The Countess only said,Would to God I were in my father's house!When I left it,I little thought I was leaving peace of mind and honour behind me.Varney proceeded with a tone of deliberation.Doubtless this will make it necessary to take strangers into my lord's counsels;but surely the Countess will be warrant for the honour of Master Tressilian,and such of her father's family--Peace,Varney,said Leicester;by Heaven I will strike my dagger into thee if again thou namest Tressilian as a partner of my counsels!And wherefore not!said the Countess;unless they be counsels fitter for such as Varney,than for a man of stainless honour and integrity.My lord,my lord,bend no angry brows on me;it is the truth,and it is I who speak it.I once did Tressilian wrong for your sake;I will not do him the further injustice of being silent when his honour is brought in question.I can forbear,she said,looking at Varney,to pull the mask off hypocrisy,but I will not permit virtue to be slandered in my hearing.There was a dead pause.Leicester stood displeased,yet undetermined,and too conscious of the weakness of his cause;while Varney,with a deep and hypocritical affectation of sorrow,mingled with humility,bent his eyes on the ground.
It was then that the Countess Amy displayed,in the midst of distress and difficulty,the natural energy of character which would have rendered her,had fate allowed,a distinguished ornament of the rank which she held.She walked up to Leicester with a composed step,a dignified air,and looks in which strong affection essayed in vain to shake the firmness of conscious,truth and rectitude of principle.You have spoken your mind,my lord,she said,in these difficulties,with which,unhappily,Ihave found myself unable to comply.This gentleman--this person I would say--has hinted at another scheme,to which I object not but as it displeases you.Will your lordship be pleased to hear what a young and timid woman,but your most affectionate wife,can suggest in the present extremity?Leicester was silent,but bent his head towards the Countess,as an intimation that she was at liberty to proceed.
There hath been but one cause for all these evils,my lord,she proceeded,and it resolves itself into the mysterious duplicity with which you,have been induced to surround yourself.
