"And with the same openness," said Varney, "your ladyship will this night tell my noble lord your husband, that Tressilian has discovered your place of residence, so anxiously concealed from the world, and that he has had an interview with you ?" "Unquestionably," said the Countess." It will be the first thing I tell him, together with every word that Tressilian said, and that I answered. I shall speak my own shame in this, for Tressilian's reproaches, less just, than he esteemed them, were not altogether unmerited-I will speak, therefore, with pain, but I will speak, and speak all." "Your, ladyship will do your pleasure," answered Varney; "but methinks it were as well, since nothing calls for so frank a disclosure, to spare yourself this pain, and my noble lord the disquiet, and Master Tressilian, since belike he must be thought of in the matter, the danger which is like to ensue." "I can see nought of all these terrible consequences," said the lady, composedly, "unless by imputing to my noble lord unworthy thoughts, which I am sure never harboured in his generous heart." "Far be it from me to do so," said Varney-And then, after a moment's silence, he added, with a real or affected plainness of manner, very different from his usual smooth courtesy-" Come, madam, I will show you that a courtier dare speak truth as well as another, when it concerns the weal of those whom he honours and regards, ay, and although it may infer his own danger."-He waited as if to receive commands, or at least permission to go on, but as the lady remained silent, he proceeded, but obviously with caution.-" Look around you," he said, "noble lady, and observe the barriers with which this place is surrounded, the studious mystery with which the brightest jewel that England possesses is secluded from the admiring gaze. See with what rigour your walks are circumscribed, and your movements restrained at the beck of yonder churlish Foster. Consider all this, and judge for yourself what can be the cause." "My lord's pleasure," answered the countess; and I am bound to seek no other motive." "His pleasure it is indeed," said Varney; " and his pleasure arises out of a love worthy of the object which inspires it. But he who possesses a treasure, and who values it, is oft anxious, in proportion to the value he puts upon it, to secure it from the depredations of others." 66 "What needs all this talk, Master Varney ?" said the lady, in reply; " you would have me believe that my noble lord is jealous-Suppose it true, I know a cure for jealousy." 66 Indeed, madam !" said Varney. "It is," replied the lady, "to speak the truth to my lord at all times, to hold up my mind and my thoughts before him as pure as that polished mirror; so that when he looks into my heart, he shall only see his own features reflected there." ❝ and as I "I am mute, madam," answered Varney ; have no reason to grieve for Tressilian, who would have my heart's blood were he able, I shall reconcile myself easily to what may befall the gentleman, in consequence of your frank disclosure of his having presumed to intrude upon your solitude.-You, who know my lord so much. better than I, will judge if he be likely to bear the insult unavenged." "Nay, if I could think myself the cause of Tressilian's ruin," said the countess," I who have already occasioned him so much distress, I might be brought to be silent. -And yet what will it avail since he was seen by Foster, and I think by some one else?—No, no, Varney, urge it no more, I will tell the whole matter to my lord; and with such pleading for Tressilian's folly, as shall dispose my lord's generous heart rather to serve than to punish him." "Your judgment, madam," said Varney, " is far superior to mine, especially as you may, if you will, prove the ice before you step on it, by mentioning Tressilian's name to my lord, and observing how he endures it. 7* VOL. I. For Foster and his attendant, they know not Tressilian by sight, and I can easily give them some reasonable excuse for the appearance of an unknown stranger." The lady paused for an instant, and then replied, “If, Varney, it be indeed true that Foster knows not as yet that the man he saw was Tressilian, I own I were unwilling he should learn what nowise concerns him. He bears himself already with austerity enough, and I wish him not to be judge or privy-counsellor in my affairs." "Tush," said Varney; "what has the surly groom to do with your ladyship's concerns?-No more, surely, than the ban-dog which watches his court-yard. If he is in aught distasteful to your ladyship, I have interest enough to have him exchanged for a seneschal that shall be more agreeable to you." "Master Varney," said the countess, "let us drop this theme when I complain of the attendants whom my lord has placed around me, it must be to my lord himself. -Hark! I hear the trampling of horse-He comes! he comes!" she exclaimed, jumping up in ecstasy. 66 "I cannot think it is he," said Varney; " or that you can hear the tread of his horse through the closely mantled casements." 66 Stop me not, Varney-my ears are keener than thine -it is he !" "But, madam !-but madam !" exclaimed Varney, anxiously, and still placing himself in her way-" I trust that what I have spoken in humble duty and service, will not be turned to my ruin ?—I hope that faithful advice will not be bewrayed to my prejudice ?-I implore that". my "Content thee, man-content thee !" said the countess, "and quit my skirt-you are too bold to detain me -Content thyself, I think not of thee." At this moment the folding-doors flew wide open, and a man of majestic mien, muffled in the folds of a long dark riding-cloak, entered the apartment. CHAPTER VII. This is he Who rides on the court-gale; controls its tides; Old Play. THFRE was some little displeasure and confusion on the countess's brow, owing to her struggle with Varney's pertinacity; but it was exchanged for an expression of the purest joy and affection, as she threw herself into the arms of the noble stranger who entered, and clasping him to her bosom, exclaimed, “At length-at length thou art come!"" Varney discreetly withdrew as his lord entered, and Janet was about to do the same, when her mistress signed to her to remain. She took her place at the farther end of the apartment, and continued standing, as if ready for attendance. Meanwhile the earl, for he was of no inferior rank, returned his lady's caress with the most affectionate ardour, but affected to resist when she strove to take his cloak from him. "Nay," she said, "but I will unmantle you-I must see if you have kept your word to me, and come as the great earl men call thee, and not as heretofore like a pri vate cavalier." “Thou art like the rest of the world, Amy," said the earl, suffering her to prevail in the playful contest; "the jewels, and feathers, and silk, are more to them than the man whom they adorn-many a poor blade looks gay in a velvet scabbard." "But so cannot men say of thee, thou noble earl," said his lady, as the cloak dropped on the floor, and showed him dressed as princes when they ride abroad; "thou art the good and well-tried steel, whose inly worth deserves, yet disdains, its outward ornaments. Do not think Amy can love thee better in this glorious garb, than she did when she gave her heart to him who wore the russet-brown cloak in the woods of Devon." "And thou too," said the earl, as gracefully and majestically he led his beautiful countess towards the chair of state which was prepared for them both," thou too, my love, hast donned a dress which becomes thy rank, though it cannot improve thy beauty. What think'st thou of our court taste? The lady cast a sidelong glance upon the great mirror as they passed it by, and then said, "I know not how it is, but I think not of my own person, while I look at the reflection of thine. Sit thou there," she said, as they approached the chair of state, "like a thing for men to worship and to wonder at." 66 "Ay, love," said the earl, "if thou wilt share my state with me." "Not so," said the countess; "I will sit on this footstool at thy feet, that I may spell over thy splendour, and learn, for the first time how princes are attired." And with a childish wonder, which her youth and rustic education rendered not only excusable but becoming, mixed as it was with a delicate show of the most tender conjugal affection, she examined and admired from head to foot the noble form and princely attire of him, who formed the proudest ornament of the court of England's Maiden Queen, renowned as it was for splendid courtiers, as well as for wise counsellors. Regarding affectionately his lovely bride, and gratified by her unrepressed admiration, the dark eye and noble features of the earl expressed passions more gentle than the commanding and aspiring look which usually sat upon his broad forehead, and in the piercing brilliancy of his dark eye, and he smiled at the simplicity which dictated the questions |