Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 123: what you’re looking at

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

_——_—_— Se 110 ELLEN PERCY; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF AW AUTRESS. room just before Mr. Singleton was announced I refer to all that yourself and your friend said in allusion to some terrible mystery connected with my deceased brother———those words agitated me fearfully—inspired me with a harrowing curio- sity “No wonder, my lord! it was natural enough!” I interrupted him. “ But why came you for the purpose of insulting two defenceless females,—one your own sister-in-law—the other myself, who had never done you the slightest injury ?”’ “Do not fall back upon accusations and re- proaches,” interrupted the Viscount; “do not, I entreat you! I listened at the door do not be angry with me But it suddenly struck me that to the friend who was thus admitted so readily— to this Mr. Singleton the surgeon—the fullest confidence would be shown, and that therefore I might hear something —[ might glean some clue pe “To the elucidation of the mystery?” I inter- jected. “ Yes—and you have gleaned it!” * My God, Miss Perey! horrible words met my ears ! Oh, I shudder—I shudder !”—and the coun- tenance of the nobleman was ghastly pale, while his form trembled visibly. “Cain! my brother likened unto CainP No! for Frederick never raised a hand against a brother!” “My lord, seek not to penetrate further into this mystery,” I said; “ for I warn you that it is terrible !—nay, more—it is horrible !” ‘Suspense will kill me!—this fearful uncertainty —this hovering betwixt the wildest imaginings and the most excruciating uncertainties! No, no —Miss Percy! I could not endure it! For God’s sake lef me know the whole truth—or I shall do something rash and mad to discover it! Tell me, then—the brand impressed Cain-like upon my brother's brow * * Alas, my lord, it was so!”’ I responded: “ but I will not enter into particulars—nothing shall in- duce me. Suffice it for you to learn that for a crime which ruined the peace of a family—a fear- ful private vengeance was wreaked—and a searing iron left its indelible, its appalling mark v “© horror!” groaned the miserable Viscount, clasping his hands together; then, as a light seemed suddenly to flash in unto his brain, he looked with a ghastly significance up into my countenance, saying in a low sombre voice, “I un. derstand it all now! My brother died: not—no— he died not by accident It was as a miserable suicide !” : I answered not a word, but my look, full of gloomy meaning, conveyed an eloquent response. Again did along deep groan come from the lips of the Viscount : he then turned aside, covering his face with his hands; and for nearly a minute there was a profound silence in that apartment. At length the nobleman turned again towards me; and as he removed his hands from his countenance I saw that his features had a fixed rigid look of mingled woe and horror; and I could not help thinking that insolent self-sufficiency and flippant pride never had sustained so complete a humilia- tion ! “Miss Percy,” he said in a voice that was sombre even to sepulcbral gloominess, “ there is indeed a fearful secret within the knowledge of vourself, and Lady Frederick, and that surgeon who has just arrived,—a secret which if pro- claimed, would se Re with dishonour and dis- grace upon the entire family of Carshalton! Branded and a suicide! Ob, my miserable brother! But can you pardon me, Miss Perey —and can my sister-in-law pardon me—for my gross, vile, cowardly conduct ‘ “Yes, my lord,” I said; “ we can pardon you! And now, as this interview is most painful, let it at once terminate. Answer me therefore: what is your intention with regard to the interment of your deceased brother P” “He shall be buried with all due honour and solemnity in the family vault of the Carshaltons,” rejoined the Viscount. “If Lady Frederick Ravenscliffe will come to Carshalton House until af “Tt is not usual for ladies to attend at funeral obsequies,” I said; “and therefore Juliet will not desire to follow her husband’s remains to the grave. Neither does she experience any inclina- tion to force herself upon the notice of a family which has hitherto repudiated and ignored her, Thus though it be unusual for a wife to separate herself from her husband’s remains until the arrival of the last moment, yet will the widow in the present instance adopt an exceptional course, To you, my lord, be now assigned the charge of superintending your brother’s funeral: Juliet will accompany me to London. Farewell.” Having thus spoken, I quitted the apartment. On returning to the room where I had left Juliet and Mr. Singleton, I found them conversing to- gether; and in a few words I described what had just taken place betwixt myself and Viscount Ravenscliffe. Juliet was satisfied with the ar- rangement which had been made in respect to the funeral, Mr, Singleton shortly took his depar- ture, to return to the abode of the relative on ac- count of whose illness he had been summoned from such a distance: and as it was now past eight o’clock in the evening, Juliet and I resolved to set off at once for London. The postchaise was ordered to be got in readiness with all pos- sible despatch: the account was settled with libe- rality; and we were about to ascend into the vehicle, when Viscount Ravenscliffe suddenly made his appearance, and in silence proffered his hand to assist us. We took our seats—the Viscount bestowed upon us the most courteous salutations —and the equipage drove away at a rapid rate. “At the last moment,” observed Juliet, with a certain degree of bitterness in her tone, “he thought it better to sustain appearances and seem to be on friendly terms with me. Ah! he feels that the less scope there is given for gossip and chit-chat, the better—and that the sooner all the circumstances counected with the tragic occur- rence shall die out of the memory of the dwellers in this neighbourhood, the more satisfactory will it be.” “Tt is very certain, my dear Juliet,” I re- sponded, “that an overweening aristocratic pride has within the last hour received a most signal discomfiture, and patrician insolence has been taught a lesson which it will not very readily forget.” <——_ Gomichboo 2S ge ene (El)