"Don't be so unkind! It's not that I want to leave you. I've been happier here with you than anywhere else, but I must work, I can't live on nothing...." "You could live on three pounds a week if you wished to. What do you suppose the phantom lover will say if he knows that his money hasn't helped you, and that you're going to make a drudge of yourself?" "I shan't be a drudge--I----" June broke in impatiently. "Oh, very well--I don't want to argue, but I think it's mean of you. If you really liked me you'd stay...." "I shall come to see you whenever I get any time off." "Yes, once a week for two hours, I suppose--and when I shall probably be out." "I shall write first and let you know when I'm coming." June took no notice; she screwed the lid on to a perfume bottle and wiped her fingers on the white overall. "You needn't put any more labels on," she said shortly. "I can do the rest myself." She took the tray away from Esther and carried it into her bedroom; when she came back there was a suspicion of tears in her eyes. Esther looked distressed. She felt that she was behaving meanly, and yet she meant to go to Mrs. Ashton's. "Micky Mellowes is coming directly," June said tartly. "If you don't want to see him you'd better go. I know you hate him...." Esther turned scarlet. She took off the apron she had borrowed from June and turned to the door. Before she reached it June followed. "I'm a pig. I apologise humbly! Please stay. Why don't you box my ears when I speak to you like this?" She dragged Esther back to the fire. "I'm wild because you've made up your mind to leave me. Our friendship doesn't mean anything to you.... There's Micky--he'll want to know why I've been crying. Amuse him for five minutes, there's an angel, and I'll come back." She was gone in a flash. A smiling Lydia showed Micky into the room. Lydia liked Micky; he was always courteous, and he had been generous with his tips on each occasion that he had visited the house. Micky looked a little embarrassed when he saw Esther. He glanced quickly round the room. "June ... I----" "She's coming in a moment," Esther explained. "Won't you sit down?" Micky sat on the arm of the big chair; he was cold; he leaned forward, rubbing his hands vigorously. Esther watched him critically. She had told June that she did not consider him in the least good-looking, but now the thought crossed her mind that this had not been quite a fair thing. He was tall and well made, and he had brown hair that grew well about his temples, and waved slightly where it parted. His nose was nothing particular and slightly crooked, and his eyes were nondescript in colour, but kind ... so kind! Esther remembered it was the first thing she had noticed about him the night they met. He looked up. "Well," he said, "have you found another berth yet?" "I'm going to Mrs. Ashton's," Esther said.