The Phantom Lover Part 56

"It would be a dashed sight better for me if I had," he said.

He moved to the door of the car.

"Jump in, and I'll drive you back. I'm not sure that I shall stay to lunch, though----" he added darkly.

"Oh yes, you will," June said. "And when you see Esther you'll find that it was just imagination on your part--why, only coming down in the train the other morning she agreed with me that you were a perfect darling--she did, on my word of honour!"

When they reached the house Micky meekly followed June into the hall.

"The table's laid," she informed him. "I'll just go and take off my hat and find Esther and Aunt Mary. Go in, Micky."

Micky took off his hat and coat and obeyed.

He looked several sizes too large for the little dining-room as he walked over to the fire and stood with his back to it; he looked round the room appreciatively.

This was a real home, he thought with sudden wistfulness in spite of its small rooms and general atmosphere of a bygone decade; a man could be very happy here with a woman he cared for.

"Micky--Micky----" called June urgently. She came clattering down the stairs anyhow--she burst into the room, she thrust a sc.r.a.p of paper into his hand.

"She's gone--she's gone! Oh, what fools we've been! I told you what it would be. I knew she'd find out sooner or later. Oh, why didn't you let me tell her?--I begged you to let me. It's not my fault. I warned you what it would be--oh dear! oh dear!" and June fell into a sobbing heap on the uncomfortable horsehair couch behind her.

Micky stood clutching the paper and staring at her; it was some minutes before he could find his voice, then he went over to where she lay, put his hand on her shoulder, and shook her almost roughly.

"What are you talking about, June? For heaven's sake sit up and behave like a rational woman. Who's gone? What do you mean?"

She raised her tear-stained face.

"Read it! read it! Oh, Micky, you have been a fool!" she said furiously. "It's all your fault. I knew what would happen----"

"Oh, for heaven's sake shut up," said Micky.

He had unfolded the paper, and there was a moment's tragic silence as he read the three lines Esther had scribbled.

"I have gone to Paris; I can't live without him any longer. Please don't worry about me...."

Twice his lips moved, but no words would come, then he broke out in a strangled voice--

"It's a joke--of course it is. She's done it to frighten us. Why, I--I only left her here half-an-hour ago--it can't be more. It's a joke--of--of course it is ... June...."

"A queer sort of joke," said June sobbing. "Poor darling! and a nice sort of reception she'll get when she reaches Paris with that cad there...."

"She'll never find him; she doesn't know where he is," Micky said hoa.r.s.ely. There was a stunned look in his eyes--he took a step towards the door and came back again as if he did not know what to do.

June was drying her eyes and shedding more tears and drying them again; she looked at Micky angrily.

"Of course she'll find him," she said tartly. "She knows his address; the brute's written to her dozens of times, and she's written to him as well...." Her eyes searched his face with a sort of contempt.

"Well, what are you going to do now you've made such a glorious hash of everything?" she demanded.

Micky pa.s.sed a hand across his eyes.

"I don't know. I'm trying to think. She can't have been gone long. She may still be in the village." He dragged out his watch. "There may not have been a train up to London--"

"Yes, there was; the twelve-twenty----" The eyes of both of them turned to the clock, and Micky gave a smothered groan.

"She must have gone by that. I must follow her, of course."

June bounced up.

"I'll come with you; I'll put on my hat again----" She made a dive for the door, but Micky caught her arm and stopped her.

"You can't; I can't take you with me. Be sensible, June--I'll find her and bring her back----"

She looked up at him stormily.

"She's my friend, and it's all your fault she's got into this mess. I told you not to interfere, and you wouldn't listen----"

It was a woman all over to rave at him now, but Micky took it patiently.

"Very well, it's my fault, and as it's my fault it's up to me to try and put things right. Don't waste time arguing--if I'm to catch her before she leaves England...."

June burst into fresh tears and sobs.

"You won't be able to; she'll get over there and have to bear it all alone.... Oh, Micky, I almost hate you when I think what we've done...."

Micky went out of the room; he went down to the road and mechanically started up the car; he was getting into his seat when June followed and called to him--

"You haven't got your coat or cap, Micky."

He came back; he hoisted himself into his coat, and turned away again; June caught his hand.

"I didn't mean to be a beast, Micky----"

He gave her fingers a squeeze.

"I know; it's all right; but don't keep me, there's a dear."

But she still clung to him.

"You'll bring her back safely, Micky--promise."

Micky turned away without answering.

"... I can't live without him any longer...."

In spite of everything, that was how she still felt about the brute.

When he got to the station he found there was no train to town for a couple of hours; he asked a sleepy porter an agitated question.