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asleep； when Varney； completely equipped for travelling； and with
a dark lantern in his hand； entered his apartment。 He paused an
instant to listen to what his associate was murmuring in his
sleep； and could plainly distinguish the words； 〃AVE MARIAORA
PRO NOBIS。 No； it runs not sodeliver us from evilay； so it
goes。〃
〃Praying in his sleep；〃 said Varney； 〃and confounding his old and
new devotions。 He must have more need of prayer ere I am done
with him。What ho！ holy man； most blessed penitent！awake
awake！ The devil has not discharged you from service yet。〃
As Varney at the same time shook the sleeper by the arm； it
changed the current of his ideas； and he roared out； 〃Thieves！
thieves！ I will die in defence of my goldmy hard…won gold
that has cost me so dear。 Where is Janet？Is Janet safe？〃
〃Safe enough； thou bellowing fool！〃 said Varney； 〃art thou not
ashamed of thy clamour？〃
Foster by this time was broad awake； and sitting up in his bed；
asked Varney the meaning of so untimely a visit。 〃It augurs
nothing good；〃 he added。
〃A false prophecy； most sainted Anthony；〃 returned Varney； 〃it
augurs that the hour is come for converting thy leasehold into
copyhold。 What sayest thou to that？〃
〃Hadst thou told me this in broad day；〃 said Foster； 〃I had
rejoiced； but at this dead hour； and by this dim light； and
looking on thy pale face； which is a ghastly contradiction to thy
light words； I cannot but rather think of the work that is to be
done； than the guerdon to be gained by it。〃
〃Why； thou fool； it is but to escort thy charge back to Cumnor
Place。〃
〃Is that indeed all？〃 said Foster； 〃thou lookest deadly pale；
and thou art not moved by triflesis that indeed all？〃
〃Ay； thatand maybe a trifle more；〃 said Varney。
〃Ah； that trifle more！〃 said Foster； 〃still thou lookest paler
and paler。〃
〃Heed not my countenance；〃 said Varney； 〃you see it by this
wretched light。 Up and be doing； man。 Think of Cumnor Place
thine own proper copyhold。 Why； thou mayest found a weekly
lectureship； besides endowing Janet like a baron's daughter。
Seventy pounds and odd。〃
〃Seventy…nine pounds； five shillings and fivepence half…penny；
besides the value of the wood；〃 said Foster； 〃and I am to have it
all as copyhold？〃
〃All； mansquirrels and all。 No gipsy shall cut the value of a
broomno boy so much as take a bird's nestwithout paying thee
a quittance。Ay； that is rightdon thy matters as fast as
possible； horses and everything are ready； all save that accursed
villain Lambourne； who is out on some infernal gambol。〃
〃Ay； Sir Richard；〃 said Foster； 〃you would take no advice。 I
ever told you that drunken profligate would fail you at need。
Now I could have helped you to a sober young man。〃
〃What； some slow…spoken； long…breathed brother of the
congregation？ Why； we shall have use for such also； man。 Heaven
be praised； we shall lack labourers of every kind。Ay； that is
rightforget not your pistols。 Come now； and let us away。〃
〃Whither？〃 said Anthony。
〃To my lady's chamber； and； mind； she MUST along with us。 Thou
art not a fellow to be startled by a shriek？〃
〃Not if Scripture reason can be rendered for it； and it is
written； 'Wives obey your husbands。' But will my lord's commands
bear us out if we use violence？〃
〃Tush； man！ here is his signet；〃 answered Varney； and having
thus silenced the objections of his associate； they went together
to Lord Hunsdon's apartments； and acquainting the sentinel with
their purpose； as a matter sanctioned by the Queen and the Earl
of Leicester； they entered the chamber of the unfortunate
Countess。
The horror of Amy may be conceived when； starting from a broken
slumber； she saw at her bedside Varney； the man on earth she most
feared and hated。 It was even a consolation to see that he was
not alone； though she had so much reason to dread his sullen
companion。
〃Madam；〃 said Varney； 〃there is no time for ceremony。 My Lord of
Leicester； having fully considered the exigencies of the time；
sends you his orders immediately to accompany us on our return to
Cumnor Place。 See； here is his signet； in token of his instant
and pressing commands。〃
〃It is false！〃 said the Countess； 〃thou hast stolen the warrant
thou； who art capable of every villainy； from the blackest to
the basest！〃
〃It is TRUE； madam；〃 replied Varney； 〃so true； that if you do not
instantly arise； and prepare to attend us； we must compel you to
obey our orders。〃
〃Compel！ Thou darest not put it to that issue； base as thou
art！〃 exclaimed the unhappy Countess。
〃That remains to be proved； madam；〃 said Varney； who had
determined on intimidation as the only means of subduing her high
spirit； 〃if you put me to it； you will find me a rough groom of
the chambers。〃
It was at this threat that Amy screamed so fearfully that； had it
not been for the received opinion of her insanity； she would
quickly have had Lord Hunsdon and others to her aid。 Perceiving；
however； that her cries were vain； she appealed to Foster in the
most affecting terms； conjuring him； as his daughter Janet's
honour and purity were dear to him； not to permit her to be
treated with unwomanly violence。
〃Why； madam； wives must obey their husbands…there's Scripture
warrant for it；〃 said Foster； 〃and if you will dress yourself；
and come with us patiently； there's no one shall lay finger on
you while I can draw a pistol…trigger。〃
Seeing no help arrive； and comforted even by the dogged language
of Foster； the Countess promised to arise and dress herself； if
they would agree to retire from the room。 Varney at the same
time assured her of all safety and honour while in their hands；
and promised that he himself would not approach her； since his
presence was so displeasing。 Her husband； he added； would be at
Cumnor Place within twenty…four hours after they had reached it。
Somewhat comforted by this assurance； upon which； however； she
saw little reason to rely； the unhappy Amy made her toilette by
the assistance of the lantern； which they left with her when they
quitted the apartment。
Weeping； trembling； and praying； the unfortunate lady dressed
herself with sensations how different from the days in which she
was wont to decorate herself in all the pride of conscious
beauty！ She endeavoured to delay the completing her dress as
long as she could； until； terrified by the impatience of Varney；
she was obliged to declare herself ready to attend them。
When they were about to move； the Countess clung to Foster with
such an appearance of terror at Varney's approach that the latter
protested to her； with a deep oath； that he had no intention
whatever of even coming near her。 〃If you do but consent to
execute your husband's will in quietness； you shall；〃 he said；
〃see but little of me。 I will leave you undisturbed to the care
of the usher whom your good taste prefers。〃
〃My husband's will！〃 she exclaimed。 〃But it is the will of God；
and let that be sufficient to me。 I will go with Master Foster
as unresistingly as ever did a literal sacrifice。 He is a father
at least； and will have decency； if not humanity。 For thee；
Varney； were it