at a wonderful man he is; as a matter of fact
she does write to him, and tears the letters up again, and that's no
satisfaction. I wish to goodness he'd get run over and done with," she
added exasperatedly.

"I don't suppose she wishes it," said Micky.

"That's because she doesn't know what's good for her; he was probably
the first man who had ever paid her any attention, and from what she
says he's a bit of a swell, and I suppose she was flattered...."

"Rot!" said Micky violently; it made him boil to hear June say things
like this. Ashton superior to Esther? It was like the man's confounded
impudence to even think such a thing.

"Not such rot," June said wisely. "And that's what all the trouble is
about, or my name's not what it is. He has a stuck-up old cat of a
mother who won't condescend to know Esther.... What did you say?"

"Nothing," said Micky. He got up and began strolling about the room
with his hands in his pockets, and June finished toasting her buns and
made the tea.

"I'll just go up and tell Esther," she said. She went out of the room
and upstairs.

"Tea," she announced cheerfully, knocking at Esther's door; she turned
the handle and went in. Esther was standing by the window looking out
into the neglected garden at the back of the house; she turned.

"I'm not really hungry, and if you'd like to have Mr. Mellowes to
yourself----" she began.

June stared at her.

"My dear," she said then drily, "if I'd wanted to have Mr. Mellowes to
myself I should have married him long ago; so don't pretend you're not
dying for one of the stale but toasted buns."

She linked her arm in Esther's, and they went downstairs together.
Esther did not want to come, but it seemed easier to give way than to
make excuses. She took the chair which Micky brought forward; she felt
a little nervous and ill at ease. Once, when their eyes met, she found
herself colouring sensitively.

Micky let her alone in a marked fashion and talked to June. He had
found the man he had been looking for for months, he declared, a good
business man, honest----

"Really honest, Micky?" June asked, laughing.

"Really honest," Micky maintained. "Do you think I'd put you on to him
else? I've told him all about you. I went out to lunch with him
yesterday and we talked face creams and vanities till my head reeled.
He's full of ideas, bursting with fresh notions for advertising. He
didn't say so in actual words, but he thinks you'll be a litt