'Do I complain?'
'No, sir, certainly; but—is this necessary?'
'Is what necessary?'
'Papa, she tells me she cannot get you the fruit you ought to have; you are stinted in strawberries, and she has not money to buy raspberries.'
'Call Barker.'
The call was not necessary, for the housekeeper at this moment appeared to take away the tea-things.
'Mrs. Barker,' said the colonel, 'you will understand that I do not wish any fruit purchased for my table. Not until further orders.'
The housekeeper glanced at Esther, and answered with her decorous,
'Certainly, sir;' and with that, for the time, the discussion was ended.