Part 18 (1/2)

”I know,” said Tinker in a tone of genuine sympathy.

Tinker went to Elsie, whom he had left in the gardens of the Casino, and told her that his father had given him leave to get her a governess. On hearing that the matter was so near accomplishment, her face fell, and she said, ”Don't--don't you think I ought to help choose her?”

”It wouldn't be regular,” said Tinker firmly.

After dejeuner he caught a train to Nice, and went straight to Madame Butler, that stay of those who seek maids, companions, nurses, or governesses on the Riviera. He sent in his card, and was straightway ushered into the office where she received her clients. She was sitting at a desk, and by one of the windows sat a very pretty young lady, who looked as if she were waiting to interview a possible employee. 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. 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.

”Thirty pounds a year,” said Tinker; and then he added hastily, ”Of course it's very little; but really the work would be quite light, and we should try and make things pleasant for her.”

”But surely, for a governess without certificates, that is a very good salary; isn't it, Madame Butler?”

”It is, indeed,” said Madame Butler.

”It can't be, really,” said Tinker. ”But I suppose people are mean.”

”Well, it would satisfy me,” said the pretty young lady. ”But unfortunately I am an American, and you want an Englishwoman.”

”I only don't want a foreigner,” said Tinker. ”I should be awfully pleased if you would take the post.”

”The pleasure will be mine,” said the pretty young lady. ”And about references? I'm afraid I cannot get them in less than ten days.”