Enter Bridget

Upper Grosvenor Street. She was sitting alone in the drawing-room, doubtful as to the

walked with a heavy tread, and, in fact, was generally assertive. Carrissima, not wishing to fail in her fil

ry I didn't wire; but, to tell you the truth, I forgot all about

eed," was the

f you can call it dining in the trai

e to the drawing-roo

lonel, and then turned

some soda

ds together with considerable energy. Going to the fire, he stood on the hearthrug warmi

oking?" he demanded, sud

"I don't think I have ever

I was anything like my age-fifty or fifty-five at the outside. Upon my soul, I can scarcely believe it myself. I can give a start to a good many youngsters yet. Not too

sted, "whether you re

gh some y

in my dotage. You make an immense mistake. My memory

en't forgotte

invalid wife: wrote twaddling novels. I tried to read one of them-couldn't

ormation, she told him all she knew about Bridget; how that she had made Mark Driver late for di

e grey moustache. He took a cigar from his case by and by, Carrissima trying to stifle her yawns while he talked about golf and described some of hi

he morning was so bright that he began to regret his return to London, although it was true that he could reach his favourite golf-course in three-quarters of an hour in a taxi-cab. There, indeed, Colonel Faversham spent the most of his waking

er, he stayed at home, and as he sat smoking after an excell

he act of fastening her gloves. "I don't suppo

you imagine I can't feed myself? Thank goodness, I'm not in my second childhood yet. B

On going down to the hall again, he noticed that the street door stood open, and that Knight was talking to some one on the threshold. As the colonel took his top hat from the table, he saw that the visitor wa

was on the point of turning away

," said Knight, stand

sh to see Carrissima! I assure you she will be immensely disappointed if you

tly," she replied. "As wel

table as she entered the hall. "Carrissima would never forgive me. S

she expostulated. "You mustn't

one before to-day, and I hope I shall again. What delightful weather!" he continued,

okish turn. While he was remarking upon some of the most recent publications-quoted from advertisements, for he seldom opened a book-Knight and a small footman bro

m," she said, "I cannot hel

r seen a more transparently innocent

club or somewhere. Of course I am duly grateful. Carri

er you find yourself bored in future. Carrissima has no end of friends, and hers shall be yours. Then there's my daughter-in-law! As for books, my lib

tea-table, with Colonel Faversham seated rather close by her side. As he began to explain his good fortune

or the next few days he would talk of nobody but Bridget; that he would lend her books, and perhaps even express a wish to invite her to dine. He would on every opportunity pay her extravagant compli

evenings, Carrissima scarcely suspected that the colonel had met Bridget since her visit to Grandison Square. She was certainly ast

ing!" said Lawrence. "Th

the best, or at least the mediu

ar Car

e you will drive me m

day to become. One hand was thrust between the buttons of his morning coat, the other clasped its lapelle, his head was

lfully mimicke

ry," she said, causing Lawrence hastily to change

insisted, with a blush. "Let me te

ourself look so ridicu

astingly be retained

ce," returned Lawrence. "A fine thing you h

of?" she demanded. "Wha

on Saturday," he expl

le were just going

nt to go to the Haymar

expostulated, "try to fix you

its nature,"

of a taxi," cried Lawrence, "

well as you pretend to know everybody, surely you can

lly think from Lawrence's description t

t surel

was," Phoe

id Carrissima. "That was on Sat

one question!"

en," said

at was the only tim

ay that I know for ce

clusion. You have no means of knowing. Depend upon it, he has been at Golfney Pl

a conclusion now?

tood you were afraid she might marry Mark. After all, she

bow. She may prefer a bird in the hand, and if

ot even seen Bridget. You don't know she

ress," was the answer. "A

's favour, she was the possessor of an elementary sense of justice, a

o say that," she protested. "I saw

year

inued, "I believe you have found a mare's nest

s quite capable of acting like an ordinary man of half his age. If you had tried to

re with the inclination to scoff at her brother's fears, although it was true that