"Keep those dogs off my back, Leycester," he said. "Well, Stella, have you concocted your poison?" Stella went and looked over his shoulder. "Yes, uncle," she said. "You have been long enough to make twenty indigestible compounds," he said, gazing at the view he was sketching. Stella bent her head, to hide the blush which rose as she remembered how slowly they had walked across the meadows. "How are you getting on?" said Lord Leycester. The old man grunted. "Pretty well; better than I shall now you have come to fidget about." Lord Leycester laughed. "A pretty plain hint that our room is desired more than our company, Miss Etheridge. Can we not vanish into space?" Stella laughed and sank down on the grass. "It is uncle's way of begging us to stay," she said. Lord Leycester laughed, and sending the dogs off, flung himself down almost at her feet. "Did I exaggerate?" he said, pointing his whip at the view. "Not an atom," replied Stella. "It is beautiful--beautiful, and that is all that one can find to say." "I wish you would be content to say it and not insist upon my painting it," replied Mr. Etheridge. Lord Leycester sprang to his feet. "That is the last straw. We will not remain to be abused, Miss Etheridge," he said. Stella remained immovable. He came and stood over her, looking down at her with wistful eagerness in silence. "What lovely woods," she said. "You were right; they are carpeted with primroses. We have none in our meadow." "Would you like to go and get some?" he asked. Stella turned her face up to him. "Yes, but I don't care to swim across." He smiled, and went down to the bank, unfastened a boat, and leaping into it, called to her. Stella sprang to her feet with the impulsive delight of a girl at the sight of a boat, when she had expected nothing better than rushes. "Is it a boat--really?" she exclaimed. "Come and see," he said. She went down to the water's edge and looked at it. "How did it come there?" she asked. "I pay a fairy to drop a boat from the skies whenever I want it." "I see," said Stella, gravely. He laughed. "How did you think I came across? Did you think I swam?" and he arranged a cushion. She laughed. "I forgot that; how stupid of me." "Will you step in?" he said. Stella looked back at her uncle, and hesitated a moment. "He will assure you that I shall not drown you," he said. "I am not afraid--do you think I am afraid?" she said, scornfully. "Yes, I think that at this moment you are trembling with nervousness and dread." She put her foot--he could not help seeing how small and shapely it was--on the gunwale, and he held out his hand and took hers; it was well he did so, for the boat was only a small, lightly built gig, and her sudden movement had made it rock.