conjecture how long it would be before she passed through that gate
again, and how and wherefore? It matters not. Other thoughts soon came,
and the porter jumping into the seat, drove rapidly off.

Edith found herself carried along through lordly avenues, with giant
trees, the growth of centuries; rising grandly on either side and
overarching above, and between which long vistas opened, where the eye
could take in wide glades and sloping meadows. Sometimes she caught
sight of eminences rising in the distance covered with groves, and along
the slopes herds of deer sometimes came bounding. Finally there came to
view a broad lawn, with a pond in the centre, beyond which arose a
stately edifice which Edith recognized as the home of her childhood.

It needed only one glance, however, to show Edith that a great change
had taken place since those well-remembered days of childhood. Every
where the old order and neatness had disappeared, and now in all
directions there were the signs of carelessness and neglect. The once
smooth lawn was now overgrown with tall grass; the margin of the pond
was filled with rushes, and its surface with slime; some of the windows
of the Hall were out, and some of the chimney-pots were broken; while
over the road grass had been allowed to grow in many places. Edith
recognized all this, and an involuntary sigh escaped her. The carriage
at length stopped, and she got out and ascended the steps to the door of
the house.

The door was open, and an ungainly-looking negro servant was standing in
the hall.

"Who has charge of this house?" asked Edith. "Is there a housekeeper?"