kenilworth-第59部分

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The　ladies　of　fashion　of　the　present；　or　of　any　other　period；
must　have　allowed　that　the　young　and　lovely　Countess　of　Leicester
had；　besides　her　youth　and　beauty；　two　qualities　which　entitled
her　to　a　place　amongst　women　of　rank　and　distinction。　　She
displayed；　as　we　have　seen　in　her　interview　with　the　pedlar；　a
liberal　promptitude　to　make　unnecessary　purchases；　solely　for　the
pleasure　of　acquiring　useless　and　showy　trifles　which　ceased　to
please　as　soon　as　they　were　possessed；　and　she　was；　besides；　apt
to　spend　a　considerable　space　of　time　every　day　in　adorning　her
person；　although　the　varied　splendour　of　her　attire　could　only
attract　the　half　satirical　praise　of　the　precise　Janet；　or　an
approving　glance　from　the　bright　eyes　which　witnessed　their　own
beams　of　triumph　reflected　from　the　mirror。

The　Countess　Amy　had；　indeed；　to　plead　for　indulgence　in　those
frivolous　tastes；　that　the　education　of　the　times　had　done　little
or　nothing　for　a　mind　naturally　gay　and　averse　to　study。　　If　she
had　not　loved　to　collect　finery　and　to　wear　it；　she　might　have
woven　tapestry　or　sewed　embroidery；　till　her　labours　spread　in
gay　profusion　all　over　the　walls　and　seats　at　Lidcote　Hall；　or
she　might　have　varied　Minerva's　labours　with　the　task　of
preparing　a　mighty　pudding　against　the　time　that　Sir　Hugh　Robsart
returned　from　the　greenwood。　　But　Amy　had　no　natural　genius
either　for　the　loom；　the　needle；　or　the　receipt…book。　　Her　mother
had　died　in　infancy；　her　father　contradicted　her　in　nothing；　and
Tressilian；　the　only　one　that　approached　her　who　was　able　or
desirous　to　attend　to　the　cultivation　of　her　mind；　had　much　hurt
his　interest　with　her　by　assuming　too　eagerly　the　task　of　a
preceptor；　so　that　he　was　regarded　by　the　lively；　indulged；　and
idle　girl　with　some　fear　and　much　respect；　but　with　little　or
nothing　of　that　softer　emotion　which　it　had　been　his　hope　and　his
ambition　to　inspire。　　And　thus　her　heart　lay　readily　open；　and
her　fancy　became　easily　captivated　by　the　noble　exterior　and
graceful　deportment　and　complacent　flattery　of　Leicester；　even
before　he　was　known　to　her　as　the　dazzling　minion　of　wealth　and
power。

The　frequent　visits　of　Leicester　at　Cumnor；　during　the　earlier
part　of　their　union；　had　reconciled　the　Countess　to　the　solitude
and　privacy　to　which　she　was　condemned；　but　when　these　visits
became　rarer　and　more　rare；　and　when　the　void　was　filled　up　with
letters　of　excuse；　not　always　very　warmly　expressed；　and
generally　extremely　brief；　discontent　and　suspicion　began　to
haunt　those　splendid　apartments　which　love　had　fitted　up　for
beauty。　　Her　answers　to　Leicester　conveyed　these　feelings　too
bluntly；　and　pressed　more　naturally　than　prudently　that　she　might
be　relieved　from　this　obscure　and　secluded　residence；　by　the
Earl's　acknowledgment　of　their　marriage；　and　in　arranging　her
arguments　with　all　the　skill　she　was　mistress　of；　she　trusted
chiefly　to　the　warmth　of　the　entreaties　with　which　she　urged
them。　　Sometimes　she　even　ventured　to　mingle　reproaches；　of　which
Leicester　conceived　he　had　good　reason　to　complain。

〃I　have　made　her　Countess；〃　he　said　to　Varney；　〃surely　she　might
wait　till　it　consisted　with　my　pleasure　that　she　should　put　on
the　coronet？〃

The　Countess　Amy　viewed　the　subject　in　directly　an　opposite
light。

〃What　signifies；〃　she　said；　〃that　I　have　rank　and　honour　in
reality；　if　I　am　to　live　an　obscure　prisoner；　without　either
society　or　observance；　and　suffering　in　my　character；　as　one　of
dubious　or　disgraced　reputation？　　I　care　not　for　all　those
strings　of　pearl；　which　you　fret　me　by　warping　into　my　tresses；
Janet。　　I　tell　you　that　at　Lidcote　Hall；　if　I　put　but　a　fresh
rosebud　among　my　hair；　my　good　father　would　call　me　to　him；　that
he　might　see　it　more　closely；　and　the　kind　old　curate　would
smile；　and　Master　Mumblazen　would　say　something　about　roses
gules。　　And　now　I　sit　here；　decked　out　like　an　image　with　gold
and　gems；　and　no　one　to　see　my　finery　but　you；　Janet。　　There　was
the　poor　Tressilian；　toobut　it　avails　not　speaking　of　him。〃

〃It　doth　not　indeed；　madam；〃　said　her　prudent　attendant；　〃and
verily　you　make　me　sometimes　wish　you　would　not　speak　of　him　so
often；　or　so　rashly。〃

〃It　signifies　nothing　to　warn　me；　Janet；〃　said　the　impatient　and
incorrigible　Countess；　〃I　was　born　free；　though　I　am　now　mewed　up
like　some　fine　foreign　slave；　rather　than　the　wife　of　an　English
noble。　　I　bore　it　all　with　pleasure　while　I　was　sure　he　loved　me；
but　now　my　tongue　and　heart　shall　be　free；　let　them　fetter　these
limbs　as　they　will。　　I　tell　thee；　Janet；　I　love　my　husbandI
will　love　him　till　my　latest　breathI　cannot　cease　to　love　him；
even　if　I　would；　or　if　hewhich；　God　knows；　may　chanceshould
cease　to　love　me。　　But　I　will　say；　and　loudly；　I　would　have　been
happier　than　I　now　am　to　have　remained　in　Lidcote　Hall；　even
although　I　must　have　married　poor　Tressilian；　with　his　melancholy
look　and　his　head　full　of　learning；　which　I　cared　not　for。　　He
said；　if　I　would　read　his　favourite　volumes；　there　would　come　a
time　that　I　should　be　glad　of　having　done　so。　　I　think　it　is　come
now。〃

〃I　bought　you　some　books；　madam；〃　said　Janet；　〃from　a　lame　fellow
who　sold　them　in　the　Market…placeand　who　stared　something
boldly；　at　me；　I　promise　you。〃

〃Let　me　see　them；　Janet；〃　said　the　Countess；　〃but　let　them　not　be
of　your　own　precise　cast；How　is　this；　most　righteous　damsel？
'A　PAIR　OF　SNUFFERS　FOR　THE　GOLDEN　CANDLESTICK''HANDFULL　OF
MYRRH　AND　HYSSOP　TO　PUT　A　SICK　SOUL　TO　PURGATION''A　DRAUGHT　OF
WATER　FROM　THE　VALLEY　OF　BACA''FOXES　AND　FIREBRANDS'what　gear
call　you　this；　maiden？〃

〃Nay；　madam；〃　said　Janet；　〃it　was　but　fitting　and　seemly　to　put
grace　in　your　ladyship's　way；　but　an　you　will　none　of　it；　there
are　play…books；　and　poet…books；　I　trow。〃

The　Countess　proceeded　carelessly　in　her　examination；　turning
over　such　rare　volumes　as　would　now　make　the　fortune　of　twenty
retail　booksellers。　　Here　was　a　〃BOKE　OF　COOKERY；　IMPRINTED　BY
RICHARD　LANT；〃　and　〃SKELTON'S　BOOKS〃〃THE　PASSTIME　OF　THE
PEOPLE〃〃THE　CASTLE　OF　KNOWLEDGE；〃　etc。　　But　neither　to　this
lore　did　the　Countess's　heart　incline；　and　joyfully　did　she　start
up　from　the　listless　task　of　turning　over　the　leaves　of　the
pamphlets；　and　hastily　did　she　scatter　them　through　the　floor；
when　the　hasty　clatter　of　horses'　feet；　heard　in　the　courtyard；
called　her　to　the　window；　exclaiming；　〃It　is　Leicester！it　is　my
noble　Earl！it　is　my　Dudley！every　stroke　of　his　horse's　hoof
sounds　like　a　note　of　lordly　music！〃

There　was　a　brief　bustle　in　the　mansion；　and　Foster；　with　his
downward　look　and　sullen　manner；　entered　the　apartment　to　say；
〃That　Master　Richard　Varney　was　arrived　from　my　lord；　having
ridden　all　night；　and　craved　to　speak　with　her　ladyship
instantly。〃

〃Varney？〃　　said　the　disappointed　Countess；　〃and　to　speak　with　me？
pshaw！　　But　he　comes　with　news　from　Leicester；　so　admit　him
instantly。〃

Varney　entered　her　dressing　apartment；　where　she　sat　arrayed　in
her　native　loveliness；　adorned　with　all　that　Janet's　art　and　a
rich　and　tasteful　undress　could　bestow。　　But　the　most　beautiful
part　of　her　attire　was　her　profuse　and　luxuriant　light…brown
locks；　which　floated　in　such　rich　abundance　around　a　neck　that
resembled　a　swan's；　and　over　a　bosom　heaving　with　anxious
expectation；　which　communicated　a　hurried　tinge　of　red　to　her
whole　countenance。

Varney　entered　the　room　in　the　dress　in　which　he　had　waited　on
his　master　that　morning　to　court；　the　splendour　of　which　made　a
strange　contrast　with　the　disorder　arising　from　hasty　riding
during　a　dark　night　and　foul　ways。　　His　brow　bore　an　anxious　and
hurried　expression；　as　one　who　has　that　to　say　of　which　he　doubts
the　reception；　and　who　hath　yet　posted　on　from　the　necessity　of
communicating　his　tidings。　　The　Countess's　anxious　eye　at　once
caught　the　alarm；　as　she　exclaimed；　〃You　bring　news　from　my　lord；
Master　VarneyGracious　Heaven！　　is　he　ill？〃

〃No；　madam；　thank　Heaven！〃　　said　Varney。　　〃Compose　yourself；　and
permit　me　to　take　breath　ere　I　communicate　my　tidings。〃

〃No　breath；　sir；〃　replied　the　lady　impatiently；　〃I　know　your
theatrical　arts。　　Since　your　breath　hath　sufficed　to　bring　you
hither；　it　may　suffice　to　tell　your　taleat　least　briefly；　and
in　the　gross。〃

〃Madam；〃　answered　Varney；　〃we　are　not　alone；　and　my　lord's
message　was　for　your　ear　only。〃

〃Leave　us；　Janet；　and　Master　Foster；〃　said　the　lady；　〃but　remain
in　the　next　apartment；　and　within　call。〃

Foster　and　his　daughter　retired；　agreeably　to　the　Lady
Leicester's　commands；　into　the　next　apartment；　which　was　the
withdrawing…room。　　The　door　which　led　from　the　sleeping…chamber
was　then　carefully　shut　and　bolted；　and　the　father　and　daughter
remained　both　in　a　posture　of　anxious　attention；　the　first　with　a
stern；　suspicious；　anxious　cast　of　countenance；　and　Janet　with
folded　hands；　and　looks　which　seemed　divided　betwixt　her　desire
to　know　the　fortunes　of　her　mistress；　and　her　prayers　to　Heaven
for　her　safety。　　Anthony　Foster　seemed　himself　to　have　some　idea
of　what　was　passing　through　his　daughter's　mind；　for　he　crossed
the　apartment　and　took　her　anxiously　by　the　hand；　saying；　〃That
is　rightpray；　Janet；　pray；　we　have　all　need　of　prayers；　and
some　of　us　more　than　others。　　Pray；　JanetI　would　pray　myself；
but　I　must　listen　to　what　goes　on　withinevil　has　been　brewing；
loveevil　has　been　brewing。　　God　forgive　our　sins；　but　Varney's
sudden　and　strange　arrival　bodes　us　no　good。〃

Janet　had　never　before　heard　her　father　excite　or　even　permit　her
attention　to　anything　which　passed　in　their　mysterious　family；
and　now　that　he　did　so；　his　voice　sounded　in　her　earshe　knew
not　whylike　that　of　a　screech…owl　denouncing　some　deed　of
terror　and　of　woe。　　She　turned　her　eyes　fearfully　towards　the
door；　almost　as　if　she　expected　some　sounds　of　horror　to　be
heard；　or　some　sight　of　fear　to　display　itself。

All；　however；　was　as　still　as　death；　and　the　voices　of　those　who
spoke　in　the　inner　chamber　were；　if　they　spoke　at　all；　carefully
subdued　to　a　tone　which　could　not　be　heard　in　the　next。　　At　once；
however；　they　were　heard　to　speak　fast；　thick；　and　hastily；　and
presently　after　the　voice　of　the　Countess　was　heard　exclaiming；
at　the　highest　pitch　to　whi