ou are not going to settle down in Upper Grosvenor Street?" suggested
the colonel.

"Oh dear, no! We should never dream of disturbing Sybil, nor of living
with her. You don't know what a good fellow Jimmy is! Now he has a
wife to keep him up to the mark he will do the most wonderful and
unexpected things. You will see! He is going to stand for
Atlinghurst, and I assure you I intend to get him in. Don't you think
I shall make an excellent canvasser? Now, please, understand," she
added, "I expect you to come and see me!"

"Where is the flat?" he inquired.

"Aberdeen Mansion," she answered. "Jimmy took it while we were
abroad----"

"Without seeing it? Good gracious!" said Colonel Faversham. That was
just like Jimmy--and Bridget.

"Oh dear, yes," she said. "We left it to an agent, and, really,
nothing could have turned out better. It is only a few yards from Hyde
Park Corner. Will you come and have lunch this morning? I know Jimmy
will be at home--not that it matters if he isn't."

"Some other time, if you will allow me," said Colonel Faversham,
offering his right hand.

"I wish," cried Bridget, as she stood holding it, "you would promise me
one thing!"

"Upon my word," he replied, "it's difficult to refuse to promise you
anything."

"Well, then, please make Carrissima pay me a visit at once--at once,
you understand?"

As Colonel Faversham walked on to his club, hastening because he had
grown cold standing still so long, he doubted whether or not he should
mention Mrs. Jimmy's name at Grandison Square. He never ceased to
congratulate himself, inasmuch as the fact of his abortive engagement
had been kept secret. Even if Carrissima suspected anything of the
kind, she could not possibly know for certain! Colonel Faversham
realized, however, that his relationship to Bridget in former days
might still be raked up as food for scoffers, and he shrank from
anything of the nature of ridicule. Mrs. Jimmy, indeed, was a delicate
topic, and he would probably have kept his own counsel concerning the
meeting in Piccadilly, if he had not feared lest she should
subsequently come into contact with Carrissima, when his silence might
defeat his own end.

"Whom do you think I saw this morning?" he asked, after dinner that
evening.

"Not--not Bridget?" she exclaimed.

"Yes--Mrs. Jimmy! They have been in London only a couple of days."

"Then you spoke to her?"

"Good gracious!" answered the colonel, "why