"The charming little tale she repeated to Jimmy!"
"If only you could manage to be a little more explicit," urged
Carrissima, with a suggestion of annoyance in her tone.
"Oh, I shall speak out plainly enough," said Mark. "Sybil told Jimmy I had been carrying on a wretched intrigue with Bridget—neither more nor less. She gave you as her authority."
"She had no right," exclaimed Carrissima, and for an instant Mark's face cleared.
"Do you mean to say that you haven't mentioned my name to Sybil in such a connection?" he demanded, taking a step nearer.
"Yes, I mentioned your name," Carrissima admitted. "But I could never have said that—never! I feel almost certain I couldn't."
"Good heavens!" cried Mark, "you don't seem to know what you told her and what you didn't!"
Strange as it might appear to him, that was precisely the truth. She scarcely remembered what she had said in her excitement and disappointment, although she had little doubt it was something far too much to the point. His wrath was in some degree a relief to Carrissima, although she could not imagine what plausible excuse he could intend to offer. Because, after all, she could not disbelieve the evidence of her own senses.
"Mark," she said, "I don't think you are treating me in the least fairly."
"How is that?" he demanded.