“Is it too late to go back, Amber?”
CHAPTER XXXVIII.
BETROTHED.
It was the proudest, happiest moment of Amber Lauren’s life when Cecil Grant, stung to madness by the supposed mockery of Violet, cried out in the heat of resentful passion:
“Ah, would that I had never wandered from that first allegiance, and wounded your true heart, dear Amber. Is it too late to go back?”
By a clever falsehood she had stung his pride and forced him into a proposal sooner even than she had dared to hope.
He could think of nothing for a moment but his blind anger against heartless Violet, and his sudden wish to show her that he was not wearing the willow for her wicked desertion.
How sweet and noble Amber’s conduct seemed by contrast with Violet’s perfidy. He felt conscious of a torturing regret that she had ever come into his life, with her luring blue eyes and golden hair, to cheat him with a promise of happiness never to be fulfilled.
He had no love to give Amber, but he knew that she would prize gratitude and esteem; so he rushed into the trap she had set for him, and looked kindly into the hazel eyes that were swimming with joy as he exclaimed:
“Is it too late, Amber?”
“Oh, Cecil, dear Cecil!” she cried, joyfully again, and held out both her hands to him. He took them in his, pressed them gently, and dropped them again.