en she thinks he's
all sorts of an idiot, and tells him so."

But Esther was too happy to take her seriously.

"You've never been in love," she said, "or you wouldn't talk like
that."

"And I never wish to be in love, thank you," said June. "If you and
Micky are samples of objects who are in love...." She made a little
grimace, screwing up her nose in disgust.

Esther coloured.

"Micky!" she said, surprised into using his Christian name. "Is he in
love? How do you know he is?"

"I'm not a bat, and I haven't known Micky years for nothing. He hasn't
been himself for a long time. I've seen it, though I haven't said a
word. He's in love right enough, there can't be any other explanation,
seeing that he's too rich to ever be in debt, and they are the only
two things that ever make a man miserable," she added.

Esther wondered if June was trying to sound her.

"I don't know who the wretched female is," June went on, puckering her
brows. "I've tried to guess, but it's no good. There was a Miss Deland
he used to go about with at one time, but I know that's all off."

"Was he engaged to her?"

"No--not really! But her people wanted it, and Micky didn't mind; he'd
have drifted into it sure enough if something very tremendous hadn't
happened to make him change his mind. I know Micky--he'd have slipped
into matrimony as easily as he gets into a taxi, unless some one had
turned him away from it." She glanced down at the letter in Esther's
lap. "Tell me what he says," she coaxed. "Take pity on a poor creature
who hasn't a phantom lover of her own, or a real one either," she
added laughing.

Esther hesitated.

"I'm never quite sure whether you're laughing at me or not," she said
nervously. "I know you don't mean to, but----"

June laid her hand on Esther's lap.

"I laugh at every one and everything," she said. "But it's only my
way, and doesn't mean anything. Perhaps I'm a bit jealous--because you
love this phantom lover so much better than you love me," she added.

Esther drew the letter from its envelope.

"I'll read you just a few little bits," she said shyly. The blood
surged into her pretty face.

June leaned back in a corner and closed her eyes. She held a cigarette
between her lips and puffed at it lazily. There was a little silence;
then Esther said suddenly--

"I can't. It makes me feel too self-conscious. But he just says that
he doesn't want me to go into any berth just yet. He says that he may
be h