The Phantom Lover Part 74

Lydia admired enthusiastically, as she admired everything of June's, and forgetful of everything but the moment, June thrust the letter for Esther into her coat pocket and went out blissfully into the rain to meet George Rochester.

George was ardent; he went into rhapsodies over the hat; he forgot to eat his most excellent lunch, and hardly took his eyes off June.

"It's all so much waste of time this being engaged," he said with pretended annoyance. "Why don't we do the trick and get married? What are we waiting for? I'll take you to the States for a wedding trip."

June laughed, and protested blus.h.i.+ngly that it was much too soon.

"I haven't thought about it," she declared, not quite truthfully.

"There's tons of things to see to first. What about my business and Esther?"

"Leave the one to look after the other," he said promptly.

She shook her head.

"I couldn't--I should hate to leave Esther alone; if only she could be married too?"

"Well--find her a husband. What about Mellowes?" he suggested jokingly.

June's face sobered.

"Oh--Micky!" she said. She was not sure if she was justified in telling Rochester that Micky had once cared for Esther. "I thought he was practically engaged to Marie Deland," she said doubtfully.

Rochester gave an exclamation.

"That reminds me," he said. "There seems to have been a bit of a row at the Hoopers' dance last night.... I wasn't there--but I heard some fellows at the club talking it over just now. Do you know a man named Ashton?"

June sniffed inelegantly.

"Do I not!"

"Well, if you don't like him, you'll be pleased to hear that Micky knocked him into the middle of next week," Rochester said calmly.

June's eyes gleamed.

"Never! Well, I'm delighted to hear it! What was it about?"

Rochester shrugged his shoulders.

"Oh, they were gossiping about some woman, as far as I could make out--a woman Micky had been rather friendly with, from what I gathered--they didn't mention her name, but----" he hesitated. "They spoke of her as a girl from ... I've forgotten the name, but I think it was a petticoat shop----"

"Eldred's?" said June sharply.

"Yes, that was it! What do you know about it?"

"Nothing--go on! What were they saying?"

"That she'd been to Paris with Mellowes, and Mellowes overheard it, and there was a bit of a fight, and Mellowes said that the girl was his wife...."

June gasped.

"_What_!"

Rochester looked rather uncomfortable.

"It's only club talk," he said deprecatingly. "Dare say it's all lies."

June pushed back her chair; her brain was in a whirl; she stared at Rochester with dazed eyes.

"Of course you're mad, quite mad," she said calmly.

"Or I am! which is it?... My dear man, the girl Micky went to Paris with was Esther! _my_ Esther Shepstone! and here you are trying to tell me that she and Micky are _married_!" She burst into hysterical laughter.

"I'm not trying to tell you," he protested injuredly. "It's only what I heard; and any way, if Mellowes went to Paris with Miss Shepstone----"

He broke off before the anger in June's eyes.

"If you speak about Esther in that tone of voice again, I shall hate you for ever," she said furiously. "If you must know the truth, I'll tell it to you, and another time just don't judge people till you've heard both sides of the question," and she promptly proceeded to tell him the whole story of her meeting with Esther, and all that had happened since.

Rochester listened quietly, but when she had finished, he said--

"Micky ought to have finished that skunk last night. If he cares for Miss Shepstone...."

"Oh but I don't think he does now," June struck in sadly. "He hasn't been near her since they came back from Paris, and every one says that Marie Deland----" she broke off.

"And when Miss Shepstone gets to hear what happened last night?"

Rochester asked drily.

"Oh, but she won't--she doesn't know anybody who would tell her except you or me," June said positively. "And of course she must _never_ know. She never liked Micky, though _why_!..." She shrugged her shoulders. "Have you seen him to-day?" she asked.

"No--I'm going to this evening."

"But you won't let him know what I've told you? promise me!"

"Is it likely that I should? Men don't gossip."

"Oh, don't they?" June answered tartly. "I wouldn't trust one of them, not even you," she added with a melting smile.

In spite of her promise to Esther, it was past tea-time when she got back home; she threw her hat and coat down anywhere and poked up the fire.

"Haven't you had tea? What have you been doing all day?" she demanded crisply. "You _haven't_ had tea!--Good gracious, I'll make some at once; I had some with George, but I'm quite ready for some more. My word! what a difference a man can make in one's life," she said, suddenly grave. "And to think that I ever talked piffle about not wanting to get married."

She bustled round the room singing blithely; she was brimful of happiness. "You needn't be surprised to hear that I'm going to be married quite soon," she said with elaborate carelessness. "Lord!

won't people have forty fits? Except for Micky, my crowd don't know I'm engaged yet. I'm going to take George home to see them on Sunday.

I've discovered that he's fourth cousin, about ninety times removed, to a baronet, so, perhaps, that will put them all in a good temper with him. My people do love t.i.tles! Give them a lord, or something, and it doesn't matter what else he is, or isn't.... You're not listening, Esther."

"I am. I heard every word you said."

Esther was sitting by the fire with Charlie curled up in her lap; her face looked very sad and thoughtful. So she was to lose June quite soon!--her lips trembled; what was there left for her in all the world? It almost seemed as if time had stood still for a moment, and then suddenly rushed her back again with breathless speed, to leave her bereft of hope and happiness, as she had been before she met Micky.