It was about this time that Leonard Holt, as has been previously intimated, discovered her retreat, and contrived, by clambering up a pear-tree which was nailed against the wall of the house, to reach her chamber-window.  Having received her assurance that she had resisted all Rochester’s importunities, the apprentice promised to return on the following night with means to affect her liberation, and departed.  Fully persuaded that she could now repose confidence in the earl, Amabel acquainted him, the next morning, with Leonard’s visit, adding that he would now have an opportunity of proving the sincerity of his professions by delivering her up to her friends.

“Since you desire it,” replied the earl, who heard her with an unmoved countenance, though internally torn with passion, “I will convey you to your father myself.  I had hoped,” he added with a sigh, “that we should never part again.”

“I fear I have been mistaken in you, my lord,” rejoined Amabel, half-repenting her frankness.

“Not so,” he replied.  “I will do anything you require, except deliver you to this hateful apprentice.  If it is your pleasure, I repeat, I will take you back to your father.”

“Promise me this, my lord, and I shall be quite easy,” cried Amabel, joyfully.

“I do promise it,” he returned.  “But oh! why not stay with me, and complete the good work you have begun?”

Amabel averted her head, and Rochester sighing deeply, quitted the room.  An attendant shortly afterwards came to inform her that the earl intended to start for London without delay, and begged her to prepare for the journey.  In an hour’s time, a carriage drove to the door, and Rochester having placed her and Prudence in it, mounted his horse, and set forth.  Late on the second day they arrived in London, and passing through the silent and deserted streets, the aspect of which struck terror into all the party, shaped their course towards the city.  Presently they reached Ludgate, but instead of proceeding to Wood-street, the carriage turned off on the right, and traversing Thames-street, crossed London Bridge.  Amabel could obtain no explanation of this change from Prudence; and her uneasiness was not diminished when the vehicle, which was driven down a narrow street on the left immediately after quitting the bridge, stopped at the entrance of a large court-yard.  Rochester, who had already dismounted, assisted her to alight, and in answer to her hasty inquiries why he had brought her thither, told her he thought it better to defer taking her to her father till the morrow.  Obliged to be content with this excuse, she was led into the house, severely reproaching herself for her indiscretion.  Nothing, however, occurred to alarm her that night.  The earl was even more deferential than before, and assuring her he would fulfil his promise in the morning, confided her to Prudence.