handing him a ring, 'for a parting keepsake.' 'Diamonds!' said Martin, kissing it--let us do him justice, it was for her sake; not for theirs--and putting it on his little finger.

'Splendid diamonds! My grandfather is a singular character, Mark.

He must have given her this now.' Mark Tapley knew as well that she had bought it, to the end that that unconscious speaker might carry some article of sterling value with him in his necessity; as he knew that it was day, and not night.

Though he had no more acquaintance of his own knowledge with the history of the glittering trinket on Martin's outspread finger, than Martin himself had, he was as certain that in its purchase she had expended her whole stock of hoarded money, as if he had seen it paid down coin by coin.

Her lover's strange obtuseness in relation to this little incident, promptly suggested to Mark's mind its real cause and root; and from that moment he had a clear and perfect insight into the one absorbing principle of Martin's character.
'She is worthy of the sacrifices I have made,' said Martin, folding his arms, and looking at the ashes in the stove, as if in resumption of some former thoughts.