'That's as I please. One must study hard to be distinguished.'
'And you will be distinguished, won't you?'
'What do you think? Do you care about it?'
'No,' she said, smiling. 'Papa said you would be sure to distinguish yourself.'
'Did he? I am very much obliged to Colonel Gainsborough.'
'But he couldn't help his opinion,' said Esther.
'Queen Esther,' said Pitt, laughing, 'I don't know about that. People sometimes hold opinions they have no business to hold, and that they would not hold, if they were not perverse-minded.'
Esther's face had all changed since he came in. The premature gravity and sadness was entirely dispersed; the eyes were full of beautiful light, the mouth taking a great many curves corresponding to as many alternations and shades of sympathy, and a slight colour of interest and pleasure had risen in the cheeks. If Pitt had vanity to gratify, it was gratified; but he had something better, he had a genuine kindness and liking for the little girl, which had suffered absolute pain, when he saw how his absence and silence had worked. Now the two were in full enjoyment of the old relations and the old intercourse, when the door opened, and Mrs. Barker's head appeared.
'It's my time for going to bed,' said Esther, rising. 'I'll come, Mrs. Barker.'
'Queen Esther, does that woman say what you are to do and not do?' said Pitt, in some indignation.
'Oh no; but papa. He likes me not to be up later than nine o'clock.'
'What has Barker to do with it? I think she wants putting in her place.'
'She always goes with me and attends to me. Yes, I must go,' said Esther.
'But the colonel is not here to be disturbed.'
'He would be disturbed, if I didn't go at the right time. Good-night, Pitt.'
'Well, till to-morrow,' said the young man, taking Esther's hand and kissing it. 'But this is what I call a very summary proceeding. Queen Esther, does your majesty always do what you are expected to do, and take orders from everybody!'
'No; only from papa and you. Good-night, Pitt. Yes, I'll be ready to-morrow.'
Pitt walked home, half amused at himself that he should take so much pains about this little girl, at the same time very firmly resolved that nothing should hinder him. Perhaps his liking for her was deeper than he knew; it was certainly real; while his kindly and generous temper responded promptly to every appeal that her affection and confidence made upon him. Affection and confidence are very winning things, even if not given by a beautiful girl who will soon be a beautiful woman; but looking out from Esther's innocent eyes, they went down into the bottom of young Dallas's heart. And besides, his nature was not only kind and noble; it was obstinate. Opposition, to him, in a thing he thought good to pursue, was like blows of a hammer on a nail; drove the purpose farther in.