She smiled, shaking her head.
“I sent him on––in a basket. Nobody wants him here––he only gets badgered about all day long; so I’m taking him with me. Do you think I ought not to?”
“I think Charlie is a most fortunate cat,” said Micky.
She did not take him seriously.
“I think he will be happier with me anyway,” she said “I’m going to quite a nice boarding-house now. I went out this morning and found it.” She looked up at him with a smile. “I don’t think even you would mind coming to tea there,” she said.
“I thought you were going to say mind coming there to live,” Micky told her audaciously. “I’ve been looking 35 about for fresh diggings; I’m tired of mine.” He stopped and glanced behind him. “Can we get a tramcar here?”
“I’m not tired,” she said quickly.
“Well, I must admit that I am,” Micky answered. He hated walking at the best of times, and he did not like to suggest another taxicab. “Let’s go on top.”
They climbed up and found a front seat; there was a working man next to them smoking shag in a clay pipe; he looked at Micky and Esther doubtfully, then asked––
“Does your good lady mind smoke, mister?”