atience was your strong point," said
Bridget.

"Well, well, too much of it makes a man look like a fool," was the
answer, "and besides, to tell the truth, I'm devilish impatient. Who
could look at you and be anything else? What's the use of wasting time
in this way? I could fix things up in a week, and never a word to
Lawrence or Carrissima till we're safely out of England. Come now,
when shall we get married?"

For a few moments, while Colonel Faversham sat smoking, she did not
answer. She was standing a few yards away, with her fingers
interlocked. Her breath came and went quickly and her face had lost
all its colour.

"It's no use," she suddenly exclaimed. "I can't tell you."

"Why not--why not?" demanded Colonel Faversham. "Good gracious, my
little pet isn't frightened of me!"

"I think I am," she faltered.

"What is there to be frightened about?"

"You have always been so kind--I am going to treat you so horridly----"

"No, you're not," he said. "You're going to make me the dearest little
wife in the world. Come, now, Bridget?"

He was too fatuously enamoured to dream that she could be struggling
for strength to dismiss him. Her obvious timidity was ascribed to
natural maidenly bashfulness, which made her appear wonderfully
enticing. She clasped her hands more tightly together and turned her
head this way and that, glancing at the windows, at the door, as if she
longed to run away and make her escape from the man whose chief desire
in life was to keep her always by his side.

He saw her moisten her lips and raise her hands for a moment to her
forehead.

"I can't say it," she cried. "I suppose I am too great a coward.
You--you shall know to-morrow!"

"You will fix the day for certain!" said Colonel Faversham eagerly.

"You shall know to-morrow," she repeated.

"Now, that," he exclaimed, rising from his chair, "is a promise!"

"A solemn promise," murmured Bridget; and a few minutes later Colonel
Faversham went away, strutting along the street with his chest puffed
out, walking on air, and certainly never doubting that Bridget's
promise would be fulfilled. At the end of Golfney Place his expression
changed as he saw Jimmy Clynesworth--on his way to No. 5, no doubt!
Well, let Jimmy make the most of his opportunities. He would not find
very many more! Another week or two and Bridget would be whisked away
from England to return as Mrs. Faversham.

"Some one," remarked Jimmy, as he ent