"I beg your pardon," he murmured, with a loving glance, "I was forgetting myself. I will remember that you are here."
"Now, sir," and he turned to Jasper, "you appear anxious to offer some explanation. Be as brief and as quick as you can, please," he added curtly.
Jasper winced at the tone of command.
"I wished to spare Miss Etheridge," he said. "I have only one desire, and that is to insure her comfort and happiness."
"You are very good," said Leycester, with contemptuous impatience. "But if that is all you have to say we will rid you of our presence, which cannot be welcome. I would rather hear an account of these extraordinary proceedings from this lady's lips, at first, at any rate; afterwards I may trouble you," and his eyes darkened ominously.
Then he went up to Stella, and his voice dropped to a low whisper.
"Come, Stella. You shall tell me what this all means," and he offered her his arm.
But Stella shrank back, with a piteous look in her eyes.
"I cannot go with you," she murmured, as if each word cost her an effort. "Do not ask me!"
"Cannot!" he said, still in the same low voice. "Stella! Why not?"