me the promise I ask of you, than Elizabeth can do for me with all her power. » « Ask me any thing for which you can allege reason,» said Tressilian; « but demand not. of me » " O, limit not your boon, dear Edmund! » exclaimed the Countess « you once loved Limit not your that I should call you so boon to reason! for my case is all madness, and phrenzy 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 mad-I 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 it-even by yours, Tressilian-by yours, whom I have honoured, respected - all but loved-and yet loved too-loved too, Tressilian -though not as you wished me. » 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. « in 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 you person—of especial, Tressilian, will be ruin-utter ruin to me. Wait but four-and-twenty hours, and it may be that the poor Amy may have the means to shew that she values, and can reward, your disinterested friendship-that 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 attendants, he 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 any thing 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 her's, which, in her ecstacy 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 twentyfour 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 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 )) << When 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—t -that is, if—I blush to acknowledge my helplessness by asking it—if 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 shew she deserved thy noble attach ment. » CHAPTER XXVIII. What, man, ne'er lack a draught, when the full can Nay, fear not me, for I have no delight 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 stair-case, 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 down stairs, 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 |
