He was pleased to see them; he felt decidedly less ill-tempered than he had done a moment ago. He looked down at June’s radiant face, and a little doubt went through his heart.
He was in that dangerous state through which so many men have to pass when the woman they love will have none of them. If Marie Deland had happened to turn up then, he would have asked for forgiveness and have married her offhand and regretted it the next day; and now, as he looked at June, he wondered if he had been a fool not to properly appreciate her. He felt a vague twinge of jealousy, realising that the days were gone for ever when he had been the most wonderful man in all the world to her.
He had never loved her save in a brotherly way, and he did not love her now, but at heart men are all dogs in the manger, and it was some such feeling that filled Micky’s heart as he leaned out of the window and looked at this girl.
“I hope you’ll have a good time,” she said cheerily. “Have you got anything to read?”
“I shan’t want anything––I’m not in a reading mood.”
Micky was longing to ask about Esther, but pride prevented him.
The guard was blowing his whistle; doors were slamming; June gripped Micky’s hand.
“Be a good boy, and have a good time,” she said. There was a furious excitement in her eyes.
He made a grimace.