When he heard the light roll of wheels on the sandy road, he came out from the retreat where he was waiting, and his heart leaped with joy.
There was Violet, his beautiful darling, his heart’s idol, by Amber’s side, her eyes beaming with joy, her little white hands outstretched, as she called, tenderly:
“Cecil, dear Cecil!”
Amber chirped to the gray pony, and it stopped obediently, while Cecil flew to Violet’s side, and pressed her darling hands in both his own.
“You may kiss her if you choose, Cecil. I shall be looking the other way!” Amber said, lightly, and, blushing, Violet bent her head till her lips met Cecil’s in a gentle pressure, soft as dew, but thrilling as wine.
“My own!” he whispered, with a thrill of intoxicating bliss.
But if they could have seen the face that Amber had turned from them toward the blue and sunny sky, they would have been startled at its jealous pain.
CHAPTER XVI.
“I WILL LOVE YOU MORE THAN LIFE!”
If Cecil could have seen that look of deadly hate in Amber’s eyes, and read the wicked thoughts in her mind, he would have snatched Violet in his strong arms, and fled away with her to some safe refuge from the cloud of woe lowering darkly over that lovely golden head.
But Amber’s seeming kindness had lulled every suspicion in his mind to rest. He believed that she was the only friend he and Violet had in their love affair.