_feeling_ he never inquired. It was all right, he thought;
everything was going right, except that he was such an invalid and so
left to himself. If asked by _whom_ he was left to himself, he would
have said, by his family and his country and the world generally. His
family and his country might probably have charged that the neglect was
mutual, and the world at large could hardly be blamed for not taking up
the old soldier whom it did not know, and making much of him. The care
which was failing from all three he got from his daughter in full
measure, but she got little from him. It was not strange that her
thoughts went fondly to Pitt, who _had_ taken care of her and helped
her and been good to her. Was it all over? and no more such kindly
ministry and delightful sympathy to be ever hoped for any more? Had
Pitt forgotten her? It gave Esther pain, that nobody guessed, to be
obliged to moot this question; and it busied her a good deal. Sometimes
her thoughts went longingly back beyond Pitt Dallas to another face
that had always been loving to her; soft eyes and a tender hand that
were ever sure to bring sympathy and help. She could not much bear to
think of it. _That_ was all gone, and could not be called back again;
was her one other earthly friend gone too? Pitt had been so good to
her! and such a delightful teacher and helper and confidant. She
thought it strange that her father did not miss him; but after the one
great loss of his life, Colonel Gainsborough missed nobody any more.

CHAPTER XXV.

_A HEAD OF LETTUCE_.

One afternoon in the end of October, Esther, who had just come home
from school was laid hold of by Mrs. Barker with a face of grave
calculation.

'Miss Esther, will ye approve that I send Christopher over to that
market woman's to get a head o' lettuce for the colonel's supper?
There's nought in the house but a bit o' cold green tongue, savin', of
course, the morrow's dinner. I thought he might fancy a salad.'

'Tongue?' said Esther. 'Haven't you a quail, or a sweetbread, or
something of that sort?'

'I haven't it, Miss Esther; and that's the truth.'

'Forgotten?' said Esther, smiling.

'Mum, I couldn't forget the likes o' that,' Barker said solemnly.
'Which I mean, as I haven't that to own up to. No, mum, I didn't
forget.'

'What's the matter, then? some carelessness of Christopher's. Yes, have
a salad; that will do very well.'

'Then, mum,' said Barker still more constrainedly, 'c