"Fallen in the water!" said Jasper, turning and walking beside them. "How did he manage that?"
Frank was silent, and Stella, with a little flush, said, gravely:
"We were on the water——"
"I was fishing from the weir," broke in Frank, pressing her hand, warningly, "and I fell in; that is all."
There was something almost like defiance in the tone and the glance he gave at the sinister face.
"Into the weir stream!" exclaimed Jasper, "and you got ashore! You must be a good swimmer, my dear Frank!"
"I am—pretty well," said Frank, almost sullenly.
"Perhaps you had the waterman to help you," said Jasper, looking from one to the other.
Then Stella, who felt that it would be better to speak out, said, gravely:
"Lord Leycester was near, and leapt in and saved him."