andthewatchfulcirclearoundobservedwithastonishment，that，insteadofresentinghisrepeatednegligence，andwantofevenordinaryattention（althoughthesewerepointsonwhichshewasusuallyextremelypunctilious），theQueensought，onthecontrary，toaffordhimtimeandmeanstorecollecthimself，anddeignedtoassisthimindoingso，withanindulgencewhichseemedaltogetherinconsistentwithherusualcharacter。Itwasclear，however，thatthiscouldnotlastmuchlonger，andthatElizabethmustfinallyputanotherandmoresevereconstructiononLeicester\'suncourteousconduct，whentheEarlwassummonedbyVarneytospeakwithhiminadifferentapartment。
Afterhavinghadthemessagetwicedeliveredtohim，herose，andwasabouttowithdraw，asitwere，byinstinct;thenstopped，andturninground，entreatedpermissionoftheQueentoabsenthimselfforabriefspaceuponmattersofpressingimportance。
\"Go，mylord，\"saidtheQueen。\"Weareawareourpresencemustoccasionsuddenandunexpectedoccurrences，whichrequiretobeprovidedforontheinstant。Yet，mylord，asyouwouldhaveusbelieveourselfyourwelcomeandhonouredguest，weentreatyoutothinklessofourgoodcheer，andfavouruswithmoreofyourgoodcountenancethanwehavethisdayenjoyed;forwhetherprinceorpeasantbetheguest，thewelcomeofthehostwillalwaysbethebetterpartoftheentertainment。Go，mylord;andwetrusttoseeyoureturnwithanunwrinkledbrow，andthosefreethoughtswhichyouarewonttohaveatthedisposalofyourfriends。\"
Leicesteronlybowedlowinanswertothisrebuke，andretired。
AtthedooroftheapartmenthewasmetbyVarney，whoeagerlydrewhimapart，andwhisperedinhisear，\"Alliswell！\"