better, because it's pure. Look!" She took a lid off a little
white pot with a mauve label and held it to Esther.

"Isn't that a glorious perfume?" she demanded. She sniffed it herself
with relish. "And it's all my invention, and I'm as proud of it as a
cat would be of nine tails. When I've got things a little more
ship-shape, Micky's going to put it on the market for me. It wants a
man behind all these sort of things you know. I can do all the donkey
work, but I've got no head for business. I never know the difference
between a loss and a profit. It was partly over this that I quarrelled
with my people--they said it was low-down to make face cream and sell
it--they're awful snobs! So I just cleared off and changed my surname
and came here. I'm quite happy, and if I haven't got as much money as
I had, I don't mind--I've got my liberty, and that's worth every
thing."

"I think you're just wonderful," Esther said. She picked up a lid from
one of the little pots and looked at the mauve and white label.

"June Mason's natural beautifier...."

She looked at the glowing face opposite to her.

"Do you use it for your own skin?" she asked shyly.

Miss Mason chuckled; she pushed the tray to one side along the floor.

"I don't mind telling you that I've never used cream to my skin at
all," she said. "But people think I do, and so there you are! Have
some more tea?"

She refilled Esther's cup and lit another cigarette. "So that's what I
am," she said. "And now go on, and tell me about yourself. You said
you were at Eldred's!"

"Yes, I was there for two years. I rather liked it! I love pretty
things, and I was in the workroom. They paid me quite well, too,
though it was hard work, and then--well, then I left----" her voice
changed subtly.

"Why?"

The query was only interested, and not at all impertinent.

Esther flushed.

"Well--well--I thought I was going to be married. He--well, he asked
me to leave to marry him, and so I did...."

"But you're not married?"

"No----" Esther was looking away into the fire. "No, I'm not married,"
she said in a stifled voice. "He--my fiance--has had to go away on
business--abroad, and I don't know when I shall see him again."

Her voice sounded sad and dispirited.

"You poor little thing!" said June Mason. She leaned over and laid her
hand on Esther's. "Never mind! The time will soon pass, and then he'll
come back and you'll live happily ever after----"

Esther smiled.

"