"A mother's eyes are quick," she said. "A word and the pearl is at your feet, Leycester." He was but a man, warm-blooded and impressionable, and for a moment his face flushed, but the "I love you" still rang in his ears. "If that be so, all the more cause for silence, mother," he said. "But I hope you are mistaken." "I am not mistaken," she said. "Do you think," and she smiled, "that I should have spoken if I had not been sure? Oh, Leycester," and she moved toward him, "think of her! Is there any beauty so beautiful as hers; is there any one woman you have ever met who possessed a tithe of her charms! Think of her as the head of the house; think of her in my place----" He put up his hand. "Think of her," she went on, quickly, "as your own, your very own! Leycester, there is no man born who could turn away from her!" Almost involuntarily he turned and went to the fireplace, and leant upon it. "There is no man, who, so turning, but would in time give all that he possessed to come back to her!" Then her voice changed. "Leycester, you have been very good. Are you angry?" "No," he said, and he went to her; "not angry, but--but troubled. You think only of me, but I think of Lenore." "Think of her still!" she said; "and be sure that I have made no mistake. If you doubt me, put it to the test----" He started. "And you will find that I am right. I am going now, Leycester. Good-night!" and she kissed him. He went to the door and opened it; his face was pale and grave. "Good-night," he said, gently. "You have given me something to think of with a vengeance," and he forced a smile. She went out without a word. Her maid was waiting for her in her dressing-room, but she passed into the inner room and sank down in a chair, and for the first time her face was pale, and her eyes anxious. "It has gone further than I thought," she murmured. "I, who know every look in his eyes, read his secret. But it shall not be. I will save him yet. But how? but how?" Poor Stella! Lord Leicester, left alone, fell to pacing the room, his brow bent, his mind in a turmoil. He loved his mother with a passionate devotion, part and parcel of his nature. Every word she had said had sunk into his mind; he loved her, and he knew her; he knew that she would rather die than give her consent to his marriage with such an one as Stella, pure and good and sweet though she was. He was greatly troubled, but he stood firm. "Come what will," he murmured, "I cannot part with her. _She_ is my treasure and pearl of great price, and I have not passed her by. My darling!" Suddenly, breaking into his reverie, came a knock at the door. He went to open it but it opened before he could reach it, and Lord Charles walked in. There was a smile on his handsome, light-hearted face, which barely hid an expression of affectionate sympathy. "Anything the matter, old man?" he said, closing the door. "Yes--no--not much--why?" said Leycester, forcing a smile.