ded her with proud satisfaction.

"You look years younger and prettier already," he said. "And that's
after only an hour or two of my wonderful society; so what you'll look
like when we've been married for years and years...."

He stopped, and a sudden emotion filled his face.

"What shall we do, love of mine?" he asked tenderly, "Shall we go on,
or shall we go back?"

She shook her head.

"I don't mind--either way, I'm afraid you'll have to pay for me," she
told him saucily. "June rushed me off so, I forgot my purse--Mr.
Rochester got me a ticket, but...."

"We'll go on," said Micky hurriedly. The train was almost at a
standstill. "You said you hated Paris--but you won't hate it with me.
We'll get married as soon as we get there--I'll take you everywhere."

Her eyes fell.

"I haven't any nice clothes--I only brought a small case; I never
thought you ... you...." She stopped, stammering.

"Paris is full of clothes," he told her. "We'll stay just long enough
to buy what you want, and then we'll go south. Esther, you've never
seen the south of France in springtime, have you? I'll take you there
for our honeymoon."

She drew back a little.

"But, Micky--there's June--what will she say--what will she think?"

"She'll think that you've behaved sensibly--at last!" he answered
audaciously. "June knew she wouldn't see either of us again for some
time when we left her at Victoria--June is a most discerning woman."

"She's a dear," said Esther warmly. "I owe all my happiness to her."

Micky pretended to look offended.

"I was under the delusion that you owed it to me," he said with
dignity.

"To you!" Her face changed wonderfully; she bent her head and kissed
the sleeve of his coat.

"I can't talk about what I owe you--it's just--everything!"

Micky drew himself up a dignified inch.

"I'm beginning to think I'm a very wonderful man, do you know?" he
said, addressing some imaginary person.

Driver appeared at the door. He hesitated for just the faintest
possible moment when he saw Esther, but his face was as stolid as
ever.

Micky rose to the occasion, though he turned rather red.

"Driver," he said, "let me introduce you to my wife----"

Driver touched a respectful forelock; if he felt surprise he did not
show it.

He took Esther's suit-case down from the rack.

"Was you--was you wanting to send a wire, sir?" he asked stolidly.

Micky looked at the girl beside him.

"Send June one from Paris,"