naldson hastily. "I think you are making a
mistake!"

She knew she had done nothing of the kind. She knew that Colonel
Faversham must have been at the jeweller's before her this morning;
that he had selected something to commemorate Bridget's birthday;
something upon which also her initials were to be engraved.

"After all," she said, "I think you shall send the card-case to
Grandison Square to-morrow morning."

Carrissima paid the bill, but in the reaction of her feelings she
doubted whether she should give Bridget a present after all. It began
to look as if there were some justification for Lawrence's suspicions,
and for the first time she experienced serious fears for the future.

CHAPTER VII

THE EXCURSION

Carrissima could not make up her mind. When she set forth to Charteris
Street to help in the entertainment of Phoebe's extremely juvenile
guests, she was determined not to go near Golfney Place the following
day. Seeing her amongst the children no one would have imagined that
she had a sorrow in the world; she was the life and soul of the
youthful party, and finally returned to Grandison Square in a
becomingly dishevelled condition in time for dinner.

The following morning Colonel Faversham went to the hall at eleven
o'clock, wearing a flower in his buttonhole. Carrissima accompanying
him dutifully to the door, remarked that he had a new top hat.

"Do you think it suits me?" he asked, turning to face her. "Not too
much brim, Carrissima?"

"It looks a trifle small," she answered.

"Small--nonsense! A man doesn't want a hat to come down over his eyes.
I'm not a fogy yet, I hope."

"Why, of course not," she exclaimed. "Still, you will have to hold it
on in the wind."

"Anyhow, that's better than using infernal pins that are a danger to
the community," said Colonel Faversham. "I'll tell you what: next time
I choose a hat I'll get you to come with me."

"I suppose you will be home to lunch," she suggested, telling herself
she was shamefully cunning. But she could not help suspecting that he
was off on some jaunt with Bridget, and no doubt she felt a little
bitter about it.

"Shall I?" he answered, with a laugh. "Don't take too much for
granted. I may get a snack at the club. Anyhow, you had better not
wait."

She understood that he did not intend to return and wondered how she
should dispose of her silver card-case. In no event would she go near
Golfney Place that day! At ab