what shall I do about that letter--it was sent on from
London. Ought I to let her have it?"

Micky was taking off his coat, his back was turned.

"Oh, let her have it," he said casually. "It may be the last she'll
ever get."

He turned swiftly. "Let me look at it."

June took it from her dress and handed it to him.

He glanced at the writing and gave it back to her.

"Oh yes, I should let her have it," he said again.

But June still hesitated.

"Micky--supposing it's to tell her about--you know ... about this
marriage?"

There was a moment's silence.

"Oh, it would hardly be that," Micky said positively. "At least--well,
if it is, we must chance it." But his voice did not sound as if he
were at all anxious.

CHAPTER XXIV

June raked up another appointment for the following day. "I'm behaving
like an angel to you," she told Micky. "Yesterday I tramped about the
fields till I was worn out so that I should be out of the way and
Esther could meet you. Oh, she didn't want to go at all," she hastened
to add as she saw the look of pleasure that filled his eyes. "I had to
make her go."

"Yes, I quite believe that," Micky said.

He was standing beside the car at Miss Dearling's gate, and Esther was
upstairs putting on her hat. She had protested twenty times that she
did not really want to go; she had begged June to take her place; she
had implored Micky to take June instead; but they had both refused.

"I'm not keen on motoring when it's cold," June declared. "Besides,
I've got my business to see to, and I don't want Micky. You go,
Esther, and amuse the poor soul!--just to please me."

Esther said "Very well," and tried to look as if she were not anxious
at all, but she was really looking forward to another drive.

"Didn't you really want to come?" Micky asked as they drove away.

Esther laughed. "Of course I did; I wanted to come so badly I had to
pretend that I didn't just for decency's sake."

There was a little silence.

"Did you have good news from Paris yesterday?" he asked deliberately.

He felt as if he must speak of Ashton to in some way check the wave of
joy that had filled his heart at her words; it was not to be with him
that she had wished to come, but for the drive and the comfort of the
car.

He saw how her face clouded at his question.

"Yes, thank you," she said, but her voice did not sound very
enthusiastic. Presently: "Mr. Mellowes," she said suddenly, "do you
know that I