Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 396: what you’re looking at

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apter of accidents to turn up something in favour of a particular design to be carried out—I saw the young woman who succeeded me in at- tending upon Dame Betty when I entered into your service. This young woman belongs to the dame’s tribe, and is much attached to Zarah. I learnt that she had ceased to attend upon Dame Betty, whose dreadful epileptic fits had so horrified her that she could not endure her position any longer. Haying put a few questions in order to ascertain what the feeling of the girl might be towards myself, I discovered that it was altogether friendly, and that she had never been made ac- quainted with Dame Betty’s secrets ; so that she knew not how I had been entrusted with the poi- soned lozenges, nor how I had failed to become the dame’s accomplice in the horrible crime. But on the other hand, she did kuow that I had aided Zarah in her escape from the lunatic asylum ; and therefore she was full of confidence in me. I then began to fabricate a tale to elicit the information which I required; for I found that the young woman was totally ignorant of the dame’s present place of residenee. I told her that Zarah was un- easy relative to her grandmother, from whom she had not heard for some time. The young woman at once volunteered to procure the information for me if possible, Sapte a person when at a loss trusts to the ELLEN PERCY; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF AN ACTRESS. 383 for some time in the neighbourhood to keep watch. I had perhaps been nearly two hours thus con- cealed, when the door of the cottage opened; and a tall, stout gipsy-woman, of middle age, issued forth to draw some water from a neighbouring stream, I remained another hour; and I saw no other person about the premises, I conclude that there is no man there iss “From what reason do you make this deduc- tion ?”’ T inquired. “From the fact that as the bucket was large and heavy,” replied Beda, “a man would have gone to draw the water if there had been one on the premises. Besides, knowing Dame Betty’s habits, I imagine that she is living alone with that woman, who is attending upon her in her fits. I saw no one of whom I could make any inquiries relative to.fhe occupants of that cottage; and I returned into Petersfield to write to you. I should have gone back into the neighbourhood this morning to watch the cottage again: but [ was fearful of being seen there—and such a dis- covery, you know, would mar all our projects.” “ Are there no other habitations in the neigh- bourhood ?” I asked. “There is a half-ruined farm-house, with out- buildings, at a little distance,’*replied Beda: “but I ascertained that the place was untenanted. And There were some gipsies in the | now, my dear Miss, I have done all that lay in neighbourhood ; and they, she said, would in all| my power to further your views.” probability know something of the dame’s move- ments. I begged her to lose no time in making the inquiries—but to conduct them cautiously without explaining her motive or mentioning my | name in the business; and I invented sufficient | excuses for enjoining this secrecy. In the course | of the day I saw the young woman again: but all she could tell me was that Dame Betty had gone into Hampshire on some business which she had kept tolerably close to herself. It however ap- peared that there was an old crone near Embledon who might possibly be in Dame Betty’s secrets. I supplied the young woman with money, and in- structed her to pursue her inquiries. On the fol- lowing day we met again ; and then I learnt that Dame Betty had set off for Petersfield: but where she was to be found either in the tewn or neigh- bourhood could not b2 ascertained.” “And then you set off for Petersfield, my dear Beda,” I said, — “ trusting to your own ingenuity to follow up the clue successfully P” *‘’Yes: and on arriving here, I lost no time in prosecuting the enterprise. With my countenance concealed by a thick veil, closely folded, I wan- dered about until at length I perceived the dame issuing forth from a small chandler’s shop, with a few packages in her basket. I followed her ata distance: she left the town by one of the main roacs — but she speedily struck into a bye-lane, which she pursued for nearly a couple of miles, until she reached a lonely cottage, which she en- tered. I had followed her so cautiously that I am convinced she never once noticed me. Being com- pelled to keep at a certain distance, I could not see whether she let herself into the cottage by means of any key that she had about her, or whe- ther the door was opened by some other person. Therefore, knowing how important it was to ascer- tain whether she were living alone there—and if not, who her companions might be—I remained a “ You have acted as you always do, Beda,” I res joined,—‘“‘ with prudence, sagacity, and perseye- rance. You are a good and faithful girl—and your devotion to me merits my warmest grati- tude. But we must proceed cautiously: for after all, my dear Beda, it is not quite certain that there is no male occupant of the cottage; and this is a point most essential for us to ascertain. We will deliberate this evening; and to-morrow morning we will go together into the neighbourhood of the cottage. We will institute a careful watch; and the probability is that to-morrow evening we may be enabled to execute our design.” Beda now left me, for the purpose of unpacking my box and arranging my toilet necessaries in the chamber which was provided for me at the hotel. When thus left alone in the sitting-room, I ap- proached the window in a listless mood, and looked through the panes into the street. In a few mi- nutes I beheld a very handsome equipage pass along. It was now the end of the month of March —the season was that of an early Spring—and the weather was delightfully mild. The carriage to which I have just alluded, was an open one, drawa by two beautiful grey horses, which in every re-« spect were a perfect match, The liveries of the domestics were rich and elegant; and a glimpse which I caught of a coronet upon the panel showed me that the equipage belonged to some titled in- dividual, There were two persons seated in the carriage. One was an old man, whose age struck me, so far as I could judge by a passing glance, to be certainly not less than sixty-five—and me- thought that he might even be older. There wag something distinguished in his bearing, despite the decrepitude associated with such an age; and he looked with mingled pride and fondness upon a beautiful woman who was seated by his side. I naturally conceived that this lady must be the old man’s daughter; for her years did not exceed two Conniclooolk (COUN