ly did think so; she had
never met any one in the least like June Mason before. She began to
feel glad that she had come to this house. It was much more expensive
than the Brixton Road, certainly, but it was well worth it, even if
only because she had met this quaint little woman.

It was nearly seven o'clock before she thought of going back to her
own room, and then it was only the chiming of a clock on the shelf
that roused her.

"Nearly seven!" She started up in dismay. "I had no idea it was so
late. I am sorry for having stayed so long."

"There's nothing to be sorry for," June declared. "You may go shares
with this room if you like. I'm out so much, it isn't used half the
time. Think it over, will you?"

Esther flushed nervously.

"It's awfully kind of you; I should love to, but I couldn't afford it.
I'm really paying more money now than I ought to. I want to save,
too----"

Miss Mason laughed.

"For the wedding! Lucky girl! I hope you'll ask me to come and see you
married--and I hope he's very nice," she added.

"He is," said Esther eagerly. "And he's very handsome," she added
shyly.

But Miss Mason was not impressed.

"I don't care a fig if a man is handsome or not," she said bluntly.
"If he's just manly and straightforward and kind, that's all I expect
him to be. Now look here--we have dinner at half-past seven in this
establishment. It's only supper really, but we all put on our best
blouses--if we've got any--and call it dinner. I'll call for you on
the way down and we'll go in together. I'll tell Mrs. Elders you are
going to share my table, if you like; it's deadly dull sitting
alone."

"I should like to sit with you very much," Esther said eagerly. "But I
really haven't got a 'best' blouse." She glanced down at the plain
white silk shirt she wore; it had been washed many times, and had lost
its first freshness.

"Come down as you are, then," Miss Mason urged, "and I will too! I
hate changing. This yellow rag is good enough for the old tabbies we
get here."

Esther went half-way down the stairs and came back.

"Charlie--I've forgotten Charlie."

"Charlie can stay where he is till bedtime," June declared. "You can
come up and fetch him then. Hurry, or you'll be late."

Esther went down to her room, feeling more light-hearted than she had
done for a long time.

As she unpacked her boxes and tidied her hair she could hear June
Mason moving about upstairs, singing cheerily.

"I'm going