“I don't know—yet. Away from Riverbank, I suppose. I have n't had time to think yet. She just told me.”
“But, look here!” he said. “You mean she is sending you away?”
“It seems to be that.”
“It does, does it?” said Alberson, and he was out of his chair and on his way to the kitchen, and did not wait, although she called, “Johnnie, wait!” after him.
Henrietta ate her breakfast slowly. She could hear Johnnie's briskly cheerful tone and Miss Susan's voice—at first hard and obstinate, and then yielding. Johnnie came back into the din-ing-room and sat opposite Henrietta again.
“That's all right now,” he said. “You don't have to go unless you want to. She's willing to have you stay.”
“She is? Miss Susan is? Whatever did you say to her?”
Johnnie leaned forward and smiled at Henrietta.
“I'm an Alberson, you know; one of the River-bank Albersons,” he said. “We are used to having our way.”
“But that's no reason—that's—she would not let that change her mind. You said something else.”