rather
chagrined laugh. "I haven't said anything as far as I know," he added.
"It's what you've said, I fancy. You've fed her up with accounts of
what a wonderful person I am."

"So you are," said June.

He frowned.

"It's kind of you to think so, but I don't know anybody else who
shares your opinion."

"Well, I can't help the world being full of idiots, can I?" she
demanded in exasperation. "And, Micky, why did you come here to-day?
When I asked you before you said you didn't want to come; you've soon
changed your mind."

"I came to tell you about Miss Shepstone. You asked me to get her a
berth...."

June laughed.

"My dear boy, you're too late! She doesn't want your help now, or mine
either, for that matter," she added ruefully. "She's a lady of
means--that wonderful man of hers who's tucked up in Paris having the
time of his life is going to allow her three pounds a week."

She paused and looked across at him expectantly.

"Well, why don't you look surprised?" she asked.

Micky swallowed hard.

"I am surprised!" he said. "Too jolly surprised for anything. It's
good news, eh? I suppose she was pleased...."

"Of course she was! She's staying on now, and is going to share my
room. She had a qualm just for a moment, as to whether she ought to
take the money, but I soon put her mind at ease. 'Take all you can
get, my dear,' I said. After all, I dare say if the man's giving her
three pounds he could afford to give her about double that amount; men
are not particularly generous from what I know of them--except you,
Micky...."

Micky got red.

"But three pounds a week is enough to live on? Don't you think it is?"
he asked, with a touch of anxiety in his voice.

"It's enough to live here on," June admitted. "But it's not great
wealth. Still, she's going to get a berth as well, so perhaps, after
all, the one you've heard of will suit her. What is it?"

Micky was stooping, patting Charlie's head.

"It's in an office," he said, after a moment; his voice sounded a
little uncertain. "I don't think it would really suit her, though--now
I've seen her," he hastened to add. "It would be too hard work--late
hours and all the rest of it, dontcherknow."

June looked at his bent head shrewdly.

"Humph!" she said. "Perhaps it's just as well this phantom lover of
Esther's has turned up trumps, if that's all you'd got to offer her."

"Phantom lover!" said Micky; his voice sounded as if he were annoyed.
"Whom are