curs to me that you haven't seen
much of Bridget lately. I should like you to go to Golfney Place.
You've nothing in the world to do. You look idle enough sitting there!
Suppose you go this afternoon!"

"I am expecting Mark," answered Carrissima.

"Mark again!"

"And Phoebe," said Carrissima.

"Off on the spree--the three of you?"

"Mark," Carrissima explained, "asked us to help him choose a--a
carpet----"

"Devilish thoughtful of him," said the colonel in his most amiable and
significant tone.

"For his patients' waiting-room!"

"Well, if you get one to match your cheeks," was the answer, "it will
be a nice cheerful colour for them. It strikes me you're seeing a good
deal of the fellow."

"I always have done," said Carrissima, devoutly wishing he would arrive
to release her.

"Be candid now!" cried the colonel. "Be honest. I like honesty.
Anyhow, you can't deceive me. Carrissima, I'll tell you one thing.
There's nothing on this earth would give me greater gratification,
nothing!"

She durst not even yet allow her hopes to run away with her, and while
she was wondering whether there would be time to go upstairs and powder
her face or whether, after all, the remedy might not be worse than the
disease, she heard the street door bell ring.

"I will go to Golfney Place to-morrow, if you like," she said, with a
momentary sense of something resembling sympathy for her father.
Because, if what she was constantly hearing from Sybil were true, it
seemed extremely probable that Colonel Faversham was doomed to
disappointment. According to Sybil, Jimmy went to see Bridget day
after day, and granting that she was determined upon escape from her
pecuniary troubles by a marriage of some kind, surely she would choose
Jimmy in preference to the colonel, if only for the fact that he was
much more wealthy. So that Colonel Faversham were spared Carrissima
did not feel disposed to judge Bridget too severely; disapproving of
her manoeuvres, indeed, but having enough to do in the management of
her own affairs.

"Well, well, go to-morrow," said her father. "I'll answer for it she
will be pleased to see you. Take her a few flowers! Ah!" Colonel
Faversham added, as the door opened, "here's Mark!"

"Where is Phoebe?" asked Carrissima, as she offered her hand.

"An awful bore," answered Mark. "Victor has a bit of a cold; anyhow I
couldn't persuade his devoted mother to desert him this afternoon."

"I suppose," sa