docs: def _settings(self) -> Settings:
          """
          Return the actual settings object, or create it if missing.
          """
          if self.__dict__['__settings'] is None:
              self.__dict__['__settings'] = Settings()
              for file_path in self._get_files():
                  if file_path:
                      # noinspection PyProtectedMember
                      self.__dict__['__settings']._load(file_path)
          return self.__dict__['__settings']