Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 28: what you’re looking at

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ELLEN PERCY; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF AN ACTRESS. rays of one streaming into the vehicle, showed the policeman the effect which his words had produced upon me. He was exceedingly civil, and humanely inquired whether he could possibly do anything for me. The questions which he thus put aroused me to a sense of the necessity of immediate action. My first thought was to return with the least pos- sible delay to Sheffield: but then the idea struck me that although I had been so cruelly deceived in this first endeayour to procure a situation, my next might be more successful, and that there must be plenty of really honest and good families who required a governess. My resolve was there- fore taken; and having hastily explained to the constable how I had come up from Sheffield for the purpose of taking this situation, I begged him to direct me toa hotel or some respectable lodg- ing where I might find temporary quarters. At the very moment the policeman was reflect- ing with his finger upon his lip, he had to stand aside to make way for two ladies who were passing. One was an elderly dame—the other was young ; and both were very handsomely dressed. The light of the lamp streamed full upon the counte- nance of the younger lady: a cry of joy burst from my lips—and I called her by name. It was my former schoolfellow Juliet Norman. The ladies at once stopped: Juliet came up to the coach window—she recognised me—and in a few hasty words I explained the villany of the fraud to which I had been made a victim, and the con- sequent embarrassment in which I found myself, without a friend in London. “No, not without a friend, my dear Ellen!” quickly responded Juliet, again pressing my hand with affectionate warmth. “This is my mother :” and then she spoke aside for a few instants to Mrs. Norman. This lady in her turn addressed me in the kindest manner, and begged me to make her house my home. It was situated close by, only half-a- dozen doors off; and thither the hackney-coach proceeded—Mrs. Norman herself insisting upon rewarding the policeman when I mentioned the civility with which he had treated me, I soon found myself in a comfortable well- furnished drawing-room, seated by the side of a cheerful fire, in the company of Juliet and her parents. Mr, and Mrs. Norman were about of the same age—namely, fifty, The lady possessed the remains of great beauty: indeed she might still be considered a handsome woman. She how- ever had no small quantity of rouge upon her cheeks ; and she was dressed in a youthful style of mingled finery and coquetry. Mr. Norman was likewise inclined to corpulence: his grey hair was very thick, and must have been luxuriant at a more youthful period; but he wore neither whiskers nor beard. He was very fashionably dressed, and dis- played a profusion of jewellery. As for my old friend Juliet,—she looked most superbly handsome; ard she was not only apparelled with richness, but likewise in a manner calculated to display her charms to the utmost advantage. She was now nearly nineteen years of age: she was tall and admirably formed. Her hair was dark, though not of such raven blackness as my own; and her eyes were of a blue as deep as that of the violet. 1 used the proper expression when I termed her handsome rather than beautiful; for her features, 16 though perfectly regular, were somewhat largely chiselled. She had a fine aquiline profile—rich full lips—and a chin which being slightly prominent, and rounded so as to complete the oval of her coun. tenance, gave to that countenance a somewhat voluptuous expression. She possessed a splendid set of teeth: her neck was long and arching—her bust had the development of a Hebe, with an ad- mirable slope of the shoulders: but her waist was of a wasp-like thinness, and her figure had all the lightness of a sylph, with its tall graceful stature and with its sweeping length of limb. I had known her at school as giddy, gay, and volatile, but with nothing mischievous in her disposition, and ever obliging and good-natured: I had not now been half-an-hour in her society before I discovered that these characteristics of my friend Juliet had continued unchanged—while they had acquired the addition of a certain little coquetry, as if she knew that she was handsome and courted admiration. The tale of the villanous trick which I had been played, was narrated over again to Mr. Norman; and he expressed his sympathy in the kindest terms. He bade me make his house my home as long as ever I thought fit; and Mrs. Norman lite- rally overwhelmed me with her caresses and her attentions. At half-past six o’clock we descended to the dining-room, where an elegant repast was served up; and a variety of wines appeared upon the board. Icould not help observing that Mr. and Mrs. Norman drank a great deal of champagne, and that even Juliet herself partook of three or four glasses without the slightest pressing, and with the air of one who was merely following an ordinary custom. A footman and page, both in elegant liveries, waited at table ; indeed the handsome styl: in which the house was furnished, and the way in which the Normans lived, indicated that they were very well off. At about ten o’clock Juliet considerately observed to me that she felt convinced I must be very much fatigued after travelling all the way from Sheffield ; and she offered to conduct me to my chamber. I thankfully accepted the proposal: and she led me to an exquisitely furnished apartment, with a dress- ing-room adjoining. There she left me, with an intimation that I must not think of getting up in the morning until I felt quite disposed, as they were very late people. I slept soundly enough that night, for I was in- deed very mueh fatigued: but I awoke at my usual hour in the morning—namely, at about seven o’clock. The house was perfectly silent: there did dot even appear to be a servant moving about. I therefore lay another hour; and then I got up. 4 was just finishing my toilet, when Juliet, with no- thing on but a morning wrapper, and her naked feet thrust into slippers—her beautiful hair floating in luxuriant negligence over her half-naked shoulders—came gliding into the room. She was surprised to find that I was not only up, but so nearly dressed: and flinging herself with an air of languor into a large easy chair, she said, ‘‘ I should have lain in bed for at least another hour: but I came to assure myself that you had everything you required. Dear me! you are dressing without a fire—and it is bitterly cold! No hot water either! My dear Ellen, why did you not ring the bell for one of the maids?” I assured Miss Norman that I-did not find the CORNIECLOO <S Com