Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 399: what you’re looking at

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386 served?” said Beda. “It is the only one where we have seen the least remnant of furniture—and the windows are barred.” “You might have noticed,” I replied, “ that all the windows of the oast are thus protected, doubt- Jess for the purpose of preventing the hops, when there were any here, from being illegitimately dis- » posed of. It may likewise be that some person was left in charge of the premises after the fall of the main building had led to its evacuation by its principal tenants; and this room may have served as the lodging of the individual thus left to take care of the property until its final re- moval. It is strange that such a spacious esta- blishment, possessing 60 many conveniences as it evidently did, should have been suffered to fall into so ruinous a condition. But Ah!” I added, as a thought struck me; “methinks I recognise in all this the baleful influence of a Chancery Suit!” “A Chancery Suit, Miss?” said Beda inquir- ingly. va “Yes—a lawsuit,” I continued, “ the object of which was to decide to whom of the litigants the property belonged. It may have lasted for years —it may still be pending ; and thus in the interval it is worth no one’s while to keep the farm build- ings in repair. There are many edifices in this country in a similar condition,—But we must be careful, Beda, that while we are talking we do not fail to keep watch upon the cottage yonder.” “T have not as yet taken my eyes off it once,” replied the faithful girl. “If you wish to walk about, Miss, you raay leave me here ~ “Hush, Beda!” I suddenly ejaculated, but in a subdued tone. ‘Do you not hear ‘ “ Yes—the sounds of a horse’s hoofs in the yard at the back,” rejoined Bedain awhisper. “ What if we were found here, intruding ——” “We should say that we were led by curiosity to inspect the ruins,” I rejoined: “ we should apolo- gize if we had trespassed—and it would be sufli- cient. But let us peép and see who it is that approaches.” : I have already said that there were two win- dows to the room which we had thus entered,— one window looking across the fields towards the cottage at a little distance—the other window looking upon the back part of the premises. There was a court-yard communicating with a road which led through the farm, and on the op- posite side of which was a space which had eyi- dently once been the straw-yard ; for there was a pond in the corner, and if was bounded on three sides by the farm-buildings. When Beda and I peeped from the back window, we beheld a gen- tleman or horseback advancing up that road which divided the two yards. He was about thirty years of age—of moderate stature—slender and well- made—of very genteel appearance—but by no means good-looking so far as the features were concerned. He had light hair and bushy red whis- kers ; and his countenance seemed pale. He was handsomely dressed; and so far as bis social position could be estimated; I thought that he was decidedly a gentleman. He was riding slowly, looking about him right and left—but more as if he expected to behold some individual whom he had come to meet, than as if he were taking a survey of the dilapidated premises. Alighting from his horse, he fastened the reins to a gate: then he again looked ELLEN PERCY; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF AN ACTRESS. /about him; and lighting a cigar, he strolled to and fro in the road, near the spot where he had left his horse. “He is evidently waiting for someone, Beda,” I said; “and I know not which course to adopt— whetber to remain here, or whether to issue forth and apologize, if need be, for our intrusion.” “The door of the building opens into the yard,” replied Beda; “ and therefore we cannot possibly leave the premises without being observed by that gentleman.” “At all events,” I said, “let us retreat from this window where he may see us; and we will deliberate how to act.” We accordingly crossed the room towards the front window: but scarcely had we reached it, when we beheld a female figure approaching through the fields. She came from the direction of the cottage: she was an old woman, as we could discern by her figure and her stoop: she wore a cloak of dark colour—and she had a high stick, which looked like a crutch. | “ It is Dame Betty!” hastily whispered Beda, atthe very moment that I myself was about to make the same announcement. ‘“ She is coming as fast as she can walk,’’. continued my youthful dependant: “she is advancing in this direction ! Perhaps it is she whom the gentleman expects to meet P” | “Yes—nothing can be more probable,” I ree sponded; “and if so, there is some mischief brewing. A gentleman meeting an old gipsy woman in this stealthy manner, and in such a place—it all tells its own tale!” “And now, dear Miss, what shall we do?” in- quired Beda. | | “ Remain you here for a moment and watch the old woman,” I answered: ‘ but take care that she does not catch a glimpse of your countenance.” Having thus spoken, I glided towards the back window to see where the gentleman now was; and I beheld him sauntering with his cigar in his mouth, across the court-yard towards the door of the oast. Ina few moments he was lost to my view ; for he had entered the building. I was un. decided how to act. That mischief was in embyro wherever Dame Betty was concerned, I felt con- vinced; and I longed to ascertain what it might be—not merely with a view of frustrating it if possible, but to acquire fresh means of intimidat- ing that vile old woman. I thought therefore of remaining concealed in the oast, and risking the chances of discovery by the dame and by the gentleman whom I felt certain she was coming to meet. For, I said to myself, that if even the pre- sence of Beda and me should be detected, that gentleman would not dare attempt to do us a mis- chief ; while, on the other hana, if we were now to issue forth we must encounter him—he would be enabled to describe our persons to Dame Betty— she would recognise the portraiture, and thus learn that we were in the neighbourhood,—a result which I was most anxious to avoid until the proper time should come for carrying out our en- terprise. ‘Therefore, all things considered, I re- solved, after a few moments of rapid reflection, to remain concealed with Beda so long as circum- stances might allow our presence to pass uukoown or unsuspecied, Making a hasiy sign for Beda to remain near Conmnicloool< com