Lady Longford looked over the balustrade.
"What has he been doing? Rowing—fishing?"
"He went out with a fishing rod," said Lord Charles, with a grin, "but the fish appear to have devoured it; at any rate Leycester hasn't got it now. Hullo, old man, where have you been? Come up here!"
Leycester sprang up the steps and stood beside Lenore. It was the first time she had seen him that morning, and she inclined her head and held out her hand with a smile.
He took her hand; it was warm and soft, his own was still cold from his bath, and she opened her eyes widely.
"Your hand is quite cold," she said, then she touched his sleeve, "and you are wet. Where have you been?"
Leycester laughed carelessly.
"I have met with a slight accident, and gained a pleasant bath."
"An accident?" she repeated, not curiously, but with calm, serene interest.
"Yes," he said, shortly, "a young friend of mine fell into the river, and I joined company, just for company's sake."