Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 218: what you’re looking at

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

rr rrr ELLEN PERCY; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF AN ACTRESS. tell you, my lord,” I responded; “because I | should tremble lest you might seek to avenge in a duel the dishonour of her whom you love. But inasmuch as the law has fixed its strong hold upon him ——” “The law?” ejaculated Dalrymple, his counte- nance suddenly expressing astonishment and affright. ‘What! has Mary appealed to the tri- bunal of justice ?—has she been mad enough to expose her own dishonour P” “No, my lord,” I said. “But let me mention is the name of Edwin St. Clair !” “ Ah, the villain !” ejaculated Dalrymple: ‘“’tis well for him that the walls of Newgate constitute a barrier betwixt us! But tell me the history of all this, Miss Perey—show me how Mary became his victim—and—and But proceed !” heex- claimed, thus abruptly checking himself. I gave him a brief outline of the narrative which I had received from Mary Glentworth’s own lips: and when I described how she had been ren- dered insensible by a poisoned rose, Herbert ex- claimed, “ Ah! then, that tale so strange and wild which the old gipsy told in the court of justice, must have been true! The unfortunate Mrs. St. Clair must have been murdered by her own hus- band !—and he will assuredly go to the scaffold !”’ * You have now learnt,’ I said, “how Mary was rendered the victim of that villain! She is here, beneath a friendly roof, to conceal her shame ? ‘Miss Percy,” interrupted the young Marquis, with a strange suddenness, “you are the friend of both of us. Will you go and bear a message from me to Mary Glentworth ?” “Proceed, my lord,” I said, without pledging myself positively to an affirmative in reply to this question. “Go, Miss Percy,” he said—and it seemed to | me that there was a strange, unnatural, desperate, calmness in his look, tone, and manner, or at all events he spoke with the resolution of one who had made up his mind to act with an inexorable firmness. “Go to her, Miss Percy—and say that Herbert Dalrymple still regards her as his be- trothed ; and this proof he gives her of the illimi- table love which his heart cherishes towards her. Tell her that for the present we will not meet— but that some months hence, when she may again appear before the world, I shall be ready to con- duct her to the altar.” Astonished and amazed—indeed even counfound- ed by the language thus held to me—I was unable for upwards of a minute to give an answer. At length I said, “My lord, I cannot become the bearer of such a message. Much as I love Mary Glentworth, yet must I have some little con- sideration for yourself I mean that I cannot ajlow a generous heart to be led astray by a mo- mentary enthusiasm a “T understand all the upright punctiliousness of your conduct, Miss Percy,” said the Marquis of Dalrymple; “but if you will not carry the mes- sage, you will at least permit me to be the bearer of it myself. Therefore have the kindness to show me where I may find Miss Glentworth.” There was still the most steady calmness in the young nobleman’s voice and manner, so that I had now no longer any doubt concerning the fixity of Enns: a es va —- —— & name, and you will understand what I mean. It 205 the resolution to which he had come. Bat still I said, “ Your lordship had better reflect for a few hours.” “Tt is unnecessary, Miss Percy,” he interrupted me in atone of serene determination. “I love Mary—and [ am convinced that she loves me in return. I will accomplish her happiness. Under other circumstances it would be an act of the greatest indelicacy to speak or to think of mar- riage when my mother is lying in a state of un- consciousness,—perhaps upon a bed of death. But these are no ordinary circumstances—and mine therefore must be no ordinary conduct. Aud now to another point. With all your experience of the world, you doubtless distrust the decision to which I have come—you think that it is a passing enthusiasm which will yield to reaction, and that sooner or later the time must come when I shall repent of the course which I am adopting. Fear not this result. Believe me, it will not ensue. My mind never was more clear than at the present moment !—never more competent to embrace the range of all circumstances—to calculate ali con- sequences! Is this sufficient P Will you now do me the favour which I ask? or must I again de- mand permission to be the bearer of my own decision to that poor girl who has recently left us P” I was deeply affected by the language which the young nobleman thus held towards me on my young friend’s behalf. I looked upon him with that friendly admiration with which I was wont to regard his character during the earlier portion of our acquaintance; and I thought to myself that he did indeed possess the most chivalrous disposition, so that if was an immense pity his natural good qualities should have at any time been warped or obscured. But still I could not help thinking that there was a certain degree of folly in the path which he resolved to pursue; and I resolved to make one final effort to persuade him to take time for reflection. I conceived this to be my duty, so that hereatter he should have no reason to reproach me as having in the slightest degree led him onward to a step whereof he might repent. But when I commenced a new remon- strance, he at once cut me short with a courteous firmness; and he said, “ Miss Percy, do what L ask—or suffer me to do it for myself.” * Then I will go, my lord,” I said. member that if at any future time ** Entertain no apprehension, Miss Percy, that I shall reproach you :’—and he spvuke with the calm deliberation and tranquil firmness of one who was positive and decided how to act. I could not help saying in a voice tremulous with emotion, “Oh, my lord, this is generous —even foo generous!” and then I quitted the room, 3 ‘“ But re- » CHAPTER C. ANGELINE’S LODGINGS. I PROCEEDED to Mary Glentworth’s chamber, considering that I had now no longer a right to hesitate—that I had accepted a mission, and that I was bound to accomplish it. I opened the door JOO GO SS (E(0)