Mr. Etheridge got out and held his hand for Stella, and she leapt out. As she did so, she uttered a slight cry, for a tall figure was standing beside the gate in the light by the lamps. "Bless my soul, what's the matter?" exclaimed Mr. Etheridge, turning round. "Oh, it's you, Mr. Adelstone." "I am very sorry to have startled you, Miss Stella," said Jasper Adelstone, and he came forward with his hat raised by his left hand; his right was in a sling. Stella's gentle eyes saw it, and her face paled. "I was taking a stroll through the meadows and looked in. Mrs. Penfold said that you had gone to the Hall. Coming back from the river I heard the fly, and waited to say 'good-night.'" "It is very kind," murmured Stella, her eyes still fixed on the useless arm with a kind of fascination. "Come in and have a cigar," said Mr. Etheridge. "Ah! what is the matter with your arm, man?" Jasper looked at him, then turned his small keen eyes on Stella's face. "A mere trifle," he said. "I--met with an accident the other day and sprained it. It is a mere nothing. No, I won't come in, thanks. By-the-way, I'm nearly forgetting a most important matter," and he put his left hand in his pocket and drew something out. "I met the post-office boy in the lane, and he gave me this to save his legs," and he held out a telegram envelope. "A telegram for me!" exclaimed Mr. Etheridge. "Wonders will never cease. Come inside, Mr. Adelstone." But Jasper shook his head. "I will wish you good-night, now," he said. "Will you excuse my left hand, Miss Stella?" he added, as he extended it. Stella took it; it was burning, hot, and dry. "I am so sorry," she said, in a low voice. "I cannot tell how sorry I am!" "Do not think of it," he said. "Pray forget it, as--I do," he added, with hidden irony. "It is a mere nothing." Stella looked down. "And I am sure that--Lord Leycester is sorry." "No doubt," he said. "I am quite sure Lord Leycester did not want to break my arm. But, indeed, I was rightly punished for my carelessness, though, I assure you, that I should have pulled up in time." "Yes, yes; I am sure of that. I am sure I was in no danger," said Stella, earnestly. "Yes," he said, in a low voice. "There was really no necessity for Lord Leycester to throw me off my horse, or even to insult me. But Lord Leycester is a privileged person, is he not?" "I--I don't know what you mean!" said Stella, faintly. "I mean that Lord Leycester may do things with impunity which others cannot even think of," and his sharp eyes grew to her face, which Stella felt was growing crimson. "I--I am sure he will be very sorry," she said, "when he knows how much you are hurt, and he will apologize most sincerely." "I have no doubt," he said, lightly, "and, after all, it is something to have one's arm sprained by Lord Leycester Wyndward, is it not? It is better than a broken heart."