Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 83: what you’re looking at

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eee — eee 70 f Miss Norman. But these reflections were at $liec instant only hastily made, We now resumed our examination of the bou- quets ; and out of some fifty or sixty which had been thrown upon the stage, ten or a dozen con- tained presents of more or less value—some few be- ing even costly. When Lreturned home that night, I insisted upon making my friends, the Normans, the sharers of my presents: but nothing could induce Mr. and Mrs. Norman to accept anything from me. It was even with difficulty I persuaded them to allow me to place a ring on Juliet’s finger, or that she would take it. Then, in my presence, did she present to her parents the billet she had received from Lord Ravenscliffe—requesting me to explain the circumstances in which it had been conveyed to her. This narrative I at once gave— omitting however the remonstrance I had in the first instance breathed against Juliet’s opening the missive. This deficiency she generously hastened to make good; so that I received the approving and grateful looks of her parents. “JT cannot reproach you, my dear child,” said Mr. Norman, affectionately addressing his daughter, “for having opened the billet in the presence of your excellent friend, Ellen. Nor need I ask,” he added slyly, at the same time tenderly caressing Juliet’s dark hair, “ what reply is to be sent to Lord Frederick Ravenscliffe.” “ By his present honourable conduct,” said Mrs. Norman, “he makes every possible reparation for his temporary misbehaviour.” I could not help reflecting, now that I had leisure for such meditation, that there must have been a sad want of principle on the part of the young nobleman to seek to seduce Juliet from the paternal care, and that he could not be altogether unprac- tised in the insidious language of which he had made use—especially when he had spoken so lightly of the marriage tie. I could not therefore alto- gether reconcile myself to the belief that he was certain to make a good husband. But it was not for me to throw a damp upon the spirits of those kind friends who were happy, nor to constitute my- self a prophetess of evil. Before we retired to rest that night, Mr. Norman intimated his inten- tion of communicating with Lord Frederick Ravenscliffe in the morning. This he accordingly did immediately after break- fast on the ensuing day; and as there were no rehearsals to be attended, the time was at the Normans’ disposal for the expected interview with his lordship. Precisely at one o’clock the young nobleman’s handsome phaeton drove up to the door; and from behind the curtain of the drawing- room window Juliet beheld him alight. I was alone with her in that apartment; for her parents were waiting to receive him in the first instance in a parlour down stairs. Their interview with him lasted for upwards of half-an-hour, during which time poor Juliet was a prey to the most anxious suspense. Could anything be wrong? was he fail- ing to satisfy her parents of his honourable inten- tions—of his contrition for the past—or of his ability to maintain a wifeP I assured her over and over again that I felt convinced she had nothing to apprehend on these points; or else Lord Frederick would neither have written the billet, nor have come in answer to Mr. Norman’s summons: but I suggested that her parents were ELLEN PERCY; OB, THE MEMOIRS OF AN ACTRESS. doubtless proceeding with suitable caution. At length hasty steps were heard ascending, or rather rushing up the stairs: the door burst open; and the young nobleman flung himself at Juliet’s feet. I retreated from the apartment; for I knew that the lovers would prefer being alone together, and that they had much to say. There was for- giveness to be solicited and the assurance thereof | to be returned: there were doubtless plans to be discussed and settled for the future. I went down stairs, and joined Mr. and Mrs. Norman, who had remained in the parlour. Methought cn my en- trance they were in serious deliberation together ; and I was on the point of withdrawing from that room also, when Mrs. Norman bade me remain. “We have no secrets from you, Ellen,” she said; “ and moreover you must assist as bridemaid at the ceremony which is soon to take place— though under circumstances sufiiciently private and indeed secret as to divest the event itself of half the joy and satisfaction which as Juliet’s parents we should otherwise experience.” I was both surprised and pained at the Ian- guage which I thus heard: for it struck me as an evil omen, in addition to my previous gloomy pre- sages, with regard to the wedded life on which my beloved friend Juliet was, as it appeared, speedily to enter. “But after all,” said Mr. Norman, with the visible effort of one straining and striving to re- concile himself to something which was neverthe- less not quite so agreeable as it might be— but after all, Ravenscliffe explained himself very frankly. You know, Ellen, that he is the second son of the Earl and Countess of Carshalton : there is no name in the peerage more ancient than this titlke—there is no family in the whole range of aristocracy more proud than that which bears it. Now, we must not blind ourselves to the fact that there ¢s in certain quarters a preju- dice us * But look at our Juliet!” exclaimed Mrs,_ Norman, with all a mother’s pride: “is she not superbly handsome ? where will you see a finer grown young woman P” “ And she is amiable, and good, and well- mannered,” I interjected; “ and in every respect worthy to become a nobleman’s wife, if the ridi- culous prejudices of society were set aside.” “ However,” said Mrs. Norman, “of course poor Lord Frederick cannot help those prejudices, as they are entertained by his father and mother ; and he has explained himself, as Mr. Norman has just stated, so frankly—he spoke with so much sincerity—that it was impossible to avoid yielding to his arguments, his entreaties, and his represen- tations.” “ But while we are thus commenting upon the matter,” sail Mr. Norman, “ Ellen continues in ignorance of the arrangements that have been made, as well as of the motives for making them. You must know, Ellen, the world has hitherto been mistaken relative to Lord Frederick’s pecu- niary position. A deceased relation left him a sum of money in the funds, producing about three thousand a year—but on condition that he was not to marry before the age of twenty-three with- out his parents’ consent—it being doubtless sup- posed that by the time he should have attained COnniclooolk< (ECOL