Rose Mortimer; Or, The Ballet-Girl's Revenge — page 190: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

184 ROSE MORTIMER, ‘* IT appeal to any one if I said anything the least in the world severe.”’ ‘‘ Well, perhaps not,” said the former speaker, ** But, however, it was not your fault if it was not son. This turned the laugh the other way. ‘‘Now who is severe?”’ said Miss Evans. ‘No, no; J didn’t say a word to hurt the dear creature’s sensibilities. But we all know very well that that Ravenscroft is only making a fool of the girl.” i Gort Ps “Well, young woman. Oh, you shouldn’t.” And this little scandalous school laughed and grew merrier. Rose Mortimer, who was dressing while the fore- going conversation was taking place, had by this time finished and left the room, She had felt inclined once or twice to remonstrate with them for their tirade against one poor girl; but, not feeling at all assured of being able to render her cause any service, she desisted. Being dressed now, she made her way into the green-room, to give a look over her part before being called. At the further end of the room was a large screen drawn round a fire. To rest and study her part undisturbed Rose Morti- mer placed herself here. This led to a most unpleasant circumstance for our heroine. She had not been long seated here when two persons entered the room, and, deeming that they were merely some of the company come to await their call, she took no notice of this. When she found that she was in error she did not like to make known her presence, lest het motives for silence might be misconstrued. “Oh, Wilfred, Wilfred,” exclaimed a female voice, which Rose at once recognised as belonging to Miss Clitheroe, ‘‘ I have been. so insulted.”’ ‘‘ What is it, my pet birdie?’’ demanded another voice, which our heroine alsoknew to be that of the Pet Parson. ‘‘ Those horrid creatures in the dressing-room.”’ ‘‘ Horrid creatures? What horrid creatures 2?” ‘‘ Those scandal-making women.” ** What, the ladies of the company ?”’ ce Yes,’ ** Oh, the dears !”’ ** Listen to me, Wilfred. I am not speaking in jest now. I have been sneered ut, gibed, and scoffed at by the whole dressing-room.”’ ‘¢ What then, my pet ?”’ “Upon your account.” ** And then ?” “Then, Wilfred?’ iterated the astonished girl. How coldly you speak of it !’’ ‘Well, but what would you have me do?” ‘* Resent it.” ‘* T resent it ?”’ ‘* If you love me.” ‘‘That’s a cruel hypothesis, my birdie,’’ said the Pet Parson. ‘ As for loving you, you are well aware that I cannot exist without you.”’ “‘Then you will not wish to see me insulted.” “Wish? No.” ‘Would not have me insulted, Wilfred?” she said, appealingly. ‘* NotI: but what canI do? If I hadn’t been in orders, and if your offenders had been of my own sex, of course I should have done the needful at four- teen paces. But how I, a reverend divine, am to resent your wrongs upon a set of highly agreeable ladies I am at a loss to conjecture.”’ ‘““ Wilfred,” said the girl, this light ribaldry ill befits you in our present relations.” ¢ n ** What relations ?’’ . “‘Good Heavens! Wilfred, do not speak thus.” **T will speak any way you please, my angel,’ said the Pet Parson. ‘Nay, Wilfred, did you know really how much my feelings have been hurt by what these cruel women have said, you would sympathise with me I’m sure.’ “* Indeed 2?” ‘Ay, you would. They even dared to hint that you would play me false.” ** Did they, though ?” “* Ay, indeed.”’ . ‘and what did yon say ?”’ “‘T told them that we were to be one, that—”’ ‘Stop, stop. You told them that?” ‘* I did, Wilfred, and—”’ ‘And you did me wrong,’’ said the gay Lothario, “to go and blab about my matters to a crowd of gossiping jealous women. You cannot think much of me to talk thus.’’ ** What do you mean, Wilfred ?” : ‘That it would have been time for the world to hear such an absurdity as that you speak of when I informed them myself.” ce Eh 97) “And as for you, Miss Clitheroe, I consider your conduct in the matter highly indelicate, to say the very least of it.’’ Rose trembled with indignation where she was con- cealed. Had she not feared that her strange position might have brought her motives into question, she would have boldly advanced as the champion of Miss Clitheroe. At length Miss Clitheroe found her tongue. ‘“* You say this to me, Wilfred ?”’ she exclaimed, ina tone which told strongly of wonderment and indigna- tion together. ‘** Whom else could I say it to?” ‘* After all that has passed between us ?” ** Pshaw !”” “Oh! Wilfred, Wilfred !’’ “There, there, spare me your nonsense.” ** And where are your promises, your vows, and all you have told me ?”’ ‘Bosh! Where are my promises ?’” ** You deny them ?” ‘* Positively.” ** Man, man !”’ ‘Now spare your theatricals till your call, member we are in the green-room.”’ ‘¢ Since you choose to assume this tone,’’ said Miss Clitheroe, ‘‘ I will meet you with your own weapons. But think not to escape me any the more. Beware of me, for I promise you retribution.” “Oh! you threat ?’’ “¢T warn.” “ And for what, pray ?”’ *“ Hopes deceived—outraged affection. Is it formy ardent love that you would punish me thus ?”’ ‘*And you me. Did we not share the love ?” ‘“No—on my soulno. ’Twas all my own, or you would not, could not, now speak to me as you do.”’ “‘°Twas interest,’? retorted the Pet Parson, ‘or you would not—could not feel the slight so much. ’Tis not outraged affection. Hopes deceived I can admit—weighty hopes, eh ?” ** You wrong me, man, and well you know it.’’ **T don’t—else why this scene ?”’ *“ Scene? Man, would you pretend to ignore the fearful fact that a deceived wronged woman is lost for life—becomes the scoff, the jeer of her own sex, and slighted by yours, unless indeed she descends to the lowest depths of degradation ?”’ «¢ And [?”’ Re- © COMmichooksseonn