Leycester was the first to recover presence of mind, and, hurrying round the table, picked the boy up in his strong arms.
"What's the matter, Bell?" he said; then, as he glanced at the white face, with the dark lines round the eyes, he said in his quiet, composed voice: "He has fainted; fetch a doctor, some of you."
And lifting him easily in his arms, he carried him in to an adjoining room.
Lord Charles followed with a glass of water, but Leycester put it aside with the one word—
"Brandy."
Lord Charles brought some brandy and closed the door, the others standing outside aghast and frightened. Leycester poured some of the spirit through his closed teeth, and the boy came back to life—to what was left for him of life—and smiled up at him.
"The room was hot, Bell," said Leycester, in his gentle way; he could be gentle even now. "I wanted you to go home two—three—hours ago! Why didn't you go?"
"You—stayed——" gasped the boy.
Leicester's lips twitched.
"I!" he said. "That is a different matter."