Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 370: what you’re looking at

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ELLEN PERCY; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF AN ACTREBS. 357 | | At that very instant it struck me that I heard a movement at the door. I glanced in that direc- tion: it was standing ajar—and methought that the sound of a supressed sob was now wafted to my ear. I instantaneously conjectured what it was: I was anxious to avoid a scene; and ex- claiming, “Look to your mother, Sarah!” I abruptly quitted the room. My suspicion was fulfilled; for on the landing outside I found myself face to face with Reginald Barron. He had listened at the door: and nothing could now exceed the air of profound contrition, of remorse, of shame—aye, of the deepest humiliation, which his countenance wore. He seemed like one who was ready to sink into the earth; and most assuredly he felt as one who must at the instant have wished that he might be snatched away from my sight! | I beckoned him to follow me into the front drawing-room, where there happened to be no other persons at the time; and when we were there together, he stood before me, all trembling, like a culprit. “Mr. Barron,” I said, “you have doubtless heard of the change which has taken place in your mother’s circumstances P” “‘T have heard enough to convince me,” he said, sinking upon his knees, “ that you, Miss Percy, are an angel, and that I have been the vilest and most wicked of mortals!” “ Rise, sir—rise, I command you,” I interrupted him. “I need no compliments nor flatteries from your lips! I love your sister, and I respect your mother. For their united sakes I have interested myself in a certain quarter : and I have succeeded in obtaining the recognition of your mother’s rightful claims. Now, Mr. Barron, you will leave Tremaine Hall with the least possible delay. You may make your own excuse—which perhaps will not be difficult considering that the sooner*your mother repairs to London to sign the necessary documents at the Portugueso Ambassador’s man- sion, the sooner will it facilitate a settlement of the matter. But depart, I say !—it is my command!” “And it shall be obeyed, Miss Percy,” inter- jected Reginald Barron. “But tell me—tell me, I beseech you—has my sister spoken to you in reference to that portrait ?” “Your sister, Mr. Barron, suspects that there is something strange or peculiar in my bearing when your name is mentioned. I have given no explanations.” “ And you will give none?” ejaculated Reginald vehemently. “Oh! I beseech you not to betray me! My dear sister Sarah is so high-minded and weli-principled !—she is virtue’s self! she is purity personified !” “Enough, Mr. Barron,” I interrupted him. “I have not betrayed you to your sister—and I will not betray you if you will depart immediately.” “In one hour, Miss Percy,” he rejoined, “ my presence shall be no longer a source of annoyance to you beneath the roof of Tremaine Hall. But one word before I depart !—and this one word you must hear, for it is nothing that can be construed into an insult !” “No—I will hear nothing from your lips,” I exclaimed. “Depart, sir!” “Whatever evil were to happen to me,” cried Reginald, his cheeks flushing and his eyes flashing Sarah Barron for an hour or so. in a peculiar manner ; and then she said, diffi- dently and hesitatingly, Ellen, is deeply penitent for the offence that he gave you when at Petersfield. He has now told me everything with a strange glow,—“ even though you were to expose all my past villany to my mother and my sister—yet will I proclaim that which is now uppermost in my thoughts! For you are the noblest-hearted of women; and though your own great talents have given to your name an undying reputation, yet shall your beauty also be im- mortalized on the painter’s canvass! This is the task to which [ now devote myself: the portraits you have already seen, are as nothing in com- parison with the one grand work of art which I feel myself capable of achieving! And when that task shall be accomplished, death may come—and consumption, the inexorable enemy that is now working slowly but surely within, may crown its own process of destruction !” ° Having thus spoken, with a volubility and an enthusiasm which defied all interruption, Reginald Barron rusbed from the apartment, leaving me in a singular state of bewilderment; for [ knew not whether to look upon him as more madman than hypocrite. And yet, notwithstanding the strong reasons which I had for regarding him as an un- principled dissembler, i¢ was impossible to shut my eyes to the fact that there was more or less the fervour of sincerity in what he had just been saying—as if there were times when the intuitive promptings of genius rose far superior to the dictates and impulses of evil passions. I now hastened to meet Charlotte and her sisters, who had just returned from their walk; and they were all delighted to see me again. sently it became known that Mrs. Barron and her son were on the point of immediately leaving the Hall for the purpose of proceeding to London; and the reason given was legitimate enough. Through my kindness, it was said, Mrs. Barron had procured the recognition of her rights, and she must now lose no time in adopting certain measures which this im- portant jirst step rendered requisite. departed, having warmly embraced me as the authoress of the prosperity which she was speedily destined to enjoy: but [ managed to avoid another meeting with Reginald, and he had the good taste not to seek it. Pre- Mrs. Barron After dinner I again found myself alone with She gazed at me “My poor brother, 39 “ Indeed !” I ejaculated, as a vivid blush crossed my countenance. “ Ho has told you every- thing ?” “Yes—everything, [ repeat,” rejoined Sarah,— “ how he called upon you at the hotel and avowed his mad presumptuous love,—how, when you gave him an answer which he ought to have at once taken as definitive, he persisted in pleading his suit until his conduct passed the boands of cour- tesy in short, dear Ellen, he told me how you commanded him to leave your presence. And then all night long he wandered about like one distracted.” _ “Ah! he has been telling you all this?” I said, now comprehending that Reginald had in reality only told a portion of the tale, and had given it more or lessa colouring to suit existing circumstances. “Oh! itis no wonder that you should have been C) oO S) S) (E(0)