Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 78: what you’re looking at

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

ELLEN PERCY; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF AN ACTRESS. a TF — _ SS SS NY i, ef ; os 5. Mai ore - - ant, \ Perit) AS ZENAKSN When I awoke in the morning, I found her lady- ship’s maid in my room; and on inquiring what o’clock it was, I learnt that it was half-an-hour later than my wonted time for rising. I had lain so long awake, with the occupation of my thoughts, in the early part of the night, that I had slum- bered heavily during the latter portion. “Tf you please, Miss,’ said the maid, “ker ladyship begs your acceptance of this present. It was ordered for you two or three days ago—but only arrived last evening; and her ladyship had not then an opportunity of placing it in your hands?” It was a jewel-casket, containing an elegant gold | watch and chain, a beautiful pair of earrings, two rings, a brooch, and a wreath of pearls. The maid directed my attention to an inscription inside the watch, and which described it as “a tribute of friendship to Miss Percy, from Lady Lilla Essen- No. 9.—ELiLew PERcY. | iy i HN i) ih), iN iN Ze = - ~ —— Se ————— —_—— ———_—.. e 4 dine.” The value of the casket’s contents could not have been much under a hundred guineas. I was at first sorry that her ladyship had made me this present, because it disarmed me of my in- tention of speaking to her on the subject of the frag- ment of the letter. How could I possibly say any- thing disagreeable to one who was overwhelming me with kindnesses? But a little reflection im- parted a more satisfactory tenour to my thoughts. Must not Lady Lilla, I asked myself, possess an excellent heart that where she formed a friendship she delighted to give so many proofs of it ? Could such a woman possibly possess a bad heart? must not her disposition be in every respect admirable P and might I not therefore have been all the while wronging her with the most unjust suspicions? Again, was it generous on my part to be so hasty, as I hud been, in leaping at conclusions so preju- dicial to the character of one who was striving ECORNIELOOO© @ SS Com