his companion, looking down at him--the boy turned away his eyes, which
had filled--saw what he couldn't have trusted himself to utter. "You're
right. Don't worry them," Pemberton pursued. "Except for that, they
_are_ charming people."

"Except for _their_ lying and _their_ cheating?"

"I say--I say!" cried Pemberton, imitating a little tone of the lad's
which was itself an imitation.

"We must be frank, at the last; we _must_ come to an understanding," said
Morgan with the importance of the small boy who lets himself think he is
arranging great affairs--almost playing at shipwreck or at Indians. "I
know all about everything."

"I dare say your father has his reasons,'' Pemberton replied, but too
vaguely, as he was aware.

"For lying and cheating?"

"For saving and managing and turning his means to the best account. He
has plenty to do with his money. You're an expensive family."

"Yes, I'm very expensive," Morgan concurred in a manner that made his
preceptor burst out laughing.

"He's saving for _you_," said Pemberton. "They think of you in
everything they do."

"He might, while he's about it, save a little--" The boy paused, and his