Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 59: what you’re looking at

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

46 had perilled his life fur me; and I could not have given utterance to a word even if I had wished to speak. St. Clair moved slowly away; and as he reached the door of the apartment he stopped and turned for an instant: then the next moment he disappeared from my view—leaving me still stupe- fied beneath the influence of that last sad and re- proachful look. CHAPTER X. LADY LILLA ESSENDINE. For several minutes I sat as if in the midst of a dream—in a sort of consternation and bewilderment which I cannot pcssibly explain. But slowly into my mind came the reflection that I had done my duty—that there really was no ingratitude in re- fusing to bestow my hand where I could not give my heart—but that it would be most dishonourable and improper on my part to wed where I could not love. And again—Oh! again did imagination de- pict my cousin’s handsome brown eyes looking upon me with joyous approval along the vista of distance! Composing my feelings and my countenance as well as I was able, I passed into the grand saloon for the purpose of seeking the companionship of Mrs. Parks. I could not however find her; and I sat down on a low velvet-covered ottoman, whieh | was ia a sort of nook, inasmuch as the spot was concealed from the general view by the high back of a magnificent chair. There I fell into a profound reverie—thiaking of all that had occurred, but more and more satisfied with the course which I had adopted, notwithstanding that [I was still deeply pained at the misconception into which St. Clair had fallen—the false hopes it had given him —aud the distress occasioned by the destruction of the vision he had built up. I had been sitting for several minutes in that spot, which was at first so retired—when I gra- dually became aware that voices were now speaking near me; and my ear caught that of Lady Lilla Wssendine. “Count Della Monti is evidently enamoured of that beautiful girl with whom he was just now dancing. And no wonder! for she is certainly the belle of the assemblage.” These were the words which Lady Lilla Essen- dine was uttering at the moment; and immediately afterwards Count Della Monti said, in a tone which showed that he was smiling, “Your ladyship foreets that I am married: or else indeed ” “But where is this charming creature?” in- quired another masculine voice, speaking witha strong foreign accent. “ I shall request Mrs. Parks to introduce me, that I may have the pleasure 4 dancing the next quadriile - = se nar Sea ee ELLEN PERCY; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF AN ACTRESS. “Indeed!” interrupted a voice which I recog. nised to be Della Monti’s; “I never yet heard anything prejudicial to St. Clair. I have been some years in England, and know him well * “Are you ignorant of the fact that there isa relationship between himself and me,” asked Lady Lilla; “and that therefore I may ‘perhaps know something more of him—I mean in his private character ?” I can scarcely explain what sentiment it was which inspired me at the moment,— whether it were that I did not choose any longer to be an unseen listener to a discourse which regarded myself—or whether it were that after all St. Clair had told me, I felt indignant at hearing his character thus run down by one who I fancied ought in justice to speak far otherwise of him: but certain it is that I sud- denly rose up from my seat. I thus emerged as it were from behind the back of the very chair in which Lady Lilla had seated herself, and whence she was addressing some three or four foreign attachés who had grouped themselves about her. My presence was not instantaneously perceived; and I was beginning to move away from the spot in order to seek another part of the room, when Lady Lilla, catching sight of me, started up and said, “ Miss. Percy, where have you been? You were just now the object of our conversa- tion ” «IT know it, my lady,” I answered: “ but I was an unintentional listener :’—and then, full of-con- fasion, I was hastening away, when Lady Lilla caught me by the arm. “If you listened —if you overheard what we said,’ she whispered with rapidity, “I owe you some explanations, and I must give them.” Having thus spoken, she turned for an instant and gracefully inclined her head towards the foreigners, as much as to request that they would excuse her for so abruptly leaving them. “Come with me, Miss Percy,” she said: “ there is aroom set apart for the display of some very beautiful prints—we shall perhaps find it unoccupied as the dancing is about to recommence.” I suffered Lady Lilla Essendine to lead me to that room to which she had alluded; and, as she had predicted, we found it unoccupied. She closed the door, and was about to address me—when I immediately said, “ No explanations are requisite, Lady Lilla; for I can assure you that there is nothing between myself and Captain St. Clair which renders it needful for me to seek informa- tion concerning him.” For a moment her ladyship looked astonished : then a smile of incredulity wavered upon her lips; and as it passed away, she said, “ Perhaps you may not think that I observed you just now:— but [I did. You were listening with a more than ordinary attention to what St. Clair was saying : you retired with him to the refreshment- “T saw her just now in company with Captain | _room—a glance which I flung in through the door- St. Clair,” replied Lady Lilla. selves,” she continued, adopting a tone of mys- terious confidence, “ I am very sorry for it. It strikes me that Captain St.-Clair is paying his ad- dresses in that quarter: but Miss Percy has yet to learn his true character; and as I have conceived a great affection for her, although we have not as yet exchanged more than half-a-dozen words, I shall feel it my duty | insidious language of that man * And between our- | way, showed me that you were seated there alone with him—alone, with the exception of the ser- vants; and by the looks and manner of both of you, it was plain to me that your conversation was not that of mere acquaintances. Miss Percy, think not that I am imbued with any unbecoming curiosity: but when I beheld a beautiful and amiable young lady such as you, listening to the COnnicloool< er ere com