Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 276: what you’re looking at

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

a i ttt ty ape nanan a — \ ELLEN PERCY; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF AN ACTRESS, 263 — —— —--+-=— my attire, at the conclusion of Shakspere’s tragedy, | had desired the domestic to intimate that it wag when Juliet entered my dressing-room ready ap- parelled for the ballet; and methought she had never looked so handsome. She likewise seemed to anticipate a triumph; for there was a radiance in her large deep blue eyes which shed its beams over that countenance which possessed so fine an aquiline profile. She seemed to have a nobler carriage than ever of the long arching neck; and her form had recently taken a richer development than it was even wont to have—Hebe-like as her shape always was. Yet the waist preserved its wasp-like thinness; and notwithstanding a luxu- riance of contours in some respects, her tall figure displayed all that sylphid lightness which was fitted for the dance. Her dark hair was arranged in massive bands, and gathered in a Grecian knot at the back of the well-shaped head. Her rich full lips, parting with the smile of anticipated triumph, revealed the superb teeth : and altogether it struck me that Juliet Norman had never ap- peared so strikingly handsome. Shortly after her entrance into my dressing- room, Melissa Harrison came thither also; and she likewise appeared more than usually attrac- tive. I have already said that she was a hand- some young woman, with a very fine figure: she was wont to be somewhat sickly-looking —but for a considerable time past her health was greatly improved: indeed I may say it was completely restored; and she had a natural colour upon the cheeks which only rendered it necessary to shed thereon the slightest hue of an artificial rose. With two such “stars” to lead the ballet, Mr. Richards had every reason to be proud as a manager, and to congratulate bimself on the cer- tainty of reaping a golden harvest. When Juliet appeared upon the stage, she was welcomed with a perfect furore of applause; and she certainly acquitted herself in a@ manner which transcended all her former efforts. The triumph she had ex- pected to accomplish was thoroughly achieved ; and after the curtain had fallen, she was loudly called for—and on being led forward, was enthu- siasticaily applauded. The third day since my interview with Zarah arrived; and as yet I had not received from her the promised letter to announce the address of her new lodgings and to make an appointment for me to call upon her, I waited at home until past three o’clock in the afternoon, expecting the ar- rival of her communication by every post: but etill it came not. I thought that she had perhaps written and that her letter might possibly have miscarried: I accordingly proceeded to her lodg- ings in the neighbourhood of the London Uni. versity: but I there learnt that she had removed the day previously, and the landlady of the house knew not whither she had gone. [I returned to Hiunter Street: the dinner-hour passed away— and still no letter arrived from Zarah. It was not one of my evenings for appearing at the theatre; and I therefore remained at home, in anxious expectation of receiving the promised note. The Normans eet off at their usual hour for their professional engagements; and it was about eight o’clock when I heard a cab stop oppo- site the house. One of the servants came up to inform me that a lady desired to speak to me at once; and that I might know who she was, she Sh i EEE the person from whom I was expecting a letter. I instantaneously conceived that as Zarah did not come up-stairs, she wished me to accompany her. I therefore hastened to my chamber, put on my bonnet and shawl, and sped down to the cab. “Can you come with me for an hour?” shoe hastily asked: and I perceived that her voice was tremulous with some deep emotion. Yes,” I answered, at once entering the vehicle. “Back to the house where you took me up!” said Zarah to the driver; “and go quick! You shall be well paid!—My dear Miss Percy,” she continued, addressing herself to me as the cab rolled rapildy along, “you must have been sur- prised at not hearing from me according to pros mise P” “ Both surprised and uneasy,” I answered: “for I have been to your former lodgings in search of you.” “And you received no tidings of me there,” said Zarah. “ No—for there isa certain mystery in all my proceedings; and I choose not to gratify the curiosity of landladies or domestics by afford. ing them a clue to my movements in a new place after I have quitted an old one. In respect to the delay in writing te you, it has been occasioned by my inability to find a particular person until with- in the hour that is now passing ; and this difficulty I had not foreseen when I gave you that promise. The person to whom [ am alluding, will be at my lodgings at half-past eight o’clock: we shall have time to reach them before he arrives—or at least I hope so; and then, as in the case of myself and Luigi, you shall become an unseen witness of the interview which takes place between us.” And who is this person, Zarah?” I inquired, more than ever wondering at the mystery that she maintained, and marvelling to what object all these proceedings could possibly tend. “My dear Miss Percy,” she said, without exactly answering the question, “ you are about to learn the principal secret of my life. That secret has placed me in @ position which now compels me to regard the result of the expected interview as the decision of my fate. If it be for weal—ac. cording as I measure the standard of my own hap- piness—you may perhaps think fit to congratulate me: but if it be for woe, I am confident that you will afford me your sympathy.” “In those alternatives, my conduct either way will prove as you have anticipated. But tell me, Zarah,” I said, “who is this person that you are about to meet and whom you have experienced such difficulty in finding ?” “You are courageous, Miss Perey,’ she an- swered; “and I believe—I hope—you know me well enough to be confident that I would sooner sacrifice my life to render you a service than accept the most brilliant rewards to do you an in- ? ee iD - C8 ies ee. oe eee Ott jury. Yes, I will tell you who the person is that | [ am about to meet. It is not fair that you should be taken by surprise, or that you should even proceed any further without knowing in whose vicinage you will remain as an unseen wits ness. It is Captain St. Clair.” I could hardly repress an ejaculation of mingled astonishment and annoyance at this announce- ment: but the next moment it struck me that Zarah must have some very strovg motives for CEOMNMUCE — ee eee er et ee ee Ce ee eee eee er ee ee oe dOO)|;< Eom