第20章

"True——verytrue，"answeredWayland，forheitwas;"anexcellentdevice，butmethinkssomethingdangerous——for，sayFostershouldreturn？"

"Verypossibleindeed，"repliedthehost。

"Orsay，"continuedWay]and，"theladyshouldrendermecoldthanksformyexertions？"

"Asisnotunlikely，"repliedGilesGosling。"ImarvelMasterTressilianwilltakesuchheedofherthatcaresnotforhim。"

"IneithercaseIwerefoullysped，"saidWayland，"andthereforeIdonot，onthewhole，muchrelishyourdevice。"

"Nay，buttakemewithyou，goodmasterserving—man，"repliedminehost。"Thisisyourmaster\'sbusiness，andnotmine:，youbestknowtherisktobeencountered，orhowfaryouarewillingtobraveit。Butthatwhichyouwillnotyourselfhazard，youcannotexpectotherstorisk。"

"Hold，hold，"saidWayland;"tellmebutonething——goesyonderoldmanuptoCumnor？"

"Surely，Ithinkso？"saidthelandlord;"theirservantsaidhewastotaketheirbaggagethither。Buttheale—taphasbeenaspotentforhimasthesack—spigothasbeenforMichael。"

"Itisenough，"saidWayland，assuminganairofresolution。"I

willthwartthatoldvillain\'sprojects;myaffrightathisbalefulaspectbeginstoabate，andmyhatredtoarise。Helpmeonwithmypack，goodminehost。——Andlooktothyself，oldAlbumazar;thereisamalignantinfluenceinthyhoroscope，anditgleamsfromtheconstellationUrsaMajor。"

Sosaying，heassumedhisburden，and，guidedbythelandlordthroughtheposterngateoftheBlackBear，tookthemostprivatewayfromthenceuptoCumnorPlace。

CHAPTERXX。

CLOWN。Youhaveofthesepedlars，thathavemorein\'emthanyou\'dthink，sister。——WINTER\'STALE，ACTIV。，SCENE3。

InhisanxietytoobeytheEarl\'srepeatedchargesofsecrecy，aswellasfromhisownunsocialandmiserlyhabits，AnthonyFosterwasmoredesirous，byhismodeofhousekeeping，toescapeobservationthantoresistintrusivecuriosity。Thus，insteadofanumeroushousehold，tosecurehischarge，anddefendhishouse，hestudiedasmuchaspossibletoeludenoticebydiminishinghisattendants;sothat，unlesswhentherewerefollowersoftheEarl，orofVarney，inthemansion，oneoldmaledomestic，andtwoagedcrones，whoassistedinkeepingtheCountess\'sapartmentsinorder，weretheonlyservantsofthefamily。

ItwasoneoftheseoldwomenwhoopenedthedoorwhenWaylandknocked，andansweredhispetition，tobeadmittedtoexhibithiswarestotheladiesofthefamily，withavolleyofvituperation，couchedinwhatistherecalledtheJOWRINGdialect。Thepedlarfoundthemeansofcheckingthisvociferationbyslippingasilvergroatintoherhand，andintimatingthepresentofsomestuffforacoif，iftheladywouldbuyofhiswares。

"Godieldthee，formineisawinlittocks。Slocketwiththypackintogharn，mon——herwalksingharn。"Intothegardensheusheredthepedlaraccordingly，andpointingtoanold，ruinousgardenhouse，said，"Yonderbe\'sher，mon——yonderbe\'sher。Zhewillbuychangesanzheloikesstuffs。"

"ShehasleftmetocomeoffasImay，"thoughtWayland，asheheardthehagshutthegarden—doorbehindhim。"Buttheyshallnotbeatme，andtheydarenotmurderme，forsolittletrespass，andbythisfairtwilight。Hangit，Iwillon——abravegeneralneverthoughtofhisretreattillhewasdefeated。Iseetwofemalesintheoldgarden—houseyonder——buthowtoaddressthem？

Stay——WillShakespeare，bemyfriendinneed。IwillgivethematasteofAutolycus。"Hethensung，withagoodvoice，andbecomingaudacity，thepopularplayhouseditty，——

"Lawnaswhiteasdrivensnow，Cyprusblackase\'erwascrow，Glovesassweetasdamaskroses，Masksforfacesandfornoses。"

"Whathathfortunesentushereforanunwontedsight，Janet？"

saidthelady。

"Oneofthosemerchantsofvanity，calledpedlars，"answeredJanet，demurely，"whouttershislightwaresinlightermeasures。

ImarveloldDorcaslethimpass。"

"Itisaluckychance，girl，"saidtheCountess;"weleadaheavylifehere，andthismaywhileoffawearyhour。"

"Ay，mygraciouslady，"saidJanet;"butmyfather？"

"Heisnotmyfather，Janet，norIhopemymaster，"answeredthelady。"Isay，callthemanhither——Iwantsomethings。"

"Nay，"repliedJanet，"yourladyshiphasbuttosaysointhenextpacket，andifEnglandcanfurnishthemtheywillbesent。

Therewillcomemischiefon\'t——pray，dearestlady，letmebidthemanbegone！"

"Iwillhavetheebidhimcomehither，"saidtheCountess;——"orstay，thouterrifiedfool，Iwillbidhimmyself，andsparetheeachiding。"

"Ah！well—a—day，dearestlady，ifthatweretheworst，"saidJanetsadly;whiletheladycalledtothepedlar，"Goodfellow，stepforward——undothypack;ifthouhastgoodwares，chancehassenttheehitherformyconvenienceandthyprofit。"

"Whatmayyourladyshippleasetolack？"saidWayland，unstrappinghispack，anddisplayingitscontentswithasmuchdexterityasifhehadbeenbredtothetrade。Indeedhehadoccasionallypursueditinthecourseofhisrovinglife，andnowcommendedhiswareswithallthevolubilityofatrader，andshowedsomeskillinthemainartofplacingpricesuponthem。

"WhatdoIpleasetolack？"saidthelady，"why，consideringI

havenotforsixlongmonthsboughtoneyardoflawnorcambric，oronetrinket，themostinconsiderable，formyownuse，andatmyownchoice，thebetterquestionis，Whathastthougottosell？Layasideformethatcambricpartletandpairofsleeves——andthoseroundellsofgoldfringe，drawnoutwithcyprus——andthatshortcloakofcherry—colouredfinecloth，garnishedwithgoldbuttonsandloops;——isitnotofanabsolutefancy，Janet？"

"Nay，mylady，"repliedJanet，"ifyouconsultmypoorjudgment，itis，methinks，over—gaudyforagracefulhabit。"

"Now，outuponthyjudgment，ifitbenobrighter，wench，"saidtheCountess。"Thoushaltwearitthyselfforpenance\'sake;andIpromisetheethegoldbuttons，beingsomewhatmassive，willcomfortthyfather，andreconcilehimtothecherry—colouredbody。Seethathesnapthemnotaway，Janet，andsendthemtobearcompanywiththeimprisonedangelswhichhekeepscaptiveinhisstrong—box。"

"MayIprayyourladyshiptosparemypoorfather？"saidJanet。

"Nay，butwhyshouldanyonesparehimthatissosparingofhisownnature？"repliedthelady。——"Well，buttoourgear。Thatheadgarnitureformyself，andthatsilverbodkinmountedwithpearl;andtakeofftwogownsofthatrussetclothforDorcasandAlison，Janet，tokeeptheoldwretcheswarmagainstwintercomes。——Andstay——hastthounoperfumesandsweetbags，oranyhandsomecastingbottlesofthenewestmode？"

"WereIapedlarinearnest，Iwereamademerchant，"thoughtWayland，ashebusiedhimselftoanswerthedemandswhichshethrongedoneonanother，withtheeagernessofayoungladywhohasbeenlongsecludedfromsuchapleasingoccupation。"Buthowtobringhertoamoment\'sseriousreflection？"Thenasheexhibitedhischoicestcollectionofessencesandperfumes，heatoncearrestedherattentionbyobservingthatthesearticleshadalmostrisentodoublevaluesincethemagnificentpreparationsmadebytheEarlofLeicestertoentertaintheQueenandcourtathisprincelyCastleofKenilworth。

"Ha！"saidtheCountesshastily;"thatrumour，then，istrue，Janet。"

"Surely，madam，"answeredWayland;"andImarvelithathnotreachedyournobleladyship\'sears。TheQueenofEnglandfeastswiththenobleEarlforaweekduringtheSummer\'sProgress;andtherearemanywhowilltellyouEnglandwillhaveaking，andEngland\'sElizabeth——Godsaveher！——ahusband，eretheProgressbeover。"

"Theylielikevillains！"saidtheCountess，burstingforthimpatiently。

"ForGod\'ssake，madam，consider，"saidJanet，tremblingwithapprehension;"whowouldcumberthemselvesaboutpedlar\'stidings？"

"Yes，Janet！"exclaimedtheCountess;"right，thouhastcorrectedmejustly。Suchreports，blightingthereputationofEngland\'sbrightestandnoblestpeer，canonlyfindcurrencyamongstthemean，theabject，andtheinfamous！"

"MayIperish，lady，"saidWaylandSmith，observingthatherviolencedirecteditselftowardshim，"ifIhavedoneanythingtomeritthisstrangepassion！Ihavesaidbutwhatmanymensay。"

BythistimetheCountesshadrecoveredhercomposure，andendeavoured，alarmedbytheanxioushintsofJanet，tosuppressallappearanceofdispleasure。"Iwereloath，"shesaid，"goodfellow，thatourQueenshouldchangethevirginstylesodeartousherpeople——thinknotofit。"Andthen，asifdesiroustochangethesubject，sheadded，"Andwhatisthispaste，socarefullyputupinthesilverbox？"assheexaminedthecontentsofacasketinwhichdrugsandperfumeswerecontainedinseparatedrawers。

"Itisaremedy，Madam，foradisorderofwhichItrustyourladyshipwillneverhavereasontocomplain。Theamountofasmallturkey—bean，swalloweddailyforaweek，fortifiestheheartagainstthoseblackvapourswhicharisefromsolitude，melancholy，unrequitedaffection，disappointedhope——"

"Areyouafool，friend？"saidtheCountesssharply;"ordoyouthink，becauseIhavegood—naturedlypurchasedyourtrumperygoodsatyourroguishprices，thatyoumayputanygulleryyouwillonme？Whoeverheardthataffectionsoftheheartwerecuredbymedicinesgiventothebody？"

"Underyourhonourablefavour，"saidWayland，"Iamanhonestman，andIhavesoldmygoodsatanhonestprice。Astothismostpreciousmedicine，whenItolditsqualities，Iaskedyounottopurchaseit，sowhyshouldIlietoyou？Isaynotitwillcurearootedaffectionofthemind，whichonlyGodandtimecando;butIsaythatthisrestorativerelievestheblackvapourswhichareengenderedinthebodyofthatmelancholywhichbroodethonthemind。Ihaverelievedmanywithit，bothincourtandcity，andoflateoneMasterEdmundTressilian，aworshipfulgentlemaninCornwall，who，onsomeslightreceived，itwastoldme，wherehehadsethisaffections，wasbroughtintothatstateofmelancholywhichmadehisfriendsalarmedforhislife。"

Hepaused，andtheladyremainedsilentforsometime，andthenasked，withavoicewhichshestroveinvaintorenderfirmandindifferentinitstone，"Isthegentlemanyouhavementionedperfectlyrecovered？"

"Passably，madam，"answeredWayland;"hehathatleastnobodilycomplaint。"

"Iwilltakesomeofthemedicine，Janet，"saidtheCountess。"I

toohavesometimesthatdarkmelancholywhichovercloudsthebrain。"

"Youshallnotdoso，madam，"saidJanet;"whoshallanswerthatthisfellowvendswhatiswholesome？"

"Iwillmyselfwarrantmygoodfaith，"saidWayland;andtakingapartofthemedicine，heswalloweditbeforethem。TheCountessnowboughtwhatremained，asteptowhichJanet，byfurtherobjections，onlydeterminedherthemoreobstinately。Sheeventookthefirstdoseupontheinstant，andprofessedtofeelherheartlightenedandherspiritsaugmented——aconsequencewhich，inallprobability，existedonlyinherownimagination。Theladythenpiledthepurchasesshehadmadetogether，flungherpursetoJanet，anddesiredhertocomputetheamount，andtopaythepedlar;whilesheherself，asiftiredoftheamusementsheatfirstfoundinconversingwithhim，wishedhimgoodevening，andwalkedcarelesslyintothehouse，thusdeprivingWaylandofeveryopportunitytospeakwithherinprivate。Hehastened，however，toattemptanexplanationwithJanet。

"Maiden，"hesaid，"thouhastthefaceofonewhoshouldlovehermistress。Shehathmuchneedoffaithfulservice。"

"Andwelldeservesitatmyhands，"repliedJanet;"butwhatofthat？"

"Maiden，IamnotaltogetherwhatIseem，"saidthepedlar，loweringhisvoice。

"Thelessliketobeanhonestman，"saidJanet。

"Themoreso，"answeredWayland，"sinceIamnopedlar。"

"Gettheegonetheninstantly，orIwillcallforassistance，"

saidJanet;"myfathermusterethisbereturned。"

"Donotbesorash，"saidWayland;"youwilldowhatyoumayrepentof。Iamoneofyourmistress\'sfriends;andshehadneedofmore，notthatthoushouldstruinthoseshehath。"

"HowshallIknowthat？"saidJanet。

"Lookmeintheface，"saidWaylandSmith，"andseeifthoudostnotreadhonestyinmylooks。"

Andintruth，thoughbynomeanshandsome，therewasinhisphysiognomythesharp，keenexpressionofinventivegeniusandpromptintellect，which，joinedtoquickandbrillianteyes，awell—formedmouth，andanintelligentsmile，oftengivesgraceandinteresttofeatureswhicharebothhomelyandirregular。

Janetlookedathimwiththeslysimplicityofhersect，andreplied，"Notwithstandingthyboastedhonesty，friend，andalthoughIamnotaccustomedtoreadandpassjudgmentonsuchvolumesasthouhastsubmittedtomyperusal，IthinkIseeinthycountenancesomethingofthepedlar—somethingofthepicaroon。"

"Onasmallscale，perhaps，"saidWaylandSmith，laughing。"Butthisevening，orto—morrow，willanoldmancomehitherwiththyfather，whohasthestealthystepofthecat，theshrewdandvindictiveeyeoftherat，thefawningwileofthespaniel，thedeterminedsnatchofthemastiff——ofhimbeware，foryourownsakeandthatofyourdistress。Seeyou，fairJanet，hebringsthevenomoftheaspicundertheassumedinnocenceofthedove。

WhatprecisemischiefhemeditatestowardsyouIcannotguess，butdeathanddiseasehaveeverdoggedhisfootsteps。Saynoughtofthistothymistress;myartsuggeststomethatinherstatethefearofevilmaybeasdangerousasitsoperation。Butseethatshetakemyspecific，for"（heloweredhisvoice，andspokelowbutimpressivelyinherear）"itisanantidoteagainstpoison。——Hark，theyenterthegarden！"

Ineffect，asoundofnoisymirthandloudtalkingapproachedthegardendoor，alarmedbywhichWaylandSmithsprungintothemidstofathicketofovergrownshrubs，whileJanetwithdrewtothegarden—housethatshemightnotincurobservation，andthatshemightatthesametimeconceal，atleastforthepresent，thepurchasesmadefromthesupposedpedlar，whichlayscatteredonthefloorofthesummer—house。

Janet，however，hadnooccasionforanxiety。Herfather，hisoldattendant，LordLeicester\'sdomestic，andtheastrologer，enteredthegardenintumultandinextremeperplexity，endeavouringtoquietLambourne，whosebrainhadnowbecomecompletelyfiredwithliquor，andwhowasoneofthoseunfortunatepersonswho，beingoncestirredwiththevinousstimulus，donotfallasleeplikeotherdrunkards，butremainpartiallyinfluencedbyitformanyhours，untilatlength，bysuccessivedraughts，theyareelevatedintoastateofuncontrollablefrenzy。Likemanymeninthisstatealso，Lambourneneitherlostthepowerofmotion，speech，orexpression;but，onthecontrary，spokewithunwontedemphasisandreadiness，andtoldallthatatanothertimehewouldhavebeenmostdesiroustokeepsecret。

"What！"ejaculatedMichael，atthefullextentofhisvoice，"amItohavenowelcome，nocarouse，whenIhavebroughtfortunetoyourold，ruinousdog—houseintheshapeofadevil\'sally，thatcanchangeslate—shiversintoSpanishdollars？——Here，you，TonyFire—the—Fagot，Papist，Puritan，hypocrite，miser，profligate，devil，compoundedofallmen\'ssins，bowdownandreverencehimwhohasbroughtintothyhousetheverymammonthouworshippest。"

"ForGod\'ssake，"saidFoster，"speaklow——comeintothehouse——

thoushalthavewine，orwhateverthouwilt。"

"No，oldpuckfoist，Iwillhaveithere，"thunderedtheinebriatedruffian——"here，ALFRESCO，astheItalianhathit。No，no，Iwillnotdrinkwiththatpoisoningdevilwithindoors，tobechokedwiththefumesofarsenicandquick—silver;IlearnedfromvillainVarneytobewareofthat。"

"Fetchhimwine，inthenameofallthefiends！"saidthealchemist。

"Aha！andthouwouldstspiceitforme，oldTruepenny，wouldstthounot？Ay，Ishouldhavecopperas，andhellebore，andvitriol，andaquafortis，andtwentydevilishmaterialsbubblinginmybrain—panlikeacharmtoraisethedevilinawitch\'scauldron。Handmetheflaskthyself，oldTonyFire—the—Fagot——andletitbecool——Iwillhavenowinemulledatthepileoftheoldburntbishops。Orstay，letLeicesterbekingifhewill——good——

andVarney，villainVarney，grandvizier——why，excellent！——andwhatshallIbe，then？——why，emperor——EmperorLambourne！Iwillseethischoicepieceofbeautythattheyhavewalledupherefortheirprivatepleasures;Iwillhaveherthisverynighttoservemywine—cupandputonmynightcap。Whatshouldafellowdowithtwowives，werehetwentytimesanEarl？Answermethat，Tonyboy，youoldreprobate，hypocriticaldog，whomGodstruckoutofthebookoflife，buttormentedwiththeconstantwishtoberestoredtoit——youoldbishop—burning，blasphemousfanatic，answermethat。"

"Iwillstickmyknifetothehaftinhim，"saidFoster，inalowtone，whichtrembledwithpassion。

"FortheloveofHeaven，noviolence！"saidtheastrologer。"Itcannotbutbelookedcloselyinto。——Here，honestLambourne，wiltthoupledgemetothehealthofthenobleEarlofLeicesterandMasterRichardVarney？"

"Iwill，mineoldAlbumazar——Iwill，mytrustyvenderofratsbane。Iwouldkissthee，minehonestinfractoroftheLexJulia（astheysaidatLeyden），didstthounotflavoursodamnablyofsulphur，andsuchfiendishapothecary\'sstuff。——Heregoesit，upseyes——toVarneyandLeicestertwomorenoblemountingspirits——andmoredark—seeking，deep—diving，high—

flying，malicious，ambitiousmiscreants——well，Isaynomore，butIwillwhetmydaggeronhisheart—sponethatrefusestopledgeme！Andso，mymasters——"

Thusspeaking，Lambourneexhaustedthecupwhichtheastrologerhadhandedtohim，andwhichcontainednotwine，butdistilledspirits。Hesworehalfanoath，droppedtheemptycupfromhisgrasp，laidhishandonhisswordwithoutbeingabletodrawit，reeled，andfellwithoutsenseormotionintothearmsofthedomestic，whodraggedhimofftohischamber，andputhimtobed。

Inthegeneralconfusion，Janetregainedherlady\'schamberunobserved，tremblinglikeanaspenleaf，butdeterminedtokeepsecretfromtheCountessthedreadfulsurmiseswhichshecouldnothelpentertainingfromthedrunkenravingsofLambourne。Herfears，however，thoughtheyassumednocertainshape，keptpacewiththeadviceofthepedlar;andsheconfirmedhermistressinherpurposeoftakingthemedicinewhichhehadrecommended，fromwhichitisprobableshewouldotherwisehavedissuadedher。

NeitherhadtheseintimationsescapedtheearsofWayland，whoknewmuchbetterhowtointerpretthem。HefeltmuchcompassionatbeholdingsolovelyacreatureastheCountess，andwhomhehadfirstseeninthebosomofdomestichappiness，exposedtothemachinationsofsuchagangofvillains。Hisindignation，too，hadbeenhighlyexcitedbyhearingthevoiceofhisoldmaster，againstwhomhefelt，inequaldegree，thepassionsofhatredandfear。Henourishedalsoaprideinhisownartandresources;

and，dangerousasthetaskwas，hethatnightformedadeterminationtoattainthebottomofthemystery，andtoaidthedistressedlady，ifitwereyetpossible。FromsomewordswhichLambournehaddroppedamonghisravings，Waylandnow，forthefirsttime，feltinclinedtodoubtthatVarneyhadactedentirelyonhisownaccountinwooingandwinningtheaffectionsofthisbeautifulcreature。Fameassertedofthiszealousretainerthathehadaccommodatedhislordinformerloveintrigues;anditoccurredtoWaylandSmiththatLeicesterhimselfmightbethepartychieflyinterested。HermarriagewiththeEarlhecouldnotsuspect;buteventhediscoveryofsuchapassingintriguewithaladyofMistressAmyRobsart\'srankwasasecretofthedeepestimportancetothestabilityofthefavourite\'spoweroverElizabeth。"IfLeicesterhimselfshouldhesitatetostiflesucharumourbyverystrangemeans，"saidhetohimself，"hehasthoseabouthimwhowoulddohimthatfavourwithoutwaitingforhisconsent。IfIwouldmeddleinthisbusiness，itmustbeinsuchguiseasmyoldmasteruseswhenhecompoundshismannaofSatan，andthatiswithaclosemaskonmyface。SoIwillquitGilesGoslingto—morrow，andchangemycourseandplaceofresidenceasoftenasahuntedfox。IshouldliketoseethislittlePuritan，too，oncemore。ShelooksbothprettyandintelligenttohavecomeofsuchacaitiffasAnthonyFire—the—

Fagot。"

GilesGoslingreceivedtheadieusofWaylandratherjoyfullythanotherwise。ThehonestpublicansawsomuchperilincrossingthecourseoftheEarlofLeicester\'sfavouritethathisvirtuewasscarceabletosupporthiminthetask，andhewaswellpleasedwhenitwaslikelytoberemovedfromhisshouldersstill，however，professinghisgood—will，andreadiness，incaseofneed，todoMr。Tressilianorhisemissaryanyservice，insofarasconsistedwithhischaracterofapublican。

CHAPTERXXI。

Vaultingambition，thato\'erleapsitself，Andfallsont\'otherside。MACBETH。

ThesplendouroftheapproachingrevelsatKenilworthwasnowtheconversationthroughallEngland;andeverythingwascollectedathome，orfromabroad，whichcouldaddtothegaietyorgloryofthepreparedreceptionofElizabethatthehouseofhermostdistinguishedfavourite，MeantimeLeicesterappeareddailytoadvanceintheQueen\'sfavour。Hewasperpetuallybyhersideincouncil——willinglylistenedtointhemomentsofcourtlyrecreation——favouredwithapproacheseventofamiliarintimacy——

lookeduptobyallwhohadaughttohopeatcourt——courtedbyforeignministerswiththemostflatteringtestimoniesofrespectfromtheirsovereigns，——theALTEREGO，asitseemed，ofthestatelyElizabeth，whowasnowverygenerallysupposedtobestudyingthetimeandopportunityforassociatinghim，bymarriage，intohersovereignpower。

Amidsuchatideofprosperity，thisminionoffortuneandoftheQueen\'sfavourwasprobablythemostunhappymanintherealmwhichseemedathisdevotion。HehadtheFairyKing\'ssuperiorityoverhisfriendsanddependants，andsawmuchwhichtheycouldnot。Thecharacterofhismistresswasintimatelyknowntohim。Itwashisminuteandstudiedacquaintancewithherhumours，aswellashernoblefaculties，which，joinedtohispowerfulmentalqualities，andhiseminentexternalaccomplishments，hadraisedhimsohighinherfavour;anditwasthatveryknowledgeofherdispositionwhichledhimtoapprehendateveryturnsomesuddenandoverwhelmingdisgrace。Leicesterwaslikeapilotpossessedofachartwhichpointsouttohimallthepeculiaritiesofhisnavigation，butwhichexhibitssomanyshoals，breakers，andreefsofrocks，thathisanxiouseyereapslittlemorefromobservingthemthantobeconvincedthathisfinalescapecanbelittleelsethanmiraculous。

Infact，QueenElizabethhadacharacterstrangelycompoundedofthestrongestmasculinesense，withthosefoibleswhicharechieflysupposedpropertothefemalesex。Hersubjectshadthefullbenefitofhervirtues，whichfarpredominatedoverherweaknesses;buthercourtiers，andthoseaboutherperson，hadoftentosustainsuddenandembarrassingturnsofcaprice，andthesalliesofatemperwhichwasbothjealousanddespotic。Shewasthenursing—motherofherpeople，butshewasalsothetruedaughterofHenryVIII。;andthoughearlysufferingsandanexcellenteducationhadrepressedandmodified，theyhadnotaltogetherdestroyed，thehereditarytemperofthat"hard—ruledking。""Hermind，"saysherwittygodson，SirJohnHarrington，whohadexperiencedboththesmilesandthefrownswhichhedescribes，"wasofttimelikethegentleairthatcomethfromthewesternpointinasummer\'smorn——\'twassweetandrefreshingtoallaroundher。Herspeechdidwinallaffections。Andagain，shecouldputforthsuchalterations，whenobediencewaslacking，asleftnodoubtingWHOSEdaughtershewas。Whenshesmiled，itwasapuresunshine，thateveryonedidchoosetobaskin，iftheycould;butanoncameastormfromasuddengatheringofclouds，andthethunderfellinawondrousmanneronallalike。"

[NugaeAntiquae，vol。i。，pp。355，356—362。]

Thisvariabilityofdisposition，asLeicesterwellknew，waschieflyformidabletothosewhohadashareintheQueen\'saffections，andwhodependedratheronherpersonalregardthanontheindispensableserviceswhichtheycouldrendertohercouncilsandhercrown。ThefavourofBurleighorofWalsingham，ofadescriptionfarlessstrikingthanthatbywhichhewashimselfupheld，wasfounded，asLeicesterwaswellaware，onElizabeth\'ssolidjudgment，notonherpartiality，andwas，therefore，freefromallthoseprinciplesofchangeanddecaynecessarilyincidenttothatwhichchieflyarosefrompersonalaccomplishmentsandfemalepredilection。ThesegreatandsagestatesmenwerejudgedofbytheQueenonlywithreferencetothemeasurestheysuggested，andthereasonsbywhichtheysupportedtheiropinionsincouncil;whereasthesuccessofLeicester\'scoursedependedonallthoselightandchangeablegalesofcapriceandhumourwhichthwartorfavourtheprogressofaloverinthefavourofhismistress，andshe，too，amistresswhowaseverandanonbecomingfearfullestsheshouldforgetthedignity，orcompromisetheauthority，oftheQueen，whilesheindulgedtheaffectionsofthewoman。Ofthedifficultieswhichsurroundedhispower，"toogreattokeeportoresign，"Leicesterwasfullysensible;andashelookedanxiouslyroundforthemeansofmaintaininghimselfinhisprecarioussituation，andsometimescontemplatedthoseofdescendingfromitinsafety，hesawbutlittlehopeofeither。Atsuchmomentshisthoughtsturnedtodwelluponhissecretmarriageanditsconsequences;

anditwasinbitternessagainsthimself，ifnotagainsthisunfortunateCountess，thatheascribedtothathastymeasure，adoptedintheardourofwhathenowcalledinconsideratepassion，atoncetheimpossibilityofplacinghispoweronasolidbasis，andtheimmediateprospectofitsprecipitatedownfall。

"Mensay，"thusranhisthoughts，intheseanxiousandrepentantmoments，"thatImightmarryElizabeth，andbecomeKingofEngland。Allthingssuggestthis。Thematchiscarolledinballads，whiletherabblethrowtheircapsup。Ithasbeentoucheduponintheschools——whisperedinthepresence—chamber——

recommendedfromthepulpit——prayedforintheCalvinisticchurchesabroad——touchedonbystatistsintheverycouncilathome。Theseboldinsinuationshavebeenrebuttedbynorebuke，noresentment，nochiding，scarceevenbytheusualfemaleprotestationthatshewouldliveanddieavirginprincess。Herwordshavebeenmorecourteousthanever，thoughsheknowssuchrumoursareabroad——heractionsmoregracious，herlooksmorekind——noughtseemswantingtomakemeKingofEngland，andplacemebeyondthestormsofcourt—favour，exceptingtheputtingforthofmineownhandtotakethatcrownimperialwhichisthegloryoftheuniverse！AndwhenImightstretchthathandoutmostboldly，itisfettereddownbyasecretandinextricablebond！

AndhereIhavelettersfromAmy，"hewouldsay，catchingthemupwithamovementofpeevishness，"persecutingmetoacknowledgeheropenly——todojusticetoherandtomyself——andIwotnotwhat。MethinksIhavedonelessthanjusticetomyselfalready。

AndshespeaksasifElizabethweretoreceivetheknowledgeofthismatterwiththegleeofamotherhearingofthehappymarriageofahopefulson！She，thedaughterofHenry，whosparedneithermaninhisangernorwomaninhisdesire——shetofindherselftricked，drawnonwithtoysofpassiontothevergeofacknowledgingherlovetoasubject，andhediscoveredtobeamarriedman！——Elizabethtolearnthatshehadbeendalliedwithinsuchfashion，asagaycourtiermighttriflewithacountrywench——weshouldthensee，toourruin，FURENSQUIDFAEMINA！"

Hewouldthenpause，andcallforVarney，whoseadvicewasnowmorefrequentlyresortedtothanever，becausetheEarlrememberedtheremonstranceswhichhehadmadeagainsthissecretcontract。Andtheirconsultationusuallyterminatedinanxiousdeliberationhow，orinwhatmanner，theCountesswastobeproducedatKenilworth。ThesecommuningshadforsometimeendedalwaysinaresolutiontodelaytheProgressfromdaytoday。

Butatlengthaperemptorydecisionbecamenecessary。