Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 58: what you’re looking at

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point!” interrupted Mary. ‘“ A great change has taken place within me: and you shall see that it is so. Everything is now to give place in my mind to the execution of the resolve I have adopted ;—and this is to go upon the stage. I shall become your pupil, my dearest friend, as Aline Marcy already is. You will instruct me— will you not? Yes—I know you will!—and oh! you shall soon see the smiles come back to my lips yi Here she stopped short and averted her face for @moment. Hastily she lifted the kerchief to her eyes—then she looked at me again, and said ina lower, more tremulous tone, “I have gone through a great deal in a very short time; and I cannot all in a moment shake off the effects. But let us not speak of the past—let us think only of the present and the future; for from this instant I commence a new epoch of my existence !” We now reached Great Ormond Street, and Aline Marcy was there to receive her usual lesson. Mary Glentworth insisted upon joining her: I remonstrated but feebly—for on seeing that she was resolute, I thought it was better to let her have her own way, and to succour her in any course which might tend to wean her mind from reflecting gloomily on recent occurrences, I was astonished at the cheerfulness with which she re- ceived her lesson: there was no abstraction—no wandering of the thoughts to other subjects. Her mind was a strong one, but peculiar in its strength; and I sincerely hoped that it would experience no relapse nor reaction. On the following morning I received a note from Mr. Wilkinson, requesting me to call at his office at eleven o’clock in the forenoon. I did not tell Mary that I had received this communication ; for I had a suspicion that it might probably relate to her own affairs rather than to those which I had recently entrusted to Mr. Wilkinson’s guid. ance:—but I set out aloneto keep the appoint- ment, “This is altogether a sad affair,” said the at- torney, the moment I had taken a seat in his private office; and though the observation was so abruptly made, yet I comprehended full well to what subject it related. “Then you have doubtless received some com- munication from Ardleigh House?” I said in- quiringly. “Her Grace sent for me last evening,” re- sponded the attorney, “and she told me every- thing that had occurred. She likewise gave me certain instructions how to act. This is the reason I requested a visit from you, Miss Percy; for as yet 1 have nothing to communicate in respect to your own personal matters. Her Grace for perhaps you know that she does everything and her husband is but a cipher has directed that the sum of ten thousand pounds be offered to Miss | Glentwortb, on condition that an inviolable secrecy be maintained + “If the money be proffered as a bribe, Mr. Wilkinson,” I interrupted him, “ the proposal be- comes a direct insult co “Come, come, Miss Percy,” said the lawyer good-naturedly, “ donot take things in this light! You and I can understand each other—though your friend Miss Glentworth may be smarting, as is natural enough, under the sense of recent 7 a -—- —— ree. 6 ee i ee tr eer er ELLEN PERCY; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF AN ACTRESS. 45 circumstances. The Duchess wishes to provide for the young lady-—~” “IT can give you the positive assurance, Mr. Wilkinson, that Mary Glentworth has not the slightest inclination to afford publicity to matters the painfulness of which has already induced her to express the positive desire that they cease to be a topic of conversation even between herself and me. She has decided upon going on the stage. In her present humour she will accept of nothing at the hands of the Ardleigh family “ “But you will give her better advice, Miss Percy?” exclaimed the lawyer. “I shall most assuredly counsel] her to accept the fortune which her own father offers her,” I replied. ‘It is no boon which he confers—no charity which he bestows: it is a mere duty which he fulfils But TI tell you candidly that I do not for a moment think Mary Glentworth will follow my advice on this point. I never saw such deci- sion on the part of any human being !—her re- solve is firmly taken to reject everything at the hands of the Ardleigh family.” “This mood of mind is forced and unnatural,” said the solicitor, “ and will not last.” “T thought so yesterday,” I rejoined; “but I think differently to-day. Within the last few hours I have-acquired a greater insight than ever I before possessed into the state of Mary Glent- worth’s mind. It is strong; and if once she adopt an idea—it may become a prejudice, a per- verseness, an obstinacy, call it what you will—but nevertheless she will adhere to it! JL shall of course communicate to her the proposal of the Duke of Ardleigh e * And if she reject it,” exclaimed Mr. Wilkin. son, ‘ we must accomplish the matter secretly—we must invest the money in the funds in her name ; and she need know nothing about it until the day shall come when in an altered state of mind she will gladly accept the little fortune thus provided for her.” I reflected for a few moments; and then I said, “ Since you have the power to do this, it will be infinitely better to adopt such a course than that I should reopen the subject and enter into a fresh series of unavailing arguments. If you will act as trustee, the investment need not become known to Miss Glentworth until a more opportune moment shall arrive.” “ Be it so,” rejoined the lawyer. “And now to another point. The Marquis of Dalrymple, know- ing of my intention to have this interview with you to-day, most earnestly and vehemently en- treated that he might be allowed a few minutes’ private conversation with you. I gave no pro- | mise: I simply informed him that he might call | here at half-past twelve o’clock, when, if you de- cided upon seeing him A * Yes, I will see him,” I said. ‘ He may have | something to communicate ; and it would be wrong, ' considering all circumstances, that I should refuse to hear him.” ‘Then L will ascertain if he be arrived,” said |the attorney: and he passed out into the front office. Almost immediately afterwards the door again opened, and the Marquis of Dalrymple made his appearance. His looks were haggard and care- worn: his eyes were red and swollen as if he had — a ee es er @ (CO) 0) 0)(0) SS (E(0)