"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-dame--take the most noble,

the most virtuous, the most unimpeachable that stands around our Queen's

throne--would, 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 friend--before my

husband himself--before 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.




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