But, if you thought I was ever going to marry you now that you are no better than a cripple, and don't amount to thirty cents in the opinion of the world--you or your Government either!--you made a great mistake.

I have something much more delightful on hand--so you can take back your ring and your freedom--and go and find some meeker woman who will put up with your airs." And she picked up from a table beside her his diamond gage, which she had taken from her hand before his entrance, and threw it over to him--and then leaned back as if exhausted with anger among the cushions.
John Derringham had grown very pale as the insulting words fell from her lips--and now he rose to his feet, and standing there looked at her with pitying contempt.
"Then I will say good-by, Cecilia," he said.

"The manner of your release of me cancels the pain it might otherwise have caused me.

I can only wish you all success with any new venture you may make--and assure you always of my deep respect." And, calmly putting the ring in his pocket, he turned round and slowly left the room--when, meeting Arabella upon the stairs, she was startled to see him shaking with sardonic laughter.
"Good-night, and good-by, dear Miss Clinker," he said; "I am glad to have had this opportunity of thanking you again and again for your sweet goodness to me when I was ill; it was something which I shall never forget." "Oh, Mr.Derringham!" said Arabella, "you haven't parted from Mrs.
Cricklander, have you ?" But she saw from his laughing eyes that he had, and, before she was aware of it, good, honest soul, she had blurted out: "Oh, I'm so glad!" Then they shook hands heartily, to hide her dreadful confusion, and John Derringham went on to his rooms at the Britannia, where he was staying, with nothing but a mad, wild joy in his heart.
What did Cecilia Cricklander's insults matter?
What did anything on earth matter?
He was free to go and seek his beloved one--and have every sorrow healed as he held her to his heart.

The only necessary thing now was to find her immediately, which would require some thinking out.