re a few days after you went away, and asked me to go to
Grandison Square. She gave me leave to look her up as often as I
liked. I took her at her word. Oh, I assure you I feel very much at
home there." Bridget lowered her eyes, paused a moment, then raised
them again to Mark's face. "The question is," she said slowly, as if
she were carefully choosing her words, "whether I shall make it my
home--for good, you understand. I have been longing for you to come so
that I might--that I might ask your advice."

"What about?" demanded Mark, somewhat taken aback by her outspokenness.

"Oh, how dense you must be if you can't really guess," she said.

"I don't think I shall try," was the answer.

"Oh well, if you make me say it! Colonel Faversham wants me to marry
him. Now the murder is out, isn't it?"

"Almost as detestable a crime!" cried Mark. "Do you mean that he has
actually asked you----"

"If he hadn't, how should I know?" she replied. "Because there's
always the chance of a slip between the cup and the lip. Besides, even
such an unreticent person as myself couldn't possibly anticipate. I
dare say you wonder that I talk to you about it, in any case; but then,
you see, I have nobody else."

"You haven't done anything so monstrous as to accept him?" said Mark.

"Oh--monstrous!" she murmured.

"Of course, it's unthinkable!"

"Indeed it is not," said Bridget. "If you only knew how I have lain
awake thinking of it. Still, I wouldn't say 'yes.' I have kept the
poor dear man in suspense till your return. He is quite
ridiculously--well, in love with me, I suppose he would call it."

"Obviously you are nothing of the kind," suggested Mark.

"In love--with Colonel Faversham!" she cried, with a laugh. "You know,
Mark, he is most horridly jealous."

"So there's some one else?"

"Only you," she said, and Mark started to his feet.

"Jealous of me! Oh, good Lord!" he exclaimed, and suddenly became
aware that Bridget was keeping him under close observation.

"Idiotic of him, isn't it?" she remarked, continuing hastily, "but you
haven't given me your serious opinion. I want you to make a cool
survey of the situation."

"I thought I had," said Mark. "Of course, you must refuse."

"That is all very well," she urged, "but there's something else you
must tell me. Supposing that I refuse to marry the colonel, what is to
become of me?"

"There are your aunts at Sandbay!"

"Oh yes, my dear little Dres