left England, he could scarcely fail, sooner or
later, to cross her path after her return. In the meantime, rather
miserably, she began her preparations; and, as it happened, she was to
depart two days after Bridget's marriage.

Although this had been arranged to take place very quietly at the
church which Sybil so regularly attended, a good many of Jimmy's
friends seemed to hear of the affair. Small as the wedding-party was
(although it included the Misses Dobson), a large congregation gathered
together. Mark was present, at the rear of the church; but although
Carrissima hesitated, she conquered her curiosity and stayed away.

Going to Charteris Street the same afternoon, she found Lawrence in a
mood to moralize.

"Well," he remarked, "they are a lively pair, Jimmy and this wife of
his!"

"Yes, they will at least be that," returned Carrissima. "After all, I
suppose it's something to the good, and they're certain to get along
splendidly together."

"They will flourish like the green bay tree," exclaimed Lawrence.

"Oh, don't be a Pharisee!" said Carrissima.

"I am a man of common-sense," he protested. "We all know Jimmy! The
only astonishing thing is that he was not too experienced a bird to be
so easily caught."

"Perhaps he was willing to meet his fate," suggested Phoebe.

"Not a doubt about it," said her husband. "So complete was his
beguilement."

"You entirely ignore the possibility that Bridget may be sincerely fond
of him," said Carrissima.

"Just as she was fond first of Mark, then of father," retorted
Lawrence. "You must admit that she angled for each in turn, and that
she finally chose the richest."

"Oh dear, yes," said Carrissima. "What is more, she would make the
same admission herself."

"A little barefaced," remarked Phoebe.

"Anyhow," Carrissima insisted, "I believe that Bridget simply fell in
love with Jimmy, and that was why she altered her course."

"Rotten sentimentality!" exclaimed Lawrence. "The curse of the age.
Oh, there's no doubt she was clever. She played her cards so well that
she succeeded in deceiving the principal looker-on as well as her
victim."

"Victim or not," said Carrissima, "I positively can't feel sorry for
Jimmy."

"Neither can I," cried Lawrence. "I always find it difficult to pity a
fool. Anyhow, I hope you have done with her," he added.

"Lawrence would not let me send Jimmy a present," said Phoebe.

"Certainly not," was the answer. "T