Tressilian； while； looking on her with mingled grief and pity； he
said； 〃Alas！ Amy； your eyes contradict your tongue。 That
speaks of a protector； willing and able to watch over you； but
these tell me you are ruined； and deserted by the wretch to whom
you have attached yourself。〃
She looked on him with eyes in which anger sparkled through her
tears； but only repeated the word 〃wretch！〃 with a scornful
emphasis。
〃Yes； WRETCH！〃 said Tressilian； 〃for were he aught better； why
are you here； and alone； in my apartment？ why was not fitting
provision made for your honourable reception？〃
〃In your apartment？〃 repeated Amy〃in YOUR apartment？ It shall
instantly be relieved of my presence。〃 She hastened towards the
door； but the sad recollection of her deserted state at once
pressed on her mind； and pausing on the threshold； she added； in
a tone unutterably pathetic； 〃Alas！ I had forgotI know not
where to go〃
〃I seeI see it all；〃 said Tressilian； springing to her side；
and leading her back to the seat； on which she sunk down。 〃You
DO need aidyou do need protection； though you will not own it；
and you shall not need it long。 Leaning on my arm； as the
representative of your excellent and broken…hearted father； on
the very threshold of the Castle gate； you shall meet Elizabeth；
and the first deed she shall do in the halls of Kenilworth shall
be an act of justice to her sex and her subjects。 Strong in my
good cause； and in the Queen's justice； the power of her minion
shall not shake my resolution。 I will instantly seek Sussex。〃
〃Not for all that is under heaven！〃 said the Countess； much
alarmed； and feeling the absolute necessity of obtaining time； at
least； for consideration。 〃Tressilian； you were wont to be
generous。 Grant me one request； and believe； if it be your wish
to save me from misery and from madness； you will do more by
making me the promise I ask of you； than Elizabeth can do for me
with all her power。〃
〃Ask me anything for which you can allege reason；〃 said
Tressilian； 〃but demand not of me〃
〃Oh； limit not your boon； dear Edmund！〃 exclaimed the Countess
〃you once loved that I should call you solimit not your boon
to reason； for my case is all madness； and frenzy must guide the
counsels which alone can aid me。〃
〃If you speak thus wildly；〃 said Tressilian； astonishment again
overpowering both his grief and his resolution； 〃I must believe
you indeed incapable of thinking or acting for yourself。〃
〃Oh； no！〃 she exclaimed； sinking on one knee before him； 〃I am
not madI am but a creature unutterably miserable； and； from
circumstances the most singular； dragged on to a precipice by the
arm of him who thinks he is keeping me from iteven by yours；
Tressilianby yours； whom I have honoured； respectedall but
lovedand yet loved； tooloved； too； Tressilianthough not as
you wished to be。〃
There was an energy； a self…possession； an abandonment in her
voice and manner； a total resignation of herself to his
generosity； which； together with the kindness of her expressions
to himself； moved him deeply。 He raised her； and； in broken
accents； entreated her to be comforted。
〃I cannot；〃 she said； 〃I will not be comforted； till you grant me
my request！ I will speak as plainly as I dare。 I am now
awaiting the commands of one who has a right to issue them。 The
interference of a third personof you in especial； Tressilian
will be ruinutter ruin to me。 Wait but four…and…twenty hours；
and it may be that the poor Amy may have the means to show that
she values； and can reward； your disinterested friendshipthat
she is happy herself； and has the means to make you so。 It is
surely worth your patience； for so short a space？〃
Tressilian paused； and weighing in his mind the various
probabilities which might render a violent interference on his
part more prejudicial than advantageous； both to the happiness
and reputation of Amy； considering also that she was within the
walls of Kenilworth； and could suffer no injury in a castle
honoured with the Queen's residence； and filled with her guards
and attendantshe conceived； upon the whole； that he might
render her more evil than good service by intruding upon her his
appeal to Elizabeth in her behalf。 He expressed his resolution
cautiously； however； doubting naturally whether Amy's hopes of
extricating herself from her difficulties rested on anything
stronger than a blinded attachment to Varney； whom he supposed to
be her seducer。
〃Amy；〃 he said； while he fixed his sad and expressive eyes on
hers； which； in her ecstasy of doubt； terror； and perplexity； she
cast up towards him； 〃I have ever remarked that when others
called thee girlish and wilful； there lay under that external
semblance of youthful and self…willed folly deep feeling and
strong sense。 In this I will confide； trusting your own fate in
your own hands for the space of twenty…four hours； without my
interference by word or act。〃
〃Do you promise me this； Tressilian？〃 said the Countess。 〃Is it
possible you can yet repose so much confidence in me？ Do you
promise； as you are a gentleman and a man of honour； to intrude
in my matters neither by speech nor action； whatever you may see
or hear that seems to you to demand your interference？ Will you
so far trust me？〃
〃I will upon my honour；〃 said Tressilian； 〃but when that space is
expired〃
〃Then that space is expired；〃 she said； interrupting him； 〃you
are free to act as your judgment shall determine。〃
〃Is there nought besides which I can do for you； Amy？〃 said
Tressilian。
〃Nothing；〃 said she； 〃save to leave me；that is； ifI blush to
acknowledge my helplessness by asking itif you can spare me the
use of this apartment for the next twenty…four hours。〃
〃This is most wonderful！〃 said Tressilian； 〃what hope or
interest can you have in a Castle where you cannot command even
an apartment？〃
〃Argue not； but leave me；〃 she said； and added； as he slowly and
unwillingly retired； 〃Generous Edmund！ the time may come when
Amy may show she deserved thy noble attachment。〃
CHAPTER XXVIII。
What； man； ne'er lack a draught； when the full can
Stands at thine elbow； and craves emptying！
Nay； fear not me； for I have no delight
To watch men's vices； since I have myself
Of virtue nought to boast ofI'm a striker；
Would have the world strike with me； pell…mell； all。
PANDEMONIUM。
Tressilian； in strange agitation of mind； had hardly stepped down
the first two or three steps of the winding staircase； when；
greatly to his surprise and displeasure； he met Michael
Lambourne； wearing an impudent familiarity of visage； for which
Tressilian felt much disposed to throw him down…stairs； until he
remembered the prejudice which Amy； the only object of his
solicitude； was likely to receive from his engaging in any act of
violence at that time and in that place。
He therefore contented himself with looking sternly upon
Lambourne； as upon one whom he deemed unworthy of notice； and
attempted to pass him in his way downstairs； without any symptom
of recognition。 But Lambourne； who； amidst the profusion of that
day's hospitality； had not failed to take a deep though not an
overpowering cup of sack； was not in the humour of humbling
himself before any man's looks。 He stopped Tressilian upon the
staircase without the least bashfulness or embarrassment； and
addressed him as if he had been on kind and intimate terms：
〃What； no grudge between us； I hope； upon old scores； Master
Tressilian？nay； I am one who remembers former kindness rather
than latter feud。 I'll convince you that I meant honestly and
kindly； ay； and comfortably by you。〃
〃I desire none of your intimacy；〃 said Tressilian〃keep company
with your mates。〃
〃Now； see how hasty he is！〃 said Lambourne； 〃and how these
gentles； that are made questionless out of the porcelain clay of
the earth； look down upon poor Michael Lambourne！ You would take
Master Tressilian now for the most maid…like； modest； simpering
squire of dames that ever made love when candles were long i' the
stuffsnuff； call you it？ Why； you would play the saint on us；
Master Tressilian； and forget that even now thou hast a commodity
in thy very bedchamber； to the shame of my lord's castle； ha！
ha！ ha！ Have I touched you； Master Tressilian？〃
〃I know not what you mean；〃 said Tressilian； inferring； however；
too surely； that this licentious ruffian must have been sensible
of Amy's presence in his apartment； 'i but if；〃 he continued；
〃thou art varlet of the chambers； and lackest a fee； there is one
to leave mine unmolested。〃
Lambourne looked at the piece of gold； and put it in his pocket
saying； 〃Now； I know not but you might have done more with me by
a kind word than by this chiming rogue。 But after all he pays
well that pays with gold； and Mike Lambourne was never a
makebate； or a spoil…sport； or the like。 E'en live； and let
others live； that is my motto…only； I would not let some folks
cock their beaver at me neither； as if they were made of silver
ore； and I of Dutch pewter。 So if I keep your secret； Master
Tressilian； you may look sweet on me at least； and