Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 129: what you’re looking at

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mes © ee -— a 118 ELLEN PERCY; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF AN ACTRESS, had to be amputated—a subscription-list was sent but for the present you are both very young. round amongst the passengers— some gave a/ However, a long life of happiness may probably guinea—others half a guinea—others five shillings , be stretching before you,—and bear this in mind, —and so on. Sir Robert Temple put down his name for ten shillings 4 “And you tell me,” I exclaimed, “that he is really rich and naturally generous ?” “Stop, Miss, if you please !” said William Lard- ner. ‘Sir Robert Temple put down his name for ten shillings in the subscription-list ; and privately he sent the poor man ten guineas. This I know to be a fact, for the simple reason, Miss Percy, that I was made the almoner of Sir Robert’s bounty; and he particularly charged me not to mention the circumstance to any one except the poor sailor himself,” ‘Without another moment’s hesitation, Wil- liam,” I said, “accept the proposal of Sir Robert Temple! Yes—this advice I emphatically give you! Any one who could act in the way you have described, must be a good man. I do not think that you will ultimately have occasion to regret the course I recommend you to adopt. Sir Robert Temple will study your welfare, if you only continue to deserve his good opinion—as I am con- vinced that you will!” “Tt shall be no fault of mine, Miss Percy, if I do not keep my situation with Sir Robert: and I had already made up my mind that if I did take it, I would put up with all his whims and caprices —I would avoid irritating him * “But you must not be too servile, William,” I said, with a deprecating smile. The rich blcod mantled upon the youth’s hand- some countenance, and his dark eyes flashed for a moment, as he exclaimed, “ No, Miss Percy ! it is not in the nature of one of my race to be too ser- vile! But to conduct myself with a proper for- bearance—to study to the very utmost to avoid all cause for irritation—to anticipate his wants—to show myself grateful, in a word, for the favour bestowed upon me yy * Yes, William,” I interrupted him, “ behave towards Sir Robert Temple as Beda behaves to- wards me, and you cannot fail to secure his esteem, Therefore, all things considered, William, you had better signify your intention of accepting Sir Robert’s offer. Where does he reside P” ** He gave me his address,” responded Lardner ; “it is at a West End hotel—but I believe that Sir Robert’s intention is to take a house in some cheerful neighbourhood of London: for he is an old bachelor, Miss Percy—and I almost think, from certain things he used to say to me, that he has no relatives for whom he cares, even if he has any relations at all; so that he stands all the more in need of faithful attendants and such will I be towards him! Besides, Miss,” added William, now suddenly seized with bashfulness, “it will of course be more pieasant to remain altogether in England—in the neighbourhood of London too— than to be carried in a ship to the end of the world—to be mcnths and months away from one’s mative land, without knowing what may happen during one’s absence—for of course, Miss, you know that I take a great interest in Beda “i “TI know it, William,” I said, smiling good- naturedly at his increasing bashfulness and em- barrassment: “you are fond of each other—and some of these days you may think of marriage: William — that while you on the one hand are doing your best to earn a competency, Beda is pursuing the same course on the other hand. She has already certain prospects But no matter! the time is not yet come for me to be more ex- | plicit | I was alluding to the sum of one thousand | pounds which the Earl of Carshalton had placed in the funds to the name of Beda Robinson, under the trusteeship of myself, and of which bequest I | held the documentary proof. I had never breathed | @ syllable on the subject to Beda—but I was now about letting out the secret to her lover, when I suddenly checked myself; for I still thought it better to allow the matter to remain in the back. ground for at least a little longer, and until the young couple should be somewhat older. In the afternoon of that same day William Lardner returned to the house, and requested - another interview with me. This I at once granted. On entering into my presence, he hesitated, ard looked confused and embarrassed, until I encou- raged him to speak. “The truth is, Miss,” he said, “ the old Colonel desires to call upon you; for I happened to tell him that you knew something about me, and | if it were necessary could speak a word in my 9? favour “To be sure!” I exclaimed: “nothing will please me more, William, than to be enabled to render you a service! By all means let Sir Robert Temple call upon me. I shall be glad to form the acquaintance of any one who promises to he kind and good to you.” William was overjoyed at the permission thus accorded him to acquaint Sir Robert Temple that he might pay his respects to me; and in the course of the evening I learnt that I might ex. pect a visit from the wealthy nabob on the mor- row, between two and three o'clock in the after- noon. I must observe that Beda was greatly delighted at William’s present prospects: she was glad that he was to remain in England, and that he had abandoned the dangers of a seafaring life. On the following day, at about two o’clock, I took my seat in the drawing-room, prepared to receive the expected visitor. Mary Glentworth was in her own chamber,—where, I should ob- serve, she had recently been much in the habit of secluding herself. It was about. half-past two when I heard an equipage stop in front of the house: then the usual summons was given at the front door—and I heard that door duly opened by one of my domestics. I waited for the appear- ance of the nabob: it struck me that he was a very long time in making this appearance; and I remembered that [ had not heard the front door close again. I got up from the sofa where I was seated; and went to peep through the window. A large yellow barouche (evidently a hired one) was standing opposite the house: a footman in livery, and Wiliiam Lardner in his sailor’s attire, were assisting an infirm old gentleman to ascend the steps of the front door. That glance was sufli- cient to decide me how to act. I was almost ancry with William for not having informed me a CORNICLOOOLK (C (E©)