“Ah, my dear young girl, we are compelled to go! Cecil cannot raise the money to pay off the mortgage, and Judge Camden has sworn that unless he does so, we must give up the place in a week. Do not distress yourself, my sweet young friend, over our fate, for it is fixed, and I must cultivate resignation,” sighed the unhappy lady. “Perhaps if you would appeal in person to my grandfather----” began Amber, but Mrs. Grant shook her head decisively. “Never!” she replied, with flashing eyes, and lips curled in disdainful pride. “How she despises the old gentleman!” Amber thought, with secret amusement, then said, aloud, gently: “Perhaps you are right not to humble yourself to that hard old man. And, indeed, there is no need, for you can defy his power. I can help you to do it.” Mrs. Grant looked in unfeigned wonder at the beautiful creature whose face was so bright and spirited in the leaping flames of the firelight. “My dear Amber, I do not understand you,” she answered, with a helpless little sigh. “I know you do not, dear Mrs. Grant, but I will soon make it clear to you. I did not intrude on you this morning to offer useless sympathy, but to give you real help. I have a little fortune of my own, quite independent of my grandfather, and I will lend you the money to pay off the mortgage on Bonnycastle and keep your home.” The startling words were spoken, and Mrs. Grant could not answer, from sheer surprise. She had not known that either of the nieces of Judge Camden possessed a dollar in their own right, and she instantly decided that some of her father’s relatives had left Amber a legacy. But her kindly sympathy, her generous offer of so large a sum struck her dumb. Amber saw the effect of her words and exulted. Without waiting for a reply, she continued, eagerly: “Do not refuse my offer, Mrs. Grant, for it will make me very happy to enable you to pay off the mortgage and remain at Bonnycastle. And grandpapa need never know the truth. My money is under my own control, and I can convey it to you without his knowledge. Oh, how proud and glad I should be to do this small favor for you and your dear son!” “This is very noble, very unexpected, and very--tempting--to me, dear Amber; but--but--I am sure it would not be right to accept. Cecil is very proud,” Mrs. Grant sobbed, almost breaking down in her gratitude to the fair young girl, her eagerness to accept her offer, and her consciousness that Cecil was far too proud to accept this favor from Judge Camden’s granddaughter. Amber did not tell her that she had already spoken to Cecil on the subject. She answered, hopefully: “I cannot believe that Cecil would be so cruel as to let you leave Bonnycastle, if by any fair means he can retain it for you. I know he loves you very dearly, and would be willing to sacrifice his pride a little for your dear sake. May I stay with you, dear friend, till he comes, and we will plead with him together?” “Yes, stay, dear,” was the glad reply.