father," she answered.

"I have been thinking that it is high time we asked Miss Rosser to dine
with us."

He was standing by the window holding the morning paper in his hands,
and as he spoke he raised it so that Carrissima could not see his face.

"Oh, but do you really think that is necessary?" she answered, and
crushing the paper into a shapeless mass, the colonel turned upon his
daughter quite fiercely.

Of course he was convinced that there could be nothing in the least
ridiculous in his behaviour! A man, as they say, is as old as he
feels, and especially during the last fortnight Colonel Faversham had
felt almost a boy again. The spring was in his blood! Moreover, he
flattered himself that he had not begun to look old! Still, he was
sensitive lest Carrissima should fancy he was making an ass of himself,
and, as usual at such times, he began to bluster.

"Necessary!" he shouted, growing dangerously red in the face. "If it
comes to that it isn't necessary we should dine at all. Most of us eat
a great deal too much. Anyhow, it is very desirable that Miss Rosser
should be treated with common courtesy. Besides, I wish it. That, I
imagine, ought to be enough! We don't want a crowd or anything
elaborate. No infernal fuss or ceremony. Just a family party: just
Lawrence and his wife. They have never seen Miss Rosser!"

"Oh yes," said Carrissima. "Lawrence has seen her."

"She told me only the other day that she hadn't met him. I wondered
why on earth you hadn't introduced her to Phoebe!"

"Lawrence," Carrissima explained, "saw Bridget going into the Haymarket
Theatre with you the other afternoon."

"Good heavens!" exclaimed Colonel Faversham, stamping about the room,
"it has come to this! I mustn't go to the play without begging my
children's permission. I haven't a scrap of individuality of my own
left! I am compelled to ask Lawrence before I move a step!"

"Not at all," said Carrissima. "Only I seem to recollect your telling
me you were going to play at bridge at the club that Saturday
afternoon."

"And mayn't a man change his mind, I should like to know!"

"In time to book seats," suggested Carrissima.

"No sarcasm, if you please," was the answer. "I won't allow it. I
simply won't allow it in my house," he added, clenching his fist and
bringing it down heavily on the breakfast-table so that the cups and
saucers rattled.

"Oh well, father," said Carrissima, "there's not the least us