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."
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...."