She went away with a reluctant backward look. June yawned.
"Another love-letter?" she asked chaffingly. She looked across at Esther, and was surprised to see the embarrassment in the girl's face.
"It's from Mr. Harley," she said, in distress. "Oh, I'm sure I've never let him think I----" She handed the letter to June. "He wants me to go to a theatre with him," she added in confusion.
"Well, I should go," said June promptly. "You don't get much fun, and the man knows you're engaged, and if he likes to chance it----"
"But how does he know I'm engaged? I've never told him."
"I did," June said calmly. "I saw the way the wind was blowing and told him to save complications." She made a little grimace at Esther. "And after this note are you still going to declare that he isn't more than ordinarily interested? Esther, you're the most unsuspecting baby---- Say you'll go, of course. There's no harm in it."
"I certainly shall not go," Esther said; "I don't want to, for one thing, and, for another, it would not be fair----"
"To the phantom lover! Oh, I see!" said June drily.
"I don't know what you mean," she said with a touch of dignity.
"Oh yes, you do," June declared. "Don't look so angry! What am I to call him, pray? You haven't told me his name." She waited, but Esther did not speak. "Of course, if you'd rather not," she added, rather stiffly.
Esther got up and came over to sit on the arm of her chair.
"It isn't that I don't want you to know, but--well, I promised him not to tell any one; you see, his people would be furious if they knew. After all, I suppose I'm not anybody, and----"
"Oh, you make me tired!" she said crossly. "Why will you insist on belittling yourself? Who on earth is this wonderful man that he sets himself up for such a model of superiority? He can't be anybody if he's ashamed of you. You don't like Micky, I know, but, with all his money and position, if he loved you he'd be only too proud to shout it from the housetops, and not care a hang what the world thought. There's no rotten pride about Micky--if he loved a beggar girl he'd be proud of it.... No, don't say any more, it makes me boil!"
She lit another cigarette and puffed at it furiously.
"Do you--do you think I should go with Mr. Harley, then?" Esther asked presently. Her pretty face was flushed and troubled.