was kissing her; actually kissing her, and all the
time she must have been engaged to Colonel Faversham."

"Nonsense," said Jimmy; "I don't believe a word of it."

"Do you imagine that Carrissima could possibly tell me an untruth?"
demanded Sybil. "She was half beside herself when I met her, or she
would never have said a word."

"Now," suggested Jimmy, "you have hit the explanation. Carrissima was
beside herself. Of course," he added, "I shall clear the matter up,
but I tell you, to begin with, I don't believe a word of it."

"How Carrissima managed to carry it off," said Sybil, "seems wonderful
to me."

"A wonderful story altogether," returned Jimmy.

"Neither Mark nor--nor his companion had the slightest idea they were
discovered," said Sybil.

"Oh, then Carrissima didn't tackle the fellow!"

"How could she?" asked Sybil. "You see, she had no actual right to
complain! Mark Driver, I dare say, would consider himself free to--to
kiss any woman he pleased."

"Anyhow," said Jimmy, with all the assurance in the world, "he didn't
kiss Bridget."

"Oh, how can you be so blind!" exclaimed his sister.

"When other people see so much," he answered, "what can be more
desirable?"

"Well," said Sybil, with tears in her eyes, "I have told you what
Carrissima saw, and naturally she drew her own conclusions."

"What were they?" asked Jimmy, thrusting his hands deep in his jacket
pockets.

"You are bound," Sybil explained, "to take into consideration what had
gone before. Only a few hours earlier Mark told Carrissima that he
hadn't seen Miss Rosser for some weeks. He said he never wished to see
her again. Then in face of that, Carrissima went to Golfney Place, and
there was the woman in his arms."

"Well," cried Jimmy, "we shall hear what Mark has to say about it."

"My dear," said Sybil nervously, "I do hope and trust you won't get me
into trouble. I should never have uttered a word if it were not for
your good."

"Any one would imagine," was the answer, "that I had been wrapped in
cotton-wool all my life. I suppose I should have been if you could
have managed it. Well, I am off to Weymouth Street at once," added
Jimmy.

CHAPTER XXII

INCRIMINATING HIMSELF

Carrissima felt compelled to go to Charteris Street. She could not
resist the temptation of telling Lawrence this latest news about their
father and Bridget, whose departure from Golfney Place made him quite
genial.

"The best thing