world...."

He explained in stammering haste.

"Have you seen the evening paper? No, well, take care not to let Miss
Shepstone see it. I had to come back and tell you. Ashton--the damned
outsider...." He ground his teeth.

"Not dead!" said June with a gasp.

"No--he was married yesterday in Paris."

June sat down on the bottom stair; she felt as if all the strength had
gone out of her.

"It can't be true," she said at last. "Why, she had a letter from him
only yesterday. Are you sure? It must be another Ashton."

"It isn't--I knew it was coming. He's married Tubby Clare's widow--for
her money, of course. If Esther knows...."

"It will break her heart," said June.

There were footsteps on the landing above; Micky glanced up
hurriedly.

"Can't we go somewhere and talk? Everybody will hear if we stay here.
Where is Miss Shepstone?"

"She's in my room; she's writing to him at this minute----" She broke
off, drawing in her breath hard. "Oh, Micky, are you quite, quite
sure? I can't believe it." She stared at him for a moment, then she
laughed incredulously. "Why, it's only three days ago he sent her that
fur coat--and the collar for Charlie. Oh, I'm sure it's a mistake!"

"It's not a mistake," said Micky fiercely; he looked away from her.
"Confound it, isn't there a room where we can go and talk?" he broke
out again.

She got up from the stairs and led the way across the hall.

"There's the drawing-room. Nobody uses it now because it's so cold."
She opened the door and peeped in. "There's nobody there."

Micky followed her, shutting the door behind him. The room was chilly
and uninviting, with a lofty ceiling and a hideous wallpaper. There
was a gas stove at the far end of the room, turned very low, and
hissing softly as if in protest.

June knelt down and turned the tap on to its fullest extent.

"The thing is," Micky said hurriedly, "what are we going to do?
If she stays in London, she's bound to hear about it. All the
papers will be full of it to-morrow. They'll probably publish his
confounded portrait. Can't you get her out of London? We've got
to do something."

June did not look at him. The odd little twinge of jealousy tore her
heart again. Even though she did not love Micky, she quite realised
what she was losing. After all it must be a very beautiful thing to be
cared for as Micky cared for Esther.

She raised her eyes with a little ghost of a smile.

"I'll do anything I can, Micky. If you