“Only a couple of days,” said Bridget.  “We had the loveliest time abroad, and the best of it was that I really knew my way about far better than Jimmy.”

Well, Colonel Faversham, for his part, did not doubt that she knew her way about better than most people.

“Now, tell the truth!” she exclaimed, as they stood in the middle of the pavement, “don’t you think you ought to feel immensely grateful to me?”

“Bless my soul, I had not thought of that!” he answered, with a laugh.

“Well, you can recognize the fact now it’s pointed out to you.  Admit you had a happy release, as they sometimes say in different circumstances.”

“Now I have seen you again,” said Colonel Faversham gallantly, “it becomes much more difficult than ever to believe anything of the sort.”

“I hope,” replied Bridget, “you mean to come and see me often.  Jimmy will be delighted.  We have taken the duckiest little furnished flat while we look about for a house of our own.”

“You are not going to settle down in Upper Grosvenor Street?” suggested the colonel.

“Oh dear, no!  We should never dream of disturbing Sybil, nor of living with her.  You don’t know what a good fellow Jimmy is!  Now he has a wife to keep him up to the mark he will do the most wonderful and unexpected things.  You will see!  He is going to stand for Atlinghurst, and I assure you I intend to get him in.  Don’t you think I shall make an excellent canvasser?  Now, please, understand,” she added, “I expect you to come and see me!”

“Where is the flat?” he inquired.

“Aberdeen Mansion,” she answered.  “Jimmy took it while we were abroad——­”

“Without seeing it?  Good gracious!” said Colonel Faversham.  That was just like Jimmy—­and Bridget.

“Oh dear, yes,” she said.  “We left it to an agent, and, really, nothing could have turned out better.  It is only a few yards from Hyde Park Corner.  Will you come and have lunch this morning?  I know Jimmy will be at home—­not that it matters if he isn’t.”

“Some other time, if you will allow me,” said Colonel Faversham, offering his right hand.

“I wish,” cried Bridget, as she stood holding it, “you would promise me one thing!”

“Upon my word,” he replied, “it’s difficult to refuse to promise you anything.”

“Well, then, please make Carrissima pay me a visit at once—­at once, you understand?”

As Colonel Faversham walked on to his club, hastening because he had grown cold standing still so long, he doubted whether or not he should mention Mrs. Jimmy’s name at Grandison Square.  He never ceased to congratulate himself, inasmuch as the fact of his abortive engagement had been kept secret.  Even if Carrissima suspected anything of the kind, she could not possibly know for certain!  Colonel Faversham realized, however, that his relationship to Bridget in former days might still be raked up as food for scoffers, and he shrank from anything of the nature of ridicule.  Mrs. Jimmy, indeed, was a delicate topic, and he would probably have kept his own counsel concerning the meeting in Piccadilly, if he had not feared lest she should subsequently come into contact with Carrissima, when his silence might defeat his own end.