Frank, with his blue eyes wide open with awe, looked up at the handsome face of the "awful swell," and bowed respectfully; but Lord Leycester held out his hand, and smiled at him--the rare sweet smile. "How do you do, Mr. Etheridge?" he said, warmly, and at the greeting the boy's heart leaped up and his face flushed. "I am very glad to meet you," went on Leycester, in his frank way--just the way to enslave a boy--"very glad, indeed, for I was feeling bored to death with rod and line. Are you fond of fishing? Will you come for a row? Do you think you can persuade your cousin to accompany us?" Frank looked up eagerly at Stella, who stood, her beautiful face downcast and grave, but for the little tremulous smile of happiness which shone in the dark eyes and played about the lips. "Do, Stella!" he said, "do let us go!" Stella looked up with a smile, and Lord Leycester helped her into the boat. "You can row?" he said to Frank. "Yes," said Frank, eagerly, "I can row." "You shall pull behind me, then," said Leycester. They took up sculls, and Lord Leycester, as he leaned forward for the stroke, spoke in a low tone: "My darling! Have you wondered where I have been?" Stella glanced at Frank, pulling away manfully. "He cannot hear," whispered Leycester; "the noise of the sculls prevents him. Are you angry with me for being away?" She shook her head. "You haven't missed me?" "I have missed you!" she said, sharply. His heart leaped at the plain, frank avowal. "I have been to London," he said. "There has been some trouble about some foolish, tiresome horses; I was obliged to go. Stella, every hour seemed an age to me! I dared not write; I could not send a message. Stella, I want to speak to you very particularly. Will he be offended if I get rid of him. He seems a nice boy!" "Frank is the dearest boy in the world," she said, eagerly. Leycester nodded. "I did not know Mr. Etheridge had a son--it is his son?" "Yes," she said; "neither did I know it; but he is the dearest boy." Leycester looked round. "Frank," he said--"you don't mind my calling you Frank?" Frank colored. "It is very friendly of your lordship." Leycester smiled. "I shall think you are offended if you address me in that way," he said. "My name is Leycester. If you call me 'my lord,' I shall have to call you 'sir.' I can't help being a lord, you know. It's my misfortune, not my fault." Frank laughed. "I wish it was my misfortune, or my fault," he said. Leycester smiled. "There is a jack just opposite where I was fishing; I saw him half an hour ago. Would you like to try for him?" Frank put the sculls up at once. "All right," said Leycester, and he pulled for the shore. "You'll find my rod quite ready. You'll stay here Stel--Miss Etheridge. We'll pull about gently till Frank has caught his fish."