But the thing was manifestly impossible. She would probably think it an abominable thing to have opened Ashton's letter; she would probably be furious if he let her know that the money she had received had come from him. Whichever way he turned he seemed to be in a corner. They had reached the new boarding-house now, and Micky was relieved to see that it was a decided improvement on the one in the Brixton Road. The windows were not boxed up, and the steps and the bell were clean. It was on the sunny side of the road, too, and had an air of cheerfulness about it. "It's much better than the other one, isn't it?" Esther asked. "Streets better," he assured her. "I shouldn't mind living here myself...." He waited, but she made no comment, and he felt rather snubbed. There was a little silence. "Don't you like the place where you are living now?" she asked after a moment. "Don't they make you comfortable there?" "Oh, it's comfortable enough," said Micky. He wondered if he looked as guilty as he felt. "But I don't believe in sticking on anywhere too long. A change is good for every one. I shall be shifting out some day soon, I expect." There was a little silence. "I shall see you again soon," he said. "And if there is anything I can do for you----" "Thank you, but there isn't." She spoke quite kindly, but Micky had the uncomfortable sort of feeling that her thoughts were elsewhere. He waited a moment, then held out his hand. "Well, good-bye." "Good-bye, and thank you for my tea." She nodded and smiled and turned away from him. There was nothing else for Micky to do but to go; he raised his hat and walked off disconsolately. CHAPTER IV When Esther went upstairs to her room in No. 11 Elphinstone Road, she found the door standing open, and she could hear some one talking inside. She stood still for a moment in amazement; she thought perhaps she had made a mistake and come to the wrong room, but a glance reassured her; the number of her room was 23, and this one was 23; she pushed the door wider and went in. Her boxes were there, standing one upon the other, so as to make more space in the small room, and on the rather shabby rug by the fireplace a woman was kneeling with her back to the door. She did not hear Esther enter, and for a moment the girl stood staring at her in blank amazement. She could not see her face, but she could see that the woman was small and slightly built, with a wealth of jet black hair coiled in becoming carelessness with a couple of yellow pins to fasten it. She wore a yellow blouse, which Esther would have thought hideous on any one else, but somehow against that dark coil of hair it looked decidedly picturesque. Esther moved a little, deliberately knocking against a chair to attract attention, and the girl on the hearthrug looked round with a startled exclamation; then scrambled to her feet.