been to her, she had not been quite sure of him; it made her feel
happier to hear him so warmly championed.

"You'll be sick to death of my chatter," June Mason broke out with
sudden change of voice. She helped herself to a third cigarette. "I
hope you don't mind smoke," she apologised. "I'm always at it; I think
I smoke dozens a day----"

"Or throw them away half smoked," Esther thought amusedly. "I don't
mind at all," she answered.

"You haven't told me a thing about yourself," Miss Mason reminded her
reproachfully. "And it's not fair that I should do all the talking. I
know your name, and that's about all. Have you got any people? Where
do you come from?"

Esther flushed a little.

"There isn't much to tell you. I haven't any people. I was born in
India, and my mother died there. I don't know anything about my
father. I was sent home to an aunt, and she looked after me till about
three years ago, when she died. I came to London then, and they took
me on at Eldred's--do you know Eldred's?"

"Do I not?" said Miss Mason fervently. "Scrumptious things they make;
but what prices! I can't afford them very often, but I go in there a
good deal. I know the manager, and he's going to do some business for
me--at least I hope he is. If I can get my stuff into his place it
will be a splendid thing. All London shops there, you know; all London
with any money, that is!"

Esther looked mystified.

"Your stuff!" she echoed. "What do you mean?"

June Mason laughed merrily. She had a very infectious laugh and a
trick of covering her face with her hands while she was laughing.

"I forgot that you didn't know!" she said. "I seem to know you so
well, I can't remember that we never saw one another before to-day. My
dear, I make face cream. Wait a moment."

She sprang up and disappeared behind a mauve curtain into an
adjoining room. Esther heard her moving about, opening and shutting
boxes and singing a snatch of song all the time. Presently she came
back with a tray crowded with little pots and phials of all sizes and
descriptions. She plumped down on her knees beside Esther's chair.

"There you are!" she said lightly, though there was an odd dash of
pride in her voice. "Face cream, night and day cream, eyelash tonic,
and all the rest of it! Of course, I'm only just starting--I'm not
like those people who advertise in all the papers and charge about a
guinea for a shilling jar; but my stuff is as good as theirs any day,
and