When they reached the house Micky meekly followed June into the hall.

"The table's laid," she informed him. "I'll just go and take off my
hat and find Esther and Aunt Mary. Go in, Micky."

Micky took off his hat and coat and obeyed.

He looked several sizes too large for the little dining-room as he
walked over to the fire and stood with his back to it; he looked round
the room appreciatively.

This was a real home, he thought with sudden wistfulness in spite of
its small rooms and general atmosphere of a bygone decade; a man could
be very happy here with a woman he cared for.

"Micky--Micky----" called June urgently. She came clattering down the
stairs anyhow--she burst into the room, she thrust a scrap of paper
into his hand.

"She's gone--she's gone! Oh, what fools we've been! I told you what it
would be. I knew she'd find out sooner or later. Oh, why didn't you
let me tell her?--I begged you to let me. It's not my fault. I warned
you what it would be--oh dear! oh dear!" and June fell into a sobbing
heap on the uncomfortable horsehair couch behind her.

Micky stood clutching the paper and staring at her; it was some
minutes before he could find his voice, then he went over to where she
lay, put his hand on her shoulder, and shook her almost roughly.

"What are you talking about, June? For heaven's sake sit up and behave
like a rational woman. Who's gone? What do you mean?"

She raised her tear-stained face.

"Read it! read it! Oh, Micky, you have been a fool!" she said
furiously. "It's all your fault. I knew what would happen----"

"Oh, for heaven's sake shut up," said Micky.

He had unfolded the paper, and there was a moment's tragic silence as
he read the three lines Esther had scribbled.

"I have gone to Paris; I can't live without him any longer. Please
don't worry about me...."

Twice his lips moved, but no words would come, then he broke out in a
strangled voice--

"It's a joke--of course it is. She's done it to frighten us. Why, I--I
only left her here half-an-hour ago--it can't be more. It's a
joke--of--of course it is ... June...."

"A queer sort of joke," said June sobbing. "Poor darling! and a nice
sort of reception she'll get when she reaches Paris with that cad
there...."

"She'll never find him; she doesn't know where he is," Micky said
hoarsely. There was a stunned look in his eyes--he took a step towards
the door and came back again as if he did not know what to do.

June was d