This put me in a most awkward position. He took advantage of my
indecision and left, but immediately my conscience reproached me
bitterly for allowing him out of my sight. I should never have
forgiven myself if I had to confess to you that some misfortune had
befallen him. So I set off at once in the direction of Merripit House.
Thinking I had taken the wrong track, I climbed a hill and saw him at
once, a quarter of a mile off, with Miss Stapleton by his side. It
was clear they had met by appointment. It seemed ungentlemanly to do
so, but I could do little else than watch them from a distance and thus
to obey your own instruction to keep him always in my sight. They were
deeply absorbed in conversation when I was suddenly aware that Stapleton
himself was approaching them through the broken ground. Sir Henry had
his arms around Miss Stapleton and was stooping his head to hers,
