ssibilities. Would Pitt come back? Surely he would, Esther
thought. But would he, in such a case, make all the journey to New York
to look up his old teacher and his old playmate and scholar? She
answered this query with as little hesitation as the other. And so, it
will be perceived, Esther's mind was in as brisk motion as her body
during the drive out to Chelsea.

For at that day a wide stretch of country, more or less cultivated, lay
between what is now Abingdon Square and what was then the city.
Esther's new home was a little further on still, down near the bank of
the river; a drive of a mile and a half or two miles from Miss
Fairbairn's school; and the short November day was closing in already
when she got there.

Mrs. Barker received her almost silently, but with gladness in every
feature, and with a quantity of careful, tender ministrations, every
one of which had the effect of a caress.

'How is papa? Has he missed me much?'

'The colonel is quite as usual, mum; and he didn't say to me as his
feelin's were, but in course he's missed you. The house itself has
missed you, Miss Esther.'

'Well, I am glad to be home for a bit, Barker,' said Esther, laughing.

'Surely, I know it must be fine for you to go to school, mum; but a
holiday's a holiday; and I've got a nice pheasant for your supper, Miss
Esther, and I hope as you'll enjoy it.'

'Thank you, Barker. Oh, anything will be good;' and she ran into the
sitting-room to see her father.

The greetings here were quiet, too; the colonel was never otherwise, in
manner. And then Esther gave a quick look round the room to see if all
were as she wanted it to be.

'My dear,' said the colonel, gazing at her, 'I had no idea you were so
tall!'

Esther laughed. I seem to have grown, oh, inches, in feeling, this
week, papa. I don't wonder I look tall.'

'Never "wonder," my dear, at anything. Are you satisfied with your new
position?'

'Very much, papa. Have you missed me?--badly, I mean?'

'There is no way of missing a person pleasantly, that I know,' said her
father; 'unless it is a disagreeable person. Yes, I have missed you,
Esther; but I am willing to miss you.'

This was not quite satisfactory to Esther's feeling; but her father's
wonted way was somewhat dry and self-contained. The fact that this was
an unwonted occasion might have made a difference, she thought; and was
a little disappointed that it did not; but then, as the colonel went
back to his boo