kenilworth-第67部分

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curiosity！　　I　must　keep　fair　weather　with　him；　or　we　shall　fare
the　worse。〃

He　then　proceeded　to　state　to　Master　Holiday　his　own　talents　as　a
juggler；　with　those　of　his　sister　as　a　musician。　　Some　proof　of
his　dexterity　was　demanded；　which　he　gave　in　such　a　style　of
excellence；　that；　delighted　at　obtaining　such　an　accession　to
their　party；　they　readily　acquiesced　in　the　apology　which　he
offered　when　a　display　of　his　sister's　talents　was　required。　　The
new…comers　were　invited　to　partake　of　the　refreshments　with　which
the　party　were　provided；　and　it　was　with　some　difficulty　that
Wayland　Smith　obtained　an　opportunity　of　being　apart　with　his
supposed　sister　during　the　meal；　of　which　interval　he　availed
himself　to　entreat　her　to　forget　for　the　present　both　her　rank
and　her　sorrows；　and　condescend；　as　the　most　probable　chance　of
remaining　concealed；　to　mix　in　the　society　of　those　with　whom　she
was　to　travel。

The　Countess　allowed　the　necessity　of　the　case；　and　when　they
resumed　their　journey；　endeavoured　to　comply　with　her　guide's
advice；　by　addressing　herself　to　a　female　near　her；　and
expressing　her　concern　for　the　woman　whom　they　were　thus　obliged
to　leave　behind　them。

〃Oh；　she　is　well　attended；　madam；〃　replied　the　dame　whom　she
addressed；　who；　from　her　jolly　and　laughter…loving　demeanour；
might　have　been　the　very　emblem　of　the　Wife　of　Bath；　〃and　my
gossip　Laneham　thinks　as　little　of　these　matters　as　any　one。　　By
the　ninth　day；　an　the　revels　last　so　long；　we　shall　have　her　with
us　at　Kenilworth；　even　if　she　should　travel　with　her　bantling　on
her　back。〃

There　was　something　in　this　speech　which　took　away　all　desire　on
the　Countess　of　Leicester's　part　to　continue　the　conversation。
But　having　broken　the　charm　by　speaking　to　her　fellow…traveller
first；　the　good　dame；　who　was　to　play　Rare　Gillian　of　Croydon　in
one　of　the　interludes；　took　care　that　silence　did　not　again
settle　on　the　journey；　but　entertained　her　mute　companion　with　a
thousand　anecdotes　of　revels；　from　the　days　of　King　Harry
downwards；　with　the　reception　given　them　by　the　great　folk；　and
all　the　names　of　those　who　played　the　principal　characters；　but
ever　concluding　with　〃they　would　be　nothing　to　the　princely
pleasures　of　Kenilworth。〃

〃And　when　shall　we　reach　Kenilworth？　　said　the　Countess；　with　an
agitation　which　she　in　vain　attempted　to　conceal。

〃We　that　have　horses　may；　with　late　riding；　get　to　Warwick　to…
night；　and　Kenilworth　may　be　distant　some　four　or　five　miles。
But　then　we　must　wait　till　the　foot…people　come　up；　although　it
is　like　my　good　Lord　of　Leicester　will　have　horses　or　light
carriages　to　meet　them；　and　bring　them　up　without　being　travel…
toiled；　which　last　is　no　good　preparation；　as　you　may　suppose；
for　dancing　before　your　betters。　　And　yet；　Lord　help　me；　I　have
seen　the　day　I　would　have　tramped　five　leagues　of　lea…land；　and
turned　an　my　toe　the　whole　evening　after；　as　a　juggler　spins　a
pewter　platter　on　the　point　of　a　needle。　　But　age　has　clawed　me
somewhat　in　his　clutch；　as　the　song　says；　though；　if　I　like　the
tune　and　like　my　partner；　I'll　dance　the　hays　yet　with　any　merry
lass　in　Warwickshire　that　writes　that　unhappy　figure　four　with　a
round　O　after　it。〃

If　the　Countess　was　overwhelmed　with　the　garrulity　of　this　good
dame；　Wayland　Smith；　on　his　part；　had　enough　to　do　to　sustain　and
parry；the　constant　attacks　made　upon　him　by　the　indefatigable
curiosity　of　his　old　acquaintance　Richard　Sludge。　　Nature　had
given　that　arch　youngster　a　prying　cast　of　disposition；　which
matched　admirably　with　his　sharp　wit；　the　former　inducing　him　to
plant　himself　as　a　spy　on　other　people's　affairs；　and　the　latter
quality　leading　him　perpetually　to　interfere；　after　he　had　made
himself　master　of　that　which　concerned　him　not。　　He　spent　the
livelong　day　in　attempting　to　peer　under　the　Countess's　muffler；
and　apparently　what　he　could　there　discern　greatly　sharpened　his
curiosity。

〃That　sister　of　thine；　Wayland；〃　he　said；　〃has　a　fair　neck　to
have　been　born　in　a　smithy；　and　a　pretty　taper　hand　to　have　been
used　for　twirling　a　spindlefaith；　I'll　believe　in　your
relationship　when　the　crow's　egg　is　hatched　into　a　cygnet。〃

〃Go　to；〃　said　Wayland；　〃thou　art　a　prating　boy；　and　should　be
breeched　for　thine　assurance。〃

〃Well；〃　said　the　imp；　drawing　off；　〃all　I　say　isremember　you
have　kept　a　secret　from　me；　and　if　I　give　thee　not　a　Roland　for
thine　Oliver；　my　name　is　not　Dickon　Sludge！〃

This　threat；　and　the　distance　at　which　Hobgoblin　kept　from　him
for　the　rest　of　the　way；　alarmed　Wayland　very　much；　and　he
suggested　to　his　pretended　sister　that；　on　pretext　of　weariness；
she　should　express　a　desire　to　stop　two　or　three　miles　short　of
the　fair　town　of　Warwick；　promising　to　rejoin　the　troop　in　the
morning。　　A　small　village　inn　afforded　them　a　resting…place；　and
it　was　with　secret　pleasure　that　Wayland　saw　the　whole　party；
including　Dickon；　pass　on；　after　a　courteous　farewell；　and　leave
them　behind。

〃To…morrow；　madam；〃　he　said　to　his　charge；　〃we　will；　with　your
leave；　again　start　early；　and　reach　Kenilworth　before　the　rout
which　are　to　assemble　there。〃

The　Countess　gave　assent　to　the　proposal　of　her　faithful　guide；
but；　somewhat　to　his　surprise；　said　nothing　further　on　the
subject；　which　left　Wayland　under　the　disagreeable　uncertainty
whether　or　no　she　had　formed　any　plan　for　her　own　future
proceedings；　as　he　knew　her　situation　demanded　circumspection；
although　he　was　but　imperfectly　acquainted　with　all　its
peculiarities。　　Concluding；　however；　that　she　must　have　friends
within　the　castle；　whose　advice　and　assistance　she　could　safely
trust；　he　supposed　his　task　would　be　best　accomplished　by
conducting　her　thither　in　safety；　agreeably　to　her　repeated
commands。



CHAPTER　XXV。

　　Hark；　the　bells　summon；　and　the　bugle　calls；
　　But　she　the　fairest　answers　notthe　tide
　　Of　nobles　and　of　ladies　throngs　the　halls；
　　But　she　the　loveliest　must　in　secret　hide。
　　What　eyes　were　thine；　proud　Prince；　which　in　the　gleam
　　Of　yon　gay　meteors　lost　that　better　sense；
　　That　o'er　the　glow…worm　doth　the　star　esteem；
　　And　merit's　modest　blush　o'er　courtly　insolence？
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　GLASS　SLIPPER。

The　unfortunate　Countess　of　Leicester　had；　from　her　infancy
upwards；　been　treated　by　those　around　her　with　indulgence　as
unbounded　as　injudicious。　　The　natural　sweetness　of　her
disposition　had　saved　her　from　becoming　insolent　and　ill…
humoured；　but　the　caprice　which　preferred　the　handsome　and
insinuating　Leicester　before　Tressilian；　of　whose　high　honour　and
unalterable　affection　she　herself　entertained　so　firm　an　opinion
that　fatal　error；　which　ruined　the　happiness　of　her　life；　had
its　origin　in　the　mistaken　kindness；　that　had　spared　her
childhood　the　painful　but　most　necessary　lesson　of　submission　and
self…command。　　From　the　same　indulgence　it　followed　that　she　had
only　been　accustomed　to　form　and　to　express　her　wishes；　leaving
to　others　the　task　of　fulfilling　them；　and　thus；　at　the　most
momentous　period　of　her　life；　she　was　alike　destitute　of　presence
of　mind；　and　of　ability　to　form　for　herself　any　reasonable　or
prudent　plan　of　conduct。

These　difficulties　pressed　on　the　unfortunate　lady　with
overwhelming　force　on　the　morning　which　seemed　to　be　the　crisis
of　her　fate。　　Overlooking　every　intermediate　consideration；　she
had　only　desired　to　be　at　Kenilworth；　and　to　approach　her
husband's　presence；　and　now；　when　she　was　in　the　vicinity　of
both；　a　thousand　considerations　arose　at　once　upon　her　mind；
startling　her　with　accumulated　doubts　and　dangers；　some　real；
some　imaginary；　and　all　exalted　and　exaggerated　by　a　situation
alike　helpless　and　destitute　of　aid　and　counsel。

A　sleepless　night　rendered　her　so　weak　in　the　morning　that　she
was　altogether　unable　to　attend　Wayland's　early　summons。　　The
trusty　guide　became　extremely　distressed　on　the　lady's　account；
and　somewhat　alarmed　on　his　own；　and　was　on　the　point　of　going
alone　to　Kenilworth；　in　the　hope　of　discovering　Tressilian；　and
intimating　to　him　the　lady's　approach；　when　about　nine　in　the
morning　he　was　summoned　to　attend　her。　　He　found　her　dressed；　and
ready　for　resuming　her　journey；　but　with　a　paleness　of
countenance　which　alarmed　him　for　her　health。　　She　intimated　her
desire　that　the　horses　might　be　got　instantly　ready；　and　resisted
with　impatience　her　guide's　request　that　she　would　take　some
refreshment　before　setting　forward。　　〃I　have　had；〃　she　said；　〃a
cup　of　waterthe　wretch　who　is　dragged　to　execution　needs　no
stronger　cordial；　and　that　may　serve　me　which　suffices　for　him。
Do　as　I　command　you。〃　　　Wayland　Smith　still　hesitated。　　〃What
would　you　have？〃　　said　she。　　〃Have　I　not　spoken　plainly？〃

〃Yes；　madam；〃　answered　Wayland；　〃but　may　I　ask　what　is　your
further　purpose？　I　only　wish　to　know；　that　I　may　guide　myself　by
your　wishes。　　The　whole　country　is　afloat；　and　streaming　towards
the　Castle　of　Kenilworth。　　It　will　be　difficult　travelling
thither；　even　if　we　had　the　necessary　passports　for　safe…conduct
and　free　admittance；　unknown　and　unfriended；　we　may　come　by
mishap。　　Your　ladyship　will　forgive　my　speaking　my　poor　mind
were　we　not　better　try　to　find　out　the　maskers；　and　again　join
ourselves　with　them？〃　　The　Countess　shook　her　head；　and　her　guide
proceeded；　〃Then　I　see　but　one　other　remedy。〃

〃Speak　out；　then；〃　said　the　lady；　not　displeased；　perhaps；　that
he　should　thus　offer　the　advice　which　she　was　ashamed　to　ask；　〃I
believe　thee　faithfulwhat　wouldst　thou　counsel？〃

〃That　I　should　warn　Master　Tressilian；〃　said　Wayland；　〃that　you
are　in　this　place。　　I　am　right　certain　he　would　get　to　horse　with
a　few　of　Lord　Sussex's　followers；　and　ensure　your　personal
safety。〃

〃And　is　it　to　ME　you　advise；〃　said　the　Countess；　〃to　put　myself
under　the　protection　of　Sussex；　the　unworthy　rival　of　the　noble
Leicester？〃　　Then；　seeing　the　surprise　with　which　Wayland　stared
upon　her；　and　afraid　of　having　too　strongly　intimated　her
interest　in　Leicester；　she　added；　〃And　for　Tressilian；　it　must
not　bemention　not　to　him；　I　charge　you；　my　unhappy　name；　it
would　but　double　MY　misfortunes；　and　involve　HIM　in　dangers
beyond　the　power　of　rescue。〃　　She　paused；　but　when　she　ob