Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 51: what you’re looking at

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—_ 88 as I comparatively was in the wickednesses of the world, yet I could not help comprehending that a construction most prejudicial to myself might be put upon the incident by ill-natured imaginations and scandalous tongues. On arriving at Mr. Parks’s house, I dismissed Captain St, Clair’s carriage: and on ascending to the drawing-room, found Mr. Parks and his wife seated there alone together. They appeared to be surprised on beholding me: but when I extended my hand towards them, they gave me the most cordial welcome. Without many preparatory words I began to explain all the adventures which I had experienced: but my narrative was fre- quently interrupted by the vehement ejaculations which burst from the lips of both. “Oh, Mr. Parks!” exclaimed the lady, when I had finished; “ what a villain is this whom we have been receiving at the house!—what a serpent have you been cherishing in your breast !” “T tell you what it is, Mrs. Parks,” said the lawyer ; “ Ellen shall be avenged for this! I will immediately go and issue process against the scoundrel Bellew ; and he shall smart for it. It is a glorious action !—forcible abduction—the liberty of the subject violated—detention vi et armis for an entire night and a good part of a day—menaces —intimidation—coercion—and it almost amounts to assault and battery! By heaven, we will lay the damages at five thousand pounds.” “T am very much obliged to you, Mr. Parks, for your zeal in my cause,” I said: “ but under exist- ing circumstances it will be better to hush the matter up completely. That is Captain St. Clair’s advice ? “T don’t care about anybody’s advice!” ejacu- lated the lawyer, dashing his clenched fist upon the table in such a state of excitement that I had never before seen him display. * Really, Mr. Parks,” said his wife, “ all things considered — and chiefly for Ellen’s sake, you know is “Ah, I forgot!” said the lawyer, becoming ap- peased, and therewith thoughtful: “ publicity has its inconveniences. Well, well, perhaps it will be better to hush the matterup. But understand me well, Mrs. Parks !—that scoundrel Bellew shall never again set his foot within the walls of this house! I cut him henceforth and for ever! As for Cap- tain St. Clair, I long to make his acquaintance, and to express my gratitude for his admirable con- duct. Do you know where he lives, Ellen ?” “No,” I responded. “I have heard that he has a country-seat in Hertfordshire Ah! by the bye, I recollect! Mr. Norman has written a note or two thanking him for presents of game ; and he has directed his letters to some club at the West End.” ; “Perhaps the Junior United Service?” sug- gested Mr. Parks, “as Captain St. Clair has been in the army.” “That is the club!” I rejoined. hearing the name mentioned.” “Very well! Then I shall write to Captain St. Clair,” said the lawyer. ‘ Mrs. Parks,” he added, turning to his spouse, “when do you give that grand ball of your’s P” “ Next Monday evening,” replied the lady. “Very good!” ejaculated Parks. “We will “ T remember send the carriage to fetch you, Ellen, at nine ELLEN PERCY; OR, THE MEMOIRS O¥ AN ACTRESS, o’clock; and on that oecasion we will take eare it shall be in readiness to convey you home again. Mrs. Parks, have the goodness to sit down and write an invitation to Captain St. Clair. I will enclose it in a letter of my own.” 5 “ Mr, Parks,” I said, “I thank you for your in- vitation ; but Iam not accustomed to fashionable society—I mean,” I added with a slight blush, “not that of ladies 5 * Oh, nonsense, Ellen! We shall be proud to introduce you. But here is the carriage at the door; and it shall take you home. I agree with you—it will be better to hush up the wvcurrences of last night, and therefore you need say nothing to your friends the Normans. It is fortunate they did not send to inquire after you.” I took ieave of Mr. and Mrs. Parks; and during the drive back to Hunter Street, I more than once reproached myself with the idea of my injustice in having thrown suspicion upon persons who had just displayed themselves so eager to espouse my cause—so anxious to punish the author of the out- rage, and so zealous to express their gratitude towards my deliverer. On reaching Hunter Street —which was at about four o’clock in the afternoon —I found the Normans awaiting in the drawing- room the announcement of dinner; and as there were three or four guests present, I escaped much questioning, and was thus spared the necessity of giving any evasive replies, or of condescending to falsehood. I found that the Normans fancied I had been all the time at the Parks’s house, and that they considered it natural enough. When they went to the theatre, I excused myself from accompanying them: for being wearied and ex- hausted, I was anxious to have a good night’s rest. On the following day, when I again reviewed all that had passed, I had still some little uneasi- ness in my mind as to whether Captain St. Clair would fulfil the half-pledge he had given me and abstain from provoking Colonel Bellew to a duel. I hoped that he would call on some pretext, in order that I might be convinced that he had ful- filled my wishes in that respect: but the forenoon wore away—and he came not. There were no rehearsals at the theatre that day; and therefore the Normans lunched at home. Lord Frederick Ravenscliffe dropped in; and Mr. Norman, in the © course of conversation, inquired if he had recently seen his friend St. Clair? “Not for the last two days,” responded his lordship: and then he again turned to whisper in the ear of Juliet, who listened to him with a flush upon the cheeks and a smile upon the lips. The afternoon passed: dinner was announced: —still St. Clair came not. The trouble of my mind was increasing. It was not that I loved him :-let not the reader suppose it for an instant. Had it been any one else who succoured me under similar circumstances, [ should have felt an equal dread at the horrors of a duel on my account. I went to the theatre in the hope that I might see him there: but as I sat in the box with the elderly widow-lady, who, as I have before said, so kindly acted as my chaperone on these occasions, I for some time vainly looked around in the anxious expectation of beholding the object of my thoughts. At length the door of the box in which I and the elderly lady were seated alone together, nee _pemeneenene €oim EORNIELOOKS