“Those are almost the very same words that Cecil said to me about you this morning, and I have been racking my brain to invent a plan, for, oh! I feel so sorry for you both!” “You are so good, Amber. I can never thank you enough. Oh, may Heaven soon send you a lover as noble and handsome as my Cecil!” “You have wished that before, Violet,” laughed Amber. “And I could not make a better wish for you, dear; for I believe that love is the sweetest thing in life.” “And the bitterest when unrequited,” Amber answered, in so harsh a tone that Violet started in affright and cried out: “Oh, I--I forgot! You--you once loved--Cecil, very dearly! But oh, I think, I hope, you have got over it, dear Amber, have you not?” “Oh, yes, of course, Violet! It is so easy to get over a slighted love, you know,” laughed Amber, with a bitterness she could scarcely conceal, while to her throbbing heart she cried: “How I will torture pretty golden-haired Violet for those words some day! I will pay her back pang for pang all the pain that I have suffered.” And she was willing to give her some little happiness now, because in the future Violet would feel the contrast more keenly between fleeting bliss and endless despair. So she brought the love-letters to and fro, getting her own reward in the fetters of gratitude that she was winding around Cecil’s heart, and she even planned a meeting for the lovers. That beautiful September day, when the air was so still, so balmy and sweet, and the leaves just beginning to turn crimson in the woods, she came smiling into Violet’s room, exclaiming: “I have tormented grandpapa until he has granted my wish, and you will be allowed to go with me for a drive this afternoon. What do you think of that for a victory, little Violet?” CHAPTER XV. A CHARMING SURPRISE. Violet’s beautiful eyes beamed with joy and gratitude. “I shall see Cecil! Oh, Amber, you will let me see Cecil?” she cried, with childish eagerness, clapping her little white hands. “Yes, you shall see Cecil; but----” and Amber paused diffidently, then added: “There will be one drawback to your pleasure.” “What is that, dear Amber?” “Grandpapa suspects that I am in sympathy with you and Cecil. He made me promise that neither of us would leave the phaeton for a single moment while we are out.” “Well, Amber?” “Do you not see that Cecil can only come to the side of the phaeton and talk to you in my presence? Of course a third party will spoil the pleasure of your meeting.” “Oh, no, no, no, dear Amber, for we both love you so dearly, you have been so good to us! And so it does not matter if you hear all that we have to say! For we will not have time to talk of our love, but only of our troubles,” declared Violet, frankly. “Very well, then, Violet, you may get ready at once. Cecil will be waiting for us on the river-road, expecting to get a letter. What a happy surprise he will have in seeing you!”