your sitting-room prepared first?--just so that
you may have a corner of comfort?'

'I do not expect to see comfort, my dear, for many a day--to judge by
what I have around me.'

Esther swallowed a choking feeling in her throat, commanded back some
tears which had a mind to force their way, and presided over the rest
of the meal with a manner of sweet womanly dignity, which had a lovely
unconscious charm. The colonel did even become a little conscious of it.

'You are doing the best you know, my dear,' he condescended kindly. 'I
do not grudge any loss of comfort for your sake.'

'Papa, I think you shall not lose any,' Esther said eagerly; but then
she confined her energies to doing. And with nerves all strung up
again, she went after breakfast at the work of bringing order out of
disorder.

'The first thing for you to do, Barker,' she said, 'is to get papa's
sleeping-room comfortable. He will have the one looking to the west, I
think; that is the prettiest. The blue carpet, that was on his room at
Seaforth, will just do. Christopher will undo the roll of carpet for
you.'

'Miss Esther, I can't do nothing till I get the kitchen free. There'll
be the dinner.'

'Christopher will manage the kitchen.'

'He can't, mum. He don't know one thing that's to be done, no more'n
one of his spades. It's just not possible, Miss Esther.'

'I will oversee what he does. Trust me. I will not make any bad
mistakes, Barker. You put papa's room in order. He wishes it.'

What the colonel desired had to be done, Barker knew; so with a
wondering look at Esther's sweet, determined face, she gave in. And
that day and the next day, and the third, were days very full of
business, and in which a vast deal was accomplished. The house was
really very pretty, as Esther soon saw; and before Saturday night
closed in, those parts of it at least which the colonel had most to do
with were stroked into order, and afforded him all his wonted ease and
luxury. Esther had worked every hour of those days, to the admiration
of her subordinates; the informing spirit and regulating will of every
step that was taken. She never lost her head, or her patience, or her
sweet quiet; though she was herself as busy as a bee and at the same
time constantly directing the activity of the others. Wise, and
quick-witted, and quick to remember, her presence of mind and readiness
of resource seemed unfailing. So, as I said, before Saturday night
came, an immense deal o