"My dear chap," replied Mark, "you're not such a prig that you can't understand the possibility of a man's losing his head about a pretty woman."
"Why, no," said Jimmy; "but I wish to goodness you had not chosen that particular one."
"If I had imagined Carrissima saw us, I should have explained things at once," added Mark.
"The question is," suggested Jimmy, "whether your explanation would have sounded quite convincing."
"Good Lord!" said Mark, "you speak as if you were not convinced!"
"Of one thing—yes," was the answer. "I can understand a fellow's kissing a pretty woman—or a dozen if it comes to that, but I know you're not the man to go where you're not certain you're wanted."
Now Mark hesitated, thinking that he had humiliated himself almost enough. Seeing, however, that Jimmy was hanging upon his answer, he felt compelled to belittle himself to the uttermost rather than allow the slightest obstacle to remain between Bridget and this man who appointed himself her champion.
"The truth is," said Mark, "I—well, I made a mistake."
"About Bridget?" demanded Jimmy eagerly.
"Yes," answered Mark. "I had no shadow of an excuse. From first to last she had never given me the remotest reason. It was simply my own egregious stupidity. To put it honestly, I acted like a bounder. I'm immensely sorry, Jimmy."