What was the good of putting all one's eggs in the same basket? she asked herself crossly. What was the good of falling in love if nothing better than unhappiness ever came of it? She began to hate the phantom lover, as she called him, with increased hatred. "I don't think you're strong enough to go yet, you know," she said to Esther one afternoon when they were sitting together in the firelight. "Write and tell Mrs. Ashton you can't come for another week, or that you can't go at all. I do wish you would." Esther shook her head. "I promised to go, and I must do something. I shall be all right by Monday. Mrs. Ashton has waited long enough as it is." She looked pale and ill, June thought angrily, and put it all down to "that man." "Has Mr. Mellowes come back from Paris yet?" Esther asked suddenly. June was faintly amazed; Esther never spoke of Micky. She answered rather dubiously that she did not know. "I expect he's having such a good time that he'll stay for weeks," she added. "I wish he would come back, I want him to get on with my business...." "Mr. Mellowes...." announced Lydia at the door. June scrambled to her feet with a scream of delight. "Micky! you villain! we were just talking about you. When did you come back? Why haven't you been before? What have you been doing?" She dragged him over to the fire; she fussed over him and told him he was just in time for tea. "Esther's been indoors a week with a cold," she explained. "No, don't you get up, Esther. Micky won't mind...." She pushed Esther back amongst the sofa pillows. "Poor darling! She's really been quite ill," she declared. Micky said formally that he was sorry that she was not well, but that the weather was enough to kill anybody; he added that he had been in town since Sunday, but ... "Four days, and you've not been to see me!" said June. "What a shame, to neglect us so!" "I've been busy," Micky defended himself; "I expected to hear you had gone to Mrs. Ashton's," he said to Esther. She raised her eyes. "No--I am going on Monday." "Oh," said Micky blankly. June had opened the door and was calling over the balusters to Lydia for hot water. "And bring lots of it," she said. "We're thirsty...." She came back into the room. "The postman's just come," she said with a nod and a smile to Esther. "Lydia will bring our letters up if there are any." She turned again to Micky. "Well, truant! And what have you been doing? Having a good time?" "No, I have not," Micky said decidedly. "Paris is not what it used to be, or I am not!" He laughed. "How's the swindle?" June began to answer, but stopped as Lydia came into the room. She brought a jug of hot water. June danced up to her. "No letters? I thought I heard the postman." "One for Miss Shepstone," Lydia said smilingly. Micky looked across at Esther--her whole face was transformed as she turned eagerly with outstretched hand.