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； have you done to her？〃 said Foster
to his friend。
〃Who； I？nothing；〃 answered Varney； but with sunken head and
sullen voice； 〃nothing but communicated to her her lord's
commands； which； if the lady list not to obey； she knows better
how to answer it than I may pretend to do。〃
〃Now； by Heaven； Janet！〃 said the Countess； 〃the false traitor
lies in his throat！ He must needs lie； for he speaks to the
dishonour of my noble lord； he must needs lie doubly； for he
speaks to gain ends of his own； equally execrable and
unattainable。〃
〃You have misapprehended me； lady；〃 said Varney； with a sulky
species of submission and apology； 〃let this matter rest till
your passion be abated； and I will explain all。〃
〃Thou shalt never have an opportunity to do so；〃 said the
Countess。〃Look at him； Janet。 He is fairly dressed； hath the
outside of a gentleman； and hither he came to persuade me it was
my lord's pleasurenay； more； my wedded lord's commandsthat I
should go with him to Kenilworth； and before the Queen and
nobles； and in presence of my own wedded lord； that I should
acknowledge himHIM therethat very cloak…brushing； shoe…
cleaning fellowHIM there； my lord's lackey； for my liege lord
and husband； furnishing against myself； Great God！ whenever I
was to vindicate my right and my rank； such weapons as would hew
my just claim from the root； and destroy my character to be
regarded as an honourable matron of the English nobility！〃
〃You hear her； Foster； and you； young maiden； hear this lady；〃
answered Varney； taking advantage of the pause which the Countess
had made in her charge； more for lack of breath than for lack of
matter〃you hear that her heat only objects to me the course
which our good lord； for the purpose to keep certain matters
secret； suggests in the very letter which she holds in her
hands。〃
Foster here attempted to interfere with a face of authority；
which he thought became the charge entrusted to him； 〃Nay； lady；
I must needs say you are over…h