plate. He could see the dark fringe of
lashes against her cheeks. Suddenly she looked up.

"Why do you want to know my name? We shall never meet again, I----"

Micky leaned a little forward.

"If we don't," he said quietly, "it will be the greatest disappointment
I have ever had."

She looked at him with a sort of fear.

"You don't mean that," she said, with a catch in her voice. "You don't
really mean that ... you're just one of those men who say things like
that to every woman you----" She broke off, struck by the chagrin in
Micky's face. "No--I oughtn't to have said that," she went on
hurriedly. "I beg your pardon ... I ought not to have said it, and I
will tell you my name if you really want to know. My name is
Esther--Esther Shepstone."

"Thank you!" said Micky. "And now we're going to drink to good
resolutions for the New Year ... have you made one yet?"

She shook her head.

"What's the use? Besides ... I don't want to make any."

"Very well, then, I'll make one for you." He refilled her glass and
handed it to her. "Now say after me: 'I resolve that during the coming
year I will be good friends with Micky Mellowes----' Oh, I say,
don't--please don't...."

She had dropped her face in her hands again, and Micky had a miserable
conviction that she was crying.

But he was wrong, for presently she looked up again, and her eyes were
dry, though a little hard and bright.

"I don't believe in a man's friendship for a woman," she said. "But
I'll say it, if you like," and she took the glass from his hand.

"And to-morrow," said Micky presently, "I'm going to take you out to
tea or something--if I may," he added hurriedly.

He waited, but she did not speak. "May I?" he asked.

She was twisting the stem of her wineglass nervously; after a moment
she began to speak jerkily.

"When I came out to-night I didn't mean to go back any more," she
said. Her voice was low and full of a weary bitterness. "I was so
unhappy I didn't want to live." She caught her breath. "If it hadn't
been for you"--she was looking at him now with shame in her eyes. "If
it hadn't been for you I shouldn't have gone back--ever----" she
added. "But now...."

"But now," said Micky as she paused, "you're going back, and we're
going to start the new year--friends, you and I! Is that a bargain?"
he asked.

"Yes...."

Outside Micky hailed a taxicab.

"You're much too tired to walk," he said when she protested. "And it
will be a new exp