y return from Paris," he replied. "I have
not been near Golfney Place. Nor," he added, "have I any intention of
going. To all intents and purposes, Bridget has dropped out of my
life."

"Any one would imagine," said Carrissima, "that she had done something
to annoy you."

"Oh dear, no," was the answer. "I am simply indifferent." Before she
had time to explain that she had promised to go to Golfney Place the
following afternoon, he added, "By the bye, your fears have not been
realized so far. I am immensely glad of that."

"Ah, yes," said Carrissima; "after Bridget's curious confidences, I
suppose you expected something--something horrid to occur quite soon!"

"We need not rake up the past," cried Mark, who would have preferred to
avoid Bridget's name, which indeed had not been mentioned between them
during the last few weeks.

"For that matter," she said, "my anxiety is practically a thing of the
past."

"Is Colonel Faversham cooling off?"

"Not in the least. It is difficult not to feel rather sorry for him.
He goes day after day--but then a fresh act has begun. Jimmy has
appeared on the scene."

"Jimmy!" cried Mark in unfeigned surprise.

"He met her at our house some time ago," Carrissima explained. "It was
really quite entertaining. Those two seemed to draw together on the
instant, as if one were the magnet and the other the needle. Besides,
I have the advantage of Sybil's confidences. Poor Sybil! I can assure
you she is in the most dreadful state of mind."

"But do you imagine that Jimmy means business?" demanded Mark.

"According to Sybil, he is merely biding his time: waiting until a
sufficient number of weeks have passed to enable him to come to the
point with something like decency."

"If that's really the case," said Mark, "I can only say I am immensely
pleased!"

"So am I," answered Carrissima, with quiet fervour.

"I would have done a great deal, if it had been possible," Mark
continued, "to prevent Bridget from marrying Colonel Faversham, if only
for your sake; but as to Jimmy, I don't care a rap."

"Neither do I," said Carrissima.

"If he can't take care of himself after all his experiences," Mark
insisted, "the Lord knows who can. I consider Jimmy fair game."

They parted at her door, Mark refusing to enter the house, because he
had a patient to visit--one of the very few he had taken over from Dr.
Harefield. Never had Carrissima spent a more enjoyable or a more
thorou