his home and his habits and the place of his
wife's grave. As he re-entered Seaforth and entered his house, this
sadness had come over him; he could not shake it off; indeed, he did
not try; he gave him self up to it, and forgot Esther, or rather forgot
what he owed her. And Esther, who had done what she could, sat still on
her father's knee till she was weary, and wished he would release her.
Yet perhaps, she thought, it was a pleasure to him to have her there,
and she would not move or speak. So they remained until it was past
Esther's bedtime.

'I think I will go now, papa,' she said. 'It is getting late.'

He kissed her and let her go.

But next morning the colonel was himself again,--himself as if he had
never been away, only he had his news to tell; and he told it in
orderly business fashion.

'I have taken a house, Esther,' he said; 'and now I wish to get moved
as soon as possible. You must tell Barker, and help her.'

'Certainly, papa. Whereabouts is the house you have taken?'

'On York Island. It is about a mile out of the city, on the bank of the
river; a very pretty situation.'

'Which river, papa?'

'The Hudson.'

'And am I to go to school?'

'Of course. That is the purpose of the movement. You are to enter Miss
Fairbairn's school in New York. It is the best there, by all I can
gather.'

'Thank you, papa. Then it is not near our new house?'

'No. You will have to drive there and back. I have made arrangements
for that.'

'Won't that cost a good deal, papa?'

'Not so much as to live in the city would cost. And we are accustomed
to the country; it will be pleasanter.'

'Oh, much pleasanter! What will be done with this house, papa?'

'Mr. Dallas takes it and the place off my hands.'

Esther did not like that; why, she could not possibly have told. For,
to be sure, what could be better?

'Will he buy it?'

'Yes, he buys it.'

Again a little pause. Then--'What will become of the furniture and
everything, papa?'

'That must be packed to go. The house I have taken is empty. We shall
want all we have got.'

Esther's eye went round the room. Everything to be packed! She stood
like a young general, surveying her battlefield.

'Then, papa, you never mean to come back to Seaforth again?'

The colonel sighed. 'Yes, when I die, Esther. I wish my bones to be
laid here.'

He said no more. Having made his communications, he took up his book;
his manner evidently saying to Esther that in wha