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could not at all times subdue； 〃you will have time enough to
enjoy undisturbed the society of one so gracious and beautiful
that is； so soon as such confinement in the Tower be over as may
correspond to the crime of deceiving the affections of Elizabeth
Tudor。 A cheaper penalty； I presume； you do not expect。〃
〃Malicious fiend！〃 answered Leicester； 〃do you mock me in my
misfortune？Manage it as thou wilt。〃
〃If you are serious； my lord；〃 said Varney； 〃you must set forth
instantly and post for Cumnor Place。〃
〃Do thou go thyself； Varney； the devil has given thee that sort
of eloquence which is most powerful in the worst cause。 I should
stand self…convicted of villainy； were I to urge such a deceit。
Begone； I tell thee； must I entreat thee to mine own dishonour？〃
〃No； my lord；〃 said Varney； 〃but if you are serious in entrusting
me with the task of urging this most necessary measure； you must
give me a letter to my lady； as my credentials； and trust to me
for backing the advice it contains with all the force in my
power。 And such is my opinion of my lady's love for your
lordship； and of her willingness to do that which is at once to
contribute to your pleasure and your safety； that I am sure she
will condescend to bear for a few brief days the name of so
humble a man as myself； especially since it is not inferior in
antiquity to that of her own paternal house。〃
Leicester seized on writing materials； and twice or thrice
commenced a letter to the Countess； which he afterwards tore into
fragments。 At length he finished a few distracted lines； in
which he conjured her； for reasons nearly concerning his life and
honour； to consent to bear the name of Varney for a few days；
during the revels at Kenilworth。 He added that Varney would
communicate all the reasons which rendered this deception
indispensable； and having signed and sealed these credentials； he
flung them over the table to Varney with a motion that he should
depart； which his adviser was not slow to comprehend and to obey。
Leicester remained like one stupefied； till he heard the
trampling of the horses； as Varney； who took no time even to
change his dress； threw himself into the saddle； and； followed by
a single servant； set off for Berkshire。 At the sound the Earl
started from his seat； and ran to the window； with the momentary
purpose of recalling the unworthy commission with which he had
entrusted one of whom he used to say he knew no virtuous property
save affection to his patron。 But Varney was already beyond
call； and the bright； starry firmament； which the age considered
as the Book of Fate； lying spread before Leicester when he opened
the casement； diverted him from his better and more manly
purpose。
〃There they roll； on their silent but potential course；〃 said the
Earl； looking around him； 〃without a voice which speaks to our
ear； but not without influences which affect； at every change；
the indwellers of this vile； earthly planet。 This； if
astrologers fable not； is the very crisis of my fate！ The hour
approaches of which I was taught to bewarethe hour； too； which
I was encouraged to hope for。 A King was the wordbut how？the
crown matrimonial。 All hopes of that are gonelet them go。 The
rich Netherlands have demanded me for their leader； and； would
Elizabeth consent； would yield to me THEIR crown。 And have I not
such a claim even in this kingdom？ That of York； descending from
George of Clarence to the House of Huntingdon； which； this lady
failing； may have a fair chanceHuntingdon is of my house。But
I will plunge no deeper in these high mysteries。 Let me hold my
course in silence for a while； and in obscurity； like a
subterranean river； the time shall come that I will burst forth
in my strength； and bear all opposition before me。〃
While Leicester was thus stupefying the remonstrances of his own
conscience； by appealing to political necessity for his apology；
or losing himself amidst the wild dreams of ambition； his agent
left town and tower behind him on his hasty journey to Berkshire。
HE also nourished high hope。 He had brought Lord Leicester to
the point which he had desired； of committing to him the most
intimate recesses of his breast； and of using him as the channel
of his most confidential intercourse with his lady。 Henceforward
it would； he foresaw； be difficult for his patron either to
dispense with his services； or refuse his requests； however
unreasonable。 And if this disdainful dame； as he termed the
Countess； should comply with the request of her husband； Varney；
her pretended husband； must needs become so situated with respect
to her； that there was no knowing where his audacity might be
bounded perhaps not till circumstances enabled him to obtain a
triumph； which he thought of with a mixture of fiendish feelings；
in which revenge for her previous scorn was foremost and
predominant。 Again he contemplated the possibility of her being
totally intractable； and refusing obstinately to play the part
assigned to her in the drama at Kenilworth。
〃Alasco must then do his part；〃 he said。 〃Sickness must serve
her Majesty as an excuse for not receiving the homage of Mrs。
Varneyay； and a sore and wasting sickness it may prove； should
Elizabeth continue to cast so favourable an eye on my Lord of
Leicester。 I will not forego the chance of being favourite of a
monarch for want of determined measures； should these be
necessary。 Forward； good horse； forwardambition and haughty
hope of power； pleasure； and revenge strike their stings as deep
through my bosom as I plunge the rowels in thy flanks。 On； good
horse； onthe devil urges us both forward！〃
CHAPTER XXII。
Say that my beauty was but small；
Among court ladies all despised；
Why didst thou rend it from that hall
Where； scornful Earl； 'twas dearly prized？
No more thou com'st with wonted speed；
Thy once beloved bride to see；
But be she alive； or be she dead；
I fear； stern Earl； 's the same to thee。
CUMNOR HALL； by WILLIAM JULIUS MICKLE。
The ladies of fashion of the present； or of any other period；
must have allowed that the young and lovely Countess of Leicester
had； besides her youth and beauty； two qualities which entitled
her to a place amongst women of rank and distinction。 She
displayed； as we have seen in her interview with the pedlar； a
liberal promptitude to make unnecessary purchases； solely for the
pleasure of acquiring useless and showy trifles which ceased to
please as soon as they were possessed； and she was； besides； apt
to spend a considerable space of time every day in adorning her
person； although the varied splendour of her attire could only
attract the half satirical praise of the precise Janet； or an
approving glance from the bright eyes which witnessed their own
beams of triumph reflected from the mirror。
The Countess Amy had； indeed； to plead for indulgence in those
frivolous tastes； that the education of the times had done little
or nothing for a mind naturally gay and averse to study。 If she
had not loved to collect finery and to wear it； she might have
woven tapestry or sewed embroidery； till h