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 my latest word, thou

art an equal stranger to both."

Varney replied only she was at liberty to choose, and walked some paces

before them to show the way; while, half leaning on Foster, and half

carried by him, the Countess was transported from Saintlowe's Tower to

the postern gate, where Tider waited with the litter and horses.

The Countess was placed in the former without resistance. She saw with

some satisfaction that, while Foster and Tider rode close by the litter,

which the latter conducted, the dreaded Varney lingered behind, and was

soon lost in darkness. A little while she strove, as the road winded

round the verge of the lake, to keep sight of those stately towers which

called her husband lord, and which still, in some places, sparkled with

lights, where wassailers were yet revelling. But when the direction of

the road rendered this no longer possible, she drew back her head,

and sinking down in the litter, recommended herself to the care of

Providence.




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