She had
given the matter little thought, but had supposed that she would find
Tinker's father a sedate man of some fifty summers. When she found him
a young man of thirty, and exceedingly handsome and distinguished at
that, she was invaded by no slight doubt as to the wisdom of indulging
the spirit of whim which had led her to take the post of Tinker's
governess, without going a little more into the matter. This
uneasiness made her at first somewhat constrained; but Sir Tancred and
Lord Crosland contrived soon to put her at her ease, and presently she
was taking her part in the talk without an effort.
When she went away with the children, Lord Crosland lighted a
cigarette, and said thoughtfully, "Well, Tinker has made a find. She
is a lady."
"I should be inclined to say gentlewoman," said Sir Tancred. "Lady is
a word a trifle in disrepute; there are so many of them, and so
various, don't you know."
"Gentlewoman be it," said Lord Crosland. "But he's a wonderful young
beggar for getting hold of the right thing. What a beautiful creature
she is!"
"She is beautiful," said Sir Tancred grudgingly.
"Woman-hater! Va!" said Lord Crosland.
Dorothy found herself admitted to a frank intimacy in this little
circle into which whim had led her.
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