'I saw the tea-kettle down-stairs.'

'Yes 'm, but that's the sole solitary article. I don' know where
there's a pan, nor a gridiron; and there's no fire, Miss Esther; and
it'll take patience to get that grate agoin'.'

The housekeeper, usually so efficient, now looked helpless. It was
true, the system by means of which so much had been done that morning,
had proceeded from Esther's head solely. She was not daunted now.

'I know the barrel in which the cooking things were packed stands
there; in the hall, I think. Christopher, will you unpack it? But
first, fill the kettle and bring it here.'

'_Here_, Miss Esther?' cried the housekeeper.

'Yes; it will soon boil here. And, Barker, the hampers with the china
are in the other room; if you will unpack them, I think you can find
the tea-pot and some cups.'

'They'll all want washin', Miss Esther.'

'Very well; we shall have warm water here by that time. And then I can
give papa his tea and toast, and boil some eggs, and that will do very
well; everything else we want is in the basket, and plenty, as we did
not eat it last night.'

It was all done,--it took time, to be sure, but it was done; and when
Colonel Gainsborough came down, hesitating and somewhat forlorn, he
found a fire burning in the grate, Mrs. Barker watching over a skillet
in one corner, and Esther over a tea-kettle in the other. The room was
filled with the morning light, which certainly showed the bare floor
and the packing-boxes standing around; but also shone upon an unpacked
table, cups, plates, bread and butter. Esther had thought it was very
comfortable. Her father seemed not to take that view.

'What are you doing there?' he said. 'Is this to be the kitchen?'

'Only for this morning, papa,' said Esther cheerfully. 'This is just
the kettle for your tea, and Barker is boiling an egg for you; at least
she will as soon as the water boils.'

'All this should have been done elsewhere, my dear.'

'It was not possible, papa. The kitchen is absolutely full of boxes--it
will take a while to clear it; and I wanted first to get a corner for
you to be comfortable in. We will get things in order as fast as we
can. Now the kettle boils, Barker, don't it? You may put in the eggs.'

'My dear, I do not think this is the place for the sofa.'

'Oh no, papa, I do not mean it; the room looking towards the water is
the prettiest, and will be the pleasantest; that will be the
sitting-room, I think; but we could