Carrissima, however, remained still unconvinced.  She walked home to Grandison Square with the inclination to scoff at her brother’s fears, although it was true that she was beginning to wish that Bridget had never crossed Colonel Faversham’s path.

CHAPTER VI

CONCERNING BIRTHDAYS

“Carrissima!” said Colonel Faversham, as he rose from the breakfast-table a day or two after her conversation with Lawrence and Phoebe.

“Yes, father,” she answered.

“I have been thinking that it is high time we asked Miss Rosser to dine with us.”

He was standing by the window holding the morning paper in his hands, and as he spoke he raised it so that Carrissima could not see his face.

“Oh, but do you really think that is necessary?” she answered, and crushing the paper into a shapeless mass, the colonel turned upon his daughter quite fiercely.

Of course he was convinced that there could be nothing in the least ridiculous in his behaviour!  A man, as they say, is as old as he feels, and especially during the last fortnight Colonel Faversham had felt almost a boy again.  The spring was in his blood!  Moreover, he flattered himself that he had not begun to look old!  Still, he was sensitive lest Carrissima should fancy he was making an ass of himself, and, as usual at such times, he began to bluster.

“Necessary!” he shouted, growing dangerously red in the face.  “If it comes to that it isn’t necessary we should dine at all.  Most of us eat a great deal too much.  Anyhow, it is very desirable that Miss Rosser should be treated with common courtesy.  Besides, I wish it.  That, I imagine, ought to be enough!  We don’t want a crowd or anything elaborate.  No infernal fuss or ceremony.  Just a family party:  just Lawrence and his wife.  They have never seen Miss Rosser!”

“Oh yes,” said Carrissima.  “Lawrence has seen her.”

“She told me only the other day that she hadn’t met him.  I wondered why on earth you hadn’t introduced her to Phoebe!”

“Lawrence,” Carrissima explained, “saw Bridget going into the Haymarket Theatre with you the other afternoon.”

“Good heavens!” exclaimed Colonel Faversham, stamping about the room, “it has come to this!  I mustn’t go to the play without begging my children’s permission.  I haven’t a scrap of individuality of my own left!  I am compelled to ask Lawrence before I move a step!”

“Not at all,” said Carrissima.  “Only I seem to recollect your telling me you were going to play at bridge at the club that Saturday afternoon.”

“And mayn’t a man change his mind, I should like to know!”

“In time to book seats,” suggested Carrissima.

“No sarcasm, if you please,” was the answer.  “I won’t allow it.  I simply won’t allow it in my house,” he added, clenching his fist and bringing it down heavily on the breakfast-table so that the cups and saucers rattled.