kenilworth-第19章

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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　my　lord's　arrival　with　good　Master　Richard　Varney；　who；　as　I
think；　hath　somewhat　to　say　to　you　from　your　most　noble　lord　and
husband。Janet；　follow　me；　to　see　that　all　be　in　order。〃

〃No；　Master　Foster；〃　said　the　Countess；　〃we　will　your　daughter
remains　here　in　our　apartmentout　of　ear…shot；　however；　in　case
Varney　bath　ought　to　say　to　me　from　my　lord。〃

Foster　made　his　clumsy　reverence；　and　departed；　with　an　aspect
which　seemed　to　grudge　the　profuse　expense　which　had　been　wasted
upon　changing　his　house　from　a　bare　and　ruinous　grange　to　an
Asiastic　palace。　　When　he　was　gone；　his　daughter　took　her
embroidery　frame；　and　went　to　establish　herself　at　the　bottom　of
the　apartment；　while　Richard　Varney；　with　a　profoundly　humble
courtesy；　took　the　lowest　stool　he　could　find；　and　placing　it　by
the　side　of　the　pile　of　cushions　on　which　the　Countess　had　now
again　seated　herself；　sat　with　his　eyes　for　a　time　fixed　on　the
ground；　and　in　pro…found　silence

〃I　thought；　Master　Varney；〃　said　the　Countess；　when　she　saw　he
was　not　likely　to　open　the　conversation；　〃that　you　had　something
to　communicate　from　my　lord　and　husband；　so　at　least　I　understood
Master　Foster；　and　therefore　I　removed　my　waiting…maid。　　If　I　am
mistaken；　I　will　recall　her　to　my　side；　for　her　needle　is　not　so
absolutely　perfect　in　tent　and　cross…stitch；　but　that　my
superintendence　is　advisable。〃

〃Lady；〃　said　Varney；　〃Foster　was　partly　mistaken　in　my　purpose。
It　was　not　FROM　but　OF　your　noble　husband；　and　my　approved　and
most　noble　patron；　that　I　am　led；　and　indeed　bound；　to　speak。〃

〃The　theme　is　most　welcome；　sir；〃　said　the　Countess；　〃whether　it
be　of　or　from　my　noble　husband。　　But　be　brief；　for　I　expect　his
hasty　approach。〃

〃Briefly　then；　madam；〃　replied　Varney；　〃and　boldly；　for　my
argument　requires　both　haste　and　courageyou　have　this　day　seen
Tressilian？〃

〃I　have；　sir　and　what　of　that？〃　　answered　the　lady　somewhat
sharply。

〃Nothing　that　concerns　me；　lady；〃　Varney　replied　with　humility