Virginia is nowhere to be found. At first, the Otis family does not worry, because Virginia has a habit of visiting the gardens to collect flowers before supper. However, when suppertime comes and no one can find her, they begin to panic. Hiram assumes that the local gypsies have kidnapped her, and brings Washington and two of the servants on the farm with him to find them. The Duke of Cheshire wants to come, but Hiram refuses because he is worried the Duke will get hurt.

When they reach the gypsy campsite, the gypsies have left—but they left in a rush. Thinking they have taken Virginia and moved on, Hiram sends Washington and the servants to search the district while he contacts the police. Then, Hiram decides he will ride to the train station in Ascot to see if anyone there has recognized Virginia. The Duke of Cheshire catches up to him and insists on accompanying him, and says that if Hiram had let him and Virginia become engaged the previous year, “there would never have been all this trouble” (28). Hiram agrees to let the Duke accompany him, but comments that he will have to get him a hat at Ascot.