t came next he had no
particular share. But could it be that he was leaving it all to her
inexperience? Was it to be her work, and depend on her wisdom?

'Papa, you said we were to move soon; do you wish me to arrange with
Barker about it?'

'Yes, my dear, yes; tell her, and arrange with her. I wish to make the
change as early as possible, before the weather becomes unfavourable;
and I wish you to get to school immediately. It cannot be too soon,
tell Barker.'

So he was going to leave it all to her! On ordinary occasions he was
wont to consider Esther a child still; now it was convenient to suppose
her a woman. He did not put it so to himself; it is some men's way.
Esther went slowly to the kitchen, and informed Barker of what was
before her.

'An' it's mor'n the middle of October,' was the housekeeper's comment.

'That's very good time,' said Esther.

'You're right, Miss Esther, and so it is, if we was all ready this
minute. All ain't done when you are moved, Miss Esther; there's the
other house to settle; and it'll take a good bit o' work before we get
so far as to that.'

'Papa wants us to be as quick as we can.'

'We'll be as quick as two pair o' hands is able for, I'll warrant; but
that ain't as if we was a dozen. There's every indiwiddle thing to put
up, Miss Esther, from our chairs to our beds; and books, and china, and
all I'll go at the china fust of all, and to-day.'

'And what can I do, Barker?'

'I don' know, Miss Esther. You hain't no experience; and experience is
somethin' you can't buy in the shops--even if there was any shops here
to speak of. But Christopher and me, we'll manage it, I'll warrant. The
colonel's quite right. This ain't no place for you no longer. We'll see
and get moved as quick as we can, Miss Esther.'

Without experience, however, it was found that Esther's share of the
next weeks of work was a very important one. She packed up the clothes
and the books; and she did it 'real uncommon,' the housekeeper said;
but that was the least part. She kept her father comfortable, letting
none of the confusion and as little as possible of the dust come into
the room where he was. She stood in the gap when Barker was in the
thick of some job, and herself prepared her father's soup or got his
tea. Thoughtful, quiet, diligent, her head, young as it was, proved
often a very useful help to Barker's experience; and something about
her smooth composure was a stay to the tired nerves of her