d, 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."

"Pardon," said Tinker. "Your face, if you will excuse my saying so, is
reference enough."

The pretty young lady flushed