"Of course the bank," he said, "will make it up to you afterwards."
"Of course," she said; "and if not, I don't know who is to stop me from doing what I like with my own."
He asked a few questions further, in which there was a good deal of significance, as for instance something about Mrs. John Vernon's marriage settlements, which neither of the others for the moment understood. Rule saw Mr. Sellon to the door, by Miss Vernon's request, with great pride, and went back to her afterwards, "as if he were one of the family," he described to his wife afterwards.
"Well," she said, "are you satisfied?"
"Oh, more than satisfied, happier than I can tell you," cried the clerk. "The bank is saved!"
And then she, so triumphant, buoyant, inspired as she was, sank down upon a chair, and put her head in her hands, and he thought cried; but Rule was not a man to spy upon a lady in the revulsion of her feelings. When she looked up again she said to him quickly—
"In any case, Mr. Rule, we are both sure that my cousin is doing all he can for the bank; if he succeeds or not is in other hands."
"Oh yes, Miss Vernon, quite sure," Rule replied promptly. He understood that she meant it to be understood so, and determined within himself that he was ready to go to the stake for the new dogma. And then he related to her his interview with Mrs. John, and her willingness to give him up her twenty pounds to save the bank.
Miss Vernon's first flush of indignation soon yielded to amusement and sympathy. She laughed and she cried.