He was, however, driven to resolve that he must go direct to Sophie, as otherwise he could find no means of doing as he had promised.

She probably might put him on the scent of her brother.
But there had been another reason why Harry had not gone to Bolton Street, though he had not acknowledged it to himself.

He did not dare to trust himself with Lady Ongar.

He feared that he would be led on to betray himself and to betray Florence--to throw himself at Julia's feet and sacrifice his honesty, in spite of all his resolutions to the contrary.

He felt when there as the accustomed but repentant dram-drinker might feel, when, having resolved to abstain, he is called upon to sit with the full glass offered before his lips.