Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 106: what you’re looking at

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| ELLEN PERCY; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF AN ACTRESS. Cen ee aka Te ‘ 93 exclaimed. “ You evidently required change of scene—you ought not to have remained so long in that gloomy house where such frightful things took place !” “Let us talk no more upon the subject,” said Juliet. ‘I mean to stay afew weeks with you, and to be very happy the whole time. So do not be afraid,”’ she added, smiling, “ that I am come to throw a damp upon your own spirits !” For the remainder of the evening Juliet was comparatively cheerful; and as I watched her at- tentively, though without appearing to do so, I could perceive that this improvement in her spirits was really natural and was not the result of con- tinuous effort. Mr. Norman’s countenance grew brighter as he contemplated his daughter; and when the hour for retiring came, he significantly whispered in my ear, “ Your society, Ellen, has already produced a good effect upon Juliet !” On the following morning Mr, Norman and I met in the breakfast parlour before Mary or Juliet had descended; and I was glad to find myself thus alone with my excellent friend, for I had some- thing of importance to say to him. “‘T am sure, my dear Mr. Norman,” I said, “ you will excuse one who entertains towards you a filial regard, and who never can forget that you gave her a home when she found herself surrounded by perplexities, a stranger in this great metropolis,— you will excuse me, I say, for speaking to you in reference to your affairs. You know that I am now rich. The instant that I received my fortune, I thought of taking some step that should place at your disposal whatsoever amount you migh’ be enabled to render available for any purpose bene- ficial to yourself. But I was afraid of offending— I knew that I should shortly see you—I thought that I would then speak to you upon the sub- ject i. “* Noble-minded girl that you are!” exclaimed Mr. Norman; “ever the same !—warm-hearted, generous, and full of gratitude! My poor afflicted Juliet had not been an hour beneath this roof be- fore she experienced the genial influence of your kind disposition. I also have been cheered and comforted by finding myself again with you! But in reference to myself, Ellen, I require nothing. You know that Mrs. Oldcastle left me a thousand pounds; and then there was the produce of the sale of all the effects in Hunter Street. During the six months which have now elapsed since my poor wife breathed her last, I have expended but little; and therefore I have ample funds at my command. Besides, Juliet is well off; and I shall doubtless make my home with her for the future— unless indeed some happier change shall take place in her lot.” “A change, Mr. Norman ?” I said, not precisely catching his meaning. “Ah! perhaps you may think me worldly- minded, coldly calculating, and selfish,” he re- sponded : “but remember that I am a father, full of solicitude for the welfare of his daughter! Sup; pose therefore that anything was to happen to that wretched being whom I am forced to call my son- in-law—suppose that he should die soon, either by a broken heart, or by his own hand in a moment of madness,—then Lady Frederick* Ravenscliffe, with an aristocratic title, endowed with per- sonal beauty, and possessing an independence see ee ee ee of nearly a thousand a year, need not long re- main a widow, but might form some distinguished alliance. It was to the possibility of such a change as this in Juliet’s lot that I was alluding. And now, Ellen, with these ideas in my mind you may conceive how painful it is for me to be left in sus- pense relative to the proceedings of that wretched young man. I know not where he is: ali I do know is that he embarked at Dover for the Con- tinent :—but who can tell whether he may not have returned to England ?” “Juliet told me last evening,” I said, “that you believe him to be still upon the Continent ?” “'Yes—but still there is no certainty upon the point. However, itis now my purpose to insti- tute inquiries. Juliet will remain here with you for a few weeks, while I repair to the Continent; and I shall endeavour to lay some train to serve as a clue towards obtaining information at any time of the wretched Frederick Ravenscliffe. With the police-regulations which exist on the Continent, this is by no means so difficult as it might at first appear to you, especially as the passport-system furnishes the authorities with a personal descrip- tion of all foreigners residing or travelling in the Continental States. In a word, Ellen, it is my intention to discover, if possible, some traces of the wretched young nobleman, and to adopt some measures whereby I may at any time learn if aught occurs to him.” Here our conversation was interrupted by the entrance of Mary Glentworth, who was shortly followed by Juliet. We sat down to breakfast. The morning newspapers lay upon the table; and I turned to a particular portion of the advertisement pages of the Times, there being something that I was now in search of. My attention was soon riveted upon an advertisement, which, if its an- nouncemerts could be relied upon, seemed to pro- mise the realization of the very requirement which I entertained. I had already acquainted Mr. Norman and Juliet of my engagement to my cousin Harry Wakefield; and I now therefore had no hesitation in directing their attention to the advertisement to which I am alluding. It an- nounced for sale a country mansion, with about a hundred acres of land attached: the size and con- veniences of the house itself were fully explained : in short every usual detail was given, and the little estate was situated at a distance of about twenty miles from London. I should here observe that my cousin Harry and I had spoken together of our future plans. I saw that his taste lay in favour of a country residence, with a little land of our own ; and I had promised that during his absence in the North, I would look out for anything that I thought might suit us. The advertisement of which I have been speaking, afforded every reason to believe and hope that Willowbridge Manor, as the place was called, would suit our views, our purposes, and our means. Accordingly, after breakfast, Juliet and I went to the estate-agent who had the sale of Willowbridge. He showed us the drawings of the mansion and plans of the estate; and all the information received from his lips was entirely satisfactory. I therefore deter- mined upon visiting Willowbridge on the morrow: for it was also on the morrow that Mr. Norman was to take his departure for the Continent—l thought that Julict might feel dull and depressed a eC > C8 ee ~— + SS 6) 0)(0) (C(O) SS (EO)