Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 29: what you’re looking at

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16 ELLEN PERCY; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF AN ACTRESS. chamber so cold as she represented it, and that I ; how they are earned. Ina word, my dear Ellen,” had not needed anything at the hands-of the ser- |—and now she grew serious once more—“my vants. father is an actor, my mother an actress, and I am “Well, now that you are dressed,” she ex- | a ballet-dancer.” claimed, starting up from her chair and performing | For a few moments I was so surprised by theso what appeared to me a sort of pirouette, “come | announcements as to be rendered perfectly speech- to my room and let us chat while I drag myself | less; and I have no doubt that I surveyed Juliet through the details of my own toilet. Breakfast | in a manner which naturally led to the inference will not be ready for the next hour—and besides, | that her next observations implied. we have plenty of things to talk about.” ) “T hope, my dear Ellen,” she said, “ you do not I accompanied Miss Norman to her chamber, | think the worse of us on this account? I remem- which was fitted up in the most elegant and luxu- | ber that when at school the girls used sometimes to rious manner. The draperies of the windows and taunt me with the fact that my father was what of tue French bedstead were crimson, with a rich | they used to call a play-actor and my mother a yellow border: a cheerful fire was blazing in the | play-actress: but I likewise recollect that you grate; and near it a sofa was placed in the best | never displayed any curiosity to know what their position for any one sitting or reclining upon it to | allusions meant. I was then ashamed of my receive the full benefit of the heat thrown out. parents’ profession—I do not know why—unless it A superb looking-glass surmounted a mantel were because the girls themselves seemed to think covered with costly ornaments and nick-nacks. it was something to be derided. But now I am The toilet-table was arranged with an elegance | not ashamed of it. And you, my dear Ellen ‘ amounting to the most refined fastidiousness; and “Qh! never, never,’ I exclaimed, with the near it was a full-length mirror or psyche. A half- | gushing enthusiasm of my grateful heart, “can I opened door afforded a glimpse of a bath-room | be ashamed of those good friends whom heaven | furnished with every luxurious appliance for such | sent me in the moment of my need, and who are a place. The feet trod upon acarpet of uncommon treating me with such kindness!” thickness: the atmosphere of the chamber was | Thus speaking, I threw my arms about Juliet’s warm and perfumed; and it altogether seemed | neck, and embraced her affectionately. adapted for a lady of rank and quality. | “T] know very well,’ continued Miss Norman, “In order that we may converse without re- “that it is the fashion to run down actors, actresses, straint,” said Juliet, seating herself at the toilet- | and ballet-dancers, in respect to their private cha- table, “I will dispense with the attendance of my | racters; and I likewise know, alas! that there are maid; and I can assure you, dear Ellen,” she | too many on the stage whose conduct has been added, with one of her merry laughs, “it is a great only too well calculated to give rise to this sweep- sacrifice I am making on your account.” ing reflection upon the whole of us. But in all “Then wherefore do it?” I asked. ‘“ We have professions there are the respectable as well as the “nothing of such very great importance to say to | disreputable; and I flatter myself, dear Ellen, that each other for the present unless indeed you | the name of Norman has been honourably borne mean to advise me how I ought to act in the cir- | by my parents, and will not be disgraced by their | cumstances in which I am placed; ana that would daughter.” | be most kind of you.” Juliet spoke these words with a slight flush | “T think, my dear Ellen,” proceeded Juliet, now upon the cheeks, and yet with a calm dignity | beginning to comb out the rich masses of her hair, | which rendered her language alike impressive and “that you have some little secret to learn: for it | touching. There was nothing giddy nor volatile strikes me, from two or three things you said last | about her at that moment: her speech and her evening, that you are really unacquainted with the demeanour indicated that if she had her gay and profession, avocation, employment—or whatever | thoughtless intervals, she could likewise have her you may choose to call it—which my parents and | serious and thoughtful ones. I felt at the instant I pursue.” more irresistibly attracted towards her than ever: “T should conceive Mr. Norman to be a gentle- _—I was inspired with the same love, and pride, man of independent property,” I observed: and | and confidence on her behalf as if she were a very then I recollected how, when at school, Juliet had | dear sister. so seldom alluded to her parents, and how when “You see,” she continued, “as my parents be- she happened to provoke any other girl, some | long to the theatrical profession, they could do no- mysteriously significant taunt was thrown out in| thing else with me; for these avocations are in reterence to her parentage. nine cases out of ten hereditary. They educated “Independent means indeed!” cried Juliet, with | me well, as you know———or rather they gave me a laugh: but almost immediately becoming serious, the opportunities for a good education, although I she added, “I do not really think that my father | am afraid I did not benefit by them so much as I is independent of the world to the amount of fifty | ought to have done. But if I had turned out the guineas. But he has an excellent salary—my | cleverest girl in existence, what else could they mother likewise—and I also am very well paid.” | have done with me except making me an actress At this moment Juliet, shaking back her glossy | or a dancer? For who would receive into his tresses over her superb shoulders of milky white- | family as a governess the daughter of an actor and ness, happened to look round towards the place an actress? And then, too, my parents naturally where I was seated; and she perceived that I was| have their pride; and they could not think of surveying her with astonishment. putting me into a shop to make a tradeswoman of “ Ah!” she exclaimed, burstiag out into another| me. Thus you see, my dear Ellen, persons in our gay light laugh; “I forgot that I was talking too! profession are under the influence of circumstances fast, and speaking of salaries without telling you’ which rule them imperiously.—However,” added EE | oy OS a eee a CoOnniclboOoksS. Com