A certain surprise showed itself on the face of Madame
Butler at the sight of Tinker; she had plainly expected a client of
more mature years.
Tinker bowed, and sat down in the chair by the desk in which clients
sat and set forth their needs.
"You wished to see me--on business?" said Madame Butler with some
hesitation.
"Yes," said Tinker. "I want a governess for my sister--my adopted
sister. I'm responsible for her, and I've decided that she must be
educated. I told my father, Sir Tancred Beauleigh, and he gave me
leave to get her a governess. So I came to you."
"Yes," said Madame Butler, smiling, "and what kind of a governess do
you want?"
The pretty young lady, who had been regarding Tinker with smiling
interest, turned away with the proper delicacy, and looked out of the
window.
Tinker's face wore a very serious, almost anxious, air. "I've worked
it out carefully," he said. "Elsie's ten years old, two years younger
than I am, and there is no need for her governess to have degrees or
certificates or that kind of thing. She will only have to teach her to
write nicely and do sums--not fractions, of course--useful sums, and
some needlework, and look after her when I'm not about.
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