length thou art come！〃
Varney discreetly withdrew as his lord entered； and Janet was
about to do the same； when her mistress signed to her to remain。
She took her place at the farther end of the apartment； and
continued standing； as if ready for attendance。
Meanwhile the Earl； for he was of no inferior rank； returned his
lady's caress with the most affectionate ardour； but affected to
resist when she strove to take his cloak from him。
〃Nay；〃 she said； 〃but I will unmantle you。 I must see if you
have kept your word to me； and come as the great Earl men call
thee； and not as heretofore like a private cavalier。〃
〃Thou art like the rest of the world； Amy；〃 said the Earl；
suffering her to prevail in the playful contest； 〃the jewels； and
feathers； and silk are more to them than the man whom they adorn
many a poor blade looks gay in a velvet scabbard。〃
〃But so cannot men say of thee； thou noble Earl；〃 said his lady；
as the cloak dropped on the floor； and showed him dressed as
princes when they ride abroad； 〃thou art the good and well…tried
steel； whose inly worth deserves； yet disdains； its outward
ornaments。 Do not think Amy can love thee better in this
glorious garb than she did when she gave her heart to him who
wore the russet…brown cloak in the woods of Devon。〃
〃And thou too；〃 said the Earl； as gracefully and majestically he
led his beautiful Countess towards the chair of state which was
prepared for them both〃thou too； my love； hast donned a dress
which becomes thy rank； though it cannot improve thy beauty。
What think'st thou of our court taste？〃
The lady cast a sidelong glance upon the great mirror as they
passed it by； and then said； 〃I know not how it is； but I think
not of my own person while I look at the reflection of thine。
Sit thou there；〃 she said； as they approached the chair of state；
〃like a thing for men to worship and to wonder at。〃
〃Ay； love；〃 said the Earl； 〃if thou wilt share my state with me。〃
〃Not so；〃 said the Countess； 〃I will sit on this footstool at thy
feet； that I may spell over thy splendour； and learn； for the
first time； how princes are attired。〃
And with a childish wonder； which her youth and rustic education
rendered not only excusable but becoming； mixed as it was with a
delicate show of the most tender conjugal affection； she examined
and admired from head to foot the noble form and princely attire
of him who formed the proudest ornament of the court of England's
Maiden Queen； renowned as it was for splendid courtiers； as well
as for wise counsellors。 Regarding affectionately his lovely
bride； and gratified by her unrepressed admiration； the dark eye
and noble features of the Earl expressed passions more gentle
than the commanding and aspiring look which usually sat upon his
broad forehead； and in the piercing brilliancy of his dark eye；
and he smiled at the simplicity which dictated the questions she
put to him concerning the various ornaments with which he was
decorated。
〃The embroidered strap； as thou callest it； around my knee；〃 he
said； 〃is the English Garter； an ornament which kings are proud
to wear。 See； here is the star which belongs to it； and here the
Diamond George； the jewel of the order。 You have heard how King
Edward and the Countess of Salisbury〃
〃Oh； I know all that tale；〃 said the Countess； slightly blushing；
〃and how a lady's garter became the proudest badge of English
chivalry。〃
〃Even so；〃 said the Earl； 〃and this most honourable Order I had
the good hap to receive at the same time with three most noble
associates； the Duke of Norfolk； the Marquis of Northampton； and
the Earl of Rutland。 I was the lowest of the four in rankbut
what then？ he that climbs a ladder must begin at the first
round。〃
〃But this other fair collar； so richly wrought； with some jewel
like a sheep hung by the middle attached to it； what；〃 said the
young Countess； 〃does that emblem signify？〃
〃This collar；〃 said the Earl； 〃with its double fusilles
interchanged with these knobs； which are supposed to present
flint…stones sparkling with fire； and sustaining the jewel you
inquire about； is the badge of the noble Order of the Golden
Fleece； once appertaining to the House of Burgundy it hath high
privileges； my Amy； belonging to it； this most noble Order； for
even the King of Spain himself； who hath now succeeded to the
honours and demesnes of Burgundy； may not sit in judgment upon a
knight of the Golden Fleece； unless by assistance and consent of
the Great Chapter of the Order。〃
〃And is this an Order belonging to the cruel King of Spain？〃
said the Countess。 〃Alas！ my noble lord； that you will defile
your noble English breast by bearing such an emblem！ Bethink you
of the most unhappy Queen Mary's days； when this same Philip held
sway with her in England； and of the piles which were built for
our noblest； and our wisest； and our most truly sanctified
prelates and divinesand will you； whom men call the standard…
bearer of the true Protestant faith； be contented to wear the
emblem and mark of such a Romish tyrant as he of Spain？〃
〃Oh； content you； my love；〃 answered the Earl； 〃we who spread our
sails to gales of court favour cannot always display the ensigns
we love the best； or at all times refuse sailing under colours
which we like not。 Believe me； I am not the less good
Protestant； that for policy I must accept the honour offered me
by Spain； in admitting me to this his highest order of
knighthood。 Besides； it belongs properly to Flanders； and
Egmont； Orange； and others have pride in seeing it displayed on
an English bosom。〃
〃Nay； my lord； you know your own path best；〃 replied the
Countess。 〃And this other collar； to what country does this fair
jewel belong？〃
〃To a very poor one； my love；〃 replied the Earl； 〃this is the
Order of Saint Andrew； revived by the last James of Scotland。 It
was bestowed on me when it was thought the young widow of France
and Scotland would gladly have wedded an English baron； but a
free coronet of England is worth a crown matrimonial held at the
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 univer