about two o'clock in the morning
I told them both , while we were still in the house , that I must go to London , partly for that that was the last place in the world that any would look for me in , and partly -- -LRB- but this I told neither of them -RRB- -- for that I must return the packet to His Majesty : and I said that from London I would go to France for a little , until it seemed safe for me to get back again . But there , waiting in the dark , I said nothing at all ; but before I mounted I kissed Dorothy on the cheek ; and her cheek was wet , but whether with the feigned tears she had shed in the house , or with tears even dearer to me than those , I do not know . But I dared not delay any longer , for fear that when Mr. Harris came to Barkway , which was five miles away , he might learn that no one that could be James and I had passed that way , and so return to search again . * * * * * The clouds had rolled away by now ; and it was a clear night of stars until they began to pale about two o'clock in the morning ; and I think that for a lover who desires to be alone with his thoughts , there is no light of sun or moon or candle so sweet as the light of stars ; and by that time we were beyond Ware and coming out of the valley . It was solemn to me to watch that dawn coming up , for it was , I thought , the last dawn that I should see in England for a while , since I was determined but to see the King in London , and push straight on to Dover and take the packet there : and it was a solemn dawn too , in another way , for it was the first I had seen since I had been certain not only that I loved my Cousin Dolly as I had my own heart , but that she loved me also ; and that is a great day for a lover . To see the King then , and to push on to Dover , was all that I had rehearsed to myself ; but Providence had one more adventure for me first , that was one of the saddest I have ever had in all my life , and yet not all sad . * * * * * My road took me in through the City and down Gracechurch Street ; but here I took a fancy to turn to the right up Leadenhall and Cornhill , which were all crowded with folks , though at first I did not think why , that I might go by Newgate where the Jesuits lay , and see at least the walls that enclosed those saints of God ; for I was pretty bold here , knowing that Mr. Dangerfield who was my chief peril , was off to Harwich to find me ; and even if they found that I was not gone through Barkway , I did not think that they could catch me , for their horses were tired and ours fresh ; and you do not easily get a change of a dozen horses , or anywhere near it , in Hertfordshire villages .