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though I may have some room to be displeased with both； it shall
be their own fault if ever a complaint against them reaches the
Earl through my means。 Call them hither； Janet。〃
Janet Foster obeyed her mistress； and in a few minutes after；
Varney entered the withdrawing…room with the graceful ease and
unclouded front of an accomplished courtier； skilled； under the
veil of external politeness； to disguise his own feelings and to
penetrate those of others。 Anthony Foster plodded into the
apartment after him； his natural gloomy vulgarity of aspect
seeming to become yet more remarkable； from his clumsy attempt to
conceal the mixture of anxiety and dislike with which he looked
on her； over whom he had hitherto exercised so severe a control；
now so splendidly attired； and decked with so many pledges of the
interest which she possessed in her husband's affections。 The
blundering reverence which he made； rather AT than TO the
Countess； had confession in it。 It was like the reverence which
the criminal makes to the judge； when he at once owns his guilt
and implores mercywhich is at the same time an impudent and
embarrassed attempt at defence or extenuation； a confession of a
fault； and an entreaty for lenity。
Varney； who； in right of his gentle blood； had pressed into the
room before Anthony Foster； knew better what to say than he； and
said it with more assurance and a better grace。
The Countess greeted him indeed with an appearance of cordiality；
which seemed a complete amnesty for whatever she might have to
complain of。 She rose from her seat； and advanced two steps
towards him； holding forth her hand as she said； 〃Master Richard
Varney； you brought me this morning such welcome tidings； that I
fear surprise and joy made me neglect my lord and husband's
charge to receive you with distinction。 We offer you our hand；
sir； in reconciliation。〃
〃I am unworthy to touch it；〃 said Varney； dropping on one knee；
〃save as a subject honours that of a prince。〃
He touched with his lips those fair and slender fingers； so
richly loaded with rings and jewels； then rising； with graceful
gallantry； was about to hand her to the chair of state； when she
said； 〃No； good Master Richard Varney； I take not my place there
until my lord himself conducts me。 I am for the present but a
disguised Countess； and will not take dignity on me until
authorized by him whom I derive it from。〃
〃I trust； my lady；〃 said Foster； 〃that in doing the commands of
my lord your husband； in your restraint and so forth； I have not
incurred your displeasure； seeing that I did but my duty towards
your lord and mine； for Heaven； as holy writ saith； hath given
the husband supremacy and dominion over the wifeI think it runs
so； or something like it。〃
〃I receive at this moment so pleasant a surprise； Master Foster；〃
answered the Countess； 〃that I cannot but excuse the rigid
fidelity which secluded me from these apartments； until they had
assumed an appearance so new and so splendid。〃
〃Ay lady；〃 said Foster； 〃it hath cost many a fair crown； and that
more need not be wasted than is absolutely necessary； I leave you
till my lord's arrival with good Master Richard Varney； who； as I
think； hath somewhat to say to you from your most noble lord and
husband。Janet； follow me； to see that all be in order。〃
〃No； Master Foster；〃 said the Countess； 〃we will your daughter
remains here in our apartmentout of ear…shot； however； in case
Varney bath ought to say to me from my lord。〃
Foster made his clumsy reverence； and departed； with an aspect
which seemed to grudge the profuse expense which had been wasted
upon changing his house from a bare and ruinous grange to an
Asiastic palace。 When he was gone； his daughter took her
embroidery frame； and went to establish herself at the bottom of
the apartment； while Richard Varney； with a profoundly humble
courtesy； took the lowest stool he could find； and placing it by
the side of the pile of cushions on which the Countess had now
again seated herself； sat with his eyes for a time fixed on the
ground； and in pro…found silence
〃I thought； Master Varney；〃 said the Countess； when she saw he
was not likely to open the conversation； 〃that you had something
to communicate from my lord and husband； so at least I understood
Master Foster； and therefore I removed my waiting…maid。 If I am
mistaken； I will recall her to my side； for her needle is not so
absolutely perfect in tent and cross…stitch； but that my
superintendence is advisable。〃
〃Lady；〃 said Varney； 〃Foster was partly mistaken in my purpose。
It was not FROM but OF your noble husband； and my approved and
most noble patron； that I am led； and indeed bound； to speak。〃
〃The theme is most welcome； sir；〃 said the Countess； 〃whether it
be of or from my noble husband。 But be brief； for I expect his
hasty approach。〃
〃Briefly then； madam；〃 replied Varney； 〃and boldly； for my
argument requires both haste and courageyou have this day seen
Tressilian？〃
〃I have； sir and what of that？〃 answered the lady somewhat
sharply。
〃Nothing that concerns me； lady；〃 Varney replied with humility。
〃But； think you； honoured madam； that your lord will hear it with
equal equanimity？〃
〃And wherefore should he not？ To me alone was Tressilian's visit
embarrassing and painful； for he brought news of my good father's
illness。〃
〃Of your father's illness； madam！〃 answered Varney。 〃It must
have been sudden thenvery sudden； for the messenger whom I
dispatched； at my lord's instance； found the good knight on the
hunting field； cheering his beagles with his wonted jovial field…
cry。 I trust Tressilian has but forged this news。 He hath his
reasons； madam； as you well know； for disquieting your present
happiness。〃
〃You do him injustice； Master Varney；〃 replied the Countess； with
animation〃you do him much injustice。 He is the freest； the
most open； the most gentle heart that breathes。 My honourable
lord ever excepted； I know not one to whom falsehood is more
odious than to Tressilian。〃
〃I crave your pardon； madam；〃 said Varney； 〃I meant the gentleman
no injusticeI knew not how nearly his cause affected you。 A
man may； in some circumstances； disguise the truth for fair and
honest purpose； for were it to be always spoken； and upon all
occasions； this were no world to live in。〃
〃You have a courtly conscience； Master Varney；〃 said the
Countess； 〃and your veracity will not； I think； interrupt your
preferment in the world； such as it is。 But touching Tressilian
I must do him justice； for I have done him wrong； as none knows
better than thou。 Tressilian's conscience is of other mouldthe
world thou speakest of has not that which could bribe him from
the way of truth and honour； and for living in it with a soiled
fame； the ermine would as soon seek to lodge in the den of the
foul polecat。 For this my father loved him； for this I would
have loved himif I could。 And yet in this case he had what
seemed to him； unknowing alike of my marriage and to whom I was
united； such powerful reasons to withdraw me from this place；
that I well trust he exaggerated much of my father's
indisposition； and t