Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 388: what you’re looking at

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

ELLEN PEBCY; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF AN ACTRESS, 375 and depraved she mighi haye become—but vin: home the day before yesterday after his interview dictive she was not: and as for devoting herself; with you, sbe has been expressing her regret that to the execution of any such absurd trick as this, , he did not invite you to the house. And it has I could not reconcile my mind to that belief. Be- | eut my poor young mistress to the quick to think sides, even if she were acquainted with Lord Fre: | that her father should have spoken in terms so derick’s present place of abode, how had she learnt | angry and unjust towards you!—you who only that he was not reconciled to his parents, but had did your duty to your friend Mr. Norman's vainly sought for that reconciliation? Thus, all| daughter, and sought not wilfully to do the — things considered, I came to the conclusion that Melissa had nothing to do with the matter; and | I sincerely hoped for Juliet’s sake, her husband might find it was a genuine qnd straightforward | proceeding. I showed the letter to Mary Glent- worth; and she, with her characteristic artlessnesgs, at once proclaimed her conyiction that the hope would be realized. As I had not to attend the theatre that evening, I kept the dinner waiting some little time after the usual hour, with the idea that Lord Frederick might possibly join us at the table. But he did not come by six o’clock; and therefore I con- cluded that we should see nothing of him until the following day. Scarcely was the dinner over—it being then a quarter to seyen—when a seryant en- tered to inform me that an elderly female desixed slightest injury towards Felicia!” “Oh, no-never!” FT exclaimed emphatically. “ But tell me, what can I now da——_” “T scarcely dare ask so great a favour,” re- sumed the housekeeper: “ but poor Felicia begged that I would come———her father likewise sont his earnest entreaties ——~” “T assent to whatsoever you have to demand,” I said, “even before you explain yourself—for I am confident that ucither Mr. Gower nor his daughter would ask anything with which E may not comply.” “It is simply that you will pay Miss Gower a visit without further delay,” rejoined the matron. “She is fretting to make your acquaintance fi “On! if this be all,’ I exclaimed, “it is a fayour easily granted. I will go with you, a few minutes’ interview on very pressing business. | directly! But tell me,” I suddenly ejaculated, as She had been shown into the breakfast-parlour, and a painful idea struck me, “igs Miss Gower ill ?—is thither I at once repaired. I found myself in the | she in any danger that sho is thus anxious to see presence of a respectable matron-looking woman, | me so abruptly ?” 7 having the air of a tradesman’s wife, or elseasupe-| “Alas, Miss!” replied the housekeeper, ‘ the rior kind of housekeeper in a genteel family. This health of my poor young mistress is very feeble— latter she proved to be, for she announced herself she keeps her own chamber—there is indeed dans as housekeeper to Mr. Gower. I saw that she | ger and to be candid with you, she has an was labouring under some grief; and I spoke | idea that her end is approaching, and that if she kindly to her, desiring her to be seated and to ex: sees you not this eyening she will never see plain the object of her visit. “The day before yesterday Mr. Gower saw you, | Miss Trafford,’ said the matron; “he told me that he did—that he was here with you—in this very | house—gnd he fears that he spoke most angrily and | most unreasonabiy ——” | “T can make every allowance,” I said, “‘ for the wounded feelings of a father; and though I was | hurt by the charges which he levelled against my- self and my friend Lady Frederick Ravenscliffe, yet | I was inspired by no anger in return—and I bear no | rapcour now.” “TI know how amiable is your disposition, Miss you!” “Ob, I will go to the poor young lady!” I cried: “I will order my carriage immediately !” “Tt is needless, Miss,” responded the houses keeper. “Ihave a cab at the door, if you will condescend to use it.” “TI will go with you immediately ’ E said: and I hastened from the room. I sped to my chamber—put on wy bonnet and shawl—and then looked into the drawing-room for a moment, to telt Mary Glentworth that I should be absent for an hour or two. I rejoined the housekeeper ; and we entered the cab, which Trafford,” replied the matron; “and Miss Gower’ | immediately drove away. —here she stopped for a moment, as if well nigh choked with grief at the mention of the name of her young mistress,—“ and Miss Gower,” she con- tinued, “has heard so much good said of you that she regrets she should not long ago have made your acquaintance.” “T should be delighted to know Miss Gower,” I rejoined; “and if by the effusion of the sincerest sympathy I could mitigate her afflictions ——” “Oh, it is this sympathy which she requires !” exclaimed the housekeeper. ‘“‘She is in a sad low desponding condition—at times she is nervous and irritable if she cannot have her slightest whim gratified—and it is on account of one of these | humours that I have taken the liberty of intruding | myself upon your presence now.” * Rest assured,” I hastened to exclaim, “ that if Icanin any way afford Miss Gower the slightest relief from her sufferings - “You can, Miss ‘Trafford!’ ejaculated the housekeeper. “Ever since her father returned — Eee SOE eC OOO YO “ Does Mr, Gower still live in Stratton Street ?” I asked: ‘has he been all the time in London ?— or hashe only recently returned from his couutry- seat ?” “ He has recently returned from his country- seat,” replied the matron; “ and as he had given up the house in Stratton Street, which he only. occupied temporarily, he is now residing in a far more secluded neighbourhood ; for he wished that his daughter. should be removed from that fashion- able sphere in the midst of which the blight of | unhappiness fell upon, her.” “And if was natural enough,” IF observed. “ Where does he now reside ?” ‘In Pentonville,” responded the housekeeper. | We have not very far to go.” In a short time the cab stopped in front ofa moderate-sized house belonging to a terrace at the farther extremity of Penton Street; and we alighted. The front door was opened by a female domestic, nearly as old as the one whom I had COM Goook (COU