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united； such powerful reasons to withdraw me from this place；
that I well trust he exaggerated much of my father's
indisposition； and that thy better news may be the truer。〃
〃Believe me they are； madam；〃 answered Varney。 〃I pretend not to
be a champion of that same naked virtue called truth； to the very
outrance。 I can consent that her charms be hidden with a veil；
were it but for decency's sake。 But you must think lower of my
head and heart than is due to one whom my noble lord deigns to
call his friend； if you suppose I could wilfully and
unnecessarily palm upon your ladyship a falsehood； so soon to be
detected； in a matter which concerns your happiness。〃
〃Master Varney；〃 said the Countess； 〃I know that my lord esteems
you； and holds you a faithful and a good pilot in those seas in
which he has spread so high and so venturous a sail。 Do not
suppose； therefore； I meant hardly by you； when I spoke the truth
in Tressilian's vindication。 I am as you well know； country…
bred； and like plain rustic truth better than courtly compliment；
but I must change my fashions with my sphere； I presume。〃
〃True； madam；〃 said Varney； smiling； 〃and though you speak now in
jest； it will not be amiss that in earnest your present speech
had some connection with your real purpose。 A court…dametake
the most noble； the most virtuous； the most unimpeachable that
stands around our Queen's thronewould； for example； have
shunned to speak the truth； or what she thought such； in praise
of a discarded suitor； before the dependant and confidant of her
noble husband。〃
〃And wherefore；〃 said the Countess； colouring impatiently；
〃should I not do justice to Tressilian's worth； before my
husband's friendbefore my husband himselfbefore the whole
world？〃
〃And with the same openness；〃 said Varney； 〃your ladyship will
this night tell my noble lord your husband that Tressilian has
discovered your place of residence； so anxiously concealed from
the world； and that he has had an interview with you？〃
〃Unquestionably；〃 said the Countess。 〃It will be the first thing
I tell him； together with every word that Tressilian said and
that I answered。 I shall speak my own shame in this； for
Tressilian's reproaches； less just than he esteemed them； were
not altogether unmerited。 I will speak； therefore； with pain；
but I will speak； and speak all。〃
〃Your ladyship will do your pleasure；〃 answered Varney； 〃but
methinks it were as well； since nothing calls for so frank a
disclosure； to spare yourself this pain； and my noble lord the
disquiet； and Master Tressilian； since belike he must be thought
of in the matter； the danger which is like to ensue。〃
〃I can see nought of all these terrible consequences；〃 said the
lady composedly； 〃unless by imputing to my noble lord unworthy
thoughts； which I am sure never harboured in his generous heart。〃
〃Far be it from me to do so；〃 said Varney。 And then； after a
moment's silence； he added； with a real or affected plainness of
manner； very different from his usual smooth courtesy； 〃Come；
madam； I will show you that a courtier dare speak truth as well
as another； when it concerns the weal of those whom he honours
and regards； ay； and although it may infer his own danger。〃 He
waited as if to receive commands； or at least permission； to go
on； but as the lady remained silent； he proceeded； but obviously
with caution。 〃Look around you；〃 he said； 〃noble lady； and
observe the barriers with which this place is surrounded； the
studious mystery with which the brightest jewel that England
possesses is secluded from the admiring gaze。 See with what
rigour your walks are circumscribed。 and your movement
restrained at the beck of yonder churlish Foster。 Consider all
this； and judge for yourself what can be the cause。
〃My lord's pleasure；〃 answered the Countess； 〃and I am bound to
seek no other motive。〃
〃His pleasure it is indeed；〃 said Varney； 〃and his pleasure
arises out of a love worthy of the object which inspires it。 But
he who possesses a treasure； and who values it； is oft anxious；
in proportion to the value he puts upon it； to secure it from the
depredations of others。〃
〃What needs all this talk； Master Varney？〃 said the lady； in
reply。 〃You would have me believe that my noble lord is
jealous。 Suppose it true； I know a cure for jealousy。〃
〃Indeed； madam？〃 said Varney。
〃It is；〃 replied the lady； 〃to speak the truth to my lord at all
timesto hold up my mind and my thoughts before him as pure as
that polished mirrorso that when he looks into my heart； he
shall only see his own features reflected there。〃
〃I am mute； madam answered Varney； 〃and as I have no reason to
grieve for Tressilian； who would have my heart's blood were he
able； I shall reconcile myself easily to what may befall the
gentleman in consequence of your frank disclosure of his having
presumed to intrude upon your solitude。 You； who know my lord so
much better than I； will judge if he be likely to bear the insult
unavenged。〃
〃Nay； if I could think myself the cause of Tressilian's ruin；〃
said the Countess； 〃I who have already occasioned him so much
distress； I might be brought to be silent。 And yet what will it
avail； since he was seen by Foster； and I think by some one else？
No； no； Varney； urge it no more。 I will tell the whole matter to
my lord； and with such pleading for Tressilian's folly； as shall
dispose my lord's generous heart rather to serve than to punish
him。〃
〃Your judgment； madam；〃 said Varney； 〃is far superior to mine；
especially as you may； if you will； prove the ice before you step
on it； by mentioning Tressilian's name to my lord； and observing
how he endures it。 For Foster and his attendant； they know not
Tressilian by sight； and I can easily give them some reasonable
excuse for the appearance of an unknown stranger。〃
The lady paused for an instant； and then replied； 〃If； Varney； it
be indeed true that Foster knows not as yet that the man he saw
was Tressilian； I own I were unwilling he should learn what
nowise concerns him。 He bears himself already with austerity
enough； and I wish him not to be judge or privy…councillor in my
affairs。〃
〃Tush；〃 said Varney； 〃what has the surly groom to do with your
ladyship's concerns？no more； surely； than the ban…dog which
watches his courtyard。 If he is in aught distasteful to your
ladyship； I have interest enough to have him exchanged for a
seneschal that shall be more agreeable to you。〃
〃Master Varney；〃 said the Countess； 〃let us drop this theme。
When I complain of the attendants whom my lord has placed around
me； it must be to my lord himself。Hark！ I hear the trampling
of horse。 He comes！ he comes！〃 she exclaimed； jumping up in
ecstasy。
〃I cannot think it is he；〃 said Varney； 〃or that you can hear the
tread of his horse through the closely…mantled casements。〃
〃Stop me not； Varneymy ears are keener than thine。 It is he！〃
〃But； madam！but； madam！〃 exclaimed Varney anxiously； and still
placing himself in her way； 〃I trust that what I have spoken in
humble duty and service will not be turned to my ruin？ I hope
that my faithful advice will not be bewray