Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 175: what you’re looking at

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

162 “Since you are a relation of the family, madam,” I answered, “there is no harm in letting you know that my real name is Percy.” “Percy! Percy!” ejaculated the dame, all her frigidity suddenly giving way to agitation and excitement, so that I was startled and astonished : but quickly regaining her cold self-possession, she muttered, “ No—it is impossible !”—yet she con- tinued to look very hard at me with her fixed penetrating eyes. “ Miss Percy is a very dear young friend of ours, aunt,’ interjected Mr. Norman; “and as she is as good as she is talented, we are as proud of her as if she were our daughter.” * Well, well,” said the dame; “I daresay she is a good girl enough. And that other one P” point- ing to Melissa. “ Though there be @ prejudice existing, almost to the extent of a stigma, against the theatrical profession,” said Mr. Norman, “I am proud to declare that we reeeiye mone but persons of un- doubted reputation ; and amongst these friends we reckon Miss Harrison.” Melissa stgoped to pick up the kerchief which she let fall as if by accident—though I knew very well that it wag intentionally done as a means to veil the sudden confusion inte which that speech of My. Norman had necessarily though so unsus- pectingly thrown her: for be it remembered that only I myself was acquainted with Melissa’s frailty. When she again raised her countenance, it was with a calm self-possession :—a moment had been sufficient for her to regain complete control over self. Well, Miss Harrison,” said Mrs. Oldcastle, shaking hands with her as she had done with me, “¥ daresay that you may be a very good kind of a girl, although adancer. However, I shall perhaps have an opportunity of knowing you all better. I mean to stay a few days in London for that purpose.” | «* And you will make our house your home, dear aunt ?” said Mr. Notman—an invitation that was instantaneously echoed by his spouse. “No, I thank you,” said the dame curtly. ‘‘Suppers at midnight would not suit me. Icame up to London to see you; and therefore I should have waited all night for that purpose. But now that my object is accomplished, I shall take my departure. Ring and order me a cab.” “At least, dear aunt, you will stay and take some supper on the present occasion P” urged Mr. Norman, his wife echoing the invitation with equal fervour. Nothing however could induce the old lady to remain: but she intimated that she should return on the morrow to pass the entire day. She then took her departure in the cab that was procured according to her request. For some little while after she was gone, Mr. and Mrs. Norman were so full of the unexpected visit which had been paid them, that they did not notice how pensive Juliet looked: nor did they seem to recollect that Melissa Harrison must naturally be astonished at everything which had just occurred after the rumour that was so industriously spread a few months back to tbe effect that Juliet was invited to pass a short time with her wealthy relative at Dover. At length Juliet, pleading headach, left the room: and Melissa whispered to me, “I see LL LLL LI a Cr A cay ELLEN PERCY; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF AN ACTRESS. that there is some little family secret somewhere or another, But I am not curious, dear Ellen— and I ask not for explanations.” She then rose from her seat, bade us farewell, and hurried away. “ By the bye,” said Mr. Norman, when she was gone, “ Melissa must have.thought it strange . “Rest assured,” I interrupted him, “that she will not ask any impertinent questions. But other difficulties may arise from Mrs. Oldcastle’s pre- sence in London. All your friends and visitors have been led to believe that Juliet passed some little while with her: they may allude to it before Mrs. Oldcastle when they call at the house “Truly!” said Mr. Norman; “that is the dis- advantage of telling a falsehood, even as a matter of necessity and in a very yenial manner. It is sure in the long run to produce its inconveniences. There is only one alternative—and that is to deny ourselves to all our friends and usual visitors during the time that Mrs. Oldcastle is at tho house.”’ “That is indeed the only plan,’ I said: but I had my misgivings lest complications should arise from the inopportune presence of Mrs, Oldcastle in London, I repaired to Juliet’s chamber: I found her unhappy and desponding. She spoke to me of Melissa; and I gaye her precisely the same as- surance which I had already giyen to her parents, in respect to Miss Harrison’s freedom from imper- tinent curiosity. | * But still she must consider it strange, Ellen !” said poor Juliet, ‘Some suspicion may be ex- cited; and when once any such idea enters tho brain, it soon furnishesaclue! {I allude not now especially to Melissa—but to other persons who may come to the house ze . “Your parents have determined to deny them- selves to all visitors whenever Mrs, Oldcastle is here,” I interjected. — * But the servants, Ellen?” resumed Juliet “they must think it exceedingly strange that the aunt whom I was supposed to visit a few months ago, shoyld come hither as a stranger. And then too—in another month or six weeks I must leave home—I shall be no longer able to conceal my position—and the very pretext which was to serve me when the time should come, can now no longer be thought of !” “And why not, Juliet?’ I asked. “ Mrs, Old. castle is not likely to remain long in London; nor is it probable that she will very soon repeat her visit. When once she shall have returned home, the pretext will hold as good as eyer it did.” “Qh, in what perils am I involved! —what misery, what utter misery has that fatal love of mine plunged me into!’—and Juliet gave way to her lamentations. I said everything I could to console her; and at length finding that she was more tranquil, I left her,—retiring to my own chamber, On the following morning, immediately after breakfast, Mrs. Oldcastle arrived at the house. Her manner was sufficiently friendly, without be- ing at all cordial: she seemed naturally cold and severe: indeed I scarcely knew what to think of her—whether it were possible for such a woman to possess a good heart at all, Mr. and Mrs. Norman Gomichbook Eom