Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 236: what you’re looking at

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—— ee ELLEN PERCY; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF AN ACTRESS. sn ee eeeemnel must remember that at the time when the unplea- sant incident occurred at Hastings, Mary Glent- worth was a girl old enough to know the name which her mother and herself had been accustomed to bear; and any change of name would have ex- cited Mary’s surprise--while it would have also been a circumstance which a young girl could scarcely have been tutored to keep as a profound secret. And now, Ellen, I have told you enough to make you comprehend that you cannot with propriety repeat your visit to that cottage, nor cultivate the acquaintance of Miss Glentworth.” I said no more upon the subject: but I was much afflicted at the tale I had heard and at the injunctions which I had just received—and all the more so because I could not fail to recognise the necessity of acting in obedience to the latter. Four days after my arrival at River House, Juliet Norman became the mother of a son; and when she pressed her babe to her bosom, she seemed to forget awhile, in the joy and pride of maternity, the circumstances of sorrow which had preceded and of mystery which attended the birth of her offspring: I wrote to Mrs. Norman to acquaint her with the secret, and to assure both her ana her husband that they need not entertain the slightest apprehension in reference to Juliet’s health: and in order that the servants might not entertain a suspicion by seeing the address of this letter, I took it myself to the post-office at Dover. I should here observe, in explanation of my pre- ceding remark, that of Mrs. Oldcastle’s domestic household only the lady’s-maid and the footman who had accompanied her to London were aware that Juliet’s real name was Norman instead of Hall; and on their discretion Mrs. Oldcastle could place the strictest reliance. The return of post brought a reply from Mrs. Norman, expressing her own and her husband’s gratification to learn that Juliet was progressing so favourably ; and desiring me to thank Mrs. | Oldeastle on their behalf for all her kindness towards their daughter. Mrs. Norman’s letter went on to touch upon other matters, giving me certain information which caused me some alarm and uneasiness. The special paragraphs to which I am now alluding were as follow :— “Tam sorry to say that I cannot send you a very good account of the conduct of Beda; whose | proceedings are alike irregular and mysterious. She frequently absents herself for hours together ; and when questioned by myself or Mr, Norman, she either gazes with her large dark eyes fixed 223 instead of apprehension and alarm. You see, my dear Ellen, it is impossible for us to do anything with Beda under these circumstances; and it is all the more inconvenient because the landlady of the house where we are lodging, has made representa- tions on the point. I hope, in the name of heaven, that Beda has not fallen in with bad company; but in any case it is a matter on which I could not keep silent. If you could possibly leave River House for only a single day and run over to Rams- gate, you might fathom this mystery, and if it be not yet too late, rescue this young creature from the path of destruction! By the bye, I had al- most forgotten to observe that when Beda thus ab- sents herself, she lays aside her good apparel, and dresses in a strange mean unbecoming way; s0 that the mystery is indeed all the greater, inas- much as that vanity which one might think would prompt a young girl to go out in her best raiment, seems to be rendered secondary to other considera- tions, whatsoever they may be.” Such were the paragraphs in Mrs. Norman’s letter which at first filled me with anxiety and ap- prehension. But as I reflected upon them, I felt my suspicions which were injurious to Beda gra- dually diminishing ; while the thought was stealing into my mind that the young girl might be en- gaged in penetrating some scheme that had come to her knowledge, and which might after all pro- bably regard myself. But, however the case might be, I saw the necessity of at once repairing to Ramsgate; and as my absence would only be for that day and a portion of the next, I had no diffi. culty in making some pretext to Mrs, Oldcastle and Juliet. The letter to which I have alluded, reached me at about ten o'clock in the morning; and by two in the afternoon I was at Ramsgate, ae CHAPTER XL. THE YACHT. THe Normans occupied handsome lodgings in a genteel house belonging to one of the Crescents upon the Heights. On my arrival, I learnt that Beda was again absent—and that it was about noon when, attired in the very worst apparel she possessed, she had stolen out of the house by the back way. When she would return, was a matter upon us with unintelligible meaning—or else she | of the utmost uncertainty. simply says that ‘she has no explanation to give except to her mistress, Miss Percy.’ Last evening she thus absented herself at about six o’clock, and did not return until past eleven. We sat up for her, full of anxiety and alarm lest some acci- dent should have befallen her, or that she had ab- sconded altogether. When she returned to the house, she glided up to her own chamber, though | positively told that Mr. Norman and myself were desirous to speak to her: and when we just now questioned her in respect to these improper and intolerable proceedings, she again replied simply ‘that she would explain herself only to her young mistress, Miss Percy.’ I remonstrated with her very strongly on her conduct, and threatened to “Beda is a singular creature,” I said: “but I have every faith in her good principles. Let us not judge her prematurely: she may have the most satisfactory explanations to give in respect to her conduct. When she returns, be so kind as to leave us alone together ; and she will speak frankly and openly to me.” “{ am delighted to hear, my dear Ellen,” ex- claimed Mrs. Norman, “that you have such faith in Beda’s propriety. It would indeed be shocking to think that a young girl who possesses such ex- traordinary beauty, and in whom you have so much interested yourself, should have fallen into bad society.” “Nothing,” added Mr. Norman, “ would afilict write to you. Then her large eyes lighted up with ; me more than such a calamitous result,—But ——e———————O eee ee Ooo -—————— en nk eee eee ee ais COMIC JOO <=) Com