help to keep him awake. The minutes seemed to drag, though in reality
only a quarter of an hour had passed when Esther woke with a little
smothered cry.

Micky was on his feet in an instant.

"It's all right--there's nothing to be afraid of--you've been
asleep."

She rubbed her eyes childishly with her knuckles; she stared at him
for a moment unrecognisingly, then, as memory returned, she shrank
back into her corner.

Micky picked up the rug and coat that had slithered to the floor; he
waited a few moments till he saw that she was quite awake before he
spoke, then he said gently--

"I hope you feel better. We shall soon be in now. Are you warm
enough?"

"Yes, thank you."

"We shall be into Paris very soon," he said again; "and there is a
great deal I want to say to you first. Will you listen to me if I try
to explain?"

She met his eyes unflinchingly.

"There is only one man who can possibly explain anything to me," she
said then, "and he is not you."

Micky lost his temper; he was cold and tired and hungry, and at that
moment she seemed the most unreasonable of mortals.

"I shall not allow you to see Ashton, if you mean Ashton," he said
roughly. "The man isn't fit for you to think about. He's married, you
know that ... Esther, for your own sake----"

She had turned her face away and was looking out into the darkness;
she seemed not to be listening.

Micky went on urgently.

"I blame myself. I always meant to tell you before things had gone as
far as this. I shall never forgive myself for not having done so. I've
behaved like a cad, but my only excuse is that I loved you; I wanted
to spare you unnecessary pain----" He was no longer stammering and
self-conscious, his voice was firm and steady. "I suppose I was a fool
to imagine that I could ever make you care for me; I suppose it was
conceit that led me to think I could ever cut out this ... this
phantom lover of yours----" He laughed mirthlessly.

"Esther, let me take you back home; it's no use seeing Ashton--it only
means humiliation and pain for you."

Her lips moved, but no words came.

"Let me take you home to June," he went on. "She will tell you that
what I say is only the truth. She knows him--she...."

She spoke then.

"She always hated him; it isn't likely she would wish me to marry
him." She bit her lip. "Oh, it's no use saying any more," she broke
out wildly after a moment. "I'm going to see him--I can't bear it if I
don't see hi