you please, and she likes to
spend her money." Another silence.

"I hope you'll be happy," Esther said faintly.

Afterwards she wondered what made her say it, seeing that she did not
care in the very least if he were happy or not; why should she care?
This man was a stranger to her.

He laughed ruefully.

"Oh, I suppose we shall," he said. "She's not a bad sort, and she lets
me alone...." He roused himself suddenly and bent closer to her.
"Lallie--you'll let me see you again. There's no reason why we can't
be--friends--just because I'm married----" He tried to take her hand,
but now she repulsed him, though very gently.

"You're not going to be a little prude?" he said in a whisper. "I can
give you the time of your life if you'll let me. I've plenty of money
now----"

"Your wife's money," said Esther with stiff lips.

He looked annoyed.

"If you like to put it that way--but she doesn't mind--she's too fond
of me to mind how much I spend ... Lallie----" She hated to hear that
name, because once she had loved it.

She closed her eyes for a moment with a little sick shudder.

"Are you faint?" he asked anxiously. "I suppose it is warm in here.
Take your coat off! Jove! that's a fine coat----" He ran an
appreciative hand down the soft fur sleeve; a sudden suspicion
crept into his eyes. "Who gave you that?" he asked sharply. "Not
Mellowes----?"

"No--at least...." She could not go on. Micky had given it to her, she
knew, but she would have bitten her tongue through rather than have
told this man.

It had been Micky all the time--Micky....

She thrust the thought of him from her; she did not want to think of
him now. There would be plenty of time later on; plenty of time when
she had shaken off the last rag of the past.

"It cost a pretty penny, whoever bought it," he said sulkily. "What
else has he given you? If you can take presents from him you can't
refuse to let me see you sometimes, and after all--you did love me
once.... Esther, do you remember the way you cried that last day?"

"Yes," she said mechanically, "I remember; I remember everything."

"You loved me well enough then," he reminded her moodily. "You didn't
behave like an iceberg then, Lallie, and I'm not really changed; I'm
the same man I was--I care for you just as much----"

"You're married!" she said.

She felt as if she had so much time mapped out before her during which
she must put up with this man's society; as if each moment were