Sentence:  Instances were known of people who, being asked to dine at Todgers's, had travelled <WSD>round and round</WSD> for a weary time, with its very chimney–pots in view ; and finding it, at last, impossible of attainment, had gone home again with a gentle melancholy on their spirits, tranquil and uncomplaining. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  Following the same course repeatedly in vain.