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〃Nay； go on；〃 said the Countess； 〃I must learn to endure the evil
report which my folly has brought upon me。 They think； I
suppose； that I have left my father's house to follow lawless
pleasure。 It is an error which will soon be removedindeed it
shall； for I will live with spotless fame； or I shall cease to
live。I am accounted； then； the paramour of my Leicester？〃
〃Most men say of Varney；〃 said Janet； 〃yet some call him only the
convenient cloak of his master's pleasures； for reports of the
profuse expense in garnishing yonder apartments have secretly
gone abroad； and such doings far surpass the means of Varney。
But this latter opinion is little prevalent； for men dare hardly
even hint suspicion when so high a name is concerned； lest the
Star Chamber should punish them for scandal of the nobility。〃
〃They do well to speak low；〃 said the Countess； 〃who would
mention the illustrious Dudley as the accomplice of such a wretch
as Varney。We have reached the postern。 Ah！ Janet； I must bid
thee farewell！ Weep not； my good girl；〃 said she； endeavouring
to cover her own reluctance to part with her faithful attendant
under an attempt at playfulness； 〃and against we meet again；
reform me； Janet； that precise ruff of thine for an open rabatine
of lace and cut work； that will let men see thou hast a fair
neck； and that kirtle of Philippine chency； with that bugle lace
which befits only a chambermaid； into three…piled velvet and
cloth of goldthou wilt find plenty of stuffs in my chamber； and
I freely bestow them on you。 Thou must be brave； Janet； for
though thou art now but the attendant of a distressed and errant
lady； who is both nameless and fameless； yet； when we meet again；
thou must be dressed as becomes the gentlewoman nearest in love
and in service to the first Countess in England。〃
〃Now； may God grant it； dear lady！〃 said Janet〃not that I may
go with gayer apparel； but that we may both wear our kirtles over
lighter hearts。〃
By this time the lock of the postern door had； after some hard
wrenching； yielded to the master…key； and the Countess； not
without internal shuddering； saw herself beyond the walls which
her husband's strict commands had assigned to her as the boundary
of her walks。 Waiting with much anxiety for their appearance；
Wayland Smith stood at some distance； shrouding himself behind a
hedge which bordered the high…road。
〃Is all safe？〃 said Janet to him anxiously； as he approached
them with caution。
〃All；〃 he replied； 〃but I have been unable to procure a horse for
the lady。 Giles Gosling； the cowardly hilding； refused me one on
any terms whatever； lest； forsooth； he should suffer。 But no
matter； she must ride on my palfrey； and I must walk by her side
until I come by another horse。 There will be no pursuit； if you；
pretty Mistress Janet； forget not thy lesson。〃
〃No more than the wise widow of Tekoa forgot the words which Joab
put into her mouth；〃 answered Janet。 〃Tomorrow； I say that my
lady is unable to rise。〃
〃Ay； and that she hath aching and heaviness of the head a
throbbing at the heart； and lists not to be disturbed。 Fear not；
they will take the hint； and trouble thee with few questions
they understand the disease；〃
〃But；〃 said the lady； 〃My absence must be soon discovered； and
they will murder her in revenge。 I will rather return than
expose her to such danger。〃
〃Be at ease on my account； madam；〃 said Janet； 〃I would you were
as sure of receiving the favour you desire from those to whom you
must make appeal； as I am that my father； however angry； will
suffer no harm to befall me。〃
The Countess was now placed by Wayland upon his horse； around the
saddle of which he had placed his cloak； so folded as to make her
a commodious seat。
〃Adieu； and may the blessing of God wend with you！〃 said Janet；
again kissing her mistress's hand； who returned her benediction
with a mute caress。 They then tore themselves asunder； and
Janet； addressing Wayland； exclaimed； 〃May Heaven deal with you
at your need； as you are true or false to this most injured and
most helpless lady！〃
〃Amen！ dearest Janet；〃 replied Way＇and； 〃and believe me； I will
so acquit myself of my trust as may tempt even your pretty eyes；
saintlike as they are； to look less scornfully on me when we next
meet。〃
The latter part of this adieu was whispered into Janet's ear and
although she made no reply to it directly； yet her manner；
influenced； no doubt； by her desire to leave every motive in
force which could operate towards her mistress's safety； did not
discourage the hope which Wayland's words expressed。 She
re…entered the postern door； and locked it behind her； while；
Wayland taking the horse's bridle in his hand； and walking close
by its head； they began in silence their dubious and moonlight
journey。
Although Wayland Smith used the utmost dispatch which he could
make； yet this mode of travelling was so slow； that when morning
began to dawn through the eastern mist； he found himself no
farther than about ten miles distant from Cumnor。 〃Now； a plague
upon all smooth…spoken hosts！〃 said Wayland； unable longer to
suppress his mortification and uneasiness。 〃Had the false loon；
Giles Gosling； but told me plainly two days since that I was to
reckon nought upon him； I had shifted better for myself。 But
your hosts have such a custom of promising whatever is called for
that it is not till the steed is to be shod you find they are out
of iron。 Had I but known； I could have made twenty shifts； nay；
for that matter； and in so good a cause； I would have thought
little to have prigged a prancer from the next commonit had but
been sending back the brute to the headborough。 The farcy and
the founders confound every horse in the stables of the Black
Bear！〃
The lady endeavoured to comfort her guide； observing that the
dawn would enable him to make more speed。
〃True； madam；〃 he replied； 〃but then it will enable other folk to
take note of us； and that may prove an ill beginning of our
journey。 I had not cared a spark from anvil about the matter had
we been further advanced on our way。 But this Berkshire has been
notoriously haunted； ever since I knew the country； with that
sort of malicious elves who sit up late and rise early for no
other purpose than to pry into other folk's affairs。 I have been
endangered by them ere now。 But do not fear；〃 he added； 〃good
madam； for wit； meeting with opportunity； will not miss to find a
salve for every sore。〃
The alarms of her guide made more impression on the Countess's
mind than the comfort which he judged fit to administer along
with it。 She looked anxiously around her。 and as the shadows
withdrew from the landscape； and the heightening glow of the
eastern sky promised the speedy rise of the sun； expected at
every turn that the increasing light would expose them to the
view of the vengeful pursuers； or present some dangerous and
insurmountable obstacle to the prosecution of their journey。
Wayland Smith perceived her uneasiness； and； displeased with
himself for having given her cause of alarm； strode on with
affected alacrity； now talking to the horse as one expert