Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 251: what you’re looking at

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

——— LT ee Yn + ——_ - ee ee ee Ao 258 upon her knees; for she had gathered from the countenance of the medical man that there was —e—_———— rr ELLEN PERCY; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF AN ACTRESS. —_——s descended to the parlour—for I had seen by the Sef in the care of the young woman; and [ | indeed no hope. “Take the young lady away,” said the surgeon, , room, that he wished to speak to me. On enter- turning to the Dake of Ardleigh and speaking in | ing the parlour I found him pacing to and fro in a low whisper: “in a few minutes her mother | an agitated manner; and so absorbed was he in will be no more! No human aid can save her!” | his thoughts, that he did not immediately perceive Notwithstanding that these words were cau- | me. I closed the door; and the sound which it tiously uttered in the lowest possible whisper, they made when shutting attracted his attention. He nevertheless caught the ears of the unfortunate | advanced towards me; and seizing my hand, girl whom they so deeply regarded; and then an shook it warmly,—saying, “ You have acted a anguishing, agonizing scene took place. She generous part towards me, and a kind one to- threw herself upon the unconscious form of her | wards poor Mary.” mother, beseeching that beloved parent to open) I had not forgotten how the Duke of Ardleigh her eyes—to look upon her, if only for an instant had dared some little while back to make —to speak a word, if only a single one—to live me a particular overture, through the medium for the sake of that daughter who so deeply and of Mr. Peaseblossom ; and how that proceeding Duke’s manner, when he came up to the bed- ~ devotedly loved her! The tears were rainivg down my cheeks: the Duke was powerfully | affected: the young maid-servant wept bitterly ; the — surgeon, though doubtless well accustomed to look upon death-bed scenes, was himself much moved. At length there was a wild shriek which came pealing from Mary’s lips—a shriek so piercing that it seemed sufficient to rend the brain of each who heard it, and to rive the very walls asunder. That shriek was uttered at the instant the unfor- tunate girl was smitten with the conviction that all was over and that her parent was no more. Then pressing her hands in wildest frenzy to her brows, she would have fallen back had not I sus- tained her in my arms. She had fainted; and we bore her to another chamber. It was a long time ere she recovered— i and then it was again along time ere she could | believe that it was otherwise than a frightful dream through which she had been passing, But when she could no longer shut out from herself the conviction of the awful truth, she gave way to the frenzied wildness of her grief: she would have flown to the death-chamber, had not the maid- servant and myself restrained her. ©When that paroxysm of the ineffable agony of her mind was passed, the poor girl sank mto the torpor of blank | despair—that condition of mind which is so close | on his part had led to unpleasant consequences with myself, his son, and the Duchess, I therefore could entertain but little respect or friendship for the Duke of Ardleigh: yet this was not an occa- sion to exhibit any hostile feeling towards him, nor even to treat him with unnecessary coldness ; for by the incidents of the evening I had become almost completely convinced that he had the best possible reason for assuring Mary that she should thence. forth find a father in him. ‘ ** And you have not mentioned, Miss Trafford, to poor Mary that you know who I am—that I am other than she thinks me ?” No, my lord,’ I responded. “By a look I gave your Grace to understand at the very outset, that your secret was safe with me. But if my surmise be correct, my lord, there ought no longer to be any mystery pe “ What ! Miss Trafford!” he exclaimed: “ re- veal to Mary the story of her mother’s shame— suffer her to learn that I whom she regards as her uncle, am indeed p> He stopped short ; and I added impressively, “* Her own father !” “ Yes—it is so,” rejoined the Duke : and then he resumed his agitated walk to and fro in the parlour. * Sirs, Glentworth’s illness was very sudden, upon apathy itself that it must have been wisely my lord?” I said. “I met the poor deceased lady intended by heaven as a means to save;the racked only a couple of hours before I was summoned and over-wrought brain from utter madness. - I was determined not to leave Mary Glentworth that night. I penned a hasty note to Mrs. Old- castle, to state what had occurred, and wherefore I absented myself from River House; and I sent the billet by the maid-servant. , The surgeon took his departure: the Duke of Ardleigh came up to the chamber, where I had now remained alone with Mary Gleutworth; and bending over her, as she lay upon the couch, he said with a deeper feeling than I could have thought him capable of, “ My dearest gir], hence- forth you shall find a father in me!” Mary only raised her eyes vacantly towards his countenance; and I motioned his lordship to with- draw—for I saw that her mind was now so utterly exhausted and that her physical strength was likewise so prostrated, it was probable she would sink into sleep—and I hoped that such would be the case. My expectations were fulfilled —my wish was gratified: her eyes gradually closed— and she slumbered. the maid-servant returned: I left Miss Glent- | hither to behold her stretched upon the bed of death.” | “Yes it was very sudden,” answered the Duke, -again stopping short. “ She told me that she met /you—indeed she went out on purpose. We cherished the belief that if you had recognised me yesterday when [I alighted from the coach, your delicacy of feeling and kindness of heart would have prompted you to keep the secret; but still we were not certain—we wished to have our doubts cleared up—and therefore she went forth to seek you. She came back, tranquillized in her mind: we were seated here together, in this very room— and Mary was with us—when all of a sudden the poor creature gave a start, raised her hand to her head, murmured something incoherently, and fell senseless upon the floor. I rushed off to procure medical attendance “Tt was doubtless the bursting of a blood- vessel in some vital part,” I mournfully observed. “ But, my lord, you will soon have to reflect upon the course which you must pursue in respect to your daughter-——”’ 2? CONNIEIOOKS rd com