Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 155: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

ee 142. “Then, sir,” I responded emphatically—and my cheeks were again burning,—“ if you ever dared send—yes! I use the word dare/—aif you ever dared send, I repeat, aught in the shape of pre- sent, gift, or intended bribe to me, it has never reached my hands, ana it must have been inter- cepted !” For a moment Sir Hugh Ward seemed stag- gered: but returning into the midst of his incre- dulity, he shook his head, asking, “Then, if that gift never reached you, how knew you that I en- tertained such hopes and ideas i “Good heavens! I never knew it,” I indig- nantly exclaimed, “until the hour that is pass- ing |” “ Oh, this is too much! Then how was it, Miss Percy,” he demanded, raising his voice in an anger that was now getting the better of him,— “how was it that you came hither in my car- riage?” “The explanation is simple,” I at once replied. “T sent my own carriage away with a faithful attendant who accompanied it, to seek eminent physicians for my sick friend. I was changing my toilet at the time. When this was accom- plished, I left the theatre. I was seeking for a cab, when a livery-servant addressing me by name, offered me the equipage to which he be- longed. I thought that I had recognised the liveries of my friends the Campanella family: I mentioned that name—the domestic readily re- peated it as if it were that of his noble master and mistress—and I unhesSatingly entered the equipage. I thought I was going home—I pre- sently discerned the contrary—I spoke to your footman—he gaye me auswers which were satis- factory, though heaven can tell how they were intended !—and I was brought hither. I thought my friends the Campanellas must have changed their abode since I last saw them;—and to be brief, I imagined when I entered this room I should find myself in their presence. This is my tale. Go, question your footman as to what took place between him and me yes, and especially at the very door of your house ere I alighted from the carriage: and if the man speak truly, he will confirm all that I have just said !” Sir Hugh Ward listened to me with an air of the deepest interest,—his looks also expressing uncertainty and astonishment as I went on speak- ing. We were still standing close by the door of the apartment; but he had withdrawn his foot from it—he no longer seemed to be bent on retain- ing me a prisoner there, or else he knew that at the first attempt which I might make to leave the room he had but to stretch out his hand and hold me back. “ Pray sit down, Miss Percy,” he presently paid, “and let us talk over this matter deli- berately. “T trust, sir, that it will not be needful for our interview to be prolonged many moments,” I said, “for you will confess that you have laboured under some error—that there has been a great and signal mistake somewhere “7 “We have not yet arrived at that point, Miss Percy,” interjected the Baronet. “ But let us be seated,” “ Thank you, sir—this will do,” Isaid, declining the hand which he proffered as if to conduct me ELLEN PERCY; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF AN ACTRESS. to a seat; and I took a chair that was close by the door. “Now, on your side, you have only to explain 7 Stop, Miss Percy !” he cried, as he took a seat at a short distance from where I had placed my- self: “ you are now hurrying on as if you wished to have everything your own way—as if you thought you could bewilder me and throw me into such a confusion of ideas that I should adopt any tale which you might choose to tell, or catch up any belief it may suit you to propagate! Now, in plain terms, the story you have told me is all very well:—the only misfortune is, Miss Perey, that I cannot put faith in it !” * Sir Hugh Ward!” I ejaculated, starting up indignantly from my seat; “ you are resolved to outrage me in the most flagrant manner !” “ Stop, Miss Percy,” said the Baronef, also rising from his seat—but he spoke with an air of calm resolution. ‘Since you are determined to assume such high ground, I must at once adopt a similar position and assume as 1t were a posture of defence. I am not to be denounced by implica- tion as being either ungentlemanly or a coward: nor will I consent to become the butt of your merriment—to be laughed at by you—perhaps to be made the sport of your conversation when you are with companions of the same disposition as yourself, Ab, no, Miss Percy! ye shall not play the Merry Wives of Windsor and make me your Falstaff!” “ Acain this extraordinary delusion of some kind!” I ejaculated. “But my patience is worn out m4 | “ You shall not leave this house, Miss Percy !” interrupted the Baronet, with a stern, decided ex- pression of countenance: “I have bought you—and you are mine! Were it veritably a mistake, I should respect you: but all circumstances tend to prove that there is no error, and that your con- duct is base, mean, and hypocritical to a degree which astounds me! I have bought you, I say —you have accepted the price—and mine you shall be!” The countenance of Sir Hugh Ward now indi- cated a fierce resolution as well as the flaming-up of strong passions within his breast. He ap- proached me; and with a shriek I exclaimed, “ Stand back, sir !—dare not lay a hand upon me, or I will scream for assistance!” “ Ah! think you that I shall observe any mea- sures of delicacy with such as you ?” demanded the Baronet. “No! no! Doubtless all your out- ward rectitude of conduct has been an hypocrisy and a delusion—and perhaps this very interval of prudery is for the purpose of making me esteem more highly the final surrender! But the game has been played to a degree that has well-nigh nauseated me !” “ Good heavens, Sir Hugh!” *‘ what can I do to convince you “ Enough! enough !” he exclaimed ; “ let this scene finish!”—and springing forward, he endea- voured to seize me in bis arms. Light as a fawn I bounded towards the win- dow ; and tearing aside the curtain, I saw that it looked upon a little garden at the buck of the house. I tried to push up the window—but it was fastened. I thrust my hand against one of the panes, and broke it. I ejaculated, Gomichboo (CE)