While it proved difficult to refrain from liking the girl, with her
frank joyousness, her youthful zest in life, the possession of such
qualities furnished an additional excuse for that jealousy which still
dominated Carrissima's waking thoughts. Without forming any definite
design, the idea certainly occurred to her that Mark might come to
occupy a smaller space in Bridget's sphere of things, if only she knew
a few more of his kind.

The following afternoon Carrissima, according to her promise, went to
Upper Grosvenor Street, where lived Sybil Clynesworth and, when he
pleased, Jimmy. He had, however, a country house at Atlinghurst, and
when he stayed in London sometimes preferred a room at one of his
clubs, to that which his sister always kept in readiness.

On reaching the house Carrissima was disappointed to hear that Sybil
had gone away the previous morning.

"When do you expect her back?" asked Carrissima.

"I have no idea," said the butler; "but Mr. Clynesworth might know."

"Mr. Clynesworth is in London then?" cried Carrissima, and in fact, he
came out of the dining-room on the left of the hall the next moment.

The Favershams, the Drivers and the Clynesworths were old friends.
They had known each other from their earliest years, and the three boys
had gone to the same preparatory school at Brighton. Sybil,
considerably the oldest of the group, tried still to hope that Jimmy
would marry Carrissima, although for that matter, she would have
rejoiced to see him the husband of any woman whom she could love.