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dutiful address to her Majesty； and mounting his horse； rode back
to Kenilworth by a remote and circuitous road； and entered the
Castle by a small sallyport in the western wall； at which he was
readily admitted as one of the followers of the Earl of Sussex；
towards whom Leicester had commanded the utmost courtesy to be
exercised。 It was thus that he met not Wayland； who was
impatiently watching his arrival； and whom he himself would have
been at least equally desirous to see。
Having delivered his horse to the charge of his attendant； he
walked for a space in the Pleasance and in the garden； rather to
indulge in comparative solitude his own reflections； than to
admire those singular beauties of nature and art which the
magnificence of Leicester had there assembled。 The greater part
of the persons of condition had left the Castle for the present；
to form part of the Earl's cavalcade； others； who remained
behind； were on the battlements； outer walls； and towers； eager
to view the splendid spectacle of the royal entry。 The garden；
therefore； while every other part of the Castle resounded with
the human voice； was silent but for the whispering of the leaves；
the emulous warbling of the tenants of a large aviary with their
happier companions who remained denizens of the free air； and the
plashing of the fountains； which； forced into the air from
sculptures of fatastic and grotesque forms； fell down with
ceaseless sound into the great basins of Italian marble。
The melancholy thoughts of Tressilian cast a gloomy shade on all
the objects with which he was surrounded。 He compared the
magnificent scenes which he here traversed with the deep woodland
and wild moorland which surrounded Lidcote Hall； and the image of
Amy Robsart glided like a phantom through every landscape which
his imagination summoned up。 Nothing is perhaps more dangerous
to the future happiness of men of deep thought and retired habits
than the entertaining an early； long； and unfortunate attachment。
It frequently sinks so deep into the mind that it becomes their
dream by night and their vision by daymixes itself with every
source of interest and enjoyment； and when blighted and withered
by final disappointment； it seems as if the springs of the heart
were dried up along with it。 This aching of the heart； this
languishing after a shadow which has lost all the gaiety of its
colouring； this dwelling on the remembrance of a dream from which
we have been long roughly awakened； is the weakness of a gentle
and generous heart； and it was that of Tressilian。
He himself at length became sensible of the necessity of forcing
other objects upon his mind； and for this purpose he left the
Pleasance； in order to mingle with the noisy crowd upon the
walls； and view the preparation for the pageants。 But as he left
the garden； and heard the busy hum； mixed with music and
laughter； which floated around him； he felt an uncontrollable
reluctance to mix with society whose feelings were in a tone so
different from his own； and resolved； instead of doing so； to
retire to the chamber assigned him； and employ himself in study
until the tolling of the great Castle bell should announce the
arrival of Elizabeth。
Tressilian crossed accordingly by the passage betwixt the immense
range of kitchens and the great hall； and ascended to the third
story of Mervyn's Tower； and applying himself to the door of the
small apartment which had been allotted to him； was surprised to
find it was locked。 He then recollected that the deputy…
chamberlain had given him a master…key； advising him； in the
present confused state of the Castle； to keep his door as much
shut as possible。 He applied this key to the lock； the bolt
revolved； he entered； and in the same instant saw a female form
seated in the apartment； and recognized that form to be； Amy
Robsart。 His first idea was that a heated imagination had raised
the image on which it doted into visible existence； his second；
that he beheld an apparition； the third and abiding conviction；
that it was Amy herself； paler； indeed； and thinner； than in the
days of heedless happiness； when she possessed the form and hue
of a wood…nymph； with the beauty of a sylphbut still Amy；
unequalled in loveliness by aught which had ever visited his
eyes。
The astonishment of the Countess was scarce less than that of
Tressilian； although it was of shorter duration； because she had
heard from Wayland that he was in the Castle。 She had started up
at his first entrance； and now stood facing him； the paleness of
her cheeks having given way to a deep blush。
〃Tressilian；〃 she said； at length； 〃why come you here？〃
〃Nay； why come you here； Amy；〃 returned Tressilian； 〃unless it be
at length to claim that aid； which； as far as one man's heart and
arm can extend； shall instantly be rendered to you？〃
She was silent a moment； and then answered in a sorrowful rather
than an angry tone； 〃I require no aid； Tressilian； and would
rather be injured than benefited by any which your kindness can
offer me。 Believe me； I am near one whom law and love oblige to
protect me。〃
〃The villain； then； hath done you the poor justice which remained
in his power；〃 said Tressilian； 〃and I behold before me the wife
of Varney！〃
〃The wife of Varney！〃 she replied； with all the emphasis of
scorn。 〃With what base name； sir； does your boldness stigmatize
thethethe〃 She hesitated； dropped her tone of scorn； looked
down； and was confused and silent； for she recollected what fatal
consequences might attend her completing the sentence with 〃the
Countess of Leicester；〃 which were the words that had naturally
suggested themselves。 It would have been a betrayal of the
secret； on which her husband had assured her that his fortunes
depended； to Tressilian； to Sussex； to the Queen； and to the
whole assembled court。 〃Never；〃 she thought； 〃will I break my
promised silence。 I will submit to every suspicion rather than
that。〃
The tears rose to her eyes； as she stood silent before
Tressilian； while； looking on her with mingled grief and pity； he
said； 〃Alas！ Amy； your eyes contradict your tongue。 That
speaks of a protector； willing and able to watch over you； but
these tell me you are ruined； and deserted by the wretch to whom
you have attached yourself。〃
She looked on him with eyes in which anger sparkled through her
tears； but only repeated the word 〃wretch！〃 with a scornful
emphasis。
〃Yes； WRETCH！〃 said Tressilian； 〃for were he aught better； why
are you here； and alone； in my apartment？ why was not fitting
provision made for your honourable reception？〃
〃In your apartment？〃 repeated Amy〃in YOUR apartment？ It shall
instantly be relieved of my presence。〃 She hastened towards the
door； but the sad recollection of her deserted state at once
pressed on her mind； and pausing on the threshold； she added； in
a tone unutterably pathetic； 〃Alas！ I had forgotI know not
where to go〃
〃I seeI see it all；〃 said Tressilian； springing to her side；
and leading her back to the seat； on which she sunk down。 〃You
DO need aidyou do need protection； though you will not own it；
and you shall not nee