A dagger in his heart would have been more welcome and less painful, for the keen thrust would have soon been over, and then merciful oblivion. “’Twere better far Never to love than love and lose again! Better to have a sky without a star Than for one setting weep in bitter pain!” Amber’s gloating eyes did not lose one change of the pale, writhing face of her victim as the poisoned blade of her keen revenge rankled in his quivering heart. He had uttered one terrible cry, and reeled in his saddle so that she feared he was going to fall; then his strength returned, he sat erect again, his handsome face ghastly pale in the moonlight, his eyes dark with despair. There was a moment’s blank silence, then Amber heard him murmur, in a voice of bitter anguish: “God have mercy on poor Violet and me!” “I should think that you would curse her!” burst forth Amber, indignantly. With a sigh from the bottom of his heart, he cried: “No, I cannot curse sweet Violet, for I can enter somewhat into her feelings, and I know that villain taunted and tempted her, or she would not have lost faith in me so quickly! Oh, Heaven, why could she not trust my love a little longer?” “It looked so strange--the delay you know--for we knew the train had come in, and we could think of no reason for your absence,” reminded Amber. “No one could have thought of such a reason, no one could have suspected such a fiendish deed!” he cried, warmly. “Oh, Amber, how it will pain and grieve your gentle heart to hear this new proof of Judge Camden’s wickedness!” he almost groaned. “Oh, what has grandpapa done? Tell me quickly, for I cannot bear the suspense!” Her eager eyes scanned his face closely, taking in all its agony without one throb of remorse at her hard heart. She even smiled to herself at the accomplishment of all her plans, remembering that not only had she secured her revenge on Cecil and Violet, but gained a large sum of money for her treachery. While she waited anxiously, he said: “My horse is very restive. Suppose we ride on toward home, and I can explain as we go. There is no need of lingering here,” sighing heavily, “and my poor mother needs me by her side.” He turned his horse’s head and cantered along by the side of the phaeton, while Amber exclaimed: “Your mother is not ill, I hope!” “Yes, she is ill--of grief and worry, and that terrible malady, an aching heart. She has received a terrible blow dealt by the pitiless hand of that heartless old man, Judge Camden.” “You astonish me, my dear Cecil! What under Heaven could my grandfather do to distress your gentle mother?” “He has done what no one could have dreamed of doing, for it was the act of a fiend, and must have been put into his head by the Evil One himself! Out of wrath and resentment against me, he has bought up the mortgage upon Bonnycastle, and foreclosed it. We are ordered to vacate the place in one week.” “Good Heaven!”