Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 177: what you’re looking at

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

3 _—— ~ = - - ~,. ee ee eee ee ed | . 164 ELLEN PERCY}: OR, THE —_ a -_—~ --—— done!” exclaimed Mr. Richards, endeavouring to conceal his vexation beneath the air of gay re- proach with which he addressed the aunt. “It is all your fault; and I must conjure you to with- draw an injunction which, as you perceive, deprives my ballet of its brightest ornament.” “T can assure you, Mr. Richards,” responded Mrs. Oldcastle, “that I have issued uo injunction to any such effect, I have not presumed to inter- fere with Mr. Norman’s arrangements on behalf of himself, his wife, or his daughter.” “No, no, my dear aunt,” interposed Mr. Nor- man, “ you have been very kind and good; and as for the proposition Mr. Richards has just made us in respect to Juliet, we will think it over.” “Good! that will do!” ejaculated the lessee: “and I feel convinced that my views will not ex- perience opposition on the part of Mrs, Oldcastle.” The manager then bowed and retired. When the door closed behind him, there was an ominous silence of a few minutes,—a silence which the old lady did not seem inclined to break, and upon which no one else seemed to dare tointrude. It was a most embarrassing silence. I saw that Juliet was exceedingly uneasy, and that this feel- ing was shared by her parents—as indeed it like. wise was by myself. At length Mrs. Oldcastle, lifting her eyes from her work, turned towards Juliet, inquiring, “How long have you seceded rom the stage?” “Tt must be upwards of five months,’ Mrs, Norman hastened to ejaculate—doubtiess fearing that her daughter’s confusion might prevent her from giving any answer at all. “And what is your objection to return to the stage, my dear?” inquired Mrs. Oldcastle, in even a kinder voice than she had yet used when address- ing Juliet. “ Let the girl speak for herself,” she added, glancing quickly upon Mr. and Mrs. Nor- man. I saw that Juliet gathered up all her self- possession with an effort; and she answered with an air of frankness, “ I have conceived a distaste for the stage.” “Indeed!” said Mrs. Oldcastle. ‘“ But I hope that I may give your parents credit for having ab- stained from forcing your inclination in that re- spect ?” “Oh, yes!” exclaimed Juliet, with affectionate enthusiasm: “they have always been mosé kind and good towards me!” “Yam glad you tell me that, my dear,” said Mrs. Oldcastle : and the dark cloud of suspicion which for a moment had gathered upon her coun- tenance, now vanished altogether—her features brightening up indeed, as much as such a face could by any possibility become animated. “In this case,” she added, “ the engagement with Mr. Richards will not of course take place.” “ Certainly not—certainly not, my dear aunt !” ejaculated Mr. Norman, eagerly. From that moment throughout the rest of the day, Mrs. Oldcastle’s demeanour grew more cordial towards Mr. and Mrs. Norman; while towards Juliet she became almost affectionate—and ex- ceedingly kind towards myself. Nothing more of any consequence occurred to revive the apprehen- sions of poor Juliet that the falsehood which be- tween five or six months back had been propagated in respect to the visit to the aunt at Dover, would MEMOIRS OF AN ACTRESS. | be discovered by her whose name was used upou | the occasion. When Mrs. Oldcastle took her leave —which she did at about half-past eight o’clock—- she intimated that she should not revisit the house on the following day, but that she should pass the one next ensuing altogether there. When she was gone, we talked over the incidents of the-der; and Mr. and Mrs. Norman expressed their con¢s;iion that great and signal advances had been made in the favourable opinion of their wealthy relative. Such was likewise my impression; but I saw how much depended on Juliet’s secret being kept safe until the time should come when there was no longer any danger of its transpiring. On the following day Mr. Norman communi- cated to Mr. Richards, on his daughter’s behaif, her refusal to accept another engagement at the theatre ; and he was now enabled with bold truth- fulness to assert that Mrs. Oidcastle had peremp- torily influenced this decision. It was about two o’clock in the afternoon of this same day—while Mr. and Mrs. Norman were absent at the theatre, and while Juliet, who felt indisposed after the excitement of the previous day, was lying down in her own chamber—that the footman entered the drawing-room where I was seated alone, to intimate that a lady desired to speak tome. I asked what name she had given: but the footman replied, “ The lady, Miss, an. nounced no name: she said it was useless, as she is a perfect stranger to you.” * Then let her walk up,” I said: but I resolved to remain upon my guard, for fear of any new treachery on the part of Lady Lilla Essendine, In a few moments the visitress was ushered into my presence; and as she wore a thick black veil, I could only catch a feeble glimpse of her coun- tenance: but the impression it made upon me was most favourable. She was well dressed; and a single glance at her attire was sufficient to convince me that it emanated from some fashionable estab- lishment where the cost of articles must be held of no consequence in the estimation of the pur- chaser. She was not tall, but of the medium height of woman — with a very slender figure, proportioned to an exquisite symmetry; while her bearing was ladylike and full of natural unstudied grace. I rose to receive her. She seemed em. barrassed how to introduce herself or her business; —and no longer fearing treachery, I spoke with a kind encouragement, requesting her to be seated. She then—as if with a certain effort which was rendered necessary by a slight remaining reluc- tance—raised her veil; and I beheld one of the most interestingly beautiful countenances I had ever gazed upon. It was not however a face of dazzling loveliness, nor was if a beauty which makes the beholder wonder as well as admire: but, on the contrary, it was an expression of me- lancholy gentleness and sweet mournfulness which gave such a pathetic interest to that oval coun- tenance and those regular features. Delicately modelled too were those features: the cheeks were pale; in a slight degree they were sunken—but so slightly as not to be hollow nor to give a haggard look to the face itself. She seemed as if she had only recently recovered from an illness that hac been caused by some calamity; and methought likewise that the sense of this calamity, mellowed by resignation, was still in the soul, as the linger- vOO|KS,. CONN Com