hesitated to place the foot on such exquisite workmanship。 The
table； of old English oak； stood ready covered with the finest
linen； and a large portable court…cupboard was placed with the
leaves of its embossed folding…doors displayed； showing the
shelves within； decorated with a full display of plate and
porcelain。 In the midst of the table stood a salt…cellar of
Italian workmanshipa beautiful and splendid piece of plate
about two feet high； moulded into a representation of the giant
Briareus； whose hundred hands of silver presented to the guests
various sorts of spices； or condiments； to season their food
withal。
The third apartment was called the withdrawing…room。 It was hung
with the finest tapestry； representing the fall of Phaeton； for
the looms of Flanders were now much occupied on classical
subjects。 The principal seat of this apartment was a chair of
state； raised a step or two from the floor； and large enough to
contain two persons。 It was surmounted by a canopy； which； as
well as the cushions； side…curtains； and the very footcloth； was
composed of crimson velvet； embroidered with seed…pearl。 On the
top of the canopy were two coronets； resembling those of an earl
and countess。 Stools covered with velvet； and some cushions
disposed in the Moorish fashion； and ornamented with Arabesque
needle…work； supplied the place of chairs in this apartment；
which contained musical instruments； embroidery frames； and other
articles for ladies' pastime。 Besides lesser lights； the
withdrawing…room was illuminated by four tall torches of virgin
wax； each of which was placed in the grasp of a statue；
representing an armed Moor； who held in his left arm a round
buckler of silver； highly polished； interposed betwixt his breast
and the light； which was thus brilliantly reflected as from a
crystal mirror。
The sleeping chamber belonging to this splendid suite of
apartments was decorated in a taste less showy； but not less
rich； than had been displayed in the others。 Two silver lamps；
fed with perfumed oil； diffused at once a delicious odour and a
trembling twilight…seeming shimmer through the quiet apartment。
It was carpeted so thick that the heaviest step could not have
been heard； and the bed； richly heaped with down； was spread with
an ample coverlet of silk and gold； from under which peeped forth
cambric sheets and blankets as white as the lambs which yielded
the fleece that made them。 The curtains were of blue velvet；
lined with crimson silk； deeply festooned with gold； and
embroidered with the loves of Cupid and Psyche。 On the toilet
was a beautiful Venetian mirror； in a frame of silver filigree；
and beside it stood a gold posset…dish to contain the night…
draught。 A pair of pistols and a dagger； mounted with gold； were
displayed near the head of the bed； being the arms for the night；
which were presented to honoured guests； rather； it may be
supposed； in the way of ceremony than from any apprehension of
danger。 We must not omit to mention； what was more to the credit
of the manners of the time； that in a small recess； illuminated
by a taper； were disposed two hassocks of velvet and gold；
corresponding with the bed furniture； before a desk of carved
ebony。 This recess had formerly been the private oratory of the
abbot； but the crucifix was removed； and instead there were
placed on the desk； two Books of Common Prayer； richly bound； and
embossed with silver。 With this enviable sleeping apartment；
which was so far removed from every sound save that of the wind
sighing among the oaks of the park； that Morpheus might have
coveted it for his own proper repose； corresponded two wardrobes；
or dressing…rooms as they are now termed； suitably furnished； and
in a style of the same magnificence which we have already
described。 It ought to be added； that a part of the building in
the adjoining wing was occupied by the kitchen and its offices；
and served to accommodate the personal attendants of the great
and wealthy nobleman； for whose use these magnificent
preparations had been made。
The divinity for whose sake this temple had been decorated was
well worthy the cost and pains which had been bestowed。 She was
seated in the withdrawing…room which we have described； surveying
with the pleased eye of natural and innocent vanity the splendour
which had been so suddenly created； as it were； in her honour。
For； as her own residence at Cumnor Place formed the cause of the
mystery observed in all the preparations for opening these
apartments； it was sedulously arranged that； until she took
possession of them； she should have no means of knowing what was
going forward in that part of the ancient building； or of
exposing herself to be seen by the workmen engaged in the
decorations。 She had been； therefore； introduced on that evening
to a part of the mansion which she had never yet seen； so
different from all the rest that it appeared； in comparison； like
an enchanted palace。 And when she first examined and occupied
these splendid rooms； it was with the wild and unrestrained joy
of a rustic beauty who finds herself suddenly invested with a
splendour which her most extravagant wishes had never imagined；
and at the same time with the keen feeling of an affectionate
heart； which knows that all the enchantment that surrounds her is
the work of the great magician Love。
The Countess Amy； thereforefor to that rank she was exalted by
her private but solemn union with England's proudest Earlhad
for a time flitted hastily from room to room； admiring each new
proof of her lover and her bridegroom's taste； and feeling that
admiration enhanced as she recollected that all she gazed upon
was one continued proof of his ardent and devoted affection。
〃How beautiful are these hangings！ How natural these paintings；
which seem to contend with life！ How richly wrought is that
plate； which looks as if all the galleons of Spain had been
intercepted on the broad seas to furnish it forth！ And oh；
Janet！〃 she exclaimed repeatedly to the daughter of Anthony
Foster； the close attendant； who； with equal curiosity； but
somewhat less ecstatic joy； followed on her mistress's footsteps
〃oh； Janet！ how much more delightful to think that all these
fair things have been assembled by his love； for the love of me！
and that this eveningthis very evening； which grows darker
every instant； I shall thank him more for the love that has
created such an unimaginable paradise； than for all the wonders
it contains。〃
〃The Lord is to be thanked first；〃 said the pretty Puritan； 〃who
gave thee； lady； the kind and courteous husband whose love has
done so much for thee。 I； too； have done my poor share。 But if
you thus run wildly from room to room； the toil of my crisping
and my curling pins will vanish like the frost…work on the window
when the sun is high。〃
〃Thou sayest true； Janet；〃 said the young and beautiful Countess；
stopping suddenly from her tripping race of enraptured delight；
and looking at herself from head to foot in a large mirror； such
as she had never before seen； and which； indeed； had few to match
it even in the Queen's palace〃thou sayest true； Janet！〃 she
answered； as she saw； with pardonable self…applause； the noble
mirror reflect such charms as were seldom presented to its fair
and polished surface； 〃I have more of the milk…maid than the
countess； with these cheeks flushed with haste； and all these
brown curls； which you laboured to bring to order； straying as
wild as the tendrils of an unpruned vine。 My falling ruff is
chafed too； and shows the neck and bosom more than is modest and
seemly。 Come； Janet； we will practise statewe will go to the
withdrawing…room； my good girl； and thou shalt put these rebel
locks in order； and imprison within lace and cambric the bosom
that beats too high。〃
They went to the withdrawing apartment accordingly； where the
Countess playfully stretched herself upon the pile of Moorish
cushions； half sitting； half reclining； half wrapt in her own
thoughts； half listening to the prattle of her attendant。
While she was in this attitude； and with a corresponding
expression betwixt listlessness and expectation on her fine and
intelligent features； you might have searched sea and land
without finding anything half so expressive or half so lovely。
The wreath of brilliants which mixed with her dark…brown hair did
not match in lustre the hazel eye which a light…brown eyebrow；
pencilled with exquisite delicacy； and long eyelashes of the same
colour； relieved and shaded。 The exercise she had just taken；
her excited expectation and gratified vanity； spread a glow over
her fine features； which had been sometimes censured （as beauty
as well as art has her minute critics） for being rather too pale。
The milk…white pearls of the necklace which she wore； the same
which she had just received as a true…love token from her
husband； were excelled in purity by her teeth； and by the colour
of her skin； saving where the blush of pleasure and self…
satisfaction had somewhat stained the neck with a shade of light
crimson。〃Now； have done with these busy fingers； Janet；〃 she
said to her handmaiden； who was still