erated. I hope we shall pull him through."

"Father and I are going abroad," Carrissima explained. "I dare say we
shall be away quite a month."

"I hope you will have a good time," said Mark, and then raising his hat
again, he walked on.

Carrissima bit her lower lip and kept her eyes on the pavement. She
had done all she could, and there was an end of it! Perhaps the lapse
of time would make him more reasonable, because it really was
ridiculous to behave as if she were the original sinner. Not that she
imagined that anything in the world would ever facilitate the happiness
to which she had formerly tried to look forward.

The same evening brought a surprise in the form of a letter from
Bridget. She wished to see Carrissima very particularly indeed. As it
was not very convenient to come to Grandison Square, would Carrissima
mind going to Golfney Place at half-past eleven the following morning?

Carrissima certainly could understand the "inconvenience" of a visit to
Colonel Faversham's house, but she scarcely hesitated about going to
see Bridget at her lodgings. Personally, she had not the least
antipathy to the marriage, and, moreover, it seemed inevitable that she
should see something of Jimmy's wife in the future. Consequently there
was nothing to be gained by holding aloof in the present.

She was at once impressed by the subtle change in Miss Rosser's
demeanour. It almost seemed as if she had increased in stature during
the last few days; certainly she held her head higher in the air.
There was an obvious accession of dignity, and she greeted her visitor
rather condescendingly--quite charmingly, nevertheless.

"Thank you so very, very much for that lovely rose-bowl," she
exclaimed. "So clever of you to know just what we wanted. Jimmy was
here when it came yesterday evening, and he admired it immensely.
Besides, it was our first wedding present!"

"Now I must add my congratulations," said Carrissima.

"Carrissima!" answered Bridget, "it's all beautiful. Do you like my
ring?" she continued, holding out her left hand. "Jimmy wanted to see
you, but I insisted upon having you all to myself. Do, please, sit
down!"

Carrissima took a chair, and her thoughts flew back to that last
dreadful visit when she had sat nearly in the same position, striving
to lead Mark to believe that she had not seen him with Bridget in his
arms.

"You must have been immensely surprised to get my letter," said
Bridget