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there was a woman here！〃
〃I think you are all mad this morning；〃 said the sewer。 〃I saw
no woman here； nor no man neither in a proper sense； but only two
beasts rolling on the floor。〃
〃Nay； then I am undone；〃 said the jailer； 〃the prison's broken；
that is all。 Kenilworth prison is broken；〃 he continued； in a
tone of maudlin lamentation； 〃which was the strongest jail
betwixt this and the Welsh Marchesay； and a house that has had
knights； and earls； and kings sleeping in it； as secure as if
they had been in the Tower of London。 It is broken； the
prisoners fled； and the jailer in much danger of being hanged！〃
So saying； he retreated down to his own den to conclude his
lamentations； or to sleep himself sober。 Lambourne and the sewer
followed him close； and it was well for them； since the jailer；
out of mere habit； was about to lock the wicket after him； and
had they not been within the reach of interfering； they would
have had the pleasure of being shut up in the turret…chamber；
from which the Countess had been just delivered。
That unhappy lady； as soon as she found herself at liberty； fled；
as we have already mentioned； into the Pleasance。 She had seen
this richly…ornamented space of ground from the window of
Mervyn's Tower； and it occurred to her； at the moment of her
escape； that among its numerous arbours； bowers； fountains；
statues； and grottoes； she might find some recess in which she
could lie concealed until she had an opportunity of addressing
herself to a protector； to whom she might communicate as much as
she dared of her forlorn situation； and through whose means she
might supplicate an interview with her husband。
〃If I could see my guide；〃 she thought； 〃I would learn if he had
delivered my letter。 Even did I but see Tressilian； it were
better to risk Dudley's anger； by confiding my whole situation to
one who is the very soul of honour； than to run the hazard of
further insult among the insolent menials of this ill…ruled
place。 I will not again venture into an enclosed apartment。 I
will wait； I will watch； amidst so many human beings there must
be some kind heart which can judge and compassionate what mine
endures。〃
In truth； more than one party entered and traversed the
Pleasance。 But they were in joyous groups of four or five
persons together； laughing and jesting in their own fullness of
mirth and lightness of heart。
The retreat which she had chosen gave her the easy alternative of
avoiding observation。 It was but stepping back to the farthest
recess of a grotto； ornamented with rustic work and moss…seats；
and terminated by a fountain； and she might easily remain
concealed； or at her pleasure discover herself to any solitary
wanderer whose curiosity might lead him to that romantic
retirement。 Anticipating such an opportunity； she looked into
the clear basin which the silent fountain held up to her like a
mirror； and felt shocked at her own appearance； and doubtful at；
the same time； muffled and disfigured as her disguise made her
seem to herself； whether any female （and it was from the
compassion of her own sex that she chiefly expected sympathy）
would engage in conference with so suspicious an object。
Reasoning thus like a woman； to whom external appearance is
scarcely in any circumstances a matter of unimportance； and like
a beauty； who had some confidence in the power of her own charms；
she laid aside her travelling cloak and capotaine hat； and placed
them beside her； so that she could assume them in an instant； ere
one could penetrate from the entrance of the grotto to its
extremity； in case the intrusion of Varney or of Lambourne should
render such disguise necessary。 The dress which she wore under
these vestments was somewhat of a theatrical cast； so as to suit
the assumed personage of one of the females who was to act in the
pageant； Wayland had found the means of arranging it thus upon
the second day of their journey； having experienced the service
arising from the assumption of such a character on the preceding
day。 The fountain； acting both as a mirror and ewer； afforded
Amy the means of a brief toilette； of which she availed herself
as hastily as possible； then took in her hand her small casket of
jewels； in case she might find them useful intercessors； and
retiring to the darkest and most sequestered nook； sat down on a
seat of moss； and awaited till fate should give her some chance
of rescue； or of propitiating an intercessor。
CHAPTER XXXIV。
Have you not seen the partridge quake；
Viewing the hawk approaching nigh？
She cuddles close beneath the brake；
Afraid to sit； afraid to fly； PRIOR。
It chanced； upon that memorable morning； that one of the earliest
of the huntress train； who appeared from her chamber in full
array for the chase； was the Princess for whom all these
pleasures were instituted； England's Maiden Queen。 I know not if
it were by chance； or out of the befitting courtesy due to a
mistress by whom he was so much honoured； that she had scarcely
made one step beyond the threshold of her chamber ere Leicester
was by her side； and proposed to her； until the preparations for
the chase had been completed； to view the Pleasance； and the
gardens which it connected with the Castle yard。
To this new scene of pleasures they walked； the Earl's arm
affording his Sovereign the occasional support which she
required； where flights of steps； then a favourite ornament in a
garden； conducted them from terrace to terrace； and from parterre
to parterre。 The ladies in attendance； gifted with prudence； or
endowed perhaps with the amiable desire of acting as they would
be done by； did not conceive their duty to the Queen's person
required them； though they lost not sight of her； to approach so
near as to share； or perhaps disturb； the conversation betwixt
the Queen and the Earl； who was not only her host； but also her
most trusted； esteemed； and favoured servant。 They contented
themselves with admiring the grace of this illustrious couple；
whose robes of state were now exchanged for hunting suits； almost
equally magnificent。
Elizabeth's silvan dress； which was of a pale blue silk； with
silver lace and AIGUILLETTES； approached in form to that of the
ancient Amazons； and was therefore well suited at once to her
height and to the dignity of her mien； which her conscious rank
and long habits of authority had rendered in some degree too
masculine to be seen to the best advantage in ordinary female
weeds。 Leicester's hunting suit of Lincoln green； richly
embroidered with gold； and crossed by the gay baldric which
sustained a bugle…horn； and a wood…knife instead of a sword；
became its master； as did his other vestments of court or of war。
For such were the perfections of his form and mien； that
Leicester was always supposed to be seen to the greatest
advantage in the character and dress which for the time he
represented or wore。
The conversation of Elizabeth and the favourite Earl has not
reached us in detail。 But those who watched at some distance
（and the eyes of courtiers and court ladies are right sharp） were
of opinion that on no occasion di