At which two other voices echoed "Ha! ha! ha! ha!"
Kate strained her ears to catch the sounds. Were there only three, then, just as there had been three four years before?
Then ensued a battering at the door, but it stood like a rock. They were tiring at that game. It hurt them, and did no good. There was silence for the space of some minutes, and then the sound of scraping reached Kate's ears.
What were they doing now?
It sounded on the roof of the counting-house. O God! they were never going to make an entrance that way!
Scrape, scrape, scrape. The sound went on persistently.
Kate's face was hidden in her hands. Was she praying? thought Cicely. Then she, too, lifted up a silent prayer for help in their time of need.
Kate's voice whispering in her ear aroused her. "Come," she breathed.
And with one accord, without a question, the three followed her silently.
The room beyond the counting-house was up a narrow flight of stairs. It used to be called by Kate, in derision, "Father's observatory." Through a small pane of glass in this room she could see the roof of the counting-house.