So I want a
lady, young, and English; and I should like her to be a bit of a
sportswoman, don't you know. I mean," he added in careful explanation,
"I should like her to be cheerful and good-natured, and not fussy about
the things that really don't matter."
"I think I know the kind of governess you want," said Madame Butler.
She ran her eye over two or three pages of her ledger and added, "But
I'm very much afraid that I haven't one of that kind on my books at
present."
"That's a pity," said Tinker. "Should I have long to wait?"
"I'm afraid you might. People chiefly want ladles with certificates
and degrees, so the others don't offer themselves."
The pretty young lady turned from the window with the quickness of one
suddenly making up her mind.
"How should I do?" she said in a charming voice.
Madame Butler turned towards her quickly with raised eyebrows, but said
nothing. Tinker turned, too, and his face lighted up with an angelic
smile. He looked at the pretty young lady carefully, and then at the
pretty young lady's tailor-made gown, and the smile faded out of his
face.
"I'm afraid," he said sorrowfully, "you would be too expensive."
"What salary were you thinking of giving?" she said with a brisk,
businesslike directness.
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