dress； and the withering effects of fear； grief； and fatigue；
which would have impaired the beauty of others； rendered hers but
the more interesting。 He received and repaid her caresses with
fondness mingled with melancholy； the last of which she seemed
scarcely to observe； until the first transport of her own joy was
over； when； looking anxiously in his face； she asked if he was
ill。
〃Not in my body； Amy；〃 was his answer。
〃Then I will be well too。 O Dudley！ I have been ill！very ill；
since we last met！for I call not this morning's horrible vision
a meeting。 I have been in sickness； in grief； and in danger。
But thou art come； and all is joy； and health； and safety！〃
〃Alas； Amy；〃 said Leicester； 〃thou hast undone me！〃
〃I； my lord？〃 said Amy； her cheek at once losing its transient
flush of joy〃how could I injure that which I love better than
myself？〃
〃I would not upbraid you； Amy；〃 replied the Earl； 〃but are you
not here contrary to my express commandsand does not your
presence here endanger both yourself and me？〃
〃Does it； does it indeed？〃 she exclaimed eagerly； 〃then why am I
here a moment longer？ Oh； if you knew by what fears I was urged
to quit Cumnor Place！ But I will say nothing of myselfonly
that if it might be otherwise； I would not willingly return
THITHER； yet if it concern your safety〃
〃We will think； Amy； of some other retreat；〃 said Leicester； 〃and
you shall go to one of my northern castles； under the personage
it will be but needful； I trust； for a very few daysof Varney's
wife。〃
〃How； my Lord of Leicester！〃 said the lady； disengaging herself
from his embraces； 〃is it to your wife you give the dishonourable
counsel to acknowledge herself the bride of anotherand of all
men； the bride of that Varney？〃
〃Madam； I speak it in earnestVarney is my true and faithful
servant； trusted in my deepest secrets。 I had better lose my
right hand than his service at this moment。 You have no cause to
scorn him as you do。〃
〃I could assign one； my lord；〃 replied the Countess； 〃and I see
he shakes even under that assured look of his。 But he that is
necessary as your right hand to your safety is free from any
accusation of mine。 May he be true to you； and that he may be
true； trust him not too much or too far。 But it is enough to say
that I will not go with him unless by violence； nor would I
acknowledge him as my husband were all〃
〃It is a temporary deception； madam；〃 said Leicester； irritated
by her opposition； 〃necessary for both our safeties； endangered
by you through female caprice； or the premature desire to seize
on a rank to which I gave you title only under condition that our
marriage； for a time； should continue secret。 If my proposal
disgust you； it is yourself has brought it on both of us。 There
is no other remedyyou must do what your own impatient folly
hath rendered necessaryI command you。〃
〃I cannot put your commands； my lord；〃 said Amy； 〃in balance with
those of honour and conscience。 I will NOT； in this instance；
obey you。 You may achieve your own dishonour； to which these
crooked policies naturally tend； but I will do nought that can
blemish mine。 How could you again； my lord； acknowledge me as a
pure and chaste matron； worthy to share your fortunes； when；
holding that high character； I had strolled the country the
acknowledged wife of such a profligate fellow as your servant
Varney？〃
〃My lord；〃 said Varney interposing； 〃my lady is too much
prejudiced against me； unhappily； to listen to what I can offer；
yet it may please her better than what she proposes。 She has
good interest with Master Edmund Tressilian； and could doubtless
prevail on him to consent to be her companion to Lidcote Hall；
and there she might remain in safety until time permitted the
development of this mystery。〃
Leicester was silent； but stood looking eagerly on Amy； with eyes
which seemed suddenly to glow as much with suspicion as
displeasure。
The Countess only said； 〃Would to God I were in my father's
house！ When I left it； I little thought I was leaving peace of
mind and honour behind me。〃
Varney proceeded with a tone of deliberation。 〃Doubtless this
will make it necessary to take strangers into my lord's counsels；
but surely the Countess will be warrant for the honour of Master
Tressilian； and such of her father's family〃
〃Peace； Varney；〃 said Leicester； 〃by Heaven I will strike my
dagger into thee if again thou namest Tressilian as a partner of
my counsels！〃
〃And wherefore not！〃 said the Countess； 〃unless they be counsels
fitter for such as Varney； than for a man of stainless honour and
integrity。 My lord； my lord； bend no angry brows on me； it is
the truth； and it is I who speak it。 I once did Tressilian wrong
for your sake； I will not do him the further injustice of being
silent when his honour is brought in question。 I can forbear；〃
she said； looking at Varney； 〃to pull the mask off hypocrisy； but
I will not permit virtue to be slandered in my hearing。〃
There was a dead pause。 Leicester stood displeased； yet
undetermined； and too conscious of the weakness of his cause；
while Varney； with a deep and hypocritical affectation of sorrow；
mingled with humility； bent his eyes on the ground。
It was then that the Countess Amy displayed； in the midst of
distress and difficulty； the natural energy of character which
would have rendered her； had fate allowed； a distinguished
ornament of the rank which she held。 She walked up to Leicester
with a composed step； a dignified air； and looks in which strong
affection essayed in vain to shake the firmness of conscious；
truth and rectitude of principle。 〃You have spoken your mind； my
lord；〃 she said； 〃in these difficulties； with which； unhappily； I
have found myself unable to comply。 This gentlemanthis person
I would sayhas hinted at another scheme； to which I object not
but as it displeases you。 Will your lordship be pleased to hear
what a young and timid woman； but your most affectionate wife；
can suggest in the present extremity？〃
Leicester was silent； but bent his head towards the Countess； as
an intimation that she was at liberty to proceed。
〃There hath been but one cause for all these evils； my lord；〃 she
proceeded； 〃and it resolves itself into the mysterious duplicity
with which you； have been induced to surround yourself。
Extricate yourself at once； my lord； from the tyranny of these
disgraceful trammels。 Be like a true English gentleman； knight；
and earl； who holds that truth is the foundation of honour； and
that honour is dear to him as the breath of his nostrils。 Take
your ill…fated wife by the hand； lead her to the footstool of
Elizabeth's thronesay that in a moment of infatuation； moved by
supposed beauty； of which none perhaps can now trace even the
remains； I gave my hand to this Amy Robsart。 You will then have
done justice to me； my lord； and to your own honour and should
law or power require you to part from me； I will oppose no
objection； since I may then with honour hide a grieved and broken
heart in those shades from which your love withdrew me。 Then
have but a little patience； and Amy's life will not long darken
your brighter prospects。〃
There was so much of dignity； so much of tenderness； in the
Countess's remonstrance； that it moved all that was noble and
generous in the soul of her husband。 The scales seemed to fall
from his eyes； and the duplicity and tergiversation of which he
had been guilty stung him at once with remorse and shame。
〃I am not worthy of you； Amy；〃 he said； 〃that could weigh aught
which ambition has to give against such a heart as thine。 I have
a bitter penance to perform； in disentangling； before sneering
foes and astounded friends； all the meshes of my own deceitful
policy。 And the Queenbut let her take my head； as she has
threatened。〃
〃Take your head； my lord！〃 said the Countess； 〃because you used
the freedom and liberty of an English subject in choosing a wife？
For shame！ it is this distrust of the Queen's justice； this
apprehension of danger； which cannot but be imaginary； that； like
scarecrows； have induced you to forsake the straightforward path；
which； as it is the best； is also the safest。〃
〃Ah； Amy； thou little knowest！〃 said Dudley but instantly
checking himself； he added； 〃Yet she shall not find in me a safe
or easy victim of arbitrary vengeance。 I have friendsI have
alliesI will not； like Norfolk； be dragged to the block as a
victim to sacrifice。 Fear not； Amy； thou shalt see Dudley bear
himself worthy of his name。 I must instantly communicate with
some of those friends on whom I can best rely； for； as things
stand； I may be made prisoner in my own Castle。〃
〃Oh； my good lord；〃 said Amy； 〃make no faction in a peaceful
state！ There is no friend can help us so well as our own candid
truth and honour。 Bring but these to our assistance； and you are
safe amidst a whole army of the envious and malignant。 Leave
these behind you； and all other defence will be fruitless。
Truth； my noble lord； is well painted unarmed。〃
〃But Wisdom； Amy；〃 answered Leicester； is arrayed in panoply of
proof。 Argue not with me on the means I shall us