Page:Adventures of Susan Hopley (Volume 1).pdf/95

82 led from the gate to the door; and Susan perceived that one of her objects in desiring to inspect the place would have been defeated. She had a notion that she might make some discovery by examining the ground under the window of Andrew's room; but the pavement extended to a considerable width all round the house, so that no footmarks could remain. Beyond this there appeared a largish wilderness of a garden and orchard, neglected, and overgrown with weeds, shrubs, and fruit trees past bearing.

"It's a dismal looking place," said Susan to the chambermaid who happened to come into the room, but I should like to have gone over it, if they would have let me."

"You'd have seen nothing," replied Betty, to throw any light on it. There wasn't a corner we didn't look into; but except the young man's watch, and purse, and stocking, there wasn't a thing left behind."

"And his boots," observed Susan.

"That's true," answered Betty; "and unless he'd a pair of shoes in his pocket, he must have gone away barefoot; for he didn't take a single article over with him when he went to bed, that I saw; and I lighted him to his room myself. The only thing I found at all," continued the