Carrissima must be pictured as approaching Number 13, Grandison Square with such thoughts crowding upon her mind, under the influence of the reaction from her necessary self-control in Bridget’s presence.  Her head seemed to be on fire, and, always apt to be impulsive, she had never in the course of her vast experience of twenty-two years been so completely carried away as now.

She experienced a deep pang of disappointment on seeing Sybil talking to Knight on the doorstep.

“Oh, I am so very glad not to have missed you!” cried the for once unwelcome visitor.  “How extremely fortunate you were not a minute later, because I was just going home.”

As a matter of course, without waiting for an invitation, Sybil stepped into the hall and accompanied Carrissima up-stairs.

“My dear,” she exclaimed, as the butler shut the drawing-room door, “whatever is the matter?  You look as if you had seen something dreadful!”

“What nonsense,” said Carrissima.  “What can I have seen?”

“I really can’t imagine,” answered Sybil, with a sigh.  “I suppose I feel so terribly worried myself that I fancy everybody else has something to bother about.  Still, you certainly do look as I have never seen you before.”

“The sun is quite hot,” murmured Carrissima, sitting down by one of the windows.

“Although I always feel it I couldn’t stay indoors,” said Sybil.  “Jimmy is more and more enthusiastic every day.  He won’t hear a word of advice!  I have begged and implored him to give Miss Rosser up, but he insists that he is only going to wait until the end of this week.  To think of Jimmy’s throwing himself away!”

“Oh,” cried Carrissima, rising impetuously to her feet, “you need not feel in the least alarmed!”

“But, my dear, how can I help it?” said Sybil.  “I never close my eyes until past one o’clock, and when I wake it is impossible to get to sleep again.”

“Well, you may rest in peace for the future,” answered Carrissima, throwing out her arms excitedly.  “Sybil, we have both been making the most dreadful idiots of ourselves!”

“You forget,” suggested Sybil, with a perplexed expression, “that Jimmy has actually told me he means to marry the woman!”

“It takes two to make a marriage,” said Carrissima.

“You can’t seriously imagine that Miss Rosser would refuse him!” cried Sybil.

“It isn’t a question of imagination,” retorted Carrissima, walking restlessly about the room.  “There are the stubborn facts.  I have just come from Golfney Place!”

“Surely she didn’t tell you——­”

“There was no need for words,” said Carrissima.  “I can’t disbelieve the evidence of my own eyes, however incredible it may appear.”

“Carrissima!” exclaimed Sybil, “you are making me so painfully curious.  Do, please, tell me what you saw.”

“I saw Mark holding Bridget in his arms!”