nd sorrow, go shambling away, with bowed head,
across the snow, and the unnoticed dog whimpering at his heels, and for
the first time began to understand the desperate game that we play in
life; and how a thing once done is not to be changed or remedied, by any
penitence.

But there was no time left to him for vain regret.

Catesby had now collected the horsemen, and riding up to Dick he
dismounted, and offered him his own horse.

"This morning," he said, "I was somewhat jealous of your favour; it hath
not been of a long growth; and now, Sir Richard, it is with a very good
heart that I offer you this horse--to ride away with."

"Suffer me yet a moment," replied Dick. "This favour of mine--whereupon
was it founded?"

"Upon your name," answered Catesby. "It is my lord's chief superstition.
Were my name Richard, I should be an earl to-morrow."

"Well, sir, I thank you," returned Dick; "and since I am little likely to
follow these great fortunes, I will even say farewell. I will not
pretend I was displeased to think myself upon the road to fortune; but I
will not pretend, neither, that I am over-sorry to be done with it.
Command and riches, they are brave things, to be sure; but a word in your
ear--yon duke of yours, he is a fearsome lad."

Catesby laughed.

"Nay," said he, "of a verity he that rides with Crooked Dick will ride
deep. Well, God keep us all from evil! Speed ye well."

Thereupon Dick put himself at the head of his men, and giving the word of
command, rode off.

He made straight across the town, following what he supposed to be the
route of Sir Daniel, and spying around for any signs that might decide if
he were right.

The streets were strewn with the dead and the wounded, whose fate, in the
bitter frost, was far the more pitiable. Gangs of the victors went from
house to house, pillaging and stabbing, and sometimes singing together as
they went.

From different quarters, as he rode on, the sounds of violence and
outrage came to young Shelton's ears; now the blows of the sledge-hammer
on some barricaded door, and now the miserable shrieks of women.

Dick's heart had just been awakened. He had just seen the cruel
consequences of his own behaviour; and the thought of the sum of misery
that was now acting in the whole of Shoreby filled him with despair.

At length he reached the outskirts, and there, sure enough, he saw
straight before him the same broad, beaten track across the snow that h