st he should involve her in
disastrous consequences. On second thoughts he generally refrained
with regret. The one practice he did not suffer to fall into desuetude
was his daily bolt into the Salles de Jeu; of that she could always be
a secure and interested spectator.

For her part, she was entirely happy; she had been so long starved of
care and affection that, now she had them, she wanted nothing more;
they filled her life.

Taking his responsibility thus seriously, Tinker was greatly exercised
in mind whether he should get her a maid or a governess; he could not
afford both. Elsie, with absolute conviction, declared that she needed
neither; that all she wanted was someone to brush her hair, and she was
sure that he did that far better than anyone else would.

Tinker shook his head. "One has to be educated, don't you know?" he
said. "Look at me."

It was one of his weaknesses to cherish the conviction that in the
matter of learning he lacked nothing, though had he been confronted by
even the vulgarest fraction, he would have been quite helpless.

Having at last made up his mind, he sought out Sir Tancred, and said
with a very serious air, "I've been thinking it over, sir, and I've
come to the conclusion that I ought to get Elsie a governess."

"My dear Tinker," said his father, "if you add to our household at your
present rate, I foresee myself buying a caravan, and traversing Europe
in state."

"Like a circus," said Tinker, brightening. "It would be great fun--for
a while. I think," he added thoughtfully, "that I could brighten
Europe up a bit."

"I do not doubt it," said Sir Tancred politely.

"Well, you see, sir, it's like this," said Tinker. "When I adopted
Elsie you said that I was to take all responsibility; and I think I
ought to look after her education; it's no good adopting sisters by
halves."

"You are right, of course," said Sir Tancred. "But I'm sorry for you.
For a boy of nearly twelve, your knowledge of the things taught by
governesses is small. Your spelling, now, it is--shall we say
phonetic?"

"I don't think a gentleman ought to spell too well any more than he
ought to speak French with too good an accent," said Tinker firmly.

"There's a good deal in what you say," said Sir Tancred. "But I'm
afraid that when Elsie has learnt geography, say, the position of
Schleswig-Holstein and Roumania and Leeds, and other such places to
which we should never dream of going, she might