“The park?” said Edith, in a tone of disappointment. “Is that all? Why, Captain Mowbray, this park is only my jail yard, and to go about it can not be very pleasant, to a prisoner, either on horseback or on foot. But surely I do not understand you. I must be too hasty. Of course you mean to do as every gentleman would do, and let the lady select the place where she wishes to go?” “I assure you Miss Dalton,” said Mowbray, “I should be most happy to do so if I were able; but you are not allowed to go out of the park, you know.” “Who prohibits me, pray?” “Wiggins.” “Wiggins! And why should you care for any of his regulations? Do you not know who he is, and what he is, and in what position he stands toward me?” “Oh, well,” said Mowbray, in a hesitating voice, “he is your guardian, you know.” “But I am of age,” said Edith. “Guardians can not imprison their wards as he imprisons me. I am of age. I own this place. It is mine. He may have some right to attend to its business for the present, but he has no right over me. The law protects me. You know that as well as I do.” “Yes, true; but--ah--you know--ah--you are really so very _peculiarly_ situated, Miss Dalton, that I should not like to do any thing which might compromise your--ah--position.” “Surely, Captain Mowbray, you must now be speaking without thinking. In what way, pray, can it compromise my position to ride with you through the village streets, rather than over the roads of the park?” “Well--ah--you are in mourning, you know.” “Really I do not see what that has to do with it. If I have the sorrow of bereavement, that is no reason why I should have the additional sorrow of imprisonment.” “Oh, you know, Wiggins would make a fuss about it, and put you to no end of trouble.” Mowbray's unwillingness to help her, and hesitation, had once before roused Edith's indignation; but now she believed him to be in Wiggins's employ, and therefore felt calm, and talked with him chiefly for the sake of seeing what she could get out of him, either in the way of explanation or concession. “When you speak of trouble,” said she, “I think it is I who will give trouble to him rather than undergo it from him.” “Oh, well--either way,” said Mowbray, “there would be trouble, and that is what I wish to avoid.” “Gentlemen are not usually so timid about encountering trouble on behalf of a lady,” said Edith, coldly. “Oh, well, you know, if it were ordinary trouble I wouldn't mind it, but this is legal trouble. Why, before I knew where I was I might be imprisoned, and how would I like that?” “Not very well, as I can testify,” said Edith.