"You were looking the other way," said Stella, drawing back to allow the carriage to proceed; but Lady Lilian seemed reluctant to go, and made no sign to the coachman, who sat holding the reins like an image of stone, apparently deaf and dumb. For a few strokes of Time's scythe the two girls looked at each other--the one with the pale face and the blue eyes regarding the fresh, healthful beauty of the other with sad, wistful gaze. Then Lady Lilian spoke. "What beautiful primroses! You have been gathering them on the slopes?" with a suggestion of a sigh. "Yes," said Stella. "Will you take them?" "Oh, no, no; I could not think of robbing you." Stella smiled with her characteristic archness. "It is I who have been the thief. I have been taking what did not belong to me. You will take these?" Lady Lilian was too well bred to refuse; besides, she thirsted for them. "If you will give them to me, and will not mind picking some more," she said. Stella laid the bunch on the costly sables which wrapped the frail figure. Lady Lilian put them to her face with a caressing gesture. "You are, like me, fond of flowers?" she said. Stella nodded. "Yes." Then there was a pause. Above them, unseen by Lilian, forgotten by Stella, stood Lord Leycester. He was watching and waiting with a strange smile. He could read the meaning in his sister's eyes; she was longing to know more of the beautiful girl who had sprang like a fairy to her side. With a faint flush, Lady Lilian said: "You--you are a stranger, are you not? I mean you do not live here?" "Yes," said Stella; "I live"--and she smiled and pointed to the cottage across the meadow--"there." Lady Lilian started, and Lord Leycester seized the moment, and coming down, quietly stood by Stella's side. "Leycester!" exclaimed Lilian, with a start of surprise. He smiled into her eyes, his strange, masterful, irresistible smile. It was as if he had said, "Did I not tell you? Can you withstand her?" But aloud he said: "Let me make the introduction in due form. This is Miss Etheridge, Lilian. Miss Etheridge, this is my sister. As the French philosopher said, 'Know each other.'" Lady Lilian held out her hand. "I am very glad," she said. Stella took the thin, white hand, and held it for a moment; then Lady Lilian looked from one to the other. Lord Leycester interpreted the glance at once. "Miss Etheridge has intrusted herself on the watery deep with me," he said. "We came across to gather flowers, leaving Mr. Etheridge to paint there." And he waved his hand across the river. Lady Lilian looked. "I see," she said--"I see. And he is painting. Is he not clever? How proud you must be of him!" Stella's eyes grew dark. It was the one word wanting to draw them together. She said not a word.