She now returned to the house, and wandered all about in search of some
servants. But she saw none. She began to think that Hugo was the only
servant in the place; and if so, as he had disappeared, her chance of
getting the brougham was small indeed. As for Wiggins, she did not think
of asking him, and Mrs. Dunbar was too much under the influence of
Wiggins for her to apply there. She was therefore left to herself.

Time passed thus, and Edith's impatience grew intolerable. At length, as
she could not obtain a carriage, she determined to set out on foot and
walk to Dalton. She began now to think that Wiggins had seen Hugo, found
out what she wanted, and had forbidden the servant to obey. This seemed
the only way in which she could account for it all. If this were so, it
showed that there was some unpleasant meaning in the language which
Wiggins had used to her on the previous evening about a secluded life,
and in that case any delay made her situation more unpleasant. She had
already lost too much time, and therefore could wait no longer. On the
instant, therefore, she set out, and walked down the great avenue toward
the gates. It was a longer distance than she had supposed: so long,
indeed, did it seem that once or twice she feared that she had taken the
wrong road; but at last her fears were driven away by the sight of the
porter's lodge.

On reaching the gates she found them locked. For this she had not been
prepared; but a moment's reflection showed her that this need not excite
surprise. She looked up at them with a faint idea of climbing over. One
glance, however, showed that to be impossible; they were high, and
spiked at the top, and over them was a stone arch which left no room for
any one to climb over. She looked at the wall, but that also was beyond
her powers. Only one thing now remained, and that was to apply to the