He might seek to interfere.

He would put a thousand difficulties in the way, some real and some imaginary.

It would save the feelings of both for him to go quietly, and, when Mr.Austin missed him, he would know why and how he had gone.
Ned stood at the window a little while longer, listening.

He heard far away the faint rattle of a saber, probably some officer of Santa Anna who was going to a place outside a lattice, the sharp cry of a Mexican upbraiding his lazy mule, and the distant note of a woman singing an old Spanish song.

It was as dark as ever, with the clouds rolling over the great valley of Tenochtitlan, which had seen so much of human passion and woe.