That night at dinner, or rather at dessert, Lord Crosland informed them that he was engaged to Claire Wigram; and when they had done congratulating him, he told them that in a few days he would be leaving for England with the Wigrams.
"Well," said Sir Tancred, "the season here is coming to an end; and, at any rate, the weather for the last few days has been too hot to do these children any good. I think we will move northward, too."
"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.
"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.