CHAPTER XXIII.
Now God be good to me in this wild pilgrimage! All hope in human aid I cast behind me. Oh, who would be a woman?--who that fool, A weeping, pining, faithful, loving woman? She hath hard measure still where she hopes kindest, And all her bounties only make ingrates. LOVE'S PILGRIMAGE.
The summer evening was closed, and Janet, just when her longer staymight have occasioned suspicion and inquiry in that zealous household,returned to Cumnor Place, and hastened to the apartment in which shehad left her lady. She found her with her head resting on her arms, andthese crossed upon a table which stood before her. As Janet came in, sheneither looked up nor stirred.
Her faithful attendant ran to her mistress with the speed of lightning,and rousing her at the same time with her hand, conjured the Countess,in the most earnest manner, to look up and say what thus affectedher. The unhappy lady raised her head accordingly, and looking on herattendant with a ghastly eye, and cheek as pale as clay--"Janet," shesaid, "I have drunk it."
"God be praised!" said Janet hastily--"I mean, God be praised that it isno worse; the potion will not harm you. Rise, shake this lethargy fromyour limbs, and this despair from your mind."
"Janet," repeated the Countess again, "disturb me not--leave me atpeace--let life pass quietly. I am poisoned."
"You are not, my dearest lady," answered the maiden eagerly. "What youhave swallowed cannot injure you, for the antidote has been taken beforeit, and I hastened hither to tell you that the means of escape are opento you."
"Escape!" exclaimed the lady, as she raised herself hastily in herchair, while light returned to her eye and life to her cheek; "but ah!Janet, it comes too late."
"Not so, dearest lady. Rise, take mine arm, walk through the apartment;let not fancy do the work of poison! So; feel you not now that you arepossessed of the full use of your limbs?"
"The torpor seems to diminish," said the Countess, as, supported byJanet, she walked to and fro in the apartment; "but is it then so, andhave I not swallowed a deadly draught? Varney was here since thou wertgone, and commanded me, with eyes in which I read my fate, to swallowyon horrible drug. O Janet! it must be fatal; never was harmless draughtserved by such a cup-bearer!"
"He did not deem it harmless, I fear," replied the maiden; "but Godconfounds the devices of the wicked. Believe me, as I swear by the dearGospel in which we trust, your life is safe from his practice. Did younot debate with him?"
"The house was silent," answered the lady--"thou gone--no other but hein the chamber--and he capable of every crime. I did but stipulate hewould remove his hateful presence, and I drank whatever he offered.--Butyou spoke of escape, Janet; can I be so happy?"
"Are you strong enough to bear the tidings, and make the effort?" saidthe maiden.
"Strong!" answered the Countess. "Ask the hind, when the fangs of thedeerhound are stretched to gripe her, if she is strong enough to springover a chasm. I am equal to every effort that may relieve me from thisplace."
"Hear me, then," said Janet. "One whom I deem an assured friend of yourshas shown himself to me in various disguises, and sought speech of me,which--for my mind was not clear on the matter until this evening--Ihave ever declined. He was the pedlar who brought you goods--theitinerant hawker who sold me books; whenever I stirred abroad I was sureto see him. The event of this night determined me to speak with him.He awaits even now at the postern gate of the park with means for yourflight.--But have you strength of body?--have you courage of mind?--canyou undertake the enterprise?"
"She that flies from death," said the lady, "finds strength of body--shethat would escape from shame lacks no strength of mind. The thoughts ofleaving behind me the villain who menaces both my life and honour wouldgive me strength to rise from my deathbed."
"In God's name, then, lady," said Janet, "I must bid you adieu, and toGod's charge I must commit you!"
"Will you not fly with me, then, Janet?" said the Countess, anxiously."Am I to lose thee? Is this thy faithful service?"
"Lady, I would fly with you as willingly as bird ever fled from cage,but my doing so would occasion instant discovery and pursuit. I mustremain, and use means to disguise the truth for some time. May Heavenpardon the falsehood, because of the necessity!"
"And am I then to travel alone with this stranger?" said the lady."Bethink thee, Janet, may not this prove some deeper and darker schemeto separate me perhaps from you, who are my only friend?"
"No, madam, do not suppose it," answered Janet readily; "the youth is anhonest youth in his purpose to you, and a friend to Master Tressilian,under whose direction he is come hither."
"If he be a friend of Tressilian," said the Countess, "I will commitmyself to his charge as to that of an angel sent from heaven; for thanTressilian never breathed mortal man more free of whatever was base,false, or selfish. He forgot himself whenever he could be of use toothers. Alas! and how was he requited?"
With eager haste they collected the few necessaries which it was thoughtproper the Countess should take with her, and which Janet, with speedand dexterity, formed into a small bundle, not forgetting to add suchornaments of intrinsic value as came most readily in her way, andparticularly a casket of jewels, which she wisely judged might prove ofservice in some future emergency. The Countess of Leicester next changedher dress for one which Janet usually wore upon any brief journey, forthey judged it necessary to avoid every external distinction which mightattract attention. Ere these preparations were fully made, the moonhad arisen in the summer heaven, and all in the mansion had betakenthemselves to rest, or at least to the silence and retirement of theirchambers.
There was no difficulty anticipated in escaping, whether from the houseor garden, provided only they could elude observation. Anthony Fosterhad accustomed himself to consider his daughter as a conscious sinnermight regard a visible guardian angel, which, notwithstanding his guilt,continued to hover around him; and therefore his trust in her knew nobounds. Janet commanded her own motions during the daytime, and had amaster-key which opened the postern door of the park, so that she couldgo to the village at pleasure, either upon the household affairs, whichwere entirely confided to her management, or to attend her devotionsat the meeting-house of her sect. It is true the daughter of Foster wasthus liberally entrusted under the solemn condition that she should notavail herself of these privileges to do anything inconsistent with thesafe-keeping of the Countess; for so her residence at Cumnor Placehad been termed, since she began of late to exhibit impatience of therestrictions to which she was subjected. Nor is there reason to supposethat anything short of the dreadful suspicions which the scene of thatevening had excited could have induced Janet to violate her word ordeceive her father's confidence. But from what she had witnessed, shenow conceived herself not only justified, but imperatively called upon,to make her lady's safety the principal object of her care, setting allother considerations aside.
The fugitive Countess with her guide traversed with hasty steps thebroken and interrupted path, which had once been an avenue, now totallydarkened by the boughs of spreading trees which met above their head,and now receiving a doubtful and deceiving light from the beams of themoon, which penetrated where the axe had made openings in the wood.Their path was repeatedly interrupted by felled trees, or the largeboughs which had been left on the ground till time served to make theminto fagots and billets. The inconvenience and difficulty attendingthese interruptions, the breathless haste of the first part of theirroute, the exhausting sensations of hope and fear, so much affected theCountess's strength, that Janet was forced to propose that they shouldpause for a few minutes to recover breath and spirits. Both thereforestood still beneath the shadow of a huge old gnarled oak-tree, and bothnaturally looked back to the mansion which they had left behind them,whose long, dark front was seen in the gloomy distance, with its hugestacks of chimneys, turrets, and clock-house, rising above the lineof the roof, and definedly visible against the pure azure blue of thesummer sky. One light only twi
nkled from the extended and shadowy mass,and it was placed so low that it rather seemed to glimmer from theground in front of the mansion than from one of the windows. TheCountess's terror was awakened. "They follow us!" she said, pointing outto Janet the light which thus alarmed her.
Less agitated than her mistress, Janet perceived that the gleam wasstationary, and informed the Countess, in a whisper, that the lightproceeded from the solitary cell in which the alchemist pursued hisoccult experiments. "He is of those," she added, "who sit up and watchby night that they may commit iniquity. Evil was the chance which senthither a man whose mixed speech of earthly wealth and unearthly orsuperhuman knowledge hath in it what does so especially captivate mypoor father. Well spoke the good Master Holdforth--and, methought,not without meaning that those of our household should find therein apractical use. 'There be those,' he said, 'and their number is legion,who will rather, like the wicked Ahab, listen to the dreams of the falseprophet Zedekiah, than to the words of him by whom the Lord has spoken.'And he further insisted--'Ah, my brethren, there be many Zedekiahs amongyou--men that promise you the light of their carnal knowledge, so youwill surrender to them that of your heavenly understanding. What arethey better than the tyrant Naas, who demanded the right eye of thosewho were subjected to him?' And further he insisted--"
It is uncertain how long the fair Puritan's memory might have supportedher in the recapitulation of Master Holdforth's discourse; but theCountess now interrupted her, and assured her she was so much recoveredthat she could now reach the postern without the necessity of a seconddelay.
They set out accordingly, and performed the second part of their journeywith more deliberation, and of course more easily, than the first hastycommencement. This gave them leisure for reflection; and Janet now,for the first time, ventured to ask her lady which way she proposed todirect her flight. Receiving no immediate answer--for, perhaps, in theconfusion of her mind this very obvious subject of deliberation hadnot occurred to the Countess---Janet ventured to add, "Probably to yourfather's house, where you are sure of safety and protection?"
"No, Janet," said the lady mournfully; "I left Lidcote Hall whilemy heart was light and my name was honourable, and I will not returnthither till my lord's permission and public acknowledgment of ourmarriage restore me to my native home with all the rank and honour whichhe has bestowed on me."
"And whither will you, then, madam?" said Janet.
"To Kenilworth, girl," said the Countess, boldly and freely. "I will seethese revels--these princely revels--the preparation for which makes theland ring from side to side. Methinks, when the Queen of England feastswithin my husband's halls, the Countess of Leicester should be nounbeseeming guest."
"I pray God you may be a welcome one!" said Janet hastily.
"You abuse my situation, Janet," said the Countess, angrily, "and youforget your own."
"I do neither, dearest madam," said the sorrowful maiden; "but have youforgotten that the noble Earl has given such strict charges to keepyour marriage secret, that he may preserve his court-favour? and can youthink that your sudden appearance at his castle, at such a juncture, andin such a presence, will be acceptable to him?"
"Thou thinkest I would disgrace him," said the Countess; "nay, let go myarm, I can walk without aid and work without counsel."
"Be not angry with me, lady," said Janet meekly, "and let me stillsupport you; the road is rough, and you are little accustomed to walk indarkness."
"If you deem me not so mean as may disgrace my husband," said theCountess, in the same resentful tone, "you suppose my Lord of Leicestercapable of abetting, perhaps of giving aim and authority to, the baseproceedings of your father and Varney, whose errand I will do to thegood Earl."
"For God's sake, madam, spare my father in your report," said Janet;"let my services, however poor, be some atonement for his errors!"
"I were most unjust, dearest Janet, were it otherwise," said theCountess, resuming at once the fondness and confidence of her mannertowards her faithful attendant, "No, Janet, not a word of mine shall doyour father prejudice. But thou seest, my love, I have no desire butto throw my self on my husband's protection. I have left the abode heassigned for me, because of the villainy of the persons by whom I wassurrounded; but I will disobey his commands in no other particular. Iwill appeal to him alone--I will be protected by him alone; to no other,than at his pleasure, have I or will I communicate the secret unionwhich combines our hearts and our destinies. I will see him, and receivefrom his own lips the directions for my future conduct. Do not argueagainst my resolution, Janet; you will only confirm me in it. And to ownthe truth, I am resolved to know my fate at once, and from my husband'sown mouth; and to seek him at Kenilworth is the surest way to attain mypurpose."
While Janet hastily revolved in her mind the difficulties anduncertainties attendant on the unfortunate lady's situation, she wasinclined to alter her first opinion, and to think, upon the whole, thatsince the Countess had withdrawn herself from the retreat in which shehad been placed by her husband, it was her first duty to repair to hispresence, and possess him with the reasons for such conduct. She knewwhat importance the Earl attached to the concealment of their marriage,and could not but own, that by taking any step to make it publicwithout his permission, the Countess would incur, in a high degree, theindignation of her husband. If she retired to her father's house withoutan explicit avowal of her rank, her situation was likely greatly toprejudice her character; and if she made such an avowal, it mightoccasion an irreconcilable breach with her husband. At Kenilworth,again, she might plead her cause with her husband himself, whom Janet,though distrusting him more than the Countess did, believed incapableof being accessory to the base and desperate means which his dependants,from whose power the lady was now escaping, might resort to, in order tostifle her complaints of the treatment she had received at their hands.But at the worst, and were the Earl himself to deny her justice andprotection, still at Kenilworth, if she chose to make her wrongs public,the Countess might have Tressilian for her advocate, and the Queen forher judge; for so much Janet had learned in her short conference withWayland. She was, therefore, on the whole, reconciled to her lady'sproposal of going towards Kenilworth, and so expressed herself;recommending, however, to the Countess the utmost caution in making herarrival known to her husband.
"Hast thou thyself been cautious, Janet?" said the Countess; "thisguide, in whom I must put my confidence, hast thou not entrusted to himthe secret of my condition?"
"From me he has learned nothing," said Janet; "nor do I think that heknows more than what the public in general believe of your situation."
"And what is that?" said the lady.
"That you left your father's house--but I shall offend you again if I goon," said Janet, interrupting herself.
"Nay, go on," said the Countess; "I must learn to endure the evil reportwhich my folly has brought upon me. They think, I suppose, that I haveleft my father's house to follow lawless pleasure. It is an error whichwill soon be removed--indeed it shall, for I will live with spotlessfame, or I shall cease to live.--I am accounted, then, the paramour ofmy Leicester?"
"Most men say of Varney," said Janet; "yet some call him only theconvenient cloak of his master's pleasures; for reports of the profuseexpense in garnishing yonder apartments have secretly gone abroad, andsuch doings far surpass the means of Varney. But this latter opinion islittle prevalent; for men dare hardly even hint suspicion when so high aname is concerned, lest the Star Chamber should punish them for scandalof the nobility."
"They do well to speak low," said the Countess, "who would mention theillustrious Dudley as the accomplice of such a wretch as Varney.--Wehave reached the postern. Ah! Janet, I must bid thee farewell! Weep not,my good girl," said she, endeavouring to cover her own reluctance topart with her faithful attendant under an attempt at playfulness; "andagainst we meet again, reform me, Janet, that precise ruff of thine foran open rabatine of lace and cut work, that will let men see thou hasta fair neck; an
d that kirtle of Philippine chency, with that bugle lacewhich befits only a chambermaid, into three-piled velvet and cloth ofgold--thou wilt find plenty of stuffs in my chamber, and I freely bestowthem on you. Thou must be brave, Janet; for though thou art now butthe attendant of a distressed and errant lady, who is both nameless andfameless, yet, when we meet again, thou must be dressed as becomes thegentlewoman nearest in love and in service to the first Countess inEngland."
"Now, may God grant it, dear lady!" said Janet--"not that I may gowith gayer apparel, but that we may both wear our kirtles over lighterhearts."
By this time the lock of the postern door had, after some hardwrenching, yielded to the master-key; and the Countess, not withoutinternal shuddering, saw herself beyond the walls which her husband'sstrict commands had assigned to her as the boundary of her walks.Waiting with much anxiety for their appearance, Wayland Smith stoodat some distance, shrouding himself behind a hedge which bordered thehigh-road.
"Is all safe?" said Janet to him anxiously, as he approached them withcaution.
"All," he replied; "but I have been unable to procure a horse for thelady. Giles Gosling, the cowardly hilding, refused me one on any termswhatever, lest, forsooth, he should suffer. But no matter; she mustride on my palfrey, and I must walk by her side until I come by anotherhorse. There will be no pursuit, if you, pretty Mistress Janet, forgetnot thy lesson."
"No more than the wise widow of Tekoa forgot the words which Joab putinto her mouth," answered Janet. "Tomorrow, I say that my lady is unableto rise."
"Ay; and that she hath aching and heaviness of the head a throbbing atthe heart, and lists not to be disturbed. Fear not; they will take thehint, and trouble thee with few questions--they understand the disease."
"But," said the lady, "My absence must be soon discovered, and theywill murder her in revenge. I will rather return than expose her to suchdanger."
"Be at ease on my account, madam," said Janet; "I would you were assure of receiving the favour you desire from those to whom you must makeappeal, as I am that my father, however angry, will suffer no harm tobefall me."
The Countess was now placed by Wayland upon his horse, around the saddleof which he had placed his cloak, so folded as to make her a commodiousseat.
"Adieu, and may the blessing of God wend with you!" said Janet, againkissing her mistress's hand, who returned her benediction with amute caress. They then tore themselves asunder, and Janet, addressingWayland, exclaimed, "May Heaven deal with you at your need, as you aretrue or false to this most injured and most helpless lady!"
"Amen! dearest Janet," replied Wayland; "and believe me, I will soacquit myself of my trust as may tempt even your pretty eyes, saintlikeas they are, to look less scornfully on me when we next meet."
The latter part of this adieu was whispered into Janet's ear andalthough she made no reply to it directly, yet her manner, influenced,no doubt, by her desire to leave every motive in force which couldoperate towards her mistress's safety, did not discourage the hope whichWayland's words expressed. She re-entered the postern door, and lockedit behind her; while, Wayland taking the horse's bridle in his hand,and walking close by its head, they began in silence their dubious andmoonlight 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 dawnthrough the eastern mist, he found himself no farther than about tenmiles distant from Cumnor. "Now, a plague upon all smooth-spokenhosts!" said Wayland, unable longer to suppress his mortification anduneasiness. "Had the false loon, Giles Gosling, but told me plainly twodays since that I was to reckon nought upon him, I had shifted betterfor myself. But your hosts have such a custom of promising whatever iscalled for that it is not till the steed is to be shod you find they areout of iron. Had I but known, I could have made twenty shifts; nay, forthat matter, and in so good a cause, I would have thought little to haveprigged a prancer from the next common--it had but been sending backthe brute to the headborough. The farcy and the founders confound everyhorse in the stables of the Black Bear!"
The lady endeavoured to comfort her guide, observing that the dawn wouldenable him to make more speed.
"True, madam," he replied; "but then it will enable other folk to takenote of us, and that may prove an ill beginning of our journey. Ihad not cared a spark from anvil about the matter had we been furtheradvanced on our way. But this Berkshire has been notoriously haunted,ever since I knew the country, with that sort of malicious elves whosit up late and rise early for no other purpose than to pry into otherfolk's affairs. I have been endangered by them ere now. But do notfear," he added, "good madam; for wit, meeting with opportunity, willnot miss to find a salve for every sore."
The alarms of her guide made more impression on the Countess's mind thanthe comfort which he judged fit to administer along with it. She lookedanxiously around her, and as the shadows withdrew from the landscape,and the heightening glow of the eastern sky promised the speedy rise ofthe sun, expected at every turn that the increasing light would exposethem to the view of the vengeful pursuers, or present some dangerousand insurmountable obstacle to the prosecution of their journey. WaylandSmith perceived her uneasiness, and, displeased with himself for havinggiven her cause of alarm, strode on with affected alacrity, now talkingto the horse as one expert in the language of the stable, now whistlingto himself low and interrupted snatches of tunes, and now assuringthe lady there was no danger, while at the same time he looked sharplyaround to see that there was nothing in sight which might give thelie to his words while they were issuing from his mouth. Thus didthey journey on, until an unexpected incident gave them the means ofcontinuing their pilgrimage with more speed and convenience.