e decided to accept Mrs. Ashton's offer," said Esther suddenly.

It was the following afternoon, and she had been helping June paste
labels on to the little mauve pots. She looked up as she spoke, with
the paste brush still in her hand and her fingers all sticky.

"Did you hear what I said?" she demanded guiltily.

"Yes, I heard," June said rather tartly. "And I think you're a mean
pig. However, go on! Have your own way! Don't mind me."

"It isn't that at all," Esther declared. "But I must do something--I've
been idle quite long enough. I shall be sorry to leave you, but I shall
still pay for my half of the room."

"Thank you--thank you very much," said June drily. Esther flushed in
distress.

"Don't be so unkind! It's not that I want to leave you. I've been
happier here with you than anywhere else, but I must work, I can't
live on nothing...."

"You could live on three pounds a week if you wished to. What do you
suppose the phantom lover will say if he knows that his money hasn't
helped you, and that you're going to make a drudge of yourself?"

"I shan't be a drudge--I----"

June broke in impatiently.

"Oh, very well--I don't want to argue, but I think it's mean of you.
If you really liked me you'd stay...."

"I shall come to see you whenever I get any time off."

"Yes, once a week for two hours, I suppose--and when I shall probably
be out."

"I shall write first and let you know when I'm coming."

June took no notice; she screwed the lid on to a perfume bottle and
wiped her fingers on the white overall.

"You needn't put any more labels on," she said shortly. "I can do the
rest myself."

She took the tray away from Esther and carried it into her bedroom;
when she came back there was a suspicion of tears in her eyes. Esther
looked distressed. She felt that she was behaving meanly, and yet she
meant to go to Mrs. Ashton's.

"Micky Mellowes is coming directly," June said tartly. "If you don't
want to see him you'd better go. I know you hate him...."

Esther turned scarlet. She took off the apron she had borrowed from
June and turned to the door.

Before she reached it June followed.

"I'm a pig. I apologise humbly! Please stay. Why don't you box my ears
when I speak to you like this?" She dragged Esther back to the fire.
"I'm wild because you've made up your mind to leave me. Our friendship
doesn't mean anything to you.... There's Micky--he'll want to know why
I've been crying. Amuse him for fiv