Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 358: what you’re looking at

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

Sen <tseetsressssssss_sssesstesssses Se - ~ — = ¢ \ _ - A ! | é altogether ! pretence I am sure it was—that he was compelled to go upon the Continent on some business for his father. He promised to write: I did receive some few letters at distant intervals—but I could not shut my eyes to the fact that they were all so cautiously worded as to contain no promise of marriage. Not that I would have availed myself in a legal sense of any such promise, even supposing one to have been made: but it was no longer pos- sible for me to doubt that I was utterly and com- pletely betrayec. Time wore on—and I continued to conceal my position from the few servants who were in the house. To be brief, I veiled it alto- gether: I am convinced that it was never once suspected. At length the dread moment was ad- vancing—the hour of woman’s direst extremity was drawing near. I knew not what to do: my mind was in a horrible state of uncertainty—I was No. 96.—ELLEN PERCY. ELLEN PERCY; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF AN ACTRESS, nee nEREEEeRns 4, Ry) , aa For the Viscount pretesded—as & / ’ yy Mil in a constant condition of bewilderment—it was a prolonged and hideous consternation. Some pre- parations I made; but to no ear did I breathe my secret—the aid of no surgeon did I invoke against the coming trial. And that hour came! It was in the early part of the night—a night of storm and tempest without—a night of horror and of agony for me! How was it possible that I could conceal my shame and disgrace any longer? In the midst of my almost mortal throes of mind and body, an idea struck me. In the haunted room I should be safe! No one would penetrate thither, whatsoever groans might be heard! To the haunted room therefore I dragged myself; and there did I become the mother of a male child which came not into the world alive. In the morn- ing I was found as usual in my own chamber: [ complained of a passing indisposition—I nursed myself for a few days—and then I was again at EORNICLOO® TST eS (S©)