Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 312: what you’re looking at

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

_ of anger will rise to your cheeks, ELLEN PERCY; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF AN ACTRESS. 49g chamber, when a letter which had just arrived by | the post, was brought in to me by Beda. The address was in a masculine hand that was un- known to me; and the missive was evidently from no private friend, inasmuch as it was directed to Miss Trafford instead of to Miss Percy. Beda retired: I opened the letter—and a paper fell out upon the floor. I picked it up; and to my asto- nishment I discovered that it was a cheque for five thousand guineas, —the signature being simply, “TYNEDALE.” It was drawn upon Messrs. Coutts the bankers, and was left payable to dearer, ne name having been inserted in the body of the draft. Instantaneously suspecting, even if not completely understanding, what this meant, I felt the hot blood of indignation glowing upon my cheeks ; and I was on the point of tearing up both cheque and letter. into a thousand pieces, when the thought struck me that at least it would ‘be prudent to assure myself that it was as I fan- cied ; for either my conjecture might in some way or another prove erroneous—or the packet itself might have been addressed to me_through some mistake. I accordingiy curbed my angry impa- tience as well as I was able; and I commenced the perusal of the letter which had contained the cheque, and the contents of which I found to rup as follow :— * Tynedale Lodge, Kensington, * September 18th, 1841. ** After an absence of about two years upon the Continent, I returned a few days ago to the British metropolis. The fame of Miss Trafford had reached me in Italy, where I have been so- journing ; and whenever in English newspapers I read an account of her admirable impersonations of dramatic heroines, I always longed for the mo- ment when I should be enabled to witness the display of that transcending genius. Last even- ing my curiosity was gratified. I was prepared to find that Miss Trafford possessed talents of the highest order: but their brilliancy far outshone even all my highly raised expectations, In the same manner likewise, was I[ prepared to find that Miss Trafford was beautiful: but no sooner did my looks fall upon her than I discovered that she was infinitely more lovely than even in the wildest imagining I could have anticipated. But to drop the third person, and address you, Miss Trafford, in a more direct manner, I am at this moment at a loss for language to convey the feelings with which you have inspired me. Being married, though for some years separated from the Mar- chioness, I am unable to take that step which those feelings would otherwise prompt—namely, by beseeching you to grant me your hand and suffer me to conduct you to the altar. Butif yéu will trust yourself to my honour—if you will con- sent to render me happy—your own happiness shall henceforth become my chief, my only study. I am wealthy; and if riches can ever be ren- dered a proof of devoted love, they shall be show- ered upon your head. The nature of my property is such that I can dispose of the greater portion of it according to my own will and pleasure. All that I can thus dispose of shall be bequeathed unto yourself, From everything that I have heard of your character, I know you to be virtuous; and I fear that on a first perusal of this letter the flush But I implore and beseech that you will give the subject a calm consideration. It is true that I have not the at- tractions of youth nor of good looks to strengthen my plea: but I possess a warm heart—and all those worldly advantages of which I can dispose, shall, as I have already said, be entirely your’s. That you may know who it is that is thus address- ing you, I need but allude to a little incident of last evening, which was discerned by some one in a stage-box having an opera-glass at the time; and I saw that your looks were thrown towards me—for I was that person. “ Referring to all the good report I have heard of your character, I naturally conceive that if my present appeal should succeed in making any im- pression upon you, you would desire that our con- nexion should be kept as secret as possible. If you decide upon replying favourably to this, I leave every detail and arrangement to yourself: I am anxious to prove your slave in all things. Whatsoever course you may point out shall be strictly and faithfully followed by me; and what- ever stipulations you may have to lay down shall be most sacredly regarded. can say no more than this: I cannot speak more fairly. But I may add that if death should re- move my present wife before its stern hand is laid upon me, joyously and cheerfully should I lead you to the altar to become the Marchioness of Tynedale. “ As a trivial earnest of my good faith, and as some small proof of the sincerity with which [I am inspired in thus addressing you, I enclose a cheque which will be immediately honoured at my banker’s without a single question being asked, no matter who may be the bearer of it. And now permit me to subscribe myself “Your most devoted admirer, “ TYNEDALE.” Such were the contents of the letter which the Marquis of Tynedale had dared to write to me— couching the most insulting and audacious over- tures in the insidious delicacy of a language art- fully constructed and skillfully glossed over. Ah! I was now invited to become the mistress of the Marquis of Tynedale,—I who might have become the wife of the Marquis of Dalrymple, with the title of Duchess in the perspective! And that cheque for five thousand guineas which he had enclosed,—oh! again and again did the flush of indignation glow and burn upon my cheeks; and the bosom of which the veteran libertine had acci- dentally caught a glimpse on the preceding even- ing, was now swelling as if it would burst with the sense of my outraged feelings. I was thinking what course I should pursue—whether I should consign letter and cheque to the flames and take no farther notice of the communication—or whether I should return them both in a blank envelope—or thirdly, whether I should pen an in- dignant billet to accompany them,—when the door of my chamber suddenly opened, and Melissa Harrison made her appearance. She had the pri- vilege of thus seeking me at her pleasure in my own private apartment ; for I was always on terms of the most friendly intimacy with her, and she always testified the warmest gratitude for the ser- vices which I had rendered her during the earliest part of our acquaintance, Situated as I am, [I Com Gboo <S Com