Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 191: what you’re looking at

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ee ELLEN PERCY; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF AN ACTRESS, 178 which her own lips had feared to confess. Mr and Mrs. Norman were most thankful for the’ course which circumstances were thus taking; and they penned letters in this sense to Mrs. Old- castle. I must now speak of Frances Howard. This lady paid me a second visit at the theatre, and repeated in fervent words the gratitude she had previously conveyed through the medium of a note. She was evidently unsuspicious of the circum. stance that her interview with that tall, dark- complexioned man had been witnessed by me; and I of course said nothing on the subject, although I still wondered what mysterious circumstances could possibly surround this interesting new ac- quaintance of mine. I bade her come to me daily and I would cheerfully give her lessons in the dramatic art ; for Mr. Richards had intimated to her the necessity of practising a little before she made her debut. She availed herself of my ser- vices; and I had much pleasure in rendering them ; for I found that she was amiable and gentle, accomplished and intelligent, polished in her manners, and one who in every sense capti- vated the heart of friendship. I have before spoken of the beauty of her person :—all her movements were full of elegance and grace; and I felt convinced that the sylphid form which I be- held before me during the hours of practice, had often glided through the maze of the dance in the brilliantly lighted drawing-room. Thus, during the week that I gave some requisite instructions to Frances Howard, I became more and more in- terested in her ; and from my mind was banished every suspicion that could in any way make me hesitate to bestow the fullest amount of my friend- ship upon her. CHAPTER XXXIIL FRANCES HOWARD. I SHOULD observe that every evening throughout the week of which I have just been speaking, Frances Howard attended the theatre, that she might study all the peculiarities of the stage pre- vious to making her debut. My influence with Mr, Richards procured her every species of atten- tion ; so that she had the lessee’s own private box at her disposal when she thought fit to retire to it —or she might go behind the scenes at her plea- sure. The time was fixed for her debut; and I am now about to speak of the evening previous to the one on which it was arranged for her toappear. I remember that on this particular evening I ex- perienced a reception more enthusiastic, if pos- sible, than any I had previously known, flattering as they all had been. Bouquets showered down upon me in profusion; and the entire audience rose to receive the salutations through the me- dium of which I conveyed my acknowledgments. Having changed my apparel in the dressing-room, I proceeded to join Frances Howard, who was in the private box; for I was desirous to bid her be early with me on the morrow, that I might devote an extra hour to the part which she had to study. On repairing to that box, I found her en- tirely alone, as usual—with the curtains drawn in such a manner as to shut her out from the view of the audience, but affording her vision the complete range of the stage. There was a glow upon the cheeks that were ordinarily so pale; and there was an unusual lustre in her deep grey eyes. She at once rose, grasped me by the hand, and said ina voice where fervour and pathos were blended “I congratulate you, dear Miss Trafford, on the bril- liant triumph of this night!” It was on my account that her enthusiasm was excited: I looked upon her conduct as another proof of the gratefulness of her disposition ; and I replied, “Let me hope that similar triumphs are in store for you.” She heaved a profound sigh: the colour forsook her cheeks; and she murmured something which struck me to be in the Italian language. I had learnt a little of that tongue when at school in the neighbourhood of Chelsea ; and I had thus obtained & smattering of it; but I could not comprehend the words that had just murmuringly fallen from Frances Howard’s lips. “You were speaking in Italian?” I said, ina gentle voice. “Ah! was IP” she ejaculated, with a sudden start, as if those words had been spoken inyolun- tarily, and as if she were now surprised that she should have been betrayed into the utterance of them: then quickly recovering her self-possession, she added, “ Yes—I am acquainted with the Italian language. Are you, Miss Trafford ?” “Very slightly,” I responded; “and I did not catch what you were saying.” Miss Howard flung upon me a glance as if to thank me for an assurance that had given her some relief; and she said, “ Oh, how happy you ought to be, Miss Trafford, at the brilliancy of these triumphs which you achieve upon the stage ! To behold that crowded audience rise to greet you with so much fervid enthusiasm !—a Queen could not receive a higher compliment !” I smiled, and said, “‘ Again let me express the hope, my dear Miss Howard, that similar triumphs are in store for you.” “This is generous—most generous on your part!” replied the young lady: “ because Pe and she stopped short. “‘ Because,” I rejoined, again smiling, “ you are about to adopt the same line of characters as those which I have made my especial study ; and you wonder that I should be free from the infection of that jealousy and dread of rivalry which prevail, I am sorry to say, to such an extent amongst the votaries of the stage. Between you and me, my dear Miss Howard, it will prove a generous rivalry; and you can believe me when I proclaim the delight which I should experience in beholding you as successful as myself. You will havea crowded house to-morrow night: Mr. Richardsjust now assured me that such will be the case.—But there is only one thing I am afraid of = “And what is that?” asked Miss Howard eagerly and anxiously, my words having evidently smitten her with a sudden apprehension. “Do not misunderstand me!” I hastened to ob- serve. “That you possess talent—genius—I have assured you more than once. But you are timid —and you must collect all your fortitude for the moment when you will stand in the presence of CONMIGO KS Com