Amber uttered that one cry and relapsed into silence, like one too dazed for further speech. How often she had rehearsed this scene, how often laughed to herself at the tragic voice in which she would cry: “Good Heaven!” “I do not wonder at your horror!” exclaimed Cecil. “It was a wicked--nay, an infernal deed! It will break my poor mother’s heart to go from the home, to which she went a young and happy bride, and where she had hoped to stay until death closed her eyes on the trials of life! For myself, I could bear it all; but, Amber, I am heart-broken for my mother’s sake!” “Can nothing be done, can no one help you?” she cried, tenderly, sympathetically. “No, it cannot be helped. It is too large an amount of money for me to raise. I could give no securities for such a sum. I have been barely able to pay the interest on the debt,” the young man answered, gloomily and hopelessly, for this burden of debt had weighed heavily on his young manhood. He had borne it bravely for his mother’s sake, but he had long ago resolved that at her death he would sacrifice everything, let the old place go, and, forsaking the neighborhood, seek a new place for himself in the wide world outside the simple country town. Alas, the cruel, unexpected blow had fallen heavily on his poor mother’s heart, and he could not avert it; he was helpless, hopeless! Amber gazed at him with wide, dark eyes, full of tender pity. “How much is the whole amount of the debt, Cecil?” she asked, gently. “A trifle to your grandfather, Amber, but a fortune to me. It is twenty thousand dollars!” “Twenty thousand dollars! Only twenty thousand dollars, Cecil. Why, then you shall not lose Bonnycastle! You shall pay off the mortgage and keep the old home for your mother!” cried Amber, joyously. “My dear friend, I do not comprehend you!” cried Cecil, in perplexity. “I will explain, Cecil, for oh, I am so happy that I can help you. Why, it is perfectly easy. I have some money of my own--more than twenty thousand dollars--and I will give it to you to pay off the debt and outwit that wicked old man who wants to vent his spite against you by aiming a cruel blow at your gentle mother’s heart!” cried Amber, eagerly. He gazed at her in mournful surprise and gratitude as he replied: “This is very generous and noble in you, dear Amber, as well as most unexpected; but it would be very improper for me to accept your offer. Still, I thank you from my heart, although I must decline!” “But, Cecil, I will not permit you to decline! I insist on giving you this money, which is entirely my own. It need not offend your pride, for I can bestow this gift upon you, and no one shall ever know of it. We will keep the secret in our own hearts,” urged Amber, tenderly and anxiously, adding: “Think of your mother and accept it for her sake!” He was touched to the heart by her noble generosity. He felt that he had never fully appreciated Amber Laurens at her best. But he was resolute in his refusal.