Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 343: what you’re looking at

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

a 300 I should here mention that on my return to London from Dover, I had found at Hunter Street a note from Mr. Gower, in answer to the one l had written previous to my departure, In that note Mr. Gower politely acknowledged the recep- tion of mine, and intimated that he should feel obliged if I would favour him with a call on my return to the metropolis, It was in consequence of this request that [ now took my way to Stratton Street. Mr. Gower was at home; and immediately, on giving my name, I was eonducted up to the handsomely furnished drawing-room where he was prepared to receive me. He was a tall, stout, elderly gentleman—with a shining bald head and a florid complexion; and though his manners were somewhat deficient in the gloss of fashionable politeness, yet they were sufficiently easy and courteous. He had lived nearly all his life in the eountry, as I presently learnt in the course of eonversation—and had merely come to sojourn for a little while in London in order that his daughter Felicia might, as it is called, “be brought out.” Having requested me to be seated, Mr. Gower said, “1 have heard enough of your character, Miss Trafford, te be convinced that in addross- ing you on @ most delicate subject pa “ No apology is requisite !” I hastily exclaimed ; “and rest assured, sir, that whatsoever may be said to me ig confidenge shall be religiously re- spected,” “You see before you, Miss Trafford, a most unhappy man,” continued Mr, Gower. * Felicia, my daughter-—-whom you beheld at the theatre is an only ehild; and she is motherless, A happy life was it that she led in the countey: gay an cheerful was her disposition! A happy existence likewise was it whieh I led im my natiye place— from which I had very seldom been absent since I inherited the family estates, But London aunts and fashionable cousins came to visit Felicia; they put it into her head that she ought to have a year or two in the metropolis—and I was overwhelmed with the same reasoning, We accordingly came to London; and I took this house ready furnished for a twelvemonth. In the new sphere into whieh Felicia was thus thrown, she encountered one whose name I can scarcely mention with patience —while in my heart I execrate it. I allude to Lord Frederick Ravenscliffe.” There was a pause, during which Mr. Gower reflected mournfully ; and at length he continued in the following manner :- “Lord Frederick paid his attentions to my daughter. I knew that he was but a junior scion of the noble house to which he belongs, and that his pecuniary position and prospects were not very brilliant, But then he possessed a title! Ab, Miss Trafford! we dwellers in the country are too apt to be dazzled by the lustre of patrician rank —we have our folly and our pride, our foolish am- bition and our lofty aspirations. I may in truth tell you that I am a rich man; and I reasoned that if Lord Frederick gave my daughter patri- cian rank, while I furmished an ample dower, the equivalents would be fair enough. So I suffered him to pursue his addresses; and Felicia—Fe- licia,’’ repeated Mr. Gower, his lips quivering with emotion, “ learnt te love him,” ELLEN PERCY ; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF AN ACTRESS, There was another brief pause, during which Mr. Gower subdued his rising emotions; and he went on to say “ It often happens in the world that those who are most interested in learning parti- cular things, are the very last whose ears they reach, notwithstanding that the things themselves may be the common subject of rumour. So it was with me inthis case, No friendly and well- meaning tongue whispered a syllable to warn me against that young nobleman: I suspected not that he was extravagant and dissipated, or over« whelmed with debts. He entirely won my confi- dence; and he found himself a weleome guest at my house, The very day before that on which he accompanied my daughter and her friends to the theatre, he proposed for Feliciq’s hand, and was accepted. Yes—I accepted him without the slightest hesitation as my intended son-in-law ! Then egame the scene at the theatre, A note whieh he received, fluttered into my daughter’s lap; and she, thinking it wes intended for her perusal, hastened to read it, It contained fright- ful words of warning—mentioning algo the Chris- tian name ef Eilew as that of some ong who had discovered eyerything and was harbouring mischief against him! My poor Felicia fainted: but upon being taken into the corridor, she quickly revived with the fresh air. Then Lord Fpederi¢k endea- youred to persuade her that the anonymeus billet was a vile fabrication by the hand of seme seoret enemy. J elicia was inclined to helieve the repre- sentation—and all the more so, begause ghe felt it to be so necessary to her happipess—and because loye itself is eonfidence! But quickly was the delusion suceeeded by the renewal of the moat harrowing suspicions that there was something deeply wrong in respect to Lord Fredeviek Ravens- cliffe, For a@ gentleman presented himself in the eorrider—then a lady advanced Yet why should I tell you all this portion of the proceedings ?-—for that lady was yourself!” Again Mr. Gower paused: but he speedily re- sumed his address in the following manner :— *‘ My daughter returned home in an anguished state of mind—filled with terrible misgivings in respect to him whose suit she had accepted. The mention of the name of Ellen in the anonymous billet, followed by your appearance in the corridor, and all that there took place, determined me to write a note, requesting an interview with you ; for I was resolved to fathom the whole mystery— and I was quite conyinced from all I have heard of your character, that you would deal frankly with me. Your reply brought the intelligence that Lord Frederick Ravenscliffe had just es- poused your friend Miss Norman! Conceive, Miss Trafford, the amount of mingled indignation and affliction which seized upon me—~-”’ “Ob, sir!” I exclaimed, moved to tears by the spectacle of that deep emotion which Felicia’s father could no longer subdue nor conceal,—* I felt more than I can express on account of your daughter !—believe me that I did !” “ T am sure of it !” said Mr, Gower, seizing wy hand and wringing it. “ But may I hope,” I asked, “that the blow has not been so very terrible——” “ Yes—it bas been terrible !’? rejomed Mr. Gower. “WhenI first broke the intelligence to my daughter—alae, poor Felicia! my only child, Connicloool com