Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 121: what you’re looking at

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a as 108 teurs. Well, then, why not leé my friend Pease- blossom play Henry the Eighth P” “ My lord! can you think of such a thing?” ex- claimed the Duchess, now becoming really irri- tated. “Well then,” rejoined the Duke, “as I know he wants to make himself useful, let him beat the big drum in the orchestra.” “T, my lord?” said Mr. Peaseblossom in dismay. “I know no more of beating the big drum than— than—a rhinoceros does of dancing a hornpipe.” ‘Oh, nonsense, Peaseblossom!” ejaculated the Duke: “there are to be amateurs in the orchestra as well as on the stage; and I intend to play the first fiddle. I flatter myself I am rather good on the violin. But you have heard me, Pease- blossom P” “T have, my lord,” answered the sycophant ; “and I was as much delighted as—as—an ape with a filbert.” “Well then, it’s settled,” said the Duke com- placently. ‘I shall be First Fiddle—and you, Peaseblossom, will be the Big Drum unless in- deed you prefer the trombone P” “My lord,” interjected the Duchess, bending upon her husband a severe look, “I beg that you will not interfere with my arrangements, nor seek to drag in your friends, who in the first instance are unwilling x “ Friends P” cried the Duke: “ there’s only one of them—worthy Ned Peaseblossom—who, as your Grace is aware, is devotedly attached to our family. But come, Peaseblossom—we will leave them to their arrangements; you and I will retire to the library—and I will play you half-a-dozen tunes on my violin. I cracked it yesterday—but that is of no consequence—and I’ve got another coming home to-day. Ah! by the bye, I will read you the speech that I am learning, to be delivered at the next meeting of my tenantry at Bentham Park. You shall be there, Peaseblossom—you will be use- ful—I will give you the clue to the points which I want to be particularly cheered. Then you your- self can make a speech 4 “Indeed, my lord,” replied Mr. Peaseblossom, “T shall be as much out of place in making a speech as—as—the Lord Chancellor would be as Pantaloon in a pantomime.” ‘Nonsense !” cried the Duke. ‘Come to the library, and I will give you a lesson in elocution.” The Duke and his friend now retired from the drawing-room, evidently to the infinite relief of the Duchess, whom I caught glancing furtively at me to ascertain what effect this display of her hus- band’s ridiculous frivolity had produced. Of course I assumed an air as if nothing extraor- dinary had taken place. But I should add that during the half-hour his Grace and Mr. Pease- blossom had inflicted their presence upon us, the Marquis of Dalrymple had remained pensive and pre-occupied, taking little or no notice of what was going on. Occasionally he looked at me: but the moment I showed by a glance or a movement that I was aware of being thus the object of his contemplation, he bent his eyes downward. The arrangements for the private theatricals were finally settled; and I took my departure from Ardleigh House. i ee ELLEN PERCY; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF AN ACTRESS. CHAPTER XXI. THE PRIVATE THEATRICALS. THE evening fixed for the private theatricals arrived; and the largest apartment in Ardleigh House had been splendidly fitted up for the pur- pose. At that extremity where the stage was erected, there was a side-door in the corner, open- ing into another suite of rooms; and as this door was, so to speak, behind the scenes, if communi- cated with every convenience for the proper ar- rangement of the proceedings. Separate dressing rooms were allotted to myself and those profes- sionals whom I had engaged for the occasion, in- cluding Mr. and Mrs. Norman. The amateurs, both gentlemen and ladies, arrived in their car- riages already dressed in the appropriate costumes in which they had to appear. In front of the stage there was accommodation for seven or eight hundred spectators; and these consisted of the elite of the fashionable world. The Duchess had succeeded in preventing her frivolous husband from taking any part in the evening’s proceedings, either on the stage or in the orchestra; and Lady Mangold had not persevered in her design of re- presenting Venus after the conversation which took place between herself and me, when I so sig: nificantly gave her to understand that I was aware of her theft at the linendraper’s. A peep from behind the scenes, previous to the drawing up of the curtain, afforded a magnificent coup @oil. The apartment was of a loftiness pro- portionate with its spaciousness; and it was bril- liantly lighted. Immediately in front of the stage ‘was the orchestra, consisting of a splendid band accustomed to attend fashionable vewnions ; and immediately behind the orchestra was the seat oc- cupied by the Duke and Duchess, their family, and their most intimate friends. The Duke and Duchess had several other children besides the Marquis of Dalrymple; and all except the youngest, who was an infant, were present with their parents. Lady Mangold was likewise there —her wrinkled face expressing a vixenish discon- tent—and her withered arms, which were bare to the shoulders and laden with bracelets, keeping in continuous motion with the exercise of agitating her fan. Mr. Peaseblossom—in a white waist- coat, a dress coat, and black pantaloons, and with shirt-collars higher and more pointed than ever— was seated next to the Duke. Near the Duchess was a young lady of a grand and remarkable beauty. She was tall; and though not more than eighteen years of age, had an aspect that might be pronounced commanding. Her dark hair was arranged in bands: her profile was aquiline—her countenance a perfect oval. Her eyes were large, dark, and full of fire—eyes that seemed incapable of melting with those tender emotions that usually influence the looks—eyes that bespoke a strong mind as well as strong pas- sions, and in whose lustrous orbs were condensed worlds of disdain, hauteur, pride, and scornfulness, The brows were thickly pencilled: but they were well divided and nobly arched. The complexion of this lady was pale, with the slightest and most delicate tint of the brunette: her lips, which were —— = COMMGOOOKES com