"No fear; I'm on Millie's side."
Bert thought a while carefully.
"All right!" he said, after a minute. "Tell her I'll be there."
"Certain sure?"
"That's me." The tow head nodded and disappeared.
CHAPTER VII
IN THE GARRET
"I met a lady in the meads,
Full beautiful, a fairy's child;
Her hair was long, her foot was light,
And her eyes were wild."
—JOHN KEATS.
Bert stood where he was, rooted in deep thought, watching the child as she ran away. He did not believe that what she said was true. Millie might very probably plot to escape, but she would never send him word to bear her company. Besides, he knew that she did not intend to run away until she heard the result of her father's message to her English relatives. He wondered that anybody should think such a device could impose upon him. It was a hoax, and its obvious object was to get him out of the way. What devilry was Tante Wilma plotting?
He laughed a little; they thought him easily deceived.