plishments, suppressed every appearance of agitation, and seemed as if she desired to banish all traces of her burst of passion from the recollection of those who had witnessed it. « My Lord of Hunsdon,» she said, «is but a rough nurse for so tender a babe. » « My Lord of Hunsdon,» said the Dean of St Asaph, «I speak it not in defamation of his more noble qualities, hath a broad license in speech, and garnishes his discourse somewhat too freely with the cruel and superstitious oaths, which savour both of profaneness and of old papestrie. » said It is the fault of his blood, Mr Dean, the Queen, turning sharply round upon the reverend dignitary as she spoke; «and you may blame mine for the same distemperature. The Boleyns were ever a hot and plain-spoken race, more hasty to speak their mind than careful to chuse their expressions. And by my word-I hope there is no sin in that affirmation—I question if it were much cooled by mixing with that of Tudor.» As she made this last observation she smiled graciously, and stole her eyes almost insensibly round to seek those of the Earl of Leicester, to whom she now began to think she had spoken with hasty harshness upon the unfounded suspicion of a moment. The Queen's eye found the Earl in no mood to accept the implied offer of conciliation. His own looks had followed, with late and rueful repentance, the faded form which Hunsdon had just borne from the presence; they now reposed gloomily on the ground, but more so at least it seemed to Elizabeth -with the expression of one who has received an unjust affront, than of him who is conscious of guilt. She turned her face angrily from him, and said to Varney, Speak, Sir Richard, and explain these riddles -thou hast sense, and the use of speech, at least, which elsewhere we look for in vain. » « As she said this, she darted another resentful glance towards Leicester, while the wily Varney hastened to tell his own story. «Your Majesty's piercing eye,» he said, «has already detected the cruel malady of my beloved lady; which, unhappy that I am, I would not suffer to be expressed in the certificate of her physician, seeking to conceal what has now broken out with so much the more scandal. » << She is then distraught?» said the Queenindeed we doubted not of it- her whole demeanour bears it out. I found her moping in a corner of yonder grotto; and every word which she spoke-which indeed I dragged from her as by the rack—she instantly recalled and forswore. But how came she hither? Why had you her not in safe-keeping?» My gracious Liege, » said Varney, « the worthy gentleman under whose charge I left her, Master Anthony Foster, has come hither but now, as fast as man and horse can travel, to shew me of her escape, which she managed with the art peculiar to many who are afflicted with this malady. He is at hand for examination. » <<< Let it be for another time,» said the Queen. But, Sir Richard, we envy you not your domestic felicity; your lady railed on you bitterly, and seemed ready to swoon at beholding you. » << It is the nature of persons in her disorder, so please your Grace, » answered Varney, «to be ever most inveterate in their spleen against those, whom, in their better moments, they hold nearest and dearest. >> « We have heard so, indeed, » said Elizabeth, «< and give faith to the saying. May your Grace then be pleased,» said Varney, to command my unfortunate wife to be delivered into the custody of her friends? » Leicester partly started; but, making a strong effort, he subdued his emotion, while Elizabeth answered sharply, « You are something too hasty, Master Varney; we will have first a report of the lady's health and state of mind from Masters, our own physician, and then determine what shall be thought just. You shall have licence, however, to see her, that if there be any matrimonial quarrel betwixt you— such things we have heard do occur, even betwixt a loving couple-you may make it up, without further scandal to our court, or trouble to ourselves. » Varney bowed low, and made no other answer. Elizabeth again looked towards Leicester, and said, with a degree of condescension which could only arise out of the most heartfelt interest, « Discord, as the Italian poet says, will find her way into peaceful convents, as well as into the privacy of families; and we fear our own guards and ushers will hardly exclude her from courts. My Lord of Leicester, you are offended with us, and we have right to be offended with you. We will take the lion's part upon us, and be the first to forgive. » Leicester smoothed his brow, as by an effort, but the trouble was too deep-seated that its placidity should at once return. He said, however, that which fitted the occasion, « that he could not have the happiness of forgiving, because she who commanded him to do so, could commit no injury towards him. »> Elizabeth seemed content with this reply, and intimated her pleasure that the sports of the morning should proceed. The bugles sounded -the hounds bayed the horses prancedbut the courtiers and ladies sought the amusement to which they were summoned with hearts very different from those which had leaped to the morning's réveillée. There was doubt, and fear, and expectation on every brow, and surmise and intrigue in every whisper. Blount took an opportunity to whisper into Raleigh's ear, « This storm came like a levanter in the Mediterranean. » Varium et mutabile » - answered Raleigh, in a similar tone. « Nay, I know nought of your Latin, » said Blount; « but I thank God Tressilian took not the sea during that hurricano. He could scarce have missed shipwreck, knowing as he does so little how to trim his sails to a court gale. >> Thou wouldst have instructed him? » said Raleigh. Why, I have profited by my time as well as thou, Sir Walter, » replied honest Blount. << I am knight as well as thou, and of the earlier creation. >> Now, God further thy wit,» said Raleigh; but for Tressilian, I would I knew what were the matter with him. He told me this morning he would not leave his chamber for the space of twelve hours, or thereby, being bound by a promise. This lady's madness, when he shall learn it, will not, I fear, cure his infirmity. The moon is at the fullest, and men's brains are working like yeast. But hark! they sound to mount. Let us to horse, Blount; we young knights must deserve our spurs. » |
