Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 209: what you’re looking at

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

_ Ways. 196 Twice have you preserved my honour, and perhaps my life—first at the cottage in Warwick- shire, and then at the old farm-house. For these reasons alone do I feel myself bound to testify my gratitude according to the modes which you your- self may dictate. But you have done more: for the suggestion you gave me in that note which you tossed into the window of the post-chaise as I was returning from Embledon, enabled me most effectually to baffle St. Clair in a project that would have stamped my unhappiness for the remainder of my life !” The reader cannot fail to understand that I al- luded to that scene in St. James’s Park when my father was rescued from the power of Edwin St. Clair. “Therefore,” I continued, “my deepest grati- tude is your due for the manifold services which you have rendered me; and believe me, Zarah, I am incapable of proving ungrateful. But you said just now that you were bound to follow your grand- mother whithersoever she goes?” “‘'Yes—it has been so,” replied the gipsy; “ but it need not be so henceforth. I will explain my- self. My grandmother is subject to fits of a most dangerous and distressing character—which seize upon her suddenly, striking her down as if by a lightning-flash, and making her writhe in horrible convulsions. For this reason has it been necessary that I should ever remain near her; and she has not dared travel without me. But now there is another girl of our tribe whom she has taken to be her attendant, her companion, and her nurse ; and I am freed from the hideous restraint in which that duty kept me. I will tell you frankly, Miss Percy—my soul is sick of the schemes and intrigues to which that old woman lends herself. Imagine not that Iam paying you an idle compliment or administering a fulsome flattery, when I declare that your example produced its impression upon me. I heard you spoken of as the personification of virtue as well as of beauty and of talent; and a person must be lost and depraved indeed who could be brought in contact with so estimable a being as you are, without experiencing a salutary influence. During the last few weeks I have re- flected solemnly and profoundly upon many things; and I have at length resolved to take a particular step, to the furtherance of which I crave your assistance.” I listened with considerable interest to this speech of the gipsy Zarah: indeed I was to a cer- tain extent touched by it ; and I said, “ You may calculate upon my succour for any good object which you have in view.” ‘ Before I proceed,” said the gipsy, as a recol- lection appeared to strike her, “ suffer me to make a single observation in reference to a topic which you yourself ere now spoke of as a painful one. My grandmother has not been altogether so guilty in her complicity with certain persons as you may suppose, and indeed as you have reason to ima- 4 ’ J a ee gine. Let me illustrate my meaning by an ex- ample taken at random. Suppose that I enter an apothecary’s shop and inquire for a drug that will throw a person into a deep sleep; the apothecary sells me this arug; but I use it in a quantity ard in a manner which produces the eternal sleep of death. Could you in such a case tax that apothe- cary with direct complicity in the extreme crime mm ar en rn ee | _—e__.a eee eee i T ELLEN PERCY; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF AN ACTRESS, that had been committed ? You understand me, Miss Percy? And now not another syllable upon that point !” “ No, not another syllable!” I said, shuddering at the unmistakable corroboration which Zarah’s words had just furnished of the dark suspicions I had previously entertained in respect to Edwin St. Clair and Lady Lilla Essendine. “ But I am glad you have told me all these things; for can- didly do I confess that my feeling has become warmer and less alloyed towards yourself. And now proceed, Zarah—tell me what project you have formed, and in which way I can assist you?” ““T have separated from my grandmother,” re- sumed the gipsy ; “and I have taken apartments in the metropolis, I possess ample means—I ask you not therefore for pecuniary succour os “* And if you were to ask it,” I emphatically in- terjected, “it would be most readily afforded to the extent of my ability.” “T know it, Miss Percy,” replied Zarah ; “ but it is not assistance of that kind which I require. Listen! “You may perhaps be surprised—you may perhaps regard my statement as ludicrous, when I inform you that I am determined to instruct my mind—to educate myself—yes, even to the acquir- ing of accomplishments, But I am ignorant how to effect this aim, Why should I hesitate to con- fess that I seek to render myself a lady in man- ners, in bearing, andin tastes? It is my ambition to study all refining influences—to gain that gloss, that polish, which may in a measure mitigate, if not altogether conceal, the rudeness, the coarse- ness, the uncouthness which have been necessarily associated with my wandering and restless mode of life. Ina word, Miss Percy, I seek your assist- ance in indicating the literature which I ought to study—in recommending me masters who will in- struct me—and in devoting an occasional hour to conversation with the humble gipsy, so that from your own exquisite refinement I may catch some beams of that civilization into the sphere of which I am so anxious to enter.” It was with mingled wonder and interest that I listened to this strange speech; and I could not help admiring the lofty purpose that the gipsy had in view. I therefore readily promised to afford the assistance which she required ; and [ at once drew up a list of works which I considered would be best adapted for her perusal and study. In respect to masters, I gave her the requisite suggestions for obtaining the assistance of such preceptors in the neighbourhood where she was residing; and I assured her that I would from time to time call upon her, to watch the progress of her studies, and afford her such further hints as might be re- quisite for the accomplishment of her design. ‘‘ Before we part,” said Zarah, who had thanked me cordially for the readiness with which I seconded her views, “let me speak another word in reference to St. Clair. I should be wrong to throw you off your guard by expressing the opi- nion that, after so many failures, it is scarcely probable he will again enter upon plots or in- trigues to make you his victim: but all that I can do is to recommend an exceeding caution—and I would especially bid you beware of Lady Lilla Essendine.”’ ‘Rest assured, Zarah,” I answered, “that I shall continue more than ever on my guard,” (EMMIS <S) €om 6)(6\(6)