Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 161: what you’re looking at

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

— - eee ee ee ee SS ~— 148 —_—— ; tion and speak to Lord Frederick on the subject, he cannot possibly suspect that the destruction of his hopes emanates from any one beneath this roof. Indeed, not for a moment will he fancy that either of us could have obtained admission within the portals of Ardleigh House on such an occasion.” Mr. and Mrs. “Norman, as well as Juliet, com- pletely approved of my project: and as they ima- gined that the offer of the card of admittance must have emanated from the Duchess herself, I was not questioned on the subject. The reader will now have comprehended that it was my intention to take the gipsy’s character on my- self, though I had suffered Lord Dalrymple to imagine that it was a friend who would avail her- self of the card he had promised to forward. It was with considerable repugnance I had made up my mind to penetrate in such a stealthy manner into Ardleigh House ; but I knew that the pro- ceeding must be managed with the utmost tact and caution ; and I did not ask Juliet to undertake the part, because E was well aware that her feelings would get the better of her when speaking to Lady Cecilia of the treachery of him whom she had loved so fondly. It lay between Juliet and myself to enact the part of the disguised gipsy; and thus, for the reason just explained, I was resolved to do violence tu my own inclinations and take the duty on myself, For the rest of that day, and throughout the fol- lowing one, Juliet and I busied ourselves in making up the costume that I wasto wear. The Marquis of Dalrymple sent the card according to his pro- mise ; and as he had told me, I found that it bore no name, but was merely numbered. Fortunately I had not to appear at the theatre on the evening of the masked ball—for I only per- formed on alternate nights. Thus my time was entirely at my own disposal ; and punctually at nine o’clock I took my seat in a carriage that was hired for the purpose,—as I would not proceed to my destination in the Normans’ equipage for fear that it should be recognised. And here I may take the opportunity of giving the reader some idea of the costume that I wore. There are few who have not in their juvenile days beheld the gaudily coloured frontispieces to the pamphlet con- taining the Biography and Prophecies of the old Norwood Gipsy. In those flaunting pictures the renowned dame is represented with a short red cloak, serving rather as a cape, and revealing the antique-fashioned gown all gathered up in such a manner as to display the petticoat. Somewhat after this style was my fancy dress on the present occasion. I wore a black silk dress, the skirt of whieh was gathered up in capacious folds, thus revealing a yellow embroidered petticoat. I had the characteristic red cloak, with the hood drawn over my head; and a false front of coarse black hair entirely concealed my own. The black silk vizard which I wore was not of the usual mas- querade fashion, descending only to the lips aud then terminating with a fringe: but it covered the entire countenance—and I had purposely pierced the eyelet holes very small, so that there should be the less chance of recognition in respect to my eyes. In my hand I carried a beautiful artificial white rose; and thus my costume was complete. I may add that by the fact of the silk dress being gathered up into so bulky a mass, and Le A a a —— —— + oe ELLEN PERCY; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF AN ACTRESS. by the manner in which the folds of the red cloak were disposed, the natural symmetry of my shape was completely concealed; and the padding which Juliet had artistically worked into the back part of the cloak, especially where it lay upon the shoulders, gave me a stooping and almost deformed appearance. Indeed, before I left Hunter Street, Juliet herself, as well as Mr. and Mrs. Norman, declared that they could not possibly have recog- nised me if meeting me at a masked ball and pre- viously unaware of the nature of the dress I in- tended to assume. Ardleigh House was reached; and there was already a : throng of vehicles. But I noticed that most of them appeared to be hired ones,—it evidently being the study of the patrician mas- queraders to avoid as much as possible the chances of recognition, which would certainly have been greater if they had arrived in their accustomed equipages. But every precaution was taken at the mansion itself to afford fair play in this respect. From the lofty portals to the very verge of the pavement, a sort of covered passage was con- structed—an elongated tent, with an awning and side-curtains ; so that as each equipage drove up, the door of the carriage opened against the very entrance of this tented corridor. No loungers were permitted to be in the neighbourhood; ‘and the carriages set down their human freightage in rapid succession. It was soon my turn to descend from the vehicle that had brought me thither; and I sped along the tented corridor towards the portals. As the Marquis of Dalrymple had given me to understand would be the case, I found the hall-porter standing at a table, on which was a mahogany box witha small aperture in the top; and as I presented him my card of admission, he just glanced at it, and dropped it into the box. I passed on, ascending the grand staircase, up which the human tide was flowing in all possible varieties of hues, as if it were a stream covered with the leaves of myriads of different coloured flowers. Stee CHAPTER XXVIII. THE MASQUERADE. ‘ THE staircase was most tastefully arranged with plants on either side, and decorated with festoons of artificial flowers. Tho landing was similarly embellished; and as I entered the state- eee the scene was truly picturesque and brilliant. considerable portion of the guests had zs arrived; and these presented to the view all the usual varieties of fancy costume. I need not linger upon the description of the characters thus personated. Suffice it to say there was no lack of Greek brigands and Swiss pores girls, magicians and shepherdesses, mountebanks and warriors, che- valiers and cavaliers, heroines ef romance and history: but all the dresses were of the richest and most costly description. The Duke and Duchess of Ardleigh alone ap- peared without masks; but they nevertheless wore fancy costumes. The Duke had taken it into his head to personate Paganini, of whom he was a great admirer: for be it rememberod that his . cConniclooolx — com