She had to ring for a long time before any one appeared; but at length, after fully an hour's delay, the porter came. He touched his hat on seeing her, but stood on the other side of the iron gateway without opening it.
“Is Miss Dalton at the Hall?” asked Miss Plympton.
“Yes, mum.”
“I wish to see her.”
“Beg yer pardon, mum, but there be no callers allowed in.”
“Oh, it's different with me. Miss Dalton wrote that she would come to see me this morning, and I'm afraid she's ill, so I have come to see her.”
“She beant ill, then,” said the other.
Miss Plympton reflected that it was of no use to talk to this man, and thought of Wiggins himself.
“Is your master in?” she asked.
“He is, mum.”