"Forget him, Esther, for God's sake. He never cared for you; he isn't worth a thought."
She rose to her feet, pushing the hair back from her face as if she were distraught.
"How dare you say such things to me?" she said in an odd, choked voice. "You always hated him--you and June. Do you think I'm going to believe you? Do you think I could believe you for a moment when I have his letters--when he has shown me in so many ways how he cares?... I don't care what you say--I don't care if the whole world were to tell me it was true--I'll never believe it till he tells me himself...." Her breath came gaspingly; she looked at Micky's white face with passionate hatred in her eyes.
"How do I know it isn't all a made-up story?" she asked him hoarsely.
She hardly knew what she was saying; she leaned her arms on the mantelshelf and hid her face in them.
Micky let her alone; he got up and began pacing up and down the room.
He deserved everything she had said; it was all his fault that she had got this to bear. With the best intentions in the world he had proved himself a blundering fool.
Esther raised her head; she had not shed a tear, but her face was white and desolate.
"I'm going on to Paris to-night," she said. "Nothing you can say will stop me--nothing."
She did not answer; she fumbled helplessly with the door handle. Micky came forward to open it for her, and their hands touched. A little flame of red rushed to his face; he put his shoulders to the door.
"You can't go like this," he said stammering. "How can I let you go like this? Whatever I've done, I haven't deserved that you should think as badly of me as you do. It was because I cared for you so much--I tried to save you pain ... perhaps it isn't any excuse, but it's the truth.... I'd give my very soul if I could undo what's gone, if I could save you from this."
She was not looking at him, but the cold contempt in her face stung him.
"You may despise me," he broke out again jaggedly. "But it's the truth I've told you.... Ashton never cared for you; that night at my rooms...." He stopped, he did not want to tell her, but somehow there was a compelling force within him that drove the words to his lips.
"He told me he'd had to break with you--that he was going away from London because of you. He said he must marry a woman with money--it's the truth, if I never speak again. He never cared for you, Esther--he was never fit to kiss the ground you walk on. He wanted to be rid of you--he----"