Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 133: what you’re looking at

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ee 120 admirably throughout. She shook me warmly by the hand; and I departed from the mansion. On returning to Hunter Street, I found Juliet most anxiously waiting my arrival. Lord Fre- derick Ravenscliffe had been to the house: she had intelligence of importance to communicate to me; and the tidings were evidently good, if I might judge from her looks. “ Here is the certificate!’ she cried, presenting to meapaper. “ Frederick received it this morn- wg—and he brought it just now.” I took the document: but the instant that my eyes fell upon it, my countenance showed that I was smitten with a suspicion of something wrong. ““Good heavens, Ellen! what is the matter P” exclaimed Juliet, full of the most anxious sus- pense. “IT must deal candidly with you, my dear friend,” I answered ; “for the matter is becoming too serious for any suppression of the truth.” “Oh! what mean you, Ellen?” asked Juliet with feverish excitement: and my poor friend literally shivered in the strength of her mental agony. | “This is not the handwriting of Mr. Croft!” I answered: and it cut me to the very soul to be thus compelled to increase Juliet’s anguish to the intensest poignancy. A shriek, half stifled and subdued, escaped her lips; and she clasped her hands, evidently with a feeling as if her case were that of desperation. “Oh could he have thus deceived me?” she cried wildly. ‘ But tell me, Ellen—tell me—how do you know "s “Tt were too long to give explanations,” I answered ; “but suffice it for you to learn that I am acquainted with the handwriting of Mr. Croft. Yes—I know it well, Juliet! Only very recently did I seo it—and I can assure you that it is utterly different from that which appears upon this paper.” “Tllen,” asked Juliet, in a low hoarse voice, “what, in the name of God, does all this mean? Am I mad ?—or, O heaven! if not mad, I am be- coming so! Who is the deceiver? Is it the cler- gyman? or is it Frederick? God have mercy upon me! what horrible suspicions haunt my mind! My brain is on fire! No, it cannot be the clergy- man! It must be it must be ” and she -convulsively gasped forth the name — “ Fre- derick !” She sank upon a sofa, covering her face with her hands, weeping and sobbing bitterly, and literally shaking herself from right to left and from left to right in the anguish of her despair. | “Juliet,” I said, my resolve being at once taken, | “be courageous, even if you cannot be consoled! It is time that you should do something for your- self—or rather that I should do it for you. I will set off this very day for Birmingham—I will go to Embledon—I will see Mr. Crott; for I do know that he is still there—or at least he was a few days back and rest assured that I shall not leave him until the best or the worst is known. I con- fess that this affair of the certificate is all a mys- tery to me. But we will not waste time in useless conjectures [ will depart at once !” * Ob, a thousand thanks, dearest Ellen !” cried Juliet, springing from the sofa and winding her arms round my neck. “ Yes—go, my sweet | ELLEN PERCY; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF AN ACTRESS. friend! For heaven’s sake return soon !—my sus- pense will be terrible during your absence !” “ But you must exercise a command over your feelings, Juliet,” I earnestly though hurriedly con- tinued. “ For a thousand reasons you com- prehend me, Juliet 4 ““My parents?” she ejaculated : and she fixed upon me a look half wild, half despairing. “Say nothing to them—at least for the pre- sent,” I quickly rejoined. “If all be well they need never know how much anguish you have ex- perienced, nor how strange and mysterious were these proceedings until cleared up. But if, on the other hand, I should sadly and mournfully be- come the bearer of evil tidings, it will be time enough to reveal to your parents the causes of your distress.” “Yes—be it so,” replied Juliet. “And yet now—Oh! how difficult the task to wear a placid countenance when all is agitation and turmoil within! But your sudden absence, Ellen,” ejacu- lated Juliet as the thought struck her: “ how is it to be accounted for P” “Say that Lady Lilla Essendine sent for me pressingly,” I answered. ‘I am not to appear at the theatre to-night—and I hope to return to- morrow, hours before the curtain draws up!” “ And if you do not,” suggested Juliet, anxiously, —“if you be detained—if Mr. Croft is absent from home Ms “Then I must leave it to you, Juliet, to say what you will!” I quickly rejoined. ‘ Your af- fairs now concern me before all others. I will de- part at once! I will go in a cab, so that the ser- vants of the household shall not know what is my destination.” I sped to my chamber, and hastily made up a small packet of necessaries. I took leave of Juliet, and repaired to the railway station. There was a train about to start: I procured my ticket; and I was making my way through the crowd which thronged the platform, when I caught a glimpse of a countenance which was well known to me, It was that of Edwin St. Clair. Convinced that I had not been observed by him, I plunged into the carriage that was nearest. IL took the only place that remained unoccupied : and the door was immediately closed by one of the officials. I had been startled by the sudden ap- pearance of St. Clair; and for some little while I felt agitated and nervous. Six weeks had elapsed since I had read the announcement of his depar- ture for the Continent; and this was the first knowledga I had of his return. I hoped most sincerely that our last adventure had sickened him of his base attempts against my honour and hap- piness: but on the other hand, I feared lest pre- vious impunity should render him daring and bold for the future. I could not help wondering likewise at the chance that had thus thrown us into the same train; and I resolved to keep myself out of his sight, if possible. I occupied a first-class carriage ; and the other seats accommodated ladies and gentlemen all be- longing to the same family. They conversed amongst themselves; and I remained silent with my veil over my countenance. Presently their discourse turned upon theatrical matters ; for they belonged to Birmingham, and had been to pass a fortnight’s holiday in London, during which in- CORnNIEDOOKS Com