'He has arranged to marry Mrs. Blumenfeld, the woman who keeps the market garden over here. He does not mean to leave us, papa; the places are so near, you know. He thinks, I believe, he can manage both.'
'He is a fool!'
'Barker is very angry with him. But that does not help anything.'
'He is an ass!' repeated the colonel hotly. 'Well, that settles one question.'
'What question, papa?
'We have done with Christopher. I want no half service. I suppose he thinks he will make more money; and I am quite willing he should try.'
Esther could see that her father was much more seriously annoyed than he chose to show; his tone indicated a very unusual amount of disturbance. He turned from the table and took up his book.
'But, papa, how can we do without Christopher?'
There was no answer to this.
'I suppose he really has a great deal of time to spare; our garden ground is so little, you know. He does not mean to leave us at all.'