“No sir,” said Driver stolidly.
Micky stared at him for a moment, then he passed him, and threw open the door of the sitting-room.
It was Esther who rose from a chair by the fire as he entered.
For an instant Micky was unable to believe his own eyes, then he shut the door and took a step forward.
“You!” he said. “I never thought....”
She broke in agitatedly.
“Oh, I know; I suppose I shouldn’t have come; I don’t know what June would say if she knew; but––but there wasn’t anybody else I could come to, and you said ... you said....” She flushed up nervously. “Oh, you did say you would be a friend to me, didn’t you?”
“Yes,” said Micky.
He might have reminded her that she had declined his friendship; he might have reminded her of all the not very kind things which she had said to him, but it was such happiness to see her here in his room that he was in no mood to be critical.
“Do sit down ... there’s no hurry, is there?” He wanted to put her at her ease; he did not like to see the nervous agitation in her face; but she shook her head.