"I am a little"--she smiled up at him--"in spite of my new coat," she said. "I think we had better go home."
"I got home earlier than I thought," she told Esther. "Well, Micky?"
"Are there any letters?" Esther asked. She felt a swift feeling of envy as she looked at these two, so openly and unfeignedly glad to see one another. "I suppose it's expecting too much though," she added with a sigh.
June did not answer, and Esther went on and up the stairs.
"There is one for her," June said in an undertone to Micky as soon as she had gone. "And one from Paris, too--from that man! Micky, are you sure it isn't all a mistake about him being married?"
"Then shall I--what shall I do about that letter--it was sent on from London. Ought I to let her have it?"
Micky was taking off his coat, his back was turned.
"Oh, let her have it," he said casually. "It may be the last she'll ever get."
June took it from her dress and handed it to him.
He glanced at the writing and gave it back to her.
"Oh yes, I should let her have it," he said again.
"Micky--supposing it's to tell her about--you know ... about this marriage?"
"Oh, it would hardly be that," Micky said positively. "At least--well, if it is, we must chance it." But his voice did not sound as if he were at all anxious.
June raked up another appointment for the following day. "I'm behaving like an angel to you," she told Micky. "Yesterday I tramped about the fields till I was worn out so that I should be out of the way and Esther could meet you. Oh, she didn't want to go at all," she hastened to add as she saw the look of pleasure that filled his eyes. "I had to make her go."
He was standing beside the car at Miss Dearling's gate, and Esther was upstairs putting on her hat. She had protested twenty times that she did not really want to go; she had begged June to take her place; she had implored Micky to take June instead; but they had both refused.
"I'm not keen on motoring when it's cold," June declared. "Besides, I've got my business to see to, and I don't want Micky. You go, Esther, and amuse the poor soul!--just to please me."
Esther said "Very well," and tried to look as if she were not anxious at all, but she was really looking forward to another drive.
