The old man put down his brush and turned upon him. "Why didn't you say so at first?" he said. Lord Leycester smiled. "I wanted to see if you would do something for me--for myself," he said, with infinite _naivete_. "You want it for Lady Lilian," said Mr. Etheridge. "I will do it, of course." "I shan't say thank you," said Lord Leycester. "I have nothing to thank you for. She shall do that. When will you come----" "Next week--next month----" "Now at once," said Lord Leycester, stretching out his hand with a peculiar gesture which struck Stella by its infinite grace. The old man groaned. "I thought so! I thought so! It would always be now at once with you." "The Spring won't wait for you! The green of those leaves is changing now, very slowly, but surely, as we speak; in a week it will be gone, and with it half--all the beauty will go too. You will come now, will you not?" Mr. Etheridge looked round with comical dismay, then he laughed. Lord Leycester's laugh chimed in, and he turned to Stella with the air of a man who has conquered and needs no more words. "You see," said Mr. Etheridge, "that is the way I am led, like a pig to market, will I or will I not! And the sketch will take me, how long?" "A few hours!" "And there will be all the things to drag down----" Lord Leicester strode to an old-fashioned cabinet. "I will carry them, and yourself into the bargain if you like." Then, with his hand upon the cabinet, he stopped short and turned to Stella. "I beg your pardon!--I am always sinning. I forgot that there was now a presiding spirit. I am so used to taking liberties with your uncle's belongings; I know where all his paraphernalia is so well, that----" Stella rose and smiled at them. "Your knowledge is deeper than my uncle's, then," she said. "Do not beg pardon of me." "May I?" he said, and he opened the cabinet and took out the sketching-pad and color-box; then, with some difficulty, he disentangled a folding camp-stool from a mass of artistic litter in a corner, and then prepared to depart. Mr. Etheridge watched these proceedings with a rueful countenance, but seeing that resistance had long passed out of his power, he said: "Where is my hat, Stella? I must go, I suppose." Lord Leycester opened the door for her, and she went out, followed by all the dogs, and fetched the soft felt hat, holding it by the very tips of her fingers. With a sigh, Mr. Etheridge dropped it on his head. "Give me some of the things," he said; but Lord Leycester declined. "Not one," he said, laughing. And Mr. Etheridge, without another word, walked out. Lord Leycester stood looking at Stella, a wistful eagerness in his eyes. "I have gone so far," he said, "that I am emboldened to venture still further. Will you come too?" Stella started, and an eager light flashed for a moment in her eyes; then she held out her hands and laughed. "I have to make a pudding," she said.