KENILWORTH - Penn State University

Sir Walter Scottadmitted to her presence at Cumnor Place, her person, shehoped, might not be so well known to him as his was to her,owing to Janet’s pointing him frequently out as he crossedthe court, and telling stories of his wickedness. She mighthave had still greater confidence in her disguise had her experienceenabled her to discover that he was much intoxicated;but this could scarce have consoled her for the risk which shemight incur from such a character in such a time, place, andcircumstances.Lambourne flung the door behind him as he entered, andfolding his arms, as if in mockery of the attitude of distractioninto which Amy had thrown herself, he proceeded thus:“Hark ye, most fair Calipolis—or most lovely Countess ofclouts, and divine Duchess of dark corners—if thou takest allthat trouble of skewering thyself together, like a trussed fowl,that there may be more pleasure in the carving, even save thyselfthe labour. I love thy first frank manner the best—likethy present as little”—(he made a step towards her, and staggered)—“as little as—such a damned uneven floor as this,where a gentleman may break his neck if he does not walk asupright as a posture-master on the tight-rope.”“Stand back!” said the Countess; “do not approach nearerto me on thy peril!”“My peril!—and stand back! Why, how now, madam? Mustyou have a better mate than honest Mike Lambourne? I havebeen in America, girl, where the gold grows, and have broughtoff such a load on’t—”“Good friend,” said the Countess, in great terror at theruffian’s determined and audacious manner, “I prithee begone,and leave me.”“And so I will, pretty one, when we are tired of each other’scompany—not a jot sooner.” He seized her by the arm, while,incapable of further defence, she uttered shriek upon shriek.“Nay, scream away if you like it,” said he, still holding herfast; “I have heard the sea at the loudest, and I mind a squallingwoman no more than a miauling kitten. Damn me! Ihave heard fifty or a hundred screaming at once, when therewas a town stormed.”The cries of the Countess, however, brought unexpectedaid in the person of Lawrence Staples, who had heard herexclamations from his apartment below, and entered in goodtime to save her from being discovered, if not from more371