第5章

"Improvidentvillain！wearebothundone，"saidVarney。"Shehasoflatebeencastingmanyabackwardlooktoherfather\'shalls，wheneverherlordlyloverleavesheralone。Shouldthispreachingfoolwhistleherbacktoheroldperch，wewerebutlostmen。"

"Nofearofthat，mymaster，"repliedAnthonyFoster;"sheisinnomoodtostooptohislure，forsheyelledoutonseeinghimasifanadderhadstungher。"

"Thatisgood。Canstthounotgetfromthydaughteraninklingofwhatpassedbetweenthem，goodFoster？"

"Itellyouplain，MasterVarney，"saidFoster，"mydaughtershallnotenterourpurposesorwalkinourpaths。Theymaysuitmewellenough，whoknowhowtorepentofmymisdoings;butI

willnothavemychild\'ssoulcommittedtoperileitherforyourpleasureormylord\'s。Imaywalkamongsnaresandpitfallsmyself，becauseIhavediscretion，butIwillnottrustthepoorlambamongthem。"

"Why，thoususpiciousfool，Iwereasaverseasthouartthatthybaby—facedgirlshouldenterintomyplans，orwalktohellatherfather\'selbow。Butindirectlythoumightstgainsomeintelligenceofher？"

"AndsoIdid，MasterVarney，"answeredFoster;"andshesaidherladycalledoutuponthesicknessofherfather。"

"Good！"repliedVarney;"thatisahintworthcatching，andI

willworkuponit。ButthecountrymustberidofthisTressilian。Iwouldhavecumberednomanaboutthematter，forI

hatehimlikestrongpoison——hispresenceishemlocktome——andthisdayIhadbeenridofhim，butthatmyfootslipped，when，tospeaktruth，hadnotthycomradeyondercometomyaid，andheldhishand，IshouldhaveknownbythistimewhetheryouandI

havebeentreadingthepathtoheavenorhell。"

"Andyoucanspeakthusofsucharisk！"saidFoster。"Youkeepastoutheart，MasterVarney。Forme，ifIdidnothopetolivemanyyears，andtohavetimeforthegreatworkofrepentance，I

wouldnotgoforwardwithyou。"

"Oh！thoushaltliveaslongasMethuselah，"saidVarney，"andamassasmuchwealthasSolomon;andthoushaltrepentsodevoutly，thatthyrepentanceshallbemorefamousthanthyvillainy——andthatisaboldword。Butforallthis，Tressilianmustbelookedafter。Thyruffianyonderisgonetodoghim。Itconcernsourfortunes，Anthony。"

"Ay，ay，"saidFostersullenly，"thisitistobeleaguedwithonewhoknowsnotevensomuchofScripture，asthatthelabourerisworthyofhishire。Imust，asusual，takeallthetroubleandrisk。"

"Risk！andwhatisthemightyrisk，Iprayyou？"answeredVarney。"Thisfellowwillcomeprowlingagainaboutyourdemesneorintoyourhouse，andifyoutakehimforahouse—breakerorapark—breaker，isitnotmostnaturalyoushouldwelcomehimwithcoldsteelorhotlead？Evenamastiffwillpulldownthosewhocomenearhiskennel;andwhoshallblamehim？"

"Ay，Ihaveamastiff\'sworkandamastiff\'swageamongyou，"

saidFoster。"Herehaveyou，MasterVarney，securedagoodfreeholdestateoutofthisoldsuperstitiousfoundation;andI

havebutapoorleaseofthismansionunderyou，voidableatyourhonour\'spleasure。"

"Ay，andthouwouldstfainconvertthyleaseholdintoacopyhold——thethingmaychancetohappen，AnthonyFoster，ifthoudostgoodserviceforit。Butsoftly，goodAnthony——itisnotthelendingaroomortwoofthisoldhouseforkeepingmylord\'sprettyparoquet——nay，itisnottheshuttingthydoorsandwindowstokeepherfromflyingoffthatmaydeserveit。

Remember，themanorandtithesareratedattheclearannualvalueofseventy—ninepoundsfiveshillingsandfivepencehalfpenny，besidesthevalueofthewood。Come，come，thoumustbeconscionable;greatandsecretservicemaydeserveboththisandabetterthing。Andnowletthyknavecomeandpluckoffmyboots。Getussomedinner，andacupofthybestwine。Imustvisitthismavis，braveinapparel，unruffledinaspect，andgayintemper。"

Theypartedandatthehourofnoon，whichwasthenthatofdinner，theyagainmetattheirmeal，Varneygailydressedlikeacourtierofthetime，andevenAnthonyFosterimprovedinappearance，asfarasdresscouldamendanexteriorsounfavourable。

ThisalterationdidnotescapeVarney。Thenthemealwasfinished，theclothremoved，andtheywerelefttotheirprivatediscourse——"Thouartgayasagoldfinch，Anthony，"saidVarney，lookingathishost;"methinks，thouwiltwhistleajiganon。

ButIcraveyourpardon，thatwouldsecureyourejectionfromthecongregationofthezealousbotchers，thepure—heartedweavers，andthesanctifiedbakersofAbingdon，wholettheirovenscoolwhiletheirbrainsgetheated。"

"Toansweryouinthespirit，MasterVarney，"saidFoster，"were——excusetheparable——toflingsacredandpreciousthingsbeforeswine。SoIwillspeaktotheeinthelanguageoftheworld，whichhewhoiskingoftheworld，hathtaughtthee，tounderstand，andtoprofitbyinnocommonmeasure。"

"Saywhatthouwilt，honestTony，"repliedVarney;"forbeitaccordingtothineabsurdfaith，oraccordingtothymostvillainouspractice，itcannotchoosebutberaremattertoqualifythiscupofAlicant。Thyconversationisrelishingandpoignant，andbeatscaviare，driedneat\'s—tongue，andallotherprovocativesthatgivesavourtogoodliquor。"

"Well，then，tellme，"saidAnthonyFoster，"isnotourgoodlordandmaster\'sturnbetterserved，andhisantechambermoresuitablyfilled，withdecent，God—fearingmen，whowillworkhiswillandtheirownprofitquietly，andwithoutworldlyscandal，thanthatheshouldbemanned，andattended，andfollowedbysuchopendebauchersandruffianlyswordsmenasTidesly，Killigrew，thisfellowLambourne，whomyouhaveputmetoseekoutforyou，andothersuch，whobearthegallowsintheirfaceandmurderintheirrighthand——whoareaterrortopeaceablemen，andascandaltomylord\'sservice？"

"Oh，contentyou，goodMasterAnthonyFoster，"answeredVarney;

"hethatfliesatallmannerofgamemustkeepallkindsofhawks，bothshortandlong—winged。Thecoursemylordholdsisnoeasyone，andhemuststandprovidedatallpointswithtrustyretainerstomeeteachsortofservice。Hemusthavehisgaycourtier，likemyself，toruffleitinthepresence—chamber，andtolayhandonhiltwhenanyspeaksindisparagementofmylord\'shonour——"

"Ay，"saidFoster，"andtowhisperawordforhimintoafairlady\'sear，whenhemaynotapproachherhimself。"

"Then，"saidVarney，goingonwithoutappearingtonoticetheinterruption，"hemusthavehislawyers——deep，subtlepioneers——todrawhiscontracts，hispre—contracts，andhispost—

contracts，andtofindthewaytomakethemostofgrantsofchurch—lands，andcommons，andlicensesformonopoly。Andhemusthavephysicianswhocanspiceacuporacaudle。Andhemusthavehiscabalists，likeDecandAllan，forconjuringupthedevil。Andhemusthaverufflingswordsmen，whowouldfightthedevilwhenheisraisedandatthewildest。Andaboveall，withoutprejudicetoothers，hemusthavesuchgodly，innocent，puritanicsoulsasthou，honestAnthony，whodefySatan，anddohisworkatthesametime。"

"Youwouldnotsay，MasterVarney，"saidFoster，"thatourgoodlordandmaster，whomIholdtobefulfilledinallnobleness，wouldusesuchbaseandsinfulmeanstorise，asthyspeechpointsat？"

"Tush，man，"saidVarney，"neverlookatmewithsosadabrow。

Youtrapmenot——noramIinyourpower，asyourweakbrainmayimagine，becauseInametoyoufreelytheengines，thesprings，thescrews，thetackle，andbraces，bywhichgreatmenriseinstirringtimes。Sayestthouourgoodlordisfulfilledofallnobleness？Amen，andsobeit——hehasthemoreneedtohavethoseabouthimwhoareunscrupulousinhisservice，andwho，becausetheyknowthathisfallwilloverwhelmandcrushthem，mustwagerbothbloodandbrain，soulandbody，inordertokeephimaloft;andthisItellthee，becauseIcarenotwhoknowsit。"

"Youspeaktruth，MasterVarney，"saidAnthonyFoster。"Hethatisheadofapartyisbutaboatonawave，thatraisesnotitself，butismovedupwardbythebillowwhichitfloatsupon。"

"Thouartmetaphorical，honestAnthony，"repliedVarney;"thatvelvetdoublethathmadeanoracleofthee。WewillhavetheetoOxfordtotakethedegreesinthearts。And，inthemeantime，hastthouarrangedallthematterswhichweresentfromLondon，andputthewesternchambersintosuchfashionasmayanswermylord\'shumour？"

"Theymayserveakingonhisbridal—day，"saidAnthony;"andI

promiseyouthatDameAmysitsinthemyonderasproudandgayasifsheweretheQueenofSheba。"

"\'Tisthebetter，goodAnthony，"answeredVarney;"wemustfoundourfuturefortunesonhergoodliking。"

"Webuildonsandthen，"saidAnthonyFoster;"forsupposingthatshesailsawaytocourtinallherlord\'sdignityandauthority，howisshetolookbackuponme，whoamherjailorasitwere，todetainherhereagainstherwill，keepingheracaterpillaronanoldwall，whenshewouldfainbeapaintedbutterflyinacourtgarden？"

"Fearnotherdispleasure，man，"saidVarney。"Iwillshowherallthouhastdoneinthismatterwasgoodservice，bothtomylordandher;andwhenshechipstheegg—shellandwalksalone，sheshallownwehavehatchedhergreatness。"

"Looktoyourself，MasterVarney，"saidFoster，"youmaymisreckonfoullyinthismatter。Shegaveyoubutafrostyreceptionthismorning，and，Ithink，looksonyou，aswellasme，withanevileye。"

"Youmistakeher，Foster——youmistakeherutterly。Tomesheisboundbyallthetieswhichcansecurehertoonewhohasbeenthemeansofgratifyingbothherloveandambition。WhowasitthattooktheobscureAmyRobsart，thedaughterofanimpoverishedanddotardknight——thedestinedbrideofamoonstruck，mopingenthusiast，likeEdmundTressilian，fromherlowlyfates，andheldouttoherinprospectthebrightestfortuneinEngland，orperchanceinEurope？Why，man，itwasI

——asIhaveoftentoldthee——thatfoundopportunityfortheirsecretmeetings。ItwasIwhowatchedthewoodwhilehebeatforthedeer。ItwasIwho，tothisday，amblamedbyherfamilyasthecompanionofherflight;andwereIintheirneighbourhood，wouldbefaintowearashirtofbetterstuffthanHollandlinen，lestmyribsshouldbeacquaintedwithSpanishsteel。Whocarriedtheirletters？——I。WhoamusedtheoldknightandTressilian？——I。Whoplannedherescape？——itwasI。ItwasI，inshort，DickVarney，whopulledthisprettylittledaisyfromitslowlynook，andplaceditintheproudestbonnetinBritain。"

"Ay，MasterVarney，"saidFoster;"butitmaybeshethinksthathadthematterremainedwithyou，theflowerhadbeenstucksoslightlyintothecap，thatthefirstbreathofachangeablebreezeofpassionhadblownthepoordaisytothecommon。"

"Sheshouldconsider，"saidVarney，smiling，"thetruefaithI

owedmylordandmasterpreventedmeatfirstfromcounsellingmarriage;andyetIdidcounselmarriagewhenIsawshewouldnotbesatisfiedwithoutthe——thesacrament，ortheceremony——whichcallestthouit，Anthony？"

"Stillshehasyouatfeudonanotherscore，"saidFoster;"andI

tellityouthatyoumaylooktoyourselfintime。Shewouldnothidehersplendourinthisdarklanternofanoldmonastichouse，butwouldfainshineacountessamongstcountesses。"

"Verynatural，veryright，"answeredVarney;"butwhathaveItodowiththat？——shemayshinethroughhornorthroughcrystalatmylord\'spleasure，Ihavenoughttosayagainstit。"

"Shedeemsthatyouhaveanoaruponthatsideoftheboat，MasterVarney，"repliedFoster，"andthatyoucanpullitorno，atyourgoodpleasure。Inaword，sheascribesthesecrecyandobscurityinwhichsheiskepttoyoursecretcounseltomylord，andtomystrictagency;andsoshelovesusbothasasentencedmanloveshisjudgeandhisjailor。"

"Shemustloveusbettereresheleavethisplace，Anthony，"

answeredVarney。"IfIhavecounselledforweightyreasonsthatsheremainhereforaseason，Icanalsoadviseherbeingbroughtforthinthefullblowofherdignity。ButIweremadtodoso，holdingsonearaplacetomylord\'sperson，wereshemineenemy。

Bearthistruthinuponherasoccasionoffers，Anthony，andletmealoneforextollingyouinherear，andexaltingyouinheropinion——KAME，KATHEE——itisaproverballovertheworld。Theladymustknowherfriends，andbemadetojudgeofthepowertheyhaveofbeingherenemies;meanwhile，watchherstrictly，butwithalltheoutwardobservancethatthyroughnaturewillpermit。\'Tisanexcellentthingthatsullenlookandbull—doghumourofthine;thoushouldstthankGodforit，andsoshouldmylord，forwhenthereisaughtharshorhard—naturedtobedone，thoudostitasifitflowedfromthineownnaturaldoggedness，andnotfromorders，andsomylordescapesthescandal。——But，hark——someoneknocksatthegate。Lookoutatthewindow——letnooneenter——thiswereanillnighttobeinterrupted。"

"Itishewhomwespokeofbeforedinner，"saidFoster，ashelookedthroughthecasement;"itisMichaelLambourne。"

"Oh，admithim，byallmeans，"saidthecourtier;"hecomestogivesomeaccountofhisguest;itimportsusmuchtoknowthemovementsofEdmundTressilian。——Admithim，Isay，butbringhimnothither;IwillcometoyoupresentlyintheAbbot\'slibrary。"

Fosterlefttheroom，andthecourtier，whoremainedbehind，pacedtheparlourmorethanonceindeepthought，hisarmsfoldedonhisbosom，untilatlengthhegaveventtohismeditationsinbrokenwords，whichwehavesomewhatenlargedandconnected，thathissoliloquymaybeintelligibletothereader。

"\'Tistrue，"hesaid，suddenlystopping，andrestinghisrighthandonthetableatwhichtheyhadbeensitting，"thisbasechurlhathfathomedtheverydepthofmyfear，andIhavebeenunabletodisguiseitfromhim。Shelovesmenot——IwoulditwereastruethatIlovednother！IdiotthatIwas，tomoveherinmyownbehalf，whenwisdombademebeatruebrokertomylord！AndthisfatalerrorhasplacedmemoreatherdiscretionthanawisemanwouldwillinglybeatthatofthebestpieceofpaintedEve\'sfleshofthemall。Sincethehourthatmypolicymadesoperilousaslip，Icannotlookatherwithoutfear，andhate，andfondness，sostrangelymingled，thatIknownotwhether，wereitatmychoice，Iwouldratherpossessorruinher。ButshemustnotleavethisretreatuntilIamassuredonwhattermswearetostand。Mylord\'sinterest——andsofaritismineown，forifhesinksIfallinhistrain——demandsconcealmentofthisobscuremarriage;andbesides，Iwillnotlendhermyarmtoclimbtoherchairofstate，thatshemaysetherfootonmyneckwhensheisfairlyseated。Imustworkaninterestinher，eitherthroughloveorthroughfear;andwhoknowsbutImayyetreapthesweetestandbestrevengeforherformerscorn？——thatwereindeedamasterpieceofcourtlikeart！

Letmebutoncebehercounsel—keeper——letherconfidetomeasecret，diditbutconcerntherobberyofalinnet\'snest，and，fairCountess，thouartmineown！"Heagainpacedtheroominsilence，stopped，filledanddrankacupofwine，asiftocomposetheagitationofhismind，andmuttering，"Nowforacloseheartandanopenandunruffledbrow，"helefttheapartment。

CHAPTERVI。

Thedewsofsummernightdidfall，Themoon，sweetregentofthesky，Silver\'dthewallsofCumnorHall，Andmanyanoakthatgrewthereby。MICKLE。

[Thisverseisthecommencementoftheballadalreadyquoted，aswhatsuggestedthenovel。]

Fourapartments;which，occupiedthewesternsideoftheoldquadrangleatCumnorPlace，hadbeenfittedupwithextraordinarysplendour。Thishadbeentheworkofseveraldayspriortothatonwhichourstoryopened。WorkmensentfromLondon，andnotpermittedtoleavethepremisesuntiltheworkwasfinished，hadconvertedtheapartmentsinthatsideofthebuildingfromthedilapidatedappearanceofadissolvedmonastichouseintothesemblanceofaroyalpalace。Amysterywasobservedinallthesearrangements:theworkmencamethitherandreturnedbynight，andallmeasuresweretakentopreventthepryingcuriosityofthevillagersfromobservingorspeculatinguponthechangeswhichweretakingplaceinthemansionoftheironceindigentbutnowwealthyneighbour，AnthonyFoster。Accordingly，thesecrecydesiredwassofarpreserved，thatnothinggotabroadbutvagueanduncertainreports，whichwerereceivedandrepeated，butwithoutmuchcreditbeingattachedtothem。

Ontheeveningofwhichwetreat，thenewandhighly—decoratedsuiteofroomswere，forthefirsttime，illuminated，andthatwithabrilliancywhichmighthavebeenvisiblehalf—a—dozenmilesoff，hadnotoakenshutters，carefullysecuredwithboltandpadlock，andmantledwithlongcurtainsofsilkandofvelvet，deeplyfringedwithgold，preventedtheslightestgleamofradiancefrontbeingseenwithout。

Theprincipalapartments，aswehaveseen，werefourinnumber，eachopeningintotheother。Accesswasgiventothembyalargescalestaircase，astheywerethencalled，ofunusuallengthandheight，whichhaditslanding—placeatthedoorofanantechamber，shapedsomewhatlikeagallery。Thisapartmenttheabbothadusedasanoccasionalcouncil—room，butitwasnowbeautifullywainscotedwithdark，foreignwoodofabrowncolour，andbearingahighpolish，saidtohavebeenbroughtfromtheWesternIndies，andtohavebeenwroughtinLondonwithinfinitedifficultyandmuchdamagetothetoolsoftheworkmen。Thedarkcolourofthisfinishingwasrelievedbythenumberoflightsinsilversconceswhichhungagainstthewalls，andbysixlargeandrichly—framedpictures，bythefirstmastersoftheage。Amassyoakentable，placedatthelowerendoftheapartment，servedtoaccommodatesuchaschosetoplayatthethenfashionablegameofshovel—board;andtherewasattheotherendanelevatedgalleryforthemusiciansorminstrels，whomightbesummonedtoincreasethefestivityoftheevening。

Fromthisantechamberopenedabanqueting—roomofmoderatesize，butbrilliantenoughtodazzletheeyesofthespectatorwiththerichnessofitsfurniture。Thewalls，latelysobareandghastly，werenowclothedwithhangingsofsky—bluevelvetandsilver;thechairswereofebony，richlycarved，withcushionscorrespondingtothehangings;andtheplaceofthesilversconceswhichenlightenedtheante—chamberwassuppliedbyahugechandelierofthesamepreciousmetal。ThefloorwascoveredwithaSpanishfoot—cloth，orcarpet，onwhichflowersandfruitswererepresentedinsuchglowingandnaturalcolours，thatyouhesitatedtoplacethefootonsuchexquisiteworkmanship。Thetable，ofoldEnglishoak，stoodreadycoveredwiththefinestlinen;andalargeportablecourt—cupboardwasplacedwiththeleavesofitsembossedfolding—doorsdisplayed，showingtheshelveswithin，decoratedwithafulldisplayofplateandporcelain。Inthemidstofthetablestoodasalt—cellarofItalianworkmanship——abeautifulandsplendidpieceofplateabouttwofeethigh，mouldedintoarepresentationofthegiantBriareus，whosehundredhandsofsilverpresentedtotheguestsvarioussortsofspices，orcondiments，toseasontheirfoodwithal。

Thethirdapartmentwascalledthewithdrawing—room。Itwashungwiththefinesttapestry，representingthefallofPhaeton;fortheloomsofFlanderswerenowmuchoccupiedonclassicalsubjects。Theprincipalseatofthisapartmentwasachairofstate，raisedasteportwofromthefloor，andlargeenoughtocontaintwopersons。Itwassurmountedbyacanopy，which，aswellasthecushions，side—curtains，andtheveryfootcloth，wascomposedofcrimsonvelvet，embroideredwithseed—pearl。Onthetopofthecanopyweretwocoronets，resemblingthoseofanearlandcountess。Stoolscoveredwithvelvet，andsomecushionsdisposedintheMoorishfashion，andornamentedwithArabesqueneedle—work，suppliedtheplaceofchairsinthisapartment，whichcontainedmusicalinstruments，embroideryframes，andotherarticlesforladies\'pastime。Besideslesserlights，thewithdrawing—roomwasilluminatedbyfourtalltorchesofvirginwax，eachofwhichwasplacedinthegraspofastatue，representinganarmedMoor，whoheldinhisleftarmaroundbucklerofsilver，highlypolished，interposedbetwixthisbreastandthelight，whichwasthusbrilliantlyreflectedasfromacrystalmirror。

Thesleepingchamberbelongingtothissplendidsuiteofapartmentswasdecoratedinatastelessshowy，butnotlessrich，thanhadbeendisplayedintheothers。Twosilverlamps，fedwithperfumedoil，diffusedatonceadeliciousodourandatremblingtwilight—seemingshimmerthroughthequietapartment。

Itwascarpetedsothickthattheheavieststepcouldnothavebeenheard，andthebed，richlyheapedwithdown，wasspreadwithanamplecoverletofsilkandgold;fromunderwhichpeepedforthcambricsheetsandblanketsaswhiteasthelambswhichyieldedthefleecethatmadethem。Thecurtainswereofbluevelvet，linedwithcrimsonsilk，deeplyfestoonedwithgold，andembroideredwiththelovesofCupidandPsyche。OnthetoiletwasabeautifulVenetianmirror，inaframeofsilverfiligree，andbesideitstoodagoldposset—dishtocontainthenight—

draught。Apairofpistolsandadagger，mountedwithgold，weredisplayedneartheheadofthebed，beingthearmsforthenight，whichwerepresentedtohonouredguests，rather，itmaybesupposed，inthewayofceremonythanfromanyapprehensionofdanger。Wemustnotomittomention，whatwasmoretothecreditofthemannersofthetime，thatinasmallrecess，illuminatedbyataper，weredisposedtwohassocksofvelvetandgold，correspondingwiththebedfurniture，beforeadeskofcarvedebony。Thisrecesshadformerlybeentheprivateoratoryoftheabbot;butthecrucifixwasremoved，andinsteadtherewereplacedonthedesk，twoBooksofCommonPrayer，richlybound，andembossedwithsilver。Withthisenviablesleepingapartment，whichwassofarremovedfromeverysoundsavethatofthewindsighingamongtheoaksofthepark，thatMorpheusmighthavecoveteditforhisownproperrepose，correspondedtwowardrobes，ordressing—roomsastheyarenowtermed，suitablyfurnished，andinastyleofthesamemagnificencewhichwehavealreadydescribed。Itoughttobeadded，thatapartofthebuildingintheadjoiningwingwasoccupiedbythekitchenanditsoffices，andservedtoaccommodatethepersonalattendantsofthegreatandwealthynobleman，forwhoseusethesemagnificentpreparationshadbeenmade。

Thedivinityforwhosesakethistemplehadbeendecoratedwaswellworthythecostandpainswhichhadbeenbestowed。Shewasseatedinthewithdrawing—roomwhichwehavedescribed，surveyingwiththepleasedeyeofnaturalandinnocentvanitythesplendourwhichhadbeensosuddenlycreated，asitwere，inherhonour。

For，asherownresidenceatCumnorPlaceformedthecauseofthemysteryobservedinallthepreparationsforopeningtheseapartments，itwassedulouslyarrangedthat，untilshetookpossessionofthem，sheshouldhavenomeansofknowingwhatwasgoingforwardinthatpartoftheancientbuilding，orofexposingherselftobeseenbytheworkmenengagedinthedecorations。Shehadbeen，therefore，introducedonthateveningtoapartofthemansionwhichshehadneveryetseen，sodifferentfromalltherestthatitappeared，incomparison，likeanenchantedpalace。Andwhenshefirstexaminedandoccupiedthesesplendidrooms，itwaswiththewildandunrestrainedjoyofarusticbeautywhofindsherselfsuddenlyinvestedwithasplendourwhichhermostextravagantwisheshadneverimagined，andatthesametimewiththekeenfeelingofanaffectionateheart，whichknowsthatalltheenchantmentthatsurroundsheristheworkofthegreatmagicianLove。

TheCountessAmy，therefore——fortothatrankshewasexaltedbyherprivatebutsolemnunionwithEngland\'sproudestEarl——hadforatimeflittedhastilyfromroomtoroom，admiringeachnewproofofherloverandherbridegroom\'staste，andfeelingthatadmirationenhancedassherecollectedthatallshegazeduponwasonecontinuedproofofhisardentanddevotedaffection。

"Howbeautifularethesehangings！Hownaturalthesepaintings，whichseemtocontendwithlife！Howrichlywroughtisthatplate，whichlooksasifallthegalleonsofSpainhadbeeninterceptedonthebroadseastofurnishitforth！Andoh，Janet！"sheexclaimedrepeatedlytothedaughterofAnthonyFoster，thecloseattendant，who，withequalcuriosity，butsomewhatlessecstaticjoy，followedonhermistress\'sfootsteps——"oh，Janet！howmuchmoredelightfultothinkthatallthesefairthingshavebeenassembledbyhislove，fortheloveofme！

andthatthisevening——thisveryevening，whichgrowsdarkereveryinstant，Ishallthankhimmoreforthelovethathascreatedsuchanunimaginableparadise，thanforallthewondersitcontains。"

"TheLordistobethankedfirst，"saidtheprettyPuritan，"whogavethee，lady，thekindandcourteoushusbandwhoselovehasdonesomuchforthee。I，too，havedonemypoorshare。Butifyouthusrunwildlyfromroomtoroom，thetoilofmycrispingandmycurlingpinswillvanishlikethefrost—workonthewindowwhenthesunishigh。"

"Thousayesttrue，Janet，"saidtheyoungandbeautifulCountess，stoppingsuddenlyfromhertrippingraceofenraptureddelight，andlookingatherselffromheadtofootinalargemirror，suchasshehadneverbeforeseen，andwhich，indeed，hadfewtomatchitevenintheQueen\'spalace——"thousayesttrue，Janet！"sheanswered，asshesaw，withpardonableself—applause，thenoblemirrorreflectsuchcharmsaswereseldompresentedtoitsfairandpolishedsurface;"Ihavemoreofthemilk—maidthanthecountess，withthesecheeksflushedwithhaste，andallthesebrowncurls，whichyoulabouredtobringtoorder，strayingaswildasthetendrilsofanunprunedvine。Myfallingruffischafedtoo，andshowstheneckandbosommorethanismodestandseemly。Come，Janet;wewillpractisestate——wewillgotothewithdrawing—room，mygoodgirl，andthoushaltputtheserebellocksinorder，andimprisonwithinlaceandcambricthebosomthatbeatstoohigh。"

Theywenttothewithdrawingapartmentaccordingly，wheretheCountessplayfullystretchedherselfuponthepileofMoorishcushions，halfsitting，halfreclining，halfwraptinherownthoughts，halflisteningtotheprattleofherattendant。

Whileshewasinthisattitude，andwithacorrespondingexpressionbetwixtlistlessnessandexpectationonherfineandintelligentfeatures，youmighthavesearchedseaandlandwithoutfindinganythinghalfsoexpressiveorhalfsolovely。

Thewreathofbrilliantswhichmixedwithherdark—brownhairdidnotmatchinlustrethehazeleyewhichalight—browneyebrow，pencilledwithexquisitedelicacy，andlongeyelashesofthesamecolour，relievedandshaded。Theexerciseshehadjusttaken，herexcitedexpectationandgratifiedvanity，spreadaglowoverherfinefeatures，whichhadbeensometimescensured（asbeautyaswellasarthasherminutecritics）forbeingrathertoopale。

Themilk—whitepearlsofthenecklacewhichshewore，thesamewhichshehadjustreceivedasatrue—lovetokenfromherhusband，wereexcelledinpuritybyherteeth，andbythecolourofherskin，savingwheretheblushofpleasureandself—

satisfactionhadsomewhatstainedtheneckwithashadeoflightcrimson。——"Now，havedonewiththesebusyfingers，Janet，"shesaidtoherhandmaiden，whowasstillofficiouslyemployedinbringingherhairandherdressintoorder——"havedone，Isay。I

mustseeyourfathereremylordarrives，andalsoMasterRichardVarney，whommylordhashighlyinhisesteem——butIcouldtellthatofhimwouldlosehimfavour。"

"Oh，donotdoso，goodmylady！"repliedJanet;"leavehimtoGod，whopunishesthewickedinHisowntime;butdonotyoucrossVarney\'spath，forsothoroughlyhathhemylord\'sear，thatfewhavethrivenwhohavethwartedhiscourses。"

"Andfromwhomhadyouthis，mymostrighteousJanet？"saidtheCountess;"orwhyshouldIkeeptermswithsomeanagentlemanasVarney，beingasIam，wifetohismasterandpatron？"

"Nay，madam，"repliedJanetFoster，"yourladyshipknowsbetterthanI;butIhaveheardmyfathersayhewouldrathercrossahungrywolfthanthwartRichardVarneyinhisprojects。Andhehasoftenchargedmetohaveacareofholdingcommercewithhim。"

"Thyfathersaidwell，girl，forthee，"repliedthelady，"andI

dareswearmeantwell。Itisapity，though，hisfaceandmannerdolittlematchhistruepurpose——forIthinkhispurposemaybetrue。"

"Doubtitnot，mylady，"answeredJanet——"doubtnotthatmyfatherpurposeswell，thoughheisaplainman，andhisbluntlooksmaybeliehisheart。"

"Iwillnotdoubtit，girl，wereitonlyforthysake;andyethehasoneofthosefaceswhichmentremblewhentheylookon。I

thinkeventhymother，Janet——nay，havedonewiththatpoking—

iron——couldhardlylookuponhimwithoutquaking。"