ne?"

June beamed. She liked going out with Micky.

"I should love it," she said with enthusiasm. "I can't answer for
Esther, though."

"Try to persuade her," he urged carelessly. "I don't suppose she's
been about much; it would do her good."

"She told me she loves theatres," June admitted; "but the trouble will
probably be that she hasn't got a dress."

"A dress?" Micky echoed vaguely. "Can't you lend her one of yours?"

June laughed.

"My dear boy, she's much taller than me and slimmer. ... However,
I'll see what can be done. Where shall we meet you?"

"I'll call for you at seven. We'll have some grub first."

"Good! And if Esther won't come?"

"Oh, well, if she won't, you come along, of course; but try and
persuade her."

"She's refused Mrs. Ashton's offer, you know," June said presently.
She kept her eyes lowered; she felt self-conscious and guilty.

"Has she?" Micky did not sound particularly interested.

"Yes; the phantom lover objected, or something, and I think it's just
as well."

"She said something about it when I had tea with you the other day."

June nodded.

"So she did. I dare say that wretched Raymond would have tried to make
love to her if she had gone," she added deliberately.

"He's away just now," Micky said quickly. "I ran across him when I was
over in Paris last week."

June looked up quickly.

"Did you? What's he doing there?"

"Nothing particular; he often goes over, you know."

"I can't stand that man," June said, after a moment.

"No?" Micky's voice was casual.

"I never could see why you were so thick with him," she went on.

Micky laughed lazily.

"Perhaps because I haven't your gift of second sight, my dear," he
said.

"I shouldn't have thought it would need second sight to see what he
is," June declared.

She looked across at Micky and was surprised by the hard expression of
his face. "I hate men who flirt," she added. "Micky, do you know that
I've got a kind of feeling about Esther's phantom lover that he
doesn't really exist?"

Micky sat up with sudden attention.

"What do you mean?" he asked.

She shrugged her shoulders.

"I mean that he isn't really a tangible man," she explained
haltingly.

Micky laughed.

"Oh yes, he is," he said.

June caught her breath.

"You don't mean--oh, do you mean that you know him?" she asked
excitedly.

Micky met her eyes with a faintly ironical smile in his own.

"Yes, I know him," he answered hardily. "