She remembered their last interview, and wondered if Ephraim would feel the same responsibility for her if she returned destitute.

Perhaps the ardour of his friendship had cooled.

Perhaps in the last letter he had intended to suggest to her that he thought of marriage, and this time for love, not kindness, the lady being one of his new Hartford friends.
But no doubt the principal reason of Susannah's dalliance with time in those first weeks of her moral freedom was the mental weakness that succeeds shock.

Every day she thought that she would soon write that begging letter, until the day came when opportunity ceased.
When the Danite left he had promised the farmer to return as soon as it was possible to place Susannah in safety with her Mormon friends.

When she began to speak of leaving, her host told her this for the first time.
"And what is the young man's name ?" the old man asked of Susannah.