A jovial knight he is； and hath loved hospitality and open
housekeeping more than the present fashion； which lays as much
gold lace on the seams of a doublet as would feed a dozen of tall
fellows with beef and ale for a twelvemonth； and let them have
their evening at the alehouse once a week； to do good to the
publican。〃
〃If you have seen Will Badger； mine host；〃 said Tressilian； 〃you
have heard enough of Sir Hugh Robsart； and therefore I will but
say； that the hospitality you boast of hath proved somewhat
detrimental to the estate of his family； which is perhaps of the
less consequence； as he has but one daughter to whom to bequeath
it。 And here begins my share in the tale。 Upon my father's
death； now several years since； the good Sir Hugh would willingly
have made me his constant companion。 There was a time； however；
at which I felt the kind knight's excessive love for field…sports
detained me from studies； by which I might have profited more；
but I ceased to regret the leisure which gratitude and hereditary
friendship compelled me to bestow on these rural avocations。 The
exquisite beauty of Mistress Amy Robsart； as she grew up from
childhood to woman； could not escape one whom circumstances
obliged to be so constantly in her companyI loved her； in
short； mine host； and her father saw it。〃
〃And crossed your true loves； no doubt？〃 said mine host。 〃It is
the way in all such cases； and I judge it must have been so in
your instance； from the heavy sigh you uttered even now。〃
〃The case was different； mine host。 My suit was highly approved
by the generous Sir Hugh Robsart； it was his daughter who was
cold to my passion。〃
〃She was the more dangerous enemy of the two；〃 said the
innkeeper。 〃I fear me your suit proved a cold one。〃
〃She yielded me her esteem；〃 said Tressilian； 〃and seemed not
unwilling that I should hope it might ripen into a warmer
passion。 There was a contract of future marriage executed
betwixt us； upon her father's intercession； but to comply with
her anxious request； the execution was deferred for a
twelvemonth。 During this period； Richard Varney appeared in the
country； and； availing himself of some distant family connection
with Sir Hugh Robsart； spent much of his time in his company；
until； at length； he almost lived in the family。〃
〃That could bode no good to the place he honoured with his
residence；〃 said Gosling。
〃No； by the rood！〃 replied Tressilian。 〃Misunderstanding and
misery followed his presence； yet so strangely that I am at this
moment at a loss to trace the gradations of their encroachment
upon a family which had； till then； been so happy。 For a time
Amy Robsart received the attentions of this man Varney with the
indifference attached to common courtesies； then followed a
period in which she seemed to regard him with dislike； and even
with disgust； and then an extraordinary species of connection
appeared to grow up betwixt them。 Varney dropped those airs of
pretension and gallantry which had marked his former approaches；
and Amy； on the other hand； seemed to renounce the ill…disguised
disgust with which she had regarded them。 They seemed to have
more of privacy and confidence together than I fully liked； and I
suspected that they met in private； where there was less
restraint than in our presence。 Many circumstances； which I
noticed but little at the timefor I deemed her heart as open as
her angelic countenancehave since arisen on my memory； to
convince me of their private understanding。 But I need not
detail themthe fact speaks for itself。 She vanished from her
father's house； Varney disappeared at the same time； and this
very day I have seen her in the character of his paramour； living
in the house of his sordid dependant Foster； and visited by him；
muffled； and by a secret entrance。〃
〃And this； then； is the cause of your quarrel？ Methinks； you
should have been sure that the fair lady either desired or
deserved your interference。〃
〃Mine host；〃 answered Tressilian； 〃my fathersuch I must ever
consider Sir Hugh Robsartsits at home struggling with his
grief； or； if so far recovered； vainly attempting to drown； in
the practice of his field…sports； the recollection that he had
once a daughtera recollection which ever and anon breaks from
him under circumstances the most pathetic。 I could not brook the
idea that he should live in misery； and Amy in guilt； and I
endeavoured to…seek her out； with the hope of inducing her to
return to her family。 I have found her； and when I have either
succeeded in my attempt； or have found it altogether unavailing；
it is my purpose to embark for the Virginia voyage。〃
〃Be not so rash； good sir；〃 replied Giles Gosling； 〃and cast not
yourself away because a womanto be briefIS a woman； and
changes her lovers like her suit of ribands； with no better
reason than mere fantasy。 And ere we probe this matter further；
let me ask you what circumstances of suspicion directed you so
truly to this lady's residence； or rather to her place of
concealment？〃
〃The last is the better chosen word； mine host；〃 answered
Tressilian； 〃and touching your question； the knowledge that
Varney held large grants of the demesnes formerly belonging to
the monks of Abingdon directed me to this neighbourhood； and your
nephew's visit to his old comrade Foster gave me the means of
conviction on the subject。〃
〃And what is now your purpose； worthy sir？excuse my freedom in
asking the question so broadly。〃
〃I purpose； mine host；〃 said Tressilian； 〃to renew my visit to
the place of her residence to…morrow； and to seek a more detailed
communication with her than I have had to…day。 She must indeed
be widely changed from what she once was； if my words make no
impression upon her。〃
〃Under your favour； Master Tressilian；〃 said the landlord； 〃you
can follow no such course。 The lady； if I understand you； has
already rejected your interference in the matter。〃
〃It is but too true；〃 said Tressilian； 〃I cannot deny it。〃
〃Then； marry； by what right or interest do you process a
compulsory interference with her inclination； disgraceful as it
may be to herself and to her parents？ Unless my judgment gulls
me； those under whose protection she has thrown herself would
have small hesitation to reject your interference； even if it
were that of a father or brother； but as a discarded lover； you
expose yourself to be repelled with the strong hand； as well as
with scorn。 You can apply to no magistrate for aid or
countenance； and you are hunting； therefore； a shadow in water；
and will only （excuse my plainness） come by ducking and danger in
attempting to catch it。〃
〃I will appeal to the Earl of Leicester；〃 said Tressilian；
〃against the infamy of his favourite。 He courts the severe and
strict sect of Puritans。 He dare not； for the sake of his own
character； refuse my appeal； even although he were destitute of
the principles of honour and nobleness with which fame invests
him。 Or I will appeal to the Queen herself。〃
〃Should Leicester；〃 said the landlord； 〃be disposed to protect
his dependant （as indeed he is said to be very confidential with
Varney）； the appeal to the Queen may bring them both to reason。
Her Majesty is strict in such matters； and （if it be not treason
to speak it） will rather； it is said； pardon a dozen courtiers
for falling in love with herself； than one for giving preference
to another woman。 Coragio then； my brave guest！ for if thou
layest a petition from Sir Hugh at the foot of the throne；
bucklered by the story of thine own wrongs； the favourite Earl
dared as soon leap into the Thames at the fullest and deepest； as
offer to protect Varney in a cause of this nature。 But to do
this with any chance of success； you must go formally to work；
and； without staying here to tilt with the master of horse to a
privy councillor； and expose yourself to the dagger of his
cameradoes； you should hie you to Devonshire； get a petition
drawn up for Sir Hugh Robsart； and make as many friends as you
can to forward your interest at court。〃
〃You have spoken well； mine host；〃 said Tressilian； 〃and I will
profit by your advice； and leave you to…morrow early。〃
〃Nay； leave me to…night； sir； before to…morrow comes；〃 said he
landlord。 〃I never prayed for a guest's arrival more eagerly
than I do to have you safely gone； My kinsman's destiny is most
like to be hanged for something； but I would not that the cause
were the murder of an honoured guest of mine。 'Better ride safe
in the dark；' says the proverb； 'than in daylight with a cut…
throat at your elbow。' Come； sir； I move you for your own safety。
Your horse and all is ready； and here is your score。〃
〃It is somewhat under a noble；〃 said Tressilian； giving one to
the host； 〃give the balance to pretty Cicely； your daughter； and
the servants of the house。〃
〃They shall taste of your bounty； sir；〃 said Gosling； 〃and you
should taste of my daughter's lips in grateful acknowledgment；
but at this hour she cannot grace the porch to greet your
departure。〃
〃Do not trust your daughter too far with your guests； my good
landlord；〃 said Tressilian。
〃Oh； sir； we will keep measure； but I wond