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Leicester remained like one stupefied； till he heard the
trampling of the horses； as Varney； who took no time even to
change his dress； threw himself into the saddle； and； followed by
a single servant； set off for Berkshire。 At the sound the Earl
started from his seat； and ran to the window； with the momentary
purpose of recalling the unworthy commission with which he had
entrusted one of whom he used to say he knew no virtuous property
save affection to his patron。 But Varney was already beyond
call； and the bright； starry firmament； which the age considered
as the Book of Fate； lying spread before Leicester when he opened
the casement； diverted him from his better and more manly
purpose。
〃There they roll； on their silent but potential course；〃 said the
Earl； looking around him； 〃without a voice which speaks to our
ear； but not without influences which affect； at every change；
the indwellers of this vile； earthly planet。 This； if
astrologers fable not； is the very crisis of my fate！ The hour
approaches of which I was taught to bewarethe hour； too； which
I was encouraged to hope for。 A King was the wordbut how？the
crown matrimonial。 All hopes of that are gonelet them go。 The
rich Netherlands have demanded me for their leader； and； would
Elizabeth consent； would yield to me THEIR crown。 And have I not
such a claim even in this kingdom？ That of York； descending from
George of Clarence to the House of Huntingdon； which； this lady
failing； may have a fair chanceHuntingdon is of my house。But
I will plunge no deeper in these high mysteries。 Let me hold my
course in silence for a while； and in obscurity； like a
subterranean river； the time shall come that I will burst forth
in my strength； and bear all opposition before me。〃
While Leicester was thus stupefying the remonstrances of his own
conscience； by appealing to political necessity for his apology；
or losing himself amidst the wild dreams of ambition； his agent
left town and tower behind him on his hasty journey to Berkshire。
HE also nourished high hope。 He had brought Lord Leicester to
the point which he had desired； of committing to him the most
intimate recesses of his breast； and of using him as the channel
of his most confidential intercourse with his lady。 Henceforward
it would； he foresaw； be difficult for his patron either to
dispense with his services； or refuse his requests； however
unreasonable。 And if this disdainful dame； as he termed the
Countess； should comply with the request of her husband； Varney；
her pretended husband； must needs become so situated with respect
to her； that there was no knowing where his audacity might be
bounded perhaps not till circumstances enabled him to obtain a
triumph； which he thought of with a mixture of fiendish feelings；
in which revenge for her previous scorn was foremost and
predominant。 Again he contemplated the possibility of her being
totally intractable； and refusing obstinately to play the part
assigned to her in the drama at Kenilworth。
〃Alasco must then do his part；〃 he said。 〃Sickness must serve
her Majesty as an excuse for not receiving the homage of Mrs。
Varneyay； and a sore and wasting sickness it may prove； should
Elizabeth continue to cast so favourable an eye on my Lord of
Leicester。 I will not forego the chance of being favourite of a
monarch for want of determined measures； should these be
necessary。 Forward； good horse； forwardambition and haughty
hope of power； pleasure； and revenge strike their stings as deep
through my bosom as I plunge the rowels in thy flanks。 On； good
horse； onthe devil urges us both forward！〃
CHAPTER XXII。
Say that my beauty was but small；
Among court ladies all despised；
Why didst thou rend it from that hall
Where； scornful Earl； 'twas dearly prized？
No more thou com'st with wonted speed；
Thy once beloved bride to see；
But be she alive； or be she dead；
I fear； stern Earl； 's the same to thee。
CUMNOR HALL； by WILLIAM JULIUS MICKLE。
The ladies of fashion of the present； or of any other period；
must have allowed that the young and lovely Countess of Leicester
had； besides her youth and beauty； two qualities which entitled
her to a place amongst women of rank and distinction。 She
displayed； as we have seen in her interview with the pedlar； a
liberal promptitude to make unnecessary purchases； solely for the
pleasure of acquiring useless and showy trifles which ceased to
please as soon as they were possessed； and she was； besides； apt
to spend a considerable space of time every day in adorning her
person； although the varied splendour of her attire could only
attract the half satirical praise of the precise Janet； or an
approving glance from the bright eyes which witnessed their own
beams of triumph reflected from the mirror。
The Countess Amy had； indeed； to plead for indulgence in those
frivolous tastes； that the education of the times had done little
or nothing for a mind naturally gay and averse to study。 If she
had not loved to collect finery and to wear it； she might have
woven tapestry or sewed embroidery； till her labours spread in
gay profusion all over the walls and seats at Lidcote Hall； or
she might have varied Minerva's labours with the task of
preparing a mighty pudding against the time that Sir Hugh Robsart
returned from the greenwood。 But Amy had no natural genius
either for the loom； the needle； or the receipt…book。 Her mother
had died in infancy； her father contradicted her in nothing； and
Tressilian； the only one that approached her who was able or
desirous to attend to the cultivation of her mind； had much hurt
his interest with her by assuming too eagerly the task of a
preceptor； so that he was regarded by the lively； indulged； and
idle girl with some fear and much respect； but with little or
nothing of that softer emotion which it had been his hope and his
ambition to inspire。 And thus her heart lay readily open； and
her fancy became easily captivated by the noble exterior and
graceful deportment and complacent flattery of Leicester； even
before he was known to her as the dazzling minion of wealth and
power。
The frequent visits of Leicester at Cumnor； during the earlier
part of their union； had reconciled the Countess to the solitude
and privacy to which she was condemned； but when these visits
became rarer and more rare； and when the void was filled up with
letters of excuse； not always very warmly expressed； and
generally extremely brief； discontent and suspicion began to
haunt those splendid apartments which love had fitted up for
beauty。 Her answers to Leicester conveyed these feelings too
bluntly； and pressed more naturally than prudently that she might
be relieved from this obscure and secluded residence； by the
Earl's acknowledgment of their marriage； and in arranging her
arguments with all the skill she was mistress of； she trusted
chiefly to the warmth of the entreaties with which she urged
them。 Sometimes she even ventured to mingle reproaches； of which
Leicester conceived he had good reason to complain。
〃I have made her Countess；〃 he said to Varney； 〃surely she might
wait till it consisted with my pleasure that she should put on
the coronet？〃
The Countess Amy viewed the subject in directly an opposite
light。
〃What signifies；〃 she said； 〃that I have rank and honour in
reality； if I am to live an obscure prisoner； without either
society or observance； and suffering in my character； as one of
dubious or disgraced reputation？ I care not for all those
strings of pearl； which you fret me by warping into my tresses；
Janet。 I tell you that at Lidcote Hall； if I put but a fresh
rosebud among my hair； my good father would call me to him； that
he might see it more closely； and the kind old curate would
smile； and Master Mumblazen would say something about roses
gules。 And now I sit here； decked out like an image with gold
and gems； and no one to see my finery but you； Janet。 There was
the poor Tressilian； toobut it avails not speaking of him。〃
〃It doth not indeed； madam；〃 said her prudent attendant； 〃and
verily you make me sometimes wish you would not speak of him so
often； or so rashly。〃
〃It signifies nothing to warn me； Janet；〃 said the impatient and
incorrigible Countess； 〃I was born free； though I am now mewed up
like some fine foreign slave； rather than the wife of an English
noble。 I bore it all with pleasure while I was sure he loved me；
but now my tongue and heart shall be free； let them fetter these
limbs as they will。 I tell thee； Janet； I love my husbandI
will love him till my latest breathI cannot cease to love him；
even if I would； or if hewhich； God knows； may chanceshould
cease to love me。 But I will say； and loudly； I would have been
happier than I now am to have remained in Lidcote Hall； even
although I must have married poor Tressilian； with his melancholy
look and his head full of learning； which I cared not for。 He
said； if I would read his favourite volumes； there would come a
time that I should be glad of having done so。 I think it is come
now。〃
〃I bought you some books； madam；〃 said Janet； 〃from a lame