and the high seas were not
safe and quiet as now.

The colonel sighed again once or twice, and repeated that gesture with
his hand over his brow.

'I suppose there is no telling how long you will be gone, if you once
go?'

'I cannot come home every vacation,' said Pitt lightly. 'But since my
father and mother have made up their minds to that, I must make up
mine.'

'So you will be gone years,' said the colonel thoughtfully. 'Years. I
shall not be here when you return, William.'

'You are not going to change your habitation, sir?' said the young man,
though he knew what the other meant well enough.

'Not for any other upon earth,' said the colonel soberly. 'But I shall
not be here, William. I am failing constantly. Slowly, if you please,
but constantly. I am not as strong as I look, and I am far less well
than your father believes. I should know best; and I know I am failing.
If you remain in England three years, or even two years, when you come
back I shall not be here.'

'I hope you are mistaken, colonel.'

'I am not mistaken.'

There was silence a few minutes. Pitt did not place unqualified trust
in this judgment, even although, as he could not deny, the colonel
might be supposed to know best. He doubted the truth of the
prognostication; yet, on the other hand, he could not be sure that it
was false. What if it were not false?

'I hope you are mistaken, colonel,' he said again; 'but if you are
right--if it should be so as you fear'--

'I do not fear it,' put in the colonel, interrupting him.

'Not for yourself; but if it should be so,--what will become of Esther?'

'It was of her I wished to speak. She will be here.'

'Here in this house? She would be alone.'

'I should be away. But Mrs. Barker would look after her.'

'Barker!' Pitt echoed. 'Yes, Mrs. Barker could take care of the house
and of the cooking, as she does now; but Esther would be entirely
alone, colonel.'

'I have no one else to leave her with,' said the colonel gloomily.

'Let my mother take charge of her, in such a case. My mother would take
care of her, as if Esther were her own. Let her come to my mother,
colonel!'

'No,' said the colonel quietly, 'that would not be best. I am sure of
Mrs. Dallas's kindness; but I shall leave Esther under the care of
Barker and her brother. Christopher will manage the place, and keep
everything right outside; and Barker will do her part faithfully.
Esther will be safe enough so, for a while.