"And I have no better prospect than this?" exclaimed Edith, in deep dejection.
"Those, Miss Dalton, are the only two courses possible."
"Then you will have to fall back on the other alternative."
"Such, unfortunately are the only provisions of the will."
"Hope? Oh yes! There is plenty of hope. In the first place I would urge you to lose no time in searching after your uncle."
"I will do all that I can. You wish me, of course, to act in connection with Lieutenant Dudleigh."
"I will begin at once. And now I must go."
The lawyer put his memoranda back in the wallet, restoring the latter to his pocket, and took his hat.
"But must I remain a prisoner here?" cried Edith. "Is there no law to free me--none whatever? After all, I am a British subject, and I have always understood that in England no one can be imprisoned without a trial."
"You are a ward, Miss Dalton, and guardians can control their wards, as parents control children."
"But parents can not control children who are of age."
[Illustration: "SUCH MISS DALTON, IS THE LAW!"]
"A ward is under age till the time specified in the legal instrument that appoints the guardian. You, until marriage, are what the law calls an 'infant.' But do not be discouraged, Miss Dalton. We will hunt up Sir Lionel, and if he can be found we will bring him back to England."
Saying this, in the same dry, business-like tone that he had used all along, Barber bowed himself out.
That interview with the lawyer left Edith in a state of the deepest dejection. She had certainly not anticipated any thing like this. She expected that measures would at once be taken to carry on a contest with Wiggins, and give her her lawful rights, and above all her freedom. It never for a moment entered her mind to question the truth of a single statement that Barber had made. His whole communication with her was of the most business-like character, as it seemed to her, and she thought he must be eminent in his profession, or else Dudleigh would not have employed him. And this was the end of all that hope in which she had been indulging! Her freedom now seemed farther removed than ever. How could Sir Lionel ever be found? According to Dudleigh, he lived the life of a wanderer, and left no trace behind him. It was hard for her to think that her only hope depended upon finding him.
