was subjected。 Nor is there reason to suppose that anything
short of the dreadful suspicions which the scene of that evening
had excited could have induced Janet to violate her word or
deceive her father's confidence。 But from what she had
witnessed； she now conceived herself not only justified； but
imperatively called upon； to make her lady's safety the principal
object of her care； setting all other considerations aside。
The fugitive Countess with her guide traversed with hasty steps
the broken and interrupted path； which had once been an avenue；
now totally darkened by the boughs of spreading trees which met
above their head； and now receiving a doubtful and deceiving
light from the beams of the moon； which penetrated where the axe
had made openings in the wood。 Their path was repeatedly
interrupted by felled trees； or the large boughs which had been
left on the ground till time served to make them into fagots and
billets。 The inconvenience and difficulty attending these
interruptions； the breathless haste of the first part of their
route； the exhausting sensations of hope and fear； so much
affected the Countess's strength； that Janet was forced to
propose that they should pause for a few minutes to recover
breath and spirits。 Both therefore stood still beneath the
shadow of a huge old gnarled oak…tree； and both naturally looked
back to the mansion which they had left behind them； whose long；
dark front was seen in the gloomy distance； with its huge stacks
of chimneys； turrets； and clock…house； rising above the line of
the roof； and definedly visible against the pure azure blue of
the summer sky。 One light only twinkled from the extended and
shadowy mass； and it was placed so low that it rather seemed to
glimmer from the ground in front of the mansion than from one of
the windows。 The Countess's terror was awakened。 〃They follow
us！〃 she said； pointing out to Janet the light which thus
alarmed her。
Less agitated than her mistress； Janet perceived that the gleam
was stationary； and informed the Countess； in a whisper； that the
light proceeded from the solitary cell in which the alchemist
pursued his occult experiments。 〃He is of those；〃 she added；
〃who sit up and watch by night that they may commit iniquity。
Evil was the chance which sent hither a man whose mixed speech of
earthly wealth and unearthly or superhuman knowledge hath in it
what does so especially captivate my poor father。 Well spoke the
good Master Holdforthand； methought； not without meaning that
those of our household should find therein a practical use。
'There be those；' he said； 'and their number is legion； who will
rather； like the wicked Ahab； listen to the dreams of the false
prophet Zedekiah； than to the words of him by whom the Lord has
spoken。' And he further insisted'Ah； my brethren； there be many
Zedekiahs among youmen that promise you the light of their
carnal knowledge； so you will surrender to them that of your
heavenly understanding。 What are they better than the tyrant
Naas； who demanded the right eye of those who were subjected to
him？' And further he insisted〃
It is uncertain how long the fair Puritan's memory might have
supported her in the recapitulation of Master Holdforth's
discourse； but the Countess now interrupted her； and assured her
she was so much recovered that she could now reach the postern
without the necessity of a second delay。
They set out accordingly； and performed the second part of their
journey with more deliberation； and of course more easily； than
the first hasty commencement。 This gave them leisure for
reflection； and Janet now； for the first time； ventured to ask
her lady which way she proposed to direct her flight。 Receiving
no immediate answerfor； perhaps； in the confusion of her mind
this very obvious subject of deliberation had not occurred to the
Countess…Janet ventured to add； 〃Probably to your father's
house； where you are sure of safety and protection？〃
〃No； Janet；〃 said the lady mournfully； 〃I left Lidcote Hall while
my heart was light and my name was honourable； and I will not
return thither till my lord's permission and public
acknowledgment of our marriage restore me to my native home with
all the rank and honour which he has bestowed on me。〃
〃And whither will you； then； madam？〃 said Janet。
〃To Kenilworth； girl；〃 said the Countess； boldly and freely。 〃I
will see these revelsthese princely revelsthe preparation for
which makes the land ring from side to side。 Methinks； when the
Queen of England feasts within my husband's halls； the Countess
of Leicester should be no unbeseeming guest。〃
〃I pray God you may be a welcome one！〃 said Janet hastily。
〃You abuse my situation； Janet；〃 said the Countess； angrily； 〃and
you forget your own。〃
〃I do neither； dearest madam；〃 said the sorrowful maiden； 〃but
have you forgotten that the noble Earl has given such strict
charges to keep your marriage secret； that he may preserve his
court…favour？ and can you think that your sudden appearance at
his castle； at such a juncture； and in such a presence； will be
acceptable to him？〃
〃Thou thinkest I would disgrace him；〃 said the Countess； 〃nay；
let go my arm； I can walk without aid and work without counsel。〃
〃Be not angry with me； lady；〃 said Janet meekly； 〃and let me
still support you； the road is rough； and you are little
accustomed to walk in darkness。〃
〃If you deem me not so mean as may disgrace my husband；〃 said the
Countess； in the same resentful tone； 〃you suppose my Lord of
Leicester capable of abetting； perhaps of giving aim and
authority to； the base proceedings of your father and Varney；
whose errand I will do to the good Earl。〃
〃For God's sake； madam； spare my father in your report；〃 said
Janet； 〃let my services； however poor； be some atonement for his
errors！〃
〃I were most unjust； dearest Janet； were it otherwise；〃 said the
Countess； resuming at once the fondness and confidence of her
manner towards her faithful attendant； 〃No； Janet； not a word of
mine shall do your father prejudice。 But thou seest； my love； I
have no desire but to throw my self on my husband's protection。
I have left the abode he assigned for me； because of the villainy
of the persons by whom I was surrounded； but I will disobey his
commands in no other particular。 I will appeal to him aloneI
will be protected by him alone； to no other； than at his
pleasure； have I or will I communicate the secret union which
combines our hearts and our destinies。 I will see him； and
receive from his own lips the directions for my future conduct。
Do not argue against my resolution； Janet； you will only confirm
me in it。 And to own the truth； I am resolved to know my fate at
once； and from my husband's own mouth； and to seek him at
Kenilworth is the surest way to attain my purpose。〃
While Janet hastily revolved in her mind the difficulties and
uncertainties attendant on the unfortunate lady's situation； she
was inclined to alter her first opinion； and to think； upon the
whole； that since the Countess had withdrawn herself from the
retreat in which she had been placed by her husband； it was her
first duty to repair to his presence； and possess him with the
reasons for such conduct。 She knew what importance the Earl
attached to the concealment of their marriage； and could not but
own； that by taking any step to make it public without his
permission； the Countess would incur； in a high degree； the
indignation of her husband。 If she retired to her father's house
without an explicit avowal of her rank； her situation was likely
greatly to prejudice her character； and if she made such an
avowal； it might occasion an irreconcilable breach with her
husband。 At Kenilworth； again； she might plead her cause with
her husband himself； whom Janet； though distrusting him more than
the Countess did； believed incapable of being accessory to the
base and desperate means which his dependants； from whose power
the lady was now escaping； might resort to； in order to stifle
her complaints of the treatment she had received at their hands。
But at the worst； and were the Earl himself to deny her justice
and protection； still at Kenilworth； if she chose to make her
wrongs public； the Countess might have Tressilian for her
advocate； and the Queen for her judge； for so much Janet had
learned in her short conference with Wayland。 She was；
therefore； on the whole； reconciled to her lady's proposal of
going towards Kenilworth； and so expressed herself； recommending；
however； to the Countess the utmost caution in making her arrival
known to her husband；
〃Hast thou thyself been cautious； Janet？〃 said the Countess；
〃this guide； in whom I must put my confidence； hast thou not
entrusted to him the secret of my condition？〃
〃From me he has learned nothing；〃 said Janet； 〃nor do I think
that he knows more than what the public in general believe of
your situation。〃
〃And what is that？〃 said the lady。
〃That you left your father's housebut I shall offend you again
if I go on；〃 said Janet； interrupting herself。
〃Nay； go on；〃 said the Countess； 〃I must learn to endure the evil
report which my folly has broug