Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 346: what you’re looking at

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— ELLEN PERCY; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF AN ACTRESS. the pure and susceptible soul of my young friend with the knowledge that she was illegitimate? My embarrassment was indeed most cruel: but as I had succeeded in stifling the subject for a few days, I resolved in the meantime to communicate with the Duke of Ardleigh and then act according to circumstances. The hour for the appointment with Mr. Parks drew nigh: and at twenty minutes to three o’clock my father arrived in Hunter Street to conduct me to the lawyer’s residence. CHAPTER LVIII. THE APPOINTMENT, WE proceeded in a cab tu the West End Square in which Mr. Parks dwelt; and during the drive thither, my father informed me that everything appeared to go well—for he knew that the lawyer had no¢ fled from London. Indeed my father had seen him alight from his chaise and enter his house about an hour previously. It was there- fore with a fluttering heart that I found myself being borne along to an appointment the results of which might prove of so important a character. We alighted from the cab as it stopped at the door of Mr. Parks’ residence ; and when the foot- man in the gorgeous livery appeared in answer to our summons, I awaited with the acutest suspense for the reply that would be given’to the question put by my father—“Is Mr. Parks at home?” “Yes,” was the response. “ Be pleased to walk My father flung upon me a look full of joyous congratulation on what he conceived to be a most favourable augury ; and such likewise was the in- terpretation that 1 myself put upon the fact of the lawyer’s readiness to receive us. The footman con- ducted us up into the drawing-room, where we re- mained alone together for a few minutes—at the expiration of which the door opened and Mrs, Parks made her appearance. I have already de- scribed her as a little mean-looking woman, with & vixenish expression of countenance, but who nevertheless on occasions endeavoured to render herself as amiable as possible. She was fashion- ably dressed: but her features had a mournful ex- pression that now dominated as it were over their - malignity: her step was slow—her looks down. cast—her manner hesitating and timid. She bowed to my father, with whom she was previ- ously acquainted ; and then advancing towards me, she said, “ Ellen, is this to be a day of recon- ¢iliation and forgiveness ?” “It all depends, madam,” I answered, some- what coldly and reservedly, “upon the proceed- ings which your husband may presently be pre- pared to adopt. Ihave sustained more than one species of injury at your hands: but heaven knows that I am not vindictive !—and if within the hour that is passing there be really an atonement made, I pledge myself that these lips of mine shall pro- nounce the fullest forgiveness for all the past!” “You cannot speak more fairly—you cannot speak more kindly!” responded Mrs. Parks with an eagerness as if of gratitude. ‘“ Yes!—a com- plete atonement \,ill be made—my husband is in 000 prepared to do you that act of justice which ac- cording to your promise is to win your pardon for the past! But even though it be nothing more nor less than an act of justice, Ellen—and though you have the right to play the part of a punisher and an avenger—yet, Oh! be merciful, if not for the sake of my husband and myself, at least for that of our children who are ignorant of their parents’ misdeeds !” “Where reparation is made for a wrong that has been done, punishment may be dispensed with ; and as for revenge, Mrs. Parks,” I ex- claimed, “ I am incapable of it!” “ Admirable girl!” she cried, seizing my hand and wringing it with a force which appeared to be full of fervour: “how distressed and ashamed I am to think how deeply we have wronged you!” “You are contrite, Mrs. Parks,” I said, for a few moments abandoning my hand to her pres- sure,—“ you are contrite, and that is sufficient!” “Oh, yes—I am contrite!” she exclaimed, “ And perhaps, if my advice had prevailed at the time, the iniquity never would have been accom. plished! But I was overruled—my mother-in- law was resolute—my husband was unfortunately completely under her influence 2 “Ah, Mrs, Parks!” I exclaimed, now commis- serating the woman as I beheld the tears trickle from her eyes; “if it were indeed against your inclination that you became an accomplice in the fraud which for seven years has deprived me of the fortune that was justly mine, it will be with all the greater sincerity that I can forgive you!” “Your kindness overwhelms me, Ellen,” she said, applying her kerchief to her eyes; “and if I dared ask you a favour, it is that you will con- sent to settle this deplorable affair in a manner which shall avert from my family the possibility of a stigma ever falling upon it.” “Rest assured,” I answered, “that it would afflict me infinitely if your innocent children were to incur the risk of being ever branded on account of the misdeeds of their parents. No!—that would be a vengeance—and I have already assured you that I seek none !” “Nor I,” said my father, who had hitherto re- mained a silent witness of the scene betwixt Mrs. Parks and myself. “ But in what sense, madam,” he inquired, “do you mean that my daughter is so to settle the transaction as to spare your family and the name which you bear from the possibility of a stigma ?” “My husband will explain all this,” replied Mrs. Parks. “He has told me everything that has already taken place between yourselves and him—he is prepared to make restitution of your fortune, Ellen—and though the drain upon our own resources will be thereby immense, yet thank heaven! it does not inflict a ruinous blow—and the prosperity of my husband’s business will per- mit of a retrieval.” At this moment the door opened; and the foot- man entered, saying, “ If you please, sir—and you also, Miss—Mr. Parks is ready to receive you both in his private office.” “Trely upon your kindness, Ellen!” said Mrs. Parks, in a low hurried whisper, as she caught my hand and again pressed it with spasmodic violence for an instant. I issued from the room, my father following ; — COMMUC 6)(6\(6) <=) Com