've ever felt
like that, or if you have ever cared for any one--really cared, I
mean--but if you have...." She stopped again.

"I think I understand," Micky said, with an effort. "You mean that
there's some one, some man...."

She raised her grey eyes to his face.

"Yes, that's what I mean."

"Some man you care for--care for very much," Micky went on slowly.
"Perhaps some one you have quarreled with--who hadn't been quite as
... kind as he might have been----"

The soft colour flooded her face.

"Did you guess--last night?" she asked shyly.

Micky smiled.

"Did I? I am not sure, perhaps." He drew a long breath that was half a
sigh. "Well?" he queried.

"I don't know why I am telling you this----" she said again, with a
sort of distress. "It cannot interest you, but, somehow, I think I
should like you to know."

"It interests me very much--I am honoured that you should tell me."
Micky looked again at the ring she wore; quite a cheap little ring,
with a couple of inferior diamonds. "You mean that you are engaged to
be married?"

"Yes; at least----" The words were only a whisper.

Micky sat very still.

"Well, I suppose you will have me for a friend all the same, won't
you?" he asked with an effort.

She looked at him in faint amazement.

"I thought if I told you that perhaps you'd rather not...." She
stopped in confusion.

Micky leaned a little closer over the table.

"You said last night that you didn't believe in a man's friendship for
a woman," he said. "Well, I am going to make you believe in it. I'm
going to be your friend. The fact that you are engaged makes no
difference to me, if it doesn't to you."

She looked at him earnestly.

"If you mean that," she said, "I think I'm very glad."

"Thank you. I suppose I mustn't ask who the--the lucky man is?"

She shook her head.

"I can't tell you. And he's away now--out of England."

Her voice changed a little, her eyes looked past Micky as if for the
moment she had forgotten him.

Micky watched her jealously.

"And so whatever was wrong last night is all right to-day, is that
it?" he asked with an effort.

"Yes ... somehow I never thought it would be, but this morning----"

"This morning?" he echoed as she stopped.

"I had a letter this morning," she told him, and her voice had
softened so wonderfully that Micky caught his breath. "Oh, I wonder if
you have ever been as unhappy as I was last night, and then had a
letter, a wonderful l