Mrs. Grant beamed with pleasure and gratitude on the fair schemer, and Cecil murmured his thanks in a husky voice, and with a heavy heart, for although he said no word to his mother, he had an innate conviction of what Amber would expect in return for her generosity. He knew that the old love, so cleverly masked for a while under the guise of friendship, still lived in her heart, and how could he pay the loan he had accepted from her but by the sacrifice of his life, by offering his hand and name, without the heart that still belonged to Violet? So it was a heavy heart that he carried with him into the old judge’s presence; and when the wicked girl saw him come forth again fifteen minutes later, his head drooped dejectedly on his breast, and there was no triumph in his walk, although he had paid off his debt to Judge Camden and saved Bonnycastle for his doting mother. He was indeed overwhelmed with shame and pain at having accepted such a favor from a woman--and especially a woman he did not love. Amber guessed something of the humiliation that bowed that dark head toward the earth, and her lips contracted with pain. “He is wretched because his mother forced him to accept a favor from me; but if it had been Violet instead, how differently he would have felt!” she thought, bitterly; then broke into a choking sob. “Oh, Heaven, why is it that I cannot win his love when I worship him so dearly?” At that moment her maid appeared at the door. “Judge Camden wishes to see you in the library.” Assuming an indifferent look, although her heart beat wildly, she sought her grandfather’s presence. He was pacing the library in high excitement. Turning, at her entrance, he exclaimed: “I have startling news for you! Cecil Grant has just left here!” “Yes, grandpapa, I saw him from my window leaving the house, and I was wild with curiosity to know what had brought him to Golden Willows.” “You could not guess in a year,” he replied, with an air of conviction. “I am sure I could not, dear grandpapa, for of course he did not come to accuse you of treachery in Violet’s marriage to Mr. Castello.” “Violet’s name was not mentioned between us. He did not stay above fifteen minutes, and the interview was purely a business one.” Amber, with knitted brows and a puzzled air, exclaimed: “Surely he was too proud to plead with you to let him stay longer at Bonnycastle! I have heard that his mother’s heart is breaking because she has to leave it, but I did not think that Cecil would humble himself even for her dear sake.” How superbly she acted her surprise and wonder. If the old man had had the least lurking suspicion that she had lent Cecil money, her insouciance completely deceived him, and he replied, angrily: