Part 25 (2/2)
”It will be the break-up of a very pleasant party,” said Septimus Rainer with a sigh, and Dorothy's face fell.
”Why should it break up?” said Lord Crosland. ”You'd better all come.”
”No; I'm not coming to England, yet,” said Sir Tancred. ”After all this heat it would be too great a risk to face straight away the bitter English summer. I thought of moving northward gently to Biarritz, or I have a fancy for Arcachon. Wednesday would be as good a day as any.”
There was a pause; then Tinker said thoughtfully, ”Wednesday is rather soon, sir.” And, turning to Dorothy, he said, ”Do you think that you could pack by Wednesday? Of course, it doesn't really matter, for you could come on after us; but I don't want Elsie to lose a day's work.”
Septimus Rainer, Sir Tancred, and Lord Crosland looked a little taken aback; it struck them all three with the same sense of oddness that a small boy should direct the movements of the daughter of a millionaire.
”Oh, I can easily pack up by Wednesday,” said Dorothy, as if it were a matter of course that he should direct her movements.
”That's all right,” said Tinker.
”But I don't understand,” said Septimus Rainer. ”Has Dorothy bound herself to do as you tell her?”
”Well, I suppose she has, as far as teaching Elsie goes. And I explained when she took the post that we travelled about a good deal,”
said Tinker carelessly.
”But I can't have this,” said Septimus Rainer.
”Well, she can always give me a month's notice, and then the engagement ends,” said Tinker. He was prepared for the discussion, and resolved that his father and Dorothy should not be separated as long as he could prevent it.
”Do you mean she isn't free for a month from now? But--but it's absurd!” said Septimus Rainer.
”That's what the papers call the rights of the employer,” said Tinker with a singularly sad sweetness.
”Oh, you wouldn't insist on that right, not if you were asked nicely, would you?” said Lord Crosland.
”Oh, yes, I should!” said Tinker cheerfully. ”You see, I'm responsible for Elsie, and she will never get such a good governess as Dorothy again. So she must have as much of her as possible.”
”Thank you; it's nice to be appreciated,” said Dorothy, smiling at him.
”Ah,” said Septimus Rainer with the air of one who has found a solution of the problem, ”but Dorothy can always forfeit a month's salary in lieu of notice.”
”Oh, I couldn't think of it, papa!” cried Dorothy. ”I should lose--I should lose five pounds!”
”This beats the Dutch! This is avarice! I allow you four thousand dollars a month!” said Septimus Rainer.
”Ah, but this is my own earned money!” Dorothy protested, flus.h.i.+ng and smiling.
Suddenly there came a twinkle into Septimus Rainer's eye. ”Well,” he said, ”if you're ground down under the heel of a grasping employer, you're ground down, and you must go to Arcachon. But I shall come, too.”
”Of course,” said Tinker. ”You're--you're one of the family.”
”Thank you,” said Septimus Rainer. ”I'm told that you English are slow about it. But when you make a man at home, you do make him at home.
And I've always wanted to be adopted.”
<script>