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!
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