Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 114: what you’re looking at

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ed ELLEN PERCY; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF AN ACTRESS. of the premises. plenty to be said in favour of the estate; for the | Jand is very good and very productive—and Farmer | Jenkins who holds the best part of it for the time. | being, would tell you so, Miss, if you were to call upon him,” I pretended to reflect for a few moments, and | then I said, “I shall return presently and look | over the house again.” “ By all means do, Miss!” exclaimed the woman | eagerly ; “for if you did buy it l’m sure it would | be a good thing for the village; and you would | not forget that I told you all the truth as far as I knew it, when you questioned me ?” “ Rest assured,” I replied, with a kind manner, *T shall not forget the sincerity and frankness with which you have spoken.” We then separated; and I returned to the apartment where I had left Juliet. I thought it better to tell her all that I had gleaned from the lips of the landlady, because I knew not to what extent any of those details might presently be found to associate themselves with Lord Frederick Ravenscliffe—though I could not see how any such connexion might possibly transpire. Juliet lis- tened with attention, and with a sort of suspenseful interest ; though she was quite as much at a loss as myself to comprebend why her husband should be practising chemical experiments—unless it were as a relaxation for his afflicted mind; for it was scarcely possible to suppose that he entertained the Cain-brand from his brow! It still wanted a full hour to the appointed time, when Juliet proposed that we should set off on our return to Willowbridge Manor. I repre- sented to her that we had ample leisure before us, as the distance was but a mile and a half, and that therefore less than half-an-hour would suffice for the purpose of reaching the place. But Juliet—like all persons who are suffering suspense —was anxious to anticipate, if possible, the strictly appointed moment; and as I saw that she was getting uneasy and restless at the inn, I agreed to set out with her. We walked slowly ; and ever and anon Juliet kept expressing her wonder what would be the result of the interview, and why her husband had seemed to attach so much importance to it? She spoke as if she had some vague and shadowy presentiment in her mind; while on my own part I experienced a certain uneasiness, which was however indefinite, and pointed to no parti« cular evil as the probable issue of the present ad- venture. As we again drew near the building, I thought for a moment of singling out the window which belonged to the room that wae shut up: but as I mentally studied the geography of the interior of the Manor, I recollected that this apartment must be at the back. I should observe that it was scarcely to be wondered at that x should be in any doubt or uncertainty for awhile upon this point, inasmuch .as there were several passages in the house, which somewhat confused a memory that was as yet but very slightly acquainted with the arrangements of the place. We reached the Manor House; and instead of ringing at the front door, we passed on to that side-cate whence we had first seen Mrs. Janson emerge. The old woman quickly made her appear- ee But on the other hand there is , hope of discovering a means to efface the fearful -_— 101 ance; and it was now with the most profound re- spect, mingled with timidity and diffidence, that she curtsied to us both. The friendly familiarity which had characterized her manner towards us at our first visit, had given place to a visible con- straint, as if she had learnt something which ren- dered our presence completely overawing. “Tm sure, my lady,” she faltered out, thus ad- dressing herself to Juliet, “I didn’t know—t wasn’t aweer—leestways I hadn’t the slightest hidear that it was a ladyship as I was a speaking to just now—a real lord’s wife!—or else I should have been on my very best behaviour, and should have hastened off to put on my best gownd is “You behaved yourself very civilly, my good woman,” answered Juliet; “and we have not the slightest fault to find with you.” While the old woman had been speaking, Juliet and I both noticed that there was some little im- provement in her appearance—that she was more cleanly in person—and that she had on a better dress. Her husband now emerged from the kitchen premises to our view: he also was apparelled in his Sunday’s best; and he made the lowest bows as he approached towards us hat in hand. Having thus paid his respects, he wes about to resume his hat, when his wife screamed out, “ Don’t think of such a thing, Jan! don’t think of such a thing! Keep your hat in your hand, man! You know in whose presence you stand !”—and she again bobbed and curtsied to Juliet. “Let your husband put on his hat, my good woman,” said Juliet. “There, Jan! do you hear? you are to put on your hat,” cried the dame; “and you ought to go down upon your knees and thank her ladyship for such gracious condescension. Beg pardon, my lady—but here is the letter I was ordered to de- liver into your ladysbip’s own hand ; and as for the little festival, it will be ready presently s “A letter?” exclaimed Juliet, snatching at the one which was now presented to her: and then she impatiently demanded, “ Why did you not give it me af first?” The two old people shrank back in dismay at the sort of rebuke thus conveyed: but I hastened to reassure them with a glance, while Juliet tore open the letter which had been placed in her hand. For some moments she went on reading with a look which expressed a species of bewildered amazement, as if all ber ideas had been thrown into a dismayed confusion and were so main- tained. “1 can make nothing of this, Ellen,” she mur- mured, as she handed me the letter. “I think that I must be dreaming, or that my senses are aban- doning me!” * Come with me,” I said: “let us be alone to- gether :’—and I led her into the adjacent gar- den. There we sat down in an arbour; and I read the letter audibly—slowly and deliberately likewise— so that Juliet might be enabled to follow me with earnest attention as she listened. The contents of that document ran as follow:— “ Willowbridge Manor. June 29, 1842. “ 3 o’clock in the afternoon, “* My dearest Juliet, “Words have no power to convey the gratitude I ee oe ee EORNICLO@C) (C ee ee f } ——— ai (E©)