Stella, even then, did not shriek, but she sank speechless on the bank, and with clasped hands and agonized terror, watched the struggle. Lord Leycester rose to the surface almost instantly. He was a skilled diver and a powerful swimmer, and he had not lost his presence of mind for a moment. It was a terrible place to jump from--a still more terrible place from which to rescue a drowning person; but Lord Leycester had done the thing before, and he was not afraid. He saw the boy's golden head come up a few yards beyond where he, Lord Leycester, rose, and he struck out for it. A few stokes, and he reached and grasped him. "Don't cling to me, my boy" he gasped. "No fear, Lord Leycester!" gasped Frank, in return. Then Lord Leycester seized him by the hair, and striking out for the shore, fought hard. It was a hard fight. The recoil of the stream, as it fell from the weir, was tremendous; it was like forcing one's way through liquid iron. But Lord Leycester did force his way, and still clinging to the boy's hair, dragged him ashore. Dripping wet, they stood and looked at each other. Then Lord Leycester laughed; but Frank, the boy, did not. "Lord Leycester," he said, speaking pantingly, "you have saved my life." "Nonsense!" said Leycester, shaking himself; "I have had a pleasant bath, that's all!" "You have saved my life," said Frank, solemnly. "I should never have been able to force my way through that current alone. I know what a weir stream is." "Nonsense," said Leycester, again. Then he turned to where Stella stood, white and trembling. "Don't be frightened, Stella; don't be frightened, darling!" The word was said before he could recall it, and he glanced at Frank. Frank nodded. "I know," he said with a smile. "I knew it half an hour ago; since you first spoke to her." "Frank!" murmured Stella. "I knew he loved you," said Frank, calmly. "He could not help it; how could anybody help it who knew you?" Leycester laid his hand on the boy's arm. "You must go home at once," he said, gently. "You have saved my life," said Frank again. "Lord Leycester, I shall never forget it. Perhaps some day I shall be able to repay you. It seems unlikely; but remember the story of the lion and the mouse." "Never mind the lion and the mouse," said Leycester, smiling, as he wrung the Thames water from his clothes. "You must get home at once." "But I do remember the lion and the mouse," said Frank, his teeth chattering. "You have saved my life." Meanwhile Stella stood wordless and motionless, her eyes wandering from her lover to Frank. Wordless, because she could find no words to express her admiration for her lover's heroism. At last she spoke. "Oh, Leycester!" she said, and that was all. Leycester took her in his arms and kissed her. "Frank," he said, "you must keep our secret." "I would lay down my life for either of you," said the boy, looking up at him.