CHAPTER XVIII: The Release.
Five days, however, elapsed at Poghley before any news came from Arthur at Oxford, and then it was brought by Dr.Langton, who, upon Dalaber's return, had started forth again to that place, partly to set his house in order and arrange his books and papers before his departure for foreign lands, partly because he hoped his skill in medicine and the arts of healing might prove of use to the victims of the prison house on their release.
For the sisters and Dalaber those days were happily passed, despite the anxiety they felt as to what might be passing in Oxford.

To them it seemed as though the clouds of peril which had hung so long in their sky were rolling fast away.

Dalaber was relieved from that burden of remorse and bitter humiliation which had been weighing upon him.

Humble and contrite for past errors, past weaknesses, he was, and would remain; but he had delivered his soul by his frank admissions to the cardinal, and he could respect and admire the dignity and clemency of that powerful man, and be grateful to him for both.
Freda was his own, as she had never been before--her mind at rest, her heart satisfied, her old esteem and admiration and trust restored.

Together they wandered through orchard, meadow, and woodland, speaking to each other from the bottom of their hearts, unveiling their most sacred thoughts and feelings, and sharing every aspiration, every hope, every plan for present or future.