kenilworth-第22章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


humour　of　a　woman；　and　owning　only　the　poor　rocks　and　bogs　of　the
north。〃

The　Countess　paused；　as　if　what　the　Earl　last　said　had　excited
some　painful　but　interesting　train　of　thought；　and；　as　she　still
remained　silent；　her　husband　proceeded：

〃And　now；　loveliest；　your　wish　is　gratified；　and　you　have　seen
your　vassal　in　such　of　his　trim　array　as　accords　with　riding
vestments；　for　robes　of　state　and　coronets　are　only　for　princely
halls。〃

〃Well；　then；〃　said　the　Countess；　〃my　gratified　wish　has；　as
usual；　given　rise　to　a　new　one。〃

〃And　what　is　it　thou　canst　ask　that　I　can　deny？〃　　said　the　fond
husband。

〃I　wished　to　see　my　Earl　visit　this　obscure　and　secret　bower；〃
said　the　Countess；　〃in　all　his　princely　array；　and　now；　methinks
I　long　to　sit　in　one　of　his　princely　halls；　and　see　him　enter
dressed　in　sober　russet；　as　when　he　won　poor　Amy　Robsart's
heart。〃

〃That　is　a　wish　easily　granted；〃　said　the　Earl〃the　sober　russet
shall　be　donned　to…morrow；　if　you　will。〃

〃But　shall　I；〃　said　the　lady；　〃go　with　you　to　one　of　your
castles；　to　see　how　the　richness　of　your　dwelling　will　correspond
with　your　peasant　habit？〃

〃Why；　Amy；〃　said　the　Earl；　looking　around；　〃are　not　these
apartments　decorated　with　sufficient　splendour？　　I　gave　the　most
unbounded　order；　and；　methinks；　it　has　been　indifferently　well
obeyed；　but　if　thou　canst　tell　me　aught　which　remains　to　be　done；
I　will　instantly　give　direction。〃

〃Nay；　my　lord；　now　you　mock　me；〃　replied　the　Countess；　〃the
gaiety　of　this　rich　lodging　exceeds　my　imagination　as　much　as　it
does　my　desert。　　But　shall　not　your　wife；　my　loveat　least　one
day　soonbe　surrounded　with　the　honour　which　arises　neither　from
the　toils　of　the　mechanic　who　decks　her　apartment；　nor　from　the
silks　and　jewels　with　which　your　generosity　adorns　her；　but　which
is　attached　to　her　place　among　the　matronage；　as　the　avowed　wife
of　England's　noblest　Earl？〃

〃One　day？〃　　said　her　husband。　　〃Yes；　Amy；　my　love；　one　day　this
shall　surely　happen；　and；　believe　me；　thou　canst　not　wish　for
that　day　more　fondly　than　I。　　With　what　rapture　could　I　retire
from　labours　of　state；　and　cares　and　toils　of　ambition；　to　spend
my　life　in　dignity　and　honour　on　my　own　broad　domains；　with　thee；
my　lovely　Amy；　for　my　friend　and　companion！　　But；　Amy；　this
cannot　yet　be；　and　these　dear　but　stolen　interviews　are　all　I　can
give　to　the　loveliest　and　the　best　beloved　of　her　sex。〃

〃But　WHY　can　it　not　be？〃　　urged　the　Countess；　in　the　softest
tones　of　persuasion〃why　can　it　not　immediately　take　placethis
more　perfect；　this　uninterrupted　union；　for　which　you　say　you
wish；　and　which　the　laws　of　God　and　man　alike　command？　　Ah！　　did
you　but　desire　it　half　as　much　as　you　say；　mighty　and　favoured　as
you　are；　who　or　what　should　bar　your　attaining　your　wish？〃

The　Earl's　brow　was　overcast。

〃Amy；〃　he　said；　〃you　speak　of　what　you　understand　not。　　We　that
toil　in　courts　are　like　those　who　climb　a　mountain　of　loose　sand
we　dare　make　no　halt　until　some　projecting　rock　affords　us　a
secure　footing　and　resting…place。　　If　we　pause　sooner；　we　slide
down　by　our　own　weight；　an　object　of　universal　derision。　　I　stand
high；　but　I　stand　not　secure　enough　to　follow　my　own　inclination。
To　declare　my　marriage　were　to　be　the　artificer　of　my　own　ruin。
But；　believe　me；　I　will　reach　a　point；　and　that　speedily；　when　I
can　do　justice　to　thee　and　to　myself。　　Meantime；　poison　not　the
bliss　of　the　present　moment；　by　desiring　that　which　cannot　at
present　be；　Let　me　rather　know　whether　all　here　is　managed　to　thy
liking。　　How　does　Foster　bear　himself　to　you？in　all　things
respectful；　I　trust；　else　the　fellow　shall　dearly　rue　it。〃

〃He　reminds　me　sometimes　of　the　necessity　of　this　privacy；〃
answered　the　lady；　with　a　sigh；　〃but　that　is　reminding　me　of　your
wishes；　and　therefore　I　am　rather　bound　to　him　than　disposed　to
blame　him　for　it。〃

〃I　have　told　you　the　stern　necessity　which　is　upon　us；〃　replied
the　Earl。　　〃Foster　is；　I　note；　somewhat　sullen　of　mood；　but
Varney　warrants　to　me　his　fidelity　and　devotion　to　my　service。
If　thou　hast　aught；　however；　to　complain　of　the　mode　in　which　he
discharges　his　duty；　he　shall　abye　it。〃

〃Oh；　I　have　nought　to　complain　of；〃　answered　the　lady；　〃so　he
discharges　his　task　with　fidelity　to　you；　and　his　daughter　Janet
is　the　kindest　and　best　companion　of　my　solitudeher　little　air
of　precision　sits　so　well　upon　her！〃

〃Is　she　indeed？〃　　said　the　Earl。　　〃She　who　gives　you　pleasure
must　not　pass　unrewarded。Come　hither；　damsel。〃

〃Janet；〃　said　the　lady；　〃come　hither　to　my　lord。〃

Janet；　who；　as　we　already　noticed；　had　discreetly　retired　to　some
distance；　that　her　presence　might　be　no　check　upon　the　private
conversation　of　her　lord　and　lady；　now　came　forward；　and　as　she
made　her　reverential　curtsy；　the　Earl　could　not　help　smiling　at
the　contrast　which　the　extreme　simplicity　of　her　dress；　and　the
prim　demureness　of　her　looks；　made　with　a　very　pretty　countenance
and　a　pair　of　black　eyes；　that　laughed　in　spite　of　their
mistress's　desire　to　look　grave。

〃I　am　bound　to　you；　pretty　damsel；〃　said　the　Earl；　〃for　the
contentment　which　your　service　hath　given　to　this　lady。〃　　As　he
said　this；　he　took　from　his　finger　a　ring　of　some　price；　and
offered　it　to　Janet　Foster；　adding；　〃Wear　this；　for　her　sake　and
for　mine。〃

〃I　am　well　pleased；　my　lord；〃　answered　Janet　demurely；　〃that　my
poor　service　hath　gratified　my　lady；　whom　no　one　can　draw　nigh　to
without　desiring　to　please；　but　we　of　the　precious　Master
Holdforth's　congregation　seek　not；　like　the　gay　daughters　of　this
world；　to　twine　gold　around　our　fingers；　or　wear　stones　upon　our
necks；　like　the　vain　women　of　Tyre　and　of　Sidon。〃

〃Oh；　what！　　you　are　a　grave　professor　of　the　precise　sisterhood；
pretty　Mistress　Janet；〃　said　the　Earl；　〃and　I　think　your　father
is　of　the　same　congregation　in　sincerity？　　I　like　you　both　the
better　for　it；　for　I　have　been　prayed　for；　and　wished　well　to；　in
your　congregations。　　And　you　may　the　better　afford　the　lack　of
ornament；　Mistress　Janet；　because　your　fingers　are　slender；　and
your　neck　white。　　But　here　is　what　neither　Papist　nor　Puritan；
latitudinarian　nor　precisian；　ever　boggles　or　makes　mouths　at。
E'en　take　it；　my　girl；　and　employ　it　as　you　list。〃

So　saying；　he　put　into　her　hand　five　broad　gold　pieces　of　Philip
and　Mary；

〃I　would　not　accept　this　gold　either；〃　said　Janet；　〃but　that　I
hope　to　find　a　use　for　it　which　will　bring　a　blessing　on　us　all。〃

〃Even　please　thyself；　pretty　Janet；〃　said　the　Earl；　〃and　I　shall
be　well　satisfied。　　And　I　prithee　let　them　hasten　the　evening
collation。〃

〃I　have　bidden　Master　Varney　and　Master　Foster　to　sup　with　us；　my
lord；〃　said　the　Countess；　as　Janet　retired　to　obey　the　Earl's
commands；　〃has　it　your　approbation？〃

〃What　you　do　ever　must　have　so；　my　sweet　Amy；〃　replied　her
husband；　〃and　I　am　the　better　pleased　thou　hast　done　them　this
grace；　because　Richard　Varney　is　my　sworn　man；　and　a　close
brother　of　my　secret　council；　and　for　the　present；　I　must　needs
repose　much　trust　in　this　Anthony　Foster。〃

〃I　had　a　boon　to　beg　of　thee；　and　a　secret　to　tell　thee；　my　dear
lord；〃　said　the　Countess；　with　a　faltering　accent。

〃Let　both　be　for　to…morrow；　my　love；〃　replied　the　Earl。　　〃I　see
they　open　the　folding…doors　into　the　banqueting…parlour；　and　as　I
have　ridden　far　and　fast；　a　cup　of　wine　will　not　be
unacceptable。〃

So　saying　he　led　his　lovely　wife　into　the　next　apartment；　where
Varney　and　Foster　received　them　with　the　deepest　reverences；
which　the　first　paid　after　the　fashion　of　the　court；　and　the
second　after　that　of　the　congregation。　　The　Earl　returned　their
salutation　with　the　negligent　courtesy　of　one　long　used　to　such
homage；　while　the　Countess　repaid　it　with　a　punctilious
solicitude；　which　showed　it　was　not　quite　so　familiar　to　her。

The　banquet　at　which　the　company　seated　themselves　corresponded
in　magnificence　with　the　splendour　of　the　apartment　in　which　it
was　served　up；　but　no　domestic　gave　his　attendance。　　Janet　alone
stood　ready　to　wait　upon　the　company；　and；　indeed；　the　board　was
so　well　supplied　with　all　that　could　be　desired；　that　little　or
no　assistance　was　necessary。　　The　Earl　and　his　lady　occupied