Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 281: what you’re looking at

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

—_—_— + 2U8 conjectured. I would sooner return to the tat- | tered garments of a gipsy than wear this raiment for meretricious objects. If I have been frail, it was with you alone! As there is a heaven above us I have at least proved faithful to that weakness which I demonstrated towards you! view P” « After all you have just said,” replied St. Clair, again with a tincture of superciliousness in his accents, “the only conjecture left for me is that you seek to obtain a position by means of mar- riage. In this respect I may perhaps also be enabled to assist you somewhat f “That is the very purpose,” interrupted Zarab, “for which I requested you to call upon me this evening! Yes—itis you, and you only, who can forward my views!”’ “Perhaps,” said St. Clair, “ you have already some one in your eye as your future husband. And yet I am at a loss to understand re “‘‘Yes—I have some one in my eye, as you ex- press it,” rejoined Zarah. “ And therefore,” continued St. Clair, “as I doubtless know him, you think that : “No one knows him better than yourself!” in- terjected Zarah. “Ah, by heaven! you are a long time coming to the point,” ejaculated St. Clair: “and were it not too supremely ridiculous, I should positively fancy-—— But no!” and he laughed aloud. “The suspicion which has entered into your mind,” said Zarah, quietly yet firmly, “is the cor- rect one. It is you, Captain St. Clair, who will give me the position which I crave and for which I have been preparing myself!” “ Zarah, you are mad!” ejaculated St. Clair, starting up suddenly from his seat, “T am not mad: I never was more completely possessed of my reason thgn at this moment. I hope, Captain St. Clair, that we shall have no scene of violence ay * Violence?—it is ridiculous!” exclaimed St. Clair. “You cannot be serious, Zarah—you are only putting me to some test which I cannot pre- cisely understand. If you want money wherewith to carry on your new game, you shall have it I will be liberal to you. But 4 ‘‘—In a pecuniary sense I will be indebted to ELLEN PERCY; OR, THE Now do you | begin to comprehend the aim which I had in MEMOIRS OF AN ACTRESS. you had children, you would not hesitate to expend hundreds of pounds on the education of any one of them. I therefore considered that you ought not to begrudge a certain sum to qualify me for becoming your wife.” “As for the money which I gave you, I care nothing about if,” replied Edwin St. Clair; “ and if at the time you had demanded twice as much, it would have been your’s. But whether I am disposed to gratify this insane idea which you have formed, is altogether another thing.” “You will gratify it, Edwin!” said Zarah calmly: and this was the first time during the present in- terview that she had addressed him by his Chris- tian name. * By heaven, I will perish sooner!” he vehe- mently exclaimed. “ Now understand me well, Edwin!” resumed Zarah. “I have loved you devotedly—LI still love you, notwithstanding that I know what you are. But beware how you convert all this love into hatred !” “ What! you dare threaten me?” cried St. Clair. “It is for me to bid you be cautious—or I will trample you under foot as I woulda worm !” “You can do me but little injury,” rejoined Zarah. “Though certain things have come to my knowledge, yet I myself was not an accomplice in them re * And you would turn round upon me ?” ex- claimed St. Clair. “Is this your boasted love ?— is this your affection P” “ ‘You know the human heart too well, Edwin,” answered Zarah, “ not to be fully aware that in all its strongest feelings and passions extremes meet. The most fervid love may turn into the most violent hatred ; and the woman who at one moment is ready to sacrifice her life for the object of her affection, may the next instant be goaded by her revenge to seek the life of him towards whom her love has changed into aversion!” “You are teaching how we stand with regard to each other,’ responded St. Clair, in the low concentrated tone of bitterest rage. ‘“‘ But what if I were to defy you, Zarah P—what if I were to bid you do your worst P” ** As there is a heaven above us,” she answered, with a certain solemnity, and with a deep impres- ou no longer!” interrupted Zarah resolutely. | siveness of voice, “I would do it!” y g p y ‘When I asked you to give me a considerable “And send your grandmother to the scaffold,” sum of money some six or seven months back, it | rejoined St. Clair, “ along with others whom your was my intention to qualify myself to become | infatuated madness and cruel vindictiveness would your wife an | thus involve in a common ruin!” “My wife!” cried St. Clair sD ay oped He spoke these words in a low hollow voice— * You are raving, Zarah !” so low indeed that I could only just catch the tone full of calm confidence. ‘‘ Yes—it was to qualify myself to become your wife! Ignorant and ill-mannered as I was—utterly unacquainted with all but the scantiest rudiments of education —a stranger to the amenities and courtesies of. “IT beseech you to listen to me,” she said, in a | words themselves; and though I dared not peep forth at this juncture, yet I could easily picture to myself that his countenance was ghastly pale and that his whole form trembled visibly. “There is not the slightest doubt relative to my present intentions,” said Zarah. life—I dared not do yeu so great an injury as to| a desperate person who has cast her whole fate insist that you should conduct me to the altar. Therefore I resolved to wait awhile, and labour most assiduously to round off the asperities which low birth and defective education had left upon my character, my demeanour, and bearing. For this purpose I had no scruple in having recourse to your purse. Were you already married, and if | upon the hazard of a die. You shall espouse me —and I will make you a loving wife: or you shall reject me—and even within the hour that is pass- ing will I be signally avenged. To you, Edwin, wus my first and only love given. You found me a wild gipsy hoyden of the woods: you avowed that you loved me—you taught me to know what *T am like CONnNIEDOOKS | | — nel SLL LOL ra re ‘ matey .2 Mr Pre rt oo erm- aa com