I didn't come to talk about Jimmy."

"I thought you did," said Bridget.

"No, no," he replied; "I want you to fix the day for our marriage.
Upon my word, I don't feel quite certain that frankness isn't the best
in the long run--far the best."

The effect of this expression of opinion surprised Colonel Faversham.
He had never seen Bridget so greatly excited. She started to her feet,
and flushed almost as deeply as Carrissima.

"If you mean," she exclaimed, "that you have changed your mind, I have
not changed mine. After all your wonderful arguments! Please
understand, you are not to breathe a word to anybody, and to talk of
our marriage before we have been engaged a week is really too
ridiculous for anything."

Although Colonel Faversham left Golfney Place in a condition of intense
dissatisfaction however, his sensations might have proved even more
unenviable if he could have heard what Jimmy Clynesworth said to Sybil
the same afternoon.

CHAPTER XIII

A WALK ABROAD

"Sybil," said Jimmy, "at last I've seen her!"

"And did she say she would come to-morrow?" asked his sister.

"Oh well, of course you must go there in the first place," he answered.

"Jimmy, what do you mean?" said Sybil, with an expression of
bewilderment. "It is not in the least like Carrissima to be so
ceremonious----"

"Who was talking about Carrissima?" cried Jimmy.

"I naturally thought you were."

"Not a bit of it," said Jimmy. "Bridget--Miss Rosser!"

"Rosser--Rosser," murmured Sybil, taxing her memory. "I fancy there
used to be some people named Rosser at Crowborough when I stayed with
Colonel Faversham so many years ago."

"You must go and see her to-morrow," urged Jimmy. "The address is
Number 5, Golfney Place. There's the woman I should like to marry,"
added Jimmy, causing Sybil to jump out of her chair.

She pleaded tentatively, however, that she could not go the following
afternoon, for the simple reason that she expected a visit from
Carrissima, whose arrival she now eagerly awaited.

"My dear," she said, pecking at her visitor's cheeks, as she clung to
her hand, "I've been positively longing to see you. How very well you
are looking! Now pray sit down and tell me all about this Miss Rosser."

"So Jimmy has already been singing her praises," suggested Carrissima.

"Oh dear, he simply took my breath away," said Sybil. "You would never
believe it! He actually told me he should like to marry her! Did