The young man’s idea in entering the house like a thief, and at night, was to avoid recognition by the servants. He wanted to see his father alone and unperceived—to go like the prodigal, and cast himself at his feet, and say, ‘Father, forgive me!’ He didn’t want a servant to go rushing up with, ‘Here’s Master George come back!’ and all that nonsense. He hated a fuss, and he had an idea that he was in a very humiliating position. Besides, even if his father gave him what he wanted, it was better he should come and go unseen, except by Marks. The fact remained that he had been connected with a gang of swindlers, and there was no knowing where or how he might be traced when once inquiry was set on foot. The past, the present, and the future all flashed through his mind, as, with hesitating steps, he walked up towards the hall. ‘But for Bess,’ he thought, ‘I’d have had a desperate try to do without him. But for Bess——’ He stopped suddenly. His great difficulty all along had been what to do with Bess. But for the present was not that fear removed? Was she not safe beneath her father’s roof? Where better could she be than that? Swiftly he reviewed the whole situation. Bess being at home might stay there a little while. That would give him time. He need not creep into his father’s house like a thief. Might he not write to him first? He could say what he wanted to say so much better in a letter, and there would be less humiliation. At that moment his fate trembled in the balance. If he had gone on boldly and seen his father, all might have been well. But he hesitated. He put off the doing that which he disliked, and he reaped the penalty. Instead of going up to the hall, he turned back towards the lodge. He walked rapidly away from the house. Suddenly he heard a sound behind him as of heavy footsteps running. Instantly the thought flashed upon him that he had been trapped; that the police had found out who he was, and, expecting he would come home, had lain in wait for him. He did not stop to reason, or to think that if this was so he would have been captured at the lodge. He only heard the rapidly advancing footsteps behind him, and made certain that he was the object of pursuit. He must not be taken, at any rate, not there, where twenty people would recognize him. The scandal would be magnified tenfold. He ran rapidly in the direction of the lodge, fear lending swiftness to his limbs, weary with his wanderings. As he darted past the lodge, Marks was at the door. George shouted to him, ‘Remember your promise!’ and flew on like a madman. The lodge-gates were closed, but he knew a weak spot in the hedge; he ran up the side, scrambled through, and he was in the roadway. He paused for a second and listened. He could hear no footsteps now. His pursuers had not come towards the lodge. He had gained on them a little. He ran on still, all along the roadway, as fast as he could, and then walked.