churl hath fathomed the very depth of my fear； and I have been
unable to disguise it from him。 She loves me notI would it
were as true that I loved not her！ Idiot that I was； to move her
in my own behalf； when wisdom bade me be a true broker to my
lord！ And this fatal error has placed me more at her discretion
than a wise man would willingly be at that of the best piece of
painted Eve's flesh of them all。 Since the hour that my policy
made so perilous a slip； I cannot look at her without fear； and
hate； and fondness； so strangely mingled； that I know not
whether； were it at my choice； I would rather possess or ruin
her。 But she must not leave this retreat until I am assured on
what terms we are to stand。 My lord's interestand so far it is
mine own； for if he sinks I fall in his traindemands
concealment of this obscure marriage； and besides； I will not
lend her my arm to climb to her chair of state； that she may set
her foot on my neck when she is fairly seated。 I must work an
interest in her； either through love or through fear； and who
knows but I may yet reap the sweetest and best revenge for her
former scorn？that were indeed a masterpiece of courtlike art！
Let me but once be her counsel…keeperlet her confide to me a
secret； did it but concern the robbery of a linnet's nest； and；
fair Countess； thou art mine own！〃 He again paced the room in
silence； stopped； filled and drank a cup of wine； as if to
compose the agitation of his mind； and muttering； 〃Now for a
close heart and an open and unruffled brow；〃 he left the
apartment。
CHAPTER VI。
The dews of summer night did fall；
The moon； sweet regent of the sky；
Silver'd the walls of Cumnor Hall；
And many an oak that grew thereby。 MICKLE。
＇This verse is the commencement of the ballad already quoted； as
what suggested the novel。＇
Four apartments； which； occupied the western side of the old
quadrangle at Cumnor Place； had been fitted up with extraordinary
splendour。 This had been the work of several days prior to that
on which our story opened。 Workmen sent from London； and not
permitted to leave the premises until the work was finished； had
converted the apartments in that side of the building from the
dilapidated appearance of a dissolved monastic house into the
semblance of a royal palace。 A mystery was observed in all these
arrangements： the workmen came thither and returned by night；
and all measures were taken to prevent the prying curiosity of
the villagers from observing or speculating upon the changes
which were taking place in the mansion of their once indigent but
now wealthy neighbour； Anthony Foster。 Accordingly； the secrecy
desired was so far preserved； that nothing got abroad but vague
and uncertain reports； which were received and repeated； but
without much credit being attached to them。
On the evening of which we treat； the new and highly…decorated
suite of rooms were； for the first time； illuminated； and that
with a brilliancy which might have been visible half…a…dozen
miles off； had not oaken shutters； carefully secured with bolt
and padlock； and mantled with long curtains of silk and of
velvet； deeply fringed with gold； prevented the slightest gleam
of radiance front being seen without。
The principal apartments； as we have seen； were four in number；
each opening into the other。 Access was given to them by a large
scale staircase； as they were then called； of unusual length and
height； which had its landing…place at the door of an
antechamber； shaped somewhat like a gallery。 This apartment the
abbot had used as an occasional council…room； but it was now
beautifully wainscoted with dark； foreign wood of a brown colour；
and bearing a high polish； said to have been brought from the
Western Indies； and to have been wrought in London with infinite
difficulty and much damage to the tools of the workmen。 The dark
colour of this finishing was relieved by the number of lights in
silver sconces which hung against the walls； and by six large and
richly…framed pictures； by the first masters of the age。 A massy
oaken table； placed at the lower end of the apartment； served to
accommodate such as chose to play at the then fashionable game of
shovel…board； and there was at the other end an elevated gallery
for the musicians or minstrels； who might be summoned to increase
the festivity of the evening。
From this antechamber opened a banqueting…room of moderate size；
but brilliant enough to dazzle the eyes of the spectator with the
richness of its furniture。 The walls； lately so bare and
ghastly； were now clothed with hangings of sky…blue velvet and
silver； the chairs were of ebony； richly carved； with cushions
corresponding to the hangings； and the place of the silver
sconces which enlightened the ante…chamber was supplied by a huge
chandelier of the same precious metal。 The floor was covered
with a Spanish foot…cloth； or carpet； on which flowers and fruits
were represented in such glowing and natural colours； that you
hesitated to place the foot on such exquisite workmanship。 The
table； of old English oak； stood ready covered with the finest
linen； and a large portable court…cupboard was placed with the
leaves of its embossed folding…doors displayed； showing the
shelves within； decorated with a full display of plate and
porcelain。 In the midst of the table stood a salt…cellar of
Italian workmanshipa beautiful and splendid piece of plate
about two feet high； moulded into a representation of the giant
Briareus； whose hundred hands of silver presented to the guests
various sorts of spices； or condiments； to season their food
withal。
The third apartment was called the withdrawing…room。 It was hung
with the finest tapestry； representing the fall of Phaeton； for
the looms of Flanders were now much occupied on classical
subjects。 The principal seat of this apartment was a chair of
state； raised a step or two from the floor； and large enough to
contain two persons。 It was surmounted by a canopy； which； as
well as the cushions； side…curtains； and the very footcloth； was
composed of crimson velvet； embroidered with seed…pearl。 On the
top of the canopy were two coronets； resembling those of an earl
and countess。 Stools covered with velvet； and some cushions
disposed in the Moorish fashion； and ornamented with Arabesque
needle…work； supplied the place of chairs in this apartment；
which contained musical instruments； embroidery frames； and other
articles for ladies' pastime。 Besides lesser lights； the
withdrawing…room was illuminated by four tall torches of virgin
wax； each of which was placed in the grasp of a statue；
representing an armed Moor； who held in his left arm a round
buckler of silver； highly polished； interposed betwixt his breast
and the light； which was thus brilliantly reflected as from a
crystal mirror。
The sleeping chamber belonging to this splendid suite of
apartments was decorated in a taste less showy； but not less
rich； than had been displayed in the others。 Two silver lamps；
fed with perfumed oil； diffused at once a delicious odour and a
trembling twilight…seeming shimmer through the quiet apartment。
It was carpeted so thick that the heaviest step could not have
been heard； and the bed； richly heaped with down； was spread with
an ample coverlet of silk and gold； from under which peeped forth
cambric sheets and blankets as white as the lambs which yielded
the fleece that made them。 The curtains were of blue velvet；
lined with crimson silk； deeply festooned with gold； and
embroidered with the loves of Cupid and Psyche。 On the toilet
was a beautiful Venetian mirror； in a frame of silver filigree；
and beside it stood a gold posset…dish to contain the night…
draught。 A pair of pistols and a dagger； mounted with gold； were
displayed near the head of the bed； being the arms for the night；
which were presented to honoured guests； rather； it may be
supposed； in the way of ceremony than from any apprehension of
danger。 We must not omit to mention； what was more to the credit
of the manners of the time； that in a small recess； illuminated
by a taper； were disposed two hassocks of velvet and gold；
corresponding with the bed furniture； before a desk of carved
ebony。 This recess had formerly been the private oratory of the
abbot； but the crucifix was removed； and instead there were
placed on the desk； two Books of Common Prayer； richly bound； and
embossed with silver。 With this enviable sleeping apartment；
which was so far removed from every sound save that of the wind
sighing among the oaks of the park； that Morpheus might have
coveted it for his own proper repose； corresponded two wardrobes；
or dressing…rooms as they are now termed； suitably furnished； and
in a style of the same magnificence which we have already
described。 It ought to be added； that a part of the building in
the adjoining wing was occupied by the kitchen and its offices；
and served to accommodate the personal attendants of the great
and wealthy nobleman； for whose use these magnificent
preparations had been made。
The divinity for whose sake this temple had been decorated was
well worthy the cost and pains which had been bestowed。 She was
seated in the withdrawing…room which we have described； surveying
with the pleased eye of natural and innocent vanity the splendour
which had been so suddenly created； as it were； in her honour。
For； as her own residence at Cumnor Place formed the cause of the
mystery observed in all the preparations for opening these
apartments； it was sedulously arranged that； until she took
possession of them； she should have no means of knowing what was
going forward in that part of the ancient building； or of
exposing herself to be seen by the workmen engaged in the
decorations。 She had been； therefore； introduced on that evening
to a part of the mansion which she had never yet seen； so
different from all the rest that it appeared； in comparison； like
an enchanted palace。 And when she first examined and occupied
these splendid rooms； it was with the wild and unrestrained joy
of a rustic beauty who finds herself suddenly invested with a
splendour which her most extravag