Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 175: what you’re looking at

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

~ of October. 162 -_—- sion of your night-toilet; and therefore it always appears as if it were the moment when you be- stow especial marks of your kindness upon me.” “And therefore, Beda,” I said, smiling, “if I were now to bid you at once retire to your own chamber, instead of remaining to assist me at my toilet, you would be sorry ?” “Oh yes! I would rather remain with you,” she exclaimed. ‘‘ Look, dear Miss! do I seem at all sleepy ?’’—and she gazed with her large black luminous eyes up into my ecuntenance, I sat down before the mirror; and Beda began combing out my hair. I was forcing myself to assume an aspect as composed as possible, for fear she might think that I had remained so long in Mary Glentworth’s chamber on account of the discussion of unpleasant matters;—and in order to touch upon a cheerful topic, I said, “I was very glad to hear from William Lardner, when he ealled upon you this morning, Beda, that he continues to be so happy and comfortable in his situation with Sir Robert Temple.” “Ob, yes!” exclaimed Beda: “ William is as happy as the day is long. Sir Robert Temple is dt bottom a very kind-hearted man, though so eccentric and peculiar; and as William has now been with him exactly two months and a half-———” “So long as that?’ I said. “Heavens! how time slips away! It seems that it was but the other day Sir Rébert called upon me to inquire what I knew concerning William.” “It is two months and a half, Miss,” inter- jected Beda. “It was in the middle of July when William accepted the situation: it is now the first But have I happened to mention to you, Miss,” continued Beda, “that William fre- quently sees an old employer of his?—a gentle- man whose name,” she added, in a lower tone, “ it is impossible to breathe without a shudder at the wickedness of his ¢haracter, and a deep regret that it should be so,” “You mean a8 “I mean Captain St, Clair—or Mr. 86. Clair, as I believe he has called himself ever since he be- came a Cabinét Minister and a Right Honourable, —as if he wished to be thought of only as the statesman and without any reference to the fact of his having ever been a military man. JBut as I was observing, Miss, William frequently sees Mr. St. Clair—nearly every day indeed ad “Ah, I remember,” I ejaculated, “that Sir Robert Temple’s house is in the Regent’s Park: but I am not aware in which quarter it is situ- ated.” -°“Tt is the very next house to Mr, St. Clair’s,” rejoined Beda. ‘Ab, the next houseP”’ I said. ‘And does Mr. St. Clair seem to recognise William ?” ~“T believe not, Miss,” replied Beda; “at least if he recognise William, he does not choose to show that such is the fact. But it is now, you know, upwards of fifteen months since William left Mr. St. Clair’s service; and he bas grown more manly since then — his appearance has altered * -°“ Depend upon it, Beda,’ I said, “ Mr. St. Clair has recognised him. All the circumstances connected with the yacht at Ramsgate, are too deeply impressed on St, Clair’s mind not to main- ELLEN PERCY; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF AN ACTRESS. tain in his memory the countenance of William Lardner. Besides, my dear Beda,” I added, smiling, “‘ William’s face is not an ordinary one— it is quite good-looking enough to make an im- pression—especially when the duskiness of the complexion is taken into consideration.” “ Well then, Miss,” said Beda, “let us suppose that Mr. St. Clair has recognised William: he is nevertheless too proud to acknowledge any former acquaintance—or perhaps he thinks that it would be more cohvenient to bury all the circumstances of the yacht as much in oblivion ag possible.” “Perhaps so,” I said in a musing tone; for it struck me the coincidence was somewhat singular that William Lardner’s name should be mentioned in connexion with that of Mr, St. Clair at a moment when I was revolving in my mind how and where I could find a faithful and trustworthy individual to undertake a task requiring more or less astuteness and delicacy of management. _ “ William,” continued Beda, little suspecting what was passing in my mind or how suggestive all her observations were gradually becoming, “ frequently speaks to Mr. St. Clair’s domestics ; and there is an old housekeeper at Mr, St. Clair’s abode, who has taken a very great liking for William, beeauge she says that he resembles a nephew of whom she was very fond, but who died at an early age, of some malignant fever.” “ And what is the name of this housekeeper ?” I asked, in a musing manner, as I still revolved the point which Beda’s words had suggested. “ Mrs. Holman,” answered the young girl. “But methinks, dear Miss, there is something in your mind ?—something which is occupying you, apart from the present topic of our discourse “ *‘ Not so completely apart from it as you might fancy, Beda,” I responded, “ On the contrary, it seems to me to be something more than a mere coincidence that William Lardner should be dwell- ing next door to Mr, St, Clair—that he should have formed an intimacy with his servants—that he should have attracted the favourable notice of the very domestic who if she choose can invite him into the house ¥ “J now comprehend,” exclaimed Beda, “ that you desire William Lardner to undertake some | special task which you are willing to entrust unto him, You know, my dear Miss, that he will go through fire and water to serve you—and I need not add that such service would be faithfully ren« dered,” “ Yes, Beda,” I rejoined, in a solemn voice, “there is indeed a service which William can render me—but not merely to myself alone; it is a service that he will be rendering to society in general! In a word, Beda, I may tell you this much,—that the knowledge of fresh misdeeds on the part of Edwin St. Clair has reached me; and if I any longer permit him to make use of the terrible weapons which he has in his possession, I shall_look upon myself as an accomplice in his crimes. The career of that man must have an end ! yes, a speedy ending!—and William must assist us in bringing it about.” “He will do so, dear Miss,” responded Beda, “ You have at all times only to speak, and both William and myself are prepared to obey you im- plicitly.” “JI know it, my faithful Beds,” I replied. “ And Se A ee Gomichboo (E(@)