"To renew my acquaintance with Bridget," said Carrissima.

"Quite unnecessary!" retorted Lawrence.

"Far better if you had stayed away."

"Why?" demanded Carrissima.

"Phoebe suggested going," said Lawrence; "but I wouldn't allow it for a
moment."

"It's certain," cried Carrissima, "that she is a standing example of
the way not to treat a husband. How ridiculous to form a prejudice
against any one you have never even seen."

"If she had been the sort of woman I should like my wife to call upon,"
said Lawrence, "she wouldn't have allowed Mark to see her so often. A
woman who lives alone! Why on earth couldn't you leave her to stew in
her own juice? I don't wish to see my brother-in-law make an idiot of
himself."

"Anyhow," returned Carrissima, "it can't have been Mark's account that
set you against her."

"Oh, of course," exclaimed Lawrence, "Mark would swallow anything."

"It is his business in life," said Carrissima, with a laugh, "to make
other people swallow things, isn't it, Lawrence?"