"I am glad there are some songs you like," he said. "I thought that perhaps you would prefer Italian to English?" "Yes--yes," said Stella, turning over the leaves. "Very much prefer it." "Perhaps some night you will allow me to hear some of them?" "Indeed, you shall!" she said, lightly. "I may have an opportunity," he went on, "for I am afraid I shall be rather a frequent visitor." "Yes?" said Stella, interrogatively. "The fact is," he said, hesitatingly, and he could have cursed himself for his hesitation and awkwardness--he who was never awkward or irresolute at other times--he who had faced the proud disdain of Lady Lenore and conquered it!--"the fact is that I have some business with your uncle. A client of mine is a patron of the fine arts. He is a very wealthy man, and he is anxious that Mr. Etheridge, whom he greatly admires, should paint him a picture on a subject which he has given to me! It is rather a difficult subject--I mean it will require some explanation as the picture progresses, and I have promised, if Mr. Etheridge will permit me, to give the explanation." Stella nodded. She had taken up her work again, and bent over it, quite unconscious of the admiration with which the two pair of eyes were fixed on her--the guarded, passionate, wistful, longing in the man's, the open awe-felt admiration of the boy's. "But," she said with a smile, "you know how--I was going to say obstinate--my uncle is; do you think he will paint it?" "I hope to be able to persuade him," he said, with a modest smile. "Perhaps he will do it for me; I am an old friend, you know." "Is it for you, then?" she asked. "No, no," he said, quickly; "but this art-patron is a great friend of mine, and I have pledged myself to persuade Mr. Etheridge." "I see," said Stella. Jasper was silent a moment, his eyes wandering round the room in search of the flowers--_his_ flowers. They were nowhere to be seen; but on her bosom were the wild blossoms which Lord Leycester had gathered. A dark shade crossed his face for a moment, and his hands clinched, but he composed himself. The time would come when she would wear _his_ flowers and his alone--he had sworn it! He turned to Frank with a smile. "Are you going to stay at home for long?" he asked. Frank had withdrawn into the shadow, where he had been watching Stella and Jasper's faces alternately. He started visibly. "I don't know," he said. "I hope we shall see a great deal of each other," he said. "I am staying at the Rectory, taking holiday also." "Thank you," said Frank, but not overjoyously. Jasper rose. "I must go now," he said, "Good-night." He took Stella's hand and bent over it; then, turning to the boy, "Good-night. Yes," he added, and he held the small hands with a tight pressure, "we must see a good deal of each other, you and I." Then he stole out noiselessly. As he disappeared, Frank heaved a sigh of relief, and Stella looked at him.