Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 389: what you’re looking at

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eee ae a= 376 accompanied thither. She said not a word; and the housekeeper led me up a narrow staircase to the drawing-room. This -apartment was only modestly furnished :—indeed, as much as I had hitherto seen of the habitation contrasted strongly with the splendour of the appointments belonging to the house in Stratton Street. The matron re- tired ; and in a fow moments Mr. Gower made his appearance. The first glance which I flung upon his coun- tenance startled and even affrighted me; for his face was deadly pale. It was indeed a ghastly pallor which sat upon those cheeks that once were florid with robust health and good living. It struck me too that there was a strange sinister light shining in the depth of his eyes; and for a moment I almost fancied that I must have been inveigled into some snare. But that apprehen- sion as rapidly passed away, when, speaking ina low, mild, kind voice, Mr. Gower said, “ This is most generous of you, Miss Trafford, after the rude, unjust, and ungentlémanly manner in which I addressed you the day before yesterday. But doubtless you have made allowances x4 “‘ All possible allowances, Mr. Gower!” I ex- claimed. “This assurance I have already given your housekeeper—and I now repeat it to you. Besides, the best proof that I do not feel offended by what you said, is that am herenow. Tell me, Mr. Gower—how fares it with your daughter P —for I am afraid the worthy matron whom you sent to me was endeavouring to conceal the depth of grief that was agitating her-——~” “‘Yes—no wonder!” interjected Mr. Gower; “for she has ioved my daughter !—loved her as if Felicia were her own child! But come! let me conduct you to Felicia’s chamber.” I rose from the seat which I had taken; and I followed Mr. Gower from the apartment. We ascended another flight of stairs; and on reaching a door which evidently belonged to a back room, he paused for a few moments: his fingers clutched the handle convyulsively: I observed that he stag- gered against the door-post—and a violent agita- tion appeared to have taken possession of him. The idea struck me that his daughter Felicia must indeed be much worse than the housekeeper had represented , and again did I experience the utmost commiseration for this unhappy father. But when I glanced at his countenance, its expression struck me as so singular—indeed, I will again use the word sinister—that a vague terror seized upon me. I felt frightened as if smitten with a presen- timent of evil, though I knew not of what. I was about to address Mr. Gower, to say something that might elicit an explanation—for I felt as if I were labouring under a fear of which I sought to be relieved,—when he slowly opened the door ; and in a low deep voice he requested me to pass into the chamber. I crossed the threshold. The room was a small one, and furnished in the style of a lodging- house. A light was burning dimly there: it was a mean candle-lamp standing upon a night-table by the side of the bed; and around this bed all the cur- tains were closed. A profound silence reigned in the room: there was no movement behind those curtains—no hand was stretched forth to draw them back in order that the occupant of the couch might see who was entering; so that for a mo- EE, I, NR — ELLEN PERCY; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF AN ACTRESS. ment I thought that Felicia slept—but the next instant the idea seized upon my mind that she was dead. I looked round towards Mr. Gower: but he was outside in the passage; and at the very moment I thus glanced behind me, he was opening an oppo- site door. Again, and with renewed force, re- turned the idea that I had been inveigled into some snare, and that mischief was intended me. Mr. Gower’s sinister looks —the circumstances under which I had been brought to this house— the appearance of the house itself, so inconsistent as a dwelling-place with that gentleman’s known wealth—the silent chamber in the midst of which I stoad—the dim light—and the closely drawn curtains of that couch—all combined to strike my soul with vague apprehension and horror! “Let him come forth now!” said Mr. Gower, as he threw open the door facing the chamber in which I found myself. “What is the meaning of all this? I insist upon knowing!” exclaimed a voice from within that opposite room:—and this was the voice of Lord Frederick Ravenscliffe ! Then was I convinced that some dreadful scene was in preparation; for to my memory flashed the vindictive words which Felicia’s father had uttered when at my house the day but one previous—the mysterious contents of the letter which had brought Lord Frederick Ravenscliffe to London — and his presence there in that habitation—everything con- firmed in a moment all the vague terrors and pre- sentiments of evil which I had previously experi- enced. A cry of alarm rose up to my lips; but there it was stifled before it found utterance,—for an awful consternation seized upon me with para- © lysing effect as I glanced towards the silent cur- tained couch on the one hand, and then beheld Lord Frederick Ravenscliffe issuing from the op- posite room on the other hand. Two ill-looking men—coarsely dressed, and having the air of the vilest ruffians that could possibly be lured away from the lowest metropolitan dens, to do some dreadful work for a golden bribe — had him in their custody, one holding him forcibly by the right arm, and the other by the left. “Good heavens, Mr. Gower !” I exclaimed, my tongue being now loosened; “‘ what would you do?” “Ah, Miss Perey ! is if you?” cried Lord Fre. derick in astonishment, as he now recognised me. ‘What pitfall have we tumbled into?” * Silence!” exclaimed Mr. Gower, in a stern commanding voice; “and enter this chamber softly.— Unhand him! but remain close outside the door—and await the signal!” The mandates contained in the latter part of the speech were addressed to the two men who had the young nobleman in their custody; and they at once released Lord Frederick from their grasp. For a moment, on thus regaining his liberty, he locked quickly around him, as if seeking for the means of escape: but Mr. Gower said, “ Beware how you attempt anything in contravention of my wishes!—for you see that you are powerless here !” The two ruffian-looking men urged Lord Fre- derick into the chamber, which Mr. Gower like- wise entered; and then the door was closed. Nearly sinking with affright — but now again ee ee ee eee CONnNIEOOKS (COIR