Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 141: what you’re looking at

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

them upon him, his countenance exhibited much of the powerful emotions that were agitating within him. ‘ You had better not ask me for ex- planations !” “Ah!” I ejaculated, as a recollection smote me. “Those threats which Mr. Parks held out-—— did they indeed point at something with which you are connected P” “Threats?” cried Mr. Croft. Parks hold out threats to you ?” “Mr. Parks is a villain!” I exclaimed vehe- mently ; “and his wife, I am afraid, is of as evil @ disposition as himself.” “ By heaven!” cried Mr. Croft, with a sudden paroxysm of rage: but immediately checking himself, he asked, “ What have those people done to you P?” “‘They surrendered me into the power of a wretch who sought my ruin 7 “ But—but—you escaped doubtless P—you es- caped, Ellen ?—did you not ?” “Is it possible,’ I exclaimed, “ that you know anything of all this ?” ““No—by heaven no!” ejaculated Mr. Croft vekemently, “I am asking you the question! Perhaps in my anxiety it seemed like putting words into your mouth But tell me—~” “If IT had not escaped that snare, Mr. Croft,” I quickly answered, “I should not now be speak- ing of it. But explain, I beseech you, why all this interest on my account P—why this anxiety? —why these feelings so powerfully excited now ?” Do not ask me, Ellen!” he replied: and again he began to pace the room. “You speak to me as if i were a relation,” I said, approaching him in his troubled walk; “and every fresh word that is uttered, excites me with & burning desire to learn something more.” “Have you not just now proclaimed yourself my enemy?” he asked, almost with fierceness: “are you not about to return to London that my name may be handed over to the cognizance of justice P — shall I not be obliged to flee from this seclusion which I have found—the retreat of this peaceful village in which I am hiding my head? Go and do it, Ellen!—but perhaps the day will come No, no, it shall not! There! leave me! I have nothing more to say.” * Oh, but you must tell me what you mean!” I exclaimed, powerfully excited: “we must not separate thus! Show that you have some claim upon me; and great as your wickedness has been towards that unfortunate young woman, I will nevertheless intercede a “TI tell you not to ask me for explanations!” he responded petulantly: then, asa sudden thought seemed to strike him, he said, “ But those threats which the false scoundrel Parks held out to you ——what were they P” “He warned me that with one single word he could make my head bend in shame 3 “He said that ?—he dared to say that?” ex- claimed Mr. Croft: and paler than ever grew his face, while he almost gnashed his teeth, and he clenched his fists with rage: then he resumed his agitated walk; and he muttered fiercely to him- self—but I could not catch the sense of what he was thus saying. “But he told me more than that !” I presently continued: “he said that he and his wife were “What! dared a tt ELLEN PERCY; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF AN ACTRESS, acquainted with a secret connected with my affairs which I myself do not even suspect—a secret the knowledge of which would wring tears from my eyes and harrow all my feelings. And that secret, Mr. Croft, I am convinced that it is known to- you! Oh, tell me what it is, dreadful though it may be!—for even to know the worst is better than this intolerable suspense. “You see the diffi- culties in which I am placed. I must tell all the truth to Juliet and her parents: but if on the other hand you have the claims of kinship upon me—Oh, they should not be asserted in vain! Speak therefore, Mr. Croft—speak, I implore you —and let these mysteries be cleared up!” A powerful conflict was evidently taking place in the mind of Mr. Croft, as I could tell by the workings of his countenance and the quivering of his lips. I waited in breathless suspense for his decision. There was within mo the strong pre- sentiment that if he did speak out, it would be to make some revelation of a truly startling cha- racter. “Will you sit down again,” he at length said, “and listen to me while [ talk of myself.” I obeyed him: he resumed his own seat: but even then he appeared irresolute whether to pro- ceed. He started up—he went to the door—he opened it and looked out upon the landing and the stairs, to see if any one was listening. He re- turned to his seat; and then fixing his gaze in- tently upon me, he said, “ Remember, it is at your own special request that I am about to speak !” “Yes, yes!” I ejaculated, with all the nervous suspense of one who stands upon the threshold of an important revelation. “Perhaps it may be as well to inform you, Ellen,” he began, “that I was born a gentleman: for I have been so knocked about in the world that all the gloss of gentility has been rubbed off me— and I know very well that there are times when if may even appear <s if I and good breeding had never been acquainted. However, I was born a gentleman, and was educated for a gentleman’s prefession: namely, the Church. I became a clergyman—Ah! staré not as if with the wild hope that it may all yet be well with your friend Juliet: for I ama clergyman no longer! When I was young I was accounted good-looking; and at least so thought a beautiful creature of whom I became enamoured, and who loved me in return as tenderly and as well. I married her. I had a noble patron in the Earl of Carshalton ——” “Lord Frederick’s father !” I ejaculated. “ The same,” responded Mr. Croft. “And you will presently learn what has placed me so com- pletely in the power of his villanous son, the seducer of your friend Juliet. I married, I say: but at College I had contracted dissipated habits, which I however had the art to veil to a con- siderable extent. Marriage did not altogether re- form me: for, though I became steady in some re- spects, yet in others I continued the reverse. I think this is human nature; for as no one becomes wicked of a sudden, so is it equally impossible to reform all in a moment. Towards my wife I was constant, faithful, and affectionate: I adored her. The Earl of Carshalton had given me a small living; it was in a northern county, no matter which. Amongst the vices that remained to me, was that of gambling. I do not mean gambling > pyrene re ee ee ee | | | | EloOOKKS Coim €om