curiosity！ I must keep fair weather with him； or we shall fare
the worse。〃
He then proceeded to state to Master Holiday his own talents as a
juggler； with those of his sister as a musician。 Some proof of
his dexterity was demanded； which he gave in such a style of
excellence； that； delighted at obtaining such an accession to
their party； they readily acquiesced in the apology which he
offered when a display of his sister's talents was required。 The
new…comers were invited to partake of the refreshments with which
the party were provided； and it was with some difficulty that
Wayland Smith obtained an opportunity of being apart with his
supposed sister during the meal； of which interval he availed
himself to entreat her to forget for the present both her rank
and her sorrows； and condescend； as the most probable chance of
remaining concealed； to mix in the society of those with whom she
was to travel。
The Countess allowed the necessity of the case； and when they
resumed their journey； endeavoured to comply with her guide's
advice； by addressing herself to a female near her； and
expressing her concern for the woman whom they were thus obliged
to leave behind them。
〃Oh； she is well attended； madam；〃 replied the dame whom she
addressed； who； from her jolly and laughter…loving demeanour；
might have been the very emblem of the Wife of Bath； 〃and my
gossip Laneham thinks as little of these matters as any one。 By
the ninth day； an the revels last so long； we shall have her with
us at Kenilworth； even if she should travel with her bantling on
her back。〃
There was something in this speech which took away all desire on
the Countess of Leicester's part to continue the conversation。
But having broken the charm by speaking to her fellow…traveller
first； the good dame； who was to play Rare Gillian of Croydon in
one of the interludes； took care that silence did not again
settle on the journey； but entertained her mute companion with a
thousand anecdotes of revels； from the days of King Harry
downwards； with the reception given them by the great folk； and
all the names of those who played the principal characters； but
ever concluding with 〃they would be nothing to the princely
pleasures of Kenilworth。〃
〃And when shall we reach Kenilworth？ said the Countess； with an
agitation which she in vain attempted to conceal。
〃We that have horses may； with late riding； get to Warwick to…
night； and Kenilworth may be distant some four or five miles。
But then we must wait till the foot…people come up； although it
is like my good Lord of Leicester will have horses or light
carriages to meet them； and bring them up without being travel…
toiled； which last is no good preparation； as you may suppose；
for dancing before your betters。 And yet； Lord help me； I have
seen the day I would have tramped five leagues of lea…land； and
turned an my toe the whole evening after； as a juggler spins a
pewter platter on the point of a needle。 But age has clawed me
somewhat in his clutch； as the song says； though； if I like the
tune and like my partner； I'll dance the hays yet with any merry
lass in Warwickshire that writes that unhappy figure four with a
round O after it。〃
If the Countess was overwhelmed with the garrulity of this good
dame； Wayland Smith； on his part； had enough to do to sustain and
parry；the constant attacks made upon him by the indefatigable
curiosity of his old acquaintance Richard Sludge。 Nature had
given that arch youngster a prying cast of disposition； which
matched admirably with his sharp wit； the former inducing him to
plant himself as a spy on other people's affairs； and the latter
quality leading him perpetually to interfere； after he had made
himself master of that which concerned him not。 He spent the
livelong day in attempting to peer under the Countess's muffler；
and apparently what he could there discern greatly sharpened his
curiosity。
〃That sister of thine； Wayland；〃 he said； 〃has a fair neck to
have been born in a smithy； and a pretty taper hand to have been
used for twirling a spindlefaith； I'll believe in your
relationship when the crow's egg is hatched into a cygnet。〃
〃Go to；〃 said Wayland； 〃thou art a prating boy； and should be
breeched for thine assurance。〃
〃Well；〃 said the imp； drawing off； 〃all I say isremember you
have kept a secret from me； and if I give thee not a Roland for
thine Oliver； my name is not Dickon Sludge！〃
This threat； and the distance at which Hobgoblin kept from him
for the rest of the way； alarmed Wayland very much； and he
suggested to his pretended sister that； on pretext of weariness；
she should express a desire to stop two or three miles short of
the fair town of Warwick； promising to rejoin the troop in the
morning。 A small village inn afforded them a resting…place； and
it was with secret pleasure that Wayland saw the whole party；
including Dickon； pass on； after a courteous farewell； and leave
them behind。
〃To…morrow； madam；〃 he said to his charge； 〃we will； with your
leave； again start early； and reach Kenilworth before the rout
which are to assemble there。〃
The Countess gave assent to the proposal of her faithful guide；
but； somewhat to his surprise； said nothing further on the
subject； which left Wayland under the disagreeable uncertainty
whether or no she had formed any plan for her own future
proceedings； as he knew her situation demanded circumspection；
although he was but imperfectly acquainted with all its
peculiarities。 Concluding； however； that she must have friends
within the castle； whose advice and assistance she could safely
trust； he supposed his task would be best accomplished by
conducting her thither in safety； agreeably to her repeated
commands。
CHAPTER XXV。
Hark； the bells summon； and the bugle calls；
But she the fairest answers notthe tide
Of nobles and of ladies throngs the halls；
But she the loveliest must in secret hide。
What eyes were thine； proud Prince； which in the gleam
Of yon gay meteors lost that better sense；
That o'er the glow…worm doth the star esteem；
And merit's modest blush o'er courtly insolence？
THE GLASS SLIPPER。
The unfortunate Countess of Leicester had； from her infancy
upwards； been treated by those around her with indulgence as
unbounded as injudicious。 The natural sweetness of her
disposition had saved her from becoming insolent and ill…
humoured； but the caprice which preferred the handsome and
insinuating Leicester before Tressilian； of whose high honour and
unalterable affection she herself entertained so firm an opinion
that fatal error； which ruined the happiness of her life； had
its origin in the mistaken kindness； that had spared her
childhood the painful but most necessary lesson of submission and
self…command。 From the same indulgence it followed that she had
only been accustomed to form and to express her wishes； leaving
to others the task of fulfilling them； and thus； at the most
momentous period of her life； she was alike destitute of presence
of mind； and of ability to form for herself any reasonable or
prudent plan of conduct。
These difficulties pressed on the unfortunate lady with
overwhelming force on the morning which seemed to be the crisis
of her fate。 Overlooking every intermediate consideration； she
had only desired to be at Kenilworth； and to approach her
husband's presence； and now； when she was in the vicinity of
both； a thousand considerations arose at once upon her mind；
startling her with accumulated doubts and dangers； some real；
some imaginary； and all exalted and exaggerated by a situation
alike helpless and destitute of aid and counsel。
A sleepless night rendered her so weak in the morning that she
was altogether unable to attend Wayland's early summons。 The
trusty guide became extremely distressed on the lady's account；
and somewhat alarmed on his own； and was on the point of going
alone to Kenilworth； in the hope of discovering Tressilian； and
intimating to him the lady's approach； when about nine in the
morning he was summoned to attend her。 He found her dressed； and
ready for resuming her journey； but with a paleness of
countenance which alarmed him for her health。 She intimated her
desire that the horses might be got instantly ready； and resisted
with impatience her guide's request that she would take some
refreshment before setting forward。 〃I have had；〃 she said； 〃a
cup of waterthe wretch who is dragged to execution needs no
stronger cordial； and that may serve me which suffices for him。
Do as I command you。〃 Wayland Smith still hesitated。 〃What
would you have？〃 said she。 〃Have I not spoken plainly？〃
〃Yes； madam；〃 answered Wayland； 〃but may I ask what is your
further purpose？ I only wish to know； that I may guide myself by
your wishes。 The whole country is afloat； and streaming towards
the Castle of Kenilworth。 It will be difficult travelling
thither； even if we had the necessary passports for safe…conduct
and free admittance； unknown and unfriended； we may come by
mishap。 Your ladyship will forgive my speaking my poor mind
were we not better try to find out the maskers； and again join
ourselves with them？〃 The Countess shook her head； and her guide
proceeded； 〃Then I see but one other remedy。〃
〃Speak out； then；〃 said the lady； not displeased； perhaps； that
he should thus offer the advice which she was ashamed to ask； 〃I
believe thee faithfulwhat wouldst thou counsel？〃
〃That I should warn Master Tressilian；〃 said Wayland； 〃that you
are in this place。 I am right certain he would get to horse with
a few of Lord Sussex's followers； and ensure your personal
safety。〃
〃And is it to ME you advise；〃 said the Countess； 〃to put myself
under the protection of Sussex； the unworthy rival of the noble
Leicester？〃 Then； seeing the surprise with which Wayland stared
upon her； and afraid of having too strongly intimated her
interest in Leicester； she added； 〃And for Tressilian； it must
not bemention not to him； I charge you； my unhappy name； it
would but double MY misfortunes； and involve HIM in dangers
beyond the power of rescue。〃 She paused； but when she ob