Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 57: what you’re looking at

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

ELLEN PERCY; OR, THE racter,’ I observed: and at the same time I could not help admiring the conduct of Edwin St. Clair in having studied to conceal from his late uncle the aversion which he so very naturally entertained for such a match. “T do not wish to speak ill against my aunt,” continued St. Clair, whose tone and manner had gradually subsided from superciliousness and {flip- pancy into seriousness: “indeed I hate saying an unkind word of any one. Much less, Ellen, would I seek to prejudice you against a lady with whom you may possibly become acquainted 6! “I have already been introduced by Mrs. Parks to Lady Lilla Essendine,” I observed; “and I do not hesitate to admit that she impressed me with everything in her favour. She was not exactly condescending—for that would imply that she stooped and unbent in a patronising manner; whereas she was most graciously affable and kindly courteous.” “‘ Yes—she is polished and well-bred,” remarked St. Clair. “But I have not quite made an end of my story. My uncle’s death—which occurred suddenly, by the lightning-stroke of apoplexy— raised me all in a moment to the possession of some five-and-twenty thousand a year. Now tell me candidly—was it probable that I should aban- don all my rights to the young wife he had chosen and whom he had left a widow behind him? The page of the wildest romance never presented such an illustration of self-sacrifice and self-abnegation. It would not have been magnanimous: it would have been simply preposterous. But still I was not altogether selfish; and whatever the world may think—whatever you likewise may think, Ellen—I give myself credit for some little degree of generosity in the course that I pursued. I offered to make a settlement of three thousand a year on Lady Lilla Essendine. Would you be- lieve it? she scorned the proposal! And now can you wonder that I have not accosted her in order to pay my respects? or can you suppose that I entertain any respect at all for one who has given such unmistakable evidences of so rancorous a hatred against me P” “J am sorry to hear all this,” I observed: “ for when one has formed a favourable opinion of an- other, one does not like to have that opinion diminished and depreciated. I presume you did not expect to meet Lady Lilla Essendine here to- night ?” “To tell you the truth,” answered St. Clair, “I was not altogether very much astonished: for Mr. Parks is her solicitor is “Indeed!” I exclaimed: and now I compre- prehended wherefore her ladyship should have been so familiar and intimate with Mrs. Parks. “T ought to tell you,” continued St. Clair, “ that although Lady Lilla was portionless when she espoused my uncle, yet that a little while after the marriage her godfather died—some wealthy old gentleman whose name I forget—and who left her fifteen hundred a year in his will. Mr. Parks was one of the executors; and hence his acquaintance with her ladyship. Of course that money was settled at the time upon herself; and it constitutes the income upon which she lives.” While Captain St. Clair was giving me these ex- planations, I frequently glanced furtively across the room, in order to observe where Lady Lilla was MEMOIRS OF AN ACTRESS. seated, and whether she were paying any attention to us. Not once, however, did I notice that she was looking in our direction: she was surrounded by several ladies and gentlemen, with whom she appeared to be conversing most gaily. “You see, Ellen,” continued St. Clair, after a brief pause, “that I have entered confidentially and frankly into all these details with you; and there- fore, should your acquaintance with Lady Lilla Essendine grow more intimate—I mean should you meet her beneath this roof and hear her speak to my disparagement—you will not give heed to her vindictive misrepresentations: you will know of what value to estimate them.” “Tt is not probable that I shall often meet her ladyship,” I responded: “for when once a certain event shall have taken place, if is not likely that one of her ladyship’s rank and position will conde- scend to make a friend or companion of me. I begin to understand, Captain St. Clair, what the world thinks of i. “ Ellen, to what do you allude?” he ejaculated ; and it was with an air of the most unfeigned as- tonishment that he gazed upon me. * Do you not know,” I answered, “that this day fortnight I am—to—to—” and I scarcely knew why I hesitated—“ to make my début ?’”’ “Ellen, what change has come over you? what does this mean?” asked St. Clair, with a look of the deepest distress. ‘Tell me—for God’s sake tell me, what am I to understand P” , It was now my turn to contemplate him with amazement; but gradually vague suspicions began to flutter in my mind; and I had a comprehension —though a dim one—of what he meant and of the special subjects to which he was alluding. I grew frightened—and all the more so because his own manner betrayed the evidences of a profound ex. citement. “We cannot talk here!” he suddenly said in a voice so altered from its usual tone that it en- hanced my terror. “Come!” and with this curtly added invitation, he abruptly rose from his seat and proffered me his arm. I should observe that we had sat somewhat re- tired from the rest of the company: our discourse had been carried on in a sufliciently low tone to be only audible to ourselves; and [ had no reason for supposing that any one had perceived the ex- citement which both of us had been betraying for the last few instants. I felt the necessity of coming to an immediate explanation with Captain St. Clair; those vague suspicions to which I have already alluded, made me half comprehend how and when I had committed myself—or rather, I should say, by what circumstance my own conduct had been rendered such as to lead St. Clair him- self into error as to my sentiments with regard to him. Anxious, therefore, to explain away those impressions, I accepted his arm; and he led me into the refreshment-room. This was a spacious apartment, with a large table at one extremity, where several neatly attired servant-maids were dispensing lemonade, negus, ices, and other refresh- ments to those guests who required them. St. Clair led me to a seat at the opposite extremity, and as the band in the grand saloon struck up at the moment for another dance, the loungers in the re- freshment-room quickly sped away thither. Sé. Clair and I therefore remained alone as it were: EORMIE IOC KS Com