The servant grinned.

"Housekeepa, miss? Yes, miss, dar's Missa Dunbar."

"Call the housekeeper, then," said Edith, "and tell her that I am
waiting for her in the drawing-room."

The servant went off, and Edith then entered the drawing-room.

* * * * *




CHAPTER V.


THE STRANGE INMATES OF DALTON HALL.

In that well-remembered drawing-room there was much that renewed the
long past grief of childhood, and nothing whatever to soothe the sorrow
of the present. Looking around, Edith found many things the same as she
once remembered them; but still there were great changes--changes, too,
which were of the same nature as those which she had noticed outside.
Every thing showed traces of carelessness and long neglect. The seats of
many of the handsome, richly carved chairs were ruined. Costly vases
had disappeared. Dust covered every thing. Books and ornaments which lay
around were soiled and spoiled. In that apparently deserted house there
seemed to have been no one for years who cared to preserve the original
grace and elegance of its decorations. But Edith did not have a very