按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
moonstruck； moping enthusiast； like Edmund Tressilian； from her
lowly fates； and held out to her in prospect the brightest
fortune in England； or perchance in Europe？ Why； man； it was I
as I have often told theethat found opportunity for their
secret meetings。 It was I who watched the wood while he beat for
the deer。 It was I who； to this day； am blamed by her family as
the companion of her flight； and were I in their neighbourhood；
would be fain to wear a shirt of better stuff than Holland linen；
lest my ribs should be acquainted with Spanish steel。 Who
carried their letters？I。 Who amused the old knight and
Tressilian？I。 Who planned her escape？it was I。 It was I； in
short； Dick Varney； who pulled this pretty little daisy from its
lowly nook； and placed it in the proudest bonnet in Britain。〃
〃Ay； Master Varney；〃 said Foster； 〃but it may be she thinks that
had the matter remained with you； the flower had been stuck so
slightly into the cap； that the first breath of a changeable
breeze of passion had blown the poor daisy to the common。〃
〃She should consider；〃 said Varney； smiling； 〃the true faith I
owed my lord and master prevented me at first from counselling
marriage； and yet I did counsel marriage when I saw she would not
be satisfied without thethe sacrament； or the ceremonywhich
callest thou it； Anthony？〃
〃Still she has you at feud on another score；〃 said Foster； 〃and I
tell it you that you may look to yourself in time。 She would not
hide her splendour in this dark lantern of an old monastic house；
but would fain shine a countess amongst countesses。〃
〃Very natural； very right；〃 answered Varney； 〃but what have I to
do with that？she may shine through horn or through crystal at
my lord's pleasure； I have nought to say against it。〃
〃She deems that you have an oar upon that side of the boat；
Master Varney；〃 replied Foster； 〃and that you can pull it or no；
at your good pleasure。 In a word； she ascribes the secrecy and
obscurity in which she is kept to your secret counsel to my lord；
and to my strict agency； and so she loves us both as a sentenced
man loves his judge and his jailor。〃
〃She must love us better ere she leave this place； Anthony；〃
answered Varney。 〃If I have counselled for weighty reasons that
she remain here for a season； I can also advise her being brought
forth in the full blow of her dignity。 But I were mad to do so；
holding so near a place to my lord's person； were she mine enemy。
Bear this truth in upon her as occasion offers； Anthony； and let
me alone for extolling you in her ear； and exalting you in her
opinionKA ME； KA THEEit is a proverb all over the world。 The
lady must know her friends； and be made to judge of the power
they have of being her enemies； meanwhile； watch her strictly；
but with all the outward observance that thy rough nature will
permit。 'Tis an excellent thing that sullen look and bull…dog
humour of thine； thou shouldst thank God for it； and so should my
lord； for when there is aught harsh or hard…natured to be done；
thou dost it as if it flowed from thine own natural doggedness；
and not from orders； and so my lord escapes the scandal。But；
harksome one knocks at the gate。 Look out at the windowlet
no one enterthis were an ill night to be interrupted。〃
〃It is he whom we spoke of before dinner；〃 said Foster； as he
looked through the casement； 〃it is Michael Lambourne。〃
〃Oh； admit him； by all means；〃 said the courtier； 〃he comes to
give some account of his guest； it imports us much to know the
movements of Edmund Tressilian。Admit him； I say； but bring him
not hither； I will come to you presently in the Abbot's library。〃
Foster left the room； and the courtier； who remained behind；
paced the parlour more than once in deep thought； his arms folded
on his bosom； until at length he gave vent to his meditations in
broken words； which we have somewhat enlarged and connected； that
his soliloquy may be intelligible to the reader。
〃'Tis true；〃 he said； suddenly stopping； and resting his right
hand on the table at which they had been sitting； 〃this base
churl hath fathomed the very depth of my fear； and I have been
unable to disguise it from him。 She loves me notI would it
were as true that I loved not her！ Idiot that I was； to move her
in my own behalf； when wisdom bade me be a true broker to my
lord！ And this fatal error has placed me more at her discretion
than a wise man would willingly be at that of the best piece of
painted Eve's flesh of them all。 Since the hour that my policy
made so perilous a slip； I cannot look at her without fear； and
hate； and fondness； so strangely mingled； that I know not
whether； were it at my choice； I would rather possess or ruin
her。 But she must not leave this retreat until I am assured on
what terms we are to stand。 My lord's interestand so far it is
mine own； for if he sinks I fall in his traindemands
concealment of this obscure marriage； and besides； I will not
lend her my arm to climb to her chair of state； that she may set
her foot on my neck when she is fairly seated。 I must work an
interest in her； either through love or through fear； and who
knows but I may yet reap the sweetest and best revenge for her
former scorn？that were indeed a masterpiece of courtlike art！
Let me but once be her counsel…keeperlet her confide to me a
secret； did it but concern the robbery of a linnet's nest； and；
fair Countess； thou art mine own！〃 He again paced the room in
silence； stopped； filled and drank a cup of wine； as if to
compose the agitation of his mind； and muttering； 〃Now for a
close heart and an open and unruffled brow；〃 he left the
apartment。
CHAPTER VI。
The dews of summer night did fall；
The moon； sweet regent of the sky；
Silver'd the walls of Cumnor Hall；
And many an oak that grew thereby。 MICKLE。
＇This verse is the commencement of the ballad already quoted； as
what suggested the novel。＇
Four apartments； which； occupied the western side of the old
quadrangle at Cumnor Place； had been fitted up with extraordinary
splendour。 This had been the work of several days prior to that
on which our story opened。 Workmen sent from London； and not
permitted to leave the premises until the work was finished； had
converted the apartments in that side of the building from the
dilapidated appearance of a dissolved monastic house into the
semblance of a royal palace。 A mystery was observed in all these
arrangements： the workmen came thither and returned by night；
and all measures were taken to prevent the prying curiosity of
the villagers from observing or speculating upon the changes
which were taking place in the mansion of their once indigent but
now wealthy neighbour； Anthony Foster。 Accordingly； the secrecy
desired was so far preserved； that nothing got abroad but vague
and uncertain reports； which were received and repeated； but
without much credit being attached to them。
On the evening of which we treat； the new and highly…decorated
suite of rooms were； for the first time； illuminated； and that
with a brilliancy which might have been visible half…a…dozen
miles off； had not oaken shutters； carefully secured with bolt
and padlock； and mantled with long curtains of silk and of
velvet； deeply fringed with gold； prevented the slightest gleam
of radiance front being seen without。
The principal apartments； as we have seen； were four in number；
each opening into the other。 Access was given to them by a large
scale staircase； as they were then called； of unusual length and
height； which had its landing…place at the door of an
antechamber； shaped somewhat like a gallery。 This apartment the
abbot had used as an occasional council…room； but it was now
beautifully wainscoted with dark； foreign wood of a brown colour；
and bearing a high polish； said to have been brought from the
Western Indies； and to have been wrought in London with infinite
difficulty and much damage to the tools of the workmen。 The dark
colour of this finishing was relieved by the number of lights in
silver sconces which hung against the walls； and by six large and
richly…framed pictures； by the first masters of the age。 A massy
oaken table； placed at the lower end of the apartment； served to
accommodate such as chose to play at the then fashionable game of
shovel…board； and there was at the other end an elevated gallery
for the musicians or minstrels； who might be summoned to increase
the festivity of the evening。
From this antechamber opened a banqueting…room of moderate size；
but brilliant enough to dazzle the eyes of the spectator with the
richness of its furniture。 The walls； lately so bare and
ghastly； were now clothed with hangings of sky…blue velvet and
silver； the chairs were of ebony； richly carved； with cushions
corresponding to the hangings； and the place of the silver
sconces which enlightened the ante…chamber was supplied by a huge
chandelier of the same precious metal。 The floor was covered
with a Spanish foot…cloth； or carpet； on which flowers and fruits
were represented in such glowing and natural colours； that you
hesitated to place the foot on such exquisite workmanship。 The
table； o