The winter passed, Esther hardly knew how. For her it was in a depth of study; so absorbing that she only now and then and by minutes gave her attention to anything else. Or perhaps I should say, her thoughts; for certainly the colonel never lacked his ordinary care, which she gave him morning and evening, and indeed all day, when she was at home, with a tender punctuality which proved the utmost attention. But even while ministering to him, Esther's head was apt to be running on problems of geometry and ages of history and constructions of language. She was so utterly engrossed with her work that she gave little heed to anything else. She did notice that Pitt Dallas still sent them no reminders of his existence; it sometimes occurred to her that the housekeeping in the hands of Mrs. Barker was becoming more and more careful; but the only way she saw to remedy that was the way she was pursuing; and she went only the harder at her constructions and translations and demonstrations. The colonel lived _his_ life without any apparent change. And so went weeks and months: winter passed and spring carne; spring ran its course, and the school year at last was at an end. Esther came home for the long vacation. And then one day, Mrs. Barker confided to her reluctantly that the difficulties of her position were increasing. 'You ask me, why don't I get more strawberries, Miss Esther. My dear, I can't do it.' 'Cannot get strawberries? But they are in great plenty now, and cheap.' 'Yes, mum, but there's so many other things, Miss Esther.' The housekeeper looked distressed. Esther was startled, and hesitated. 'You mean you have not money, Barker? Papa does not give you enough?' 'He gives me the proper sum, Miss Esther, I'm certain; but I can't make it do all it should do, to have things right and comfortable.' 'Do you have less than you used at the beginning of winter?' 'Yes, mum. I didn't want to trouble you, Miss Esther, for to be sure you can't do nothin' to help it; but it's just growin' slimmer and slimmer.' 'Never mind; I think I know how to mend matters by and by; if we can only get along for a little further. We must have some things, and my father likes fruit, you can get strawberries from Mrs. Blumenfeld down here, can you not?' 'No, mum,' said the housekeeper, looking embarrassed. 'She won't sell us nothin', that woman won't.' 'Will not sell us anything? I thought she was so kind. What is the matter? Is there not a good understanding between her and us?' 'There's too good an understanding, mum, and that's the truth. We don't want no favours from the likes o' her; and now Christopher'-- 'What of Christopher?' 'Hain't he said nothin' to the colonel?' 'To papa? No. About what?' 'He's gone and made an ass o' himself, has Christopher,' said the housekeeper, colouring with displeasure. 'Why? How? What has he done?'