ionally--if I may."

She did not answer; she felt a little chill of disappointment. He had
not asked a single question about Raymond, and now he was suggesting
that they travel the long journey separately.

He hesitated.

"Will you be all right?" he asked awkwardly.

"Yes, thank you."

He went away, and presently the train started. Esther looked out of
the window and watched the city as it was rapidly left behind.

"I never want to see it again," was the thought in her heart. "I wish
I never had seen it."

She felt like a naughty child who has run away from home and is being
ignominiously brought back.

Last night seemed like some fevered dream; Raymond Ashton some man of
whom she had read in a book or seen in a play.

A phantom lover!--he had not even been that, and once she had wished
to die because she had got to be separated from him.

Her eyes fell on her hand--she still wore his ring.

With sudden passion she dragged it from her finger; she let the window
down with a run and flung the ring far out into the grey evening. It
was the end of a dream; the final uprooting of an illusion.

CHAPTER XXXII

Esther slept through the long journey fitfully--she was mentally and
physically exhausted. She was only thoroughly aroused by people out in
the corridor moving about collecting bags and baggage.

She opened her eyes with a confused feeling--the train was slackening
speed, and Micky stood in the doorway.

"We are nearly in," he said.

The train was almost at a standstill.

"Calais! Calais!"

Esther rose to her feet--her limbs were trembling, and her head ached
dully.

Micky took her suit-case from the rack.

"You'd better fasten your coat," he said casually. "It will be cold on
the boat."

She looked at him half fearfully. Was this the same man who had
followed her from Enmore with such passionate haste and eagerness? He
was perfectly undisturbed now at all events, he seemed even to avoid
looking at her.

When they got on board he found her a chair on the leeside of the
boat.

"Are you a good sailor?" he asked.

"I don't know. I've never been any distance until yesterday."

"You'd better stay here; it's preferable to that stuffy cabin."

But he left her alone almost the whole time, though she knew that he
walked up and down close to where she sat. She could see the glow of
his cigar through the darkness and hear the slow sound of his steps.

She tried to think things over quiet