perhaps every man appears to himself. But Colonel Faversham was not
already without warnings which he would not admit for the world. In
his desire to convince himself that he was as robust as ever, he
continued to take the same amount of exercise as he had enjoyed twenty
years earlier. No one knew how weary the evenings found him, and,
besides, there was that increasing stiffness of his joints.

He was particularly eager that Bridget should create a favourable
impression on Lawrence, as indeed she could scarcely fail to do.
Carrissima, notwithstanding a lamentable sense of inhospitality, when
the evening arrived found it on the whole rather amusing. Her brother
entered the drawing-room at Grandison Square with his head higher in
the air than ever, while Phoebe looked as usual serenely pretty and
contented. There was Bridget Rosser with her beautiful shoulders bare,
with her piquant face, her glorious hair, obviously bent upon enjoyment.

Lawrence took her in to dinner, and Phoebe certainly thought that she
had deliberately set herself to captivate him. So did the colonel, but
Carrissima made a valiant effort to do her guest justice. It really
seemed too paltry to be critical because Mark admired her. In
Carrissima's opinion Bridget was not exerting herself to make a
favourable impression either on Lawrence or his father. No such effort
was necessary! Nature had anticipated any endeavours of her own. With
her face and figure it must be positively difficult not to please any
man with eyes in his head. Her curiously childlike ingenuousness was
too perfect to be counterfeited. Bridget charmed because she must.

When she referred to the report of a recent lawsuit in which Lawrence
had admittedly increased his already growing reputation, Carrissima
smiled to see him unbend, although she might feel inclined to frown