He walked across the green slowly, stunned by this unlooked-for blow.

Yes, the house was empty.

The garden, which he remembered in such exquisite order, had a weedy dilapidated look that seemed like the decay of some considerable time.

He rang the bell several times, but there was no answer; and he was turning away from the gate with the stunned confused feeling still upon him, unable to consider what he ought to do next, when he heard himself called by his name, and saw a woman looking at him across the hedge of the neighbouring garden.
"Were you wishing to make any inquiries about the last occupants of Hazel Cottage, sir ?" she asked.
"Yes," Gilbert answered huskily, looking at her in an absent unseeing way.
He had seen her often during his visits to the cottage, busy at work in her garden, which was much smaller than the Captain's, but he had never spoken to her before to-day.
She was a maiden lady, who eked out her slender income by letting a part of her miniature abode whenever an opportunity for so doing occurred.

The care of this cottage occupied all her days, and formed the delight and glory of her life.