Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 329: what you’re looking at

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eesti Oo a ee ra SS 316 ————_ —— ELLEN PERCY; OR, THE MEMOTRS OF AN ACTRESS. drawing-room from which he had been for some little while absent. direction. I have spoken to some of your men, Mr. Tremaine—and they have satisfactorily proved to me that the two lanes which alone might be reached from that quarter, must be absolutely im- passable.” “Tet me go and hear the reports of those I have sent out,” said Mr. Tremaine, “and who have doubtless by this time returned.” During the discussion of the subjects which I have thus briefly noticed, the ladies were not merely attentive listeners, but they likewise threw in observations of their own; and many blank faces and anxious looks might have bees observed when the conclusion of the argument seemed to indicate that there was no alternative but to make up the mind for a sojourn af Tremaine Hall throughout the night, and perhaps even for a longer period. Not that anything else except the kindest hospitality was to be anticipated beneath that roof; but there are always many reasons why persons do not like to be detained away from their own homes. As for Mrs. Tremaine and her daughters, they manifested the kindest feeling, in hastening amongst their guests and distributing the fervid assurances that everything should be done to conduce to their comfort: but though the habi- tation was a spacious one, I could not help think- ing that it would be found somewhat difficult to provide accommodation for such a number of persons. . Presently Mr. Tremaine returned to the drawing-room: three or four gentlemen had ac- companied him while he went to ascertain from his domestics the precise aspect of affairs; and | I Each gentleman be- | that therefore there was now more than one voice to explain how matters stood. came the centre of a little group: but the general tenour of the tidings was of course the same. Mr. Tremaine’s servants had been in every direction—some on horseback: and accord- ing to the reports it was deemed decidedly unsafe for any attempt at departure to be made by the guests that night. Now that the worst was known, the company speedily resigned themselves to a position that was unavoidable; and Mr. Tremaine begged the The affair was really a serious one. consequently all the servants attendant upon those carriages; and in addition to these there were between fifty and sixty guests. ** Every room—every nook and corner, must be put into requisition!” said Mrs. Tremaine. ‘IT suppose, my dear Ellen, that you will not object to share your chamber with Charlotte? Your pretty maid-servant can take Lavinia or Emilia into her own couch és * Oh, most certainly!” I exclaimed: “ deal with my room as you think fit. The chamber you have given me is a large one: why not make up an extra bed there?” “Ah, how kind and considerate on your part, my dear Miss Percy!” said Mrs. Tremaine—* I really think we shall be compelled to do so; for, as I and Charlotte and Miss Barron were making our calculations, it was clear that every room in the house must not only be occupied, but also made the most of.” “ Except of course the haunted room,” inter- jected Charlotte. “‘ Yes—except the haunted. room,” said Mrs, Tremaine. “ There was a time when I and your father But no matter! I suppose as we get older we become more nervous.” “ And why not let that particular room be oc- cupied P” I at once asked. “ Suffer me and my maid to change our quarters thither % “ No, no, Miss Percy!” interrupted Mrs. Tre- maine: “I would not permit such athing! What? you, @ guest, to be treated in such a manner! No, no! tt anybody slept there 24 | “ Now pray do me a favour, my dear madam,” said: “suffer me ard my faithful Beda to occupy chamber and that dressing-room to- night! I told Charlotte to-day that I should not have the slightest objection to sleep there. I appeal to her if I did not? Therefore it is no sudden access of hardihood on my part;—and in plain terms, I should like to have my wish gra- tified all the more especially, for the sake of con- vincing your domestics that no faith need be attached to the superstitious rumours pertaining to that apartment.” “ Have you heard the legend connected there- gentlemen to get up another dance, in order to| with?” inquired Mrs. Tremaine. cheer the spirits of the ladies. The excellent band which had been hired from Stafford, struck up in the drawing-room; and dancing was re- sumed accordingly. Afterwards supper was an- nounced; and we all proceeded to the dining- room where an elegant banquet was spread. Mr. Tremaine sent the champagne circulating freely ; and the gentlemen were more than usually assi- duous, if possible, in their attention to the ladies on account of the peculiar position in which they were all placed. Presently the ladies retired to the drawing-room; and then I beheld Mrs. Tremaine, Charlotte, and Sarah Barron, speaking apart, with countenances which indicated some “ No,” I responded ; “ and I would rather not hear it to-night. The imagination sometimes plays strange freaks, and reproduces scenes that have been told or read, with all the vividness of a fearful reality. If 1 know nothing connected with the haunted apartment, as you call it,” I added, with a smile, “ my imagination cannot receive a feverish impulse therefrom: but if, on the other hand, I do hear or see anything which bears an analogy to the details of the legend, then may you safely arrive at the conclusion that the apartment is in reality haunted after all.” “T have a great mind to offer to bear you com- pany, my dear Ellen,” said Charlotte. ‘ Would little degree of perplexity, if not of annoyance. | you, Sarah, if I agreed?” she inquired, turning I immediately conjectured what the subject of | towards Miss Barron. this discussion was; and as a sudden thought struck me, I advanced towards the trio. This young lady turned pale :—indeed methought that she was already pale, and that she now became “ You are perplexed, my dear madam,” I said | stl more pallid; so that I at once said, “ Do not to Mrs. Tremaine, “ how you are possibly to dis- pose of so many guosts P” ask your friend such a thing, Charlotte! And as for you yourself, you confessed to me to-day that 000) S All the . “There is no chance in that | carriages had been put up at the Hall: there were com