TINKER FROM THE MACHINE By Elsie's coming into it, Tinker's life was changed.

At first she was not only a companion, she was an occupation.

A score of little arrangements to secure her greater comfort had to be made, each of them after careful consideration.

He was no longer dull: they were together from morning till night; and he found in her a considerable aptitude for the post of lieutenant--to a Pirate Captain, a Smuggler, a Brigand Chief, or a South African Scout.

She kept him out of mischief as far as he could be kept out of mischief: the demands her welfare made upon his intelligence prevented his devoting it to the elaboration of ingenious schemes for the discomfiture of his fellow-creatures; and he had to think twice before he flung himself into any casual piece of mischief which presented itself, lest he should involve her in disastrous consequences.