Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 153: what you’re looking at

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

140 ELLEN PERCY; OL, THE MEMOIRS OF AN ACTRESS, sojourn was at the outset intended to be circum-|and veritably innocent of any treacherous deed scribed, yet he had by no means the idea of making | perpetrated with an express view to beguile and England his permanent home, and had not there- fore purchased furniture. Thus I was ascending the stairs with the fullest conviction that this change of dwelling from one furnished house to another was completely recon- cileable with all circumstances,—when it suddenly struck me that the livery of the footman who was preceding me was not precisely the same worn by the Marquis of Campanella’s domestics. True, it was light blue turned up with silver, and b!ack pantaloons; but the arrangement of the lace was different—these buttone were plain, whereas those of the Campanella liveries had the crest of the Marquis stamped upon them—and those black pantaloons had two thin red stripes, while on the other hand the Campanella liveries had not. Yet otherwise there was so great a similitude between the two that it was no wonder if in the dusk of the streets and in the excitement of my feelings, I had failed to notice those little details in respect to the livery of the carriage-footman, which I now disco- vered in reference to the dress of the valet who was preceding me. For a moment a slight sus- picion flashed to my mind; but I at once ban- ished it, saying to myself, “ The Marquis may have partially altered his liveries in the same way that he has altogether changed his domicile.” A spacious and handsome landing was now reached; but the footman, instead of throwing open the door which was in front, and which I supposed led into the principal drawing-room, opened a side door, announcing in the usual ceremonial manner, “ Miss Percy.” He stood aside with a respectful demeanour to suffer me to pass: I crossed the threshold—the door closed behind me—and I found myself in an exquisitely furnished apartment, where a gentleman rose from his seat at the table to re- ceive me. I stopped short, utterly confounded with min- gled amazement and terror; for it was Sir Hugh Ward whom I beheld before me! CHAPTER XC. SIR HUGH WARD. THE room, as I have said, was elegantly fur- nished; and the light of gas, mellowed and soft- ened by globes of thick ground glass, was diffused through that apartment. The Baronet himself was in elegant evening costume,—black dress-coat and pantaloons—patent leather boots, shining re- splendent—a snowy white waistcoat, with a gold ckain festooning over it. The diamond studs of his shirt, and a ring with a single brilliant, threw forth their vivid jets of light in luminous reflec- tion of the beams of the gas. An expression of mingled pleasure and admiration, somewhat sub- dued by an evident sentiment of respectful cour- tesy, appeared upon his countenance. But he came forward to accost me with an air which in- creased my surprise, even so much as to render it Superior to my indignation; for he seemed as if perfectly confident of being cordially met by me, and therefore as if he were utterly unconscious ee a ee SE * on inveigle me thither. At last, my dear Miss Percy !—at last!” he said. “I have waited with a pleasumble impa- tience—for I knew that I might entertain the hope which is now at length fulfilled !” Good heavens! what did I hear ?—was this a cruel mockery of my position? was it an odious levity, over which the well-bred and courtly man of the world knew how to throw the gloss of a seemingly exquisite politeness? or was it some fearful mistake under which he was labouring? For an instant I felt my brain whirl and reel, until suddenly startled to a sense of my position by the contact of his hand as he endeavoured to take my own, I snatched my hand away—I re- coiled a pace or two—I felt the flush of indigna- tion rush burning up to my countenance—and I exclaimed, “Stand back, sir—and insult not one who has come hither under a deplorable mistake on her part !” * A mistake, Miss Percy ?” he ejaculated, -his features all in a moment displaying an amazement which indeed looked most genuine. “ Yes—a mistake!” I repeated emphatically ; “and circumstances lead me to conclude that I am the victim of some deep-laid and subtle treachery on your part.” Sir Hugh Ward gazed upon me in speechless astonishment for upwards of a minute; and I could not help keeping my eyes riveted upon his countenance, in order to ascertain whether all this wonder on his part were real or simulated. * Treachery —a mistake — Miss Percy ?” at length he said. “I confess that I am utterly at a loss to comprehend you.” “ Then it is not worth while, sir,’ I answered, “to enter into explanations. Suffice it for you to know that though willingly I came hither, yet I knew not whom I was destined to meet—the meeting is disagreeable—and you will permit me to depart?” Again Sir Hugh Ward literally stared at me with amazement; and then, as if a sudden idea had smitten him, an ironical smile appeared. upon his lips, revealing a very handsome set of teeth of the possession of which he was evi- dently by no means unconscious ; and he said, “The only mistake, Miss Percy, which can by any possibility exist, is that you came to meet some other person whom you took to be me though, by heaven! under all circumstances I cannot for an instant suppose such to be the case !” Again did the hot blood burn upon my cheeks, and I veritably stamped my foot with a fierce im- patience, as I thought that the Baronet, either with the most refined wilfulness, or else labouring under the most egregious error, was levelling tho ignoblest taunt at my character. “This is too much, sir!” I exclaimed: “ I flatter myself that repute proclaims me to be virtuous and well conducted—and what I seem in public, believe me, that I am in private !” ‘Then tell me, Miss Percy, once for all,” de- manded Sir Hugh Ward, “ why you adopted a course which at least proves you to be intensely, wickedly, and dishonestly mercenary ? and why, having taken that step, you now come hither ?” CEC AML @ NOOLKS —me. SE SUE (E(0)