Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 170: what you’re looking at

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

— ect, LT ——— slhstnssessssne-seeseens—nsestens—wenw* Se ~_—__- ELLEN PERCY; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF AN ACTRESS. 157 five or six months ago, to the effect that a wealthy | wonted air of cordial friendliness: but avoiding the relation of the Normans had suddenly conde- , hand _which I feared was stained with crime, L scended to notice them; and Juliet, I believe, went passed on in such a way as to place the centre- on a visit to her. But has she any prospect of in- | table between us; and with a cold look sat down. pein 7 that relative’s riches? I sincerely hope 2 iy peers ny “ ri genein: & with an so!’ air of astonishment, “ what means this reserve The reader will recollect that the report to | towards me?—how can I possibly have offended which Melissa alluded, had been purposely spread | you?” bh by the Normans at the time in order to account “One who is in any way leagued with Captain for Juliet’s absence on the honeymoon of her sup- | St. Clair,’ I responded, “ cannot possibly be 2 ae ch i a an Ne i to ee + ee pekictys to ie a, fas a e whole was a faisehood: neither wou a illa became ast ale; and she trem- lend myself to the sustenance or propagation of | bled fartin head to foot : but tind st immediately the untruth. My response was therefore guarded, | recovering her self-possession, she said, “ I leagued but delivered with an air of frankness. with Edwin St. Clair! What mean you, Miss “Tt is perfectly true,” I Said, “that the Nor- | Percy ?”—and she looked indignant. mans Spey = } oe Sop = Oldcastle | “Ido not pretend to know everything,” I —at Dover: but I am afraid that they have little | answered: “but this I am aware of—that despite prospect of inheriting wealth in that quarter. | the enmity which exists between you, there is in Therefore, if their hopes should be deceived, Juliet | some sense a terrible identity of interests. The will doubtless in time return to the stage.” symbol at which St. Clair trembled, when pre- “And all that love-affair with Lord Frederick | sented by my hand, had a talismanic power for Ravenscliffe,” continued Melissa, “is broken off | Lady Lilla Essendine when sent from the hand of long ago? Did I not prophesy, Ellen, that it|a gipsy; and no doubt the words which lately would turn to deception or disappointment for | overawed that unprincipled man, would have the os ee a ; ea to see her! es must think Peete ~ her i a ” tre i¢ unkin a ave remained for so man * Ellen, what mean you P” exclaime 1 months away from the house: but as you nad much sevitell and agitated. “Give me sci ion. charged me not to mention to a soul that I have | fidence! I have a right to demand it! Tell me received anything from your purse, I purposely | what new things have come to your knowledge— abstained from visiting that house where the very | and I will speedily explain first thing my feelings of gratitude would prompt * Oh, Lady Lilla!” I ejaculated, “how can you me to proclaim is the immensity of the obligation | explain that which, I fear, would only incriminate I owe to you.” | yourself? Ask me no more! I will say nothing “Now that you are about to return to the unless it be to bid you look down deep into stage,” I answered, “you will again be thrown in | your own conscience a ; + ti fir os " “sie and a ae cents ir a Ellen 8 a ye =E sae oe ex- uG 16 1s utterly needless, elissa, for you to| planations!”—and so altered was her voice from speak of the little services which I have been so | its wonted silver clearness—so hoarse and gasping rejoiced to render you.” was it—so distorted too was that countenance “To-morrow evening, dearest Ellen, we shall | whose natural beauty was so surpassing and so meet at the theatre,” said Miss Harrison, with a/ exquisite, that for an instant I was affrighted. smile deprecatory of any fresh remonstrance or | “ Yes,” she continued, growing more vehement as eas my part : Lg z che iy = eae poy me that zh fe Naeetbaig 9% bee a ee ave already communicated wi r. ihichards; | shall not terminate thus: ere has hitherto and he is delighted to have me back again. It | existed confidence between us; ana it shall not be just happened that he required a leading Sigurante suspended now! What enemy has been at work eae ae ope - and I am to have the situation, | to bila aes pees wie ee tet ee with a liberal salary.’ with suspicions—I know not what? Speak, llen ! I now took leave of Melissa, and returned to | speak! I adjure—I command you!” Hunter Street,—where, on my arrival, I found “No, Lady Lilla,” I exclaimed : “T am not to rat y a oat 8 equipage baer a e: sh by oF ig ers sway. = nie you no ront door. e servant informed me that her | harm: but our friendship is at an end! Your own ladyship was in the drawing-room, and that as my | demeanour now would justify that decision on my speedy return home was expected, she had re-| part, even if nothing else did! Irepeat, 1 mean mained to see me. I had foreseen this visit—but | you no harm ra . was annoyed that it should now be paid. I loathed “Killen!” interrupted Lady Lilla, “not to be Lady Lilla Essendine : her exquisite beauty aud | my friend, is to be myenemy! Beware how you her seeming amiabilities were to my view a mask | provoke me! I know a secret connected with concealing the hideousness and the venom of a yourself 2 ‘, Fed ae ts all a Paeara ett Bhima ie ete I yee armada si alee me, eartily wishe at they had never been | the allusion : en this is another proof of your shown; and as for the presents I had received | complete understanding in many respects with St. from her, I was most anxious for a pretext to re- Clair. You know that I have a father and that turn them, Conscious that I had a difficult part | he is unfortunate: but beware, Lady Lilla, how to play—and scarcely knowing how I should per- | you seek by any means to heap additional calami- form it—I proceeded to the drawing-room, where | ties on his head! For if by even a whispered I found her alone; for be it recollected that she | word or a stealthy deed you do aught that shall had not sought the acquaintance of the Normans. militate against-his security or peace of mind, I Lady Lilla started up from her seat with her | will not hesitate, Lady Lilla, to wreak a most ter- LL ——SS§ ———— — —_-— (rrr pg cS SSS SS st sl SS Ss SSS seus ste Gomichdoo cS Com