Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 154: what you’re looking at

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ELLEN PERCY; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF AN AOTRESS. 141 > solution. But after a while she desisted; and | ceeding; and therefore it was my intention to wait wiping away her tears, she nerved herself with all| a few minutes until they themselves should rise the fortitude she could possibly summon to her aid. | to take their temporary leave of Mr. Richards. “The crisis is over, dear Ellen,” she said, in The manager—in his French cap and flowered accents which though subdued, were nevertheless | silk dressing-gown—was seated at his desk, upon firm and collected. “I feel like the doomed one | which, as usual, there were decanters and bottles who having bidden a last farewell to those from | of wine. Indeed I do not recollect that I ever whom it was anguish to tear himself away, could | entered Mr. Richards’ private room, no matter at declare that the bitterness of death had then | what hour of the day, without seeing wine placed yassed! Yes—I accept my destiny: I must live | before him. Mr. and Mrs. Norman were par- for the sake of that unborn child which asked not | taking of some slight refreshment after the re- to be called into being! You shall now see, | hearsal; and Mr. Richards was giving some in- Ellen, how firm and courageous I can become, | structions to Mr. Green, the stage-manager. and with what strength of mind I can pass| Having received me with his wonted half- through all the rest of the ordeal that is yet to be | cordial, half-respectful salutation, Mr. Richards accomplished. But I have now a favour to be- | continued speaking to his stage-manager. seech at your hands s “ Well then, Mr. Green,” he -said, “so far, so « Anything—everything, dearest, dearest Julie!” | good: the new piece will be a tremendous hit. I exclaimed, again folding her in my embrace. | But by the bye, we shall want a fresh Heavy “ Tell me what I can do for you 3 Man eG « Hasten to the theatre,” responded Juliet, “ and “Very good, sir,” responded the stage-manager : see my father and mother. Tell them everything. | “there is Judkins—I mean Arlington, as he now But, Oh! break it gently; and it will be better | calls himself—who is just come back from circuit that they should ¢heve-learn the terrific intelli- | in Lancashire.” gence, than that the tidings should await them * We shall also require a First Low Comedian when they come back to the house. By the step|and a Walking Gentleman,” continued Mr. I ask you to take, the first ebullition of their | Richards. anguish will have passed ere their return home:—/ “TI will make inquiries, sir, and let you know ‘otherwise they would betray everything by their | this evening.” ejaculations of despair, to the servants of this “ Very good,” continued the lessee. “Ah! and household. Tell them—tell them that which | we shall want a Singing Chambermaid too. What they know not yet: tell them that I am in a way | about her?” to become a mother—and that for the sake of my “There is Miss Tripps, sir,’ replied Green: honour, my character, my repute, everything must | “she has been at the Standard and Garrick—but be hushed up! Will you do this, dear Ellen ?” I think if she came out here, with a new name— “T will, Juliet—I will,’ was the answer given| of course a good one—Miss Harcourt, for in- amidst the deep affliction which rert my soul. “I | stance ? will speed at once! But you——’” “Well, see her, Green—and make terms with “In the meantime, Ellen,” answered Juliet, | her,’ interjected Mr. Richards. “And then what “‘T shall be nerving myself yet more strongly than | about a couple of extra Gentlemen for Utility ?” I am even now fortified, to meet my sad, sad des- “ Easy to be found, sir,’ responded Green. tiny. Tell my parents that I conjure them by all | “If you will please to leave it to me "a the love they bear me—for their’own sake and for “ Well, be it so: and now don’t let the grass mine—to support this terrible misfortune with a| grow under your feet. Take a glass of wine, becoming courage; so that the suspicions of the | Green—and a biscuit. Miss Trafford, a glass of world may not be excited. And now go, Ellen!” | wine? No! It is really always no with you! I accordingly left my poor friend; and having | Another glass, Green? You had rather not? hastily put on my bonnet and mantle, I entered | Well, go to the I mean go and see about the cab which in the meanwhile had been sent for. | these matters we have been talking of.” Most distressing was the task which I had to per-| At this moment one of the theatrical under- form; and I composed my feelings as well as I} lings entered the lessee’s room, bearing a letter, possibly could in order to accomplish that task in | which he presented to Mr. Richards. precise accordance with Juliet’s instructions. I “There!” exclaimed the lessee, with a look and arrived at the theatre, to which Mr. and Mrs. | yoice of vexation when he had perused the letter. Norman had repaired for the purpose of rehearsal; | “This is from the Lord Chamberlain, to intimate and on reaching the stage from the private en- | that Prince Albert. will visit the theatre*on Mon- trance, I learnt that those whom I had come to | day evening next. Ah! the public fancy it isa see were with Mr. Richards, in his own private | very fine thing for us lessees, when Royalty ho- room. I knew that my countenance expressed a| nours our houses: but it is just the reverse! The profound sadness; and I exerted every effort to | last time I received not a single farthing from the ‘assume a collected look for a cheerful one was! Royal hands! You may be incredulous, Mr. Nor- impossible! Fortunately it was a dark December | man; but upon my honour it is a fact. However, day: it was now verging towards three o’clock in| we wust submit to these inflictions,” added the the afternoon ; and the manager’s room was half: lessee, with a sigh of resignation; “and there’s involved in obscurity. Thus, whatsoever my looks | an end of it.—Did you wish to speak to me, Miss would have otherwise betrayed, was not noticed as | Trafford ?” he amiably asked. Tentered. I had not chosen to send and fetch| ‘No,’ I answered. “Being in the neighbour- Mr. and Mrs. Norman from that room, for fear | bood’—and I hesitated what excuse to make—“ I they should at on:e have suspected there was| thought I would avail myself of Mr. Norman’s something wrong on account of so unusual a pro- | carriage to return home ® ——_—$ $$ oe TT ES ng : CONnNEDOOKS Com