Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 389: what you’re looking at

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ee ee — aan 376 - ae — ne ELLEN PERCY ; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF AN ACTRESS, But by a strong effort I recovered myself; and then I expresse@ my sincerest thanks to the Lon- don lawyer for the intelligence which he had brought me,—intelligence that was as startling and amezing as it was fraught with bliss. His con- gratulations were most fervidly proffered ; and Mr. Mansfield spoke to me in a similar sense. It ap- peared to me like a dream ;—and again I felt as if I should fall overpowered by the weight of exces- sive joy—as a bird might sink down when having penetrated into some previously unknown isle where the atmosphere was oppressive with the fragrance of flowers—or as a bee might droop when too heavily laden with the honied burden stored beneath its wings! But again I exercised a strong power of control over myself; and I asked Mr. Wilkinson how all this came about, and how it was that Mr. Mac- donald bad so suddenly found himself in a condition to return me the vast sum I had advanced him? “Here is a letter which he has sent you, Miss Percy,” replied Mr. Wilkinson: “and here is the far longer letter which be wrote to me as your lawyer, begging me to break the matter to you with the least possible delay, but with the utmost delicacy and ceution.” I opened the letter which was addressed to my- self; and when I had read it, I said, “ This com- munication gives no particulars: it merely abounds in the most grateful expressions for the service which I have rendered Mr. Macdonald, and in the most earnest wish that I may live on in health and happiness to enjoy the wealth which he restores With interest to my hands. Amore grateful letter never was penned!—never were nobler thoughts committed to paper! But Oh, Mr. Wilkinson! it seems almost miraculous! How was it that so sudden a return of prosperity has visited the worthy Paisley manufacturer P” “ There is his letter of particulars to me-——” “Nay, but I cannot read it now! My brain whirls—my sight is dazzled! Leave the letter for me to peruse it at my leisure: but tell me ina few words how all this has been brought about.” **'You Know the old adage, Miss Percy,” said the London lawyer, “that it never rains but it pours. You remember how thickly did misfor- tunes hail down upon the head of Mr. Macdonald. Well then, now all the circumstances of prosperity are showering quite as thickly around him. In the first place, the great American house of Raw- lins and Sydney, which was supposed to have gone so completely to pieces as not to be able to pay a shilling in the pound, has recovered itself with a rapidity as marvellous as its descent towards the vortex of destruction seemed to be last year. Every farthing due to Mr. Macdonald has been remitted by Rawlins and Sydney; and the money came with scarcely any previous notice. Well then, you know that there was that tremendous conflagration of Mr. Macdonald’s principal fac- tory nt *T recollect! And Mr. Perkins, his head clerk,” I continued, “ bad omitted to pay the in- Surance premium witbin the proper time.” “ Weill, about that,” interjected Mr. Wilkinson, “there arose some little dispute. The notice- paper from the insurance Company said-that the premium was due on such-and-such a day, and that it must be paid within fifteen days afterwards. ee EEE EEE ee It appears that Perkins mislaid the notice-papef, and totally forgot the affair until the afternoon of the fifteenth day. He at once ran off to the Paisley agent of the Company with a cheque: the agent was not at home, and Perkins left the cheque in a letter. During the night that fol- lowed the factory was burned down! The agent returned the cheque in the morning; and the company contended that the premium hai not been even tendered in time, much less received in time, and the payment of the insurance-money was con- sequently refused. Mr. Macdonald was advised by his lawyer that the Insurance Company was justified in its proceeding ; and he decided there- fore upon submitting to the loss. Subsequently, when through your bounty, Miss Percy, bis affairs were put straight again and he had leisure to look round him, he consulted eminent barristers in Edinburgh and London; and he was. advised to bring an action against the Insurance Company. He did so. It was agreed that the subject-matter of dispute should be referred to arbitration ; and this private tribunal ultimately gave its decision in favour of Mr. Macdonald. This occurred almost simultaneously with the sudden arrival of the re- mittances from Rawlins and Sydney. But that is not all,” continued Mr, Wilkinson. ‘“ Perbaps you know a certain Alexander Graham ?” “To be sure!” I ejaculated. “ Mr. donald’s nephew !—a very nice young man.” “ Well,” resumed Wilkinson, ‘‘ you perhaps also know that Alexander was engaged to one of his cousins?” “Yes — Mr, Macdonald’s daughter,” I said. ** Proceed, my dear sir.” “ His father died the other day, leaving Alex- ander a considerable fortune. ‘Tbe elder Grabam was avery near and close man, and would give his son nothing during his life-time. Well, Alex- ander, on taking possession of the paternal be- quest, consigned two-thirds of it to his uncle Mr. Macdonald as a consideration for being admitted into partersnip on equal terms.” “ And thus Mr. Macdonald, in repaying me this enormous sum of money,” I said, “is not in any way embarrassing himself?” * Not in the slightest!” rejoined Mr. Wilkinson. * His own letter to me will enable you to quiet these apprehensions on your part. He is again rich and prosperous: he can hold his head high; and that he can do so, he may thank you, Miss Percy !—for if he had once gone into the Gazette it would have been death to a man of his scrupu- lous notions of honour. And now, once’ more permit me to congratulate you on reaping the re- ward of a guvod action: for again are you the possessor of the splendid income of twelve thou- sand a-year!” Mace. —_—- oe CHEAPTER CXX*xX. : A SCENE AT BOULOGNE, HALF-AN-HOUR after these last words were spoken to me, but while they were still sounding in my ear, | was on my way back to River House. The moment I entered the hall, Juliet came forward, flinging an anxious look upon me, exclaiming, “You have seen Mr. Wilkinson, of cuurse? Id» x = —————— nine CORNICELO@C) (€ S (E©)