that from the age of six she began to assume the rôle of housekeeper. It was quite clear that this little girl constituted herself the sole guardian of her father.
I smiled inwardly but surrendered myself completely to her hands. I soon saw that the more inefficient and helpless I was the better pleased she became. I found that even if I took down my own clothes from the peg, or went to get my own umbrella, she put on such an air of offended dignity that it was clear that she thought I had usurped her right. Never before had she possessed such a perfect doll as she now had in her father, and so she took the keenest pleasure in feeding him, dressing him, and even putting him to bed, Only when I was teaching her the elements of arithmetic or the First Reader had I the opportunity of summoning up my parental authority.
Every now and then the thought troubled me as to where I should be able to get enough money to provide her with a dowry for a suitable bridegroom. I was giving her a good education, but what would happen if she fell into the hands of an ignorant fool?
I made up my mind to earn money. I was too old to get employment in a Government office,
