June opened the door before she had time to knock.
“I thought it was you. I heard your step. What’s the matter? You sounded dispirited as you came upstairs.”
Esther laughed.
“I believe you must have second sight, or whatever they call it. But you’re right this time; I am rather down on my luck. They haven’t anything at the agency to suit me. I–––” She stopped, looking past June into the cosy room to where a man had just risen from a chair by the fire––a tall man––who looked across at her with eyes that were half-abashed, half-defiant. Micky Mellowes.
CHAPTER VIII
June introduced Micky and Esther with a sort of hurried self-consciousness. It was not by her invitation that Micky was here this afternoon, and the fact that she had asked him to help Esther embarrassed her.
“Mr. Mellowes––Miss Shepstone; you’ve both heard of each other, so I can leave you to entertain one another while I get tea.”
And she bolted out of the room.