Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 34: what you’re looking at

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

} Oe ee ee re ee ey” ELLEN PERCY; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF AN ACTRESS. 21 companied her, as usual; for even if they had no rehearsal to attend, they invariably—or at least one of them—attended their daughter to that sphere whither they would not have her penetrate alone. A new ballet was to be rehearsed on this occasion: the period for practice was prolonged; and when it was over, Mrs. Norman herself volun- teered to introduce me to the manager. I had taken off my bonnet and shawl in Juliet’s dress- ing-room when luncheon was served up there as usual: I was about to fetch them, when Mrs. Norman, who had laid aside the same articles of her own apparel, said that it was not necessary. With a palpitating heart I followed her to a room where the lessee was seated at a table on which were decanters of wine. The walls were covered with pictures of eminent actors and actresses, dancers, and managers; and all the morning newspapers lay scattered about on the floor around the great man. For a great man he assuredly was in that place; and by numbers was he looked up to as the very arbiter cf their desti- nies. He was quite a young man, considering the position which he held; for he was not above two-and-thirty ; and though I had seen him before upon the stage during rehearsals, this was the first time I had found myself so near him. This closer view did not make a very favourable impression upon my mind: methought that I now perceived a certain self-sufficient and supercilious air which I had not before noticed about Mr. Richards—for this was the manager’s name. He was clad in a French flowered silk dressing-gown, and wore a velvet cap with a gold tassel—which costume gave him perhaps an additional tinge of rakishness. He was lounging with a sort of fashionable indolence in a large easy chair, and was giving some instruc- tions to his stage-manager, who had the proof of a new play-bill.in his hand. “You know, sir,’ the stage-manager was say- ing at the moment, “ we shall want a crowd for the arrest-scene in the new piece.” “ Well, we have already arranged for it, Mr. Green,” responded Mr. Richards: and, then as he consulted a slip of paper containing memoranda, he added, “ You have five supernumeraries, and that’s sufficient. Tell them to make the most of themselves—I mean to spread themselves well out and look like a mob. Nothing like producing good effects, Mrs. Norman!” and the lessee turned towards Juliet’s mother with the half courteous, half familiar air which he was wont to adopt to- wards the principal members of his company. “I beg your pardon for this intrusion, Mr. Richards,” said Mrs. Norman: “but Lreally thought you were disengaged ——” “ Always disengaged to you, my dear madam,” answered the lessee; “ and particularly when you make your appearance in such pleasing com- pany.” His glance was flung towards me as he thus spoke ; and the colour mounted tomy cheeks,—not because I fancied at the time that the implied com- pliment savoured too much of flippant flattery— but because my naturally shy disposition rendered me confused and embarrassed at this special notice on the part of the great man. “ Now, my dear Mr. Richards,” said Mrs. Nor- man, cajolingly, “pray be so obliging as to give your attention to Miss Percy for a few minutes. ee She is an old school-companion of my daughter's, and therefore a friend of mine—a young lady in- deed in whom I am much interested 1 “These assurances, my dear madam,” inter- rupted Mr. Richards, “are quite sufficient to in- duce me to give all my attention to Miss Percy for a whole half-hour if it be necessary. I presume that I already understand her object 4 “ Precisely so,” responded Mrs. Norman. “ My young friend has decided upon the stage as her profession but not the ballet, Mr. Richards— the drama is her choice. She wished to defer to your opinion as to her probable success ; and if you report favourably I shall feel truly delighted to give her the requisite lessons.” “I feel highly flattered,” remarked the lessee, “that Miss Percy should wish to take my opinion on the point: but really, my dear Mrs. Norman, you yourself might have formed a judgment Or perhaps you have done so already s “ No,” interrupted Juliet’s mother. “I was afraid of being too partial. Ah! there is Juliet herself. I shall leave you, my dear, with your ' young friend for the present.—Mr. Green,” added Mrs. Norman, turning towards the stage-manager, “you will permit me to have a word or two with you, if you please.” Juliet had entered at the moment, accompanied by another ballet-dancer: Mrs. Norman retired with Mr. Green the stage-manager. Juliet and her friend had not put off their dancing apparel; and I noticed that the former now carried in her hand a beautiful bouquet of flowers, which at that season of the year must have been reared in a hot- house and purchased at no inconsiderable price in Covent Garden Market. Her companion was named Melissa Harrison ; and as I shall have to speak of her hereafter, I may as well take this opportunity of observing that she was a tall elegantly shaped girl, with a figure of sylphid airiness—a beautiful countenance—but a very deli- cate appearance, as if her health were not good, and as if the exertions of the ballet were too much for a constitution not naturally strong. Juliet and Melissa remained in the lessee’s room, while he proceeded to question me. There was a kind of patronising courtesy in his manner, as if he meant me to understand that while devoting this attention to my business on Mrs. Norman’s account, if was a very great favour that he was showing me, and one which I must appreciate. I did not think it necessary to enter into any details relative to my past history: I simply stated that circumstances compelled me to adopt the means of earning my own livelihood, and that I had con- ceived a fancy for the stage. Mr. Richards took down a volume of plays from a shelf—selected a passage—and requested me to read it to him. For a few moments 1 was overwhelmed with bashful- ness: but Juliet whispered encouraging words in my ears; and Melissa Harrison, likewise accosting me, spoke in the kindest tone, though this was the first time that we had exchanged a syllable to- gether. I could not help noticing that there was something softly sympathizing and gently compas- sionating in Melissa’s looks as her large hazel eyes were fixed upon me: but I thought at the time that she was generously pitying me on account of my confusion and embarrassment. Summoning all my courage to my aid Il commenced reading the ‘ --— +--+ - = eee ee reer OOOO LT TT TTT TT TY LT CORNICE ACC) cS Com