Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 298: what you’re looking at

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

———— — ELLEN PERCY; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF AN ACTRESS. ————- “extraordinary marriage,” it began to seem less extraordinary than at the outset: it appeared to be a step perfectly consistent with the haughty, scornful, independent, and somewhat cynical cha- racter of Edwin St. Clair. To this effect tended the observations which in ‘the course of a day or two I heard pass upon the matter. “ Well,” said Mr. Norman, at the breakfast- table, when he had read the well dished-up paras graph to which I have alluded, “I always thought St. Clair was no ordinary person. He used to speak in a language that seemed entirely his own: one never felt altogether at one’s ease in his pre- sence: you never knew whether there might not be sarcasm in his jests, or irony when he might appear to be giving utterance to the most serious truths.” “ And for that very reason,” said Mrs. Nor. man, “ I always felt, if not exactly uncomfortable in Captain St. Clair’s presence, at least as if I were in the company of a superior who made one feel his superiority without absolutely proclaiming it.” **He asserted it tacitly, as it were,” resumed Mr. Norman. “ Upon my mind he always pro- duced the effect as if he were looking down with scorn and contempt, not merely upon those with whom he found himself at the time, but upon the whole world.” When we repaired to the theatre in the even- ing, Melissa Harrison said to me, “ Everybody is talking of St. Clair’s strange marriage: but for my part I do not think it strange at all. He is the very person to do extraordinary things, of a bold, striking, and dashing character. He has never hesitated to let the world know how much he despises it; and this is another means which he has adopted of hurling his scorn and contempt at the artificial notions by which society is go- verned.” “ And who shall say that he is wrong P” asked Mr. Richards, who joined us at the moment on the spot where we thus stood conversing behind the scenes. “ You will see that St. Clair’s wife will be visited and courted—I don’t mean by your very exclusive families who entertain as great a horror of a mesalliance, or low marriage, as they do of the plague—but I mean by a very great number of fashionable families. The step is so bold a one that it inspires admiration for the man who has dared to take it: and then, too, there is the romantic interest which of course attaches itself to the gipsy-bride. Every one will be wanting to see her: curiosity will induce num- bers to call at St. Clair’s villa; and when once they have gone to this extent, they must keep up the acquaintance which they themselves will have courted.” Mr, Richards, having thus expressed his opinion, was called away to settle some little dispute be- tween an excited carpenter and an intoxicated scene-shifter: but in a few minutes he came hur- rying back, with the intelligence that Captain St. Clair, accompanied by his bride, had just entered a box in the theatre. The curtain had not as yet drawn up: Melissa, Juliet Norman, and two or three other professional ladies who heard the lessee’s announcement, hastened to peep from the side of the curtain at the object of their engrossing interest. They presently returned, declaring that eT 285 Mrs. St. Clair was really a very handsome woman —that she was dressed with the most tasteful elegance—and that her husband might well be proud of her. They wondered that I displayed no curiosity to catch a glimpse of her: they little suspected how well acquainted Zarah and I already were. The curtain drew up; and in a few minutes I had to appear upon the stage in one of my favou- rite characters. When opportunity served, I looked furtively towards the box in which St. Clair and his bride were seated. I saw that he was treating her with a degree of attention sufficiently delicate to suit the part of a loving husband which he was playing, but yet sufficiently dignified as to be free from all maudlin uxoriousness. Her own demeanour was that of calm and modest contentment; and thus by their bearing towards each other they afforded a corroboration for the impression made by the tale which had gone the round of the news- papers. I could not help thinking to myself that the actors and actresses in this life were not merely confined to the stage—but that they everywhere abounded, even in the very boxes which fronted the stage itself. The only difference was that I and my companions were performing for money; while the actors and actresses elsewhere were play- ing their part for the purpose of keeping up cer- tain outward appearances. At the conclusion of the drama, in which I had been representing a favourite character, St. Clair rose, gave his hand to his bride, and led her forth from the box. I repaired to the Green Room, for I had something to say to Melissa Harrison ; and I found her there in conversation with Juliet Nor- man. They were both in their ballet-costume, for the moment was approaching when they would have to appear upon thestage, There were several other members of the company likewise present ; and having communicated what I had to say to Melissa, I was about to retire, when two gentle- men somewhat abruptly entered the room. I at once recognised Colonel Bellew and Lord Frederick Ravenscliffe. The former I had not seen for a long time; and the first glance which I flung upon both showed me that they had been drinking. Immediately on their thus making their appear. ance, Juliet Norman and Melissa were woving forward to quit the Green Room, when Lord Fre- derick Ravenscliffe tapped the former upon the cheek, exclaiming, “‘ Well, ’pon my soul! you are a sweet beautiful creature !” The act would have been gross and insolent enough even if they were utter strangers: but considering everything that had passed, it struck me as being the most wanton instance of cowardly cruelty that I had ever witnessed. I was trans- fixed to the spot with astonishment: but never shall I forget the indignant expression of Juliet’s handsome countenance as she suddenly stopped short, and drawing herself up to the full of her noble height, exclaimed, “If I had a brother, my lord, to protect me—or even if my father were present, you would not have dared do this!” Lord Frederick Ravenscliffe quailed visibly be- fore the indignant girl; and she passed forth from the room, closely followed by Melissa Harrison, who had no inclination to recognise, or be recog- nised by, her heartless seducer, Colonel Bellew. Almost immediately afterwards Mr. Richards made Com Ghboo ‘S Com