"Dicky dear," she said in a whisper, "do you know what this is?"
"It's a will, Hilda, isn't it? Mother was always talking about Uncle Barton's will. Is this the one?"
"Yes, dear, this is the one. It's been lost for ever so long, and now that you have found it your dear Miriam will be so rich."
"Oh, how jolly!—I am so pleased, aren't you, Hilda?"
"Yes, dear; and I'll tell you what we'll do. We'll prepare such a surprise for Miriam."
"Oh yes; how, Hilda, how shall we do it?" The little fellow's eyes positively danced with delight.
"Well, first I must talk to Major Dundas about it, because of course he will have to give the money to Miriam's husband. Now, Dicky, whatever you do you must not say a word about it. It must be a great secret. You must promise me that first of all. Very well——"
"But, Hilda, I wonder why Miriam didn't know it was in her box?"
For a moment the woman was at a loss. Then she answered.
"Well, that we don't know, Dicky. Perhaps she hid it there herself and forgot all about it, or perhaps Gerald put it there. That doesn't matter—we've found it, that's the great thing, and it will be such a surprise for both of them."