Cissy had a very vague idea of what a “run on the bank” meant, but Norah's logic seemed to satisfy her feminine reason. She softened a little.
“Mr. Windibrook is in the parlor, miss, and a jintleman on the veranda,” continued Norah, encouraged.
Cissy started. “I'll come down,” she said briefly.
Mr. Windibrook was waiting beside the piano, with his soft hat in one hand and a large white handkerchief in the other. He had confidently expected to find Cissy in tears, and was ready with boisterous condolement, but was a little taken aback as the young girl entered with a pale face, straightened brows, and eyes that shone with audacious rebellion. However, it was too late to change his attitude. “Ah, my young friend,” he said a little awkwardly, “we must not give way to our emotions, but try to recognize in our trials the benefits of a great lesson. But,” he added hurriedly, seeing her stand still silent but erect before him, “I see that you do!” He paused, coughed slightly, cast a glance at the veranda,—where Cissy now for the first time observed a man standing in an obviously assumed attitude of negligent abstraction,—moved towards the back room, and in a lower voice said, “A word with you in private.”
Without replying, Cissy followed him.
“If,” said Mr. Windibrook, with a sickly smile, “you are questioned regarding your father's affairs, you may remember his peculiar and utterly unsolicited gift of a certain sum towards a new organ, to which I alluded to-day. You can say that he always expressed great liberality towards the church, and it was no surprise to you.”
Cissy only stared at him with dangerous eyes.
“Mrs. Windibrook,” continued the reverend gentleman in his highest, heartiest voice, albeit a little hurried, “wished me to say to you that until you heard from—your friends—she wanted you to come and stay with her. DO come! DO!”
Cissy, with her bright eyes fixed upon her visitor, said, “I shall stay here.”
“But,” said Mr. Windibrook impatiently, “you cannot. That man you see on the veranda is the sheriff's officer. The house and all that it contains are in the hands of the law.”