Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 112: what you’re looking at

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ELLEN PERCY; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF AN ACTRESS. 99 view with a particular person under circumstances of secrecy and stealth. “ What shall I do, Ellen?” Juliet at length in- quired, now speaking in a somewhat firmer tone. “JT have strange misgivings—I know not what they are—I cannot comprehend them H ** You must act entirely according to your own judgment, Juliet,” I said: “it is a subject almost too delicate for me to advise you upon; for I feel that it isthe sacred intervention of a third party between husband and wife.” Lady Frederick Ravenscliffe reflected for a few moments ; and then she said, in a voice of increas- ing firmness, “Yes, Ellen—I will keep this ap- pointment at least if you will accompany me, my dearest friend !—for I should be courageous in your society—but without you, I should be a coward. What will you do ?” Since such is your resolve, I will go with you, Julie,’ I said. “It is a duty which I owe you not only as your friend, but likewise as being cog- nizant of all the fatal, fatal circumstances con- nected with your married life, and with the crimes as well as afflictions of that unhappy young noble- man! But let us anticipate nothing—let us not torture ourselves with vainconjectures. One thing is very certain :—he cannot mean you any harm.” * No, no! Iam conyinced that he does not!” exclaimed Juliet with fervour ; “for in reference to myself he can only have the remembrance of much love shown in contradistinction to much wrong sustained at his hands, Oh, wretched, wretched Frederick!” she ejaculated with a burst of passion: “ what a state of mind must be your’s, that you have sought such a seclusion as this wherein to bury yourself !” “Tranguillize your feelings, my dear Julie,” I said, pressing her hand in my own; “ and let us await the issue of this next interview which is to take place; for he would not have demanded—he would not have particularized the hour in such a manner, if he had not intended the issue should be one of importance.” Thus conversing, we drew near to the village; and again I begged Juliet to compose her feelings as much as possible. We reached the little inn, and obtained a private sitting-room. I ordered refreshments to be served up—not because we re- quired them, but for the good of the house, and because I did not wish the inmates to suspect that there was anything peculiar in the circumstances which now attended our presence in that neigh- bourhood, I presently bethought myself of making a few private inquiries on certain points; and I therefore quitted the room, bidding Juliet await my return. I was descending the stairs in order to seek the landlady, when I fortunately encountered her as she was coming up; and I told her that I wished to speak to her in private. She conducted me to another apartment. She was ar elderly person, with a look and manner of matronly kind- ness—exceedingly civil and good-tempered. “ Perhaps you may have already suspected,” I began, “ the object which has brought me and my friend into this neighbourhood P?” “I should say, Miss,” she replied, “ that you aoe to look at the Manor with a view of buying ié P” “ Such was my aim,” I answered. * And now, will you be good enough to give me a little infor- | seclusion P” I asked. | there till the place should be sold or let. _to be in the hands of one Humphreys—a house- mation concerning it? I learnt from the old per- sons who have charge of the premises, that there are frequent inquiries made in the villaze—but that very few visitors who come originally with the Same intention as myself, choose to give themselves the trouble to inspect the house and little estate after having once made those inquiries.” “ Well, Miss,” rejoined the landlady, “I always tell the truth when I am questioned—though it would no doubt be to my interest to have some good family residing there. It would create busi- ness, you know, for my house in more ways than one: visitors coming to call at the Manor would put up their horses here—and the servants would be sure more or less to patronise my little bar- parlour.” “'Thén you do know something against Willow- bridge Manor?” I said; “and being truthfully disposed, you are compelled to give such informa- tion as deters persons from becoming purchasers ? Is it so?” I asked. “Why, Miss, pretty nearly all I know is that the place has been much neglected, and that the advertisements which I from time to time see in- serted in the London papers are calculated to mis- lead ; because it will require a power of money to do up the house in a style to render it habitable. That is all I know—that is what I always say when questioned on the subject,” ‘And that much I know already,” I answered ; “because I have just been over the house. Has if been utterly uninhabited during the last few years, except by the old people who are in charge of it?” “ Well, not exactly, Miss,” replied the landlady. “There was a strange character who had a room or two at the Manor for some three or four years: he was a foreigner let me see, what was his name againP Oh! Professor Steinbach they called him, I think!” “ And he resided there?” I said. the tenant of the entire estate Pr” “Oh, no, Miss!—he was just allowed to live It used “What? as agent in the village; and as the owner never came near the place, Humphreys thought he might just as well turn a pound or two for his own benefit by letting Professor Steinbach occupy a room in the premises. But the Professor died about a year ago: Humphreys did something wrong, and was compelled to leave the neighbourhood, and has not since been heard of. So then no other agent was appointed here; and old Janson and his wife have had if all their own way.” “ And who was this Professor Steinbach?” I inquired, “ Well, Miss,” responded the landlady, “ no one seemed rightly to have any knowledge on the sub- ject. He was a queer old man, with an unplea- sant look—and during the whole period he lived at Willowbridge he did not come half-a-dozen times into the village; and as for ever so much as crossing my threshold to take a social glass, he never did such a thing! Not that I am pre- judiced against him on that account: but he cer- tainly was not a person that one would like by his looks.” “And what did he do with himself in such a * Had he any family ?” COA Gboo (E(@)