Anthony Foster had accustomed himself to consider his daughter as a conscious sinner might regard a visible guardian angel,which,notwithstanding his guilt,continued to hover around him;and therefore his trust in her knew no bounds.Janet commanded her own motions during the daytime,and had a master-key which opened the postern door of the park,so that she could go to the village at pleasure,either upon the household affairs,which were entirely confided to her management,or to attend her devotions at the meeting-house of her sect.It is true the daughter of Foster was thus liberally entrusted under the solemn condition that she should not avail herself of these privileges to do anything inconsistent with the safe-keeping of the Countess;for so her residence at Cumnor Place had been termed,since she began of late to exhibit impatience of the restrictions to which she was subjected.Nor is there reason to suppose that anything short of the dreadful suspicions which the scene of that evening had excited could have induced Janet to violate her word or deceive her father's confidence.But from what she had witnessed,she now conceived herself not only justified,but imperatively called upon,to make her lady's safety the principal object of her care,setting all other considerations aside.
The fugitive Countess with her guide traversed with hasty steps the broken and interrupted path,which had once been an avenue,now totally darkened by the boughs of spreading trees which met above their head,and now receiving a doubtful and deceiving light from the beams of the moon,which penetrated where the axe had made openings in the wood.Their path was repeatedly interrupted by felled trees,or the large boughs which had been left on the ground till time served to make them into fagots and billets.The inconvenience and difficulty attending these interruptions,the breathless haste of the first part of their route,the exhausting sensations of hope and fear,so much affected the Countess's strength,that Janet was forced to propose that they should pause for a few minutes to recover breath and spirits.Both therefore stood still beneath the shadow of a huge old gnarled oak-tree,and both naturally looked back to the mansion which they had left behind them,whose long,dark front was seen in the gloomy distance,with its huge stacks of chimneys,turrets,and clock-house,rising above the line of the roof,and definedly visible against the pure azure blue of the summer sky.One light only twinkled from the extended and shadowy mass,and it was placed so low that it rather seemed to glimmer from the ground in front of the mansion than from one of the windows.The Countess's terror was awakened.They follow us!she said,pointing out to Janet the light which thus alarmed her.
Less agitated than her mistress,Janet perceived that the gleam was stationary,and informed the Countess,in a whisper,that the light proceeded from the solitary cell in which the alchemist pursued his occult experiments.He is of those,she added,who sit up and watch by night that they may commit iniquity.
Evil was the chance which sent hither a man whose mixed speech of earthly wealth and unearthly or superhuman knowledge hath in it what does so especially captivate my poor father.Well spoke the good Master Holdforth--and,methought,not without meaning that those of our household should find therein a practical use.
'There be those,'he said,'and their number is legion,who will rather,like the wicked Ahab,listen to the dreams of the false prophet Zedekiah,than to the words of him by whom the Lord has spoken.'And he further insisted--'Ah,my brethren,there be many Zedekiahs among you--men that promise you the light of their carnal knowledge,so you will surrender to them that of your heavenly understanding.What are they better than the tyrant Naas,who demanded the right eye of those who were subjected to him?'And further he insisted--It is uncertain how long the fair Puritan's memory might have supported her in the recapitulation of Master Holdforth's discourse;but the Countess now interrupted her,and assured her she was so much recovered that she could now reach the postern without the necessity of a second delay.
They set out accordingly,and performed the second part of their journey with more deliberation,and of course more easily,than the first hasty commencement.This gave them leisure for reflection;and Janet now,for the first time,ventured to ask her lady which way she proposed to direct her flight.Receiving no immediate answer--for,perhaps,in the confusion of her mind this very obvious subject of deliberation had not occurred to the Countess---Janet ventured to add,Probably to your father's house,where you are sure of safety and protection?No,Janet,said the lady mournfully;I left Lidcote Hall while my heart was light and my name was honourable,and I will not return thither till my lord's permission and public acknowledgment of our marriage restore me to my native home with all the rank and honour which he has bestowed on me.And whither will you,then,madam?said Janet.
To Kenilworth,girl,said the Countess,boldly and freely.Iwill see these revels--these princely revels--the preparation for which makes the land ring from side to side.Methinks,when the Queen of England feasts within my husband's halls,the Countess of Leicester should be no unbeseeming guest.I pray God you may be a welcome one!said Janet hastily.