friends?"
Leicester partly started; but making a strong effort, he subdued his
emotion, while Elizabeth answered sharply, "You are something too hasty,
Master Varney. We will have first a report of the lady's health and
state of mind from Masters, our own physician, and then determine what
shall be thought just. You shall have license, however, to see her, that
if there be any matrimonial quarrel betwixt you--such things we have
heard do occur, even betwixt a loving couple--you may make it up,
without further scandal to our court or trouble to ourselves."
Varney bowed low, and made no other answer.
Elizabeth again looked towards Leicester, and said, with a degree of
condescension which could only arise out of the most heartfelt interest,
"Discord, as the Italian poet says, will find her way into peaceful
convents, as well as into the privacy of families; and we fear our
own guards and ushers will hardly exclude her from courts. My Lord of
Leicester, you are offended with us, and we have right to be offended
with you. We will take the lion's part upon us, and be the first to
forgive."
Leicester smoothed his brow, as by an effort; but the trouble was too
deep-seated that its placidity should at once return. He said, however,
that which fitted the occasion, "That he could not have the happiness of
forgiving, because she who commanded him to do so could commit no injury
towards him."
Elizabeth seemed content with this reply, and intimated her pleasure
that the sports of the morning should proceed. The bugles sounded, the
hounds bayed, the horses pranced--but the courtiers and ladies sought
the amusement to which they were summoned with hearts very different
from those which had leaped to the morning's REVIELLE. There was doubt,
and fear, and expectation on every brow, and surmise and intrigue in
every whisper.
Blount took an opportunity to whisper into Raleigh's ear, "This storm
came like a levanter in the Mediterranean."
"VARIUM ET MUTABILE," answered Raleigh, in a similar tone.
"Nay, I know nought of your Latin," said Blount; "but I thank God
Tressilian took not the sea during that hurricane. He could scarce have
missed shipwreck, knowing as he does so little how to trim his sails to
a court gale."
"Thou wouldst have instructed him!" said Raleigh.
"Why, I have profited by my time as well as thou, Sir Walter," replied
honest Blount. "I am knight as well as thou, and of the earlier
creation."
"Now
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