Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 88: what you’re looking at

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ELLEN PERCY; OF, THE MEMOIRS OF AN ACTRESS.» far less enthusiastic upon the point, There was an expression of sweet sadness on her lovely coun- tenance; and I feared that she had miscalculated her own strength of mind when on the preceding night she had assured me that her feelings having once found a vent, would leave her endowed with the utmost fortitude. I however thought it better not to speak to her on the point; and hearing a double knock at the door, I made it an excuse for hastily quitting her. I wondered who could be calling at that hour in the morning—for it was only a little past nine o'clock; yet I thought it might possibly be my father—for though I had seen him af a distance on the preceding evening, and therefore knew he was at the theatre, we had not met. I reached the hall just as the servant was opening the front door ; and to my surprise, I beheld Major Gower. ‘A thousand apologies, Miss Percy,’ he said, “ for intruding upon you at this unseemly hour:— but may I enter ?” “Pray walk in,” I said; and I was immediately smitten with a misgiving that something was wrong in respect to the fortune which we had been hoping to share between us. He followed me into the breakfast-parlour; and I saw that his look was swept around the room as he crossed the threshold. My apprehension was almost confirmed, as I said to myself, ‘‘ He wishes to be alone with me! Yes, alas! he has assuredly some evil tidings to communicate.” ** Miss Percy,” he said in an agitated manner, “ where—where is Aline P” *€ Aline !”—and all in a momert a light flashed in unto my comprehension: the lover of Aline— that lover whose name she had never mentioned— could be none other than the gentleman who stood before me! “What!” he exclaimed, “is it possible that you do not know everything by this time ?—has she not made a confidante of you?” “TI understand it all, Major Gower,” I said, my heart thrilling with delight on Aline’s account: “but it is only this instant that I have understood it !” * Oh! where is Aline?” he said, trembling witk impatience. “ Let me see her, I beseech you!— let me throw myself at her feet—prove to her how much I love her—tell her that Iam now rich—and offer her my hand! Ob, let me do all this, Miss Percy !—and I beseech you to delay ne “ Major Gower,’ I said, mechani¢tally giving him my hand, while the tears of joy trickled down my cheeks, “your conduct is admirable! — you possess the noblest of hearts!—and Oh! bitterly, bitterly should I have repented any harshness on my part or any selfishness in respect to your uncle’s fortune !” “ Miss Percy,” he said, “it will be the happiest moment of my life if Aline will now consent to become mine !” “She will! she will!” I said; “for she loves you! At this moment she is sad and mournful in her chamber ‘ “Poor Aline!” murmured Major Gower; “could she think that I had proved faithless, or that I had abandoned her? My God! the bare idea is bitterness! But go to her, Miss Percy—go to her, I beseech you!—and tell her Oh! I have so much to explain! I know not where to 75 begin —I am bewildered with suspense and i0 de I hastened from the apartment; I flew up to Aline’s room—and it was only at the instant that my fingers touched the handle of the door that I recollected the necessity of breaking the intelli- gence with some degree of caution; for joy pro- duces its evil effects as well as grief, if it strikes with the suddenness of a blow. Therefore com- posing my countenance somewhat, I entered; and i found that Aline was just completing her toilet —while the newspapers which I had brought up about a quarter of an hour back, lay on the table in precisely the same position as I had there left them: so that at a glance it was clear that Aline had not the heart to read the history of her own brilliant success, My dear friend,” I said, “ you are still mourn- ful and sad: but as sorrows sometimes come in troops, so do joys! Last night you achieved a magnificent triumph: this morning ci * Believe me, dear Ellen,” she said, “I shall be perfectly calm and happy presently! But scme- times one miscalculates one’s mental powers——-” “Aline,” I said, taking her hand, “ you are too good and gentle and beautiful to be deserted by heaven. No! heaven would not leave you long in affliction! Cheer up, Aline!—there is some one waiting to see you fs ‘Some one?” and she started: then she trembled violently from head to foot, while the colour went and came in rapid transitions upon her cheeks. Not for another instant could I keep that lovely and interesting girl in suspense: but throwing my arms about her neck, I exclaimed, “ Your heart has already told you, Aline, what it is that I mean! —you know who is here! It is one who loves you —who is now rich, and who is come to lay his for- tune at your feet!” It seemed as if a faintness came over the young lady: she reeled—she appeared as if about to fall —but I sustained her; and I continued to pour in her ears those assurances which I was war- ranted to give from everything that had so re- cently emanated from the lips of Major Gower. * But, Oh! is this possible?” she murmured: “is it not too late? is not the fatal step taken? I have appeared upon the stage! You remember all that you yourself told me, Ellen é * Come with me, and see whether I am deceiy- ing you, Aline! Come—and you will be clasped in the arms of one who possesses the noblest of hearts, and who thinks only of his beloved and beautiful Aline! Not for an instant can you hesi- tate how to act or what to say to him! By his present conduct he is giving you every possible proof of the most devoted love !” But still it seemed as if all this were too much happiness for Aline to place reliance upon; and I was compelled to reiterate the assurances over again. Then, as if suddenly convinced that it was really no dream—vno hallucination of her own thoughts—it was literally a cry of wild joy to which she gave vent, as she said, “Ob, Ellen, it is destined that you are to prove an angel of goodness unto me! [ will go with you.” I conducted her from the apartment: we has- tened down the stairs—we entered the breakfast- parlour,—and with ejaculations of delight the lovers were clasped in each other’s arms. [I left COLA ehbook (E©)