If he was still recklessly lingering, on the watch for assassins in the dangerous neighbourhood of the farm, who but herself possessed the influence which would prevail on him to leave the place?
She had joined Mrs.Lewson at the door with that conviction in her mind.

In another instant, she was out of the house, and beginning her search in the dark.
Iris made the round of the building; sometimes feeling her way in obscure places; sometimes calling to Lord Harry cautiously by his name.
No living creature appeared; no sound of a movement disturbed the stillness of the night.

The discovery of his absence, which she had not dared to hope for, was the cheering discovery which she had now made.
On her way back to the house, she became conscious of the rashness of the act into which her own generous impulse had betrayed her.
If she and Lord Harry had met, could she have denied the tender interest in him which her own conduct would then have revealed?
Would he not have been justified in concluding that she had pardoned the errors and the vices of his life, and that he might without impropriety remind her of their engagement, and claim her hand in marriage?
She trembled as she thought of the concessions which he might have wrung from her.

"Never more," she determined, "shall my own folly be answerable for it, if he and I meet again." She had returned to Mrs.Lewson, and had read over the letter to Arthur, when the farm clock, striking the hour, reminded them that it was time to retire.

They slept badly that night.
At six in the morning, one of the two labourers who had remained faithful to Arthur was sent away on horseback with the housekeeper's reply, and with orders to wait for an answer.