You'll feel so grown-up, don't you know? I tell you what,
we'll go upstairs, and Selina can have a try at it, while I talk to my
father."
Elsie shook her head doubtfully; but she came. Tinker left them at the
door of Elsie's room, and went to his father. He found him dressing, and
after bidding him good-morning, came at once to the matter in hand.
"Selina wants to come back to us," he said. "She thinks she could be
useful as valet-housekeeper and maid to Elsie. She's awfully keen on it."
"If she wants to come back, she most certainly can," said Sir Tancred.
"I owe Selina a debt I can never pay--and so do you, for that matter. I
don't pretend to know what the functions of a valet-housekeeper are, but
doubtless Selina knows her own capabilities best. Besides, as you are
losing your governess, you will want some woman about Elsie."
"But I don't intend to lose my governess!" cried Tinker.
Sir Tancred looked at him with unaffected interest. "Am I to understand
that you propose to retain the daughter of a millionaire as your adopted
sister's governess?" he said.
"Yes," said Tinker firmly. "Dorothy's a very good governess: she suits
Elsie and she suits me."
"That sounds like a reason," said Sir Tancred.
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