Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 237: what you’re looking at

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

994 “__ -——™ ee ELLEN PERCY; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF AN ACTRESS. come, my dear,” he said, turning to his wife: “you | “You do not give me any reply,” I at length and I will go out for a walk, so as to leave Ellen ' said. “If you will not explain yourself, Beda, at by herself that she may catechise the girl on her | least show me a reason for doferring that explana- return.” Mr. and Mrs, Norman went out accordingly ; and tion.”’ “No, Miss Percy,” answered Beda, firmly but they had not left the house many minutes, before | respectfully: “I can at present say nothing to my ear caught the sounds of footsteps gliding | afford you the slightest clue to the reading of this rapidly and lightly up the staircase: for I had "mystery. You know that I am incapable of de- purposely left the drawing-room door ajar in order to listen for Beda’s return. I started up from my seat, and appeared before the young gipsy-girl just as she was tripping across the landing. Imme- diately upon perceiving me, she gave vent toa cry of joy: and bounding towards me seized my hand, which she pressed to her lips. There were all the evidences of a most real and unfeigned delight in her conduct and her looks; so that not for an instant could I doubt that my presence was a source of satisfaction to her, and that she did not regard it as an interference with any im- proper pursuits in which she was engaged. t bade her follow me into the drawing-room ; and as I took my seat upon the sofa, I had now leisure to regard her with more attention than at the first instant of our meeting. She was dressed in that same style as when I beheld her for the first time at the door of Zarah’s lodgings in Lon- don. The skirt of her apparel was short, reveal- ing her beautifully shaped ankles; and she held in her hands an old battered straw bonnet. The body of her dress was very low: but a dingy che- misette was modestly buttoned up to the throat. She had an old scanty shawl: her raven hair seemed to have beer purposely dishevelled, as if to complete the negligence of her appearance. In- deed, I saw at once that she had studied to give herself a mean air and also a gipsy-like aspect. “Beda,” I said, in a serious though kind tone, * you can probably conjecture why I am here ?” “ And I wished to see you, Miss,” replied Beda. *‘ Mrs. Norman threatened to write to you concern- ing me; and I was glad. I myself would have written, only that I knew not your address; and I thought that if I asked Mrs, Norman for it, she would imagine it was a mere piece of insolence on my part—a sort of defiance of her menace to make known my proceedings to you.” “‘ And those proceedings, Beda ?” I said, with increased confidence in the young girl: “ no doubt you will be enabled to explain them ?” Beda fixed her large, luminous, unfathomable dark eyes upon my countenance ; and after a few moments’ silence, she said, ‘* At least you, Miss, do not believe that I have been guilty of anything improper P” “Tt is with pleasure I give you the assurance, Beda,” I replied, “ that I entertained the hope that your conduct would admit of the fullest and most satisfactory explanation. “ And now tell me +4 “Miss Percy,” interrupted Beda, “I will tell you nothing at present: but this evening you shall know everything. It is most fortunate you have arrived to-day !” “And wherefore keep me in suspense?” I in- quired: ‘‘ what good can it do to withhold your explanations for several hours P” Beda gave no answer: but first she gazed upon me with those unfathomable eyes of hers: then she slowly bent her looks downward, and seemed absorbed in deep reflection. ceiving you!—you have the fullest confidence in me—and I deserve it. Wait until the evening ; and then, at about nine o’clock, you will see more of the business which I have in hand—and which, as you doubtless already surmise, regards your- self.” I knew not precisely how to act: I did not like this strange mysterious behaviour on Beda’s part ; and yet I saw by the decision with which she spoke that it was useless to press her for any in- formation at present. Iwas aware also that she was a singular creature—belonging to a singular race; and that she might therefore choose to work out her own plans according to her own fashion. — *‘ At nine o’clock, you say, Beda, I shall know more ?” I at length observed. ** At nine o’clock punctually,” she answered, “I will join you in the bed-chamber which is ap- pointed for your use.” She then tripped lightly out of the room; and I sat reflecting upon all that had passed between us, until Mr. and Mrs. Norman returned from their walk. I told them that Beda had deferred explanations until the evening,—at the same time expressing my conviction that the girl was sincere and straightforward, though singular and self. willed, in her mode of proceeding. Mr. and Mrs. Norman were much in the habit of yielding to my opinion and suffering themselves to be influenced by my judgment; so that they now shared in the conviction which I myself entertained. A few minutes before nine o’clock I ascended to my bed-chamber, where I found Beda waiting. She was. dressed in precisely the same manner as when she returned to the house in the afternoon ; and her countenance expressed a settled firmness of decision, as if she had some serious and ims portant object in view. “Be so kind, Miss,” she said, “ to put on your bonnet and scarf—draw down your veil—and come with me.” I hesitated to comply with this request. Was it possible that Beda could be deceiving me, and that she was about to lead me into some snare? Was she indeed a secret enemy, wearing the mask of friendship P—was she the instrument of the foes whom I had to dread—St. Clair and Lady Lilla Essendine? I looked her full in the face: I perceived a transient flushing—but very slight— upon that beautiful countenance; and she said, “ You mistrust me, Miss Percy! I see what is passing in your mind. Were I thus wrongly judged by any other person in the world, I would at once abandon the project which I have in view yes, with indignation would I abandon it, and I would leave that person to her fate !” “Beda,” I said, “you really cannot be asto- nished if for a moment I hesitated to abandon myself to a mystery which is so dark and there- fore suspicious. But I will go with you. If you save me from any imminent peril, there are no words too kind*to flow from my lips in the EOMEGE cS 0)(6\(0)