kenilworth-第15部分

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of　a　rustic　beauty　who　finds　herself　suddenly　invested　with　a
splendour　which　her　most　extravagant　wishes　had　never　imagined；
and　at　the　same　time　with　the　keen　feeling　of　an　affectionate
heart；　which　knows　that　all　the　enchantment　that　surrounds　her　is
the　work　of　the　great　magician　Love。

The　Countess　Amy；　thereforefor　to　that　rank　she　was　exalted　by
her　private　but　solemn　union　with　England's　proudest　Earlhad
for　a　time　flitted　hastily　from　room　to　room；　admiring　each　new
proof　of　her　lover　and　her　bridegroom's　taste；　and　feeling　that
admiration　enhanced　as　she　recollected　that　all　she　gazed　upon
was　one　continued　proof　of　his　ardent　and　devoted　affection。
〃How　beautiful　are　these　hangings！　　How　natural　these　paintings；
which　seem　to　contend　with　life！　　How　richly　wrought　is　that
plate；　which　looks　as　if　all　the　galleons　of　Spain　had　been
intercepted　on　the　broad　seas　to　furnish　it　forth！　　And　oh；
Janet！〃　　she　exclaimed　repeatedly　to　the　daughter　of　Anthony
Foster；　the　close　attendant；　who；　with　equal　curiosity；　but
somewhat　less　ecstatic　joy；　followed　on　her　mistress's　footsteps
〃oh；　Janet！　　how　much　more　delightful　to　think　that　all　these
fair　things　have　been　assembled　by　his　love；　for　the　love　of　me！
and　that　this　eveningthis　very　evening；　which　grows　darker
every　instant；　I　shall　thank　him　more　for　the　love　that　has
created　such　an　unimaginable　paradise；　than　for　all　the　wonders
it　contains。〃

〃The　Lord　is　to　be　thanked　first；〃　said　the　pretty　Puritan；　〃who
gave　thee；　lady；　the　kind　and　courteous　husband　whose　love　has
done　so　much　for　thee。　　I；　too；　have　done　my　poor　share。　　But　if
you　thus　run　wildly　from　room　to　room；　the　toil　of　my　crisping
and　my　curling　pins　will　vanish　like　the　frost…work　on　the　window
when　the　sun　is　high。〃

〃Thou　sayest　true；　Janet；〃　said　the　young　and　beautiful　Countess；
stopping　suddenly　from　her　tripping　race　of　enraptured　delight；
and　looking　at　herself　from　head　to　foot　in　a　large　mirror；　such
as　she　had　never　before　seen；　and　which；　indeed；　had　few　to　match
it　even　in　the　Queen's　palace〃thou　sayest　true；　Janet！〃　　she
answered；　as　she　saw；　with　pardonable　self…applause；　the　noble
mirror　reflect　such　charms　as　were　seldom　presented　to　its　fair
and　polished　surface；　〃I　have　more　of　the　milk…maid　than　the
countess；　with　these　cheeks　flushed　with　haste；　and　all　these
brown　curls；　which　you　laboured　to　bring　to　order；　straying　as
wild　as　the　tendrils　of　an　unpruned　vine。　　My　falling　ruff　is
chafed　too；　and　shows　the　neck　and　bosom　more　than　is　modest　and
seemly。　　Come；　Janet；　we　will　practise　statewe　will　go　to　the
withdrawing…room；　my　good　girl；　and　thou　shalt　put　these　rebel
locks　in　order；　and　imprison　within　lace　and　cambric　the　bosom
that　beats　too　high。〃

They　went　to　the　withdrawing　apartment　accordingly；　where　the
Countess　playfully　stretched　herself　upon　the　pile　of　Moorish
cushions；　half　sitting；　half　reclining；　half　wrapt　in　her　own
thoughts；　half　listening　to　the　prattle　of　her　attendant。

While　she　was　in　this　attitude；　and　with　a　corresponding
expression　betwixt　listlessness　and　expectation　on　her　fine　and
intelligent　features；　you　might　have　searched　sea　and　land
without　finding　anything　half　so　expressive　or　half　so　lovely。
The　wreath　of　brilliants　which　mixed　with　her　dark…brown　hair　did
not　match　in　lustre　the　hazel　eye　which　a　light…brown　eyebrow；
pencilled　with　exquisite　delicacy；　and　long　eyelashes　of　the　same
colour；　relieved　and　shaded。　　The　exercise　she　had　just　taken；
her　excited　expectation　and　gratified　vanity；　spread　a　glow　over
her　fine　features；　which　had　been　sometimes　censured　（as　beauty
as　well　as　art　has　her　minute　critics）　for　being　rather　too　pale。
The　milk…white　pearls　of　the　necklace　which　she　wore；　the　same
which　she　had　just　received　as　a　true…love　token　from　her
husband；　were　excelled　in　purity　by　her　teeth；　and　by　the　colour
of　her　skin；　saving　where　the　blush　of　pleasure　and　self…
satisfaction　had　somewhat　stained　the　neck　with　a　shade　of　light
crimson。〃Now；　have　done　with　these　busy　fingers；　Janet；〃　she
said　to　her　handmaiden；　who　was　still　officiously　employed　in
bringing　her　hair　and　her　dress　into　order〃have　done；　I　say。　　I
must　see　your　father　ere　my　lord　arrives；　and　also　Master　Richard
Varney；　whom　my　lord　has　highly　in　his　esteembut　I　could　tell
that　of　him　would　lose　him　favour。〃

〃Oh；　do　not　do　so；　good　my　lady！〃　　replied　Janet；　〃leave　him　to
God；　who　punishes　the　wicked　in　His　own　time；　but　do　not　you
cross　Varney's　path；　for　so　thoroughly　hath　he　my　lord's　ear；
that　few　have　thriven　who　have　thwarted　his　courses。〃

〃And　from　whom　had　you　this；　my　most　righteous　Janet？〃　　said　the
Countess；　〃or　why　should　I　keep　terms　with　so　mean　a　gentleman　as
Varney；　being　as　I　am；　wife　to　his　master　and　patron？〃

〃Nay；　madam；〃　replied　Janet　Foster；　〃your　ladyship　knows　better
than　I；　but　I　have　heard　my　father　say　he　would　rather　cross　a
hungry　wolf　than　thwart　Richard　Varney　in　his　projects。　　And　he
has　often　charged　me　to　have　a　care　of　holding　commerce　with
him。〃

〃Thy　father　said　well；　girl；　for　thee；〃　replied　the　lady；　〃and　I
dare　swear　meant　well。　　It　is　a　pity；　though；　his　face　and　manner
do　little　match　his　true　purposefor　I　think　his　purpose　may　be
true。〃

〃Doubt　it　not；　my　lady；〃　answered　Janet〃doubt　not　that　my
father　purposes　well；　though　he　is　a　plain　man；　and　his　blunt
looks　may　belie　his　heart。〃

〃I　will　not　doubt　it；　girl；　were　it　only　for　thy　sake；　and　yet　he
has　one　of　those　faces　which　men　tremble　when　they　look　on。　　I
think　even　thy　mother；　Janetnay；　have　done　with　that　poking…
ironcould　hardly　look　upon　him　without　quaking。〃

〃If　it　were　so；　madam；〃　answered　Janet　Foster；　〃my　mother　had
those　who　could　keep　her　in　honourable　countenance。　　Why；　even
you；　my　lady；　both　trembled　and　blushed　when　Varney　brought　the
letter　from　my　lord。〃

〃You　are　bold；　damsel；〃　said　the　Countess；　rising　from　the
cushions　on　which　she　sat　half　reclined　in　the　arms　of　her
attendant。　　〃Know　that　there　are　causes　of　trembling　which　have
nothing　to　do　with　fear。But；　Janet；〃　she　added；　immediately
relapsing　into　the　good…natured　and　familiar　tone　which　was
natural　to　her；　〃believe　me；　I　will　do　what　credit　I　can　to　your
father；　and　the　rather　that　you；　sweetheart；　are　his　child。
Alas！　　alas！〃　　she　added；　a　sudden　sadness　passing　over　her　fine
features；　and　her　eyes　filling　with　tears；　〃I　ought　the　rather　to
hold　sympathy　with　thy　kind　heart；　that　my　own　poor　father　is
uncertain　of　my　fate；　and　they　say　lies　sick　and　sorrowful　for　my
worthless　sake！　　But　I　will　soon　cheer　himthe　news　of　my
happiness　and　advancement　will　make　him　young　again。　　And　that　I
may　cheer　him　the　sooner〃she　wiped　her　eyes　as　she　spoke〃I
must　be　cheerful　myself。　　My　lord　must　not　find　me　insensible　to
his　kindness；　or　sorrowful；　when　he　snatches　a　visit　to　his
recluse；　after　so　long　an　absence。　　Be　merry；　Janet；　the　night
wears　on；　and　my　lord　must　soon　arrive。　　Call　thy　father　hither；
and　call　Varney　also。　　I　cherish　resentment　against　neither；　and
though　I　may　have　some　room　to　be　displeased　with　both；　it　shall
be　their　own　fault　if　ever　a　complaint　against　them　reaches　the
Earl　through　my　means。　　Call　them　hither；　Janet。〃

Janet　Foster　obeyed　her　mistress；　and　in　a　few　minutes　after；
Varney　entered　the　withdrawing…room　with　the　graceful　ease　and
unclouded　front　of　an　accomplished　courtier；　skilled；　under　the
veil　of　external　politeness；　to　disguise　his　own　feelings　and　to
penetrate　those　of　others。　　Anthony　Foster　plodded　into　the
apartment　after　him；　his　natural　gloomy　vulgarity　of　aspect
seeming　to　become　yet　more　remarkable；　from　his　clumsy　attempt　to
conceal　the　mixture　of　anxiety　and　dislike　with　which　he　looked
on　her；　over　whom　he　had　hitherto　exercised　so　severe　a　control；
now　so　splendidly　attired；　and　decked　with　so　many　pledges　of　the
interest　which　she　possessed　in　her　husband's　affections。　　The
blundering　reverence　which　he　made；　rather　AT　than　TO　the
Countess；　had　confession　in　it。　　It　was　like　the　reverence　which
the　criminal　makes　to　the　judge；　when　he　at　once　owns　his　guilt
and　implores　mercywhich　is　at　the　same　time　an　impudent　and
embarrassed　attempt　at　defence　or　extenuation；　a　confession　of　a
fault；　and　an　entreaty　for　lenity。

Varney；　who；　in　right　of　his　gentle　blood；　had　pressed　into　the
room　before　Anthony　Foster；　knew　better　what　to　say　than　he；　and
said　it　with　more　assurance　and　a　better　grace。

The　Countess　greeted　him　indeed　with　an　appearance　of　cordiality；
which　seemed　a　complete　amnesty　for　whatever　she　might　have　to
complain　of。　　She　rose　from　her　seat；　and　advanced　two　steps
towards　him；　holding　forth　her　hand　as　she　said；　〃Master　Richard
Varney；　you　brought　me　this　morning　such　welcome　tidings；　that　I
fear　surprise　and　joy　made　me　neglect　my　lord　and　husband's
charge　to　receive　you　with　distinction。　　We　offer　you　our　hand；
sir；　in　reconciliation。〃

〃I　am　unworthy　to　touch　it；〃　said　Varney；　dropping　on　one　knee；
〃save　as　a　subject　honours　that　of　a　prince。〃

He　touched　with　his　lips　those　fair　and　slender　fingers；　so
richly　loaded　with　rings　and　jewels；　then　rising；　with　graceful
gallantry；　was　about　to　hand　her　to　the　chair　of　state；　when　she
said；　〃No；　good　Master　Richard　Varney；　I　take　not　my　place　there
until　my　lord　himself　conducts　me。　　I　am　for　the　present　but　a
disguised　Countess；　and　will　not　take　dignity　on　me　until
authorized　by　him　whom　I　derive　it　from。〃

〃I　trust；　my　lady；〃　said　Foster；　〃that　in　doing　the　commands　of
my　lord　your　husband；　in　your　restraint　and　so　forth；　I　have　not
incurred　your　displeasure；　seeing　that　I　did　but　my　duty　towards
your　lord　and　mine；　for　Heaven；　as　holy　writ　saith；　hath　given
the　husband　supremacy　and　dominion　over　the　wifeI　think　it　runs
so；　or　something　like　it。〃

〃I　receive　at　this　moment　so　pleasant　a　surprise；　Master　Foster；〃
answered　the　Countess；　〃that　I　cannot　but　excuse　the　rigid
fidelity　which　secluded　me　from　these　apartments；　until　they　had
assumed　an　appearance　so　new　and　so　splendid。〃

〃Ay　lady；〃　said　Foster；　〃it　hath　cost　many　a　fair　crown；　and　that
more　need　not　be　wasted　than　is　absolutely　necessary；　I　leave　you
till