Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 275: what you’re looking at

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

ee Oe Ae pce RRR EE. Gee rer Of rr rr ee err ee ee tata ne —— a a es = ene ne + i ——EEE = ee ———eeeeEEEE—e eee RILEN PERCY; OR, THE insidious in its operation and yet so sure in its effects! But enough of the fearful subject! I shudder to think of ‘it—and I feel ashamed to con- Verse upon it, because it is a kinswoman of mine who wields that fata: and mysteriously striking weapon !” “Yes—le6 us turn the discourse, Zarab,” I said: for I saw that it gave her infinite pain. “And now tell me about your studies. How do they progress? and is there any service which I Can render youP” “Ab! if is on this topic that I am now de. sirous to tall with you,” exclaimed Zarah, her | countenance brightening up. ‘‘ Have you an hour to spare P” “Two, plied. “Then you shall subject me to a species of examination!” she ejaculated; “for I can assure you it is of importance.” Zarah then handed me a list of the various works which she had read in the departments of history, science, and general literature; and with- Out any pedantic display, but even with a certain degree of bashfulness—though with a most intelli- gent clearness—she proceeded to afford me proofs that she had studied those works to considerable effect. She next sat down to the piano, and gave me several specimens of the progress she had made in the study of music. When this part of the examination was finished, she produced her port- folio and exhibited her drawings. I was perfectly astonished at the skill which these specimens dis- played, considering that six months back she was utterly ignorant of the art itself. Then she showed me some themes and other prose-composi- tions which she had achieved; and I read them with great interest and with increasing wonder. ment. Her handwriting was fluent-and lady-like —the. language was perfectly grammatical—in | most instances it was well chosen: the only fault which hypereriticism could find with it, was that in some parts it was a trifle too florid and high- flown. his defect—if a positive defect it were— I delice itely pointed out to Zarah: she at once Comprehended my meaning—she saw the justice of my strictures; she proceeded to prune down all expletives and mitigate the flourishing redundancy of the pas- sages complained of. if you please, at your service,” I re- surprised at the progress which Zarah had made | concluded. in every branch of her self-imposed studies; and | JULIET NORMAN was now about to return to the and under my supervision | ST Py ~~ MEMOIRS OF AN ACTRESS. are to be; but you shall shortly receive a note from me, indicating my new abode, and making an appointment for you to visit me there.” Which appointment, Zarah, I shall assured keep,” was my response: and I ‘then took leave of her, wondering what could be the mystery of her conduct for the last six months, and deeply curious for the solution thereof. : ings: I have xibt as yet quite decided where they —_——-s=S> CHAPTER XLVI. A STRANGE SCENE. stage. Perhaps if her own inclinations had been consulted to a nicety, she would rather have re- mained in seclusion for a little while longer, until the full sense of her recent bereavement had worn off: but a variety of considerations induced her to seek an engagement at the hands of Mr. Richards with the least possible delay. In the first place she was anxious to avert all suspicion in respect to her retirement of a few months from the metro- polis: and this she thought she could best do by resuming her professional avocation immedi- ately after her return from her aunt’s house. In the second place her parents regularly spent the full amount of their salaries; and therefore what- soever Juliet might be enabled to earn became a useful addition to their means: for, as I have al- ready stated, from my purse they would accept nothing more than the amount which they con- sidered to bo a fair and commensurate remunera- tion for the cost of my residence beneath their roof. In the third place Juliet had her own | proper pride; and she naturally sought to prove to Lord Frederick Ravenscliffe that she was noé | thoroughly heart-broken nor crushed by the in- famous treatment she had experienced at his hands. And finally, Juliet was attached to that profession in which she had already won no incon. | siderable share of renown, and in which she was cer- | tain of being able to obtain a leading position. Mr. Richards was delighted when he received an intimation that Miss Norman was ready to negotiate for an engacement; and he proposed In short, I was perfectly | terms so liberal that a bargain was very shortly Melissa Harrison, who had hitherto been the star of the ballet during the temporary IT could scarcely believe that I beheld before me | cecession of Juliet Norman, was by no means the same person who about ten months back had jealous when she found that our mutual friend flung into the post-chaise, as I was returning | was to resume her former place as the leading from Embledon, that iIl-spelt letter penned in a | genius i in that sphere. Juliet’s reappearance upon bold round masculine hand. the stage was welcome also to the public, who had “You must have laboured very hard, Zarah,” | ever regarded her asa special favourite; for her I observed, “ to have accomplished so much in the | handsome countenance, her fine person, the lady- comparatively brief space of six months; for it is only half a year since you settled yourself i in these lodgings to undertake your self-imposed tasks, But now tell me what is the meaning of all this | mystery. Itis evidently connected with the step which, as you say, you are about to take—an im- portant step too!” “In three days hence, my dear friend,” she responded, “ you shall behold the solution of this mystery. Have patience for that period. It is | my intention to remove to-morrow to other lodg- like grace which characterized her, the refinement and the elegance which she introduced into her practice of the Terpsichorean art—all combined thus to secure the applause of the beholders. T have a vivid recollection of that evening of duliet’s reappearance. I had performed the part 'of Lady Macbeth, and had achieved one of my most glorious triumphs. I was elated and ia higi | Spirits; for there was also in my mind the joyous ‘recollection of the Earl of Carshalton’s promise to procure the pardon of my father. I was changing cConnicloool< ecoim