Several
days elapsed, and Edward had often been out of bed during the night,
when not likely to be intruded upon, and he now felt himself strong
enough to be removed; and his object was to leave the intendant's
house without his knowledge, so as to avoid an explanation.
One evening Pablo came over with the horses after it was dark. Oswald
put them into the stable; and the morning proving fine and clear, a
little before break of day, Edward came softly down stairs with
Humphrey, and, mounting the horses, set off for the cottage, without
any one in the intendant's house being aware of their departure.
It must not be supposed, however, that Edward took this step without
some degree of consideration as to the feelings of the intendant. On
the contrary, he left a letter with Oswald, to be delivered after his
departure, in which he thanked the intendant sincerely for all the
kindness and compassion he had shown toward him; assured him of his
gratitude and kind feelings toward him and his daughter, but said that
circumstances had occurred, of which no explanation could be given
without great pain to all parties, which rendered it advisable that he
should take such an apparently unkind step as to leave without bidding
them farewell in person; that he was about to embark immediately for
the Continent, to seek his fortune in the wars; and that he wished all
prosperity to the family, which would ever have his kindest wishes and
remembrances.
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