kenilworth-第69章
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said the lady。
〃One of those merchants of vanity； called pedlars；〃 answered
Janet； demurely； 〃who utters his light wares in lighter measures。
I marvel old Dorcas let him pass。〃
〃It is a lucky chance； girl；〃 said the Countess； 〃we lead a heavy
life here； and this may while off a weary hour。〃
〃Ay； my gracious lady；〃 said Janet； 〃but my father？〃
〃He is not my father； Janet； nor I hope my master；〃 answered the
lady。 〃I say； call the man hitherI want some things。〃
〃Nay；〃 replied Janet； 〃your ladyship has but to say so in the
next packet； and if England can furnish them they will be sent。
There will come mischief on'tpray； dearest lady； let me bid the
man begone！〃
〃I will have thee bid him come hither；〃 said the Countess；〃or
stay； thou terrified fool； I will bid him myself； and spare thee
a chiding。〃
〃Ah！ well…a…day； dearest lady； if that were the worst；〃 said
Janet sadly； while the lady called to the pedlar； 〃Good fellow；
step forwardundo thy pack； if thou hast good wares； chance has
sent thee hither for my convenience and thy profit。〃
〃What may your ladyship please to lack？〃 said Wayland；
unstrapping his pack； and displaying its contents with as much
dexterity as if he had been bred to the trade。 Indeed he had
occasionally pursued it in the course of his roving life； and now
commended his wares with all the volubility of a trader； and
showed some skill in the main art of placing prices upon them。
〃What do I please to lack？〃 said the lady； 〃why； considering I
have not for six long months bought one yard of lawn or cambric；
or one trinket； the most inconsiderable； for my own use； and at
my own choice； the better question is； What hast thou got to
sell？ Lay aside for me that cambric partlet and pair of sleeves
and those roundells of gold fringe； drawn out with cyprusand
that short cloak of cherry…coloured fine cloth； garnished with
gold buttons and loops；is it not of an absolute fancy； Janet？〃
〃Nay； my lady；〃 replied Janet； 〃if you consult my poor judgment；
it is； methinks； over…gaudy for a graceful habit。〃
〃Now； out upon thy judgment； if it be no brighter； wench；〃 said
the Countess。 〃Thou shalt wear it thyself for penance' sake； and
I promise thee the gold buttons； being somewhat massive； will
comfort thy father； and reconcile him to the cherry…coloured
body。 See that he snap them not away； Janet； and send them to
bear company with the imprisoned angels which he keeps captive in
his strong…box。〃
〃May I pray your ladyship to spare my poor father？〃 said Janet。
〃Nay； but why should any one spare him that is so sparing of his
own nature？〃 replied the lady。〃Well； but to our gear。 That
head garniture for myself； and that silver bodkin mounted with
pearl； and take off two gowns of that russet cloth for Dorcas and
Alison； Janet； to keep the old wretches warm against winter
comes。And stayhast thou no perfumes and sweet bags； or any
handsome casting bottles of the newest mode？〃
〃Were I a pedlar in earnest； I were a made merchant；〃 thought
Wayland； as he busied himself to answer the demands which she
thronged one on another； with the eagerness of a young lady who
has been long secluded from such a pleasing occupation。 〃But how
to bring her to a moment's serious reflection？〃 Then as he
exhibited his choicest collection of essences and perfumes； he at
once arrested her attention by observing that these articles had
almost risen to double value since the magnificent preparations
made by the Earl of Leicester to entertain the Queen and court at
his princely Castle of Kenilworth。
〃Ha！〃 said the Countess hastily； 〃that rumour； then； is true；
Janet。〃
〃Surely； madam；〃 answered Wayland； 〃and I marvel it hath not
reached your noble ladyship's ears。 The Queen of England feasts
with the noble Earl for a week during the Summer's Progress； and
there are many who will tell you England will have a king； and
England's ElizabethGod save her！a husband； ere the Progress
be over。〃
〃They lie like villains！〃 said the Countess； bursting forth
impatiently。
〃For God's sake； madam； consider；〃 said Janet； trembling with
apprehension； 〃who would cumber themselves about pedlar's
tidings？〃
〃Yes； Janet！〃 exclaimed the Countess； 〃right； thou hast
corrected me justly。 Such reports； blighting the reputation of
England's brightest and noblest peer； can only find currency
amongst the mean； the abject； and the infamous！〃
〃May I perish； lady；〃 said Wayland Smith； observing that her
violence directed itself towards him； 〃if I have done anything to
merit this strange passion！ I have said but what many men say。〃
By this time the Countess had recovered her composure； and
endeavoured； alarmed by the anxious hints of Janet； to suppress
all appearance of displeasure。 〃I were loath；〃 she said； 〃good
fellow； that our Queen should change the virgin style so dear to
us her peoplethink not of it。〃 And then； as if desirous to
change the subject； she added； 〃And what is this paste； so
carefully put up in the silver box？〃 as she examined the
contents of a casket in which drugs and perfumes were contained
in separate drawers。
〃It is a remedy； Madam； for a disorder of which I trust your
ladyship will never have reason to complain。 The amount of a
small turkey…bean； swallowed daily for a week； fortifies the
heart against those black vapours which arise from solitude；
melancholy； unrequited affection； disappointed hope〃
〃Are you a fool； friend？〃 said the Countess sharply； 〃or do you
think； because I have good…naturedly purchased your trumpery
goods at your roguish prices； that you may put any gullery you
will on me？ Who ever heard that affections of the heart were
cured by medicines given to the body？〃
〃Under your honourable favour；〃 said Wayland； 〃I am an honest
man； and I have sold my goods at an honest price。 As to this
most precious medicine； when I told its qualities； I asked you
not to purchase it； so why should I lie to you？ I say not it
will cure a rooted affection of the mind； which only God and time
can do； but I say that this restorative relieves the black
vapours which are engendered in the body of that melancholy which
broodeth on the mind。 I have relieved many with it； both in
court and city； and of late one Master Edmund Tressilian； a
worshipful gentleman in Cornwall； who； on some slight received；
it was told me； where he had set his affections； was brought into
that state of melancholy which made his friends alarmed for his
life。〃
He paused； and the lady remained silent for some time； and then
asked； with a voice which she strove in vain to render firm and
indifferent in its tone； 〃Is the gentleman you have mentioned
perfectly recovered？〃
〃Passably； madam；〃 answered Wayland； 〃he hath at least no bodily
complaint。〃
〃I will take some of the medicine； Janet；〃 said the Countess。 〃I
too have sometimes that dark melancholy which overclouds the
brain。〃
〃You shall not do so； madam；〃 said Janet； 〃who shall answer that
this fellow vends what is wholesome？〃
〃I will myself warrant my good faith；〃 said Wayland； and taking a
part of the medicine； he swallowed it before them。 The Countess
now bought what remained； a step to which Janet； by further
objections； only determined her the more obstinately。 She even
took the first dose upon the instant； and professed to feel her
heart lightened and her spirits augmenteda consequence which；
in all probability； existed only in her own imagination。 The
lady then piled the purchases she had made together； flung her
purse to Janet； and desired her to compute the amount； and to pay
the pedlar； while she herself； as if tired of the amusement she
at first found in conversing with him； wished him good evening；
and walked carelessly into the house； thus depriving Wayland of
every opportunity to speak with her in private。 He hastened；
however； to attempt an explanation with Janet。
〃Maiden；〃 he said； 〃thou hast the face of one who should love her
mistress。 She hath much need of faithful service。〃
〃And well deserves it at my hands；〃 replied Janet； 〃but
what of that？〃
〃Maiden； I am not altogether what I seem；〃 said the pedlar；
lowering his v
