There was a moment's pause. Stella sat pulling a piece of maidenhair apart, her eyes downcast; his eyes were reading her beautiful face, and noting the graceful turns of the white neck. Someone was playing the grand piano, and the music floated in and about the tall palms. It was an intoxicating moment for him! The air was balmy with perfumes from the exotics, the warm blood was running freely in his veins, the beauty of the girl beside him seemed to entrance him. Instinctively his hand, being idly near her, went toward hers, and would have touched it, but suddenly one of the maids entered, and with a slow, respectful air approached them. She held a silver salver, on which lay a small note, folded in a lover's knot. Lord Leycester looked up; the interruption came just in time. "For me?" he said. "For Miss Etheridge, my lord," replied the maid, with a courtesy. "For me?" echoed Stella, taking the note. "I can guess who it is from," he said, with a smile. "Lilian is growing impatient--if she is ever that." Stella unfolded the note. This was it: "Will you come to me now, if you care to?" "Oh, yes, I will go at once," she said, standing up. He rose with a sigh. "It is the first time I have envied Lilian anything," he said, in a low voice. "This way, if you please, miss," said the maid. "A moment--a moment only," said Lord Leycester, and as Stella stopped, he gathered a few sprays of maidenhair from the margin of the fountain. "It is a peace-offering. Will you take it to her? I promised that I would ask you to go directly after dinner," he said, softly. "Yes," said Stella, and as she took it there rose once more in her mind the word Jasper Adelstone had spoken--"infamous." This man who sent his sister such a message in such a voice! "Thanks," he said. "But it was scarcely necessary. I have sent her something more beautiful, more precious." Stella did not understand far a moment, then as her eyes met his, she knew that he meant herself, and the color flooded her face. "You should not say that," she said, gravely, and before he could answer she moved away, and followed the maid. The maid led her through the hall and up the broad stairs, across the corridor and knocked at Lady Lilian's door. Stella entered, and a grave peace seemed to fall upon her. Lady Lilian was lying on the couch by the window, and raised herself to hold out her hand. "How good of you to come!" she said, eagerly, and as the voice broke on Stella's ear, she knew what Lady Lenore's voice wanted. "You think me very selfish to bring you away from them all do you not?" she added, still holding Stella's hand in her white, cool one. "No," said Stella, "I am very glad to come. I would have come before, but I did not know whether I might." "I have been waiting, and did not like to send for you," said Lady Lilian, "and have you had a pleasant evening?" Stella sank into a low seat beside the couch, and looked up into the lovely face with a smile.