potion will not harm you. Rise, shake this lethargy from your limbs, and this despair from your mind. >> a let life pass << Janet, »> repeated the Countess again, « disturb me not - leave me at peace quietly -I am poisoned. » « You are not, my dearest lady,» answered the maiden eagerly What you have swallowed cannot injure you, and I hastened hither to tell you that the means of escape are open to you. Escape!» exclaimed the lady, as she raised herself hastily in her chair, while light returned to her eye and life to her cheek ; but ah! Janet, it comes too late. « Not so, dearest lady - Rise, take mine arm, walk through the apartment-Let not fancy do So; feel you not now that you are possessed of the full use of your limbs ? » the work of poison! The torpor seems to diminish,» said the Countess, as, supported by Janet, she walked to and fro in the apartment; « but is it then so, and have I not swallowed a deadly draught? Varney was here since thou wert gone, and commanded me, with eyes in which I read my fate, to swallow yon horrible drug. O, Janet! it must be fatal; never was harmless draught served by such a cup-bearer ! » « He did not deem it harmless, I fear, >> replied the maiden; « but God confounds the devices of the wicked. Believe me, as I swear life by the dear Gospel in which we trust, your is safe from his practice. Did you not debate with him?» << The house was silent,» answered the lady " ber thou gone no other but he in the chamand he capable of every crime. I did but stipulate he would remove his hateful presence, and I drank whatever he offered. But you spoke of escape, Janet; can I be so happy? » Are you strong enough to bear the tidings, and make the effort? » Strong!» answered the Countess Ask the hind, when the fangs of the deer-hound are stretched to gripe her, if she is strong enough to spring the chasm. I am equal to every effort that may relieve me from this place. >> << Hear me then,» said Janet, « One, whom I deem an assured friend of yours, has shewn himself to me in various disguises, and sought speech of me, which, for my mind was not clear on the matter until this evening, I have ever declined. He was the pedlar who brought you goods-the itinerant hawker who sold me books whenever I stirred abroad I was sure to see him. The event of this night determined me to speak with him. He waits even now at the postern-gate of the park with means for your flight. -But have you strength of body? Have you of mind? courage Can you undertake the enterprize? >> « She that flies from death,» said the lady, " finds strength of body - she that would escape from shame, lacks no strength of mind. The thoughts of leaving behind me the villain who menaces both my life and honour, would give me strength to rise from my death-bed. » In God's name then, lady,» said Janet, « I must bid you adieu, and to God's charge I must commit you. » Will you not fly with me then, Janet? » said the Countess, anxiously. Is this thy faithful service? » Am I to lose thee? Lady, I would fly with you as willingly as bird ever fled from cage, but my doing so would occasion instant discovery and pursuit. I must remain, and use means to disguise the truth for some time-May heaven pardon the falsehood, because of the necessity! » « And am I then to travel alone with this stranger?» said the lady « Bethink thee, Janet, may not this prove some deeper and darker scheme to separate me perhaps from you, who are my only friend?» « No, madam, do not suppose it,» answered Janet, readily; « the youth is an honest youth in his purpose to you; and a friend to Master Tressilian, under whose direction he is come hither. » « If he be a friend of Tressilian,» said the Countess, <<I will commit myself to his charge, as to that of an angel sent from heaven; for than Tressilian, never breathed mortal man more free of whatever was base, false, or selfish. He forgot himself whenever he could be of use to others Alas! and how was he requited! » With eager haste they collected the few necessaries which it was thought proper the Countess should take with her, and which Janet, with speed and dexterity, formed into a small bundle, not forgetting to add such ornaments of intrinsic value as came most readily in her way, and particularly a casket of jewels, which she wisely judged might prove of service in some future emergency. The Countess of Leicester next changed her dress for one which Janet usually wore upon any brief journey, for they judged it necessary to avoid every external distinction which might attract attention, Ere these preparations were fully made, the moon had arisen in the summer heaven, and all in the retired mansion had betaken themselves to rest, or at least to the silence and retirement of their chambers. There was no difficulty anticipated in escaping, whether from the house or garden, providing only they could elude observation. Anthony Foster had accustomed himself to consider his daughter as a conscious sinner might regard a visible guardian angel, which, notwithstanding his guilt, continued to hover around him, and therefore his trust in her knew no bounds. Janet commanded her own motions during the day-time, and had a master-key which opened the posterndoor of the park, so that she could go to the village at pleasure, either upon the household affairs, which were entirely confided to her management, or to attend her devotions at the meeting-house of her sect. It is true the daughter of Foster was thus liberally entrusted, under the solemn condition that she should not avail herself of these privileges, to do any thing inconsistent with the safe-keeping of the Countess; for so her residence at Cumnor-Place had been termed, since she began of late to exhibit impatience of the restrictions to which she was subjected. Nor is there reason to suppose, that any thing short of the dreadful suspicions which the scene of that evening had excited, could have induced Janet to have violated her word, or deceived her father's confidence. But from what she had witnessed, she now conceived herself not only justified, but imperatively called upon to make her lady's safety the principal object of her care, setting all other considerations aside. The fugitive Countess with her guide were traversing with hasty steps the broken and interrupted path, which had once been an avenue, now totally darkened by the boughs of spreading trees which met above their head, and now receiving a doubtful and deceiving light from the beams of the moon, which penetrated where the axe had made openings in the wood. Their path was repeatedly interrupted by felled trees, or the large boughs which had been left on the ground till time served to make them into faggots and billets. The inconvenience and difficulty attending these interruptions, the |
