Part 56 (1/2)

”It would be a dashed sight better for me if I had,” he said.

He moved to the door of the car.

”Jump in, and I'll drive you back. I'm not sure that I shall stay to lunch, though----” he added darkly.

”Oh yes, you will,” June said. ”And when you see Esther you'll find that it was just imagination on your part--why, only coming down in the train the other morning she agreed with me that you were a perfect darling--she did, on my word of honour!”

When they reached the house Micky meekly followed June into the hall.

”The table's laid,” she informed him. ”I'll just go and take off my hat and find Esther and Aunt Mary. Go in, Micky.”

Micky took off his hat and coat and obeyed.

He looked several sizes too large for the little dining-room as he walked over to the fire and stood with his back to it; he looked round the room appreciatively.

This was a real home, he thought with sudden wistfulness in spite of its small rooms and general atmosphere of a bygone decade; a man could be very happy here with a woman he cared for.

”Micky--Micky----” called June urgently. She came clattering down the stairs anyhow--she burst into the room, she thrust a sc.r.a.p of paper into his hand.

”She's gone--she's gone! Oh, what fools we've been! I told you what it would be. I knew she'd find out sooner or later. Oh, why didn't you let me tell her?--I begged you to let me. It's not my fault. I warned you what it would be--oh dear! oh dear!” and June fell into a sobbing heap on the uncomfortable horsehair couch behind her.

Micky stood clutching the paper and staring at her; it was some minutes before he could find his voice, then he went over to where she lay, put his hand on her shoulder, and shook her almost roughly.

”What are you talking about, June? For heaven's sake sit up and behave like a rational woman. Who's gone? What do you mean?”

She raised her tear-stained face.

”Read it! read it! Oh, Micky, you have been a fool!” she said furiously. ”It's all your fault. I knew what would happen----”

”Oh, for heaven's sake shut up,” said Micky.

He had unfolded the paper, and there was a moment's tragic silence as he read the three lines Esther had scribbled.

”I have gone to Paris; I can't live without him any longer. Please don't worry about me....”

Twice his lips moved, but no words would come, then he broke out in a strangled voice--

”It's a joke--of course it is. She's done it to frighten us. Why, I--I only left her here half-an-hour ago--it can't be more. It's a joke--of--of course it is ... June....”

”A queer sort of joke,” said June sobbing. ”Poor darling! and a nice sort of reception she'll get when she reaches Paris with that cad there....”

”She'll never find him; she doesn't know where he is,” Micky said hoa.r.s.ely. There was a stunned look in his eyes--he took a step towards the door and came back again as if he did not know what to do.

June was drying her eyes and shedding more tears and drying them again; she looked at Micky angrily.

”Of course she'll find him,” she said tartly. ”She knows his address; the brute's written to her dozens of times, and she's written to him as well....” Her eyes searched his face with a sort of contempt.

”Well, what are you going to do now you've made such a glorious hash of everything?” she demanded.

Micky pa.s.sed a hand across his eyes.