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breath hath sufficed to bring you hither, it may suffice to tell your tale, at least briefly, and in the gross,"

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"Madam," answered Varney, we are not alone, and my lord's message was for your ear only.”

"boug "Leave us, Janet, and Master Foster," said the lady; " but remain in the next apartment, and within call." hoever nisi ni boaang Foster and his daughter retired, agreeably to the Lady Leicester's commands, into the next apartment, which was the withdrawing-room. The door which led from the sleeping-chamber was then, carefully shut and bolted, and the father L, and daughter remained both in a posture of an xious attention, the first with a stern, suspicious, anxious cast of countenance, and Janet with folded hands, and looks which seemed divided be twixt her desire to know the fortunes of her mistress, and her prayers to Heaven for her safety, Anthony Foster seemed himself to have some idea of what was passing through his daughter's mind, for he crossed the apartment and took her anxiously by the hand, saying, "That is right-pray, Janet, pray-we have all need of prayers, and

some of us more than others. Pray, Janet would pray myself, but I must listen to what goes on within-evil has been brewing, love evil has been brewing. God forgive our sins, but Varney's sudden and strange arrival bodes us no good."

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Janet had never before heard her father excite or even permit her attention to any thing which passed in their mysterious family, and now that he did so, his voice sounded in her ear she knew not why like that of a screech-owl denouncing some deed of terror and of woe. She turned her eyes fearfully towards the door, almost as if she expected some sounds of horror to be heard, or some sight of fear to display itself. ad quoch bor, All, however, was as still as death, and the voices of those who spoke in the inner chamber, were, if if they spoke at all, carefully subdued to a tone which could not be heard in the next. At once, however, they were heard to speak fast, thick, and hastily; and presently after the voice of the Countess was heard exclaiming, at the highest pitch to which indignation could raise it) "Undo the door, sir, I command you!Undo

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the door!—I will have no other reply !" she continued, drowning with her vehement accents the low and muttered sounds which Varney was heard to utter betwixt whiles. there!" she persisted, accompanying her words with shrieks, “Janet, alarm the house!-Foster, break open the door-I am detained here by a traitor!-Use axe and lever, Master Foster-I will be your warrant !"

"It shall not need, madam," Varney was at length distinctly heard to say." If you please to expose my lord's important concerns and your own to the general ear, I will not be your hindrance."

The door was unlocked and thrown open, and Janet and her father rushed in, anxious to learn the cause of these reiterated exclamations.

When they entered the apartment, Varney stood by the door grinding his teeth, with an expression in which rage, and shame, and fear, had each their share. The Countess stood in the midst of her apartment like a juvenile Pythoness, under the influence of the prophetic fury. The veins in her beautiful forehead started into swoln blue lines

through the hurried impulse of her articulationher check and neck glowed like scarlet-her eyes were like those of an imprisoned eagle, flashing red lightning on the foes whom it cannot reach with its talons. Were it possible for one of the Graces to have been animated by a Fury, the countenance could not have united such beauty with so much hatred, scorn, defiance, and resentment. The gesture and attitude corresponded with the voice and looks, and altogether presented a spectacle which was at once beautiful and fearful; so much of the sublime had the energy of passion united with the Countess Amy's natural loveliness. Janet, as soon as the door was open, ran to her mistress; and more slowly, yet with more haste than he was wont, Anthony Foster went to Richard Varney.

"In the Truth's name, what ails your ladyship?" said the former.

"What, in the name of Satan, have you done to her ?" said Foster to his friend...

“ Who, I ?—nothing," answered Varney, but with sunken head and sullen voice; "nothing but communicated to her her lord's commands,

which, if the lady list not to obey, she knows better how to answer it than I may pretend to do.”

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"Now, by Heaven, Janet !" said the Countess, "the false traitor lies in his throat! He must needs lie, for he speaks to the dishonour of my noble lord-he must needs lie doubly, for he speaks to gain ends of his own, equally execrable and unattainable."

"You have misapprehended me, lady," said Varney, with a sulky species of submission and apology; "let this matter rest till your passion be abated, and I will explain all."

"Thou shalt never have an opportunity to do so," said the Countess.-" Look at him, Janet. He is fairly dressed, hath the outside of a gentleman, and hither he came to persuade me it was my lord's pleasure-nay, more, my wedded lord's commands, that I should go with him to Kenilworth, and before the Queen and nobles, and in presence of my own wedded lord, that I should acknowledge him-him there-that very cloak-brushing, shoe-cleaning fellow-him there, my lord's lacquey, for my liege lord and husþand; furnishing against myself, great God!

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