"The dear child!" murmured Mrs. Thayer. The doctor turned on his heel and walked over to the window abruptly. There was a moment's silence; then softly, Helen said, as she rose to her feet: "So you see now I'm not worrying so much for fear she will question me; and I shall be so happy, by and by, when she finds that daddy has been, after all, only on a journey." Edith Thayer, alone with her brother, after Helen Denby had gone upstairs, wiped her eyes. It was the doctor who spoke first. "If Burke Denby doesn't fall head over heels in love with that little woman and _know_ he's got the dearest treasure on earth, I--I shall do it myself," he declared savagely. He, too, was wiping his eyes. His sister laughed tremulously. "Well, I am in love with her--and I'm not ashamed to own it," she declared. "How altogether dear and charming and winsome she is! And when you think--what these years have done for her!" CHAPTER XX THE CURTAIN RISES It was, indeed, quite "easy"--surprisingly so, as the doctor soon found out. Not without some trepidation, however, had he taken the train for Dalton the next morning and presented his proposition to the master of Denby House. "I think I've found your private secretary," he began blithely, hoping that his pounding heart-throbs did not really sound like a drum. "You have? Good! What's her name? Somebody you know?" questioned Burke Denby, with a show of interest. "Yes. She's a Miss Darling, and I've known her family for years." (The doctor gulped and swallowed a bit convulsively. The doctor was feeling that the very walls of the room must be shouting aloud his secret--but he kept bravely on.) "She doesn't know shorthand, but she can typewrite, and she's very quick at taking dictation in long hand, I fancy; and she knows several languages, I believe. I'm sure you'll find her capable and trustworthy in every way." "Very good! Sounds well, sure," smiled Burke. "And here, for my needs, speed and shorthand are not so necessary. I do only personal business at the house. What salary does she want?" So unexpected and disconcerting was this quite natural question that the doctor, totally unprepared for it, nearly betrayed himself by his confusion. "Eh? Er--ah--oh, great Scott! Why didn't they--I might have known--" he floundered. Then, sharply, he recovered himself. "Well, really," he laughed lightly, "I'm a crackerjack at applying for a job, and no mistake! I quite forgot to ask what salary she did expect. But I don't believe that will matter materially. She'll come for what is right, I'm sure; and you'll be willing to pay that." "Oh, yes; it doesn't matter. I'll be glad to give her a trial, anyway; and if she's all you crack her up to be I'll pay her _more_ than what's right. When can she come? Where does she live?"