Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 167: what you’re looking at

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

ee : . ——— an at 154 ELLEN PEROY; oe Soe ae THE For this purpose I took off the mask for a moment ; and fortunate it was in one respect that I did so— for otherwise the string would have assuredly given way, and this might have been the case in the presence of those who would have recognised und exposed me. But unfortunate was the pro- ceeding in another sense: for scarcely had I re- fastened the string, when a masked countenance peered round into mine, and a well-known voice screeched forth, “ Gracious goodness! the actress ! If poor dear Lord Mangold were alive And here she stopped short. I was indeed the Countess of Mangold who had thus stolen upon me unawares. Lady Cecilia must have left the door ajar; and as my back was towards it, I perceived not the stealthy entrance of the old harridan. She no doubt, observing an unmasked lady there, had thought it a very fine thing to surprise me whoever I might be; and thus had she peeped round into my face. I may observe that she herself was dressed as a Swiss Shepherdess—one of the most “uvenile costumes she could possibly have chosen— with a straw hat perched airily upon a wig which descended into myriads of clustering ringlets—with the bodice laced up—and with short petticoats. Even though the vizard concealed her wrinkled face, it was by no means difficult to discern the old woman beneath the costume of a youthful maiden. ‘The instant she stopped short I adressed her. “Yes, Lady Mangold,” I said, calmly and col- lectedly, “it is [——and I am not ignorant of the malignant spite you cherish against me. But you dare not breathe a syllable of this discovery— no, not even to your niece the Duchess of Ardleigh. For if you do, I also can tell a tale!—and there is a certain shopkeeper who, with a policeman at his heels, may call upon you to demand the resto- ration of the three pieces of lace !” “Oh, heavens! what does the girl mean P” e claimed Lady Mangold, throwing herself dot 4 a chair and using her kerchief asa fan. “I’m sure I don’t want to say anything to wrong you: but if poor dear Lord Mangold were alive i i waited to hear no more: but having re- adjusted my mask securely upon my countenance, T issued from the room—having not the slightest apprehension in respect to the safety of my secret with old Lady Mangold. As I was about to return into the grand saloon for a moment, to seek the Marquis of Dal- rymple, I caught the sound of a well-known voice just within the threshold ;—and that voice was St. Clair’s. He was. immediately answered by Lady Lilla Essendine ; and I heard what they both said. They were speaking in their natural tones, but in a subdued manner. If the reader can comprehend what I mean, the door was thrown completely back against ‘the wall, and they were standing together close by it. My foot was upon the threshold: but the massive sculptured framework of the door concealed me from them. “‘ But what can be the meaning of such a cos- tume as that?” I heard St. Clair ask. “ The white rose too!—Lilla, you must have intentionally or inadvertently —maliciously or unguardedly———” “T tell you that 1 have not!” interjected her jadyship. “Though we are mortal enemies, Kd- Win “No matter now!” he petuiantly broke ia, SN sh SS EE MEMOIRS OF AN ACTRESS. ——————EEEE imement; | akg past, Lilla, will at least sometimes render it needful that we should converse together. Who can that Gipsy possibly be? I have my suspicion —and yet it is barely possible sd + Try and accost her presently,” said Lady Lilla, “But it cannot be Ellen! What should she be doing here P SBesides, she passed us both without recognition 4 “Tam not so sure of that,” rejoined St. Clair. “Can you swear to me, Lilla, that you never breathed a syllable ‘“‘T have already given you an assurance to that effect. Do you think Iam mad? Implacable as I may be towards you—and ever shall be, villain that you are PY “ Hush! be not foolish!” interrupted St. Ciair. “That girl knows more than we suspect. Twice _|- has she baffled me by words frightfully signifi- cant ¥ “ Enough !” sai id Lady Lilla. “ Your very pre- sence is loathsome to me !” My ears then caught a movement of persons moving away from the vicinage of the door: I held back for a few moments, and was about to enter, when fortunately the Marquis of Dalrymple himself made his appearance. “ Ah!” he said, “ you have gained your object ? I saw you leave the room with Lady Cecilia. What can I now do for you? If you will partake of refreshments, they shall be served up to you— alone—in some apartment 4 “ My lord,” I replied, still adopting a feigned voice, “I am about to take my departure; and I was on the point of seeking your lordship to beg your escort to the vehicle which brought me hither. I ordered it to return punctually at mid- night; and the driver will answer-to the question whether Miss Smith’s carriage is waiting P” The young Marquis immediately gave me his arm, and conducted me down-stairs. We traversed the hall: he made a sign for the servants who were officiously pressing forward, to stand back ; and he himse!f issued forth to order up my equie page. ‘This was the work of but a few moments, for no other vehicle had as yet arrived to convey the guests away. He handed me in—bowed—and at once retreated into the mansion, evidently that he might not seem to linger for the purpose of overhearing any instructions that I could possibly have to give to the coachman. CHAPTER XXIX. LADY MACBETH. TuHus terminated my masquerading adventures at Ardleigh House. I was not aitogether dissatisfied at the result of my interview with Lady Cecilia Urban—though the task had proved a more diffi. cult one than I had anticipated, and though I had little foreseen that my identity would become re- vealed to her. I felt assured that the object would be gained, and that she would take her measures accordingly, without proving faithless to the vow that she had so solemnly pledged. But there was another topic which agitated in my thoughts ; and this was the conversation I had over- heard between Edwin St. Clair and Lady Lilla [email protected]