But don't you think you could manage with once a day--when
we say good-night?"
"In the morning, too," said Elsie greedily.
"Well, twice a day," said Tinker with a sigh.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
TINKER FROM THE MACHINE
By Elsie's coming into it, Tinker's life was changed. At first she was
not only a companion, she was an occupation. A score of little
arrangements to secure her greater comfort had to be made, each of them
after careful consideration. He was no longer dull: they were together
from morning till night; and he found in her a considerable aptitude
for the post of lieutenant--to a Pirate Captain, a Smuggler, a Brigand
Chief, or a South African Scout. She kept him out of mischief as far
as he could be kept out of mischief: the demands her welfare made upon
his intelligence prevented his devoting it to the elaboration of
ingenious schemes for the discomfiture of his fellow-creatures; and he
had to think twice before he flung himself into any casual piece of
mischief which presented itself, lest he should involve her in
disastrous consequences. On second thoughts he generally refrained
with regret. The one practice he did not suffer to fall into desuetude
was his daily bolt into the Salles de Jeu; of that she could always be
a secure and interested spectator.
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