“No indeed; my Lord Grant of Bonnycastle, Virginia would not humble his proud crest to living man, you may be sure. It was a mission of triumph, not humiliation, that brought him this afternoon to Golden Willows. In short, the young beggar had got hold of twenty thousand dollars--the Lord only knows where!--and he paid off the debt on Bonnycastle, and took my receipt!” “Grandpapa, you amaze me, you astonish me! Where in the world did Cecil Grant get the money?” Amber’s surprise was grandly acted. She was a consummate actress, and met his keen gaze with innocent eyes of wonder. “I have no idea where he got it,” the judge rejoined, testily. “But he borrowed it, I suppose. He gave me a check on a Washington bank where he said the money was on deposit.” “I have never had such a surprise in my life!” declared Amber; but her further protestations were interrupted by a knock at the door. A servant appeared, saying that there was a strange man at the door, who would not come in, but wished to see the judge on particular business. CHAPTER XXXVII. JUDGE CAMDEN TAKES A STRANGE JOURNEY. Amber could not understand the uneasy thrill that went through her at the mention of this stranger wanting to see the judge. She sank almost terrified into a chair, while the old man went to the hall-door to receive the visitor. Yet there was nothing unusual about the matter, nothing that could possibly affect her, she thought over and over, to allay her strange excitement; but when her grandfather returned, she sprang up, pale and trembling, dreading she knew not what. But he spoke very quietly: “Amber, I am summoned to the bedside of a sick friend in Washington, and shall start at once. If I do not return until to-morrow, you need not be alarmed, as I may be obliged to remain even longer. Good-by,” and he bustled away, leaving her to the company of her own thoughts. On the whole, she was relieved. A sick friend did not matter. She was rather glad to have him out of the way so that she might visit oftener at Bonnycastle without fear of detection. She was eager to force Cecil into a declaration, although she could not yet see how she was going to bring the old judge to consent to the marriage. She did not wish to run the risk of offending him and losing her chance of inheriting his money, but she was determined to have Cecil, and trusted in her usual good luck to bring matters about as she desired. Her thoughts followed Cecil longingly on his way back to Bonnycastle, and she smiled as she thought how Mrs. Grant would rejoice at the news that the debt on Bonnycastle was paid, and she would not be ousted from the home she loved so dearly. “Ah,” thought Amber, in triumph, “she will be very grateful to me, and of course she will be forever sounding my praises in Cecil’s ears. Surely then his heart will turn to me!” She forgot the perversity of love that has puzzled all the wise ones of the earth--forgot that love exists like jealousy--