The night, perhaps, was going to be more to them than so many rainy hours for sleeping,--the time to be looked back on through coming lives as the hour when good and ill came to them, and they made their choice, and, as Holmes said, did abide by it.
It grew cool and darker.

Holmes left the phaeton before they entered town, and turned back.

He was going to see this Margret Howth, tell her what he meant to do.

Because he was going to leave a clean record.
No one should accuse him of want of honour.

This girl alone of all living beings had a right to see him as he stood, justified to himself.
Why she had this right, I do not think he answered to himself.
Besides, he must see her, if only on business.