Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 119: what you’re looking at

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

RSA Se re ae a a a EET CES 106 from it, as one object in a dissolving view gives way to another, or rather seems to change into it. And now I all of a sudden became aware that there was a light burning in the room. [I could distinguish the taper upon the toilet-table: I seemed likewise to have the recollection that I had not extinguished it ere retiring to my couch. And the form that I at present beheld in the chamber, was clothed in white, as Lady Lilla’s had been: but beyond this I had no power of distin- guishing the countenance or the contours of the shape that was there. Slowly into my fancy stole the idea that a low moaning sound was being wafted to my ear. I made a mighty effort to cast off the spell which retained me voiceless and motionless ; and then it all in an instant appeared as if the shape on which I was looking glided away. I awoke—or else became completely awake from that which was previously a mere half-slumber ; and I was quivering with terror. My heart was beating so loudly that I eould hear it as plain as if I were thumping myself on the chest; and so violent was this palpitation that 16 was accom- panied by a painful feeling as if the heart itself must burst. My forehead was bathed in a cold perspiration: I had experienced a prolonged and | terrific fright. The taper was burning on the toilet-table ; and though, as a matter of course, I knew that the greater portion of what I had seen, or fancied I had seen, was merely a vision, yet was there a strong impression upon my mind that I had actually beheld something at the end. I sat up in bed, and strove to reason with my- self. It was about half-past eleven when I had re- tired to my chamber: my watch told me that it was now past two in the morning. Could Mrs. Nor- man, or Juliet, or one of the female-servants have entered my room for any reason? This was scarcely to be supposed : for if so, the person thus entering would not have fled precipitately the in- stant I gave signs of awakening. I was not in the habit of locking the door: nor had I done so on this particular night. I had a strong inclination to rise and inquire whether any one was up: but I had always entertained an aversion to the expo- sure of any idle fears, or to be deemed weak- minded. I therefore remained in bed; and after a while sleep revisited my eyes. I awoke at my usual hour in the morning ; and when the sunlight was shining through the win- dow, I could afford to smile at the fears which my dream had left behind during the night. Still there was a lingering fancy, though now slight to a degree, that I had really seen some shape ; and I recurred to the theory that if this were true, some inmate of the house must have entered my cham- ber. In that case, I thought to myself I should hear of it at the breakfast-table: but the meal passed over, and nothing was said by either Mrs. Norman or Juliet which had the slightest reference tothe subject. I had a great mind to question the lady’s-maid when I met her alone in the course of the morning: but I did not like to do so; and as she said nothing to me, I gladly persuaded myself that the end of all that had terrified me was as much a vision as the preceding facts, According to an appointment made on the pre- ceding day, I was to be at Ardleigh House pre- cisely at noon. On alighting from the carriage at RS EB EE ST I ET ELLEN PERCY; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF AN ACTRESS, the steps of that mansion, I beheld a short, slightly< made, plain-featured, and somewhat insignificant. looking man, holding a discussion with a beggar. “Tt is all very well for you to tell me that you are hungry and in want,” he was saying in a sen- tentious manner; “but you should endeavour to find work. You are evidently strong and able- bodied, and have no business to be a vagrant. If I were doing my duty to the requirements of the law and to society in general, I should give you into custody; but as it is, I shall make you a pres sent of a shilling, in the hope that the lesson I have given you will not be without its salutary effects.” Such was the long speech which I heard, while alighting from the carriage and waiting on the steps fora few moments while the footman got out some books that I had brought, and which contained descriptions of theatrical costumes. The insignificant-looking little gentleman—who was about fifty years of age and was dressed with great plainness—gave the beggar the shilling; and then he walked away with an air of immense satisfac: tion at the course he had adopted, the eloquence he had displayed, and the circumstance that he had thus shown off in my presence. I was conducted up-stairs to the drawing-room, where the footman requested me to wait for a few minutes and her Grace would soon join me. A door leading to an inner room stood partially open: but I was not immediately aware that any persons were in that room:—neither did the foot- man seem to be conscious of the fact, for he im- mediately retired without proceeding to announce to the Duchess (who was actually there) that I had arrived. There was nearly a minute of profound silence; and I was looking at some beautiful prints which lay upon the table, when I was suddenly startled by hearing the voice of the Duchess speak. ing in the adjoining room. “Tell me, Herbert; what is your decision P” were the words that thus met my ears. “ My decision, mother,” replied the young Mar- quis of Dalrymple, “ is that which I have already given. I will no¢ consent to marry Lady Cecilia Urban !” “Undutiful boy!” ejaculated the Duchess: “ is this the reward for all the kindness But tell me Herbert,” she said, abruptly checking herself, and thus relapsing into a milder tone, “ what has produced this change in your sentiments ?” “No change has taken place, mother,” rejoined the Marquis. “I never loved Lady Cecilia Ur- ban 9? “ Hush! some one is in the next room!” inter- rupted the Duchess. Thad purposely thrown down a book somewhat heavily upon the table in order to give an intima. tion of my presence, as I did not choose to play the part of an eavesdropper, nor to continue a listener to affairs of family privacy. The Duchess of Ardleigh almost immediately made her appear- ance, followed by her son; and a glance showed me that they were both embarrassed. But the Duchess, with the ready tact of good-breeding, quickly recovered her self-possession ; and she said with an affable smile, “I hope you have not been kept waiting long, Miss Trafford ?” I saw that the remark, though put with apolo- getic courtesy, was in reality intended as a ques- CORNIEIOOKS Com