Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 248: what you’re looking at

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7 235 ELLEN PERCY; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF AN ACTRESS. “But, my dear girl,” exclaimed the old noble- | insensibly on me. If you look back to the earliest man, “ you feel better now? Yes—I know you! period of your existence, you cannot tell when the are better at this moment? Miss Percy’s pre- | power of reflection commenced: you cannot form sence has revived and cheered you; and when | nor convey an idea how the mind took its initiatory once the energies thus receive an impulse, they steps, nor how memory first began to exert itself. continue to gather a healthful tone = Now, all that I have just said, though perhaps “At least, my dear husband,” said Lady Kel- hyperbolic and far-fetched, nevertheless well illus- vedon, speaking in a stronger vvice, and smiling | trates what I mean you to understand, when I say sweetly, “our friend Miss Percy shall not have | that this indisposition of nine stole upon me im- any reason to suppose by my countenance that I perceptibly at first, so that it was only by a gra- am not rejoiced to see her. But now leave us | dient process the thought crept into my mind that alone together——-we have a thousand little | I was not so well in health as I was wont to be.” things to say And, Ah! by the bye, I wish you to go out and take some exercise this fine, | | experienced :”? — and I then proceeded to detail frosty, healthful day.” “ Well, well, my dear,” rejoined the old noble- man, “I will leave you and your friend alone to- gether. - Only mind mind, Hermione!” he added, with uxorious playfulness, as he tapped his young wife’s cheek, “I must find you quite gay and in good spirits on my return.” With these words Lord Kelvedon left the boudoir; and when the door had closed behind him, Hermione took my hand—looked with an expression of anguished earnestness in my coun- .tenance—and said, “Tell me frankly and truly, Eilen—do you not find me very, very much altered P” “TI will not attempt to deceive you, my dear | Lady Kelvedon,” I answered: “you are indeed looking ill: but 3 “Ob, my dear friend!” she exclaimed, “I fear that I shall never recover from this illness, so | strange—gso mysterious, which has been creeping upon me “5 * Do not despair!” I said. ‘ Perhaps——” “Ob, Ellen! it is kind of you to speak hope- fully; but thereis something within my own heart which tells me that Iam doomed! The physician is perplexed and bewildered—I see that he is, although he studies to avoid betraying what he thinks and feels! And when the physician is thus baffled and at a loss—when he, on being ques- tioned, is compelled to take refuge in vague gene- ralities or downright sophistries, instead of proving that he possesses the ability to grapple with the insidious disease,—what hope dare I entertain? But tell me, Ellen and pray forgive me for asking ‘the question if there be anything indis- creet in it———but do you think that those lozenges which you gave me some eight or nine months ago, could haye produced any prejudicial effect upon me?” “Good heavens, no!” I vehemently exclaimed : “it is impossible! Believe me, my dear Lady Kelyedon——” “Enough, Ellen!’ ehe interrupted me: “‘it is useless to say another syllable upon the subject! The question was rather prompted by a light pass- ing idea than by any other motive. Besides, after all, you yourself have frequently used those pink lozenges for beautifying your complexion, although heaven knows you could little require such auxi- liaries——” “Tell me, my dear Lady Kelvedon,” I said, thus interrupting her, “how long is it since you first experienced the slightest warning of this indis- position ?” “It is impossible to answer the question, Ellen,” she replicd: “it came upon me by degrees—it stole | choose—— ‘* Our mutual friend Aline,”’ I said, “has com- municated to me certain symptoms which you. have them,—the gradual languor—the increasing loss of appetite—the indisposition for exercise—and the gradient falling away, so that it seemed as if attenu- ation must in process of time merge into emacia- tion. ‘“ Has it been thus with you?” I inquired: “and has Aline rightly informed me?” “There is an accuracy—a painful accuracy in the details as you have giventhem!” replied Lady Kelvedon. ‘“ But really, my dear Ellen,” she ex- claimed, forcing herself to smile, “ one would think that to all your other accomplishments you add that of medical skill!” * Believe me, my dear lady,” I answered, with a sufficient gravity to show that I was speaking neither idly nor carelessly, nor for the mere sake | of saying something, “I have a purpose in view. Do not excite yourself—suffer me to aska few questions ” “Anything you please, Ellen,” rejoined Her. mione. “I know the excellence of your motives: but alas! I fear re “T neither wish you to hope nor fear anything,” I interrupted her. “Suffer me to put a few que- ries—and do you respond to them as if you attached not the slightest importance thereto. I myself know not whether they will lead to anything—but ~ be patient, and we shall see.” “Proceed, my fair catechist,’’ said Hermione; “and I will answer you in the spirit which you suggest.” “Ts there any particular food which you are accustomed to take?” I inquired, feeling the ne- cessity of shaping my queries as guardedly as pos- sible. “No,” replied Lady Kelvedon. “TI have lately lost my appetite—and I am compelled to pamper it with whatsoever strikes my fancy at the mo- ment.” “And his lordship, perhaps, does not take his meals with you, now that you are an invalid ?” *Yes—every meal. His lordship is all atten- tion. He has his peculiarities—but he is a warms hearted man; he scarcely ever leaves me! The only instance in which perhaps he ever dictates a will of his own, is in his desire to dwell in perfect seclusion here. Oh! I longed to have some friend —I thought of Aline—but then she must have come with her husband—and I knew that his lord- ship would not like to have guests staying at the house, whom it would be necessary for him to en- tertain at table in one room while I was confined to another.” “Not exactly confined to this room?” I said inguiringly ; >? Gomichboo “ because you can walk about if you» Con