Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 111: what you’re looking at

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ee EE 98 footsteps a short distance below, that he turned to look at me again. I followed the footman: we reached a landing superbly decorated with yellow marble pillars, with beautiful specimens of sculp- ture, with fine pictures, and with immense vases ; and throwing open a door, the lacquey announced “ Miss Trafford.” Immediately upon beholding the Duchess, I re- cognised her as a lady whom I had frequently seen at the theatre, but with whose name and rank I had been until now unacquainted. She was seated with another lady in that splendid apartment to which I was thus shown; and she rose with a dig- nified courtesy to receive me: but her companion, who was much older than herself, remained seated —tussed her head with a superciliousness which she did not attempt to conceal—and commenced fanning herself, as if this were a relief to the feel- ings of disgust which my presence excited. I felt the blood crimsoning my cheeks; and I should have at once retired, if the Duchess herself had not come forward to ‘address me with a degree of mitigate the impression 50 disagreeably made upon me by her friend’s insolent demeanour. The Duchess of Ardleigh was about forty years of age; and her tall commanding figure had that fulness which, while denoting that the period of a more youthful symmetry was past, nevertheless compensated for that loss by ifs own richness of contour and luxuriance of beauty. It is true that the plumpness of the shoulders and the splendour of the bust were such as to give the neck an air of shortness: but this slight defect was lost sight of when the eye of the observer rested upon the faultlessly shaped head and the handsome counte- nance of the Duchess of Ardleigh. Her companion—who, as I presently learnt in the course of conversation, boré the title of Lady Mangold—was an elderly female, decked out with all the accessories of the toilet and other succeda- neous aids to give herself as youthful an appear- ance as possible. In fashionable life it often occurs that false teeth assist in the articulation of lan- guage as false—that artificial hair rests above a brow within which is a brain constantly occupied by frivolous artificialities—and that false bosoms are placed upon even falser hearts. How true all this may be in respect to Lady Mangold, will here- after transpire. The first survey that I took of her was anything but prepossessing. She seemed to be an old coquette; but the artificialities of her toilet were so overdone as to be palpable to a most glaring degree; while in her dress there was a singular admixture of taste and frumpishness. Her affectation was immense—excruciating for herself, sickening for those who beheld it. It ruled her actions—it was depicted in all her move- ments—it pervaded her language—it gave its tone and accent to her speech; and in all its silliest arts it was aided by the fan or the eye-glass. Lady Mangold had never been a beauty: she now re- sembled an old scarecrow dressed up in a fashion tv conceal or mitigate as much as possible the ravages of time and the presence of actual ugli- ness. ‘There was something loathsome about that woman: for the very strength of the perfumes which exhaled from her dress, excited the irre- sistible suspicion that there was a bad breath to be absorbed in that artificial fragrance,—as deep ELLEN PERCY 5 OR, THE MEMOIRS OF AN ACTRESS, wrinkles and furrows and sallowness were to bo concealed by the enamel and the rouge which plas- tered her countenance, I may here state that which presently transpired in the course of conversation,—that Lady Mangold was aunt to the Duchess of Ardleigh ; and I could not belp fancying that it must be this circum- stance which could alone induce her Grace to tole- rate the society of that wretched frivolous old woman. For though the Duchess herself was by no means a lady of enlightened intellect, but had all the hauteur of the highest aristocracy, mingled with much of its frivolity and narrow-minded pre- judices,—she nevertheless had that amount of good taste which enabled her to adapt herself to cireum- stances, and if not actually to put off her pride like a garment, at least to adjust it so that it ceased t to be offensive. Such was her bearing to- wards me the instant she pereeived how Lady Mangold began fanning herself, and the evidences of disgust which she displayed when an actress — was introduced within the range of her own aristo- cratic atmosphere! The Duchess desired me to be seated—an invi- tation whereat Lady Mangold gave a sudden start of mingled astonishment and indignation; and an audible, “ Well, I never!” was muttered behind the fan. The Duchess threw upon her aunt a look of mingled deprecation and entreaty, and then proceeded fo explain to me her project of private theatricals. Her Grace was anxious that I should have the entire superintendence of them—that I should select the performers who were to appear in company with myself—and that I should attend rehearsals for the sake of four or five amateurs who, with her Grace’s permission, were anxious to assist. “ And I hope, my dear,” interjected Lady Man- gold, with a disdainful toss of her head, “that this young person will be careful to select such females as may with decency figure in the presence of those whom you mean to inyite to Ardleigh House ?” “Tf her ladyship thinks,’ I exclaimed, my cheeks flushing with indignation, “that I have any acquaintance ‘with females who are unfit to be thus introduced oe “Pray do not be offended, Miss Trafford!” in- terposed the Duchess. ‘“ My aunt is ignorant on these subjects - “Tonorant indeed!’’ exclaimed Lady Mangold, again tossing her head. “I have read and heard too much of theatrical matters not to know what IT am saying. And if poor dear Lord Mangold ~ +P] was alive * Madam,” I said, rising from my seat, and ad- dressing myself to the Duchess, “I thank your Grace for the honour you have shown me by this preference, and likewise for the courtesy with which you have treated me: but I must beg to decline any interference in a matter where it is only too evident my arrangements would fail to give complete satisfaction:’—and I glanced to- wards Lady Mangold. “ Miss Trafford,” said the Duchess quickly, “ it is impossible to dispense with your services! I en- treat you to withdraw this refusal! very one is acquainted with your character; and eyery one whom I may choose to invite to Ardleigh House, will have the fullest faith in the propriety of all your arrangements.” CORNIKELIOOKS com