good fortune in meeting the visitor at the door, Carrissima told
herself that she knew exactly how things would turn out!

The truth was that Colonel Faversham had always been somewhat
dangerously susceptible. Lawrence could never feel certain that his
father was too old to think of marrying again. Carrissima knew that
for the next few days he would talk of nobody but Bridget; that he
would lend her books, and perhaps even express a wish to invite her to
dine. He would on every opportunity pay her extravagant compliments
and make himself generally ridiculous; then he would begin to forget
her existence and fall back into his ordinary routine of bridge and
golf until another attractive face arrested his attention.

Although he sang Miss Rosser's praises loudly that Saturday afternoon,
and spoke of her frequently on Sunday and during the next few evenings,
Carrissima scarcely suspected that the colonel had met Bridget since
her visit to Grandison Square. She was certainly astounded when, going
to see her small nephew one afternoon a week or so later, she found
that she had run her head into a hornets' nest.

"You have done a fine thing!" said Lawrence. "That is the worst of
you."

"Oh, do please tell me what is the best, or at least the medium, for a
change," was the answer.

"My dear Carrie----"

"If you call me Carrie you will drive me mad," said Carrissima.