Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 80: what you’re looking at

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ELLEN PERCY; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF AN ACTRESS. these glances were replete with a certain degree | to find me alone. of anxiety; and they then exchanged regards with ee ee 67 Then for the first time did his lips avow that love which his attentions had long each other, in a manner that was significant of | displayed; and Oh, Ellen! you will not think me some cause for sorrow. JBeing convinced that Lord Frederick was in some way connected with all this, I did not mention his name: nor was he once alluded to by the Normans in my presence. It was in the afternoon when I returned to _ Hunter Street: we sat conversing in the drawing- room until dinner-time; and it was not before we retired for the night that I found an opportunity of being alone with Juliet. She then accompanied me to my chamber; and throwing herself with an air of mingled languor and distress into an easy- chair, she said, “O Ellen! [I have so longed for this moment to come that I might talk to you in confidence !’’ foolish when I tell you that it was the happiest moment of my life. He continued to address me in the most impassioned strain: he declared that he could not live without me But, Oh! I dare not dwell upon this portion of the dream in which I had cradled myself!” Juliet again spoke with bitterness: but the tears _were trickling down her cheeks; and I was pro- foundly affected. “T abandoned myself, as it were,” she presently eontinued, “to the ecstatic pleasure of listening to language which flowed like the most delicious music upon my ear, and the effect of which was to bathe my soul ina fount of elysian bliss. But “TI see, dear Julie,” I replied, “that there is gradually methought this language of his began to something hanging upon your mind.” “ Yes—I am indeed very, very unhappy !” cried poor Juliet: and then the tears began trickling down her cheeks. - I embraced her, saying everything I could think | of to impart consolation, without seeming to con- jecture the cause of her distress; for I preferred that she should take the initiative in the discourse which I saw must ensue. “You know not how my feelings have been out- raged,” she continued, suddenly wiping away her tears, and now speaking with a certain bitterness of tone and indignant pride of look. yielding to his persuasion. | plainly : his words became bolder, yet still remain- ‘ing full of tenderness. flow in achannel which aroused my misgivings; | and because I listened in the most painful doubt and bewilderment, he no doubt fancied that I was He spoke out more He told me that his parents would never consent to his union with one who had figured upon the stage—and that he dared not offend “them, for that in a pecuniary sense he was more under their power than the world gene- rally imagined. He then spoke lightly of the marriage ceremony. — In short, Ellen,’ added “T will tell | Juliet with an almost suffocating sob of anguish, you everything, Ellen! I am about to speak of | “he besought me to leave my home—and—and— Ravenscliffe. You know how for months past he has paid his attentions to me; and I need not remind you that his assiduities were conducted in so delicate a manner I had a right to expect you know what I mean that his intentions were honourable.” * Good heavens, Juliet !’? I exclaimed, as a con- jecture flashed in unto my brain: “ you would not have me understand that he dared address you in any other strain than that which was consistent with his own behaviour as a gentleman and with the prudence of your conduct?” “Alas, Ellen! I mean that he has done so! But listen to me,” continued Juliet. “It was with the consent of my parents that he visited at the house; and it would be a ridiculous affectation to deny that they were pleased when they per- ceived that I was the object of his attentions. Though only a second son, he has an independent property of his own, left him by a deceased rela- tive; and being of age, he is the master of his actions. Heaven knows,” proceeded Juliet, again weeping, “I have not loved him from selfish mo- tives! Had he possessed nothing, it would have live with him as a mistress.” I was not altogether unprepared for such a reve- lation; and yet I felt shocked when it was made. I threw myself into Juliet’s arms, and again said everything I could think of to console her. Then disengaging myself from her embrace, I contem- plated her ; and as I looked at her superbly modelled forii—her handsome countenance—her dark hair —her magnificent eyes, of deep violet blue—her splendid teeth—and her long and arching neck— when I thought too of her polished manners and her lady-like deportment, and remembered that she was in the glory of that youthful beauty, being not yet twenty years of age—I could not help ex.-. claiming, “Oh, the wretched pride of these haughty aristocratic families!—a pride which in- terferes with the best feelings of the heart !—for I feel convinced that if it were not for this deplorable influence, Lord Frederick Ravenscliffe would be rejoiced to make you his bride!” “ Ah, my dear Ellen,” responded Juliet, with deepest mournfulness, “that dream is now over. Is it necessary for me to tell you how I acted when the frightful conviction could no longer be kept s a me ae eS me been. all the same though I do not deny that | even while I gave him my heart, my ambition was | flattered by the idea of becoming the wife of a | titled patrician. Before we went to Ramsgate he- said that he should have the pleasure of meeting | us there; and accordingly, on our arrival, the first’ away from my mind and I knew that I was listen- ing to the insidious language of a selfish and unprincipled young man? I ordered him from my presence: he threw himself at my feet, imploring my pardon—he gave vent to the most impassioned ejaculations of despair—but I told him it was too visit we received was from Lord Frederick. I told | late! He caught my hand—he pressed it to his you in a letter that he was there. He was stay- | lips: I tore it away from him—l burst from the ing at an hotel: he had his horses and servants room! Oh! when in the solitude of my chamber, with him: but he appeared to take no pleasure in I thought that my heart would break! He quitted anything when away from us—or may [ not more) the house; and.when my parents returned from correctly say, when away from me? One day— their walk, I told them everything. Nothing we had not been a fortnight at Ramsgate—when | could exceed my mother’s grief—my father’s in- on calling at our lodgings as usual, he happened dignation; and they bitterly reproached themselves : CORNICLOOO© <S conan