call not this morning's horrible vision a meeting. I have been in sickness, in grief, and in danger. But thou art come, and all is joy, and health, and safety!"
"Alas, Amy," said Leicester, "thou hast undone me!"
"I, my lord?" said Amy, her cheek at once losing its transient flush of joy--"how could I injure that which I love better than myself?"
"I would not upbraid you, Amy," replied the Earl; "but are you not here contrary to my express commands--and does not your presence here endanger both yourself and me?"
"Does it, does it indeed?" she exclaimed eagerly; "then why am I here a moment longer? Oh, if you knew by what fears I was urged to quit Cumnor Place! But I will say nothing of myself--only that if it might be otherwise, I would not willingly return THITHER; yet if it concern your safety--"
"We will think, Amy, of some other retreat," said Leicester; "and you shall go to one of my northern castles, under the personage--it will be but needful, I trust, for a very few days--of Varney's wife."
"How, my Lord of Leicester!" said the lady, disengaging herself from his embraces; "is it to your wife you give the dishonourable counsel to acknowledge herself the bride of another--and of all men, the bride of that Varney?"
"Madam, I speak it in earnest--Varney is my true and faithful servant, trusted in my deepest secrets. I had better lose my right han
