“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: