Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 176: what you’re looking at

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ELLEN PERCY; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF AN ACTRESS. AGB now listen to my instructions—or rather let me have just been relating, I had occasion to call at _tell you what it is that I require; and then I the theatre at about the hour of noon. An author shall leave it to the ingenuity of William—per- | of some promise had written a drama which Mr. - haps with some little suggestions from yourself,” I | Richards felt disposed to produce, provided the added, smiling, “to accomplish the desired aim. | character which was cast for myself should experi- There isin St. Clair’s house a small rosewood box of curious workmanship. It is no doubt for the most part under lock and key ; and perhaps it is usually secured in some safe place in his own bed-chamber. That little box, Beda, to which I am alluding, contains a white rose; and it is for this reason that I must obtain possession of the box. When once the evidence of all St. Clair’s guilt is in my hands, I may be enabled to dictate any terms to him —in the first place compelling him to make atone- ment where he has offended and where such atone- ment would be accepted—and afterwards compel- ling him to quit for ever a land which has become ‘the theatre of so many misdeeds on his part. Or if from a certain quarter,” I continued in a musing strain, “ a still darker vengeance be demanded—if it be required that this man’s life shall be given up to the offended laws of his country—then shall even this extreme measure be adopted, and retri- bution in its direst form shall meet Edwin St. Clair face to face !” * But to accomplish any of these purposes,” said Beda, “ you require the rosewood box ; and I can only too well understand that it is a poisoned flower which it contains. Ab, dear Miss! never shall I forget that fearful occasion when at the hut in the neighbourhood of Petersfield, the vile old hag Dame Betty rendered you insensible with the white rose! And Edwin St. Clair possesses a simi- lar weapon !—for a weapon indeed itis! But rest assured that William shall procure it, To-morrow I will see him p “To-day you mean, my dear girl,” I exclaimed, glancing at my watch; “for it is now close upon three o’clock in the morning.” I then dismissed my faithful dependant to her own couch, while I sought mine. In the dreams which visited me the images of Mary Glentworth and Edwin St. Clair were conspicuous: and my fancy represented the former as swooning away from a white rose which the latter was thrusting into her countenance. In the course of the day following the night of Mary Glentworth’s confession, Beda sought an in- terview with William Lardner, and communi- cated to him the desire which I had expressed that he should undertake a special service. He readily agreed: the nature of the affair was ex- plained to him; and he vowed that he would ac- complish the task. At the same time, though expressing himself thus confidently, he begged Beda to represent to me that there might be some little delay previous to the effectual carrying out of the project, as it was one which must be managed with caution and with delicacy—oppor- tunities must be watched for—and, in short, the enterprise needed tact, vigilance, and sound dis- cretion. Beda reported to me the result of her interview with her lover William; and I was well pleased to learn that he spoke so confidently in respect to the issue of the affair—while I bade her enjoin him the next time they met, that he was by no means to endanger the success of the issue by haste and precipitation. Some few days after the occurrences which I ee el ain ence my approval. The author was to meet us there at the time of which I am speaking, and was to read to me some of the principal speeches which he had put into the mouth of the heroine. I was somewhat too early for the appointment; and proceeding towards the stage, I paused to gaze upon the danseuses who were practising under the auspices of M. Duprez—the ballet-master. This was the first occasion on which I had seen Ange- line Churchill in her private apparel. I now beheld her in a plain modest garb; and methought that it became her infinitely more than the gauzes, the tinsel, and the trumpery which constituted her professional costume. JI have already said that she was about two-and-twenty years of age, pos- sessing a handsome face and a fine person. She was genteel in her bearing, and seemed unexcep- tionally lady-like in her manners. From the very first I had been interested in her; for it was now nearly six weeks since I had learnt from the lips of Mr. Richards the manner in which he first became acquainted with her. It was not only in consequence of the tale of misfortune which I then heard, but likewise on account of her modest and well-behaved demeanour, that I felt interested in Angeline. But strange to say I had not as yet spoken to her on any single occasion: we had never been thrown together; and two or three times when I[ had endeavoured to fling myself in her way I had failed to accomplish my aim. It had once or twice struck me that she purposely strove to avoid me; and yet I banished this idea almost as speedily as it was formed: for what earthly reason could she have for such conduct? However, to be brief, I had never once exchanged a syllable with Angeline; and yet for the past six weeks I had felt so much interested in her! But if, as I have already said, I had thought her exceedingly good-looking when dressed in the ballet costume, I was infinitely more pleased with her on now beholding her in her private apparel. It suited so well with the natural modesty of her appearance; while on the other hand the placid and somewhat melancholy expression of her coun. tenance seemed to be mocked by the meretricious garb of the ballet-dancer. Angeline had dark brown hair, shining with a natural gloss: her eyes were of violet blue, and not particularly large; her nose was perfectly straight—her mouth was beautifully formed—and her chin in its con- figuration completed the perfect oval of the coun- tenance, Her forehead was not high; and this might by some critics be considered a fault— though I myself am of a different opinion ; for if the Greek statues are to be taken as the types and models of true feminine beauty, they assuredly for the most part furnish an argument that low foreheads are the standard of perfection, I may be permitted thus to record my opinions, inasmuch as being possessed of a very high forehead, I can- not possibly be accused of seeking excuses for what the world might deem a defect if belonging to my own countenance. Speaking however of Angeline Churchill, I should add that the face suffered not in the slightest degree from the low- (EO) (C (&) DoOOok