Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 303: what you’re looking at

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

290 knew not of his revisit to the hotel in the evening —his concealment in my chamber—the diabolical intentions which he had harboured—the fact that he was there hidden when I was embraced in Melissa’s arms—the circumstance that he had re- mained throughout the night in her company— and the means by which he quitted the hotel at an early hour in the morning. But inasmuch as all these particulars were known to me, how could T do otherwise than look upon him as one of the basest and vilest of men? I shuddered as I thought that at this moment I might have possibly become a dishonoured and polluted being—robbed of the virtue which I had maintained throughout so many temptations and through so many trying circumstances—unworthy ever again to look my beloved Henry Wakefield in the face—doomed to mourn the blight of all my heart’s best and purest affections! Yes—I shuddered! for [ knew that I had escaped the utmost peril on the part of one of the most unprincipled of beings. Can the reader wonder, therefore, if I adopted the course I am about to describe? , I took a pen-knife, and cut the canvass of the picture out of its frame. I folded if up into the smallest possible compass—enveloped it in two or three sheets of paper, so that the contents might not easily be discovered by the touch of the hand —and carefully sealed the package. I then ad- dressed i6 to Mr. Barron, at his residence, This being done, I rang the bell, and when the waiter made his appearance, I desired him to send me a messenger. The porter presented himself; and I said to him, “‘ You will take this parcel to its address. Inquire for Mr. Barron—see him alone —and place it in his hands. If he be not at home at the time, say that you will return presently: but explain your business to no other person.” The porter promised to do my bidding, for which I gave him a liberal fee: and he took his departure. The delicacy with which [ was con- ducting this portion of the arrangement, was in order to prevent the transaction from becoming known to his mother or sister: for I have already said that it was no part of my purpose to act un- kindly or maliciously towards them. Ifthey knew that Reginald had sent me the portrait (as indeed they must) I could only leave it for him to make some excuse for the absence of any letter of thanks or acknowledgment from my hands: I could not take universal precautions in a word, I could not conduct the proceeding otherwise than I was doing. I now ordered a chaise to be got in readiness to take me away from the hotel. I broke up the picture-frame, and packed the fragments in one of my portmanteaus, to be burnt at some convenient opportunity. The chaise was speedily announced to be in waiting; and I hastened to take my seat init. I did not see anything more of Melissa Harrison: but I had overheard the chamber-maid announce to her, while I was seated at breakfast, that there was now a suite of apartments, com- prising a sitting-room, at her disposal. In about an hour I reached the gates of Kelve- don Park; and a few minutes afterwards I alighted in front of the Hall. J had already paid the driver of the vehicle ; so that the instant my bag- gage was delivered to the servants who hastened forward to receive me, the man mounted the ELLEN PERCY; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF AN ACTRESS. —oo_ box and drove away; and by this little piece of management I trusted to avoid the discovery that instead of having journeyed from London, I had only arrived from.Petersfield. And now the first thought that struck me, was whether I should still find Agatha beneath that roof ? “It would be indeed strange,” I said to myself, “if she and her lover Richard should have the audacity to remain in this place after they must have discovered that their letter was taken out of the vase on the grass-plat. But we shall see!” Matilda came forward, with her smiling good- humoured countenance, to welcome me back again to Kelvedon Hall; and my first question was concerning her mistress. “ Her ladyship seems a little better—but not much,” replied Matilda. “She will be glad to see you, Miss Perey! She was saying to me this morning that she hoped you would return soon ; and his lordship is most anxious But here is his lordship !” The old nobleman at that moment made his ap- pearance; and he gave me a cordial welcome. “T had a presentiment that we should see you to-day, Miss Percy,” he exclaimed: “and what do you think? Hermione has just told me—not ten minutes back indeed—that if you did come, she would descend from her boudoir in the afternoon, and take her place at the dinner-table.” *Tndeed!” I exclaimed, in accents of the most unfeigned joy. “ Then her ladyship must feel much better !” | _ This conversation took place in the entrance- hall, at the foot of the great staircase, up which Matilda was already proceeding, accompanied by a lacquey who carried my portmanteaus. I turned to follow; and at that instant my eyes fell upon the countenance of Agatha, who was standing near. I gave an involuntary start; for if struck me at the moment that the young woman’s fea- tures looked more reserved and even sinister than they had ever seemed on any previous occasion. She evidently noticed that start—as indeed well she might, for it was the strong recoil of one who beholds a reptile suddenly prepared to spring. She spoke not a word of greeting, and was passing on her way, when I could not help saying to her ina peculiar tone, “So I hear that her ladyship is better, Agatha?” “Yes, Miss,” she replied, with the most perfect self-possession—indeed with a countenance so un- moved that I was again forcibly struck with the idea that she must be the veriest hypocrite that ever walked upon the face of the eartb. She passed on her way, for she was traversing the entrance-hall at the time; and Lord Kelvedon said to me, “ Now make haste to your chamber, my dear Miss Percy; and then come to Hermione —for she will be full of suspense and anxiety until she sees you!” I sped up the staircase, and reached my cham- ber—where Matilda, who was all attention as usual, was lighting the fire, which was ready laid in the grate. I speedily dismissed her for the pre- sent; for I did not wish her to be in the room while I unpacked my portmanteaus, inasmuch as I had a certain little parcel that I was resolved should escape all observation, even on the part of one whom [I did not in the slightest degree mis- trust. The reader can easily imagine that I Gomichboo (E@)