"Oh well, that's a large order," answered Jimmy. "Still, at your age I don't suppose there is." Colonel Faversham looked as if he would like to annihilate Jimmy, who was struggling to put David Rosser's novel into his jacket pocket. Then he said "good-bye" to Bridget, adding coolly-- "I shall bring back the book in a day or two." With a nod to the colonel he left the room, whereupon Faversham lowered himself carefully into a chair. "Has Jimmy often been here?" he demanded. "Oh dear, no," she answered. "This is the first visit." "Like his impudence! It won't be the last." "I hope not," murmured Bridget, standing by the side of his chair. "How many times have you met him since that afternoon at my house?" asked Colonel Faversham. "Only once besides to-day!" "He took that book," was the answer, "simply for the sake of bringing it back! I hate anything underhanded." "But he isn't!" Bridget insisted. "He said that was his reason." "Barefaced!" shouted the colonel. "The fact is Jimmy Clynesworth has never been the same since his sunstroke. Bridget," he added, "I should like to keep you entirely to myself. I should like----" What his precise desire might be Bridget was not destined on the present occasion to hear. He suddenly stopped in the middle of his sentence, gazing at her with horror and alarm in his face. Covering hers, she had incontinently broken down, and her body shook with the violence of her sobs. Colonel Faversham found his feet so hastily that he could not suppress an exclamation as he stooped to rub his knee. He knew neither what to say nor how to act. "What's the matter with you?" he demanded. "Tell me what it is. Only let me know. What more can a man ask?" "Oh, it is nothing," said Bridget amidst her tears. "Only that I am the most miserable woman in the world." Although he did his best, he could not succeed in tranquilizing her, and finally went away, leaving her in the most despondent mood. Alone in his smoking-room the same evening, Colonel Faversham did his utmost to arrive at some explanation of Bridget's passionate outburst of grief. Could it be possible she was distressed at the sight of his disapproval. He ought to keep a firmer rein on his temper! He must remember that Bridget was a delicate girl, and treat her with the kindness she deserved. This more satisfactory explanation, however, did not prove entirely convincing. She might be unhappy because she repented of her promise; well, in any event he intended to keep her to it! She could scarcely think of breaking her engagement on Jimmy's account! She had spoilt herself for that. Colonel Faversham, as she must know, was not the man to stand silently by while she transferred herself to a younger aspirant. She had sense enough to understand, too, that Jimmy had only to hear of the existing engagement to retire from the competition.