Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 371: what you’re looking at

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358 ELLEN PERCY; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF AN ACTRESS. Tt was with a palpitating heart and with a son- sation of rising emotions in my throat, that I drew near the little habitation which the dame had oc. cupied, and where I had received the elements of education. As I approached the house, it seemed not to be in any way changed from what it formerly was: it had the same strange admix- ture of dinginess and neatnhess in its appearance, —dinginess with regard to the red-brick frontage, and neatness in respect to the window draperies. * Perhaps she is still alive,” I said to myself,— “still residing here—still keeping a seminary ?” At that moment a neatly-dressed girl, having the air of a tradesman’s daughter, and carrying a school-bag in her hand, passed me hurriedly. My heart palpitated still more forcibly, as with my eyes I followed her to watch whither she was going. Ah! she stopped at the door of the little house towards which I also was bending my way —she opened that door and entered. It was a school, then !—but did Mrs. Kelly still keep itP I advanced to the door—I knocked—and in a few moments it was opened by the very school-girl whom I had first seen enter. ‘Does Mrs. Kelly reside here ?” I inquired; and my voice fell in tremulous vibrations upon my own ears. “Yes, ma’am,” was the girl’s response. you please to walk in.” I entered—I advanced into the school-room e-and the look which I at once threw around, made me doubt whether I had not been dreaming of the lapse of years, and whether I were not veritably a school-girl still! Nothing seemed al- tered in that room. There were the same pictures * Will (chiefly prints of churches) hanging to the walls: | there was the array of forms, accommodating some dozen of neatly dressed girls: there was a great tortoise-shell cat lying upon the rug before the fire; and there in her easy-chair, at the little table which served her as a desk, sat the dame herself, She was apparelled in precisely the same style which I had ever associated with her image,—a black silk gown, her mittens, and the widow’s cap that she had worn ever since her husband’s death long years ago. But her hair, which was only grey when last I had seen her, was now quite white; and she wore spectacles. Yes—there was Mrs. Keliy, still alive—still evidently in comfort- able circumstances—and still pursuing her scho- lastic avocations! She doubtless thought that IT was some ono who had come to speak to her on professional business ; for she rose, saluted me with respectful courtesy, and begged me to be seated. A few of my readers may perhaps think that I was very foolish—but there are many wlio will comprehend the feelings which influenced me, when I turned aside from the chair which the dame indicated and sat down upon the front form, in the very place which used to be mine when I attended that seminary ! Then I could not restrain myself: the tears were trick- ling from my eyes—and I held my kerchief to my face. -€ Oh, I know you now, my dear girl! I recol- lect you!” exclaimed Mrs. Kelly, hastening for- ward. “ You are Ejlen Percy, whom I always loved and of whom I have often and often thought!” The next moment I was folded in the dame’s arms, and was weeping upon her bosom. Some minutes elapsed before either of us could suffi- ciently conquer our feelings to give utterance to a word. Mrs. Kelly was the first to recover her self possession; and she said, “ Go into the other room, girls—and amuse yourselves for the pre. sent.” “ Or rather,” I faltered forth, “let them have a holiday, my dear Mrs. Kelly—and here is some- thing which if distributed amongst them, will enable them to enjoy it. They will then remem- ber what I am now telling them—that Ellen Percy was once a pupil of your’s, and that she never thinks of you otherwise than with love and grati- tude !” With these words I placed a sovereign in the hands of the eldest girl, who happened fo he the very one that I had seen arriving late at the school, and who had afterwards opened the front door for me. The joy and surprise of the young folks may readily be imagined at this proceeding on my part ; and they crowded around me to ex: press their gratitude. The dame at once assented to my request that they should have a whole holi- day ; and the school-room was speedily cleared. * And now, my dear Ellen,” said Mrs. Kelly,— “for Hilen you must permié me to call you though I see that you are a young lady id “Yes—always call me Ellen!” I exclaimed, once more embracing her. “ You are rich—you are evidently well-to-do in the world—and I am rejoiced at it!” she con- tinued. “Perhaps, then, it was all false—that rumour which somehow or another reached my ears, that when Mrs. Parks died she left you nothing, but everything to her son ?” * That rumour was all true, my dear‘friend,” I responded : “ and whatsoever I am now possessed of—with the single exception of my grandfather’s house—I have acquired by my own industry.” “Tam delighted to hear it!” cried the dame. “ But are you married, Ellen?” “ No,” I rejoined, blushing for a moment: then frankly raising my countenance, I added, “ From you, my dear friend, I can have no secrets. I am engaged to my cousin Harry Wakefield—you re- member him perhaps - “Yes, I remember him—and your dear aunt likewise,” ejaculated Mrs. Kelly. “ Ah! I was sadly grieved when I noticed her death in the newspaper. As well as possible do I recollect— yes, as well as if it were only yesterday—and yet it must be nearly ten years ago—and you yourself — were only ten at the time—your aunt called with you—she sat in that yery chair—you were in the window-recess—and she spoke to me concerning you. But you blush, Ellen?” “Yes, my dear madam,” I answered, “ because I recollect the incident full well; and though not intentionally listening, I overheard every syllable you said; for in your affection for me you spoke flatteringly !” “No—I did not flatter you,” responded the dame, caressing my cheek with her hand. “TI spoke of you with sincerity—I said you would grow up to bea beautiful girl: and you are beau- tiful, Ellen! But more than beautiful !—you are good! Ob, I know that you are good !—there is innocence in your looks! Oh! and now you have that same sweetly bashful smile which was wont CONnNEDOOKS Com