Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 328: what you’re looking at

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RLLEN PERCY; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF AW ACTRESS. countenance towards her father: “ the park is all ' overflowed ! the waters are rising!” “ Ah!’—and Mr. Tremaine started up to his feet; while, at the same time, a footman who had been communicating the intelligence on the land- ing just outside the apartment, hastily approached his master to confirm the tidings which had issued from Lavinia’s lips. CHAPTER CXIX. THE FLOOD. THE report was not a false one. There was now a general rush towards all the windows of the suite of apartments which had been thrown open for the entertainment ; and I cannot find words to convey an idea of the singular impression made upon my own mind by the spectacle which met my view. It appeared as if by the waving of an enchanter’s wand Tremaine Hall had sud- denly been transported into the midst of some little island ; for a vast sheet of water spread its expanse before the eyes; and the feeling of amaze- ment which the scene conjured up, was naturally mingled with terror. Indeed, screams and ejacu- lations indicative of affright, burst from the lips of many of the ladies, as they caught the first glimpse of the flood from the windows of the brilliantly- lighted saloons: but Mr. Tremaine and the other gentlemen present hastened about from one terri- fied group to another, affording the assurance that no actual danger was fo be appprehended, though possibly some inconvenience might ensue. Mr, Tremaine sent out some of his domestics to ascer- tain to what height the waters had risen about the eleyated ground on which the mansion stood ; so that he might learn whether all the roads in the neighbourhood were closed by the waters, or whether there were any issues yet left free. _ Presently seyeral of us hastened to look forth from the back windows of the Hall: thence we sped to the extremities of the long passages, so that we might extend our survey from the side windows; but all around the mansion the white surface of flood was shining like quicksilver in the pure brilliant starlight. It was a strange spec- tacle!—it seemed as if it were an immense sea dotted with countless little islands, and with nu- merous trees towering high above the surface. The hedge-rows defined long straight lines: cot- tages stood like portions of a miniature Venice, as if purposely built in the midst of vast lagunes. At the rear of the premises the flood had not as yet approached nearer than about half a mile; and thus no parts of the kitchen-gardens, the orchards, or the shrubberies, were submerged. Towards the sides of the mansion the flood had approached nearer ; and in the front the waters were within a hundred yards of the portico, so that almost: the entire park was converted as it were into one huge lake. Such was the aspect which the flood presented at about eleven o’clock at night, some half-hour after the first warning of its presence had been given at the mansion. It appeared that the canal at some short dis- tance, had for a long time past been considered in a very dangerous state ; and several of the inha- bitants had predicted that uniess certain measures $15 were adopted it would some day break down a sort of dike which served as one of its banks, and. would overflow the country. There was conse- quently now no difficulty in surmising that this had happened: but as the whole of that district was exceedingly level, the waters had glided rapidly rather than rushed furiously, and the whole neighbourhood was submerged stealthily rather than violently. Indeed, when the first feelings of excitement were over at the Hall— when even the most timid ladies were compara- tively tranquillized, and the gentlemen were enabled to deliberate calmly upon the occurrence —it appeared to be one that was really only cal- culated to produce inconvenience, and not to be fraught with any more serious evil. It was esti- mated that the ground-floors of those cottages which stood lowest, could scarcely be more than a foot under water; and little apprehension was en- tertained that the flood would approach close up to Tremaine Hall; for, as I have already hinted, it stood upon a slight eminence, rising in an almost circular form in the very midst of the do- main. Thus,in a generally comprehensive view of the whole case, little danger was to be dreaded in respect to human life, and none at the Hall. But on the score of zinuconvenience, it assuredly might be different; for the very part which lay lowest, and where the waters were consequently sure to be the deepest, was the main road skirting the park railings. How were the guests to take their departure ? Some few of the gentlemen, more adventurous than the rest, declared that the flood should not bar the progress of their car-' riages ; for that if their coachmen were afraid, they themselves would mount the boxes and drive the equipages. But the ladies who belonged to these somewhat boastful-speaking gentlemen, pro- tested loudly against any such proceeding. Then arose an argument on the practicability of it; and several estimates were at once made of how much lower was the road than the highest point to which the water had yet attained in the park. The most contradictory calculations were thus put for- ward,—one gentleman declaring that the water would not be found fo rise to the height of a foot in the road, and another expressing his convic- tion that it would be found up to the horses’ stomachs. At length Mr. Tremaine interposed by ejaculating, “ It is all very well, gentlemen, for you to argue in these contradictory terms: but most of you seem to have lost sight of the descent of the road to the bridge at one corner of the park, and that awkward hollow at the other.” “True!” cried several voices. “T have not the slightest doubt,” continued Mr. Tremaine, “that the water is at least five feet deep in the hollow; and as for the bridge— why, you would not be able to find it at all!” “Then we are indeed hemmed in as it were!” said several of the disputants who had just been arguing vehemently on the brighter side of the question. “ But what of our prospects in the rear of the premises ?” asked an elderly gentleman, who began to look rather glum at the idea of being kept away from his home. “TI have just been making a survey in that direction,” exclaimed the young baronet to whom I kave alluded, and who just now entered the JOO SS (€(0)