cab.

Micky glanced at Ashton with a curious sense of unreality; he felt as
if he had never seen him before; it seemed impossible that this Ashton
could know Esther--and Charlie!

A taxicab drew up to the kerb; Ashton banged open the door and got in.
Micky followed, and they drove some way in silence.

"I'll take thundering good care I don't stay away long," Ashton said
suddenly, with a sort of growl. "And if the mater thinks it will make
me forget Lallie----"

"I thought her name was Esther," said Micky quietly. He was looking
out of the window into the starry night.

"So it is--but I always call her Lallie." He looked at his friend with
a sort of vague suspicion. "How do you know what her name is?" he
asked.

"I saw it on the letter you gave me."

Ashton grunted.

"I think it would be better if you posted it to her yourself and have
done with it," Micky said with an effort. "I'm a rotten hand at this
sort of thing. It can't do any good if I go and see her."

"You said you would go--you might be a sport and stick to your word,"
Ashton protested. "I'd do the same for you any day."

Micky rather doubted it, but did not like to say so.

"If you knew how sick I am about the whole business," Ashton went on
jerkily. "You may not believe me, but I tell you, Micky, that I'd
marry that girl to-morrow if only----"

"If only--what?" Micky asked as he paused.

"Oh, you know! What the dickens can I do without a bob to my name
except what the mater chooses to dole out? I tell you," he went on
with a sort of snarl, "it'll be very different when I get the money.
Gad! if only I'd got it now!"

"Money isn't everything," said Micky sententiously. "And if you like
the girl, why not marry her and face it out?"

Ashton gave a savage little laugh.

"It's all very fine for you to say that money isn't everything--that's
only because you've got it, and are never likely to be without it. You
don't know what it feels like to be up to your eyes in debt and not
knowing where to turn for a fiver. Bah! what's the good of talking?"
He let down the window with a run, turning his face to the keen night
air.

They were nearing their destination, and there was still something he
wanted to say to Micky which so far, he had been afraid to put into
words.

"Well, I suppose I shan't be seeing you again for a bit," he said,
with rather a forced laugh. "You've been a good pal to me, Micky----"

Micky said "Rot!" rather shortly; he frow