retrace with accuracy, even at no
inconsiderable distance of time,--the outward senses of men are usually
thus alert and attentive in the savage or the semi-civilized state. He
had not, therefore, over-valued his general acuteness in the note and
memory of localities, when he boasted of his power to refind his way to
his hostelrie without the guidance of Alwyn. But it so happened that
the events of this day, so memorable to him, withdrew his attention from
external objects, to concentrate it within. And in marvelling and musing
over the new course upon which his destiny had entered, he forgot to
take heed of that which his feet should pursue; so that, after wandering
unconsciously onward for some time, he suddenly halted in perplexity
and amaze to find himself entangled in a labyrinth of scattered suburbs,
presenting features wholly different from the road that had conducted
him to the archery-ground in the forenoon. The darkness of the night had
set in; but it was relieved by a somewhat faint and mist-clad moon, and
some few and scattered stars, over which rolled, fleetly, thick clouds,
portending rain. No lamps at that time cheered the steps of the belated
wanderer; the houses were shut up, and their inmates, for the most part,
already retired to rest, and the suburbs did not rejoice, as the city,
in the round of the watchman with his drowsy call to the inhabitants,
"Hang out your lights!" The passengers, who at first, in various small
groups and parties, had enlivened the stranger's way, seemed to him,
unconscious as he was of the lapse of time, to have suddenly vanished
from the thoroughfares; and he found himself alone in places thoroughly
unknown to him, waking to the displeasing recollection that the
approaches to the city were said to be beset by brawlers and ruffians
of desperate characters, whom the cessation of the civil wars had flung
loose upon the skirts of society, to maintain themselves by deeds of
rapine and plunder. As might naturally be expected, most of these had
belonged to the defeated party, who had no claim to the good offices or
charity of those in power. And although some of the Neviles had sided
with the Lancastrians, yet the badge worn by Marmaduke was considered
a pledge of devotion to the reigning House, and added a new danger to
those which beset his path. Conscious of this--for he now called to mind
the admonitions of his host in parting from the hostelrie--he deemed it
but discreet to draw