his character so much more correctly than you who love him. Oh,
please," entreated Bridget, "don't look so fierce, because if I had not
been certain, there would have been no object in asking you to come
here this morning."

"I cannot see one in--in any case!" said Carrissima.

"Oh, I hope there is," answered Bridget. "I know it sounds a wee bit
inconsistent, because, of course, Mark was wrong, and at the time I
felt immensely angry with him. But he wasn't a thousandth part so
wrong as you imagined, and, Carrissima! there are very few men of his
age whom you or I couldn't tempt if we gave our minds to it."

"I am not in the least likely to make the experiment," exclaimed
Carrissima.

"No, but, you see, I did! It's true nothing could have been further
from my thoughts or my wishes on the afternoon you dropped the roses.
But how was Mark to know that? And at other times I had done my very
best to lead him on, and I failed only because of you! Imagine what it
meant when he heard from Jimmy that the woman he loved, whom he had
intended to ask to be his wife----"

"That is your own imagination!" cried Carrissima. "You cannot possibly
have any ground for believing such a thing!"

"Anyhow, I have his own assurance; besides, he told Jimmy, if my word
is not enough. You told Sybil that Mark had lied to you, and acted
goodness knows how horridly concerning me, and the truth was he had
merely lost his head for a single instant, and what was it after all?
Carrissima, I have taken myself to pieces just to convince you I am
sincere for once in a way! I see the possibility of danger ahead . . .
danger that Mark is too much hurt to come forward again, and what a
pity! Take my advice and don't let things rest. What does it matter
who eats humble pie if you're going to dine together for the remainder
of your lives? Do something at once! Write to him--send for him as I
sent for you. I hoped I might make you believe he loves you, and that
then you might live happily ever after!"

CHAPTER XXVI

LAWRENCE SUMS IT UP

The ensuing few hours proved the most restless of Carrissima's life.
At luncheon she could scarcely concentrate her thoughts sufficiently to
listen to the explanation of Colonel Faversham's plans for the
forthcoming tour abroad, and afterwards she retired to her own room,
where she made a valiant attempt to persuade herself that as the
mountain would not come to Mahomet, Mahomet must go to the moun