Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 373: what you’re looking at

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

eee 360 woman. “ You are happy: why should I trouble you with my griefs?” “ Because I can sympathise with you,” I an- swered, affectionately pressing her hand. “True!? she said: “and the sympathy of one whom I love will be sweet! Yet perhaps you will think that what I regard as a misfortune, is some- thing very trivial; and you will be surprised at me for my weakness and folly. But I will con- fess this weakness, if such it be.” “Speak, my kind friend,” I said, painfully inte- rested in her discourse. ‘For more than twenty years, Ellen, I have liyed in this house; and it has become endeared to me for a thousand reasons. Those who were once my pupils and who are now grown up women —many of them married, and having children of their own—come to me at times—greet me with affection—speak of past years—and melt with emotion when sitting down, as you have now been doing, in the places which they occupied in their girlhood. ‘Well then, Ellen, cannot you compre- hend how this place is endeared tome? But the owner of the property has recently died—the house is to be sold by his executors—and a neigh- bour of mine is already bargaining for the pur- chase that he may open a shop here in his own trade. It is true I have some little means and can take another house: but the idea of being ejected for I have no lease—and indeed I have already received notice that next quarter I may have to turn out ‘4 “This is indeed hard, my dear friend!” I ex- claimed. “ But——” “ Ah, Ellen!” interjected the dame, “ with all your goodness of heart I knew you could not see the matter in the same light in which I behold it. However, we will not talk any longer on this subject.” The worthy woman at once turned the conver- sation to other topics: but I soon took leave of her—for I was anxious to visit the house which had been bequeathed to me by my grandsire. I affectionately embraced Mrs. Kelly; and she be- sought me to call upon her again, if I had time, before I left Leeds. On quitting her abode, I proceeded along the street, every inch of which was familiar to me, and many if not most of whose shops wore pre- cisely the same aspect as when I last saw them seven years back. At length I reached the house which was my own. There it stood—its dark red brick front darker and more dingy than ever! Many of the panes in the numerous small windows were broken: it had a gloomy, miserable, sombre appearance. It was just such a house as vulgar superstition would repute to be haunted. And many years back this was its reputation; for, as I have said in the opening chapter of my narrative, a dreadful murder had once been committed there, and on account of its ill-fame Mr. Forsyth had purchased it at so cheap a rate. I had learnt from Mr. Parks on the day when he handed me over the deed of conveyance, and when he so cruelly defrauded me by means of the cheque written with sympathetic ink, that the house had been shut up ever since Mrs. Parks left 16 in com- pany with me seven years back; but that the key was in the hands of the house-agent living almost opposite. Mr. Parks had likewise given me a eee ELLEN PERCY; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF AN ACTRESS, letter to this agent—to the effect that the house was now mine, and that he was to hand me over the key when I required it. Having for some few minutes contemplated the sombre and dilapidated building, I bent my steps towards the agent’s. Mr. Jacobs—for such was his name—was in a very small way of business; or af all events, the appearance of his own dwell. ing and little office did not denote very flourishing circumstances. Two or three shabbily dressed children were playing on the doorstep; and when I crossed the threshold, my nostrils were assailed by odours of tobacco and onions, biending with a most nauseating effect. “Is Mr. Jacobs at home?” I inquired of a little dirty-looking man who was seated on a high stool at a desk. “ My name is Jacobs, ma’am,” he answered. I should observe that though I recollected the agency-office very well, I did not remember its present occupant, for the reason that will pre- sently transpire. “Have the kindness to read this note,” I said; and I handed him the letter which Mr. Parks had given me, and which was addressed to Mr. Jacobs. He accordingly perused it: and taking off his hat, he made a bow, saying, “ I presume you are the Miss Ellen Percy mentioned in this letter P” “The same,” I responded. ‘And you have the key of the house opposite ?” “ At your service, ma’am,” rejoined Mr, Jacobs. “There will be a little something to pay for agency: it runs over a matter of seven years,” he continued, turning the dirty dog’s-eared leaves of his account-book: “for I bought the business of Mr. Holland . “Ah! to be sure!” I said: “I recollect that such was the name of the person who used to keep this office. But proceed——-and whatever there is to pay shall be promptly liquidated.” “ Seven years’ agency, and trying to let the house,” continued Mr. Jacobs: “I don’t suppose, Miss, that six shillings a year would hurt you; and so, if you give me a couple of guineas, I shall be very glad to cry quits.” * Here is the amount,” I said, astonished at the insignificance of the demand. “I am to suppose, then, that there have been no repairs effected—no cleansing of any kind Indeed I have only to look at the aspect of the premises,” I added, with a sigh, “to perceive the folly of my question !”’ “Why, Miss, to speak the truth,” responded Mr. Jacobs, “according to the entry which I found in Mr. Holland’s book when: I purchased the business, and which entry you can read here, if you please, Miss ta “It is not necessary,” I said: “be so Kind as to give me an idea of the senso of it.” “Tt is to say, Miss,” continued Mr. Jacobs, “that nothing would be allowed for any repairs or cleansing whatsoever—that the house might either be let at a low rental or else be sold out- right for asmallsum. Here itis! Rent, 25/7. a- year, to be taken on a repairing lease. Price for the freehold, 5007.” “And has no one ever applied either to be- come a tenant or a purchaser P” I asked. “Yos, Miss—several persons, on seeing the board up at the house announcing that it was to COnmicloOox<s Com