The Phantom Lover Part 50

"Things done in a hurry are almost the most enjoyable," June answered sententiously. "I'm quite bucked at the idea of living the simple life for a few days."

"Pity you haven't got a car down there," Micky said. "There ought to be some fine runs round about."

"So there are," said June promptly. Her queer eyes twinkled as she looked at him. "Micky, would you like to be a perfect dear and come down in yours, and take us out? You can stay at the local inn and play the heavy swell----"

Micky flushed eagerly.

"That's a ripping idea," he said. He turned to Esther: "I'll come like a shot if I shan't be in the way," he added.

Esther smiled; she was surprised to find that the idea was not at all distasteful to her.

"Oh yes; do come!" she said.

June had got into the carriage, and was busy arranging her various possessions.

"You'll be left behind, Esther," she said warningly.

Esther turned at once.

"Good-bye, Mr. Mellowes."

Micky took her hand in a hard grip.

"Good-bye--but only till to-morrow...."

He stood back as the train started; the last glimpse the two girls had of him was his radiantly smiling face.

"Do you know," said June, settling herself in a corner, "I believe I'm half in love with that man, after all. Isn't he just a dear?"

"He's awfully kind," Esther agreed.

When the train drew into the little station at Enmore June looked at Esther with a sort of apprehension.

"It's a most awful one-eyed hole, you know," she said. "I do hope you won't be bored to death. It won't be so bad if Micky keeps his promise and comes down, but if he doesn't...."

"Don't you think he will?" Esther asked quickly.

"Oh, I dare say he will. I hope he will, I'm sure; somebody has got to amuse you while I go and see to my business."

"I can amuse myself."

June sniffed.

"Can you? Well, it's more than I could when I used to stay down here.

There's only a church and a village inn and a handful of cottages. My aunt has by far the most distinguished-looking house in the village, and I dare say you won't think much of that."

They were on the platform now, and June eyed their two suit-cases ruefully.

"We shall have to carry them," she said. "No porters or taxicabs here, my dear. Come along."

She grabbed her own, and Esther followed her out into the road.

It was cold but sunny, and the fresh air of the country was something quite different from the chilly, damp atmosphere they had left behind in London.

Esther drew a deep breath.

"It's lovely," she said. "Do you know"--she looked ahead of her down the winding road with a little frown--"I've got the sort of feeling that something is going to happen to me here."

"Goodness!" said June. "Don't you start having instincts too! It's bad enough for me to have them. What can happen to you, pray, unless you get melancholia or something?"

Esther laughed.

It was only a little way into the village; as soon as they came in sight of it June pointed excitedly to a red gabled house just visible through the trees.

"That's where my aunt lives. She's an old maid, you know, and incidentally she thinks I'm a most heaven-born genius. She's nearly sixty, but I'll bet anything you like she uses June Mason's Skin Beautifier."

She paused to open the iron gate of the little garden, but before there was time to ring the bell the door opened and a little lady with grey hair and a wonderful complexion very much like June's stood there with outstretched hands.

"My dears! I never was so delighted! June--after all these months you really have come to see me."

She kissed June heartily and turned to Esther. June introduced them.

"My friend, Esther Shepstone--my aunt, Miss Dearling. I don't know what you think of us for arriving on top of our wire like this," she said, laughing. "But I like to do things in a hurry--so here we are, and we're just starving."

They followed Miss Dearling into a quaint little square room, where the table was laid for lunch. June talked away all the time.

"There's another member of the party coming down to-morrow," she said.

"No; a man this time--Micky Mellowes! You remember him? Yes; I thought you would." She flushed a little. "He's going to bring his car down and take us all out for rides; so we're in for a good time."

"I remember Mr. Mellowes quite well," Miss Dearling said. When she was alone with Esther for a moment she whispered to her--

"We all hoped June meant to marry him, you know, my dear. Perhaps she has changed her mind, as she is allowing him to come down. Such a very charming man--have you seen him?--and so rich."

"Yes, I've seen him," Esther said. "He is nice--very!"

"It would be the dream of my life fulfilled if I could see June married to him," the old lady went on. "June wants a firm hand. She is wonderfully high-spirited and clever, you know, but I always feel that she would be so much happier with some one to look after her, and he is just the man to take care of a woman."

"Yes," said Esther.

She felt Miss Dearling glance at her hands.

"Are you--are you engaged to be married?" she asked, after a moment.

"Please forgive my curiosity, but I am always so interested in young people's love-affairs...."

Esther coloured.

"Yes, I am engaged," she said. "But he is away just now--abroad. I hope we shall be married as soon as he comes home again."