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, 'could you perhaps let me have a sixpence? I don't like to send and ask a stranger like that to wait for what's no more'n twopence at home.'
'Wait?' repeated Esther. 'Didn't papa give you money for the housekeeping this week?'