'But your comfort, and the house, papa?'
'My comfort must take its chance. I wish you to go to Miss Fairbairn on
Monday. Then Barker and Christopher can take the house between them.'
There was no gainsaying her father when once an order was given, Esther knew; and she was terribly disappointed. Her heart was quite set on this business of righting and arranging the new home; nobody could do it as it should be done, she knew, except by her order; and her own hand longed to be in the work. A sudden cloud came over the brightness of her spirit. She had been very bright through all the strain and rush of the morning; now she suddenly felt tired and dispirited.
'What is Christopher doing?'
'Papa, I do not know; he has been opening boxes.'
'Let him put the kitchen in order.'
'Yes, papa.' Esther knew it was impossible, however.
'And let Barker get the rooms up-stairs arranged.'
'Papa, don't you want 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.'