And so large a
portion of the world is deficient in breeding, that to a young person
at least the desire of self-assertion comes as a very natural and
tolerably strong temptation. Esther had felt it, and trodden it under
foot, and yet Mrs. Barker's words made her wince. How could anybody
reasonably suppose that a gentleman would choose such a house and such
a street to live in?

'Never mind, Barker,' she said cheerfully, after a pause. 'What we have
to do is the right thing; and then let all the rest go.'

'Has the colonel seen it, Miss Esther?'

'No, and I do not mean he shall, till we have got it so nice for him
that he will feel comfortable.'

The work of moving and getting settled began without delay. Mrs. Barker
spent all the afternoons at the new house; and thither came Esther also
every day as soon as school was out at three o'clock. The girl worked
very hard in these times; for after her long morning in school she gave
the rest of the daylight hours to arranging and establishing furniture,
hanging draperies, putting up hooks, and the like; and after that she
went home to make her father's tea, and give him as much cheery talk as
she could command. In the business of moving, however, she found
unexpected assistance.

When Christopher told his wife of the decision about the house, the
answering remark, made approvingly, was, 'That's a spunky little girl!'

'What do you mean?' said Christopher, not approving such an irreverent
expression.

'She's got stuff in her. I like that sort.'

'But that house ain't really a place for her, you know.'

'That's what I'm lookin' at,' returned Mrs. Bounder, with a broad smile
at him. 'She ain't scared by no nonsense from duin' what she's got to
du. Don't you be scared neither; houses don't make the folks that live
in 'em. But what I'm thinkin' of is, they'll want lots o' help to git
along with their movin'. Christopher, do you know there's a big box
waggin in the barn?'

'I know it.'

'Wall, that'll carry their things fust-rate, ef you kin tackle up your
fine-steppin' French emperor there with our Dolly. Will he draw in
double harness?'

'Will he! Well, I'll try to persuade him.'

'An' you needn't to let on anything about it. They ain't obleeged to
know where the waggin comes from.'

'You're as clever a woman as any I know!' said Mr. Bounder, with a
smile of complacency. 'Sally up there can't beat you; and _she's_ a
smart woman, too.'

A few minutes were give