She turned with dragging step toward the house, scarcely hearing, utterly heedless of the sound of approaching wheels; even when they stopped outside the gate she did not notice; but suddenly a voice cried, in low and tremulous accents, "Stella!" and she turned, with her hand pressed to her bosom. She knew the voice, and it went to her heart like a knife. It was not _his_, but so like, so like. She turned and started, for there, standing in the moonlight, leaning on the arm of her maid, was Lady Lilian. The two stood for a moment regarding each other in silence, then Stella came nearer. Lady Lilian held out her hand, and Stella came and took her by her arm. "Wait for me in the lane, Jeanette," said Lady Lilian. "You will let me lean on you, Stella," she added, softly. Stella took her and led her to a seat, and the two sat in silence. Stella with her eyes on the ground, Lilian with hers fixed on the pale, lovely face--more lovely even than when she had last seen it, flushed with happiness and love's anticipation. A pang shot through the tender heart of the sick girl as she noted the dark rings under the beautiful eyes, the tightly drawn lips, the wan, weary face. "Stella," she murmured, and put her arm round her. Stella turned her face; it was almost hard in her effort at self-control. "Lady Lilian----" "Lilian--only Lilian." "You have come here--so late!" "Yes, I have come, Stella," she murmured, and the tears sprang to her eyes, drawn thither by the sound of the other voice, so sad and so hopeless. "I could not rest, dear. You would have come to me, Stella, if I had--if it had happened to me!" Stella's lips moved. "Perhaps." Lilian took her hand--hot and feverish and restless. "Stella, you must not be angry with me----" A wan smile flickered on the pale face. "Angry! Look at me. There is nothing that could happen to-night that would rouse me to anger." "Oh, my dear, my dear! you frighten me!" Stella looked at her with awful calm. "Do I?" Then her voice dropped. "I am almost frightened at myself. Why have you come?" she asked almost sharply. "Because I thought you needed me--some one, some girl young like yourself. Do not send me away, Stella. You will hear what I have come to say?" "Yes, I will hear," said Stella, wearily, "though no words that can be spoken will help me, none." "Stella, I--I have heard----" Stella looked at her, and her lips quivered. "You have seen him--he has told you?" she breathed. Lilian bent her head. "Yes, dear, I have seen him. Oh, Stella, if you had seen him as I have done!--if you had heard him speak! His voice----" Stella put up her hand. "Don't!--Spare me!" she uttered, hoarsely. "But why--why should it be?" murmured Lilian, clinging to her hand. "Why, Stella, you cannot guess how he loves you? There never was love so deep, so pure, so true as his!" A faint flush broke over the pale face.