Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 356: what you’re looking at

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ELLEN PERCY ; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF AN ACTRESS. 343 her position if it were one that menaced her life. Then it was that the surgeon threw a look of painful significancy upon Mrs. Tremaine, Charlotte, and myself: we understood what he meant—and Mrs. Tremaine hastened to say, “It is impossible we can conceal from ourselves, my dear Sarah, that there is always danger in a case of this kind— although thanks to your excellent constitution, your youth, and the care which shall be taken of you, there is every reason to hope in a happy issue. Nevertheless, as it would no doubt be a comfort to yourself to have with you those whom you love best, I will send off a messenger to your mother in the morning; and most welcome shall that worthy lady and your brother be at Tremaine Hall.” Sarah Barron expressed her acknowledgments for the kindness of which she thus found herself the object. The medical man took his leave, pro- mising to return at an early hour in the morning ; and Sarah then earnestly entreated that we would seek our own chambers, for she now felt easy and would be contented if one of the maid-servants remained with her. Mrs. Tremaine would not hear of this proposal: I likewise offered to sit up with Miss Barron; but Charlotte carried the point on her own behalf by the plea which she urged. “Tt was on account of me,” she said, “ that the assassin Marano came to the house:—through me therefore that our poor Sarah has been wounded; and I insist upon my right to remain with her.” The argument was considered conclusive: so that Mrs. Tremaine and I withdrew to our re- spective apartments. On reaching my own room, I embraced Beda tenderly, declaring there could be no doubt she had saved my life; and we sat up for an hour, discussing the occurrences of the even- ing, ere we retired to rest. But even when I had lain down in my own bed, it was some time before I could close my eyes in slumber; for not only did all the incidents which I have been relating reproduce themselves over and over again in my mind, but there was one circumstance which troubled me peculiarly. Sarah Barron’s mother and brother would shortly be at Tremaine Hall! How could I possibly meet that brother of the un- fortunate young lady P—how could I consent to live for an hour beneath the same roof with the hypocrite and dissembler whom I knew to be an accomplished villain? Yet on the other hand how could I find an excuse for precipitate de- parture? orif I resolved to remain, how could I avoid showing by my demeanour, that I abhorred and loathed the sight of Sarah’s brother? And there was another consideration. Even if for poor Sarah’s sake, and in the presence of all circum- stances, I controlled and veiled my own feelings, how could I suffer such a wretch to enter amidst the pure society of Mr. and Mrs. Tremaine’s daughters? And yet on the other hand, how was I to take any decisive step without giving poor Sarah a shock which might prove most detrimental, even if not fatal, in the position in which she was placed ? All these were bewildering questions which I was compelled to put to myself: and sleep came upon me before I had succeeded in arriving at any settled plan of proceeding in the midst of my perplexities. I awoke at an early hour in the morning, and at once despatched Beda to the invalid’s chamber to make suitable inquiries, The surgeon had already been; he had as a matter of course spoken encouragingly to Sarah herself; but privately to Mrs. Tremaine he had intimated that there was much to be apprehended in respect to the issue. The. greatest grief was spread throughout the man- sion on Sarah’s account; for she was a universal favourite. As for Charlotte and her sisters, they were deeply distressed, — especially Emilia and Lavinia, the unfortunate young lady’s pupils. So soon as I was dressed, I proceeded to visit Sarah. I found Mrs. Tremaine and Charlotte with her; but I soon observed that Sarah made a pretext to get rid of them,—without however suffering them to perceive that it was her desire to be alone with me. At length we were thus alone together; and then Sarah grew excited—she took my hand and pressed it to her lips—she also moistened it with her tears. I conjured her not to think of anything that was at all calculated to distress her, for } judged what was uppermost in her thoughts. “My dear Ellen,” she said, “there is a heavy weight upon my mind—TI must and will give you certain explanations! Pray listen to me! Oh,I beseech you to listen !—and I shall be much easier if you will!” Again I remonstrated, assuring her that no ex- planations were necessary, and that I had ceased to think of everything in connexion with herself, except the injuries she had received and the hope I entertained that she would recover. “No, my dear Ellen,” she answered, “I shall not be pacified nor tranquillzed by such assurances as these, kind though they are. When there isa weight, heavy as if it were of lead, pressing upon the soul, relief must be sought for. Listen, then! —listen, I beseech you !—and if there be anything which can aid the surgeon’s skill in ministering to my advantage, it will be the unbosoming of my secrets to your ears. [ shall be restless, uneasy, and full of painful anxiety until this be done.” Sarah spoke so earnestly, and with so much en- treaty, that I saw it would do her more harm to refuse than it could possibly do her an injury to allow her to have her own way. I therefore as- sented; and I saw at once that there was a gleaming of satisfaction on her countenance — though it was almost immediately succeeded by an expression of mingled pain and seriousness, as she prepared to enter upon the explanations she thus insisted on giving. “Perhaps you have heard,’ she began, “ that about four years ago, when the family first went upon the Continent, I remained here at the Hall, to superintend the education of Emilia and Lavinia. There is no harm in stating that Mr. Tremaine went abroad to economise—he having at the time a lawsuit that was almost ruinous in its cost, and which, if its issue were a failure, would tend to impoverish him exceedingly, if not involve him in absolute ruin. Therefore you will not be surprised to learn that the establishment at the Hall was placed upon the most economical footing, and all those servants were discharged who were not abso- lutely necessary in the positions which they occu- pied. So few people in so vast a mansion made it seem like a deserted place, and the impression upon my mind was somewhat a gloomy one. I necessarily fulfilled the. duties of mistress of the establishment while I was thus left in charge of it. In the performance of these duties I generally had to go about once a week to Stafford, to make such GO JOO SS (E@) Any