“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.
CHAPTER XXXII.
LENA LAVARRE’S STORY.
The two girls, Violet and Lena, spent the remaining hours of the night in the garret of the lonely old woodland cabin.
As there was no bed, they could not sleep, but indeed they were so excited that they did not care to do so. They preferred to remain awake and discuss their plans for the future.
Although Violet was wild to communicate at once with Cecil Grant, she permitted Lena to persuade her that it would be unwise to attempt it yet.
“Harold Castello will be watching him very closely, and detection might follow on the slightest correspondence. It is best to wait a while,” she said.