e in
getting angry, you know."

"I am not angry," cried Colonel Faversham, rubbing the side of his hand.

"I don't know what you would call it!"

"I may have been a little vehement," he replied. "No wonder. I make a
simple suggestion, and surely I have a right to expect my daughter to
adopt it."

"If Bridget is to be asked to dine," said Carrissima, with a sigh, "I
think we ought to invite some one outside our own family."

"Am I the master here, or am I not?" demanded Colonel Faversham. "Very
well! You will write to Phoebe to-day. Get her and Lawrence to fix an
evening--this week if possible--and then ask Miss Rosser."

"Lawrence is not likely to come," suggested Carrissima.

"Why not?"

"Anyhow, he refused to allow Phoebe to go to Golfney Place!"

"You will kindly do as I tell you," said the colonel. "Lawrence has
more sense than you give him credit for."

Carrissima was compelled to admit that her father had a right to act as
he pleased. She wrote to Phoebe the same morning, and Lawrence,
reading the letter on his return from the Temple, at once declared that
nothing on earth should induce him to go and meet "that woman"!

Having dined, however, and smoked a cigarette, he began to take a more
tolerant view of the situation. Colonel Faversham had money to
bequeath! As Lawrence told Phoebe, it might be their duty to pocket
their feelings and consider Victor's future.

Colonel Faversham had the satisfaction of hearing from Bridget's own
lips that she should be delighted to dine at his house. He seemed to
live only for Bridget during these days. His golf was neglected, and
he had come near to a quarrel with one of his oldest friends for
revoking twice in one evening's bridge.

Whatever he did, wherever he went, his thoughts insisted on wandering
to Golfney Place. Although he longed to shower expensive gifts upon
Bridget, he durst not at present go beyond flowers, and it was only
after much persuasion that she consented to let him take her to the
Haymarket Theatre. Whilst he revelled in her society and his hope of
being permitted to enjoy it uninterruptedly for the remainder of his
days ran high, he dreaded to imagine what Lawrence would have to say on
the subject.

Colonel Faversham felt confident that his son would prove "nasty," and
even Carrissima could scarcely be expected to feel pleased by the
prospect of a step-mother only a few months older than herself. The
colonel found himself b