“They are still living together,” said Lawrence.

They had not returned to England since their wedding, and it seemed that Bridget had passed entirely out of Carrissima’s life, after occupying a considerable space in it for many weeks.  Whatever the future might prove concerning her influence over Jimmy, it certainly appeared that she had brought nothing but mischief upon the household in Grandison Square.

Colonel Faversham had never been quite the same man since that morning he went to Number 5, Golfney Place, and found that Bridget had departed.  Signs of age had become suddenly visible; he devoted his life less to golf, and spent far more time at home—­not an unmitigated advantage to his daughter.

As for Carrissima, she did her best to take a calm survey of the situation, but without being able to understand why Mark continued to sulk in his tent.  If he really loved her, surely he would before now have admitted his own fault and made allowances for the momentary indiscretion which was provoked by Carrissima’s knowledge of it.

As a matter of fact, Mark felt as deeply vexed with himself as with her.  But for his own lamentable weakness, he might have proved more tolerant of Carrissima’s shortcoming; the circumstance that his own withers were wrung, made a rapprochement less likely.  There were moments when he wished that he had taken a different line from the beginning; but having already held aloof from Grandison Square so long, it became increasingly difficult to venture near the house.

Carrissima, who had not seen his face for several months, met him with Mrs. Bunbury and her daughter in Regent Street, and promptly came to the conclusion that his younger companion might prove quite dangerously attractive.  At least, she presented a striking contrast to Bridget, being very quietly dressed, with dark hair, large “saucer” eyes, and a general appearance of demureness.

Phoebe had, as Carrissima knew, formed an exceedingly favourable opinion of Mary Bunbury, who had dined with her mother and Mark in Charteris Street.  Carrissima wondered that she had not been invited to meet them, and realized that a year ago she would have been the first person to whom Mark appealed to help in their entertainment.  Instead of taking advantage of the present encounter in Regent Street to introduce her, he passed on with a bow.  His face did not wear a smile and Carrissima was left with the impression that she remained unforgiven.  To tell the truth, his behaviour aroused rebellious feelings in her breast; because, after all, she was not the only or the original sinner.

So that each was going a separate way, Mark’s (by no means disagreeable) leading him on innumerable expeditions with Mary Bunbury, when the god stepped out of the machine.

CHAPTER XXVII

‘MRS. JIMMY’

Colonel Faversham set out one morning in November after prolonged hesitation.  A year ago he would not have thought twice, but of late he had grown much more careful of himself.  The day was misty and the air struck raw and cold.  He made no protest when Carrissima suggested that he should wear a scarf, although after she had wound it around his neck he, somewhat irritably, rearranged it in order to expose his necktie.