et them?' she asked, as soon as she had taken her seat,
and begun to make her observations.

'Nowheres, Miss Esther; leastways _I_ didn't. The colonel, he's bought
'em of some old chap that wanted to get rid of 'em.'

'Bought? Then they are ours!' exclaimed Esther with delight. 'Well, the
gig seems very nice; is it a good horse, Christopher?'

'Well, mum,' said Mr. Bounder in a tone of very moderate appreciation,
'master says he's the remains of one. The colonel knows, to be sure,
but I can't say as I see the remains. I think, maybe, somewheres in the
last century he may have deserved high consideration; at present, he's
got four legs, to be sure, such as they be, and a head. The head's the
most part of him.'

'Obstinate?' said Esther, laughing.

'Well, mum, he thinks he knows in all circumstances what is best to be
done. I'm only a human, and naturally I thinks otherwise. That makes
differences of opinion.'

'He seems to go very well.'

'No doubt, mum,' said Christopher; 'you let him choose his way, and
he'll go uncommon; that he do.'

He went so well, in fact, that the drive was exhilarating; the gig was
very easy; and Esther's spirits rose. At her age, the mind is just
opening to appreciate keenly whatever is presented to it; every new bit
of knowledge, every new experience, a new book or a new view, seemed to
be taken up by her senses and her intelligence alike, with a fresh
clearness of perception, which had in itself something very enjoyable.
But this afternoon, how pleasant everything was! Not the weather,
however; a grey mist from the sea was sweeping inland, veiling the
country, and darkening the sky, and carrying with it a penetrating raw
chillness which was anything but agreeable. Yet to Esther it was good
weather. She was entered at school; she had had a busy, happy week, and
was going home; there were things at home that she wanted to put in
order; and her father must be glad to have her ministry again. Then
learning was so delightful, and it was so pleasant to be, at least in
some small measure, keeping step with Pitt. No, probably not _that;_
certainly not that; Pitt would be far in advance of her. At least, in
some things, he would be far in advance of her; in others, Esther said
to herself, he should not. He might have more advantages at Oxford, no
doubt; nevertheless, if he ever came back again to see his old friends,
he should find her doing her part and standing up to her full measure
of po