Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 53: what you’re looking at

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40 therefore entreat you to accompany me to Ard- leigh House. Indeed, it would be ungracious and improper to refuse: for the Duchess has given the invitation, and she has taken the matter in hand. She will behave liberally:—you owe it to yourself and to whomsoever may become your husband to accept the worldly gifts that are offered you from such sources.” Mary Glentworth suffered herself to be per- suaded by this reasoning; and she agreed to accom- pany me. We now descended from the chamber : we cordially thanked Mr. and Mrs. Brooks for their kindness—I hastily made the little purchase which I required—and issuing from the establish- ment, we took a cab to Ardleigh House. As the vehicle drew up in front of the palatial mansion, Mary heaved a profound sigh, saying, “ Oh! if the circumstances of my birth were different, I might have been a dweller beneath that proud roof!” We alighted—we ascended the steps—and we entered the hall. A half-shrieking querulous voice was at the moment resounding through that hall, and giving vent in an angry tone to these ejacu- lations :—*‘ What! the Duchess not visible and the Duke engaged—and this too at lunch-time, when you know that I am always welcome! It is scandalous !—and if poor dear Lord Mangold were alive Py “ Really, my lady,” said the hall-porter, to whom the irate expostulations were addressed, “it is not my fault—I only repeat the orders [ re- ceived & “Stuff and nonsense!” ejaculated Lady Man- gold, with a disdainful toss of ber head. “Am I not the aunt of her Grace of Ardleigh? and have I not aright of entreé at all times? I tell you that if poor dear Lord Mangold were alive = “IT am sorry, my lady,” said the hall-porter, “but my instructions Be so kind as to walk that way, ladies!” he said, thus suddenly turning to address himself to Mary and me, “ What!” cried Lady Mangold, now positively furious; “the play-actress to be received—and I, the aunt to the Duchess, to be denied at the very threshold! If Lord Mangold were alive But thank God he is dead! or it would break his heart, the good old soul ‘1 “That way, ladies!’ repeated the hall-porter, looking very uneasy, as if he dreaded a compli- cation of the unpleasant scene. “‘ Now, James, make haste and show these ladies o “This way, ladies!” said the footman who was about to escort us. “T won't have it! I declare I won’t have it!” shrieked forth Lady Mangold. ‘“ What! to be eclipsed by a play-actress, who refused to let me appear as Venus amidst clouds and attended bya host of little Cupids! It is preposterous !—and if poor dear Lord Mangold were alive ms I waited to hear no more, but hurried onward with Mary Glentworth. The footman conducted us up the spacious staircase; and we were es- corted into an apartment, where we found the Duchess of Ardleigh alone, waiting for us. The Duke was not there. Her Grace looked coldly affable: hauteur and condescension were in her bearing. Methought that I could comprehend what was passing in her mind: she did not like to seem ungenerously repulsive towards Mary Glent- worth—she did not on the other hand choose to ELLEN PERCY; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF AN ACTRESS. appear too kind and friendly ; and thus she had a difficult part to perform. Slightly rising for an instant from the sofa on which she was seated, she motioned with her hand for Mary and myself to take chairs; and she at once entered upon the business by saying, “ I suppose, Miss Trafford, you have communicated everything to your friend Miss Glentworth ?” I answered in the affirmative; and the Duchess went on to observe, “It was an unpleasant scene which took place just now: but not for a single instant do I blame Miss Glentworth! She had been deceived and misled. Yet under all circum- stances, it ought to be a subject of rejoicing that the day of elucidation has arrived. You will both of youagree with me that it is better his Grace should not be present at this interview. Certain arrangements must be made—and I am prepared to make them. Perhaps you will inform me, Miss Trafford, what are your friend’s views and aims in life?—or perhaps Miss Glentworth herself will explain them? In a word i “TI have already advised Miss Glentworth to accept,” I said, “ that which his Grace of Ardleigh may deem consistent with his position towards her, to bestow.” “For myself,’ said Mary Glentworth, speaking with calmness and decision, “I will frankly con- fess that at one time I experienced a strong in- clination for the stage; and I should even now adopt it, were it not that circumstances have arisen “f Here she blushed and suddenly became seized with confusion, I accordingly took up the thread of the discourse which she herself was too much embarrassed to pursue. “As your Grace thinks fit on this occasion,” I said, “to appear as the representative of the Duke of Ardleigh, the same statements must be made to your ladyship which, were the Duke present, would have been made to his lordship. The hand of Miss Glentworth has been sought in marriage by a young gentleman whom there is every reason to believe to be the occupant of an honourable position and possessed of some fortune ra ‘His name?” inquired the Duchess. “ His name is Mr. Beauchamp,” I replied. “T have the fullest confidence in your pru- dence, Miss Trafford,’ said the Duchess of Ard- leigh ; “ and therefore if you assure me that this is an eligible alliance, I shall at once assent on the Duke’s part ; and indeed I shall congratulate Miss Glentworth on the prospect of so advanta- geously settling herself in life. She shall not go a dowerless bride to the altar: but the secret of her birth must be maintained inviolate——” *T ought to inform your Grace,” I here broke in, “tbat I am as yet totally unacquainted with Mr. Beauchamp: but this very day was he to have been introduced to me "3 “And you would have satisfied yourself,” said the Duchess, “that he is im every sense an honourable character? I thought, Miss Traf- ford,’ she added, with an approving smile, “that I was not wrong when I declared that I could trust to your prudence and discretion. But Ah! I fancied that Miss Glentworth lived altogether with you ; and if this be the case, how happens it that she should have formed so intimate an acquaintance who is entirely unknown to your- CORNICLOOOLK Cc (EC)