Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 151: what you’re looking at

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138 London. I transmitted my kindest regards to Mrs. and the Misses Macdonald, and concluded by apologizing for the delay of a fortnight in writing, on the score that I had been expecting that some one might possibly call on Mr. Macdonald’s be- half. This letter was duly sealed, addressed, and sent to the post. I have now to speak of certain incidents which occurred three or four days later than the date of which I have been speaking. It was my turn to appear at the theatre in the evening: Mary Glent- worth pleaded indisposition as a reason for not going to see the performances; and I by no means thought it a frivolous excuse on her part, for she looked sickly and ill. I therefore went alone, or rather, I should say, accompanied by the servant- maid: for I left Beda im attendance upon Mary Glentworth. The performances took place; I ap- peared in one of my favourite characters, and expe- rienced a most flattering reception. When the curtain fell at the close of the drama, I hastened as usual to my dressing-room, to change my apparel and get to the carriage as speedily as possible; for as a general rule I sought to avoid late hours. But on entering my dressing room, 1 found Beda waiting for me, in company with the other maid. servant. The motive of Beda’s presence there was quickly explained. Mary Gleatworth had been | seized with fainting fits: Beda had sent for medi- cal attendance—but Mary seemed to be getting worse: and the faithful girl had therefore availed herself of the return of the carriage to the theatre to fetch me, in order that she might urge my im- mediate hastening back to Great Ormond Street, “For I thought,” added Beda, “that it wag just possible—although most unusual,—still I say | ef the theatre: the footman sprang up behind the it was possible that you might stop to see the bal. let; and I was really afraid : “Good heavens, Beda! is sheso very ill ?” I ex- claimed. “She has fainted several times; and Mr, Doveton ”’— thus alluding to the surgeon who had been summoned—“ shakes his head so mysteriously, and looks so ominous £3 “Perhaps, Beda, Mr. Doveton is uncertain and undecided what to think of the case? He may wish for a consultation with some physician P” “Very likely,” said Beda. “ But come guick, dear Miss ss “Hasten you home first, my dear Beda,” I in- terrupted her; “it will be a quarter of an hour before I can leaye—and every minute is precious where life is concerned! Go, take the carriage—I will return home in a cab - “And why should I not take a cab, Miss?” asked Beda. ** Because there is always a trouble to get one amidst the mass of private vehicles—and because the carriage will take you more quickly! Listen, Beda! You must go and fetch Doctor Manvers of Lincoln’s Inn Fields; and if he be not at home, hasten and summon Doctor May of Bedford Square. Here, take my card™Beda' and be sure you procure the assistance of one of those emi- nent physicians !” “I will, Miss!’—and she was hurrying away when suddenly recollecting something, she ex- claimed, “Ah! here are some letters that came by this evening’s post I thought. I would bring them !” ELLEN PERCY; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF AN ACTRESS. Throwing the letters upon the toilet-table in my dressing-room, away sped Beda: and let the reader comprehend that so hurried was the excited colloquy which had just taken place that it had not occupied as many moments as it has required minutes to describe it. I was much grieved at the intelligence of Mary Glentworth’s illness, which I knew could not have been exaggerated; for Beda would not have come to hasten my re- turn unless she had seen that the case was serious. I did not tarry to read the letters which had been brought, but hurried my toilet as much as possi- ble; and the moment my theatrical costume was superseded by my private apparel, I secured the letters about my person, and hastened forth, fol- lowed by my maid-servant. On emerging into the street I cast my looks up and down im search for a cab, or some hanger-on to procure me one,— when a livery-servant stepped up to me, and touch- ing his hat, said, “ Here, Miss Perey, at your ser- wice!”’—at the same time pointing to an equipage wWaich stood in front of the stage-entranee. “Ah! I exclaimed, fancying that I at once recognised the livery: “you belong te the Marquis of Campanella ?” “Yes, Miss—the Marquis of Campanella,” re- peated chs man, somewhat sententiously. “Then, as the ease is urgent, bs know that I can take a liberty anc use this carriage.” I unhesitatingly stepped into the yehiele, the door of which was immediately elosed upon me. “ But there is my servant!” I exclaymed from the window of the vehicle. “Ob, one moment, Miss!” she said. in the hurry your jewel-casket !” She turned and disappeared in the stage-entrance “T forgot carriage in which I was seated—and the equipage at once rolled away. But my maid-servant? I could not thrust my head out of either of the win- dows, for crowds of vehicles were passing on both sides; and as for making my voice heard from the interior, such an idea would have been preposterous amidst the fracas and din which always prevail in the neighbourhood of a great theatre towards the close of the performances, There was no check- string: the carriage was speeding onward—and my maid-servant was left behind! At length it was at such a distance that when by this time I might have thrust my head forth from the window, I thought it to be too late; and I said to myself, “She has doubtless already taken a cab to follow me home!” Up to this moment I had conceived it to be en- : tirely a mistake or an oversight on the part of the - domestics belonging to the equipage that my maid- . servant had been left behind. There was much noise and confusion prevailing near the stage- entrance at the time, so that perhaps the announce- ment in respect to my jewel-case that was left be- hind in my dressing-room, was either unheard or misunderstood. It was thus I thought. But nor as the equipage dashed along, the idea rapidly grew up in my mind that it was not pursuing the direction of Great Ormond Street; and then a sud den suspicion of some treachery flashed througk my brain. Obedient to the first exciting impulse I thrust forth my head and called loudly to the coachman to stop. The equipage at once drew uy in the street where this scene took place: the foot. Gomilchboo (F@)