hadn't known that I am already beyond the reach of penury, and therefore had no ulterior motive. However, I have been with her so much that I know every line of her face and every expression of her eyes; and when you told me that the youngster was the child of the girl up on the mountain, and the youngster lifted his lids and looked at me; why there wasn't any guessing to do, it was all an open book."
"But I never thought of it."
"You don't know Mrs. Morton well; and anyway, you were too close to the problem to get any perspective."
"But why didn't you tell me?"
"And let you get things all messed up before it was time? No indeed! And besides, it wasn't my secret, nor my business to do any talking until matters worked around to the right point. You say that they have all come out right now; then what have you got to fuss about?"
"Nothing," said Dick, devoutly. "Absolutely nothing. The world is mine." And then he proceeded to set forth in detail the part which they were hoping for Bert to play in the planned return.
When he had finished, Bert grinned her approval. "Perfect!" she said. "You certainly have done yourself proud, the way that you have it all conjured out, and I ask only one thing by way of return for my valuable services in the matter."
