which I will defy that peevish divine to confute； though he
should strive with me as the magicians strove with Moses before
King Pharaoh。 I will do projection in thy presence； my son；in
thy very presenceand thine eyes shall witness the truth。〃
〃Stick to that； learned sage；〃 said Varney； who at this moment
entered the apartment； 〃if he refuse the testimony of thy tongue；
yet how shall he deny that of his own eyes？〃
〃Varney！〃 said the adept〃Varney already returned！ Hast thou
〃 he stopped short。
〃Have I done mine errand； thou wouldst say？〃 replied Varney。 〃I
have！ And thou；〃 he added； showing more symptoms of interest
than he had hitherto exhibited； 〃art thou sure thou hast poured
forth neither more nor less than the just measure？〃
〃Ay；〃 replied the alchemist； 〃as sure as men can be in these nice
proportions； for there is diversity of constitutions。〃
〃Nay； then；〃 said Varney； 〃I fear nothing。 I know thou wilt not
go a step farther to the devil than thou art justly considered
forthou wert paid to create illness； and wouldst esteem it
thriftless prodigality to do murder at the same price。 Come； let
us each to our chamber we shall see the event to…morrow。〃
〃What didst thou do to make her swallow it？〃 said Foster；
shuddering。
〃Nothing；〃 answered Varney； 〃but looked on her with that aspect
which governs madmen； women； and children。 They told me in St。
Luke's Hospital that I have the right look for overpowering a
refractory patient。 The keepers made me their compliments on't；
so I know how to win my bread when my court…favour fails me。〃
〃And art thou not afraid；〃 said Foster； 〃lest the dose be
disproportioned？〃
〃If so；〃 replied Varney； 〃she will but sleep the sounder； and the
fear of that shall not break my rest。 Good night； my masters。〃
Anthony Foster groaned heavily； and lifted up his hands and eyes。
The alchemist intimated his purpose to continue some experiment
of high import during the greater part of the night； and the
others separated to their places of repose。
CHAPTER XXIII。
Now God be good to me in this wild pilgrimage！
All hope in human aid I cast behind me。
Oh； who would be a woman？who that fool；
A weeping； pining； faithful； loving woman？
She hath hard measure still where she hopes kindest；
And all her bounties only make ingrates。 LOVE'S PILGRIMAGE。
The summer evening was closed； and Janet； just when her longer
stay might have occasioned suspicion and inquiry in that zealous
household； returned to Cumnor Place； and hastened to the
apartment in which she had left her lady。 She found her with her
head resting on her arms； and these crossed upon a table which
stood before her。 As Janet came in； she neither looked up nor
stirred。
Her faithful attendant ran to her mistress with the speed of
lightning； and rousing her at the same time with her hand；
conjured the Countess； in the most earnest manner； to look up and
say what thus affected her。 The unhappy lady raised her head
accordingly； and looking on her attendant with a ghastly eye； and
cheek as pale as clay〃Janet；〃 she said； 〃I have drunk it。〃
〃God be praised！〃 said Janet hastily〃I mean； God be praised
that it is no worse； the potion will not harm you。 Rise； shake
this lethargy from your limbs； and this despair from your mind。〃
〃Janet；〃 repeated the Countess again； 〃disturb me notleave me
at peacelet life pass quietly。 I am poisoned。〃
〃You are not； my dearest lady；〃 answered the maiden eagerly。
〃What you have swallowed cannot injure you； for the antidote has
been taken before it； and I hastened hither to tell you that the
means of escape are open to you。〃
〃Escape！〃 exclaimed the lady； as she raised herself hastily in
her chair； while light returned to her eye and life to her cheek；
〃but ah！ Janet； it comes too late。〃
〃Not so； dearest lady。 Rise； take mine arm； walk through the
apartment； let not fancy do the work of poison！ So； feel you not
now that you are possessed of the full use of your limbs？〃
〃The torpor seems to diminish；〃 said the Countess； as； supported
by Janet； she walked to and fro in the apartment； 〃but is it then
so； and have I not swallowed a deadly draught？ Varney was here
since thou wert gone； and commanded me； with eyes in which I read
my fate； to swallow yon horrible drug。 O Janet！ it must be
fatal； never was harmless draught served by such a cup…bearer！〃
〃He did not deem it harmless； I fear；〃 replied the maiden； 〃but
God confounds the devices of the wicked。 Believe me； as I swear
by the dear Gospel in which we trust； your life is safe from his
practice。 Did you not debate with him？〃
〃The house was silent；〃 answered the lady〃thou goneno other
but he in the chamberand he capable of every crime。 I did but
stipulate he would remove his hateful presence； and I drank
whatever he offered。But you spoke of escape； Janet； can I be so
happy？〃
〃Are you strong enough to bear the tidings； and make the effort？〃
said the maiden。
〃Strong！〃 answered the Countess。 〃Ask the hind； when the fangs
of the deerhound are stretched to gripe her； if she is strong
enough to spring over a chasm。 I am equal to every effort that
may relieve me from this place。〃
〃Hear me； then；〃 said Janet。 〃One whom I deem an assured friend
of yours has shown himself to me in various disguises； and sought
speech of me； whichfor my mind was not clear on the matter
until this eveningI have ever declined。 He was the pedlar who
brought you goodsthe itinerant hawker who sold me books；
whenever I stirred abroad I was sure to see him。 The event of
this night determined me to speak with him。 He awaits even now
at the postern gate of the park with means for your flight。But
have you strength of body？have you courage of mind？can you
undertake the enterprise？〃
〃She that flies from death；〃 said the lady； 〃finds strength of
bodyshe that would escape from shame lacks no strength of mind。
The thoughts of leaving behind me the villain who menaces both my
life and honour would give me strength to rise from my deathbed。〃
〃In God's name； then； lady；〃 said Janet； 〃I must bid you adieu；
and to God's charge I must commit you！〃
〃Will you not fly with me； then； Janet？〃 said the Countess；
anxiously。 〃Am I to lose thee？ Is this thy faithful service？〃
〃Lady； I would fly with you as willingly as bird ever fled from
cage； but my doing so would occasion instant discovery and
pursuit。 I must remain； and use means to disguise the truth for
some time。 May Heaven pardon the falsehood； because of the
necessity！〃
〃And am I then to travel alone with this stranger？〃 said the
lady。 〃Bethink thee； Janet； may not this prove some deeper and
darker scheme to separate me perhaps from you； who are my only
friend？〃
〃No； madam； do not suppose it；〃 answered Janet readily； 〃the
youth is an honest youth in his purpose to you； and a friend to
Master Tressilian； under whose direction he is come hither。〃
〃If he be a friend of Tressilian；〃 said the Countess； 〃I will
commit myself to his charge as to that of an angel sent from
heaven； for than Tressilian never breathed mortal man more free
of whatever was base； false； or selfish。 He forgot himself
whenever he could be of use to others。 Alas！ and how was he
requited？〃
With eager haste they collected the few necessaries which it was
thought proper the Countess should take with her； and which
Janet； with speed and dexterity； formed into a small bundle； not
forgetting to add such ornaments of intrinsic value as came most
readily in her way； and particularly a casket of jewels； which
she wisely judged might prove of service in some future
emergency。 The Countess of Leicester next changed her dress for
one which Janet usually wore upon any brief journey； for they
judged it necessary to avoid every external distinction which
might attract attention。 Ere these preparations were fully made；
the moon had arisen in the summer heaven； and all in the mansion
had betaken themselves to rest； or at least to the silence and
retirement of their chambers。
There was no difficulty anticipated in escaping； whether from the
house or garden； provided only they could elude observation。
Anthony Foster had accustomed himself to consider his daughter as
a conscious sinner might regard a visible guardian angel； which；
notwithstanding his guilt； continued to hover around him； and
therefore his trust in her knew no bounds。 Janet commanded her
own motions during the daytime； and had a master…key which opened
the postern door of the park； so that she could go to the village
at pleasure； either upon the household affairs； which were
entirely confided to her management； or to attend her devotions
at the meeting…house of her sect。 It is true the daughter of
Foster was thus liberally entrusted under the solemn condition
that she should not avail herself of these privileges to do
anything inconsistent with the safe…keeping of the Countess； for
so her residence at Cumnor Place had been termed； since she began
of late to exhibit impatience of the restrictions to which she
was subjected。 Nor is there reason to suppose that anything
short of the dreadful suspicions which the