"About Jimmy and Bridget—yes, I was immensely glad to have a visit from him late last night."
"I have just been choosing a wedding present at Donaldson's," said
Carrissima.
"Oh yes," replied Mark, so distantly that she looked up suddenly to his face.
"How is your patient?" she inquired.
"Sir Wilford?" said Mark. "I have just come from Burnham Crescent.
Randolph Messeter operated. I hope we shall pull him through."
"Father and I are going abroad," Carrissima explained. "I dare say we shall be away quite a month."
"I hope you will have a good time," said Mark, and then raising his hat again, he walked on.
Carrissima bit her lower lip and kept her eyes on the pavement. She had done all she could, and there was an end of it! Perhaps the lapse of time would make him more reasonable, because it really was ridiculous to behave as if she were the original sinner. Not that she imagined that anything in the world would ever facilitate the happiness to which she had formerly tried to look forward.
The same evening brought a surprise in the form of a letter from Bridget. She wished to see Carrissima very particularly indeed. As it was not very convenient to come to Grandison Square, would Carrissima mind going to Golfney Place at half-past eleven the following morning?
Carrissima certainly could understand the "inconvenience" of a visit to Colonel Faversham's house, but she scarcely hesitated about going to see Bridget at her lodgings. Personally, she had not the least antipathy to the marriage, and, moreover, it seemed inevitable that she should see something of Jimmy's wife in the future. Consequently there was nothing to be gained by holding aloof in the present.