Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 113: what you’re looking at

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—— 100 ——- oF SO + ELLEN PERCY ; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF AN ACTRESS. “ Oh, dear me, Miss Trafford! how provoking!” cried Lady Mangold, now playing with her fan as if she were a bashful young creature of seventeen or eighteen. “I thought you would have taken the hint at once ; and if poor dear Lord Mangold were alive But, after all, you are a very re- spectable young per lady, I mean; andI am really sorry—but I must atone for my rudeness. Well, the truth is, I mean to countenance you as much as possible: you may command my co- operation—and therefore, my dear Miss Trafford, all things considered, I shall have no objection to play the Venus for you.” I gazed upon her ladyship in astonishment: and I could scarcely prevent a laugh bursting forth from my lips. There was something indescriba- bly ludicrous in the idea of that wrinkled hag per- forming the part of the Goddess of Beauty ; and I could hardly believe the evidence of my own ears that such an astounding proposition had been veritably and actually made. “Don’t say that the hint came from me,” her ladyship hastened to add; “but make the pro- posal as if quite of your own accord. Good bye, my dear Miss Trafford. I dare say we shall be excellent friends; and if poor dear Lord Mangold were alive-——” She stopped short, and turned abruptly from me. the door when she paused at a table covered with all kinds of elegant nick-nacks; and there she halted for a few moments. I turned aside, not condescending to fling another look upon an old creature whom for so many reasons I utterly con- temned. After her brief pause at the table, she tripped towards the door, and issued from the room,—a mirror revealing to my eyes her retreat- ing form, and showing that she affected all the airy lightness of youth while thus making her exit. Almost immediately afterwards the Marquis of Dalrymple reappeared, with a volume of Shak- spere in his hand. Methought that on perceiy- ing his mother and aunt were no longer present, he looked confused and embarrassed for a mo- ment; but still there was pleasure mingling with that confusion. His regards were bent admiringly upon me: but when, with an air of calm politeness and perfect self-possession I took the volume from his hand, he seemed suddenly recalled to a sense of that propriety of demeanour -which he was bound to observe towards me. Not however that there was the slightest rudeness nor insolence in those regards of his;—and now he was once more all respectful affability and courteous attention. The Duchess soon afterwards reappeared ; and our deliberations were continued: but I need scarcely add that I dropped nota single hint relative to the outrageous proposition made by Lady Man- gold. In as delicate a manner as possible did the Duchess of Ardleigh intimate to me that my ser- vices should be most liberally remunerated; and as I was to take the character of Queen Catharine in “ Henry the Eighth,” her Grace suggested th I should have a new costume for the occasion. “You will permit me, Miss Trafford,’ she added, “to place in your hands a sum for your immediate expenses.” Thus speaking, she rose from her seat, and ad- Again was she making her way towards vanced towards a table. She evidently sought for something; and I fancied it was her purse. LIL begged her Grace not to trouble herself about pecuniary matters until a future occasion: but she insisted on carrying out her purpose,—adding, “This is very extraordinary! I certainly left my purse here! I remember it well—and it contained @ considerable sum.” I experienced all the uneasiness which every one would feel under such circumstances; and the Marquis of Dalrymple evidently noticed the flush which rose to my cheeks. He hastened to the table, and rapidly whispered something to his mother. . * Ah!” said the Duchess aloud; “ Lady Man- gold must have taken it by mistake. She is in the habit of leaving her own purse tossing about; and—I recollect—it exactly resembles mine.” “‘T remember,” I said, “that before Lady Man- gold left the room, she stopped for a few moments at this table.” “Ah, then, that accounts for it!” exclaimed the Duchess: but at the same moment I perceived she exchanged a rapid and peculiar glance with her son,—a glance which I by no means liked; for if struck me as being full of suspicion. I felt exceedingly awkward: the colour was coming and going in rapid transitions upon my cheeks: I was at a loss whether to say any more, or let the matter rest where it was. Was it pos- sible that the Duchess and the Marquis really suspected me, and that with extraordinary gene- rosity she had devised the excuse in respect to Lady Mangold? I never felt so uncomfortable in my life as at the bare thought of being deemed capable of an action than to commit which I would rather have died. “Here is my purse,” the Marquis hastened to observe in a low tone to his mother: and then he glanced towards me witb so indescribable an ex- pression of pain in his looks that I felt convinced I was really the object of this most dreadful sus- picion. The Duchess took forth from that purse a con- siderable sum in bank-notes; and as she placed them in my hand, she said, with the most friendly affability, ‘A thousand thanks, Miss Trafford, for the patience with which you have entered into all our deliberations. soon again at Ardleigh House; and I hope that on the next occasion you will be enabled to furnish me with a list of those artistes whom you have selected to appear on our miniature stage.” We shall expect to see you The Duchess shook me by the hand; and the Marquis of Dalrymple accompanied me down stairs to the carriage. a painful impression—though less painful than be- fore ; for methought there was something in the manner of both the Duchess and her son which I was still suffering under was intended to convince me that they did not entertain the dreadful suspicion under which I feared that I was labouring. Nevertheless, the incident was a most unpleasant one; and I would have given worlds that it had never vecurred. As no time was to be lost in making the prepa- rations for the private theatricals at Ardleigh House, I ordered the carriage to drive direct tu a shop in Regent Street, where I had to purchase the materials for my new costume. There were several private carriages drawn up in front of the mem ee ae eee 1 | | CONNIE OOKS (SOLAR)