Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 271: what you’re looking at

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

258 the steam-packet in order that I might see my faithful Beda safe to her destination with the Normans again; and this time I had not so much trouble in reconciling her to a temporary separa- tion, inasmuch as she saw that I loved her, and she was proud of having been taken into my con- fidence with regard to my journey to Paisley. It was at about four o’clock in the afternoon that the steam-packet reached Ramsgate, and I found that Mr. and Mrs. Norman were much distressed on account of the death of Juliet’s child,—not that they themselves could have éntertained much affection for a little being that they had never seen, and whose departure from this world might for its own sake, under the circumstances, be almost regarded as a happy release—but because they had seen from the distracted letter which Juliet herself had penned to them how profoundly she felt her bereavement. And here I cannot help noticing how strong is the principle of parental affection which is inter- woven with the soul of woman. A man seems to eare only for the child that is naturally born unto him, and whose birth is sanctified by the rites of marriage: but even then he scarcely develops any affection for the infant in its earliest days or weeks, and only when by its thousand little inno- cent and winning ways the child begins to render itself interesting. On the other hand, though the infant be born in shame, the mother loves it from its very birth—and perhaps all the more too from the fact that no father’s arms are extended to receive the little stranger. I had seen that Me- lissa Harrison doated upon her own child, which was the offspring and the living evidence of her dishonour. I had now seen the same with my friend Juliet Norman, These and other similar cases have led me to the belief that parental affec- tion is an innate idea with the female sex—whereas with the opposite one it is not inborn, but merely acquired. It was late in the evening when I reathed River nm dee ee House, where I was welcomed by Mrs. Oldcastle and Mary Glentworth—and not the less so by poor Juliet, who, afflicted though she were, had every testimonial of love and friendslip to lavish upon me. I found that she did indeed experience the utmost distress for the loss of her child— though when we were alone together, she said to me, “ And yet, dearest Ellen, it is all for the best! for if my babe had lived, I should in a short time have been compelled to part from it and consign the sweet innocent to the care of strangers.” As the child was not baptised, there was no necessity for formal obsequies; and when the little ceremony of interment, such as if was, had been completed, Juliet’s mind appeared to become more easy. Resignation was taking the place of the first paroxysm of distress; and as she thus acquired fortitude, she became proportionately the more convinced that it was indeed all for the best. Mary Glentworth—who still knew her only as Mrs. Hall—had been most kind and attentive to her in her affliction; so that this amiable young lady was now as much beloved by Juliet as she was by myself. A fortnight elapsed—at the expiration of which it became necessary for me and Juliet to think of I had resolved to proceed as far as Ramsgate by | Ramsgate was drawing to a conclusion. ELLEN PERCY; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF AN ACTRESS, I had conversation with Mrs. Oldcastle relative to Mary Glentworth; and the worthy lady assured me that she should feel happy in continuing to afford a home to the young friend in whom I was so deeply interested. In another conversation, which I had with Mary herself, she said that for the present she should render Mrs. Oldeastle’s kind. ness available until a becoming period of mourn- ing for her deceased mother had elapsed ; but that then she should seriously think of the adoption of other plans. I assured her there was plenty of time to take such matters into consideration; and it was agreed between us that we should corre- spond frequently until we again met. When the day of separation came, Juliet sought an opportunity of expressing to her great-aunt Mrs, Oldeastle the full sense of gratitude which she experienced for all that lady’s considerate and delicate kindness towards her; and Mrs. Oldcastle replied, “If I had not considered you worthy of my best care and tenderest attention—in short, if I had not been convinced that you were entirely sinned against and in no way sinning—I should not have treated you thus. Your secret, my dear girl, is now safe: you may go back into the great world with as much confidence and assurance as all the circumstances which have happened can possibly leave behind, I am convinced that your principles are good; and as I have long een dis- abused of the strong prejudices I once entertained in respect to the stage, you may résume your pro- fession if such be your taste. I could at once render you independent thereof if I thought fit : but I prefer for the present to leave you to your own exertions——though remember, at all times you may fly to me in any emergency, with the conviction that so long as you yourself ate fault. less you will bo received with open arms.” 5 me also Mrs. Oldeastle said many kind things; and on both of us did she bestow several presents —not very costly ones certainly—bui still as wel- come to us in the form of friendly testimonials as if they had been of ten times the value. We affectionately embraced the old lady aad Mary Glentworth; and we took our departure for Ramsgate. Juliet, being possessed of a vigorous constitution and robust heaith, had now com- pletely recovered all her good looks: indeed me- thought she seemed handsomer than ever. There was a slight shade of pensiveness on her counte- nance: but this only rendered her the more inte- resting; and she exerted all her power to resume her former gaiety, for the sake of her parents and myself, and likewise to avert suspicion when coming in contact with the world again. Mr. and Mrs. Norman, who had not seen her for some months, were rejoiced to fold her in their arms again; and this delight was enhanced when they saw how well she was looking, and with what for- titude she bore the bereavement which had at first plunged her into such deep affliction. Beda was happy enough on welcoming me again; and she told me that she had received a letter from Wil- liam Lardner, who had: succeeded in obtaining a berth on board an East Indiaman. She offered to show me the letter: but I would not accept the proposition. I told her that I had confidence in her discretion and prudence; and that if I had rejoining Mr. and Mrs. Norman; for their stay at | given her permission to correspond with the young I GomiGvdooksrecom