Enter Bridget

r plainly, Carri

t the fire was still alight in the drawing-room. Having told the butler that he need not sit up any longer, she threw off her long

as Mark quite justifiably described them), her face, which was extraordinarily attractive, although it might no

d perhaps, if he had been aware of her presence in London, Lawrence might not have had to wait for his dinner. Moreover, Mark Driver was precisely the kind of ma

t. If he did, she would have liked to know why he had waited so long before putting his fate to

is career might easily be conceived as holding him back. Not that she imagined that, in favourable circumstances, it would be regarded as a perpetual barrier; only Mark might prefer to wait until he had settled dow

n was: Should she tak

ave her to he

in London, doubtless she would have lost very little time in finding her way to Number 5, Golfney Place. She invariably strove to act in every

just fresh from the school-room. She lived in a delightful, old-fashioned house with a rambling garden, situated about a quart

t time a medical student), his sister Phoebe and Miss Sybil Clynesworth. At the club-house Colonel Faversham met David Rosser and Mrs. Rosser, already an invalid, having been wheeled over i

nvited to stay in Grandison Square; but the visit was prevented by Mrs. Rosser'

her now? If she refrained, might not people suspect some hidden motive? Her brother Lawrence, for instance, who was

he end she made up her mind to go to Golfney Place. She looked very small and bright when, a few days later, she set forth, wearing the new set of furs, which were certainly her most

dark, wide-brimmed hat, her remarkably fair hair, her fresh, clear complexion and her di

an estate-agent's office, a church and some superior lodging-houses. These, like the church, wer

n, Mr. Miller, the proprietor of the house, and ind

, taking her up-stairs, he stopped

dows, rather ornately furnished, and reminding Carrissima of various scenes on the stage. Before the fi

atures were not regular, the ensemble was delightful, even in the estimation of one who felt disposed to criticize. Her face would have run to a point at the chin if this h

looked smaller because of her additional inches. She obviously employed an excellent dressmaker, and if she had hitherto been compelled to hide h

er ears or her eyes; then with a slow, gliding movement, in contrast with the

eek, just as she had done at parting that long time ago. "How nice of you to come," she continued, still retaining one o

course I shouldn't have known you were in London but

he arrived so late for

to the most dr

was able to start to Paris the next morn

adn't gone I should have seen him

asked Ca

shire," Bridget explained, "and-well, I happened to have a fit of the miserables. I assure you I am not often taken that

eplied Carrissima, with

ham is your brother, isn't he? Won't you unfasten those furs," she suggested. "You must find them rather warm to-day, althou

hands and pressing it against her cheek. When the butler brought in the tea-tray, Bridget asked him to move a sm

. Sugar?" she asked. "You remember our dear old house and the delightful garden! Of course my darling mothe

but turning her eyes towards the window. Carrissim

he knew he wasn't reaching his own standard. He never said a word, but of course I saw he was worrying himself to death. I have copies of all his novels; they are over on that shelf," she said, turning towards a pair of hanging shelves at the farther end of th

rissima, "I am not m

rd you as quite a c

me from being twenty

ent in Paris, and afterwards I didn't know what to do or where to go, so I kept it on for myself. I used to go to Ronseau's studio-you've heard of Ronseau?-till he convinced me it wasn't of the slig

me as soon as you can

dded, as Carrissima rose from the sofa. "I shall return your visi

"It is not very far, and I am quite alone just n

inctly," ans

Church Stretton

ame unprotected condit

id

pable of looking after herself. During my father's absence he generally pays me a visit once every twenty-four hours, either on his way home fr