She could not let Shadrach go.

Reaching home she burnt the letter, and told her mother that if Captain Jolliffe called she was too unwell to see him.
Shadrach, however, did not call.

He sent her a note expressing in simple language the state of his feelings; and asked to be allowed to take advantage of the hints she had given him that her affection, too, was little more than friendly, by cancelling the engagement.
Looking out upon the harbour and the island beyond he waited and waited in his lodgings for an answer that did not come.

The suspense grew to be so intolerable that after dark he went up the High Street.

He could not resist calling at Joanna's to learn his fate.
Her mother said her daughter was too unwell to see him, and to his questioning admitted that it was in consequence of a letter received from himself; which had distressed her deeply.
'You know what it was about, perhaps, Mrs.Phippard ?' he said.
Mrs.Phippard owned that she did, adding that it put them in a very painful position.