kenilworth-第74章

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〃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　which　indignation　could　raise　it；　〃Undo
the　door；　sir；　I　command　you！undo　the　door！I　will　have　no
other　reply！〃　　she　continued；　drowning　with　her　vehement　accents
the　low　and　muttered　sounds　which　Varney　was　heard　to　utter
betwixt　whiles。　　〃What　ho！　　without　there！〃　　she　persisted；
accompanying　her　words　with　shrieks；　〃Janet；　alarm　the　house！
Foster；　break　open　the　doorI　am　detained　here　by　a　traitor！
Use　axe　and　lever；　Master　FosterI　will　be　your　warrant！〃

〃It　shall　not　need；　madam；〃　Varney　was　at　length　distinctly　heard
to　say。　　〃If　you　please　to　expose　my　lord's　important　concerns
and　your　own　to　the　general　ear；　I　will　not　be　your　hindrance。〃

The　door　was　unlocked　and　thrown　open；　and　Janet　and　her　father
rushed　in；　anxious　to　learn　the　cause　of　these　reiterated
exclamations。

When　they　entered　the　apartment　Varney　stood　by　the　door　grinding
his　teeth；　with　an　expression　in　which　rage；　and　shame；　and　fear
had　each　their　share。　　The　Countess　stood　in　the　midst　of　her
apartment　like　a　juvenile　Pythoness　under　the　influence　of　the
prophetic　fury。　　The　veins　in　her　beautiful　forehead　started　into
swoln　blue　lines　through　the　hurried　impulse　of　her　articulation
her　cheek　and　neck　glowed　like　scarlether　eyes　were　like
those　of　an　imprisoned　eagle；　flashing　red　lightning　on　the　foes
which　it　cannot　reach　with　its　talons。　　Were　it　possible　for　one
of　the　Graces　to　have　been　animated　by　a　Fury；　the　countenance
could　not　have　united　such　beauty　with　so　much　hatred；　scorn；
defiance；　and　resentment。　　The　gesture　and　attitude　corresponded
with　the　voice　and　looks；　and　altogether　presented　a　spectacle
which　was　at　once　beautiful　and　fearful；　so　much　of　the　sublime
had　the　energy　of　passion　united　with　the　Countess　Amy's　natural
loveliness。　　Janet；　as　soon　as　the　door　was　open；　ran　to　her
mistress；　and　more　slowly；　yet　with　more　haste　than　he　was　wont；
Anthony　Foster　went　to　Richard　Varney。

〃In　the　Truth's　name；　what　ails　your　ladyship？〃　　said　the　former。

〃What；　in　the　name　of　Satan；　h