Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 84: what you’re looking at

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

ELLEN PERCY; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF AN ACTRESS. 71 —_—_——— = I should here inform the reader that Aline was inspired by the liveliest hope. A manager Marcy had adopted a feigned name in the an- can tell at a glance whether a new aspirant to nouncement of her intended debut: but Mary | dramatic fame be endowed with firmness and self. Glentworth had retained that which she usually | possession on the eve of a first appearance; and | | bore. Thus I understood full well the meaning | in the present instance his survey was completely of Aline Marcy’s observation. The individual | satisfactory. Those actors and actresses who whom she loved might possibly be in London—he | were not engaged in the opening scene, came might be present at the theatre, little suspecting | crowding about us; and I caught several whispers that in one of the young ladies who were that | floating around. night to make their debut, he would behold Aline “The young French lady is exquisitely beauti- Marcy! I saw that the poor girl trembled at the | ful !”” said one. idea of the effect which so sudden a surprise would | “Miss Glentworth is remarkably handsome!” produce upon the young gentleman to whom she | said another. . alluded, if he should happen to be present; and I “What beautiful arms! and what a lovely dreaded lest this apprehension should impair the | complexion!” whispered a@ third, alluding to courage and confidence which in all other respects | Aline Marcy. she experienced. I therefore hastened to say a, ‘‘ And what a fine grown girl is Miss Glent- few encouraging words; and Aline, pressing my | worth!” observed a fourth. hand fervently, whispered, “ Fear not, my dear “ After all,” added a fifth, “our own Miss friend, on my account! I have foreseen the pos- | Trafford remains unrivalled in beauty, as I am sibility of such an oceurrence—I have nerved my- | confident she will continue unsurpassed in the pro- self—and therefore 1 am prepared if it should | fession !” arise.” It is through no sentiment of vanity that I have Mary Glentworth’s toilet was now finished ; and | recorded this last speech—but simply, as a truth» Beda stood at a little distance, surveying us all} ful autobiographer, for the purpose of displaying three as we were grouped together in the middle of | the sentiments of the brother and sister pro ' the room. ‘The eyes of the faithful girl were filled | fessionals whose remarks caught my ear on the with admiration: I saw that something wavered | present eccasion. But now the second scene upon her lips,—something which she wished to} was on the point of commencing; and in an- say, but to which she feared to give utterance: | other minute Mary Glentworth was to appear for the first time on the boards of a theatre. At that instant all my feelings and sensationg “It would be impossible for all England to pro- | when exactly two years back I made my own duce three more perfect specimens of beauty,” she | debut, came rushing into my mind. [I recollect cried with enthusiasm, “ than I now behold before | how when I suddenly emerged into the full glare me |” of light and became the focus for three thou- We smiled at this artless and genuine expres- | sand pair of eyes, my heart sank within me and sion of Beda’s admiration; and Mary Glentworth | I felt my courage rapidly evaporating. I glanced said, “If there be the least truth in your remark, | anxiously at Mary Gientworth’s countenance: 16 my dear girl, any other observer standing by | was composed—its look was firm: I was astonished might increase the number to four, by including | at the fortitude which she displayed. All my anx- yourself amongst them.” iety on her account vanished in a moment: I This assertion was indeed so far correct, that if| pressed her hand—and the next instant she was so high an eulogium were merited by whatsoever | upon the stage. Then arose a tremendous shout good looks Aline, Mary, and myself might possess, | of welcome; and Mary acknowledged it in the Beda was equally worthy of such a compliment, | most graceful manner. I saw that her self-posses- For as I haye already assured the reader, a more | sion continued to be complete. She entered upon beautiful fairy-like gipsy than my young attendant | the part in a manner which gave every promise of could not possibly exist on the face of the earth; | success; she evidently bore in mind all the tutor- and more than ever lovely did she now seem with | ings and instructions she had received; and yet her superb eyes fixed in luminous enthusiasm | she impersonated the character with an air as upon us, and her cheeks mantling with the blush | natural as if she were absolutely identified with it. which Mary’s flattering observation had conjured | When she came off the stage the entire audience and then, unable to restrain herself, she suddenly burst forth. up. testified its approbation in the most enthusiastic But the important business of the evening was | style. now about to commence. The overture was “TI do not think the Ardleighs are here,’ she finished: we knew that the curtain had just | took an opportunity of whispering to me after drawn up on the first scene of the new drama, | having received the congratulations of those who It was arranged, according to the plan of the | pressed around her—and the reader may be as- author and the cast of the characters, that Mary | sured that Aline’s and mine were not amongst the Glentworth was to appear in the second scene— | coldest. Aline Marcy in the third—and I was to appear “Ah! had you self-possession sufficient,” I sgid as the commencement of the Second Act—and | “to scan the occupants of the boxes? I am as- that at the close of the Second Act we should all | tonished, Mary !” I added, with the most delighted three find ourselyes upon the boards at the same | feelings. “You have displayed more firmness time. | and fortitude than I did on the night of my own We issued from the dressing-room; Mr. Rich- | debut which took place exactly two years ago!” ards was anxiously awaiting our presence: and I “If it had not been for those circumstances, saw by the expression of his countenance, as he | dear Ellen,” replied Mary Glentworth, “ which flung a hasty look at my two pupils, that he! finally settled my mind upon the stage, and which EORNIGLOOOLK (EO)